"Opera O, you don't have to be so conspicuous. This is a school building, not your personal theater. If you want to perform, there's a public theater available for your use at any time."
"Hahahaha! As expected of the Empress, to have a majesty that is not inferior to this Overlord's!" The orange-haired Uma Musume called "T.M. Opera O," however, did not lower her voice one bit in response to Air Groove's words. Her tone was as lofty as an opera singer's, her movements as exaggerated as a famous stage actor's, as if she were the only star on the scene, and everyone else paled in comparison.
In reality, as a Uma Musume, Opera O's looks were probably not outstanding among the generally pretty horse girls. However, her exceptional charisma, her soaring voice, her personality that could break into song or laughter at any moment, and even the accessories she meticulously chose for herself, all made her radiate confidence at all times.
It was as if she was always the protagonist. And in fact, T.M. Opera O was highly popular within Tracen Academy. Many of her schoolmates were infatuated with her confidence and pride, just like the title she always used for herself, "Haō" or "Overlord."
Of course, this nickname would one day become the "Ruler of the Century's End," but for now, Opera O had clearly not reached the level of achievement to boast such a title. But what was undeniable was that she was an incredibly strong racer.
Especially since, as far as Air Groove knew, Opera O had yet to find a trainer she got along with.
Perhaps it was because her personality was a bit too "socially terrifying."
She would suddenly burst into song and laughter in public for no reason, and once held the record for laughing at the sky on the school roof for half an hour. She would shamelessly stand in the most conspicuous places to give speeches and would even proselytize to anyone who didn't know or hadn't heard of her.
In her own words, "It is not permissible for anyone to have not appreciated the glorious figure of the Overlord, otherwise their life would be too tragic."
Yes, she was that confident, to the point of being narcissistic. This was why Air Groove and some other Uma Musume couldn't stand her personality. And most trainers, even the cheerful ones, generally didn't reach Opera O's level of exuberance. They still had some sense of shame.
Therefore, Opera O had yet to find a trainer, and Air Groove had no intention of recommending her to Ryuichi.
Are you kidding me? A trainer like Kitano Ryuichi, with his somewhat insecure and dejected personality, may lack confidence, but that was no reason to hand him a heavyweight like Opera O, who had a severe surplus of it.
If they were put together... who knows if Trainer Kitano would one day be driven mad by secondhand embarrassment.
"Opera O... I'm showing a new trainer around Tracen Academy. Could you please move aside?" Air Groove was too tired to argue and just wanted to get her to leave before she attracted a crowd.
"Hahaha, so it's a new trainer! Ah, every excellent trainer is like a rising sun! And with a new sun, there will surely be more sunflowers blooming in its direction. How wonderful~"
T.M. Opera O, with a look of intoxication, stepped closer and closer to Air Groove and Ryuichi. At this point, Ryuichi still showed no sign of turning to look at her. Opera O found this a little curious but continued on, completely unaffected.
"Ah, new sun, why do you hide from the light of this Overlord? Though the Overlord's light is dazzling, as the sun, you should shine upon every corner of this world with me."
"Come now, don't be shy! Unleash your passion!"
As she spoke, Opera O was now quite close to Ryuichi. For some reason, the closer she got, the stronger the impulse she felt to make him turn his head and let her see his face.
But Opera O hid this thought well. She had laid a lot of verbal groundwork and even her movements were cautious, just wanting the young man to turn around with the force of her words.
Finally, Opera O's hand touched Ryuichi's shoulder. But the next moment, the feel of that broad shoulder slipped from her grasp.
"—I'm sorry, but it's not convenient for me right now."
"Ms. Air Groove, thank you for accompanying me until now, but I think I'd rather tour the academy by myself. I'm very sorry."
"Wait, Trainer Kitano?"
Air Groove tried to stop him, but she found that Ryuichi had run down the stairs without even looking back. Although with their speed as Uma Musume, it would be easy for her and Opera O to catch him, neither of them did.
Air Groove helplessly turned to look at Opera O, whose arm was still frozen in mid-air, and said with a peculiar, exasperated expression:
"There you go. Now you're disliked, aren't you, Opera O?"
"—Hahahahaha! I, however, do not think that is the case, Empress!"
Although Opera O was a bit embarrassed at first, the next moment she put her hands on her hips, laughing with her usual overwhelming confidence. How much of that confidence was genuine, however, Air Groove didn't know.
But Opera O's words made Air Groove think. Although Ryuichi seemed a bit shy and reluctant to interact with people, he hadn't shown any dislike for anyone so far. He was even very respectful to Symboli Rudolf, who had reprimanded him.
A person with such a personality, even if Opera O's behavior was a bit over-the-top, shouldn't have just run away like that... Trainer Kitano was not such a rude person.
"...It seems our new trainer has quite a few secrets."
An interested expression appeared on Air Groove's face. She was now becoming curious about Kitano Ryuichi's identity. The arrival of a single new trainer had caused so many people she knew to react differently, including herself.
She wanted to know just how many Uma Musume would feel the same sense of familiarity towards Kitano Ryuichi, or if, perhaps, all the Uma Musume at Tracen felt the same way about him.
What Air Groove didn't notice at that moment was that as she watched Ryuichi's retreating back with a smile, Opera O's pupils suddenly went vacant for a moment.
Though it was only for an instant, the expression on Opera O's face was one that her usually friendly self had never shown before.
It was a negative expression, a fusion of shock, vigilance, jealousy, and a series of other emotions. Of course, it was only for a moment. Even Opera O herself didn't notice it.
Ryuichi fled. He truly fled in a panic. The reason was that he didn't want to be caught by T.M. Opera O. Although he knew very well that if she really wanted to catch him, it would only be a matter of seconds. A human's physical abilities couldn't compare to a Uma Musume's.
What made Ryuichi feel fortunate was that Opera O and Air Groove didn't chase him. Finally, after running all the way to the school gate, he stopped to catch his breath.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
"I'm sorry, Opera O, I'm sorry..."
"But I really can't see you like this. I really can't..."
Panting, Ryuichi walked to a fountain, above which stood statues of the Three Goddesses. These were the true deities of the Uma Musume world, the legendary three goddesses who created all horse girls. It was rumored that these statues possessed real divine power and had brought great fortune to many Uma Musume.
At this moment, however, the only help the Three Goddesses' fountain offered Ryuichi was a chance to wash his sweat-drenched face, so he wouldn't look so much like a pathetic deserter.
He splashed his face fiercely with the fountain water. Ryuichi seemed to calm down a bit. Looking at his reflection in the water, he gave a bitter smile.
"I'm so useless... I don't dare to see Rudolf, and I dare even less to see Opera O... I'm such a failure as a retainer."
Yes, a retainer. Although Ryuichi's insecurity was carved into his bones, he rarely called himself a "retainer" to his assigned Uma Musume. Because that implied he was completely led by them, that he was of almost no help to them at all. Instead, it was they who helped him immensely.
To date, Kitano Ryuichi had only treated two assigned Uma Musume with such a status.
The first was his first encounter, the "Emperor," Symboli Rudolf. This emperor taught him everything she knew. Her influence persisted even now; what little teaching ability he had still bore the shadow of Rudolf.
The second was T.M. Opera O, the "Overlord." She, like Rudolf, had given him her all. She was the only truly versatile Uma Musume whom he had been completely unable to help from beginning to end.
But the difference was, Ryuichi might still have the courage to meet Rudolf, but when it came to Opera O, he couldn't even lift his head.
This wasn't because Opera O treated him badly. On the contrary, her help was on the level of a doting mother. If there was any Uma Musume in this world he felt most comfortable with, it was undoubtedly T.M. Opera O.
But... it was precisely because of this that he couldn't face her. Because he felt that he had let down her expectations far more than he had Rudolf's.
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