Tokai Teio battled her opponent on the dance machine for five hours, and finally pushed her score to '999999,' tying for first place.
"There's no way... you can beat me now, right?"
Her body was drenched in sweat, and Tokai Teio could barely speak. The high-intensity dancing had completely drained her stamina. She was only standing there out of sheer grit.
Warm applause erupted from the crowd. Unbeknownst to her, a large group of players had gathered around Tokai Teio.
"Miss Teio!"
"You're amazing!"
"The King of Dance Games—!"
Hearing the cheers, Tokai Teio's lips curved into a smile.
"Of course! I'm the great Tokai Teio, and there's no opponent I can't defeat!" She proudly patted her chest. "You think so too, right, Trainer?"
Just as Tokai Teio was smugly looking for her Trainer, she saw him sitting with McQueen, who was holding her Trainer's hand and doing... something.
Instantly, Tokai Teio's good mood vanished. While she was fighting her enemy, her home was being invaded!
You, McQueen, what are you doing to my Trainer! Tokai Teio stormed over.
"McQueen!"
"Oh? Did you finish, Teio?"
"Yeah! What are you doing with my Trainer!"
"I was..." McQueen's eyes darted nervously. "I was reading the Trainer's palm," she defended.
"Palm reading?"
"Yes, like his destiny, his luck, his... Trainer, don't say anything yet." McQueen cut off Luo Cheng, who was about to speak, and frantically explained to Tokai Teio.
Narrowing her eyes, Tokai Teio stared at McQueen for a moment.
"I see. Humph, well, you two should have been watching the great Tokai Teio's victory from the side." She hopped over and sat down next to Luo Cheng. "Just so we're clear, the Trainer is my Trainer, not McQueen's. He's my property."
"I know, but isn't it rude for Teio to call the Trainer 'property'?"
"What's wrong with that?" Tokai Teio pulled on Luo Cheng's hand as if to show him off. "The Trainer is my property, something no one can take away. You think so too, right, Trainer?"
"No, I think you're my property."
"Trainer... that works too, hehe~" She then leaned against Luo Cheng. The color of her sweat-soaked top was visible against his arm. Seeing this, Mejiro McQueen secretly pouted and leaned closer to Luo Cheng.
"Let's go get something to eat. It's past noon."
"Okay."
"What about you, McQueen?"
"I'll follow whatever Trainer Luo Cheng decides."
Walking out of the arcade, the streets were still empty. The dreary stillness was in stark contrast to the noisy arcade, as if they were two separate worlds. Luo Cheng looked at Mejiro McQueen beside him, who showed no surprise at the state of the bustling city center.
Just as I thought, everyone's perception has been altered. Even if they were the only ones left in the world, they wouldn't feel that anything was wrong.
After walking around and confirming that all the stores were closed, the group went to the park. The yellow food truck was still there.
"Trainer Luo Cheng, you're back."
"Yeah. Three crepes, please."
"Certainly. Please wait a moment."
The three of them sat on a park bench. Luo Cheng pulled out a handkerchief. "Wipe the sweat off, Teio."
"I'm so tired. Trainer, help me." Tokai Teio slumped against Luo Cheng, her limbs weak. Her body was still radiating heat, and the scent of citrus filled his nostrils.
"Teio, don't always rely on the Trainer for everything."
"Why not? A Trainer's job is to serve their horse girl, so what's wrong with me asking my Trainer to serve me? Trainer... help me." Tokai Teio wiggled her feet and lightly nudged Luo Cheng. Seeing her like this, Luo Cheng used the towel to wipe her face. Tokai Teio's eyes narrowed, and she made a sound of contentment.
"Here... wipe this too." She lifted her arm, revealing her smooth, faintly pink armpit. The glistening sweat on her skin shimmered like pearls. As Luo Cheng gently wiped her, Tokai Teio restrained her twitching body, her tail wagging wildly.
Mejiro McQueen's fair face turned bright red at the sight. She covered her eyes, peeking through her fingers with a mix of envy and jealousy.
So... so bold. If I were all sweaty, would the Trainer wipe me like that too?
No way, that's too embarrassing!
Just thinking about it made her head steam. Her affection for Luo Cheng wasn't at the level where she would throw all caution to the wind.
"Trainer..." Sweat beaded on Tokai Teio's forehead. "Have we... done this before?"
"Hmm?"
"I just have this feeling that you've... wiped my body like this before. But today should be the first time we've played arcade games, so why would I think that? It's so weird... Anyway, can you wipe here for me too?"
Teio then sat in front of Luo Cheng, letting him wipe her neck and shoulders. Her underwear was faintly visible.
Just as she sat down, her body suddenly shivered as if she'd felt something. She turned her head.
"Trainer... you're so lewd."
A '?' popped up above McQueen's head.
"Tonight, Trainer, do you want to... again?"
"Absolutely."
"You're such a perverted Trainer. You're my property, the great Tokai Teio's. You'd better serve the great Teio well. When I become famous, I'll announce to the whole world that you're my Trainer."
"You two, did you forget I was here a moment ago?" Feeling ignored, Mejiro McQueen couldn't help but speak up.
"McQueen, I thought you went back," Tokai Teio said.
"I was here the whole time!"
"Just kidding."
"Trainer Luo Cheng, your crepes are ready."
"Thanks."
The three of them sat on the bench.
"You know, it's really quiet today," Mejiro McQueen said, looking up at the sky.
"Yeah. I wonder if it will ever be this quiet again," Tokai Teio added.
"No one knows what the future holds, but... at least right now, it feels pretty nice," Luo Cheng said, biting into the sweet crepe.
"Hehe, the Trainer can be quite poetic sometimes," Mejiro McQueen said, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Trainer, do you want to try my crepe?"
"I'd be happy to."
"McQueen, I told you the Trainer is my Trainer! How can you just feed him!"
"I consider Teio my best friend, so what's wrong with me considering Teio's Trainer my Trainer?"
"Is that how it works!?"
Listening to the two of them bickering, Luo Cheng looked out at the empty streets.
...
[Support Card Story: Step! Smile! Wink! Complete]
[Speed +5, Power +5, Stamina +10]
[Uma Musume Encyclopedia Unlocked]