"The Trainer over there is that Trainer Wada Ryuji?"
"Hmm?" Wada heard someone call his name from behind him and immediately turned around. He saw two Uma Musume walking straight towards him, and he hadn't met them before.
"It really is him. That handsome face, it's definitely Trainer Wada." Narita Road recognized him at first glance, this opponent whom even her own Trainer considered a great enemy. She greeted Wada warmly, saying:
"Hello, Trainer Wada, I'm Narita Road, and this is Admire Vega. You must have heard our names from Doto-san, right~"
"Nice to meet you." Admire Vega's attitude was rather cold, even showing a hint of hostility towards Wada. It was unclear if this was due to her inner affection for Meisho Doto making her displeased with Wada's current actions, or if she was inherently wary of Wada, a highly threatening Trainer.
Admire Vega clearly remembered discussing Trainers with Doto back then, but she had already found her own Trainer. At that time, Doto had slyly asked her how she felt about her current Trainer... Admire Vega wasn't stupid; she could hear the hint of trying to poach in Doto's tone.
However, in reality, if Wada had truly abandoned Doto because of that, Admire Vega wouldn't have considered him even if she never found a Trainer her whole life. Doto's timid personality, even for someone with Admire Vega's cold demeanor, would subconsciously receive some care.
"So you are Admire Vega and Narita Road, nice to meet you." It was Wada's first time meeting these two Uma Musume, who were also major rivals he would face in the upcoming Satsuki Sho. If all went as expected, they would compete all the way until the end of the Classic Triple Crown.
"I am Wada Ryuji, Trainer of Doto and Opera O. Are you looking for Opera O?"
"No, we just came to see what kind of Trainer Doto chose~" Narita Road was clearly better at socializing than Admire Vega. After sizing up Wada, she said with interest:
"Very good, and so young. Doto has excellent taste."
"Trainer Wada, I heard you were third in the written exam for the new batch of Tracen Academy's Central Trainer Certification? Is that true?"
"And you also made Doto beat that Opera O." Admire Vega also spoke calmly: "Although I don't know much about you, being able to beat Opera O means you are indeed extraordinary."
"Ah... it's true, but compared to Ikezoe-kun and Imanami-senpai, I'm still far behind..." Wada didn't hide these widely known facts, scratching his head as he said: "I'm just an ordinary Trainer. Doto is the one who worked hard. Without her, I wouldn't know how to beat Opera O."
"If that's the case, Doto should be stronger in your Team right now, correct?" Admire Vega immediately spoke upon hearing this: "Then why don't I see Doto? Are you giving Opera O special training?"
"Ah... Vega-san, please don't say that..." Narita Road immediately stopped the blunt Admire Vega's questioning, saying with a somewhat apologetic smile: "I'm sorry, Vega-san is rather serious..."
Actually, even though Narita Road said that, wasn't she also indirectly asking why Doto wasn't here? She and Admire Vega got along better with Doto, while they had a slight friction with Opera O not that there was any conflict, but simply an inability to accept Opera O's exaggerated acting and confidence.
Not all Uma Musume were as "self-absorbed" as Opera O, nor were all Uma Musume as lacking in confidence as Doto, who would instead yearn for Opera O, who didn't care about others' opinions. Most Uma Musume, like Admire Vega and Narita Road, couldn't understand Opera O's excessive confidence, and showed concern for the less confident Doto.
The news of Doto beating Opera O in the Mainichi Hai was now known to everyone at Tracen Academy. Many Uma Musume and Trainers hadn't expected the timid Doto to perform so brilliantly on the track, and her final competition with Opera O gave many Uma Musume a completely new understanding of Meisho Doto.
Suddenly, not only Doto, but also Wada was once again noticed by many Uma Musume and Trainers at Tracen Academy. After all, Wada had not only beaten Opera O, but also Miss Tojo Hana, the Trainer of Tracen Academy's strongest Team.
And the fact that Opera O and Doto were participating in the Satsuki Sho also put considerable pressure on many Trainers who also wanted to participate in the Satsuki Sho, causing them to repeatedly caution their Uma Musume to be wary of Meisho Doto as a formidable opponent.
After all, based on their current performance, Doto had still beaten Opera O, and with only a month until the Satsuki Sho, Trainers and Uma Musume generally believed that Doto's strength should still be greater than Opera O's.
They clearly hadn't paid attention to the Last Spurt time Opera O achieved when going all out in the Mainichi Hai. After all, Opera O was the runner-up, and few people paid attention to the second-place finisher's results.
Therefore, Admire Vega and Narita Road were both somewhat dissatisfied with Wada's "special training" for Opera O. Doto, who was clearly stronger, wasn't even here, so why was Opera O getting special treatment?
Is it just because you like Opera O? This was no secret at Tracen Academy; many knew about Wada Ryuji's obsession with Opera O.
"Ah, well, Doto is just tired from training and is still sleeping."
Being stared at by the two Uma Musume, Wada felt a bit pressured and honestly said: "And this time, it was just to test the condition of Opera O's winning uniform. I..."
" Hahahahaha! Isn't this Admire Vega and Narita Road? Why have my rivals come here? Is it to admire the magnificent figure of me, the Overlord?"
However, before Wada could finish speaking, Opera O's characteristic laughter echoed again. Opera O, in her winning uniform, was deeply engrossed in her own charm (feigned), and said to Admire Vega and Narita Road:
"Soon, we shall meet at the Satsuki Sho, my rivals! Are you ready to submit before me, the Overlord?"
"...It's not certain who will submit to whom, Opera O."
However, as soon as Opera O arrived, Admire Vega quickly showed her hostility no, rather than hostility, it was the Uma Musume's confidence in victory and strategic disdain for her opponent.
As the object of Opera O's one-sided harassment, Admire Vega had wanted to compete with Opera O for a long time. However, Opera O's several races had been separate from hers, and this Satsuki Sho was the perfect opportunity for Admire Vega and Opera O to truly test each other.
"You should be in your prime now, right? I am too, Opera O. Let's meet on the Satsuki Sho track."
"Hahahaha! I will not lose, whether it's a race or charm!"
Opera O, however, remained incredibly confident, so confident that Admire Vega found it annoying. Soon, Admire Vega couldn't tolerate Opera O's excessive confidence and, pulling Narita Road, took her leave.
After the two Uma Musume had walked away, Wada looked at Opera O with a subtle gaze and said faintly:
"Thank you for helping me out, Opera O, but... I think you should pay attention to your interpersonal relationships."
Wada, of course, knew that Opera O had come to help him. Otherwise, the reputation of "favoring one over the other" would undoubtedly be a significant blow to Wada's reputation. But from his interaction with Admire Vega and Narita Road just now, Wada also realized that Opera O was quite unqualified in terms of interpersonal communication.
At least Admire Vega disliked Opera O greatly. Although Narita Road didn't show it, her competitive spirit towards Opera O remained, and she also wanted to compete with Opera O.
"An Overlord is naturally admired by all, revered, and inspires awe~" Opera O, completely oblivious, still said:
"Ryuji, since you have chosen to embark on an unprecedented journey with me, the Overlord, then you must be mentally prepared to walk this lonely path, relying on each other!"
"When I truly become the 'Overlord,' you will be my most favored loyal subject. At that time, I will share this victory with you!"
"A lonely path, huh..."
Wada fell silent upon hearing this. Opera O's words reminded him of some past events, and suddenly, Wada also felt that Opera O was right.
The path he and Opera O were to take was destined to be lonely. They would break so-called myths, so-called rules, and refresh the perceptions of some people especially the skepticism and ridicule of those who clung to old ways and didn't want legends to be broken.
The Satsuki Sho was their first step. Following closely were the Japanese Derby and the Kikka Sho; they would gradually create a new legend, step by step.
But... Wada didn't want to see a lonely "Overlord of the Century's End." He hoped that Opera O could, this time, gain more acceptance and support from people than before.
Perhaps, this was what Wada could do for Opera O.
"I will walk with you all the way, Opera O."
"Oh, oh..." Receiving Wada's very solemn reply, Opera O was a little unaccustomed to it, her eyes subtly darting to the side, but her tail wagged happily behind her.
Meanwhile, in the dormitory, Meisho Doto, who was sound asleep, was completely unaware of all this. In her dream, she seemed to be chasing something, vaguely saying:
"Over, overtake... Trainer... I... I will win..."
"This way... Trainer... acknowledge me... I'm better than Opera O... hehe..."
...It's unknown what wonderful dream this cute little Horse Girl was having, but at least the content of that dream was certainly something to be happy about.