"Oh? A new Trainer, hahahaha, it looks like a new challenger is about to enter onto the stage of the Overlord~"
T.M. Opera O spoke to Wada in a slightly exaggerated, performative manner, while the slightly timid Uma Musume beside her kept her ears almost constantly drooped and whispered to Wada,
"T.M. Opera O means… she's really looking forward to competing on the same stage as the Uma Musume you train… or something like that."
"Um, I'm sorry, T.M. Opera O just talks like that. It's a bit hard for others to understand."
"—It's fine, I understand." Wada said gently to this slightly timid but incredibly well-built Uma Musume. Although he didn't know this Uma Musume's name, he didn't mind.
His core objective this time was T.M. Opera O, and only T.M. Opera O. Everything else could be temporarily ignored.
"I am still looking for an Uma Musume to be my first trainee, and while I may still be a bit inexperienced, I believe my skill level among Trainers is first-class, and I won't hold my trainee back."
Having said this, Wada mustered his courage and extended his hand toward T.M. Opera O, his best partner, the strongest Overlord who had once taught him everything.
"T.M. Opera O, would you be my first trainee? I have enough confidence and ability to make you a legend that is not inferior to—no, that surpasses the Emperor!"
"Sur- surpass the Emperor!?"
However, Wada's grand declaration not only startled the timid Uma Musume nearby, but even T.M. Opera O, who was somewhat self-absorbed, paused for a moment. She watched the young Trainer who had just met her for the first time less than a few minutes ago, listening to his confident and hopeful gaze. Suddenly, a slight pang of pain unconsciously shot through her chest.
How strange… this feeling… why am I feeling this?
Even though it was just the arrogant words of a seemingly overconfident young Trainer, why did she feel so uncomfortable?
Moreover, my first reaction wasn't to question it, but to feel that he might actually be able to do it.
"—Air Groove, did you hear that? What Trainer Wada just said."(T/N: Rudolf, I'm watching you right now, why you trynna not to laugh, that's disrespectful as shit bruv)
Outside the training room, Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove, who had their ears practically pressed against the door, ignored the curious glances of the passing Uma Musume. Symboli Rudolf instead looked at Air Groove with interest and said,
"It seems our assessment of Trainer Wada was too premature. We thought he was a conservative Trainer. Now, it seems he's even more radical and aggressive than Trainer Ikezoe."
"…I, on the other hand, think he's a bit arrogant." Air Groove, however, had a different opinion than Symboli Rudolf. Especially since Wada had just met T.M. Opera O and immediately made a grand declaration about 'surpassing the Emperor,' which made Air Groove slightly reduce her previous assessment of him.
It's good for a Trainer to have goals, and even better to have grand and clear goals, but to say such confident words upon a first meeting is a bit too arrogant and irrational.
"I, on the other hand, think he's not being arrogant, but confident." Symboli Rudolf, however, smiled faintly and continued to press her ear against the door to listen.
"What I'm more curious about now is the source of Trainer Wada's confidence. Is it his own ability? Is he the type who excels when actually training? Or…"
Or did he discover some hidden potential from T.M. Opera O? Symboli Rudolf didn't say this aloud, because even she, the "Emperor," couldn't see the potential of all Uma Musume.
The potential of an Uma Musume varies; some are early bloomers, some late bloomers, some are good at short distances, some at long distances—even the "Emperor" cannot discern these things at a glance. It takes Trainers and the cooperation of their Uma Musume to conduct countless experiments and research to finally know what running style suits them and where their aptitude lies.
At least, the current Symboli Rudolf couldn't see too much potential in T.M. Opera O, who had just finished her debut race not long ago, but perhaps… this young Trainer could?
"—You two, haven't you eavesdropped long enough? It's time for me to go in."
At this moment, a sudden, somewhat cold female voice interrupted Air Groove and Symboli Rudolf's eavesdropping. The two legendary Uma Musume simultaneously turned their heads, only to meet a tall, bespectacled, somewhat sharp-looking woman.
"Trainer…" ×2
"Alright, since you two have nothing to say, it's my turn to speak to him now." The woman ignored Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove's slightly guilty expressions and pushed open the training room doors.
"Trainer Wada, although it is Tracen Academy's tradition that I, as a senior Trainer, shouldn't compete with a newcomer for an Uma Musume… I must step forward now."
"T.M. Opera O is already an Uma Musume that is a part of my team. If you insist on poaching T.M. Opera O from my team, you must have the eloquence or skill to convince me."
The woman entered the training room and walked directly in front of Wada, who had turned around. Her eyes almost glared at Wada as she spoke word by word.
However, before Wada could speak, T.M. Opera O immediately reacted, let out a burst of laughter, and stood in front of Wada, saying to the aggressive woman,
"Hahaha, Trainer, please don't be so intimidating. A new hero has merely extended an invitation to me, the Overlord. Do not ruin such a beautiful scene, lest you potentially mar your beautiful face~"
"T.M. Opera O… you stand aside for now. I need to talk to Mr. Wada."
Even the woman couldn't really get angry at T.M. Opera O's behavior and, in a relatively gentle tone, asked T.M. Opera O not to interfere in the matter for now.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Hana Toujou, and I am the Trainer of Tracen Academy's strongest team, 'Rigil.'"
Hana Toujou's height was almost on par with Wada, and her authoritative aura indicated the pride in this woman's heart and her matching extraordinary strength.
"I know you, Wada Ryuji, one of the three new Trainers who joined Tracen Academy this time, and also the third-place finisher in the Central Trainer Qualification Exam, right?"
"…Nice to meet you, Senior Toujou. Please take care of me."
Wada glanced at T.M. Opera O, who was now standing to the side, and saw her uncharacteristically giving him an apologetic smile. He then understood—it seemed T.M. Opera O hadn't had the chance to tell Wada that she already had a Trainer.
However, this didn't make a difference to Wada; he had already mentally prepared himself for this. Moreover, he was determined to snatch T.M. Opera O from someone else, even if it meant fighting for her.
And so far, although Miss Hana Toujou seemed aggressive, it hadn't escalated to the level of "physical confrontation."
"Since it's our first meeting, as a senior, I should normally pay you newcomers a welcome, but I can't just pretend I didn't hear your grand declaration just now."
After a simple handshake with Wada, Hana Toujou stated her purpose very clearly.
"Excuse me, Trainer Wada. If you didn't know that T.M. Opera O is an Uma Musume belonging to my team, I can let bygones be bygones. We'll pretend this never happened, and we'll still maintain a mutually beneficial relationship as senior and junior."
"But if you already knew that T.M. Opera O was an Uma Musume on my team, and you came to poach her while I, her Trainer, was absent, then I will treat you, my junior, as a competitor."
At this point, Hana Toujou frowned slightly, and her whole demeanor became fiercer. One could tell at a glance that she was a Trainer with a rather bad temper and very high demands.
However, she was the Trainer of Team Rigil, the strongest team in Tracen. Generally speaking, in any field, the higher a person's skill, the worse their temper, because their extreme confidence in their area of expertise makes them dislike others contradicting their opinions—especially those they consider "outsiders."
And at this moment, in Hana Toujou's eyes, Wada was that "outsider."
Although Wada was ranked third in the exam and was one of the three Trainers directly appointed by the URA to Tracen, in the eyes of a veteran Trainer like Hana Toujou, Wada was still an outsider.
And now this newcomer comes to poach from her Team on their first meeting no less, how could Hana Toujou tolerate it? Doesn't she have a reputation to uphold?
"—Senior, I genuinely didn't know beforehand that T.M. Opera O already had a Trainer. Please forgive me for that."
However, compared to Hana Toujou, Wada seemed very humble and respectful to his senior. But before Hana Toujou's expression could soften slightly, Wada's words took a sharp turn.
"But even if I had known beforehand, I still would have come nonetheless. I want T.M. Opera O to be my trainee, and I am confident in my previous declaration."
"Then what is the source of your confidence? Your arrogance? Why do you believe you can achieve such a feat?" Hana Toujou's brows furrowed even deeper as she continued to ask.
To this, Wada's answer remained calm, yet it revealed a determination that even surprised Hana Toujou.
"No. It's not because of my confidence in my abilities, but my confidence in T.M. Opera O."
"…"
Wada's answer made Hana Toujou fall silent for a moment, and Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove, who were nearby, also witnessed for the first time someone daring to speak to their Trainer like this.
Their own Trainer was usually respected wherever she went; within Tracen Academy, no one dared to openly confront Hana Toujou except for Trainer Okino, who was suspected to be her Trainer's old flame. (T/N: Okino mention)
And now, a second person has appeared, a rookie Trainer at that. This is probably what they call a newborn calf not fearing a tiger, right?
As for T.M. Opera O, she had long been stunned by Wada's words, her pink eyes radiating profound shock as she looked at him, her heart a mix of emotions, unable to speak.
It was unknown how long this silence lasted. Finally, Hana Toujou's expression slowly calmed, and she said faintly to Wada,
"Wada Ryuji, right?"
"—You and I, let's go to another place to talk. We'll discuss this matter thoroughly. I hope you can give me a satisfactory answer."
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Would you lose?
Wada Ryuji: Nah I'd poach
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.