Air Groove's POV
"…" I sighed.
What a waste! Being patted by Hachiman was wonderful at first, but to fall asleep right after… What was I thinking!? And then leaning my head on his shoulder… Ugh, how embarrassing!! I want more, but asking for it fresh out of the bath would be too much…
"I'll have to settle for this," I muttered.
Living Room
"Hachiman, I'm done," I said.
Hachiman: "Oh, that was quick. Warm enough?"
"No worries," I said. "My hair and tail are groomed as usual, and bath time was normal."
Hachiman: "Good to know."
"…Want to try?" I asked.
Hachiman: "…What?"
"Grooming my tail," I said.
Hachiman: "Cut the jokes. An Uma Musume's tail is a sensitive, important part. Even if we're close, a guy like me can't just do that. I'd object, even if you're okay with it."
Ugh… Too forward, as expected. Hachiman's cautious nature strikes again.
"Just kidding, don't take it seriously," I said.
Hachiman: "Didn't sound like a joke."
"Forget that," I said. "You should bathe. I'll groom myself meanwhile."
Hachiman: "Got it. Be right back."
…It wasn't really a joke, but oh well.
"Now, time to groom," I said. "This place is surprisingly tidy for a bachelor pad. I never saw Hachiman's dorm room, but what was it like? The trainer's office was neat, so maybe his room was too… But he kept the Tiara Triple Crown medals under his bed, so he must've had a lot of stuff… I want to see his room."
Some Time Later
Hachiman: "Phew…"
"!" I started. "Hachiman, I grabbed some water."
Hachiman: "Oh, my bad. Should've offered you a drink. Sorry for the oversight."
"Don't worry," I said. "Tomorrow's the big stage. Better avoid anything unnecessary. And… where should I sleep? The sofa?"
Hachiman: "No way I'd let you sleep there. Don't worry, I've got a guest room ready. It's decently spacious, like a private room. There's bedding, so you should be comfortable."
So prepared… Wait, could there already be a woman!? No, Hachiman's not like that. He'd never neglect his trainer duties for romance. I swore to trust him—I won't doubt him now!
Hachiman: "What's up? You're making all sorts of faces."
"Nothing," I said. "I wondered if you had a woman, but I reminded myself you're not that kind of guy."
Hachiman: "A woman? No way… I gave up on that the moment I took this job."
"But there are attractive trainers with good personalities, right?" I said. "And Tazuna-san must be appealing to men."
Hachiman: "Sure, I won't deny that, but I've never seen female trainers or Tazuna-san that way. They're just colleagues."
"R-Really!" I said.
Hearing that, a wave of relief washed over me. I'm not imagining it—I'm truly at ease. Hachiman has no one special right now. That means it's time to go all out!
Hachiman: "Uh, not to pry, but why do you sound so happy about that?"
"N-No reason!" I said. "I'm just glad you're not the type to get distracted by women over us!"
Hachiman: "…Right."
We chatted about random things after that—cleaning, flowers, my mother, all sorts of topics. Hachiman doesn't talk much about himself, so I didn't push.
Time ticked by, and it hit the dorm's usual bedtime.
Hachiman: "Alright, time to sleep. Follow me, I'll show you the room."
"Right," I said.
Second Floor
Hachiman: "Here's the guest room. Not much stuff, but use it as you like."
"…Got it," I said.
Hachiman: "Night, then—Hachiman."
"Hm? What's up?" he said.
"Tomorrow's a big race for us," I said. "An unfamiliar track, a new distance. Victory's farther than usual. But… I'll win."
Hachiman: "Yeah."
"So I'll focus harder than ever tomorrow," I said. "Which means… I want to do something now." ///
Hachiman: "? Do what—"
"…We can't do this tomorrow," I said. "So now's the only time. Please… accept it." ///
(Hachiman: Whoa, what's with her today…? She's super clingy. First the head pats, now a hug. Been a while since the Emperor's Cup.)
Hachiman: "…" Pat pat
"!" I gasped.
Hachiman: "Just a bit. And don't tell anyone. If CB hears, she'll nag me to do it for her too."
"…Of course," I said.
Ah… It feels so good. Even better than before. His warmth, his scent—it's all enveloping me.
Minutes Later
"…I'm good now," I said. "Thanks for indulging me, Hachiman."
Hachiman: "No big deal. Ready to sleep?"
"Yes, I'm fine," I said. "See you tomorrow."
Hachiman: "Yeah."
Door shuts
"…"
Flop
I collapsed face-first onto the bed. I'm buzzing with excitement—I need to cool down.
"~!!" Roll roll, flail flail
Okay, face-first was too much too soon!!
Afterword
Air Groove's emotional whirlwind, as you noted, is incredible! The Yahari crossover fuels her bold vulnerability and Hachiman's flustered care, creating a tender, electric moment before the Arima Kinen.
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