On the way from Central Tracen Academy to Narita Airport, the bus buzzed with excitement.
For the girls, the journey to a foreign land was filled with all kinds of fantasies and expectations.
Even the most composed—Fujimasa March and Mejiro Ardan—couldn't hide the curiosity flickering in their eyes.
Kuroha distributed passports and plane tickets in an orderly fashion, reminding everyone of the key points again and again.
Watching these horse girls—who usually dominated the racetrack—listen as seriously as schoolkids headed out on a spring excursion, he couldn't help but smile.
However, when they actually stepped into the cavernous cabin of the Boeing 959, everyone except Obey Your Master had their excitement melt into astonished wonder.
Inari One's steps slowed, her tail swaying with curiosity. Staring up at the tall arched ceiling and the neat ranks of seats, she murmured, "This is my first time on a plane…"
"Everyone, buckle up~," Maruzensky sang as she helped Kuroha guide the younger girls to their seats.
As one of the most senior senpai at Central Tracen—besides the Chairwoman and Hayakawa Tazuna—she'd long since lost any novelty for airplanes.
McQueen tried hard to maintain Mejiro poise, but her pale knuckles gripping the armrests and the bright, darting gaze gave away her inner turbulence. For her, hanging thousands of meters above the ground felt far more novel than sprinting down a homestretch.
Only Obey Your Master, after confirming everyone was seated, gave Kuroha a small wave, found her spot with practiced ease, slipped on an eye mask, pulled up a light blanket, and prepared to sleep—standing in stark contrast to her wide-eyed companions.
As the plane began its takeoff roll, the pushback pinned them to their seats. The girls held their breath together, bodies instinctively leaning back.
"We're… flying…"
When the fuselage gave a soft jolt and left the ground, Inari One practically pressed her face to the window, watching the shrinking world turn into neat little squares—then, embarrassed, she quickly sat back and tried to look unruffled.
Soon, the aircraft leveled into the clouds, and the windows filled with a boundless sea of white. Sunlight poured through and scattered into golden shafts, like a mythic realm above the heavens.
Kuroha simply smiled, enjoying this rare, tranquil moment as he watched their rapt expressions.
Hours slipped by in a mix of hushed conversations and shifting cloudscapes.
When the descent began and the announcement came—arrival at Tōkō Imperial Capital International Airport—the cabin's calm turned lively again.
Not long after, several figures stepped out through the terminal doors: Kuroha and his party, after nearly four hours in the air.
Seeing the familiar cityscape, the crowds, and hearing warm, familiar Huayu all around, Kuroha drew a long breath—relief washing through him.
For the seven horse girls setting foot in Tōkō for the first time, it was another story.
As they exited the grand terminal, arched like a dragon spreading its wings, a completely different atmosphere surged up to meet them.
The air smelled unfamiliar. The language ringing in their ears was incomprehensible yet rhythmic. Everything their eyes met—the buildings, the faces—felt vividly new.
"This… is Trainer's homeland, huh…" March whispered, gazing up at the towering dome.
"So big… and so many people," Sakura Chiyono O said, trying her best to take it all in.
Kuroha had already arranged a pickup. He clapped his hands lightly to gather his wandering "curious babies."
"Alright, everyone—welcome to the Imperial Capital of Tōkō."
Pride softened his smile. "First stop is our hotel. After we drop the luggage, I'll take you to try the most authentic Tōkō roast duck."
"Tōkō roast duck?"
At the magical pairing of "familiar-yet-unfamiliar" and "food," faces lit up one after another.
"I wonder if it tastes like the Chinese restaurant back home," someone mused.
"Can't say if it's the same as a 'Chinese restaurant,'" Kuroha said, loading cases into the van with a grin, "but it's definitely better than mine."
"Better than Trainer's?" Inari One's eyes sparkled.
"Mm." He nodded, a touch of nostalgia in his voice. "Part of my cooking, I learned right here…"
A short drive later, they arrived at the hotel Kuroha had booked in advance—four rooms at each stop of the school trip: three twins and one king.
After settling in, it was only around half past four.
No rush. Kuroha led his girls on a light jog to their destination—a pre-dinner "walk," on routes designated for horse girls. The Imperial Capital's regulations were strict, after all.
Soon they reached a small shop tucked in a side alley.
Kuroha paused at the door, eyes soft with reminiscence, then strode inside at the head of the group.
"Uncle Wang!"
"Eh, coming!"
It was before the dinner rush, so the place was nearly empty. A middle-aged auntie working in the kitchen looked up, blinked, and then broke into a grin.
"Yo, Ah-Yu—long time no see!"
"Long time no see," Kuroha laughed. "By the way, Auntie, where's Uncle Wang?"
"Him? Who knows where he's wandered off to—forget him!" she sniffed, then shot Kuroha a look. "You came back without telling your aunt in advance? I could've prepared something!"
"No need to fuss. I'm just here to look around."
Kuroha seated his horse girls, then moved toward the back kitchen with the ease of someone who knew the place.
Auntie hurried to block him, half-annoyed, half-amused. "And where do you think you're going, kid?"
Kuroha grinned. "Seeing if I can earn a free meal slot."
She lifted a greasy hand as if to thwack him, then thought better of it and turned back to the cutting board. "All grown into a proper Trainer, and still so restless."
Glancing out at the table of seven uniquely charming horse girls, she lowered her voice. "Ah-Yu, what country did you end up training in? These girls—they don't look like the ones from around here."
"Same place I always talked about—the Far East island nation. Central Tracen Academy," Kuroha replied casually.
"Are you happy there?"
Kuroha looked over at his girls and smiled. "Yeah. Very."
To be honest, last year might have been one of the happiest stretches since his rebirth.
Auntie seemed to recall something. "Right—after you left, those two little ones came looking for you a few times."
"Little ones?" Kuroha blinked.
"Yeah. Said they were called the Sea Capital something…" She waved the knife vaguely. "They were moving to Ireland and wanted to find you. But you'd already run off to get your Trainer license days earlier."
Kuroha rubbed his neck, sheepish.
Once prompted, the memories returned.
Back when he was still at the Trainer Academy, he'd mapped out prospects for his future team. That was when he met the tiny loli, Kaito Star.
Kaito Star—the future world-class horse girl. She would sweep the Grade 1s of England, France, and Ireland, and crush her way to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
A true "Queen of Europe."
Knowing the girl's future, Kuroha had—well, he wouldn't call it "tricking" her—let's say, he built a good relationship, hoping that someday she might join his stable.
Through Kaito Star, he also met her older sister—Kaito.
Unlike her sister, the elder was wildly rebellious—a full-on little gremlin. She'd puff up and shout that someday she'd stomp every one of Kuroha's horses.
Then Kuroha graduated early, took his Local Trainer license, and—considering both sisters still had a long way to go before True Blooming—headed straight for Kasamatsu.
He did remember telling them he was leaving the last time they played together…
"Kaito Star might not have understood," he thought wryly. "And Kaito… that brat probably let it go in one ear and out the other."
(End of Chapter)
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