Wada eventually bid farewell to Hana Toujou. Hana Toujou, in a good mood, even proactively invited Wada for a drink afterward, but Wada politely declined. At this moment, Wada was aimlessly walking the streets of Tracen Academy, pondering what he should do.
Wada had to admit, he had gotten a bit carried away earlier and spoken too confidently—not that he had lost confidence in himself, but rather about what Hana Toujou had said regarding challenging T.M. Opera O in the Mainichi Hai, a GIII Stakes race.
Wada understood T.M. Opera O's capabilities very well, but it was precisely because of this understanding that he now felt immense pressure after making such a bold declaration—it was T.M. Opera O! The "Overlord of the Century's End"!
Wada used to win races by riding T.M. Opera O and letting her do all the work. In terms of racing experience, it could even be said that T.M. Opera O had taught him through each race. When they were teammates, they were inseparable, but now that they were rivals, Wada felt a pressure similar to what Jockey Yutaka Take experienced back then. (T/N: Super Creek's Jockey)
Even more daunting was that he knew T.M. Opera O's strength intimately, which was completely different from the sudden shock Yutaka Take had faced—making the pressure he was facing even greater!
But what could he do? The deal had already been made, and there was no taking it back. His opponent was not just T.M. Opera O, but the Trainer of Tracen Academy's strongest Team; and his current situation was that of a Trainer who hadn't even recruited their first Uma Musume!
"This is bad... I've bitten off more than I can chew, now I'm in big trouble..."
Feeling physically and mentally exhausted, Wada slumped down in a cool, shaded spot, running his hands through his hair—an effective way for him to relieve stress.
"My opponent is T.M. Opera O. Even if Senior Toujou hadn't discovered T.M. Opera O's potential, I'm sure after our talk today, she'll start training T.M. Opera O even more seriously than before. If I had known, I shouldn't have talked. Why talk? I should have just made Mainichi Hai the wager..."
"How am I going to beat T.M. Opera O now... I can't even find an Uma Musume yet... How can I train an Uma Musume capable of running the Mainichi Hai within two months... It's not like I can conjure up a Tokai Teio on the spot to race against T.M. Opera O—speaking of which, is there a Uma Musume version of Tokai Teio in this world?"
For some reason, Wada couldn't help but think of Tokai Teio, probably because the Student Council President was Symboli Rudolph. Wada suddenly had a whimsical thought: if he were to ask the President to let Tokai Teio be his Uma Musume, perhaps he could have a chance at beating T.M. Opera O.
After all, Tokai Teio was Symboli Rudolph's most famous offspring. The President would surely know Tokai Teio's whereabouts if she existed.
—Forget it. Considering the era, Tokai Teio wouldn't even be at the age to run a Debut Race at this time. And even if the President did know Tokai Teio's whereabouts, she probably wouldn't let a newly debuted Trainer train her. After all, Tokai Teio should receive better treatment, right?
Thinking this, Wada fell into another period of silence. His biggest concern now was how to break free from his current predicament of not even having an Uma Musume—and this Uma Musume couldn't be just any ordinary Uma Musume either.
To beat T.M. Opera O, he needed an Uma Musume with at least the potential to win GI Races; otherwise, there would be no chance.
"Um, excuse me... Trainer Wada?"
Just then, Wada suddenly felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. He slowly looked up, and the first thing he noticed wasn't the girl's face, but the two conspicuously large... 'mounds' that became even more prominent as she bent down.
Up close, they truly were enormous. This was too insane. What kind of Uma Musume could possess such a robust physique? Those things could proba— (T/N: Bro is flabbergasted)
"Trainer Wada..."
"Ah, I'm sorry, I was spacing out just now." Wada's attention was immediately drawn back by the timid voice. He looked up at the shy Uma Musume, whose face was still flushed with a hint of embarrassment, and only then did he belatedly realize.
"You are... the Uma Musume who was with T.M. Opera O..."
"Y- yes, Trainer Wada still remembers me..."
The timid Uma Musume seemed a little happy that Wada remembered her. Her voice carried a hint of joy, but she was still very nervous as she whispered, "I saw that Trainer Wada's attention was entirely on T.M. Opera O... I thought you hadn't noticed me..."
"Um, Trainer Wada, your expression is so down. Did the discussion with Trainer Toujou not go well?"
"Not well... I wouldn't say that, but it was indeed more tedious than what I wished."
Wada patted a spot next to him, signaling that she could sit there. After some hesitation, the timid Uma Musume didn't refuse Wada's request and obediently sat beside him, listening to the complaints of this new Trainer who had left a deep impression on her during their first meeting.
"I managed to convince Senior Toujou, but she told me to compete against T.M. Opera O in the Mainichi Hai. Only if I win will she agree to let T.M. Opera O become my Uma Musume."
"Oh... you have to beat T.M. Opera O? Then, wouldn't that be very difficult?"
The timid Uma Musume was clearly different from others. She seemed to hold T.M. Opera O in high regard. From the fact that she had been following T.M. Opera O since her Debut Race victory, it seemed this Uma Musume had a truly special connection with T.M. Opera O.
"Yes... it's very difficult, and coincidentally, though I know it's very difficult, I had to agree." Wada sighed deeply, spreading his hands with a bitter smile, and said:
"My situation now is truly comical. I can't even find an Uma Musume to be my trainee, yet I already have to compete against T.M. Opera O in the Mainichi Hai Stakes in the latter half of March... Time is very tight. There's no way an Uma Musume who hasn't raced in her Debut Race could beat T.M. Opera O."
"But if it's an Uma Musume who has already won her Debut Race... But I'm afraid they all would already have excellent Trainers. Where would there be any left for me? Am I, the Trainer, supposed to go out on the track myself and race against T.M. Opera O?"
"Oh dear... Well, that really is tricky..."
At this moment, the timid Uma Musume finally understood the predicament Wada was facing. Seeing Wada so dejected, the kind and gentle timid Uma Musume, feeling pity, also offered encouragement.
"No, no, it's okay, Trainer Wada. You will definitely find a suitable Uma Musume."
"Look, I—I won my Debut Race, and I still haven't found a Trainer yet. Although I'm not that great and there's still a gap between me and T.M. Opera O, I think a few of my classmates could be your Uma Musume... although I'll have to ask them if they're willing..."
Saying this, the timid Uma Musume began to calculate to herself the probability of convincing her close classmates.
Hmm... Air Shakur probably wouldn't agree. Agnes Digital still has some hope... As for Admire Vega... that might be a bit difficult, but it shouldn't be entirely hopeless...
"—Speaking of which, I still don't know your name." Wada Ryuji only now realized that the Uma Musume beside him hadn't introduced herself, and he vaguely felt a bit strange.
After all, in Wada's memory, there weren't many Racehorses who had a good relationship with T.M. Opera O. Wada, who had once been T.M. Opera O's Jockey, couldn't imagine who would have such a good relationship with T.M. Opera O. At that moment, he became a little curious about this Uma Musume's identity.
"My name is Wada Ryuji, an insignificant new Trainer, which you probably already know."
"No, no, I'm the insignificant one..." The timid Uma Musume was clearly unaccustomed to modesty from others and said with some embarrassment:
"As for me, my name is Meisho Doto."
"Oh, Meisho Doto, it's nice to meet you..." Wada smiled and nodded, but the next moment, he belatedly reacted to the name.
Wait? MEISHO DOTO?!
"Y- you are Meisho Doto?!"
"Huh, you, you know me?" Meisho Doto was also startled by Wada's reaction and said meekly in a low voice:
"I-I'm not that famous an Uma Musume. I'm not as dazzling as T.M. Opera O. Um, I think..."
"..."
However, Wada stared at the timid, meek Meisho Doto in front of him and suddenly fell into a long silence. He didn't know how much time passed until Meisho Doto became so flustered by Wada's gaze that an idea finally emerged in his mind.
"—Meisho Doto."
"Yes, yes!"
"...Although it's a bit sudden, would you be my first Uma Musume?"
Wada said faintly, in a tone he didn't even know how to explain in words, to the stunned Meisho Doto in front of him, "I will train you into someone who has a chance to defeat T.M. Opera O—please."
Looking at Wada, who was bowing to her, Meisho Doto's mind hadn't caught up. In a daze, she heard herself subconsciously whisper:
"O- okay..."
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The :3 Uma Musume has joined your party!
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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.