In the afternoon, after finishing lunch, Shuta An returned to his room. He changed into casual clothes, browsed through the available movie options for a few minutes, and decided what he and Oguri Cap would watch later.
Naturally, he didn't choose anything inappropriate. Instead, he picked the original version of the classic film Roman Holiday—not the British remake from last year. To him, the remake's female lead couldn't hold a candle to Audrey Hepburn.
After selecting the CD, he set the movie aside, prepared a small assortment of snacks, and settled quietly on the sofa to wait for a knock at the door.
A few minutes later, the sound he had been anticipating finally arrived. He stood up at once, taking several quick steps toward the door. But he didn't open it immediately. Instead, he paused, lowered his gaze, adjusted his clothes to make sure they were neat, and only then slowly opened the door for his lover.
Oguri Cap, standing outside, looked a bit flustered. Even though this wasn't her first time entering the Trainer's room, her outfit and state of mind were completely different now—she had come wearing conservative pajamas.
Shuta An had clearly stated that he neither intended nor wished for anything overly intimate before the French Derby, but Oguri still chose pajamas. She simply didn't have any suitable casual night clothes to wear.
The moment he saw her attire, Shuta An's mouth twitched. He silently chanted a few Buddhist scriptures in his heart to suppress the rising heat in his chest.
"No matter what, for Oguri's sake, I absolutely cannot cross that line before the French Derby," he reminded himself.
The logic behind his restraint was obvious enough, so there was no need to dwell on it. After gently guiding Oguri Cap inside, he closed the door, took her hand, and led her toward the living room.
He had already drawn the curtains beforehand. With the daylight shut out and the room resting in a hushed stillness—broken only by the faint sound of their footsteps—the atmosphere naturally grew more intimate.
Fortunately, Shuta An had prepared himself mentally. He didn't fall into the kind of awkward panic men often experience in such situations. The moment they entered, he held Oguri Cap's hand. And when they sat down on the sofa, he subtly improved his position and ended up holding her arm as well.
Oguri Cap trembled slightly as she nestled against him. The quiet of the room, combined with their closeness, made her more nervous than she had been at Longchamp Racecourse. As she inhaled the faint scent of cologne from the Trainer, she tightened her grip on his left arm.
Her movement brought them even closer—close enough that she felt she could hear the rhythm of his heartbeat.
Shuta An steadied his thoughts before breaking the silence. "Oguri, should we start the movie?"
"Mm… Which one did you choose?" Even though she had left the decision to him, she still wanted to know.
"It's Roman Holiday. I really recommend it, and it's a favorite in my family."
Oguri Cap's ears twitched slightly at the mention of his family. She softly murmured, "I'll watch it carefully."
"If you don't like it, it's alright to say so," Shuta reassured her. Preferences vary, and even if Oguri disliked the film, it wouldn't change her importance to him.
"I won't dislike it," she replied firmly. After confirming their relationship, she wanted to understand him more, to grow closer to him. Watching a movie together was a perfect way to do that.
Roman Holiday followed the story of Princess Anne, a European royal on a diplomatic visit, and an American reporter. Their brief encounter in Rome unfolded over a single day.
When the princess secretly sneaked out to explore the city at the start of the movie, Oguri whispered, "She looks so unfree."
"She's on a diplomatic schedule," Shuta explained. "She's expected to be busy."
"But she doesn't even get time to walk around" Oguri's lips pursed slightly. "It's too strict."
Shuta didn't comment on her feelings.
A moment later, the male protagonist appeared. Oguri looked at the screen, then quietly turned to observe Shuta beside her—before suddenly breaking into a small smile.
"What is it?" Shuta asked, puzzled. This part of the movie wasn't comedic at all.
"I'm happier than the princess," Oguri said without hesitation. It took only a moment for him to understand.
Already familiar with the movie by heart, Shuta loosely intertwined his fingers with hers. "Of course."
The story progressed as they stayed close—arms linked, fingers gently entwined. They watched the princess and the reporter wander through Rome, the princess cutting her hair short at a salon, the nighttime dancing on a boat, and the moment agents appeared and recognized her.
At that scene, Oguri inched even closer. Even with two layers of clothing between them, the heat from her body seeped into his without resistance.
Oguri's cheeks burned. She had barely adjusted to linking arms, and suddenly the level of contact had increased, making her heart race. But she remained obediently nestled against him.
Shuta glanced down at her, taking in her expression as the audio from the movie blended with their breaths.
"It's alright," he murmured to reassure her, "They'll escape."
But he only spoiled the immediate scene—he left the ending untouched on purpose.
"Trainer~" Oguri puffed her cheeks slightly in protest. Her soft, sulky tone was unlike anything he had ever heard from her, almost childlike in its complaint. "Don't spoil it—"
Shuta felt his body soften involuntarily; his heart skipped.
"Alright, I won't," he replied at once, eyes drifting toward her delicate collarbone before he forced himself to look away.
Even though Shuta An had spoiled a little, it didn't dampen Oguri Cap's enjoyment at all.
She watched quietly as the princess and the reporter fell in love. In her mind, the two—having escaped their pursuers—should finally confess their feelings. But the princess, reminded of her responsibilities, chose to return to the embassy. Until the very end, she never revealed her identity.
"Ugh—" Oguri Cap's mood sank. "If they love each other, why can't they be together?"
It was something she simply couldn't accept.
And when she realized that the male lead, a reporter, ultimately chose not to sell any of the photos he had secretly taken, instead returning them to her, her heart tightened even more. Then came the final question during the press conference: "Your Highness, during your travels, which city did you enjoy most?"
After giving the expected formal answer, the princess finally allowed a glimpse of her heart to slip through—
"Rome, of course, Rome. I will cherish every minute I spent in this city for the rest of my life."
The princess spoke from the stage. The reporter watched silently from the audience. And Oguri Cap's tears slid down freely.
When the credits rolled, she puffed her cheeks, her voice slightly choked. "Trainer's choice of movie— why did it have to end like that."
Recently, anything about lovers being forced apart hit her especially hard.
"That's why I said—I will never let go of Oguri's and Berno's hands." Shuta An tightened his hold on her.
"Mm!" For the first time, Oguri Cap nodded with a soft, feline obedience.
Although snacks and drinks had been prepared, Oguri Cap barely touched any of them. After cleaning up, Shuta An returned to the living room. Oguri Cap remained on the sofa, still lost in the lingering feelings left by the ending.
He approached without disturbing her, then leaned down and lifted her in a princess carry. "Oguri, is there anything else you want to do?"
"Ah!" The sudden lift startled her. Hearing his question, she lowered her voice, flustered. "Didn't Trainer say before the French Derby—"
She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.
"Of course, I remember," Shuta An sighed. "But it's just past four. We still have more than an hour before dinner. We can't just sit here in silence forever."
"Then—" Oguri Cap hesitated, gathering her courage. "I want to hear Trainer's stories from before you came to Japan. I want to understand you better."
"Alright." Shuta An didn't find the request surprising.
He gently set her back down on the sofa and sat beside her. "Then let's start from before I was even born."
For more than an hour, he recounted his parents' days in France, their decision to move to the West Coast, and how they opened a small husband-and-wife business together. He continued until he reached the moment his father—during the West Coast Tracen Academy trials—chose Secretariat, who at that time was performing only moderately.
Then Shuta An glanced at his phone.
"It's time for dinner. Berno should be back soon too."
"Ugh—" Oguri Cap wanted to keep listening, but she knew they had to go prepare for dinner.
Shuta An reached out and lightly rubbed her head. "Alright, I'm not disappearing. If you want to hear more later, I'll tell you."
"Mhm." Oguri Cap answered softly, got up, and headed for the door.
Shuta An rose with her. Before letting her go, he pulled her into his arms once more, inhaling the faint scent that clung to her, and only released her after a long pause. "I'll walk you."
—
Around six, after Berno Light returned, the three headed to the restaurant.
It was a buffet, so each of them picked their preferred dishes before returning to their seats. As usual, Berno Light and Oguri Cap sat together, while Shuta An sat across from them.
The moment they settled down, Berno glanced at her friend, then at Shuta An. Since he had been with Oguri Cap all afternoon, Shuta An was unmistakably carrying her scent.
One sniff was enough. Berno Light shot him a sharp glare, then covertly checked Oguri Cap's movements. Noticing that the Gray Uma Musume wasn't stiff or uncomfortable, Berno quietly exhaled.
"Good! Trainer didn't cross the line, Oguri's training plan won't be affected." she muttered internally.
After dinner and a brief break, Berno Light went—as usual—to Shuta An's guest room to continue learning what an Assistant Trainer needed to know.
Upon entering the living room, she wrinkled her nose. While Shuta An went to prepare tea, Berno silently opened the bedroom door and sniffed again. After closing it, she checked the trash can and gave a tiny, relieved nod.
She didn't notice that Shuta An had seen everything.
Before they began the lesson, he teased, "Did Berno find anything strange in my room? You seemed very invested earlier."
Caught off guard, Berno's face flushed instantly, steam practically rising from the top of her head.
"Alright, let's start." Shuta An cut her off gently. "Today we'll focus on post-training care."
After finishing, he downed his tea. "These are important, Berno. You'll need them often later. When we return to Japan, buy a few books to strengthen the theory. What I'm teaching is based on experience. Theory still needs self-study. In a few years, I'll find a way to arrange further training for you."
"For further study— would I have to leave Japan for a long time?" That was her biggest concern.
Shuta An paused, then smiled. "Before that happens, I'll give Berno a proper guarantee."
"If Trainer needs me, then during that time, I…" Berno Light lowered her head, her voice almost trembling from shyness.
Shuta An raised a finger and pressed it lightly against her lips, silencing her with a quiet smile.