"Nearl-nee... Did Trainer Kitahara really go to the Central district?"
Everlamp asked, her spirits low. Her ears and tail faithfully mirrored her mood, both drooping limply without even a twitch.
"Everyone got along so well, and yet he just left like that. It's so heartless."
Nearl comfortingly patted the younger Uma Musume who supported her.
"That's the weight of a promise. Kitahara made a vow with Oguri Cap."
"Then, Nearl-nee, will you end up like that too? Leaving me behind to go someplace far away?"
It wasn't until the moment she watched Kitahara board the train that Everlamp truly felt the reality of separation.
The familiar stubbled face and worn-out hat blended into the crowd, his final smile gradually blurring in her memory, until only a symbol remained.
As the train pulled away, Everlamp suddenly realized that the overly routine days were completely over.
"I want to always follow behind you, Nearl-nee. What if you have to leave like that someday? What would I do then?"
Pressing her lips together tightly, Everlamp felt a chill and fear at the thought of such a future.
"Lamp-chan, nothing in this world remains unchanged forever. People meeting, interacting, becoming friends, and finally parting—all of this is the natural order."
Nearl knew what kind of answer Everlamp wanted to hear right now. She could certainly comfort her, say she would never abandon her.
But she couldn't.
She needed to understand a simple truth.
That everyone is an independent individual. Relationships with others are like intersecting lines, but there always comes a time to part ways—it's only a matter of time.
"So... you mean you'll leave too, someday?"
Everlamp's voice was noticeably thick with emotion, sadness slowly consuming her.
"Don't be silly!" With an exasperated pat on her head, Nearl actively took her hand.
"What I mean is, don't mourn the parting. What's important is life in the present—striving together, laughing together, comforting each other, and then growing to move toward the future. That's how a person's life is."
"Partings will always come, but all that has passed becomes a candlelight, illuminating the path ahead."
Nearl looked directly into Everlamp's eyes, her gentleness dissolving the younger girl's unease.
"Don't be sad about the farewell. Let's wish Kitahara well. Let's cheer for our friend who has finally realized his dream and kept his promise, heading for the Central district."
"Mhm!"
Clasping her hands together firmly in front of her chest, Everlamp nodded vigorously, her twin ears on her head swinging with force.
--+--
"Mr. Kitahara, congratulations on passing the Central trainer examination. We express our warm welcome and feel honored by your choice to apply here at our Central Tracen Academy."
In a bright, spacious office, three people were engaged in an earnest conversation. The words just spoken came from a woman who appeared very young.
Her physique was quite youthful, looking like a middle schooler at first glance. Her long orange hair cascaded down to her waist, and a long white streak in her bangs was her most distinctive feature.
She wore a small, snow-white beret with blue edges, adorned with a light blue rose. Her pure white dress was complemented by a dark blue vest, the overall effect both adorable and elegant.
Of course, the most eye-catching feature was the small cat nestled on her hat, almost like an ornament, constantly drawing attention.
Indeed, Kitahara Jo's gaze was completely captivated, lingering on the cat atop her head.
"Mr. Kitahara, it's not polite to stare at a lady like that."
Snap! A folding fan opened in her hand. The youthful-looking woman fixed her eyes on Kitahara with an amused expression.
"Ah! My deepest apologies, Chairman! Please forgive me!"
Called out, Kitahara jolted upright, then seamlessly executed a practiced sequence: standing at attention, bowing deeply, and apologizing loudly. One wondered how he'd perfected this routine.
"It's fine. I am a person of great stature, and thus possess great magnanimity."
Fanning herself lightly with the folding fan, the Chairman graciously let the matter drop.
"Thank you so much!"
Bowing once more in gratitude, Kitahara finally relaxed.
'Thank goodness this Chairman is reasonable. If I had to deal with another "Emperor," I might have really gone back to the local circuit to keep being Nearl's trainer.'
He thought to himself.
"Now, back to the previous question, Mr. Kitahara. Why did you choose to apply here?"
Holding the fan to cover her mouth, leaving only her piercing blue eyes fixed on him, Chairman Akikawa Yayoi waited for his response.
"Huh? Does there need to be a reason? Because there's only one Central Tracen Academy, right?"
Kitahara Jo rubbed the back of his head, feeling a bit perplexed.
I passed the Central exam, where else would I go if not here? It's not like I can use a Central diploma to be a local trainer, right?
"Not necessarily. Trainers qualified to teach in the Central district are extremely rare nowadays."
"Whether it's major families seeking clan trainers, or wealthy individuals looking for private tutors, the salaries offered are astronomical."
"To be honest, the benefits here in Central can't compare to theirs at all."
Snap! She closed the fan. Akikawa Yayoi gazed at Kitahara Jo with a wisdom and depth that starkly contrasted her cute appearance.
"And so, this is the most important point. For what reason did you apply to become a Central trainer?"
"…"
Kitahara fell silent. Honestly, he had never dissected his own motivations so clearly.
Yeah, why did I come here? Desire? Aspiration? Or simply because I had the talent for it?
No, that wasn't it.
He had expended immense effort studying, and even had Nearl's high-level one-on-one guidance, just barely scraping by.
In terms of innate talent, he was ordinarily only at the local level.
And his dream was just the Tokai Derby, far from grand.
So what was the driving force that made him endure such hardship to come to Central?
[Kitahara, I'm going to win now.]
"!"
It was like lightning striking his heart. The tangled thoughts were swept clean away, leaving only that brightest star shining within.
"It was a promise... and a dream, I guess. I saw a dream in her running."
Familiarity pulling down his hat brim, Kitahara unconsciously broke into a smile. His words were so plain, yet they carried his feelings straight to the listener's heart.
"I see... A splendid answer, Mr. Kitahara."
Akikawa Yayoi opened her fan, hiding her smile behind it.
"In that case, we have no further questions. Welcome to Central Tracen Academy officially. With an excellent trainer like you joining us, surely many more Uma Musume will benefit."
Picking up a fountain pen, she signed her name on a document before her and handed it to Kitahara.
"We hope you can realize your own dreams here as well, Trainer Kitahara."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.