"…Good morning, Trainer."
Seiun Sky, carrying a plate full of food, walked to Saito Asuka and Nakayama Megumi, who were eating in the cafeteria, and sat down opposite them: "Good morning, Ms. Megumi."
"Good morning."
Nakayama Megumi nodded to Seiun Sky, then her gaze moved down, finally resting on her plate of food.
"Although I know Uma Musume can eat a lot, it's still surprising to see it in person."
She said this, then looked at her stomach again: "...Eating this much, you really won't get fat?"
"…The physique of an Uma Musume is different from that of a human, you know?"
Seiun Sky, whose sore spot was touched, was speechless for a moment.
After staring at Nakayama Megumi for a few seconds, the Black-haired Horse Girl finally heard herself say this.
"That's true."
Nakayama Megumi nodded.
"How's today's portion?"
Saito Asuka, sitting next to them and listening to them chat, swallowed the food in his mouth, then asked: "...Can you eat it all?"
"Mhm."
Seiun Sky nodded: "Thank you, Trainer."
"Oh, what's there to thank?"
Saito Asuka waved his hand: "After all, I'm your Trainer."
"…Huh?"
Seiun Sky was stunned to hear Saito Asuka say this.
"Trainer, did you pass your exam?"
"Huh? Yes."
The man nodded confidently: "Although the results won't be out until noon, I think there's absolutely no problem with my performance yesterday!"
"I think it's better not to be too confident before the results come out, Trainer, you know?"
Seeing the man's confident expression, Seiun Sky said: "Let's wait until the results come out at noon, okay?"
"I don't think there will be any problem with his exam this time."
After Seiun Sky finished speaking, Nakayama Megumi slowly continued: "After all, this is the first time I've seen him so confident after an exam."
"..."
Saito Asuka, hearing his beloved say this next to him, showed a helpless wry smile.
Although I'm happy you're speaking up for me... can you say it in a way that makes me happy to hear?
"Is that so..."
Hearing both people in front of her say this, Seiun Sky didn't say anything more.
Driven by hunger in her stomach, the Black-haired Horse Girl began to eat.
For a moment, only the conversation between Saito Asuka and Nakayama Megumi, who were sitting opposite her, could be heard in the cafeteria.
"By the way, Trainer, have you considered the race schedule after my debut race victory?"
After finishing all the food on her plate, Seiun Sky looked up and asked the man who was about to stand up.
"…The race schedule after that?"
Saito Asuka was stunned.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Seeing the man just staring blankly at her after hearing her say this, Seiun Sky asked in confusion: "Since you said you wanted to save this academy, you must have already planned my upcoming race schedule, right?"
"…Such an important matter, Director, you wouldn't have made any preparations, would you?"
"..."
Saito Asuka, hearing Seiun Sky say this, guiltily averted his eyes.
...He really hadn't prepared anything.
After all, before Seiun Sky came, there were no Uma Musume left in this academy.
Plus, besides handling documents in the Director's Office, he was also swamped with matters concerning the Uma Musume Trainer qualification certificate, so he didn't have much time to properly plan this matter.
"Trainer, you wouldn't really..."
"Cough, cough, cough... Anyway, there's no one here, so let's talk about it here."
Saito Asuka coughed awkwardly, then pulled Nakayama Megumi to sit down again.
"But... before we talk about this, I want to ask Fūga first."
The man clasped his hands on the table, his eyes fixed on the only Uma Musume in Himeji Tracen Academy: "Is there any race you particularly want to run?"
"A race I particularly want to run?"
Seiun Sky, hearing the man ask this question, asked in confusion: "...Since you want to save this academy, the races you want me to participate in should also be those that can quickly accumulate popularity for me, right? Why would you specifically ask me this question?"
"Because I don't want my request to make you miss the races you want to participate in."
Saito Asuka answered without hesitation.
...He didn't want the Uma Musume in front of him to miss the races she wanted to participate in, to miss the dream she wanted to achieve, because of his earlier words, 'Please save this academy with me!'
When people cheer for the Uma Musume striving on the racecourse, perhaps they project their own desire to achieve dreams onto them.
Therefore, when they see the Uma Musume they support win, people feel satisfied.
Saito Asuka... he is actually a very greedy person.
He not only wants to pull this academy back from the brink of collapse but also wants to restore it to its peak with his own efforts.
However... he didn't think this was a reason for her to be forced to give up pursuing her dreams.
Since that's the case, then let's be even greedier.
He not only wants to restore this academy to its former glory, but he also wants to be a witness, watching this child in front of him climb the ladder step by step and fulfill the dream she yearns for.
Revitalize the academy, fulfill her dreams, he wants it all!
"…As your Trainer, I want to personally witness you fulfill your dream."
The man told Seiun Sky his thoughts.
"Trainer, do you think this is being greedy?"
However, after hearing Saito Asuka say this, Seiun Sky asked after a brief silence: "Don't you want this academy to be more lively than ever under your efforts?"
"Of course I've thought about it, but..."
The man looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl, who was even greedier than him, and replied with a wry smile: "...I don't have the confidence to make it even better than when my father was here."
"But I'm here!"
Seiun Sky stood up.
She looked at the two people who were forced to look up at her face because of her action.
"What's more... Director, isn't it amazing that you've persevered for so long? Why would you say things like 'no confidence'?
Seiun Sky pointed a finger at Saito Asuka.
"You can do it!"
...He was affirmed.
The man, savoring Seiun Sky's previous words, muttered silently, joy welling up in his heart.
All the efforts he had made to prevent this academy from being abolished had been affirmed by Megumi and the child in front of him.
He looked at Seiun Sky, who was still saying something in front of him, and listened quietly.
Listening to this child's words, Saito Asuka felt as if he had found something he had once lost.
"…So, since we've already decided to save this academy, why don't we be a little greedier~?"
The Black-haired Horse Girl said this, then playfully winked at Saito Asuka.
"Besides, if we're going to do it, we should do our best, shouldn't we?"
"…That's true."
Then, as Seiun Sky was about to continue speaking, Saito Asuka put his hands on the table and slowly stood up.
"…We are going to be the 'savior' of this academy! Since that's the case, what's wrong with being a little greedier?"
Under their surprised gazes, the man said with a smile.
"— — I will make this academy better than it has ever been!"
He raised a finger, as if making an oath, and declared with full vigor.
Then, he shifted his target, pointing it at the Black-haired Horse Girl in front of him.
"And I will help you get on the track and achieve your dreams!"
"I will also watch you climb to the top, step by step, and become the strongest Uma Musume!"
Saito Asuka stared intently at Seiun Sky, making her vow to her.
"I will work hard to catch up to you."
"I want to help you achieve all your goals; I want to see you become a Hall of Fame Uma Musume!"
The man pointed at the Black-haired Horse Girl in front of him, speaking with the burning passion of a protagonist from a hot-blooded manga.
"So… just charge forward."
"Show everyone your strength, announce your arrival to the world."
"If you feel tired, stop and rest for a bit."
The man said gently, "…I'm always behind you."