"I-I was looking for a trainee and you… you fit the criteria!" the man nervously blurted out.
"A-And I was wondering… th-that maybe… you wouldn't mind…"
He lowered himself into a respectful bow.
"…becoming my trainee."
Meanwhile—
King Halo stared at him blankly and completely unbothered.
"Be your… trainee…?" she repeated absentmindedly.
After being mentally overwhelmed by Haru Urara for nearly the entire day, her brain had practically stopped functioning.
She still had not fully processed what was happening.
Until slowly—
Her eyes fluttered, then widened.
As reality finally returned, crashing into her mind.
Then suddenly—
"WAIT… WHAT!" King shouted in disbelief.
The outburst startled everyone nearby, causing several students and the helper to turn toward her, including that pink imp.
There, King pointed at the nervous man with trembling hands.
"A-Are you…?!"
Her voice cracked slightly.
"…scouting me?!"
...
...
...
The next day—
During a break between classes on the very first day of school.
King Halo walked quietly through the academy corridor.
Around her, countless students gathered in groups.
Some chatted with friends.
Some discussed trainers.
Others hurried toward their next destination.
Yet King paid little attention to any of it.
Her thoughts were occupied elsewhere.
In her hand was a small piece of paper.
Written upon it was the location of a certain trainer's office.
And she clenched the paper slightly.
She remained hesitant, uncertain.
And her mind gradually drifted back to the previous day as she continued her pace.
Back to that encounter...
...
...
...
"P-Please… keep your voice down!" the trainer had pleaded nervously as he fidgeted awkwardly, glancing around.
As the nearby students had turned their heads toward them.
"I-I apologize," King had quickly replied, bowing her head.
"I-It's alright," the trainer said.
"Just…"
"Please take some time to think about my offer."
He bowed once again.
"You see... I may not be as experienced as the other trainers."
"But I will do everything within my ability to guide you toward the greatest version of yourself!"
"What exactly do you mean by not being as experienced as the others?" King Halo asked skeptically, crossing her arms.
"I…!"
The trainer froze as he slowly straightened from his bow.
Then his eyes darted around.
Reminding himself that several nearby students had already begun watching them.
Some were already whispering amongst themselves.
And so he decided.
"I-I'll explain tomorrow!" he blurted out.
"Wait—!"
Before King could question him further, he had already hurriedly reached into his pocket and begun fumbling around.
"Here!"
He suddenly extended both hands forward with another small bow.
In them was a folded piece of paper.
"Meet me at my office and I…"
"I'll explain everything!"
And King was taken aback slightly.
"W-What is with all this secrecy?"
Still, she accepted the paper.
"I-I promise," the trainer continued nervously.
"I'll explain all of it tomorrow."
Then he straightened himself once more.
Offered another polite bow.
And quickly retreated before any further questions could catch him.
Meanwhile—
"Wait—!" King tried to call him out again, but the man had already retreated into the distance.
There, she remained standing where she was, holding the paper in her hand.
Watching the trainer's shrinking figure disappear further.
Only after the trainer disappeared from her sight did she glance down at the address written upon the page.
And sighed.
Once again.
"Geez…"
"What is wrong with everyone in this academy…?"
King Halo muttered beneath her breath.
Her eyes drifted back toward the paper in her hand.
Carefully scanning the details written upon it.
The office location.
The contact information.
And finally—
The name.
"Yuiji… huh…"
She quietly read it aloud.
But before she could dive further—
"King! King! Who was that?!" a loud voice chimed in.
And King nearly jumped.
Her head snapped toward the source of the voice.
"W-WHAT?!"
There stood Haru Urara.
Looking as energetic as ever.
"Oh…"
"It's just you…"
King sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, Urara bounced excitedly beside her.
"Who was that?!"
"It's nothing, Urara," King immediately dismissed.
"Whoa! Is he your fan?!" Urara asked.
"No!"
King denied instantly.
"It's…"
She paused.
Then shook her head.
"It's none of your concern."
With that, King turned and began walking away.
"Whoa…" and Urara remained amazed despite not knowing what was going on.
Then she immediately hurried after her.
"Wait for me, King!"
And so—
The two of them began making their way back toward the dormitory as the orientation activities finally came to an end...
…
…
…
Back to the present...
Before King Halo realized it, she was already standing before the office indicated on the paper.
She blinked, tilting her head upward as she realized.
"I'm... here?" she muttered.
Then, she took a deep breath.
Then another.
After clearing her thoughts, her eyes drifted down toward the paper once more as she double-checked the room number.
Confirming it was correct.
Then, her hands reached out for the door and gently knocked.
Immediately, a voice answered from inside.
"Please, come in!"
Thereupon, King carefully opened the door and entered.
"Pardon the intrusion," she said politely.
Instantly, the first thing that greeted her was a man frantically tidying his desk.
Books were stacked unevenly.
Documents were scattered around.
And the man seemed determined to clean everything at once.
"P-Please, welcome in!" he exclaimed.
"And s-sorry for the mess!"
Meanwhile, King simply strolled into the room.
Her gaze casually wandered around the office.
Before eventually stopping in front of him.
"So?" she asked, raising an eyebrow while crossing her arms.
"What exactly was it that you wished to tell me yesterday?"
She then elegantly pressed a hand against her chest.
"You should know that I am a rather busy woman."
And the man instantly replied.
"Oh! Uh…"
He froze mid-motion while holding a stack of books.
Then awkwardly set them back down.
"Oh, sorry!"
"It-It just that... I've been observing you since the trial test!"
"And I thought your running style…"
"The way you earned your victory on the track…"
He straightened himself.
Then declared with surprising conviction—
"…was magnificent!"
"Oh?"
King's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Is that so…?"
"Yeah!" the man nodded vigorously.
Then he stepped closer, fists clenched excitedly before him.
"You-you see!"
"I may not have been a trainer for very long!"
"B-But I can see it!"
"Through the way of your running!"
"I can already tell that your greatness is only a step away from you!"
Upon hearing that, King Halo faintly smiled.
Then she let out an elegant laugh.
"Oh ho ho ho! My, of course you can."
"I am a proficient runner after all."
"Y-Yeah..." the man replied, briefly taken aback by her immediate self-praise.
Then he quickly shook his head and regained his determination.
"B-Besides!"
"After following you around all day yesterday!"
"Following me around...?" King was taken aback by the wording, but he continued.
"The way you pursue forward, the way you navigate around obstacles! The way you lead from the front! You have what it takes to become a legend in your own right!"
"S-so by any chance..."
"Do you think you could... become my trainee?"
"I promise I'll do everything I can to help refine your talents in my own way!"
"Guiding you forward without failures!"
"While I become one of the greatest trainers alongside you!"
"Just like my father before me!"
"Your father...?" King repeated.
The moment those words left her mouth, the man visibly flustered.
"Uh! N-No! Ignore that!" and he immediately waved both hands frantically.
"Please ignore what I just said!"
King narrowed her eyes slightly.
Then turned her attention back toward him.
"By the way."
"From what I gathered, you mentioned yesterday that you weren't as experienced as the other trainers—"
"Yes."
The man interrupted before she could finish.
"Well... you see... I'm a rookie."
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I was only recently hired by Tracen Academy."
Then he gave an embarrassed smile.
"One year ago, to be exact..."
"And I've been trying my best to scout trainees..."
"But because of my nervousness..."
"I haven't managed to convince anyone yet..."
"I see..." King Halo replied.
"Then why do you believe I would give you a different answer?"
"Given that if you did conduct research about me, you should have already known..."
"My pedigree."
At those words, the man froze slightly, "I...!" he stuttered.
His gaze then lowered.
A nervous gulp escaped his throat as his fists tightened.
"Well... I..."
"I don't know."
The answer came out quietly.
King simply stared at him.
"I see."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then, without another word, she gracefully turned and began walking toward the door.
"Well then..."
"I... I'll think about it," she added.
Meanwhile, the man was visibly stiffened behind her.
But right before King departed.
King casually continued.
"You see, Yuiji."
"I am certain you are doing your utmost to find a trainee."
"And yes, like many others, your lack of confidence concerns me."
"Thus, it was one of the reasons I agreed to meet you today, to see whether your offer truly amazed me."
She then stopped beside the doorway as her hand rested lightly upon the handle.
"However..." King continued as she turned back toward him.
"Did you truly choose me because of my ability..."
"...or was it..."
She paused.
Then sharply faced him.
"...my pedigree?"
The question struck like a hammer.
And the man stiffened even more with his fists tightened even further.
"I cannot yet discern your true intentions, Yuiji," King Halo said evenly.
"I do not know whether your desire to assist me is sincere, whether you truly wish to see me realize the full extent of my potential."
"Or whether your interest stems from something far less noble."
"A shortcut to recognition through the reputation attached to my name."
"To borrow the prestige through my pedigree and claim recognition that is not yet yours."
At that, the silence was settled between them as King lowered her gaze slightly.
"I sincerely appreciate your offer, Yuiji. Truly..."
"But... I'm sorry, Yuiji."
"Without knowing your true intentions behind this offer..."
"It frightens me."
"You're making me question a decision that could shape my future prosperity."
"And because of that... for now, I can only consider your offer."
She paused.
Then added calmly,
"Unless you can give me a genuine answer."
"Until then..."
"I will be far more inclined to decline."
With that, King politely bowed once again before turning back toward the door.
"Farewell, Yuiji. And... thank you."
She added, placing her hand on the handle and preparing to leave.
But before she could—
"Wait!"
Yuiji called out from behind.
And King instantly halted.
"Y-You see..." Yuiji finally spoke.
"The reason I noticed you..."
"It was because you reminded me of myself."
King remained by the doorway, listening in silence.
"You see, King Halo..."
"Like you, I also come from a family carrying a legacy beyond the ordinary."
"Especially my father."
"He was once a great trainer."
"One who raised legends on the track."
"Cultivate stories of Umamusumes that many can't replicate."
Yuiji then lowered his gaze.
"Because of that, I thought I could carry on his legacy as well."
"That I could walk my own path and become a legend in my own right."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You see... like my father, I love Umamusume."
"Just as much as anyone else."
"And I always believed that one day..."
"One day, I would build my own kingdom."
"A team filled with legendary Umamusume nurtured through my own guidance."
His smile faded.
"And I don't..."
"...I don't want to be overshadowed."
"I don't want to be remembered only as his son."
"A man who was handed everything."
"A man who was granted privileges."
"But to be recognized as someone else."
"Someone of my own."
"With my own name."
"My own cheers."
"My own team."
"My own legacy."
"One I can proudly call mine."
"Not something attributed to my father."
His fists tightened.
"That's why I became a trainer without relying on him."
"I studied."
"I spent countless nights learning."
"I pushed myself."
"I earned my trainer's license with my own effort."
"And because of that..."
He looked directly into King's eyes.
"I can proudly say that I can guide you toward greatness myself."
"I may lack the confidence of veteran trainers."
"I may lack their experience."
"But please, King Halo."
His voice trembled.
"Give me a chance."
"Give me a chance to prove myself."
"To fulfill my dream."
"To become a trainer capable of raising legends."
"Just as you can become someone more than merely your mother's pedigree."
"Together... we can build our own legacy!"
With those words lingering in the room, and for a moment, King Halo was genuinely left speechless.
She was simply standing by the doorway, staring at him.
The very thing she had spent years trying to prove.
The very thing she had spent time to disregard.
Yet somehow—
Hearing it from him felt different.
At that, slowly, she turned back toward the door.
"I..."
She paused.
Then quietly added,
"I'll consider it."
With that, she opened the door and left.
The door gently shut behind her, leaving Yuiji alone in the office.
The trainer remained standing there for several seconds, completely motionless.
Before finally lowering his shoulders with a weary sigh.
Then he slowly returned to his desk and slumped into his chair.
"Another strikeout... huh..." he muttered while pinching his nose bridge.
In the meantime—
King continued walking down the academy corridor.
Students passed by her.
Voices echoed around her.
Yet her thoughts remained elsewhere.
And for the first time since leaving the office, a faint smile crossed her face.
Because despite her words, she was already considering it.
Considering giving him...
...a chance....