Air Groove's POV

The year's down to its final weeks. I have no more races scheduled, but next year kicks off with the Kyoto Kinen. Two months will fly by—I can't slack off. My training's on track, smooth as ever.

But… lately, my heart's been restless. The cause?

"Hey, Trainer-san! What's the next menu like?" an Uma Musume chirped.

"I'm curious too! Show us, show us~!" another giggled.

"Guys, he's working!" a third scolded.

"But you wanna see it too, right?" they teased.

"I… fine, I do! Don't make me say it!" she huffed.

Hachiman groaned. "Can you keep it down? Any louder, and I'm not writing the menu."

They fell silent.

"…Real obedient, huh," Hachiman muttered.

"'Cause your menus make our training awesome!" one beamed.

That's it. Seeing my trainer chummy with other Uma Musume makes my blood boil. And him! Getting all smug with them—what a fool! He should remember he's my trainer.

Silence Suzuka tilted her head. "Something wrong, Air Groove?"

I blinked. "Suzuka? It's nothing."

"Really? You looked upset. Something happen?"

"It's not me," I said. "It's my trainer…"

Suzuka nodded. "Ah… he's been getting popular lately. Not just at Trecen, either."

"…What?" I said.

She showed me her phone. "This Uma-sta post. Someone snapped him having tea alone at a café and posted it. Once folks realized he's a Trecen trainer, he's been getting tons of attention."

Sure, the glasses have improved his look, I'll admit. His posture? I won't even start. But what's with all these people around him?! Unacceptable! This is a place of learning—such chaos disrupts discipline!

Nice Nature chuckled. "Heehee, Brother's fame rising is wonderful."

Suzuka blinked. "N-Nice Nature…"

Nice Nature smiled. "He was stressing over it the other day. 'What's the point of me getting famous?' he said."

I nodded. "His glasses do make him look better, undeniably. Many students have said as much."

Nice Nature giggled. "That's why Brother's getting magazine interview offers."

What's that?

"Explain," I said.

Nice Nature shrugged. "I don't know much. He just said, 'Give these to Air Groove.' I saw the papers, but he said he's not interested, so do what I want. That's all."

"…I see," I said.

Suzuka frowned. "Aren't you happy, Air Groove? You wanted to fix his bad rumors."

"I am, but…" I trailed off.

It's a good sign, sure. But now too many people like him, and it's a problem!

Clubroom

Fuji sighed. "Hachiman Trainer-san's late."

I crossed my arms. "Wandering who-knows-where."

Click.

Hachiman stepped in. "Sorry I'm late. Takanotsume had a letter for me. Let's start train—"

"Wait," I said.

"What?" he asked.

"What kind of letters do you get?" I demanded.

"All sorts," he said. "Mostly your fan letters before, but now I get some too, mixed in. Honestly, who'd write to me? I don't even race."

Fuji tilted her head. "But doesn't that mean the opposite of what you used to get?"

"Yeah," he said. "You know what they called me before, right? The bad stuff hasn't stopped, but it's way less now."

True, I rarely hear the "prize money thief" talk anymore. But now they say, "Trecen's got a hot trainer." And someone's always near him. It's… frustrating. What is this feeling?

Fuji mused, "Why not do an interview or something? The last article about you was two years ago. It'd be fine now, right?"

Hachiman waved it off. "Nah, too late for that. Doesn't matter if I do it or not."

"But you're different now," Fuji said. "With the glasses boosting your looks, no one'd complain."

"Maybe," he said. "But I'm good as is. Air Groove's been fine with me like this all year—no need to change, right?"

I faltered. "M-Mm…"

Hachiman clapped. "Enough of that. Let's train."

Hachiman's POV

Greetings, everyone. Hachiman Hikitani here, standing in the dazzling grand hall of URA headquarters. Why am I in such a fancy place? Three days after the racing season wrapped, Takanotsume told me about this event. Last year, I dodged it, but this time, I figured skipping would earn me some harsh glares, so here I am. The room's packed with veteran trainers and Uma Musume who've conquered multiple graded stakes.

I'm not alone, technically, but I'm just standing here with a drink in hand. It's a buffet, but I'm not hungry enough to eat.

Air Groove glanced at me. "Not eating?"

"Nah," I said. "Not starving, and I'm not big on dining in places like this."

"I thought you'd be used to it," she said. "My mistake."

"Mistake's putting it lightly," I muttered.

She raised a brow. "No glasses today. Why?"

"No reason," I said. "Wearing them daily hurts my ears."

"You brought them, though?" she asked.

"Yeah, just in case," I said.

"Good," she said. "Not wearing them was the right call."

"Why's that?" I asked.

"…I plead the fifth," she said.

"Huh? Why?" I pressed.

Air Groove thought: Your glasses look is too much! We suggested it and met our goal, but now women flock to you, and I can't stand it!

"…Whatever," I said. "It's about time, right?"

She nodded. "Yes."

The announcer's voice boomed. "Are you all enjoying yourselves? Now, we'll begin this year's class-based awards! First, the Junior Class! The standout Uma Musume is… Mejiro Dobel, the Mejiro family's pride! With four wins in five races, including a G3 and a G1, she mirrored last year's winner, Air Groove, with her blazing late charge to claim the Junior Class crown!"

I glanced at Air Groove. "Mejiro Dobel's the one you've been training, right?"

"Yes," she said. "It paid off. She's got a great trainer now and won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. A strong rival's emerged."

Mejiro Dobel stepped onto the stage, visibly nervous, fidgeting under the crowd's gaze.

The announcer continued. "Next, the Classic Class! The brightest star is… Air Groove, the first to claim an undefeated Triple Tiara! Four races, four wins—three G1s and one G3, an impeccable record! Combined with her Junior Class, she's seven-for-seven, unbeaten! In the Shuka Sho, she crushed the runner-up by twelve lengths, earning unanimous praise as the Classic Class champion!"

Air Groove straightened. "I'm off."

"Go get 'em," I said.

"And for the Senior Class," the announcer declared, "the star who made a triumphant comeback, dominating long distances… Sakura Laurel! Four wins in five races, with two G2s and two G1s! After an injury post-Meguro Kinen last year, she roared back, winning the Nakayama Kinen, Tennō Shō Spring, and Arima Kinen, conquering the Senior Class long-distance circuit!"

The three Uma Musume stood in a line, trophies in hand, posing for photos. Yeah, no way I'd want to be up there…

"And now, the Horse of the Year! The most outstanding Uma Musume of the season… Air Groove of the Classic Class!"

Air Groove froze. "What?"

"An undefeated Triple Tiara is an unprecedented feat!" the announcer boomed. "No one could overlook it! Air Groove, please return to the stage."

She went back up, clutching a new trophy as cameras flashed relentlessly. Well, she earned it.

Minutes Later

Air Groove returned, exhausted. "…Done."

"Good work," I said. "Seriously."

"No more flashes for a while," she groaned.

"You earned it," I said. "It's expected."

The announcer's voice rang out. "Now, the Trainer Division! The trainer who sent the most outstanding Uma Musume to the turf this year…"

Sakura Laurel's trainer makes sense, I thought. They stuck with her through a year-long recovery. If not them—

"…Hachiman Hikitani, the youngest and fastest to earn Triple Crown Trainer status in his second year, leading Air Groove to the top of her generation!"

What?! "Huh?"

No, no, no! Hold on! There's gotta be someone better! Sakura Laurel's trainer? The one who led Marbly to six straight wins and the Tennō Shō? Even Hiratsuka-sensei, who trained Bubblegum!

"Hachiman Hikitani, please take the stage."

I sighed. "Oh…"

Air Groove frowned. "You brought the glasses, right?"

"I did, but…" I muttered. "Fine, I'm going."

I slipped on the glasses and climbed the stage. An official pinned a badge on me, handed me a medal, and I forced a smile for the cameras I despise.

Ugh, I hate this.

Minutes Later

"No more cameras and flashes," I groaned.

Air Groove sighed. "We're in sync today."

"And with that," the announcer concluded, "the award ceremony ends. Please continue enjoying the party!"

Later

"I'm done with flashes…" I muttered.

Air Groove tilted her head. "Could we wear sunglasses?"

"Forget it," I said. "They'd shoot that down in a heartbeat."

We sighed in unison. "…Haa."

Afterword

Air Groove and Hachiman steal the show! Her undefeated Triple Tiara earns her Horse of the Year, while Hachiman's crowned top trainer, cementing their legacy. Their shared flash-phobia bonds them, with Air Groove's jealousy over his glasses-fueled fame adding spice. Mejiro Dobel and Sakura Laurel shine, but Air Groove's dominance rules. What's next for this dynamic duo?

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