"Alright, that's all done. Go hang up the pots on the pole, Tosho."
"Okay~~"
"Huff~ Huff~~"
"Thanks for the help, Air Groove. Wasn't expecting you to actually help."
"Please, for both of us, learn how to lie."
"You're beautiful."
"Is that a lie?"
"..."
"Whatever kind of smile you think you are making, it's not that, Trainer Igo."
"Is it a smile that you want to kiss?"
"It's a smile I want to punch."
"With your lips, right?"
"Kuf! Idiot…"
"Hey! Stop talking and help me!! You want my blue rose, right?"
"You can make one, right?"
"Of course! Who do you think I am?"
"A cutie patootie~~"
"Fufufu~~ Please refrain from teasing and flirting with Umas, Trainer Igo. Since you are new here, you may not understand just how dangerous Umas are."
Oh, I understand. I just don't care. I'm simply just built differently than those wimp trainers. I'm immune to Umapyoi!
"Thank you for your concern, Air Groove. I shall take your words into account."
He isn't going to, is he?
The young man and the 2 Umas created a crude vertical garden with poles. It looks more like a laundry pole rather than a thing where you hang pots from, but don't fix what's not broken.
"There! Now I have more space to plant my herbs!!"
"Tell me when you finally create a blue rose, okay?"
Air Groove wants to ask why he is so fixated on creating a blue rose. Air Groove knows the reason why the blue rose has gained its current status is that, unlike any other colour, the blue rose simply couldn't be created naturally. People have been crossbreeding roses for a millennium, creating colored roses in all of the spectrum, except for blue. Regardless of how hard people try, a blue rose simply couldn't exist. The closest way people have created a blue rose is by dyeing a white rose blue. The difficulty has given the blue rose its current status, which symbolises the unachievable, the mysterious, and nature's last secret.
Perhaps… He is hiding an insecurity inside of him. The weight of all the eyes on him surely has grown a kind of imposter syndrome inside of him. He might see himself in the blue rose, a rookie trainer gaining everything before even reaching his first year, which is almost as impossible as the blue rose.
"You should be more confident, Trainer Igo."
"Yes?"
Have more confident? In who? Sweep Tosho? In magic? I never expected Air Groove to be that kind of girl, but you learn something new every day. Perhaps she is a firm believer in magic like Sweep Tosho, too. Don't tell me she is a magical girl, too?
"If you say so…"
"Senior Air Groove."
As the group was finishing their business in the communal garden, a new uma came up to them. An uma with short blonde hair adorned with a charming blue-and-white bow that rests just under her right ear. Her eyes are clear, vivid chartreuse green, and stand out as they stare coldly into anything in her focus.
"Yes. Is there anything I can help you with, Little Cocoon?"
"My trainer had asked me to deliver a request paper to you."
"Hmm… Please send them to the student council office. I'll properly look through them later. My hands aren't exactly clean enough to handle papers right now."
"I understand."
Little Cocoon bowed her head at Air Groove, but as she was about to turn around and walk away, her eyes caught a glimpse of Igo Heita. Little Cocoon was there during the little kidnapping attempt that Igo Heita tried with Rice Shower. Of course, that attempt was ultimately thwarted by his own trainees.
"You're the weirdo who tries to kidnap Rice Shower."
"I beg your pardon? What? Me? A weirdo? You blind or something? I'm the normal-est person here!!"
Air Groove, Sweep Tosho, and Little Cocoon can only stare at the young man dubiously. His absolute confidence in pronouncing that he is normal makes it sound as if he had to answer that kind of question before. Not only that, he is denying that he is a weirdo, but not the part where he tried to kidnap Rice Shower. So in his mind, he might be a criminal, but not a weirdo. A bizarre standard to have.
"So, are you admitting that you tried to kidnap Rice Shower, Trainer Igo?"
"Why do you make it sound like it's a criminal act, Air Groove? It's Rice Shower! Who wouldn't want to kidnap her?!"
"I wouldn't."
"What? You think you're better than me?! That's it! You picking a fight?!"
Initiating a conversation with this person has been the biggest regret of my life.
"Enjoy Rice Shower while you still can. Soon enough, she'll know who is the better trainer for her."
"You? A better trainer than Trainer Riko? Don't get ahead of yourself."
"Oh… For the love of Goddesses… Both of you stop."
Air Groove, being someone who is sitting in a seat of power, quickly realises tensions are brewing and steps in. There is absolutely no way a human will be able to win against an Uma, so Air Groove has to stop the young man for his own good.
"Hmph… What's so special about that small Uma anyway? You and Trainer Riko always talk about her…"
"She is destined to be mine. It was written in the holy book, and your trainer took her from me."
"Then go get her then… That attention-seeking brat."
"Hmm? Ohh~~ What's this? Malice to your fellow trainee?"
"What? Are you going to say that I need to get along with her, too?"
"Of course not!"
To this answer, everyone was taken aback. Why would an adult not try to defuse the situation when 2 teenagers don't get along? Isn't that something normal? Trying to get rid of someone with malicious intent toward another? Why is this young man not only couldn't care less in it, but also encourages it?
"If I have to assume, you're jealous that Riko's eyes are on Rice, correct?"
"What!? I never—"
"Then work with me, Little Cocoon."
The young man offers the blonde Uma his hand in partnership. The man that Little Cocoon was about to fight with is now offering her a hand of cooperation.
"I want Rice Shower to be in my team, and you want Rice Shower out of team First."
"It's Team Zenith."
"Yes, whatever. My point stands. Work with me and we'll achieve our goal faster."
"..."
Little Cocoon wondered if she should take the young man's hand. Like previously stated, they weren't the closest of friends, and now he is offering her help. Yes, he did it for his own goal, but he willingly stretched out his hand to grab Little Cocoon so both of them could enjoy their victory when they reap what they sow. More hands make the job easier, but the way he instantly turns his attitude around is astonishing. It's like there are 2 minds in 1 body.
"...fine, but we're only partners until Rice Shower is out."
"Hmph! Don't worry! I will forget about you once Rice is on team Minaz."
I should stop this as a Vice President…
"Wait a second! You can't do that."
"And why would that be, Miss Air Cutie?"
"Compliment will get you nowhere, Trainer Igo."
Even though Air Groove's expression doesn't indicate happiness, her tail betrays her as it swings around happily. The young man, being someone fairly familiar with Uma Musume, catches the little detail and smiles to himself. He has her in his hands, and if he plays his cards right, Air Groove will bend in front of him.
"Is it a compliment when I'm saying the truth? I was simply stating what I'm seeing, and besides, I don't remember that it is forbidden for a trainee to quit the team she is in."
"Umh!"
Air Groove feels intense pressure from the encroaching young man. Her guts are telling her to run away or experience something horrifying, but her call of duty prevents her from letting an evil plan brew on. Air Groove tried to look brave, but the little sliding backwards her feet did was caught by the young man, who only grew bolder.
You will bend for me, Air Groove.