Whether taking her trainer to meet her father was about getting acquainted or making their relationship official could wait.
In any case, Zhou Yuang set the phone beside Bourbon.
"Father..."
Looking at the screen, Bourbon began talking to him.
The cowlick atop her head twisted slightly. She had been about to do something with Zhou Yuang, only for her father's call to interrupt them.
Would you be happy if your parents stopped you halfway through a game?
Some more impatient Uma Musume would probably have lost it.
Bourbon regained her composure quickly. Her poker face had always been reliable.
"I achieved the dream I told you about."
"...Congratulations."
Mr. Toyama had intended to say so much about it, but now that the moment had come, he found that was the only word he could manage.
After all, he had merely laid the foundation. The person who had accompanied Bourbon all the way here was her current trainer.
The young man's nerve and words were astonishing, but his talent was just as remarkable.
And since he hadn't been corrupted by that crowd, Mr. Toyama couldn't help feeling fortunate for his daughter.
"You finally achieved your dream. To reach this point, you've overcome so much... ever since you were little."
The tree had flowered and borne fruit, and at last its fragrant fruit had fallen to the ground.
Though he wasn't the one picking it up, seeing that seedling grow into a towering tree still drew him into memories of the past.
Those memories unfurled little by little. When the whole story lay before him, Mr. Toyama suddenly realized something.
Bourbon had prepared so much for this moment, but this moment was all she had prepared for.
Everything from her childhood until now had been for this. She had never made plans