"…No hope? What does that mean?"
Seiun Sky asked again.
"There isn't a single Trainer left at Himeji Tracen Academy."
Hearing the Black-haired Uma Musume's question, the man couldn't stop sighing: "But the Uma Musume Association stipulates that starting this year, Uma Musume participating in races require registration by a Trainer with a 'qualification certificate' to be valid."
"Oh, so that means I can't participate in my debut race, right?"
Hearing the man's answer, Seiun Sky nodded.
"…Then, when you said you wanted me to save this academy, you weren't trying to make me become a school idol, were you?"
"What are you talking about?"
The man waved his hand: "Uma Musume have their own stage for battle."
"But didn't you say that Himeji Tracen currently has no Trainers?"
"Not now, but that doesn't mean we won't have them in the future."
The man extended his hand to Seiun Sky again: "Seiun Sky, what… have you decided?"
"Oh my? Mr. Director, are you so eager to know a maiden's thoughts?"
Seiun Sky closed one eye and playfully winked at the nervous man: "But not yet, you know. I won't tell you until I've asked everything I want to know, okay?"
"Go ahead and ask."
The man replied without any hesitation: "As long as Miss Qingzhu agrees, I'll agree to any question, any condition."
"Hmm hmm, then I won't be polite."
The Black-haired Uma Musume had a smile on her face: "Mr. Director, why do you care so much about Himeji Tracen Academy?"
"You also said earlier that you haven't been Director for very long, right?"
"This question, huh…"
The man murmured, then reached out and patted the desk.
After hearing the crisp sound of tapping the wooden desk, a nostalgic smile appeared on his face.
"…The previous Director of Himeji Tracen Academy was my father."
As he said this, the man's voice became gentle.
"My mother passed away when I was very young, and my father, worried about me being alone at home, simply brought me here."
"My father… he would sit in this chair, holding me, watching the Uma Musume in this academy train day after day."
The man's voice was full of longing as memories were stirred.
"This room… no."
The man shook his head, correcting his previous statement: "Every corner of this Himeji Tracen Academy holds precious memories for me."
"I not only want to protect the memories my father and I made in this academy, but also want to preserve the memories of the Uma Musume who once studied here."
He said this, then turned his head to look out the window.
"…What if one day an unaware Uma Musume whimsically wanted to come back and visit, only to find that the academy had already been abolished? They would surely feel very sad."
Wanting to protect beautiful memories with family…
The man looking out the window didn't notice that after he said this, a hint of loneliness suddenly appeared on the Black-haired Uma Musume's face in front of him.
Having lived two lives, she had always been raised by many people.
Although those people were very kind to her, whenever she saw children walking hand-in-hand with their parents on the street, she couldn't help but fantasize if she also had parents, would the expression on her face be even happier than that child's.
… … Unfortunately, in no world is there such a thing as 'if'.
"So, please, you must… no! You absolutely must help me!"
The man, who hadn't noticed Seiun Sky's fleeting change of expression, pleaded with her: "...Please!"
"…"
… He wanted this academy, full of memories, to continue to exist in this world.
Seiun Sky silently averted her gaze, looking at the wooden table behind the man.
However, beautiful memories.
Seiun Sky murmured soundlessly.
… As an outsider, can I also find my own precious memories in this world?
The Black-haired Horse Girl wondered, feeling lost.
"…I understand."
After a moment of silence, under the man's surprised gaze, Seiun Sky nodded and accepted: "I promise you."
"Rea… Really?!"
The anxious man's eyes widened the moment he heard the Black-haired Horse Girl's reply.
Feeling light-headed, the man's voice trembled as he pressed: "…Are you really willing?"
"Do you feel like you're dreaming?"
Seeing the man staring intently at her, Seiun Sky added: "However… Director, your current gaze is quite rude, you know?"
"Ah… Sorry!"
The man coughed dryly, his hands raising and lowering, looking a bit flustered.
"So… you really agreed?"
The young Director, stiff all over, clenched his right hand into a fist, placed it in front of his mouth, coughed, and carefully repeated what he had said earlier.
"Hmm? Director, do you want to hear it again?"
Seeing the man looking at her expectantly, the Black-haired Horse Girl tilted her head: "I agreed, you know?"
"…Are you really sure you don't need to think about it again?"
The man, having calmed down a bit after a brief silence, instead tried to persuade her: "You should think it through before giving me an answer, okay?"
"No, I've thought it through."
Seiun Sky replied with a grin: "Besides… becoming the savior of Himeji Tracen Academy, doesn't that sound pretty cool?"
"I understand."
The young Director stared at the Black-haired Horse Girl's smiling face for a long time: "Thank you."
"I will walk the path ahead with you."
"Um, Director."
Hearing the man say this, Seiun Sky covered her face with both hands, feigning shyness: "You just… "
"Oh, don't misunderstand."
Before Seiun Sky could finish, the man raised his right arm, interrupting her unfinished words.
"…I already have someone I like."
Showing the ring on his right middle finger, the man's lips unconsciously curved upwards: "…We've already met each other's parents."
"…"
Seiun Sky looked at the man caressing the ring, feeling like she had been fed dog food completely off guard.
"What kind of person is she?"
But soon, the Black-haired Horse Girl, driven by curiosity, asked.
"Lazy."
Without hesitation, the man answered Seiun Sky's question with one word.
"Lazy to cook, lazy to go out, lazy to put on makeup…"
With each word, the man's helplessness became more apparent: "…Sometimes I even wonder how that person survives when I'm not around her."
"…Aren't you exaggerating a bit?"
"…"
However, upon hearing the Black-haired Horse Girl's words, the Director first sighed, then shook his head and reached out to pat her shoulder.