Author's Note: I am not an editor or a professional writer. I will write this and edit it to the best of my ability. I also do not own Uma Musume, which is owned by Cygames. Watch the animes and read the mangas, for they are pretty good. Finally, please enjoy.
3rd Person POV
The boss soon stepped back onto the podium and waited for everyone to calm down. Once the room settled, she spoke.
"Did all of you have a good laugh? Does everyone feel loose and relaxed? Good. Now let's move on. Next, I'd like to announce that we will be traveling around the world. For that, we need someone who knows everything about it."
She continued.
"We need someone who is an expert in travel and locations. Someone with connections around the globe and who knows others with connections as well. Someone who can prepare the team and help them thrive in any environment. Someone I can trust as my Head of Travel Planning. Everyone, please welcome Hachi Fukawa."
A woman approached the podium as the boss stepped aside. She climbed up, adopted a lazy expression, and addressed the room.
"Yo, Hachi-chan is here."
She stretched before continuing.
"I travel anywhere in the world for three reasons: one, to make money; two, to run away from my exes; and three, to avoid my cringe-as-hell family. So if you need to go somewhere, whether it's to chill or kick ass, I'm the gal you want."
She yawned as if she had just woken up.
"Now, when I suggest something, treat it like it's life or death. If I tell you that you're going to need something, don't leave without it. I may seem chill—and I am—but I want you to take my advice seriously. Because if you ignore me and get arrested, robbed, sick, or victimized in some foreign country, I'll watch it happen with this exact same expression."
She smiled lazily.
"Ha, ha, ha. Let's all get along and make sure you listen to what I say, because I ain't helping your dumbasses if you get yourselves into real trouble."
With that, she stepped off the podium.
Panic immediately spread throughout the room.
Everyone began shouting questions while Hachi simply yawned and walked away, leaving none of them answered. Soon the team started questioning the boss directly and even asking Mina whether Hachi was qualified for the position.
The boss's eye twitched.
Finally, she snapped.
"Dammit, Hachi! Clean up after your mess!"
⸻
Hachi Fukawa POV
Bruh, how did I get here?
Guess it all started when I was a tiny little thing.
I grew up in a strict and toxic family that saw me as a burden because they thought I was stupid. The only thing I was ever truly passionate about was traveling and seeing the world.
I worked part-time for a travel agency while studying history, geography, culture, and everything else I could get my hands on. Eventually, I decided to become my own woman. I worked for various travel agencies, scouting locations and rating them as vacation destinations.
When I first started, things didn't go well.
I got sick.
I got robbed.
I got into arguments with locals.
I even had trouble with criminal gangs.
I realized that if I wanted to survive and succeed, I needed to improve.
Eventually, I found a mentor who was an expert in the field. Under him, I learned disease prevention, crime prevention, survival skills, how to get along with locals, and countless other things.
I also learned martial arts, self-defense techniques, multiple languages, and wilderness survival.
More importantly, my mentor taught me to embrace learning, experiences, and love.
That's how I discovered I was pansexual.
I also ended up sleeping with him.
One thing led to another, and we entered a passionate relationship that lasted until he eventually passed away from old age. We also had something of an open relationship and spent time with various locals we met during our travels.
Still, I had one rule.
If someone became too clingy, I broke things off.
That's why I have so many exes.
After that, I became comfortable with myself and with the world around me.
Then I visited home.
My family couldn't accept who I had become. They wanted me to stop being myself and return to the person they wanted me to be.
The funny thing was that I was successful. I was wealthy thanks to my business ventures. I was happy with who I was. I had no major physical or mental health issues—I had doctors confirm it.
They simply couldn't accept me.
So I cut ties and surrounded myself with people who did.
Unfortunately, one of my exes happened to be a very powerful man with a lot of connections. After we split, he managed to get me blacklisted from nearly all of my travel contacts.
I took my money and disappeared.
Unfortunately, that obsessive asshole didn't know how to let things go.
He spent years trying to track me down, forcing me to constantly travel under disguises.
That's when I met Mina Sakamoto.
Not only did she protect me from that scumbag, but she also hired me because of my experience.
Now I'd do anything to help her ambitions become reality.
Even if that means passively threatening a bunch of reckless idiots.
I've already seen how dangerous this team can be.
Some of my fellow staff members have never even traveled abroad before.
It's better they understand the consequences now and take international travel seriously.
The Uma Musume alone are walking disasters waiting to happen.
King Wild is a ticking time bomb.
Edged Lily is constantly misunderstood and can accidentally start fights.
Norn Viking is a walking sex scandal and rule breaker.
High Spice can piss someone off without saying a single word.
Imperial Punk is far too honest to keep controversial opinions to himself.
Enduring Rain treats everything as workout equipment and is way too loud.
Endless Journey can't stay out of trouble, asks too many questions, and suggests treasonous solutions far too casually.
Black Diamond insists on playing his preferred music even when everyone wants him to stop.
Great Wonder is too kind and ends up in troublesome situations because of it.
Sweet Pollen can be a complete dumbass and tends to solve problems with violence.
Tyrant Rose is so attractive she attracts people like flowers attract bees.
Mama Blues is basically a wise old grandmother who somehow still falls for modern scams.
Steel Valkyrie intimidates everyone around her without even trying.
Victory Gate is so respectable that people somehow end up wanting to crown her ruler and start rebellions in her name.
Then there's Tactical Gray.
She has way too many shady connections.
On top of that, she's an incident magnet.
Seriously, what the hell is this team?
Forget taking them overseas. They could probably cause international incidents without ever leaving Japan.
And somehow I have to get all of them through an airport.
I already hate this job.
Not to mention travel newbies like that loudmouth Hana and all the others who think international travel is some kind of vacation.
Still, if this job keeps my exes away and pays the bills, I'll put up with them.
Returning to my office, I spent several hours reviewing Mina's timeline.
Our first tournament would take place after a training camp and a short break.
The first event on the schedule was the Wellington Mad Minor in New Zealand, taking place in early November.
We were also entering in the middle of the competitive season.
The season had started back in August, meaning we'd already missed several tournaments.
From this point forward, we'd need to participate in every event possible, including Open Tournaments, if they offered points.
Those points would be necessary to qualify for the FSRL Paris World Championship at the end of the season.
First, I needed to finish all the league registration paperwork.
Then I had to determine whether anyone required vaccinations or medical treatments before traveling to New Zealand.
After that came hotel bookings, training facilities, travel restrictions, and lists of places team members were allowed—or forbidden—to visit.
Then there were passports, visas, and travel documents.
God, this was going to be a long road.
Thank goodness I had staff members helping me.
After several hours of work, a knock came from my office door.
I sighed.
I knew someone would want to talk to me eventually.
Opening the door, I found an unexpected visitor.
Victory Gate.
The team captain.
"May I come in, Fukawa-san?" she asked.
I wanted to say no and slam the door in her face.
But her expression was serious.
So I stepped aside.
"Fine. Have a seat. It seems important."
A few moments later, we were both seated across from each other.
Victory Gate spoke first.
"Fukawa-san, can we trust you?"
I blinked.
That wasn't what I expected.
I've dealt with clients questioning my abilities before, usually because of the way I present myself.
I laughed.
"Victory Gate, I know you care about the team. But I'm a professional and an expert at what I do."
I stood and walked over to a diagram board I kept for situations exactly like this.
Pointing at various photographs and notes, I continued.
"You need to understand that every country has dangers. Local diseases. Powerful organizations. Violent criminals. Dangerous wildlife."
I pointed to another section.
"There are situations where even I can't save someone if they screw up badly enough. That's why my speech was about listening to me no matter how casually I deliver the message."
Victory Gate nodded thoughtfully.
"I see. It does sound like you know what you're doing."
Then she folded her arms.
"So please explain it to everyone else the way you explained it to me."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"Because they're all trying to get you fired, Fukawa-san."
What the hell?
That was news to me.
Looks like I needed to have a conversation with the boss—and everyone else.
Victory Gate stood and headed toward the door.
Before leaving, she paused.
"Oh, and Fukawa-san?"
"What?"
"You can call me Vic from now on."
Then she walked away with her usual cool and composed demeanor.
I couldn't help but think she looked pretty cool.
Author's Note: Well the future is set and the next chapter isn't ready yet so I will post an info chapter after this one. Hope you enjoy. Also Hachi will help others if they need assistance in her own way she was just trying to scare them.