Early the next morning, Fujiwara Chiya was called away by the Director. It seemed she had something important to tell him.
Meanwhile, in the dorm room on the other side, Shirayuki told Mejiro Dober everything about herself.
The air fell silent.
Only after a long while did Mejiro Dober ask,
"So… from the very beginning, Shirayuki was Trainer-san?"
"To put it simply… yes."
"I see."
Mejiro Dober nodded, then slowly lay down on the bed.
"Dober."
"Sorry, Shirayuki. Can you let me calm down for a bit?"
"You're not going to sleep, are you?"
Mejiro Dober did not answer. She simply closed her eyes.
Since when did Seiun Sky's method of avoiding problems become popular?
Also, Mejiro Dober had already sensed something about this, right? Why was she starting to escape reality now?
It was true that Mejiro Dober had vaguely guessed something. For example, Shirayuki and Trainer might have a special mental connection, allowing them to sense each other's thoughts. That was why the two of them often made similar movements.
But after hearing Shirayuki's explanation, Mejiro Dober realized her guesses had still been too naïve.
The special connection between those two was far more excessive than she had imagined.
Shirayuki = Trainer.
That was their connection.
After learning this, Mejiro Dober immediately understood why Shirayuki had so often done strange things at the beginning. For example, talking to thin air, constantly tripping because her hands and feet were uncoordinated, and even bumping into doors while walking.
Later, after putting on that strange ring, Shirayuki's condition had started to improve. Her life gradually became like that of a normal person. She no longer answered questions incorrectly, and she became more and more sharp.
So it was not because Shirayuki had been nervous about living at Tracen for the first time.
It was because she had not yet become familiar with her own body.
More accurately, Trainer-san had not yet become used to operating Shirayuki's body.
Then all the things I said to Shirayuki, all the things I did with Shirayuki, were actually with Trainer-san.
The person who helped me all this time was also Trainer-san.
And those nights I spent together with Shirayuki…
Thinking this, Mejiro Dober's mind exploded.
She had thought she was prepared to accept the truth.
But when she actually learned it, she still could not avoid falling into confusion.
She closed her eyes and organized her thoughts.
So this was what Trainer-san wanted to tell her.
Seeing Mejiro Dober lying on the bed without saying a word, Shirayuki left, leaving Mejiro Dober alone.
The quiet room also allowed her to think more calmly.
She finally understood where that sense of similarity had come from.
Although their appearances were different, and their genders were different, their personalities were the same. And what Mejiro Dober had fallen in love with was precisely that person's personality.
That was why she had developed feelings for both of them at the same time.
This was good.
It meant she had not fallen in love with Shirayuki's face.
It meant she was not simply craving Shirayuki's body.
Originally, Mejiro Dober had thought that she might only ever live with a woman in this lifetime. But Trainer-san's appearance had changed that.
At first, the reason she liked Shirayuki was because Shirayuki was the same as her, because Shirayuki liked girls too, and because Shirayuki was good at taking care of people.
But after almost a year together, Mejiro Dober felt those things were no longer important.
Her feelings for Shirayuki were no longer because of any single good point.
They came from every little moment of daily life.
From the memories they had created together.
Those were the real reasons she had fallen in love with Shirayuki.
And the one who had created all of that was the trainer who sat in the office every day, working busily from morning until night.
Thinking back on it now, Mejiro Dober felt a wave of regret.
Her attitude toward Trainer-san at the beginning had truly been terrible. She had even badmouthed Trainer-san in front of Shirayuki.
At that time, Shirayuki had only shown an expression that seemed to want to say something but stopped herself.
Mejiro Dober had foolishly thought Shirayuki agreed with her.
What on earth have I done…
Mejiro Dober covered her face.
At the same time, her feelings toward Trainer-san grew even stronger.
Even though she had done so many wrong things, he had tolerated her again and again. Trainer-san's efforts for her had already far exceeded anything she had given back.
Not only that.
When she said she wanted to defeat Shirayuki, what kind of feelings had Trainer-san carried when he gave her special training?
After learning all of this, Mejiro Dober realized that she seemed to know nothing about her own trainer.
She did not know what kind of feelings he had, or what kind of resolve he carried while living this way.
"I… really am an idiot."
While she had been worrying over her feelings for Trainer-san and Shirayuki, Trainer-san had been worrying far more than she had.
The things Trainer-san had to think about were far greater than her own concerns.
Mejiro Dober scolded herself as an idiot while lightly knocking her head.
Amid her tangled and chaotic thoughts, Mejiro Dober only managed to understand one thing clearly.
She loved Trainer-san.
She loved him very much.
She had to explain these feelings clearly to Shirayuki…
No.
To Trainer-san.
Mejiro Dober got off the bed and headed toward Fujiwara Chiya's office.
At the same time Mejiro Dober left, inside Akikawa Yayoi's office, Fujiwara Chiya once again met that yellow backpacker, Satake Mei.
She was still wearing those brown hot pants and yellow jacket, with a large backpack on her back that no one knew the contents of.
He remembered the Director saying this person's relationship with her was like that of sisters.
Then does that mean she has something to do with me too?
"Chiya, why are you staring at Mei like that? Don't tell me you've taken a liking to her."
Akikawa Yayoi tapped his head with her fan.
"Eh? Chiya has taken a liking to me? That won't do. Please allow me to refuse."
"I haven't! I just thought… Mei-san became a project planner at such a young age. That's really impressive."
"Oh my, young age and all that…"
"She's older than you. She's just short."
"Yayoi, some things are better left unsaid."
Satake Mei coughed a few times.
It seemed that after not seeing them for a while, Yayoi and Chiya's relationship had become very good.
Could it be that she had told Chiya about that matter?
Forget it.
Whether she had said it or not was not something Mei should interfere in.
She had come here for something important.
"A few representatives from France are coming over. When the time comes, Trainer Chiya, come with me to entertain them."
"France?"
"That's right. They're the people in charge of the European races. If you end up going to Europe, they'll be the ones responsible."
"Hah… Why are they coming all the way here?"
"To watch the selection race, and also to bring Nase Hideto back. He's registered as a trainer in Europe too."
"I see. But is it really okay for me to go to this kind of reception? I'm only a trainer."
"They want to meet the trainers. You and Nase Fumino. The next race is between the two of you, after all. The people in charge over there want to meet both of you in advance."