"Stay Gold? Why are you here?"
"Oldest Sister?! Why are you doing here?!"
However, it wasn't just Symboli Rudolf, Air Groove, and Narita Brian; even Orfevre was startled by the arrival of the Uma Musume named Stay Gold, who wore a long black dress and had a cool expression.
"Oldest Sister?! You're kidding me!"
On the other side, Gold Ship also immediately noticed Stay Gold arriving at the Racecourse. She then leaped over the railing and ran straight towards Stay Gold.
Imanami, Wada, and the others were confused, but they had been curious about the "Oldest Sister of the Gold Family" for a long time. After exchanging glances, they all ran towards the Racecourse with their assigned Uma Musume.
And at this moment, Orfevre, Gold Ship, and Stay Gold of the Gold Family had all gathered at the Racecourse. Facing the surprise of her two sisters, Stay Gold appeared very calm and said faintly:
"Hmm, long time no see, Orfevre, and Gold Ship. You both look very spirited."
"Oldest Sister! Why didn't you tell us you were coming back! Your room at home has been empty without you!" However, after realizing that it was indeed Stay Gold in front of her, Gold Ship's surprise quickly turned into extreme joy. She excitedly gesticulated as she said:
"Nakayama has been clamoring to see you every day! We haven't seen you since we watched your race on TV! Where have you been?"
"...There are still many races outside. This return is just a brief stop." However, compared to the boisterous Gold Ship and a timid Orfevre, Stay Gold's personality seemed much more composed. She merely said faintly:
"Little Gold Ship, don't bother me for now. I came specifically for Orfevre and her Trainer; it has nothing to do with you."
"Oh..." Gold Ship, hearing this, knew her place and automatically stepped aside. She knew that she wasn't the main character this time, and Stay Gold's current concern was Orfevre and Ikezoe.
After getting Gold Ship to step aside, Stay Gold then proactively stepped forward and introduced herself:
"Trainer Ikezoe, nice to meet you. I am Stay Gold, the current head of the Gold Family and the oldest of all the Gold Family."
"I've learned about your situation with Orfevre through various channels and that today was Orfevre's Debut Race, so I specifically came to see it—now, I have made up my mind. I believe you are the most suitable Trainer for Orfevre."
"I even had the thought of entrusting more of my sisters to you... but I understand how energy-consuming those brats can be, so I don't plan to do that."
"Thank goodness... O- oh, no, I mean—you flatter me."
Ikezoe, who had originally been looking forward to Orfevre joining, was terrified and stiffened all over when he heard that the Uma Musume in front of him was the famous "Stay Gold." He repeatedly scanned his surroundings, and only after confirming that no more Gold Family Uma Musume appeared did he breathe a sigh of relief... Fortunately, he didn't see any other Gold Family Uma Musume... One Orfevre was enough. If Ikezoe were to see Dream Journey again... he felt that, judging by Orfevre's instinctual distaste for him, his future days would definitely not be easy.
"Trainer Ikezoe... the children of our Gold Family, as long as they have the potential to become Uma Musume, are never mediocre." However, at this moment, Stay Gold spoke very solemnly: "The potential of every Gold Family Uma Musume is very high; as if they were favored by the Three Goddesses themselves... but all of this comes at a price."
"Though the Uma Musume of the Gold Family all have potential, they have always been bound by other things. It could be mischievousness, irritability, or even insecurity, but without exception, their potential cannot be unleashed, thus making them incapable of showing their true strength."
"In recent years, I have traveled to various countries and participated in all kinds of races. I am trying to prove the excellence of the Gold Family bloodline, and also to show others that although our Gold Family's bloodline does not have any deep history backing it, it houses Uma Musume of the highest caliber."
"At the same time... I also encouraged these brats to bravely explore their potential and overcome their weaknesses."
"Oldest Sister..."
Stay Gold's never-before-spoken heartfelt words left Orfevre and Gold Ship speechless. They had never heard Stay Gold say these things before... They only remembered that they had a reliable Oldest Sister who was always absent, constantly racing in some other country. (T/N: Reliable and absent in the same breath.)
They all thought this was the path Stay Gold chose for herself, but they never considered why she did it—until today, they finally understood.
"To this day, I am still constantly trying, but the results... are barely satisfactory." Stay Gold neither belittled herself nor embellished her achievements; she simply explained calmly, as she always did:
"But when I heard that this unruly brat Orfevre was finally going to participate in her Debut Race, I actually found it unbelievable at first and even thought someone was playing a trick on me."
"It wasn't until I confirmed the news and came to the scene that I knew it was actually true—and I've been watching you, Trainer Ikezoe."
"...Watching me?" Ikezoe subconsciously pointed to himself. He had no impression of the Stay Gold in front of him and had never met her. How and when was she watching him? (T/N: I imagine the "Huh? Me?" image here.)
However, Stay Gold merely curled her lips into a slight smile and said faintly: "I merely just put on some makeup and gave a small 'friendship gift' to one of the staff members here. The staff member who allowed you in when you were trying to sneak backstage to find Orfevre was me in disguise."
"EH—?!" x2
Stay Gold's words startled both Ikezoe and Orfevre. They never expected Stay Gold to have been so close to them before; neither of them had noticed her at all.
"T- then, that means—Trainer Ikezoe and I b- backstage—"
"That's right, I heard everything." Stay Gold simply smiled and nodded, responding to Orfevre's stuttering, and even added, still feeling a bit unsatisfied:
"You looked so shy there, Orfevre. Really, I've forgotten when was the last time you showed such a cute expression."
"Guh... just end me at this point..."
Orfevre's face immediately turned crimson as she covered it with her hands. Fortunately, she was wearing a mask, so her reddening cheek was barely noticeable, but the sight of her horse ears turning blood-red and her tail wagging restlessly behind her clearly indicated Orfevre's current mood.
Ikezoe was also stunned by Stay Gold's words. He instinctively glanced at Orfevre beside him and, seeing her look like a kid who got caught trying to eat a piece of candy, even a lobotomite could tell what she was feeling, and he couldn't help but smile slightly.
It seems... Orfevre doesn't hate me that much; she just really hates my face.
For some reason, a long-standing doubt in his mind was suddenly answered, and Ikezoe felt a sense of relief.
"Little Orfevre here possesses talent that even surprises me; she just needs someone to unleash her potential." Stay Gold now turned her gaze back to Ikezoe, and the next moment, she suddenly made a surprising move in front of everyone.
Stay Gold knelt on both knees, bowing formally in a dogeza-style apology to Ikezoe, and said to him with utmost solemnity:
"Trainer Ikezoe, please become Orfevre's assigned Trainer and let her become an Uma Musume who goes out into the world—I beg you."
"Oldest Sister..."
Stay Gold's actions startled everyone; even Orfevre didn't know what to do for a moment. And the next moment, Symboli Rudolf also stepped forward and said to Ikezoe:
"Trainer Ikezoe, I, too, as the Student Council President of Tracen Academy, ask you to be Orfevre's assigned Trainer."
"As Stay Gold said... let this child go to the world stage, if she truly has that potential."
With that, Symboli Rudolf also bowed deeply to Ikezoe. And at this point, without a doubt, Ikezoe, who had no intention of refusing in the first place, had even less reason to refuse.
"Orfevre?" Ikezoe turned to Orfevre, asking for her opinion.
"...Things have already gone down to this point, how can I refuse?" Although Orfevre was deeply moved by Stay Gold's efforts and the importance she was given, she still forced a nonchalant expression to hide her true feelings, pouting and saying sullenly:
"—Alright, I'll do it then. Trainer Ikezoe, from today onwards, you are my Trainer!"
"Although I am a timid, mediocre Uma Musume who will kick you! If you think I will be the strongest Uma Musume in all of Japan—then be prepared!"
"Before you make me the strongest Uma Musume in Japan, I will absolutely not let you off!"
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If you don't know what 'fetter' in the title means, it is a chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles. (Limbus Company Canto 9 reference?!)
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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.