Fuji's POV
Was that just now… Hachiman-san and Komachi-san's…?
Announcer: "The Uma Musume who achieved a historic feat stands before us!! The first ever undefeated Triple Crown!! Two others have claimed the Triple Crown before, but even those legends didn't do it undefeated!! The Satsuki Sho was a win in her comfort zone! The Derby broke her limits! And today's Chrysanthemum Sho—she overcame every barrier with sheer will and her running!!"
Commentator: "There's no one like her! Normally, she'd be racing the Tenno Sho (Autumn), Elizabeth Hai, or Mile CS this fall, but to win beyond her ideal distance is astonishing!"
Fuji: "Haa… haa… haa…"
Gotta respond to the crowd's cheers!
Fuji: "W-What?" stumble
The moment I took a step, my legs gave out, and I pitched forward. All I could see was Kyoto's turf. I'm about to collapse, but my arms and legs won't move…
Grab!
Fuji: "…Haha, knew you'd come."
Hachiman: "What were you gonna do if I didn't? Geez… But well done."
Fuji: "…Thanks."
Hachiman: "Anyway, you know what happens now, right? Since I'm out here on the turf…"
Fuji: "…What!? You're doing it here!?"
Hachiman: "You know I'm most scared of injuries. Your legs are shaking—you won't move properly for hours. Winning Live's questionable. For now, to the waiting room." lift
Fuji: "W-Woah!?"
Just like the Derby, Hachiman-san's carrying me princess-style. The crowd, maybe remembering the Derby, roars even louder than before.
Hachiman: "Not waving?"
Fuji: "How can I wave like this!? Don't you get how embarrassed I am right now!?" glare ///
Hachiman: "Same as the Derby, huh? The team's gonna hassle me for this later, but no choice now."
Fuji: "…Was there no other way?"
Hachiman: "Would you prefer a piggyback?"
Fuji: "…This is fine///"
Hachiman: "Thought so. Anyway, you ran 3000m like a champ. I witnessed your [Miracle], Fuji. Great job."
Fuji: "…"
Hachiman's usually a bit laid-back, almost listless. But right now, despite his troubled look, he's smiling at me so gently.
Fuji: "~!!?////" heart pounding
Hachiman: "? What's up? Your face is super red. It was fine a second ago…"
Fuji: "H-Huh!? N-No, it's nothing! Really, nothing! Come on, hurry up and take me! I can't walk, so if you don't move, my embarrassment's stuck like this!////"
Hachiman: "? Alright, got it."
Announcer: "Like the Derby, Trainer Hikitani is carrying Fuji Kiseki to the underground passage! Let's give another round of applause for the third Triple Crown Uma Musume, Fuji Kiseki!!"
Stop it! Just for now, stop!! I can't let anyone see my face like this!!////
Waiting Room
Fuji: "U-Um…"
CB: "Alright, Fuji-chan? You've got some explaining to do, right?"
Fuji: "It's just like the Derby—'No, that's not it~' What?"
Air Groove: "You might fool others, but not us. That look you gave Hachiman? That was a woman's look."
Fuji: "!////"
Ardan: "That reaction… Looks like we hit the mark. Fuji Kiseki-san's been fully taken by Anii-sama."
Fuji: "T-Taken!? What does that mean!?"
CB: "Wanna say it?"
Air Groove: "Should we say it?"
Ardan: "Is it alright to say?"
Fuji: "…I admit it, so please don't say it///"
Ugh… Why's it always me?
Rice: "I-It's kinda hard to join in, huh, Rice?"
Maurice: "Yeah… Best to stay out of this one."
Arrow: "They get so intense about Trainer, don't they? It's obvious from watching them."
Bakushin-O: "But why's it like this? I haven't the faintest clue!"
Maurice: "Same. CB-senpai and Air Groove-senpai started saying 'that face…' and then clammed up…"
Rice: "Rice… might know a little."
Komachi: "Onii-chan's become such a sinful guy…"
I've got interviews and the ceremony soon, so let me go, everyone~!!
Bonus: Outside the Waiting Room
Hachiman: "…" leaning against wall
Raw Meat: "…" sitting nearby
Hachiman: "…Taking a while, huh?"
Raw Meat: "Wonder what they're talking about?"
Hachiman: "Why're you here, anyway?"
Raw Meat: "What, I can't be? Even I wanna escape reality and come to this world sometimes."
Hachiman: "…Something happened, didn't it?"
Raw Meat: "Wanna hear about how I got Rice's figurine and bath towel in a crane game but have too many plans to hit the arcade?" tears
Hachiman: "Come over to my place sometime." pat pat
Raw Meat: "Thank you!!" tears
Afterword
Fuji's Triple Crown triumph sparks chaos in this Yahari x Uma Musume chapter! Hachiman's princess carry reignites the crowd, while the team grills Fuji over her "woman's look." Raw Meat's cameo adds a quirky twist!