The door to my room creaked open, and I shambled in like a zombie, with a similarly tired Oguri just behind me. I took a few steps forward, before I unceremoniously dropped face-first onto my bed. Oguri blinked slowly as she saw me stuff my face into the pillow, before she followed me and dove onto the bed as well.
Neither of us had changed into our nightwear, and really, neither of us cared. Both of us were so tired after everything we'd done today, and I wanted nothing more than to curl up in my blanket and hide from the world for a good few days.
Today had been beyond busy. It was to be expected—today was the day we decided to execute everything we'd been planning for the past few days, and everything had to go well if we were to ensure things would go well.
I myself had talked to over a dozen people today. Michelle My Baby had been my first target, and she wasn't the last. Fujii Sensuke from the Tokyo News, Maruzensky, the Sirius and Mejiro Families, Tamamo Cross and her trainer, and even some of the most popular announcers for Umamusume Racing—it felt like an unending list of people I had to meet.
Oguri herself hadn't been idle, going through interview after interview regarding the issues with the current URA. The serious atmosphere, combined with the political nature of the questions she faced—it was something she'd never done. But after I shared Obey Your Master's circumstances with her, Oguri had refused to back down.
And yet both of our workloads paled in comparison to Director Akikawa's efforts. I'd only heard a snippet of it once we all returned to Tracen Central, but even that was enough to make my scalp tingle. The amount of physical and mental stamina she had was unreal, and the whole theory about her being an umamusume was becoming more and more likely.
Still, at least it was over.
For now.
I grumbled softly, shifting around to make myself comfortable. "You good, Oguri?"
"Head h'rts." Oguri mumbled, her ears pressing onto her head. "The script was so long…"
I patted her head. "Sorry about that." I smiled weakly. "You know how it is; can't let the media catch a slip, y'know?"
"Nn…"
It seemed a little excessive, but I really didn't want to leave anything to chance. Oguri might be Japan's darling, but I knew how cruel the faceless masses could be like. And in such a volatile situation, I wouldn't let the media take advantage of Oguri, even if I was somewhat acquainted with the reporters that'd interviewed Oguri.
It was that same caution that'd led me to request a talk with Secretariat herself.
Now that was definitely excessive. Calling the Big Red herself for this was completely overkill, but I knew how obstinate the Japanese could be, especially since this was still the late 80's. If I wanted to truly ensure that Obey Your Master wouldn't be held back by all the red tape like Maruzensky was, I needed to make sure they would never have the chance.
The details regarding my talk with her were…inconsequential. For now, my 'deal' with Secretariat was nothing more than an insurance—in case things didn't quite work out.
Regardless, things turned out pretty well overall. Our 'net' was fully constructed, our weapons were primed, and all we needed to do was to light the spark.
But if there was one thing that was unfortunate,
I sighed. "We didn't find Obey though."
Oguri's eyes dimmed slightly. "The seaweed camera didn't know either…"
I closed my eyes in defeat. That was the only thing that hadn't gone right today. No matter who I asked, no one knew where Obey was. Michelle didn't know, Fujii Sensuke didn't know—not even Secretariat herself knew. Obey Your Master had practically disappeared from the face of Japan.
I grit my teeth.
It was my fault. I'd pushed too hard, forced my own beliefs into her without asking about her own desires. I should've known that it was too much—I would've run myself if I'd been put into that situation.
Haha. If I could go back in time, I'd dropkick myself in the face.
Suddenly, I felt Oguri pull me close, and I blinked as I found her gently patting my back. "Not your fault." She told me, her voice soft but confident.
My fists clenched. "It is." I bit back, my ears drooping with shame. "I-, I'd been in her position myself. I could've been softer about it, or asked her to meet again, or-!"
"You didn't know." She said. My mouth opened, but I felt the rest of my argument fall away as she pulled me closer. "It's okay. We'll meet again."
I sighed, before I slowly hugged back. "Yeah. We will."
With the distance between us closed, I felt pleasantly warm, even without a blanket covering me. And slowly, I felt my eyes begin to droop as the exhaustion I'd built up finally began catching up to me. Oguri clearly saw this, and she smiled softly as she held me close, her tail gently curling around my left leg. "Sleep." She whispered into my ear, her breath warm.
"I…" I muttered, but the rest of my words fell away as I fell asleep.
.
.
.
Once she was sure Star had fallen asleep, Oguri's soft expression returned to her usual dull stare. Or at least that was how it would've looked to most people.
Because, in truth, she felt agitated, and not in the same way she usually felt during the moments just before the gates opened. There was a pit deep in her stomach, and from it rose an unquenchable flame that threatened to burn her insides whole.
Because the realization had struck again;
Star was not alone in her struggles. There were others who were just like her—who were born wrong, who had a piece of themselves missing. Obey Your Master also needed help, even if she thought otherwise.
And the idea that the solution to all their troubles was being blocked by a set of rules made her…
Well,
She didn't quite know how to feel about it, but when the Director mentioned that she would storm the URA building if the circumstances turned dire, Oguri felt no hesitation in asking to join her.
Not just because she was angry, but also because she realized that Star had saved her before; without her stepping up, Kitahara wouldn't have been able to follow them to Central. This team she now regarded as family would've been torn apart before they could've become what they are now.
It was only right that she returned the favor.
…Yes, it was only right.
She held Star close, gently taking a breath. Star's scent was always pleasant; a soft mixture of vanilla from her shampoo and the floral notes of her perfume. Over time, an earthy smell was also mixed in, one that originated from Oguri herself—a physical mark she had left behind. The smell never failed to calm her, even when she was the most agitated.
To her, it was the smell of home.
And those that threatened her home deserve to be devoured.
…No, wait-
Her expression twisted with faint disgust.
That didn't sound right. Why would she ever devour the URA? Considering the thickness of their URA Rulebook alone, they were probably the kind of stuck-up people that Belno despised from those anime she watched here and there. They probably wouldn't taste all that good.
Nn. Maybe she should ask Star when she woke up. But for now,
She yawned softly as she snuggled into Star's shoulder, and basking in the warmth they shared, she soon fell asleep.