How she wished Zhou Yuang would tell her she had misunderstood. Instead, the truth hit her like a blow.
"Yes. I'm Aldan's trainer, and right now I'm working hard for her Classic Year."
He was Takamine's trainer too, but there was no need to bring that up.
As for McQueen... wouldn't mentioning her now be telling Dober he was AT?
"Big Sister Aldan?"
At the sound of that name, Dober's heart sank.
Dober knew Aldan well. She deeply respected that elegant, gentle older sister, frail as she was, for her strength and intelligence.
The thought of Aldan's beautiful, gentle face filled Dober with sorrow.
Of course. Big Sister Aldan was still racing, after all.
It was only natural for her to choose among promising Uma Musume.
"Yeah."
Zhou Yuang had been about to praise Aldan, but he grew puzzled when Dober suddenly looked so dejected.
"What's wrong?"
"N-no... It's nothing. Sorry to bother you."
Dober did not mind which older sister had chosen Zhou Yuang before she could. What hurt was knowing that the trainer fate had brought before her already had someone to become Mind and Body as One with.
She shook her head. Her ears and tail quivered as restlessly as her heart.
Then she fled in a panic. Only after running some distance did she clutch the fabric over her chest.
You've got to be kidding me. I finally met a trainer who's gentle and understanding!
The sweetness of the Carrot faded from her mouth, and the flutter in her heart faded with it.
For the first time, she had met a trainer she liked. For the first time, she had encountered the trainer who caught her eye at the Mejiro Family estate.
Those two things together should have made her even happier.
*I finally let myself