After that slightly delicate date with Tokai Teio came to an end, Kuroha naturally did not rush off two days later.
Instead, he stayed at Central for a while longer to spend time with his Uma Musume.
Only after the vacation ended did he board a flight to Europe with Maruzensky and return to Ireland.
It was early July.
Only six days remained before the international G1 race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
At the exit of Ireland International Airport, a handsome young man and a beautiful woman walked out side by side, each pushing a suitcase.
"Oh my, was Teio-chan really that bold?" Maruzensky asked curiously, covering her mouth.
Kuroha shook his head with a smile. "Bolder than you, at least."
"Oh? Is that so?" A mischievous gleam flickered in Maruzensky's eyes as she looked at her trainer. "I don't believe you."
"Then keep not believing." Kuroha irritably reached out and pinched the cheek of this well-endowed older beauty.
Just then, his gaze was drawn toward a group of passengers dressed rather strangely not far away.
They were wearing support outfits that looked like merchandise for some anime character, printed all over with bright, colorful designs, and several of them were even holding plush dolls.
Most eye-catching of all, the most prominent spots on their support goods were printed with the chibi image of an Uma Musume. She looked vaguely familiar, but for a moment, Kuroha could not recall exactly who she was.
Maruzensky followed his gaze and tilted her head in confusion.
"Trainer, are they waiting for some European Uma Musume to get off a plane? But the airport exit is clearly over here."
As a legendary Uma Musume once famed throughout Central, she was all too familiar with these fanatical fan support groups.
"No idea. But from the look of it, they don't seem to be here to greet someone. It looks more like they're organizing to board together," Kuroha said thoughtfully.
Soon, the two of them learned the origin of this support group from the chatter of passersby.
They were the die-hard fans of Europe's strongest active Uma Musume: Generous.
And Generous was the strongest opponent Mejiro McQueen would face in the upcoming King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Since there were only six days left before the international G1, Generous herself had already arrived in Great Britain several days earlier for acclimatization training.
That was why this Irish fan group had mobilized together, bringing their support goods over six days in advance to build momentum.
"Generous, huh? She seems like an incredibly popular Uma Musume," Maruzensky said, a faint gleam passing through her eyes.
"All right, let's go back and find McQueen and the others first."
Kuroha patted her, signaling for her to snap out of it, and the two continued pushing their luggage toward the main doors. "According to the plan, we'll also be heading to Great Britain tomorrow."
As they walked, Maruzensky suddenly remembered something.
"Come to think of it, hasn't McQueen already won two races in a row in Europe? Why does it feel like she hasn't made much of a splash online over here?"
"I haven't seen many organized little support groups like this for her either."
Kuroha explained, "Because McQueen is still an Uma Musume from the Far East. Europe may admire the strong, but when records are not too far apart, people here still tend to favor local Uma Musume."
"…Oh, now that you mention it, that does seem to be true."
Maruzensky seemed to recall something and nodded with deep understanding.
She remembered a fan poll that had once been held within Chasing Light's Uma Musume circle back at Central.
At the time, Obey Your Master had clearly surpassed Sakura Chiyono O, Mejiro Ardan, and the others in both record and absolute strength.
But in the final fan vote, she ended up at the bottom of the team.
While her numbers were still high compared with Uma Musume from other teams, the result had still left that girl from the Bald Eagle Nation feeling emo for quite a while.
That proved one thing. In the hearts of most spectators, unless a competitor displayed an absolutely overwhelming level of dominance, people were still more willing to support athletes from their own homeland, even if their strength was somewhat inferior.
The two of them did not spend much more attention on the fan group and drove straight back to Gildune Manor.
...
Inside the manor.
Godolphin and the others were delighted by Kuroha's return, while Haitoshi and the others were full of curiosity toward Maruzensky, who had just arrived.
Kuroha naturally began making introductions.
"Haitoshi, Star, Riko, let me introduce you. This is my wife from Central, Maruzensky."
"Maruzen, this is Haitoshi, Haito Star, and their guardian, Riko Kashimoto."
"You should have met at my wedding with March."
While Riko and Maruzensky exchanged greetings, Kuroha keenly noticed that Haitoshi, standing off to the side, was puffing out her cheeks and staring at him with a resentful look.
"What's wrong, Haitoshi?" Kuroha asked, a little baffled.
"Hmph!"
Haitoshi ground her teeth, folded her arms, and turned her head aside, refusing to say anything in a sulk.
"…"
After the greetings ended, Kuroha was in a very good mood after returning to Ireland for the first time in a while. Seeing that it was mealtime, he simply rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen, preparing to personally cook a feast for everyone.
Maruzensky was just about to follow him in and help when she felt someone lightly tugging at the corner of her clothes.
She turned around and saw McQueen looking at her with a rather conflicted expression.
"What is it, McQueen?"
"Um… Well, Maruzen-senpai, I haven't seen Trainer in almost half a month. Tonight, could I…"
Hearing the implication behind her words, a sly, knowing light flashed through the eyes of this well-endowed senior training partner.
She deliberately drew out her tone. "Of course…"
McQueen's eyes instantly lit up.
"…not!"
McQueen immediately wilted. After a full day of high-intensity training, her body somehow felt even heavier and more miserable than before.
Seeing this, Maruzensky let out a soft laugh. "I'm just teasing you. Rest properly for now. Tonight, we'll be together."
"!"
In an instant, McQueen seemed to regain her radiance. Her entire body was filled with strength, as if she wanted to rush back to the training field right away and run another dozen laps.
"Thank you, Maruzen-senpai!"
Watching McQueen's departing figure, Maruzensky secretly laughed to herself.
Unlike Kuroha, she was also an Uma Musume, so she understood McQueen's current longing all too well.
An Uma Musume's physical ability far surpassed that of an ordinary person, so her needs in that regard naturally increased many times over as well.
And the top-tier Uma Musume were the finest examples of that.
That was also one of the core reasons why, before Kuroha appeared, almost no one could marry an Uma Musume.
It was not only because they feared having their pelvis shattered in an instant, but also because they feared being drained dry like a squeezed stalk of sugarcane.
But if someone could withstand it like Kuroha could, then properly easing the pent-up feelings in an Uma Musume's heart would not affect a race. On the contrary, it could help her fully relax her body and mind, awakening her potential.
That would allow the following training sessions to reach 100 percent, or even 120 percent, efficiency.
"But in that case, Kuro-kun will have to suffer a little more tonight."
Maruzensky smiled beautifully and walked into the kitchen to help.
Not long after, Kuroha's voice rang out from the kitchen.
"Dinner's ready!"
Everyone excitedly gathered around the dining table, and the vast villa was soon filled with a warm, cheerful atmosphere.
(End of Chapter)
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