"Ah—! Doto, you actually found a Trainer?! Is that true?!"
In the Ritto student dorms, Meisho Doto and Air Shakur, who were roommates, along with another Uma Musume who had rushed over after hearing the news about Meisho Doto, were all shocked by the news that Meisho Doto had found a Trainer.
"E-everyone, please don't be so loud, you'll disturb the others…"
"I'm just surprised that you actually found a Trainer." Air Shakur, an Uma Musume with a unique set of jagged teeth, said with a hint of surprise, "According to my data analysis, given your personality, Doto-san, the probability of you finding a Trainer within just a month after your Debut Race was incredibly low. I didn't expect such a coincidence to occur."
"Don't say that, Shakur. Doto-san is also very strong; she just lacks a little confidence." Beside Shakur, an Uma Musume named Fine Motion, who looked very much like the young lady of a renowned family, said happily to Doto:
"But this is great, Doto-san! You finally found a Trainer and can finally receive professional Trainer-led training."
"But I wonder who your Trainer is? Is it Trainer Hana Toujou, T.M. Opera O's Trainer, who you admire, or is it Trainer Okino?"
"N-neither." Meisho Doto shook her head at the words, timidly saying in a low voice, "It's… it's Trainer Wada, h-he's a new Trainer…"
"A new Trainer? Is he one of the three Trainers who got assigned to Tracen Academy who are among the top three in this year's Central Trainer exam?" Air Shakur clearly knew about this matter and said with some surprise;
"That's amazing, Doto. I didn't expect one of them to notice you. I heard that this year's three new Trainers are true top-tier Trainers."
"Seize this opportunity, and train hard. I believe you still have a chance of beating T.M. Opera O."
"Ah…"
However, facing Air Shakur's encouragement, Meisho Doto was exceptionally lacking in self-confidence. Especially when she thought that her objective was to compete against T.M. Opera O at the Mainichi Hai, a sudden urge to run away welled up from the bottom of her heart.
Some time later, after seeing Fine Motion off, Meisho Doto walked out of the dorm building alone, feeling uneasy, frequently looking in the direction of the Trainer dorm building, her heart a mix of emotions.
Sure enough… I can't do it, can I? My Trainer is so excellent; he should have had a more outstanding Uma Musume as his trainee. I'm so clumsy and can't do anything right; how could I be the first trainee for such an excellent Trainer? Doto looked at the agreement paper she and Wada had signed, which she had received from President Symboli Rudolph during the afternoon. This agreement had three copies: one for the Uma Musume, one for the Trainer, and the final one to be stored by the Student Council, bearing her and Wada's signatures and the Student Council's seal.
Now, Doto was holding the agreement, her fingers creasing its edges due to excessive nervousness. She was still hesitating whether she should explain to Wada that she simply can't do it… that there was no way for her to win against T.M. Opera O. Trainer Wada should've found a more promising Uma Musume, but she had already agreed… Would it make her seem like she was going back on her word?
"Oh, what should I do…"
"—Hahahahaha! Well, isn't it my most loyal subject? Why are you here? Are you sleepless like me? What a coincidence!"
Suddenly, behind Doto, the moment T.M. Opera O's iconic laughter rang out, Doto's entire body, ears and tail included, shot up in fright. As she instinctively turned around, she clutched the agreement tightly behind her back.
"T-T.M. Opera O? Why are you here?"
"It's merely the Overlord's post-dinner stroll." Doto's small actions did not escape T.M. Opera O's eyes; even in the darkness of night, an Uma Musume's powerful eyes allowed her to see everything clearly in the dark.
T.M. Opera O clearly saw the word "Agreement" printed on the paper Doto was hiding behind her back. Her heart skipped a beat, a strange feeling of unease rising within her.
"—Hahaha, Doto, my most beloved subject, do you have any hidden secrets that you've kept from me?" Even so, T.M. Opera O did not forcefully demand Doto to show her the paper directly, but rather said in her usual style, gradually approaching the topic to make her feel more comfortable,
"How about sharing your joy with me? An Overlord's mouth is very reliable, you know?"
"Th-this… even if it's you T.M. Opera O, I…"
However, Doto stammered, unsure how to respond. She knew very well that Trainer Wada really wanted T.M. Opera O to join his team, but now she was the first to join. Showing this agreement to T.M. Opera O probably wouldn't be good.
If she did, T.M. Opera O would be angry, wouldn't she? She would definitely be very angry!
As soon as she thought of this, Doto became even more afraid. Doto's unease caused her to clutch the paper she held even tighter; however, this just made T.M. Opera O frown involuntarily, her mood becoming even more agitated.
One must know, T.M. Opera O was an Uma Musume who could take all words, no matter if it was criticism or insults, and spin them into praise; yet, this time, she actually felt agitated, which was rare.
But even so, T.M. Opera O still maintained her image, smiling as she said:
"It's alright, my most beloved subject. This is merely the curiosity of me, the Overlord. Whatever you are hiding, even if you wish to challenge my position as Overlord, I will not be angry."
"Of course, if you truly do not wish to reveal it, then as the Overlord, I will also be magnanimous and understanding…"
"R-really? You'll not be angry?"
Just as T.M. Opera O was about to play hard to get, Doto's voice immediately pulled back T.M. Opera O, who was feigning to leave. Doto timidly took out the agreement from behind her back and nervously handed it to T.M. Opera O.
"Actually, I should have told you, T.M. Opera O, about this… Eh?!"
However, before Doto could finish her sentence, T.M. Opera O eagerly snatched the agreement from Doto's hand, instantly recognizing it as the trainee agreement she had been anticipating getting from Trainer Wada.
As T.M. Opera O's gaze fell to the bottom of the agreement, clearly showing the signatures of the Uma Musume "Meisho Doto" and the Trainer "Wada Ryuji," as well as the distinctive seal of Tracen Academy, her fingers almost instinctively tightened.
For a moment, surprise, disbelief, and various other emotions flickered through T.M. Opera O's widened pink eyes, making it difficult for her to accept this fact. A strange, sour feeling suddenly welled up in her heart. (T/N: Wada is no longer just cooked, he's getting burnt to a crisp)
"Um… T.M. Opera O… actually… I think Trainer Wada really wants you to join."
Doto seemed not to notice T.M. Opera O's darkening expression, but she did sense T.M. Opera O's unusual demeanor, and said timidly,
"T-though, you might not know, Trainer Toujou and Trainer Wada made a bet… If, if I can win against you in the Mainichi Hai in the latter half of March, then you can join Trainer Wada…"
"I, I think Trainer Wada absolutely doesn't want to compete against you, but he's doing this for you. It's just that I don't think I can win…"
Doto then belatedly and anxiously said, "I-I'm going to apply to withdraw from being Trainer Wada's trainee right now. I really can't do it... Trainer Wada's Uma Musume should have been an outstanding Uma Musume like you, T.M. Opera O... Someone like me can't…"
"—No, Doto, I will not allow you to withdraw."
However, contrary to Doto's expectation, T.M. Opera O's voice, devoid of any of her usual chuunibyou tone, made Doto instinctively snap back to reality. She saw T.M. Opera O, at some point, had a smile back on her face, and she said to Doto very seriously,
"The Overlord's challengers should be endless; that is the best way to hone the abilities of the Overlord! Even if the challenger is my most beloved subject, I will not shy away from it!"
"So, prepare well in these next two months, Doto. I shall eagerly await the moment we meet at the Mainichi Hai!"
"At that time, I will not hold back; I will face you with my full power! Hahahahaha!"
T.M. Opera O let out a hearty laugh, and while laughing, left the scene. Doto, still somewhat at a loss, looked at the agreement that had been returned to her, but noticed that there was now something strange on it… Was it raining? Why was there now a wet patch on it?
…T.M. Opera O, after leaving, did not return to her dorm. Instead, she went to a quiet corner of the academy, subtly wiped away a trace of moisture from the corner of her eye, and immediately took out her phone to call Hana Toujou.
"…Hello? T.M. Opera O? Do you need something this late? Do you need help?"
"Trainer, starting tomorrow, I want to intensify my training." T.M. Opera O, uncharacteristically, spoke without any exaggerated tone this time, but rather very seriously, word by word: "And, I need to participate in more races, until I can guarantee a spot in the Satsuki Sho."
"…There are only two months left, T.M. Opera O. Are you sure you want to do this?" However, Hana Toujou, of course, understood the hidden meaning in T.M. Opera O's words and couldn't help but say hesitantly, "Your injury from the Debut Race just healed not long ago."
"Also, for the Mainichi Hai in the latter half of March, you'll need to face it in peak condition. Participating in too many races now might place a great burden on you, and if you were to win the Mainichi Hai, your spot at the Satsuki Sho will be guaranteed without needing those extra races."
"Hahahahaha, Trainer, even I, the Overlord, need to make backup plans, especially when I feel it's not a certainty." T.M. Opera O, of course, knew what she was doing. However, she had a premonition that her Mainichi Hai would not be so easy to win.
"As the Overlord, I will never intentionally hand over victory, but I also do have my own wants as well."
"…I understand. Don't worry, I have some connections; I can help you secure spots in a few races."
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I have run out of quippy lines to say this chapter :(
This is the end of the initial batch of chapters that I translated.
After this, I will be trying to release at least one chapter every day and might release more if I have the time.
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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.