The next day.
Tokyo Haneda International Airport.
With Christmas and New Year's around the corner, the international departures hall was packed even on a weekday, filled with the mixed atmosphere of holidays and farewells.
Kuroha was pushing a large suitcase. Walking beside him, head held high, was Obey Your Master.
Earlier that morning, after he had seen his slightly reluctant parents back home, Kuroha had then driven Obey Your Master to the airport.
Her flight was scheduled for today. The timing worked out perfectly so she could make it back to White Eagle Country on Christmas Eve and spend the holidays with her parents.
Today, the blonde girl wore a well-tailored beige cashmere coat and an elegant wide-brimmed hat.
Wrapped up from head to toe, she looked every bit like a seasoned fashionista.
Having retired in glory after defending her Japan Cup title, she no longer needed to disguise herself with a fake gyaru persona.
The two of them came to a stop beneath the information board at the international departures gate.
"This is far enough, Trainer."
Obey Your Master spoke softly, wrapping both arms around the handle of the suitcase he had brought for her.
"Got your passport and boarding pass?" Kuroha did one last round of reminders, like a worried old dad.
"I've already checked them three times, Trainer." Obey Your Master smiled helplessly. "You've been getting more and more naggy these last few days."
"Have I?" Kuroha raised an eyebrow.
"Of course you have."
Obey Your Master stepped a little closer and reached out to straighten his slightly messy collar, the motion natural and intimate.
"But…" She tilted her small face up. In those clear eyes, Kuroha's reflection trembled softly as she murmured, "I like it."
Kuroha chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Go home and spend time with your parents. Show them your back-to-back G1 trophies. They're going to be so proud of you."
"Mm."
Obey Your Master nodded, answering in a low voice, "I won't tell them too much about… what's going on between us."
"…Introduce me in moderation." Kuroha coughed dryly.
"That'll depend on my mood~"
Silence fell between them for a moment, with only the airport announcements echoing in their ears.
"Well then…"
In the end, it was Obey Your Master who spoke first. She tugged on the suitcase handle. "I should head in, Trainer."
"Alright." Kuroha nodded. "Text me when you land."
"I knooow."
She spread her arms and pulled Kuroha into a firm hug, pressing her cheek into his chest and rubbing lightly against him.
"Trainer, Merry Christmas. And… Happy New Year."
Her voice carried a faint, barely noticeable nasal sound.
"Merry Christmas. Happy New Year." Kuroha hugged her back. "Enjoy your vacation."
"Mm!"
She let go and took two steps back, the bright, energetic smile returning to her face.
"Then I'm off! You're not allowed to let some other uma girl steal you away while I'm gone, okay!"
She waved, then turned decisively, pulling her suitcase as she melted into the stream of people heading toward security.
Kuroha stood where he was, quietly seeing off that golden silhouette. Only when she had passed through security and completely disappeared around the corner did he slowly withdraw his gaze.
…
After Obey Your Master's departure, time very quickly rolled into Christmas.
Unlike last year, Kuroha did not stay at Central Tracen Academy this time.
Instead, he brought the uma girls who were still living at the villa and headed together to Tenjikawa Academy.
The hosts on Oi's side were, naturally, Inari One and Tatsuko, along with Taro.
Right now, one of Oi's reception rooms had already been decorated anew.
A Christmas tree, strings of lights, and cheerful music filled this usually modest place with a thick holiday atmosphere.
Inari One's victory in the Arima Kinen was like a shot of adrenaline, reviving the mood across the entirety of Tenjikawa Academy.
"Trainer, over here, over here! You've got to try the special monjayaki from Oi!"
As the local big shot, Inari One was beside herself with excitement.
She wore a Santa hat, clinging to Kuroha's arm as she weaved through the crowd, putting the full force of Edo's passion on display.
Nearby, Oguri Cap and Berno were gathered around three small round tables, chatting loudly as they ate.
For this Christmas, Kuroha had also invited the group from Kasamatsu.
Ginjirou and Oguri Cap's old companions had all come as promised.
After horsing around with Inari One, Fujimasa March, and the others for a while, Kuroha picked up a cup of hot cocoa and headed toward the Kasamatsu group.
"Shibasaki, long time no see."
Shibasaki froze for a moment when he heard the voice, then turned his head toward Kuroha and quickly stood up. "Kuroha, long time no see!"
Kuroha eyed how formal he was being and sighed. "Don't be so stiff. It's not like I'm some kind of monster."
"Ahaha…"
Shibasaki scratched his head and sat down again with Kuroha.
"By the way, where's Kitahara?"
Once he sat, Kuroha asked his question in puzzlement.
He distinctly remembered personally inviting every single person from Kasamatsu a few days ago.
Aside from a few uma girls from Kasamatsu who had to stay home with their parents, everyone else had agreed to come.
At those words, Oguri Cap, who was not far away and currently stuffing a large piece of roast chicken into her mouth, paused mid-bite. She swallowed slowly, her gray ears drooping a little.
"Ali, huh…"
Ginjirou looked up at Kuroha, his tone slightly complicated. "The kid's not really in the mood for a party. He headed back to the countryside."
"…I see."
Kuroha nodded thoughtfully at that, then let out a helpless sigh.
After Ginjirou said it, Kuroha only had to think for a moment to more or less understand.
It had to be about the Central trainer license.
He was still beating himself up over failing to pass after two straight years of trying.
Although Kitahara's absence was a bit of a shame,
This Christmas was still lively and joyful, with members from Central, Oi, and Kasamatsu all celebrating together.
…
However, once the Christmas bustle faded,
Central Tracen Academy once again greeted a rather quiet New Year's period.
The contrast with the festive Christmas was stark.
As the holiday started, most of the students had returned to their hometowns to spend time with their families.
Within Chasing Light.
Obey Your Master was still overseas visiting her family and had yet to return.
Inari One had stayed behind on Oi to spend the holidays with Tatsuko.
Oguri Cap had, for once, gone back to her hometown in Kasamatsu.
Early morning.
Kuroha was walking alone down what was usually the Academy's extremely lively main avenue.
At this moment, there was practically no one in sight. The broad road looked unusually empty.
Without the sounds of uma girls' running and laughter during training, the whole Academy felt so quiet that only the rustling of the bare treetops in the cold wind could be heard.
"It's the same every year…"
Looking at this scene that was both familiar and strangely distant, Kuroha exhaled a puff of white breath.
Tokyo in January was getting colder by the day.
According to the weather forecast, in just a few days, the first real snowfall would probably arrive.
"A new year, and another completely new start…"
Walking along the Academy avenue, Kuroha breathed in the fresh morning air and turned his thoughts over in silence.
This year, Inari One, Obey Your Master, and Sakura Chiyono O had all retired.
But with the old, powerful rivals fading out one after another, Fujimasa March and Ardan, the two top-class uma girls, were climbing higher and higher in the pack rankings.
McQueen's numbers were already at a level that even made Kuroha click his tongue. Even without using Domain, she could sweep the entire Classic-year circuit.
"Central's race program shouldn't be too much of a headache anymore. Maybe it's about time I started planning and preparing in advance for overseas campaigns?"
Thinking that, Kuroha nodded to himself and stretched his body a little.
And conveniently, that little rascal Teio was almost due to hit True Blooming this year. In that case…
"Riiiing, riiiing~"
Just then, a sudden ringtone cut through Kuroha's thoughts.
He took out his phone and saw a line of big characters on the screen: Tokai Teio.
Speak of the devil?
Kuroha lifted an eyebrow and picked up the call.
"Hello, Teio?"
Suddenly,
The familiar, youthful voice on the other end made Kuroha's heart jolt. "Trainer! Trainer! We've got a huge problem!"
…?
A question mark popped up in Kuroha's head.
How could there be a "huge problem" on New Year's?
But… Teio's voice sounded… a little different.
It was still the same childish tone, yet somehow, there was a faint sense of distance, as if she had… grown up just a little.
Grown up…
Wait, what?!
"Trainer! Th-this morning when I woke up, I'd gotten a lot taller!"
On the other end of the line, Tokai Teio's excited and anxious voice burst out. "According to McQueen, does that mean… I've finally hit True Blooming?"
(End of Chapter)
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