"Pant… Pant… Pant… I won… Pant… Pant…"
"Pant… Pant… Pant… Yeah… Pant… Pant… Congratulation… Pant… McQueen… Pant… Uuuh…"
McQueen had repeatedly trained on a medium-length track before, but never had she been this tired. She quickly deduces that this is because she was employing the front-runner strategy and was actually in a race, rather than just training.
"Pant… Pant… Trainer wasn't joking… Pant… Pant… Race is different than training… Pant… Pant…"
"Pant… Pant… You're right… Pant… Pant…"
"Excuse me!! Do you both want to create a contract with me?!"
"Me!! Me!!"
"Excuse me!!"
As the 2 exhausted Umas were talking with each other, they were quickly swarmed by trainers who wanted to recruit them.
"Wait! Wait a moment!"
"Please stop!!"
The 2 Umas are frantically trying to calm down the situation. They had expected to be recruited, but they weren't expecting to this extent. They look around the place for their trainers to give them direction. Their trainer was taking his sweet ass time walking to them like a main villain in a JRPG.
You bastard!! You'd better come here quickly, or I might actually take one of their request!!
"Ah! Uh!! Ah!! Trainer!!"
The flustered Teio quickly breaks through the group of trainers and runs toward the young man. She jumps and hugs the young man's body with all her might, as if her life depended on it.
"Ah… Uh…"
McQueen was the only one left being surrounded by the rookie trainers. Their hopeful gazes are extremely heavy on the young girl. McQueen's thoughts were all over the place. She wants to run to the young man just like Teio, but the rookie trainers' pure gaze feels like a chain on her little heart.
Ugh! This is all the bastard's fault! That sadistic man! Might as well agree to one of these trainers' requests! At least they won't mentally destroy me! I would have a silent, stable, normal, calm, boring, uneventful, dull, and uninspiring academy life…
McQueen bites her lips, and her hands accidentally graze her right pocket and feel something metallic in there. It was the metal ring that the bastard had given her.
"I'M SORRY!!"
In panic, McQueen pulled out the ring using her right hand and then put it on her left ring finger.
"I BELONG TO THAT MAN!!"
She quickly broke through the crowd and hugged the young man's body and buried her face in his chest.
"My apologies, fellow trainers. Were MY girls bothering you?"
With Teio on his left and McQueen on his right, it's not hard to see this man as a young playboy toying with the girls' hearts. His smug smile doesn't help with his image as well.
"They already have a trainer? Why did they join the mock race?"
"That's right! Isn't this a race for Uma, who doesn't have a trainer?!?"
This line of questioning has been predicted by the young man, all he needs now is the last piece of the puzzle before he gives his answer.
"I would also like to know your reason as to why you order your trainees to attend this mock race."
The one who approaches the group of rookie trainers is one of the veteran trainers. In fact, she was the one who gave the welcoming speech several weeks ago. Dark wavy hair, blunt-cut bangs, and warm gray eyes.
"Why? Isn't that obvious? I want to test whether I'm truly worthy of being a trainer. If my trainees, whom I have trained for several weeks by now, have the same level of progression as those who don't have a trainer, then what's the point of my being here? If they were to lose this mock race, then I will resign as a trainer."
"Wonderful answer. May I know your name?"
"Igo Heita, Miss Riko Kashimoto."
"Igo Heita, yes? I shall remember your name. I do hope to see you more often, Mister Igo."
After receiving a pleasing answer, the veteran trainer left the scene, not even glancing at the other trainees or trainers. Riko Kashimoto is the trainer of the team 'First', a very strong team that frequently wins races. Not only that, she is also close to the top of Tracen Academy, like with Tazuna and Akikawa, having a connection with her is simply a must if you want to improve in Tracen. She was here to scout for someone to add to her team, but was disappointed that she didn't find any. At least the young man's answer cheered her up and gave her hope for the future.
Sorry fellas, but I'm not pure enough to believe Tracen is a place of fantasy. Regardless of how the place is, politics will always be there for as long as human is involved.
"Good job, girls."
"Hey, about your resigning… Is that true?"
"Of course. I don't want to waste any of our time. If nothing changes, then you have to go to another trainer, and I will try another job. That's all there is to it."
*Grip*
The 2 Umas' grip tightens around their trainer. His matter-of-fact tone pisses them off. They had only been spending several weeks with each other, but those weeks have been a blast for both McQueen and Teio. They had hoped that their trainer was feeling the same thing, but his answer with his tone just now proved otherwise.
"You stupid…"
"Dummy…"
"Hm?"
What the 2 Umas don't know is that their trainer is feeling the same way. He has been having fun these past several weeks with them, but he is an adult, and they're teenagers. His way of thinking is simply to progress and improve for a better future for everyone, even if he has to sacrifice their time together. Something that teenagers, who are still thinking with their emotions, simply have a hard time understanding.
Since I'm the main character of this mock race, I might as well get the first pick.
Everyone's eyes are still on the group when the young man starts toward the group of Umas who had just finished their run. The trainers are looking with dread that this man, who has proven himself as a trainer, walks toward the Umas. Unlike him, the rookie trainers only have words to go by. They can only promise the Umas without actual proof to back their words. There's no rebuttal if the Umas choose him over them.
Sensing the intense atmosphere around the area, the young man could only sigh.
"Although we all might be in the same generation, a word of advice. If you are worried that you don't have a portfolio, how about becoming an assistant trainer for one of the many Tracen teams? If the team did well, your name will also improve, and your chance of recruiting an Uma for yourself gets higher."
"Do you think it's that easy?"
"Between that or convincing these girls to choose you over me. Which one is it?"
Everyone there already knows the answer, but none wants to say it.
"I do hope that I'm not the only one of our generation to make it to the top."
And with that, that bridge should hold on for a little longer.
The young man turns his back to the trainers and walks to the third-place winner, Silence Suzuka.
"Front Runner, but you lack the top speed to not be overtaken."
"Huh?'
"Silence Suzuka, will you give me the privilege of seeing you being the lead?"
The young man offers his right hand toward Suzuka.
"No pressure if you don't. I'll just choose someone else."
"No. Did you just say that I can take the lead?"
"Yeah? Isn't that what you do best?"
Suzuka's eyes widen at the young man's answer. For several years of her life, people had told her that she didn't fit to be a front-runner. That she should focus on other strategies. Using her inexhaustible stamina as a support and not the main focus of her strategy.
"But aren't your two trainees excels at being a pace chaser?"
"Indeed. It's really boring, so I want you to put some spice into the team. I want a challenge to train a front-runner. For the sake of me being a better trainer."
"..."
Suzuka looked at the young man's face and back at his extended hand. His reasoning was selfish. He wants to improve at being a trainer. Without a doubt, he is an impressive trainer who can train a pace chaser like Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, but can he train a front runner like Silence Suzuka?
Suzuka contemplates her choice. This man's words make it sound like he is a complete asshole, but Suzuka doesn't feel any bad intent from him at all. In fact, it feels like she is standing in front of another Uma before a race, someone who wants to be the best as well. He might not have any portfolio of training a front runner, but something tells Suzuka that this man will do his best to learn.
"Hmm~~ I accept. My name is Silence Suzuka, nice to meet you."
"The name is Igo Heita."
With both parties agreeing, they share a firm handshake.
"Great. Now for the last one."
"Eh? You're still recruiting?"
"Yeah… If it's not me, then no one will be able to use her effectively."
Silence Suzuka follows the young man as he walks amongst the Umas, who all look hopefully at him. Hopeful that they're the Uma that he will choose next. More and more of their hopes fade away as the man continues to walk to the back of the group.
"HAHAHAHA!! Haru is last again, but that was fun!! Haru wants to run again!!"
What a dummy. You don't have any aptitude for medium-length race, you know?
"Eh? What are you doing here, mister?"
"..."
Goddesses, I will change this one's fate with my own hands. So prepare your ass! I will bring you down with the horse that lost 113 times!!
"Haru Urara, will you give me the privilege of changing your fate?"