Hachiman's Perspective
CB: "Yessssssss!!! Hachiman, I won!! I won~ Eh-heh-heh-heee~♪"
Hachiman: "Heh, I know. Can you be a little quieter? It's the middle of the night here, and everyone's asleep because they have school tomorrow."
CB: "Eh... Does that mean everyone's having a sleepover at your place!?"
Hachiman: "To cheer you on."
CB: "That's cheating!! "I thought you'd say that, so I've prepared a reward for you too." A reward? It can't be anything ordinary, okay?"
Hachiman: "The Irish Derby is next, right? You're planning to come back here once that's over, so I'll grant you one wish then."
CB: "Hmmm... If I win the Derby too, will you make it two? Then I'll listen."
Hachiman: "You're shrewd... Alright, that works. It's late, but congratulations on your victory. The first crown, huh."
CB: "Yeah ♪ Next is 2400m, but I'll go for that one too!"
Hachiman: "That's reassuring... Since it's at the same racecourse, the track conditions shouldn't be an issue. But don't let your guard down, okay? It's not just about the straight this time."
CB: "I know. This time, it's not just about distance but also strategy, so I need to be careful, right?"
Hachiman: "Ah, exactly."
CB: "Got it, Hachiman. Well, I should hang up soon, right? It's your bedtime too."
Hachiman: "Well, the date's already changed. Can we continue this tomorrow?"
CB: "I'm fine, but what about you, Hachiman?"
Hachiman: "There's a nine-hour difference between us, so I usually wake up around 5 or 6. If you call me around 9 or 10 your time, I should be able to answer."
CB: "So 11 am for you is 7 am for me... That's cutting it close. The timing's terrible. Alright, I'll call you around then."
Hachiman: "Yeah, please do."
CB: "Alright then, "Oh? Isn't that Hachiman there!" Whoa, Pilsud!?"
Mmmph... While she's someone I should be grateful to, I seem to have run into someone I'd rather not see.
Pilsud: "Congratulations on your victory abroad. You truly are my future husband."
Hachiman: "Who's your husband? Well, I'll accept the praise. Thanks for taking care of CB."
Pilsud: "Oh, it's what I offered. I'm merely taking responsibility for it. Besides, you're not a narrow vessel to be confined to Japan. You're meant to soar across the world! That's why I thought of my Ireland first."
Hachiman: "Is that so... Well, I certainly never intended to stay in Japan. I did think it was a good opportunity."
Pilsud: "Hah hah hah hah! My judgment seems to have been correct! Starting with the Empress, then the beautiful dark bay, and now the 'Flawless' who crosses borders! Excellent!"
Hachiman: "...What's 'Flawless'?"
Pilsud: "Translated into Japanese, it means perfect, unblemished, but in this context, 'Ten'i Muhō' is more accurate. That's why I said 'The Ten'i Muhō who crosses borders.'"
Hmm... That suits CB perfectly. And in Japan, it has another meaning. "Ten'i Muhō" means natural, unforced, just as it is, not something made. When describing a person, it means unadorned, innocent, and uninhibited.
Hachiman: "That suits CB. You can spread that around over there."
CB: "Ugh, enough already!! Don't talk amongst yourselves and leave me out of it!! It's the middle of the night in Japan, so I'm hanging up now!!"
Pilsud: "Oh, was it that late?! My apologies!! Then we shall also take our leave! Besides, you still have interviews, don't you?!"
CB: "Then, Hachiman, see ya~♪"
...Whew, finally over. I guess I'll go to sleep too.
--- In Hachiman's Room ---
Fuji: "Are you done talking?"
Hachiman: "...Why are you in my room? And furthermore, why are you in my bed?"
Fuji: "To sleep with you?"
Hachiman: "...On the sofa downstairs—"
Fuji: "Then I guess I'll go there too."
Hachiman: "Hey, why?"
Fuji: "Would you believe me if I said I don't want to be apart from you? When I lost the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and you hugged me in the park, didn't you? Since then, this feeling of wanting to be with you, not wanting to be apart, grew stronger."
Hachiman: "..."
Fuji: "You might think it's improper, but that's how important you've become to me."
Hachiman: "...Alright, then if you'll excuse me?"
Fuji: "Hmm, in this case, shouldn't I be the one saying that line?"
Hachiman: "Someone who's already being improper shouldn't be saying it."
Fuji: "Heh heh heh, that's true."
So I got into bed. The moment I did, Fuji snuggled close to me. Just to be clear, I had my back to Fuji, so we weren't facing each other.
Fuji: "If Hachiman-san would hug me, I think I could sleep even better..."
Hachiman: "Give me a break... I can't do something like that without a reason. CB's going to contact me tomorrow morning, so let me get some sleep."
Fuji: "Heh heh heh ♪ Alright, I understand."
Fuji said that, and without moving away from me, she fell asleep, breathing softly. I guess she really isn't going to move. Isn't this the kind of situation where I won't be able to sleep?
"Ten'i Muhō" is CB's new nickname.
Fuji hasn't confessed her feelings, but she's definitely no longer reserved, is she?
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