"Keep up, keep up (whispering)!" While signaling to those behind, they secretly followed the two on their date. To outsiders, it looked like eight Uma Musume stealthily trailing the couple.
Yes, eight. Two were from Rigil: Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa, who apparently were also Special Week's classmates.
Ling remembered these two. Sister Hua's results in the past few years seemed to depend on them. After roughly assessing them, Ling understood that for Special Week, these two were formidable rivals. Similarly, there were King Halo and Seiun Sky from her class. To be honest, the potential of these five was excellent, and by chance, they all ended up in the same class and debuted in the same year. No wonder Emperor said these years were a golden age.
The brief introductions end here. The main focus now is Trainer Okino and Tojo Hana.
==== Perspective Shift ====
If you asked if Trainer Okino liked Tojo Hana, the answer was definitely yes. But it was also true that they both had differing opinions on each other's training philosophies.
Hearing Tojo Hana say her work had been taken over by her thoughtful subordinate Uma Musume, and seeing Ling's unusually generous act of directly giving him a black card today (whereas before it was just a regular card), he had already guessed about seven or eight tenths of the situation in his heart.
Should he make a move? Definitely, but not now.
He would use Special Week to show her that his philosophy was correct, to make this woman see that data doesn't determine everything; more important are the Uma Musume's desire to run and their will!
Of course, those were all matters for later. If it was just a simple date for a while, he wouldn't mind.
Through the glass on the street, he could vaguely see the... group of tails following behind. Even when he met Ling's eyes, that fellow just returned a provocative look.
Alright, I'll see what kind of shenanigans you can pull today!
"First, let's go have lunch, shall we? It's almost lunchtime." He feigned a casual invitation to eat.
"Alright, but what should we eat?" Undoubtedly, as a Trainer specializing in handling various data, Tojo Hana also felt some hunger from overthinking.
"There's a ramen shop over there, want to go?"
"Sounds good." Tojo Hana nodded. She wasn't someone who cared much about such things, and besides, this ramen shop was indeed delicious.
But after going inside... "Hi~ Trainer, why are you here? And the gentleman next to you... Uhuhuhu, do I need to step aside?" A very enthusiastic chestnut-haired Uma Musume with a strange accent waved at Tojo Hana.
"Big Tree... why are you here?" Tojo Hana's eye twitched as she spoke the other's name.
Taiki Shuttle, also an Uma Musume from her team, was an international student. An Uma Musume extremely skilled in short-distance and mile races, especially the 1-mile (1600m) race, which she had never lost, and was then considered "the strongest 1-mile Uma Musume."
"Oh~ Today I came out with a friend to eat very delicious ramen de~su!" Saying this, Taiki Shuttle patted an Uma Musume next to her.
Seeing that person, the two Trainers also recognized her.
Fine Motion, a young lady from an Irish noble family, was unexpectedly very interested in various commoner experiences. For example, in recent years, she had become obsessed with ramen, and there was a high probability of seeing her at almost any ramen shop.
"Ah, good afternoon, Trainers." The other person also politely bowed.
"So, Trainer, are you on a date with this gentleman today?" Taiki Shuttle was still bringing up the question Tojo Hana had intentionally or unintentionally ignored earlier.
"Eh? Are you two actually on a date? Do we need to step aside?" Fine Motion also felt that they shouldn't ruin someone else's date and exclaimed in surprise.
"Cough, no, we just got hungry while discussing work and came here to eat." Just as Trainer Okino was about to say something, Tojo Hana coughed, stopped Trainer Okino, and then casually made up an excuse.
This was the first step of the plan: for the cheerful Taiki Shuttle to ask if the two were on a date, making them shy while subconsciously imagining that situation. The two disliking each other was one thing, but everyone in school knew they had a good relationship. Doing this could further increase their subconscious good feelings for the other.
Of course, Taiki Shuttle didn't know about this plan. If she did, she might accidentally reveal all the arrangements. So, she was here only as a 'move that might not work.' The Trainers walking into this shop now was a perfect stroke of luck.
"Wuwuwu... I also want to eat delicious ramen..." Special Week gnawed on dried carrots, staring enviously at the ramen shop.
"Alright, everyone can eat whatever they want tonight; my treat." Ling also patted her head.
"Yay!"
"Z-chan spoils Little Special www" Suzuka also smiled gently.
"Yeah, it feels like raising a little puppy."
"Eh!? So in Z-chan's eyes, I'm a pet!?" Special Week was shocked.
What to do? If this was the case, when she was about to make her move in the future, would she get a reply like, "Ah, I don't have those kinds of feelings for you!"?
Thinking about what might happen in the future, Special Week completely turned gray.
"What are you thinking about? Be quiet, you'll be discovered!" After giving this clueless girl, who was thinking who knows what, her favorite head-pat, Ling signaled everyone to continue observing.
Hehe, Trainer, you would never guess that besides that uncertain role, Taiki Shuttle also serves as a "transmitter," would you?
There's a demon aura!
Trainer Okino inexplicably felt a chill down his spine. When he turned around, he found nothing.
"Ah!"
"Close call!"
A tall, silver-haired woman accidentally stumbled while bringing ramen, almost spilling it on Tojo Hana.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I'm truly very sorry!" After getting up, she didn't even check herself but frantically apologized to the two.
Looking at the silver-haired woman with the large beret, Trainer Okino felt as if he had seen her somewhere before.
"It's alright, just be more careful next time." Although Tojo Hana was quite serious, she was still a good person. Her skirt was only slightly dirty, and the other person's apology was very sincere.
"I'm truly sorry, please accept this!" Saying this, the other person handed something over.
"Ah, you really don't have to!" This time, Trainer Okino also helped dissuade her.
"No, no, please take it. I was already in a bad mood because my boyfriend dumped me, so I came to eat ramen alone and fell because I was distracted. And since we broke up, this amusement park couple's ticket is useless, so why don't the two of you go together!" The other person somewhat forcefully pushed the tickets into their hands and then fled.
"This... what should we do?" Trainer Okino looked helplessly at the tickets in his hand.
"It expires today..." Tojo Hana also saw the date on the ticket.
The two exchanged glances, then looked at Taiki Shuttle and Fine Motion nearby.
"Ah, we still have to go to other shops~" Taiki Shuttle quickly found an excuse, subtly signaling Fine Motion with her eyes.
Although she knew she was a bit clumsy, it didn't stop her from also wanting to see the two succeed.
"Ah... yes, we're here for a ramen pilgrimage today!" Fine Motion also understood and cooperated with the act.
"Besides, it expires today, and it's that person's goodwill. Why don't you two go?" Fine Motion, seeing the two hesitate slightly, also provided an assist.
It seems they can only go... Trainer Okino and Tojo Hana looked at each other again, as if resigned to their fate.
On the other side... "Hehe, how was my acting?"
"Nice! Gold Ship, you're amazing!"
"Eh eh eh!? Was that Gold Ship just now!?" Daiwa & Special Week
"I knew something was up when she suddenly disappeared!" Vodka
Only when the silver-haired woman took off her oversized beret, revealing her ears underneath, and then took her iconic hat and earmuffs from Ling's hand and put them on, did everyone realize that the woman just now was indeed their familiar Gold Ship.
"Mommy, is this what a big city is like? It's so scary…" This was a certain country bumpkin who had never seen the world.
"The seniors seem very happy!" El Condor Pasa said, playfully poking the dazed Special Week while watching the situation unfold with amusement.
"El Condor Pasa… it's impolite to poke people like that, you know?" Grass Wonder said with a gentle smile, taking hold of El Condor Pasa's finger that was poking Special Week.
"…" This was Miss Suzuka, who wanted to complain but didn't know if she should speak up.