After getting back from Kyoto, Seiun Sky wouldn't stop bugging Hayato about going fishing. "You didn't forget, did you, Trainer?"
"Forget? No, I didn't forget, but..." Hayato glanced over at King Halo, and his whole body tensed up.
King Halo was fanning herself, trying to look calm, but her voice had this scary kind of stillness to it. "Trainer, we agreed to go shopping together, remember?"
She'd almost said aquarium but caught herself and switched to shopping at the last second.
"Huh? But we already went last time, didn't we?" Seiun Sky looked at her like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She'd thought that whole thing was settled, but apparently not.
That was a month ago. The Satsuki Sho had come and gone already, right?
"Yes, we did go, but... because..." King Halo lowered her fan, struggling to find the words. No matter how she tried to spin it, she was basically being clingy at this point.
Should she say it? That it was all Seiun Sky's fault, she never got alone time with Hayato?
"Seiun Sky!!" She gritted her teeth, fists clenched like she was about to throw a punch, but then she held back and lowered her hands.
Finally, she said through gritted teeth, "Fishing, huh? Fine. I'm coming too."
You ruined my date with Trainer, so you're not getting off easy either.
"But Trainer and I are going on a date, you know? What are you gonna do, third wheel?" Seiun Sky didn't hold back, her words sharp as arrows that hit their mark perfectly.
Getting hit like that, King Halo stomped her foot in frustration. "Seiun Sky, how can you say something like that?"
"Trainer, huh?" When she turned around to look, Hayato already vanished. "This is all your fault, Seiun Sky! You scared Trainer away. If he left because of you, then you..."
King Halo stomped her foot again in anger, but then a voice came from behind her. "Seiun, didn't you say you wanted to go fishing? Hurry up."
"Yes, coming!" Seiun Sky grabbed the fishing gear and headed out.
"Wait, I'm going too." King Halo followed right after.
In the car.
Hayato was sitting right in the middle of the crossfire. This was torture.
I've got a few million yen saved up now. Maybe I could just disappear?
Should be enough to retire on, right?
Sigh...
"Come on, you two. That's enough. Even jokes have their limits."
"It's all because of Seiun Sky, hmph!" King Halo turned her head away.
"You think I wanted this? I didn't invite her." Seiun Sky was making a sour face too.
"Seiun, can you do something about this?" Hayato leaned over and whispered quietly in her ear.
King Halo immediately yanked me back to my seat.
"Enough! Are you two done yet?"
Hayato was genuinely angry now. He didn't need this kind of daily warfare in his life.
Hayato placed both hands on the uma musumes' heads.
"This ends now...."
Their hair was incredibly soft, and when Hayato touched their ears, they drooped down. It felt really nice. I could get addicted to this if I kept it up.
Looking at King Halo, she suddenly became incredibly docile. "If... if that's what Trainer says, then... okay, yes."
Seiun Sky's reaction was different. She was completely stunned and embarrassed. Was her trainer actually patting her head?
This actually feels kinda nice... Seiun Sky was enjoying the sensation.
That's what she was thinking.
So, head patting really is the best way to deal with angry uma musumes? My knowledge as a Tracen trainer just increased.
I remembered the trainer's handbook mentioning that only trainers can touch an uma musume's head, but you shouldn't do it unless absolutely necessary.
I couldn't worry about that right now. This was absolutely necessary.
After getting out of the car, both Uma Musumes acted like nothing had happened, much more well-behaved.
"Seiun, is this where you usually fish? Why not find somewhere nicer?" King Halo looked around at the small Kagami Lake with some disdain.
Too dirty and messy. Why were there naked kids swimming in the water?
"Oh, if Ms.Halo finds it beneath her, feel free to go back." Seiun Sky couldn't resist the jab, ignoring her as she changed into flip-flops and grabbed the fishing gear.
She said as she walked, "There's not just fish here, but pigeons and cats too. If you don't like it, you can go play somewhere else."
"Hmph, I'm not going back." King Halo rolled up her sleeves and reached for a fishing rod, and then after a few minutes.....
"Ah, ah ahhhh... I caught something! How do I... No, my clothes..."
Seiun Sky just stood there laughing at her misfortune, even pulling out her phone to secretly take pictures. While King Halo was trying to untangle herself, Seiun somehow managed to get the fishing line wrapped around her at lightning speed.
It took Hayato forever to help her get free.
"Aha, ohohoh, ohohohoh... There's no way I'd get tangled in fishing line! That was just an accident, an accident!" After getting untangled, she forced an awkward laugh, staring at the fishing line with inexplicable fear. "Is this thing really that troublesome?"
So we were actually going fishing. Hayato had no idea which wire got crossed in his brain to go fishing with two beautiful uma musumes.
It was almost June now, which, according to Seiun Sky was prime fishing season. Combined with her secret hidden fishing spot, we should definitely catch some big ones.
After arriving, Seiun Sky started prepping the gear, tying the fishing line with her usual practiced movements.
"King Halo, are you really going to fish?" Hayato asked again, not even daring to hand her the line. She could get her rod caught in a tree.
"No, I won't..."
"I can teach you if you want."
"I want to fish!" She immediately straightened up, her attitude resolute.
In that case, Hayato had no choice but to teach her. No matter how clumsy she was, she should be able to learn eventually, right?
Hayato let Seiun Sky handle tying the fishing line since that's a technical skill.
Hayato showed King Halo two casting motions: one swing and one underhand cast.
"Like this? Like this? Is this right... hmm?"
Her hook caught on me.
"Wait, hold on... don't swing yet..."
Before Hayato could finish speaking, King Halo cast the line and practically lifted him off the ground. Hayato almost went flying.
"What a huge bait!" Seiun Sky was laughing so hard she doubled over.
"No! Don't do that... King!"
"Ah, Trainer..." King Halo swung the rod again, sending Hayato in the other direction. "Ahhh... how exactly do I work this thing?"
"Trainer, are you okay?" King Halo dropped the rod and ran over, trying to unhook Hayato, but somehow she managed to get us both tangled together.
"Stop, stop, stop! Don't move. Let Seiun handle this....."
...
Ten minutes later, King Halo had learned how to gently cast the hook out.
That really wasn't easy.
After baiting the hook and casting it out, she stood there stiffly, not daring to move a muscle, while Hayato taught her how to reel in and let out line.
Once she got it, she breathed a sigh of relief and complained, "This is way too much trouble. Does Trainer really enjoy fishing?"
Trouble? I don't know how she defines "trouble," but some people just can't understand why fishing would be troublesome.
"I wouldn't say I really enjoy it. More like something to do when I'm bored. It's pretty interesting though." Hayato doesn't hate fishing, it just feels too leisurely.
This kind of leisurely life doesn't feel real. Hayato's dreams really aren't that grand. A wife, a mountain spring, and a little land would be fine.
I've been here for almost half a year now. I used to wonder whether my old life or this one was better.
The answer is this one. Just work hard and be careful not to end up in an uma musume's basement, right? Or make enough money fast and find an uma musume to marry. Someone like Seiun Sky, living carefree and easy, wouldn't that be nice?
Hayato unconsciously looked over at Seiun Sky. Noticing my gaze, she frowned and gave me a questioning look.
No, no, no. Hayato shook his head repeatedly. How could I be thinking that having Seiun Sky as a wife wouldn't be bad?
That's dangerous.
Hayato needs to forget that thought immediately.
"Then, I'll come fishing with Trainer more often from now on." King Halo looked at the terrifying fishing rod, her hands trembling slightly.
"You don't have to force yourself, King Halo."
"No, I want to come."
That's when Seiun Sky finally started grumbling. "Sure, it takes you ten whole minutes to learn how to cast. You've got ulterior motives..."
She suddenly looked pained and started yelling. "Trainer, Seiun doesn't know how to fish either! Can you teach me? Come give me hands-on instruction!"
King Halo smiled smugly. "Hehe, are you jealous?"
"You two..." Hayato put his hand on King Halo's head. "Can you not fight? What's there to compete over?"
Head pat attack.
After being patted, King Halo's tone immediately softened. "For the Trainer's sake, I won't stoop to her level."
"That's better." Having dealt with King Halo, Hayato turned toward Seiun Sky.
Seiun Sky immediately panicked. "Trainer, don't pat me! Seiun's not a cat! I know I was wrong!"
Even so, Hayato took the opportunity to ruffle her short blue hair, messing it up.
After being patted, Seiun Sky looked like she'd been violated, her expression one of complete resignation and exhaustion. She asked Hayato bitterly, "How was it, Trainer? Don't you know that an uma musume's tail and head can't just be touched casually?"
"Pretty nice actually." Hayato looked at his right hand and chuckled. "I knew it. This is your weakness, right? As a trainer, I have the right to pat heads."
"Pretty nice?" Seiun Sky didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Seiun's not pure anymore, can't get married now.... Trainer has to take responsibility and marry me..."
"It's just patting your head, what's the big deal? It's not like that thing between lovers... It's different, right? Trainers are allowed to do it."
Not just trainers. If the Uma Musume allows it, fans can pat too. It's a sign of affection.
"Waaah! Trainer, you seriously didn't know?!" Seiun Sky cried out, laughing through tears. "You can only pat an uma musume's head if you're close enough! We're not at that level yet, are we?"
"Uh..." Hayato was speechless. He genuinely didn't know this. So what she's saying is, my relationship with King Halo is already good enough for casual head pats.
But patting Seiun Sky's head was like forcing it on her without consent?
I see... Got it.
Hayato turned to walk away.
"Hey, Trainer! Are you just gonna pat me and walk away irresponsibly?" Seiun Sky protested.
"What else do you want? Should I let you pat me back?"
"Huh? Fine, I'll take the loss on this one." She rolled up one sleeve, ready to pat Hayato head, staring at it expectantly.
"Heh, in your dreams!"
Having taken the loss, Seiun Sky pouted and muttered, "Just you wait. Seiun's revenge can wait ten years after you're old enough as ojii-san!"
"Ughhh...." Her words felt like a critical hit to Hayato.
"Tr-Trainer, it moved! It moved! Did I catch a fish?" King Halo, who'd been standing there holding the rod the whole time, looked panicked as the bobber moved, not daring to budge.
"Oh wow, first cast and you already hooked something? King Halo's got great luck."
Seiun Sky said this sarcastically but didn't move to help.
The fish in the water was thrashing even harder. King Halo was so scared that tears came to her eyes, desperately gripping the rod. "Trainer, what do I do? It feels like it's about to come out of the water!"
Isn't the whole point of fishing to get the fish out of the water?
Even if you've never fished, you've at least seen other people do it, right?
It's just fishing. How can you be this scared?
Hayato wordlessly took the rod from her and started reeling in the line. "You can't rush this. I'd had experiences where I got too excited and flung the hook into a tree..."
Maybe Hayato's technique wasn't great back then, but right now, he was showing the competence of a veteran.