"Phew… satisfied, satisfied~?"
A full and content Seiun Sky carefully carried a cardboard box out of the pet shop.
She stood by the car, and while waiting for Saito Asuka to open the door, she turned her head to look at the brightly lit pet shop again, then said with a smile: "Everyone is so kind."
…Although everyone was teasing the Trainer, from some inconspicuous details, the word 'friends' couldn't be more appropriate to describe them.
"Ah, yes."
Saito Asuka, who had a little to drink today, replied casually from the passenger seat.
"They all like to tease me, really, why can't they be a little more straightforward…"
…But Trainer, you look very happy too.
Seiun Sky looked at Saito Asuka, who was complaining but whose smile couldn't be suppressed, and decided not to say that sentence aloud.
"By the way, hold onto that box in your hands tightly, okay?"
Looking at the cardboard box that Seiun Sky was holding like a treasure, she said playfully: "Don't let it run away, okay?"
"It's very well-behaved, it won't run away."
After saying these words, Seiun Sky lowered her head and met the gaze of the small cat, which was obediently staying in the cardboard box and looking up at her.
"Right, Canned Food?"
"Meow~"
"You've already named it so quickly…"
Saito Asuka looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl in front of him and shook his head with a laugh.
That cat, Aogami had given it to her for free.
When he practically forced the cat into her arms, he was saying something like, 'Consider it a gift to celebrate your debut race victory.'
I'm your friend, hey!
"…Stop teasing the cat, come in quickly, we should head back."
After a small complaint in his heart, Saito Asuka tapped on Seiun Sky's window.
"Coming, coming, Trainer, you're so impatient."
Seiun Sky, urged by Saito Asuka to get into the car, blinked at Saito Asuka, who was in the driver's seat, through the rearview mirror.
"Alright, I'm in."
The Black-haired Horse Girl, who had settled into the back seat, said with a smile, "So… now I'll trouble Trainer to take me back~"
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll take you back to the Trese Academy."
The man replied in a perfunctory tone, then had Nakayama Megumi start the car.
"Alright, we'll drop you off here. Go back to your dorm and rest early."
Half an hour later, Saito Asuka, who had braked and stopped the car at the entrance of Himeji Tracen Academy, turned around and said to Seiun Sky with a serious expression, "…You don't want to see dark circles under your eyes, do you?"
"Trainer, your statement is very ominous."
Seiun Sky, hearing Saito Asuka say this, covered her nose, "…And what do you mean by 'drop you off here'? It sounds like Trainer can enter an Uma Musume's dorm."
"Hmm… Could it be that Trainer…"
"Okay, stop, wait a moment."
Saito Asuka timely extended a finger, preventing Seiun Sky from finishing her sentence.
"We still have to go to Megumi's house, so you should get out of the car quickly."
"Then will Trainer still be able to come on time tomorrow morning to guide my training?"
"…What are you talking about?!"
Glancing at Nakayama Megumi sitting beside him, Saito Asuka hastily winked at the smiling Seiun Sky, "I'm just taking her home?!"
"Hmm? What was Trainer thinking?"
Seiun Sky tilted her head in confusion, "…I was just wondering if you drank alcohol tonight, and if you'll be able to wake up on time tomorrow morning?"
"Trainer, what were you just thinking?"
"…"
Saito Asuka looked speechlessly at the Black-haired Horse Girl standing beside him.
…Aogami definitely did that on purpose!
Not missing the fleeting smile on the other party's face, Saito Asuka, realizing he had been misled by Seiun Sky, secretly glanced at Nakayama Megumi beside him, only to see that she was also staring at him.
"Ahem! It's getting late, let's go."
Saito Asuka, feigning composure, cleared his throat, then pointed forward, signaling Nakayama Megumi to drive.
"Asuka, aren't you going to say something?"
Nakayama Megumi leaned on the steering wheel, teasingly saying, "What were you just thinking? Won't you share it with us?"
…Don't mess around, there's still a minor here!
Saito Asuka winked at Nakayama Megumi, who was enjoying the show.
"Ahem, it's getting late, I should go back too."
Nakayama Megumi, gripping the steering wheel, knew when to stop and started the car, "…Because he drank alcohol, he's resting at my house tonight. For tomorrow morning's training, Fūga, you have to work hard~"
"Yes, I will."
Seiun Sky nodded, "…Trainer and Miss Megumi, you both should rest early tonight."
"Mhm, we will, thank you for your concern."
Nakayama Megumi smiled and nodded, then stepped on the accelerator, driving away from the entrance of Himeji Tracen Academy under Seiun Sky's gaze.
"Sigh… there's no helping Aogami."
Saito Asuka lay back in his chair, pinching the skin between his eyes with a headache, sighing helplessly, "…"
"Hmm? But I think this is very interesting?"
Nakayama Megumi, driving, said with a smile, "…You're actually very happy to be with her every day, aren't you?"
"…"
Saito Asuka, hearing Nakayama Megumi say this, smiled wryly and shook his head.
Although Seiun Sky did bring vitality to Himeji Tracen Academy, but…
…She's really too enthusiastic.
Saito Asuka turned his head, looking at the rapidly receding scenery outside the window.
Her flame-like enthusiasm gave him a headache.
Sometimes when he thought of Seiun Sky, he even had the illusion that 'she said everything she wanted to say to him alone.'
"But after she came to Himeji Tracen, you've clearly relaxed a lot, haven't you?"
Nakayama Megumi, not knowing what Saito Asuka was thinking, looked at the road ahead and continued, "…At least you didn't desperately try anything, putting that 'kidnapping' Uma Musume plan on the agenda."
"For this alone, I have to thank her properly."
"Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean by 'kidnapping'?!"
Saito Asuka corrected her with a wry smile, "…I just wanted to invite her to Himeji Tracen Academy for a visit and a chat, how did it turn into 'kidnapping' an Uma Musume when it got to you?"
"Is there a difference between the two?"
"…"
Saito Asuka was stunned for a moment, then realized he couldn't refute.
Oh right… Isn't this a crime?
The man, realizing it belatedly, wiped the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.
Seiun Sky… seems to have saved my life?