After returning from the training hall, Fujiwara Chiya went to the observation deck. Shirayuki had just received news from Tokai Teio that Nase Fumino was training around this time as well.
Fujiwara Chiya planned to search for her from the observation deck. He still had not told her about what had happened between him and Nase Hideto. The two of them had met outside Tracen and spoken about quite a few things, and there were also some things he wanted to ask Fumino about.
Just as Fujiwara Chiya climbed the stairs, his sharp eyes noticed two people standing above. One was a beautiful woman with hair covering one eye and hollow diamond-shaped earrings. The other was a middle-aged man around fifty, wearing an expensive suit with his hair neatly styled, clearly giving off the air of an elite.
Fujiwara Chiya's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly pressed himself against the wall.
It was Nase Fumino and Nase Hideto.
To think they had met on the observation deck.
While the two of them had not noticed him yet, Fujiwara Chiya quietly pricked up his ears and listened to their conversation.
"Congratulations. I didn't have the chance to celebrate when you became an advanced trainer."
"What's the point of saying that now?"
Nase Fumino's tone sounded extremely impatient.
"I was simply surprised that you stepped into this world so quickly. The higher your rank becomes, the more you begin to notice your own limits. In the end, a trainer is only a guide. Someone who helps Uma Musume solve problems. Different trainers merely play different roles in that process. In that regard, you have done very well."
"I don't need you to tell me that."
"I learned quite a lot over there. An Uma Musume's limit is decided from the beginning. For them, rather than the result, the process of solving problems is more important. With your ability, you should have understood that principle long ago, so I won't…"
"Go back."
Nase Fumino snapped.
"Go back… It's training time right now. You're interfering with my work."
Nase Hideto's voice paused. He did not say anything. Instead, he turned and left the observation deck.
Hearing footsteps, Fujiwara Chiya used the skills he had learned from the Uma Musume and silently hid behind the stairs at an impressive speed. Peeking out, Chiya saw Nase Hideto gradually walk away, muttering as he went.
"Is this her rebellious phase…?"
Having witnessed the entire argument between father and daughter, Fujiwara Chiya looked upward.
"Fumino."
"Why are you again—"
Seeing who had come, Nase Fumino abruptly shut her mouth and swallowed the rest of her words. She brushed aside the hair near her ear and turned back toward the racecourse, pretending to be calm.
"Why are you here?"
"I met Hideto-san."
The moment she heard that, Nase Fumino did not even bother pretending anymore and directly showed an expression of disgust.
Fujiwara Chiya knew that the relationship between the two of them was bad, but he had not expected it to be this bad.
"That guy ignored me for ten years. And now that he's back, what did he say? One late congratulation. One meaningless comment. Something about how I should have understood that principle long ago. What exactly am I supposed to understand? I don't understand anything… I don't understand anything at all…"
Everything Nase Fumino had done had been forced out of her by her father. He did not speak to her like she was a child at all, but like she was an adult who already understood everything. Each and every "you understand" stabbed into Nase Fumino's heart.
Her father had taught her nothing.
Everything had been learned by Nase Fumino herself, alone. She had used every method she could think of and desperately forced herself to learn it all.
Do not act like a father now.
And do not interfere with my affairs now.
Nase Fumino hated him.
She hated him deeply. So much that she wished she could erase him from her life and never see him again.
Seeing Nase Fumino like that, Fujiwara Chiya reached out and gently patted her head.
"Sorry. This is the only way I know how to comfort someone," Fujiwara Chiya said quietly.
Regarding the matters of the Nase family, he could not say who was right or wrong. After all, he was not the one who had personally experienced it, and as an outsider, he had no right to judge.
But as Fumino's childhood friend, he could at least help calm her mood.
Nase Fumino's body trembled. She grabbed Fujiwara Chiya by the collar and stayed like that, letting him pat her head. A few minutes later, Nase Fumino raised her head. The corners of her eyes were a little red, but she was no longer as emotional as before.
She brushed Fujiwara Chiya's hand away and returned to her usual demeanor.
"What did you come here for? To find me?"
"I came to… That's right. I came to see you."
Originally, he had wanted to talk about Nase Hideto, but after what had just happened, how could he possibly bring it up?
"To see me? What's there to see?"
"I didn't think that far. I just wanted to come, so I came."
Nase Fumino looked at Fujiwara Chiya's face. Then, rarely, a smile appeared on that cool and beautiful face. She hugged the training sheet in her hands tightly and said, "You really know how to interrupt my work. In that case, stand beside me and watch."
Fujiwara Chiya stood beside her just like that, and the two of them fell into a subtle silence.
In a place Fujiwara Chiya could not see, Nase Fumino's eyes flickered rapidly between the ground and the racecourse in panic.
Her heart beat faster and faster. Finally, unable to endure it any longer, she spoke.
"Chiya!"
"Yes!"
"Well…" Nase Fumino stumbled over her words. "For this year's races, you are not allowed to lose to anyone other than me. You are my opponent. That includes that guy. You are not allowed to lose to him either."
Fujiwara Chiya froze for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Nase Fumino scratched her cheek.
"Why are you still standing here? Aren't you going to train? Or do you plan to become my assistant? Your status would be downgraded, you know."
"I'll go now."
"Your collar is crooked. You look sloppy."
As she spoke, Nase Fumino adjusted his clothes.
"There. Now go. Ah, one more thing."
Remembering something, Nase Fumino added, "No matter what that guy says to you, don't listen. Our affairs have nothing to do with him."
Nase Fumino had started referring to her own father as "that guy."
"Okay…"
Fujiwara Chiya did not understand what Nase Fumino meant by "interfere," but he agreed first anyway.
On the way back, Fujiwara Chiya ran into Super Creek again. She was doing a pose similar to Grass Wonder's, one hand hugging her chest while the other rested against her cheek.
"Creek."
"Ara, Trainer Chiya." Super Creek swayed her ears. "I was still thinking about how I should comfort Trainer, but I didn't expect Trainer Chiya to get there first."
"Sorry for stealing your job."
"It's all right. You did wonderfully." Super Creek looked toward the observation deck, where Nase Fumino had regained her composure. "Family matters are always the most troublesome and the hardest to solve. I want to help Trainer share some of the pressure, but I really can't do much."
"Every family has its own difficult scripture to recite."
"That's exactly it. So thank you, Trainer Chiya."
"Fumino is my childhood friend. There's no need to thank me."
"It seems that way."
Super Creek smiled. After the two said goodbye, she left. Before leaving, Super Creek said one more thing.
"Trainer Chiya, I hope you don't let our trainer's feelings down."
Hearing that, Fujiwara Chiya felt an inexplicable chill run down his back.