Plan Step One — Give the two Trainers the amusement park couple's tickets that expire today. Check √.
Plan Step Two — Coincidentally meet on the way, then provide an assist. Begin implementation.
This wave required everyone to complete tasks in groups. They called everyone in the group chat to take shortcuts from different locations to their respective destinations, setting up ambushes in advance. They would provide assists at the appropriate time, or it didn't matter if they couldn't, as it was merely icing on the cake compared to Plan Step Three.
Gold Ship, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka went to the amusement park in advance. According to the arrangements, they changed into mascot costumes to greet customers there. Although they looked like a very unreliable trio, even Gold Ship was reliable when she needed to be. The only thing to worry about was whether Daiwa and Vodka would butt heads again for some inexplicable reason.
Special Week, Tokai Teio, Grass Wonder, and El Condor Pasa went to a shop ahead of them. Little Special and El Condor Pasa competed in a Gluttony contest with Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap at a shop there. This was to show the two Trainers that they were indeed resting well, allowing them to relax their guard, and also to let Special Week satisfy her craving. Teio and Grass Wonder were on the side, watching out for any unexpected situations. El Condor Pasa was originally supposed to be with Teio and Grass Wonder, but she seemed very interested in challenging Special Week, so she was included. Grass Wonder's expression at that time was quite something.
As for Zero and Suzuka, they continued to track the two Trainers and acted as a separate detachment. If one side encountered a problem, the two, skilled in great escapes, could catch up at the fastest speed and provide external assistance.
This was Spica's personnel arrangement, and Rigil naturally had some arrangements as well, which will be discussed later.
Let's shift our perspective to Trainer Okino.
Hmm? What's going on? Why are only Zero and Suzuka left following?
When passing a clothing store, Trainer Okino habitually checked the situation of the few people following through the glass, and then realized that only two people were left.
Then he saw Zero making hand gestures.
She… they… went… to… relax… I… came… to… inform… you…
Then he saw Zero leading Suzuka back.
Phew, that's good. In that case, these guys should stop following, right?
He pretended to sigh in relief, but then suddenly looked back at the next intersection!
Hmm, no one. It seems they really went back.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing. Maybe it was an auditory hallucination. I felt a cute Uma Musume calling me."
"…"
After expressionlessly kicking the other person's shin, Tojo Hana ignored the hopping Trainer Okino and continued walking forward.
She could naturally guess that the reason she and Trainer Okino both had free time today, met, and even received couple's tickets, was definitely due to the machinations of the Uma Musume they trained. However, she didn't need to say it, as it was all done with good intentions.
It's just that this idiot couldn't even come up with a different excuse at a time like this!
Who mentions other women during a date!
However, Trainer Okino didn't notice a small figure not far away.
"Rice Shower, I'm counting on you for the situation over there." Zero's voice came through the earpiece.
"Mm, it's fine. And Rice Shower wants to help everyone too." The small Uma Musume replied softly.
Rice Shower, a first-year student, was late for the entrance ceremony because she helped a kitten before it started. When she arrived, she found it had already begun, and as she was about to cry from anxiety, Zero picked her up.
In reality, Zero secretly led her through the staff-only passage when the staff weren't paying attention. Then, using their size advantage (two shorties) and color advantage (black, plus the dim lighting of the ceremony), the two quietly reached the back of the student group. Their sudden appearance startled the Uma Musume in front, but no one thought about whether they were late or anything.
Later, the two exchanged Line IDs, but they never revealed it. Especially since Rice Shower once said that secretly communicating with a friend like this felt very special, Zero simply never mentioned it to anyone.
For some reason, this child always encountered unfortunate events and felt she was the embodiment of misfortune. However, after consulting the Three Goddesses, it was entirely due to this child forcefully attributing the causes of various bad things to herself.
For example, if you see someone slip on a banana peel on the street, at most you'd be surprised. Would you think it was your fault?
But Rice Shower would. This child was too kind.
Her situation would have to be dealt with after she officially entered the race track. Winning races could give her more confidence.
Lately, the way this child looked at her vaguely felt like she was looking at her mother. It must be an illusion, right?
But after all that, the main point was that even Trainer Okino probably hadn't anticipated this surprise attack.
Well done, Rice Shower, her Anbu!
"Anbu or something… Ugh…" Rice Shower seemed a little displeased, puffing out her cheeks.
"Haha www"
In short, Zero and Suzuka ostensibly retreated, moving into the shadows, while Rice Shower, who was originally in the shadows, appeared in the open.
Their direction of travel was towards the station, but they received a notification that Gold Ship and the other two hadn't boarded the train yet. If they rushed over now, they would be discovered.
"Beep — —" Opera O senior, I'll leave this to you!
On the other side, the two Trainers, who were chatting and walking, suddenly noticed a commotion at the intersection ahead. Many Uma Musume were gathered there.
"Ha — — ha — — ha! Express your love for me to your heart's content! I — Opera O will accept all your emotions!"
"Ah, if you want autographs, of course, you can. Just remember to queue up properly, my cute little foals ~"
Opera O and Fuji Kiseki, due to their powerful abilities, neutral appearance, and individual personalities, enjoyed extremely high popularity within the school. They received a huge pile of chocolates from admiring and infatuated juniors on Valentine's Day.
The two Uma Musume, like butlers, often appeared in public accompanied by the screams of their fangirls, just like the clichéd popular male characters in shojo manga.
However, at this moment, the two were perfectly qualified as emergency personnel for this situation.
Trainer Okino and Tojo Hana also understood the popularity of these two Uma Musume. Moreover, the crowd was only blocking a small intersection leading to the station. Except for those in a hurry, virtually no one would pass through there. The two were not particularly anxious and decided to take a detour.
And this detour just happened to allow Gold Ship and her companions to catch an earlier train.
Good, the plan is still proceeding smoothly!
Zero gave a thumbs-up to the two surrounded by fangirls, received a wink in response, and continued forward.
"Um… Z-chan, that's all well and good, but how are we going to keep up then? Trainer and the others are going by car, right?" Suzuka was a little worried.
Uma Musume indeed run very fast, but compared to machines like cars that don't have to worry about losing speed as long as they have fuel, they were still a bit slower. It was no wonder she was worried.
"Don't worry, that amusement park isn't actually too far. It's roughly the distance of a relatively long middle-distance race track. Even you can run it." Zero replied.
"We're going to run there!?" Suzuka had originally thought there would be a car or something to pick them up.
"Actually, it's not impossible. If you want to take a car, I can call Maruzensky senior over." Zero raised her phone.
"Please, absolutely do not do that." A drop of cold sweat appeared.
One must know that Suzuka was also one of the victims of Maruzensky's reckless driving.