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Chapter Text

I enter the living room of Aoi and I’s apartment to the usual chaos.

Team Athena’s biweekly games and movie marathon was last night and into the early morning of today.

Thankfully, they are all still sleeping. Or at least most of them. Stay Gold is staring out the window at the streets below as rain begins to fall. Dream Journey is reading one of the books from the home office and balancing Orfevre against her side on the couch so she doesn’t fall into an “undignified” position in her sleep.

Gold Ship and Nakayama Festa have ended up sharing a pillow, but are starfished out in opposite directions across the floor. They nearly cross the whole room. Happy Meek is still curled up on the reclining chair, but her ears are flicking meaning she is close to waking.

I hear the coffee maker going as I walk to the kitchen.

“Good morning, Boss!” Fenomeno says a bit too loudly before catching herself. “Ah, sorry.”

“G’morning to you, too, Meno.” I chuckle and take the cup of coffee she hands over. “Thank you.”

There is a faint blush across her cheeks, which is honestly very cute especially on someone of her stature, when I take a sip and mumble a small “perfect”.

“It’s too early for this.” The grumbly voice belonging to Athena’s newest member interrupts from the table, making Fenomeno shake her head with an even redder face and start setting up the ingredients for our food.

Narita Taishin has her head on her arm as she plays a game on her phone.

“If you’re gonna be all grumpy, Taishin, you’ll be joining us on breakfast duty.” I threaten lightly, not really seriously.

She raises her head, looking at us as Meno holds out an apron to me and one to Aoi, who has entered the kitchen now.

“Ok.” The smaller uma says and puts her phone in her pocket before getting up.

“O-oh.” I fumble a second, surprised by her agreeing.

We whip around the kitchen preparing piles and piles of pancakes and eggs and bacon, which were chosen for this time’s breakfast.

“Meno, dear, would you mind waking up the others?” Aoi asks and the woman in question freezes up for a second.

“Yes, Boss!” She shouts rigidly with a blush once more and we can hear a groan from the living room, probably Gold Ship. The tall uma then hurries out of the kitchen to fulfill her new duty. “TIME TO GET UP! FOOD!”

I chuckle. She knows exactly how to get through to the sleeping umas.

Meek is already waiting patiently at a set table as the others drag themselves into the room. She must have snuck in when we were cooking. Though how did she get the plates and everything without us knowing?

“She likes you.” The quietest of our band of misfits says. “Both of you.”

“Ah…” Aoi isn’t sure how to address what her trainee said, but she doesn’t have to as a certain Ship rushes her way into the room and to her seat, almost pushing Festa over in the process.

Gold Ship stole one of the chairs the first time she had visited the apartment. I honestly don’t know how the hell she managed to, but it later reappeared, decorated and bearing her name across the backrest.

“Once more, I am glad we thought to get the giant table.” I say to Aoi and kiss her cheek as I sit down next to her, Fenomeno is watching us almost longingly from her seat closer to the other end of the oval table. “Meek, thanks for setting the table.”

“Welcome.” I hear her say before she is drowned out by the regular noise of the group.

As everyone has eaten their fill, and nearly had a small war between Golshi and Stego over the last pancake, I stand up.

“Today is a rare rest day for all of us. The schedules have aligned this week. I will be taking whoever wants to go back to the dorms in about an hour. And whoever else wants to hang out here some more, you are welcome to. Just let us know whenever you are heading out, ok?”

The apartment is not far from Tracen, well within walking distance or a short jog for the umamusume, but I always offer to drive them.

They start clearing up the table and bringing things to Stego and Festa, who are on dish duty.

People are often very shocked when I tell them that the Team is actually a bit easy to control.

Maybe easy is an overstatement, but it is not as bad as they assume. It definitely was in the beginning, but now we have settled into a sort of rhythm.

I had originally moved here from Canada to be with my wife. We met when she had come to see some races over there with her family. Her cousin had a trainee participating. I happened to be there watching my brother’s trainee that day, so I was in the stands and not down by the track.

By some miracle Aoi and I ended up talking before the race about uma and training ideas at first, but then we got into a lot of other topics. Her father had quickly excused himself with a wink her way. He had seen it way before we did.

We hung out many times before her family went back to Japan and after we would talk over the phone and video whenever we could, given the time difference and our works.

On my last visit to Japan, 2 years later to begin the process of transferring to Tracen and finalizing the paperwork to be a Trainer in this country, Aoi had surprised me. She beat me to it. She proposed to me and I couldn’t hold back a laugh as tears filled my eyes and I pulled out the ring box from my pocket. She joined the laughter with her own tears.

Trainers don’t make a fortune or anything close, but her family is quite well off. They insisted we get the biggest apartment and that it be fully bought and not rented. We did try to protest, but her parents weren’t having it.

When I had started working at Tracen, Fenomeno and Nakayama Festa had caught my eye. I had worked with multiple uma before, so taking them both on as trainee was almost a no brainer. Especially since it seemed Meno wanted no one else and Festa didn’t really seem to care any which way until Meno dragged her to my office with her.

Gold Ship was the next to join us. I had never seen her so genuinely distraught as the day her old trainer had had enough and couldn’t handle her chaos anymore and quit. Its wasn’t the fake tears she pulls on McQueen, but an actual sadness and despair that dragged her down. Festa had told me she was hiding in an unused classroom near Tachyon’s lab because Golshi didn’t want anyone to see her like that. She almost seemed to believe I would eventually give up on her, too, when I offered to take her on as my own. It took some convincing, but soon she accepted and was back to her menace ways.

At that point it was decided we would need to make a Team considering we now had three members, four if we were including Aoi’s trainee, Meek. Thus Team Athena was born.

Orfevre had joined us after she decided her old trainer wasn’t good enough. I do feel bad for the guy, he isn’t a bad trainer by any means. Just not up to her standards it seems. I heard he took a vacation and is back with a new trainee and doing well this year. Orfevre was intrigued mostly by how well I was able to redirect Gold Ship’s extensive energy and by how well her training was going. She wanted to challenge her and my training style. Apparently, I passed her unspoken tests because she is still here.

Dream Journey followed Orfevre. She seemed to be doing very well with her own trainer, but she gave it up to follow the regal uma. I still do not understand her or why she made such a decision, but I have learned to not question it or her. For my own safety.

Taishin and Stego both joined around the same time, with Taishin last. Stego just appeared and announced she was joining Athena. Everyone was very confused. In all honesty a lot of people thought she had dropped out the year before with how she had just vanished with very few able to contact her at all. Taishin on the other hand was similar to Orfevre. She had seen how well Gold Ship was doing as a closer and demanded I take her on. The difference being she didn’t already have a trainer.

It was honestly very hard in the beginning, learning to balance so many different trainings and race plans and everything. I believed I was managing well enough, but I guess the struggle was beginning to be noticed as Tazuna had sneakily assigned two assistants to Athena in an attempt to combat my (and Aoi’s since she is officially a trainer for the Team, too) workload. She and Akikawa knew the girls would be very resistant to getting assigned different trainers and also knew very, very few would be willing to even work with some of them. 

Am I still overloaded and overworked? Hell yes. Would I change any of it? Hell no.

Chapter Text

A week later, I find myself at the park. I came across Gold Ship playing with a group of children, so I decided to join in, of course. Why wouldn’t I?

It was all going very well and was lots of fun until a misplaced elbow from her exaggerated “death” falling on me smacked my glasses off my face.

“Golshi, I needed those to see.” I tell the uma on top of me as the children are all frozen in shock thinking I am angry.

My glasses ended up under one of the kid’s feet and oh, the younger uma is crying now.

“Hey, it’s ok. I’m not mad at you.” I try to console her, with Gold Ship still crushing me. But she is also not crushing me? Is she holding herself up? “It was an accident.”

She sniffles, but refuses to look at me, ears flat against her head and tail still.

“Boss!” Fenomeno’s booming voice settles over us and a few of the other children get startled as she sprints over. “Get off of them!”

She pushes the other tall uma off of me and I chuckle when Golshi dramatically flails. It helps break the tension with the kids laughing now, too.

“Oh, my savior! Thank you, Meno.” I tell the spikey haired woman with a small swoon before taking her hand to get up, brushing my clothes off.

Her small blush is always cute.

Behind her I see Festa and Stego trading something. What are they betting on now?

I don’t have time to ponder that as I crouch down to see the remains of my glasses. Thankfully the lenses are fine, minus a crack in one. But, the frames are snapped in a few places.

The young girl stays behind as Gold Ship leads the group of children off on another adventure. I hope she doesn’t disturb the other park guests too much. Or break anything… there’s only so much the school can pay out for repairs. We are already on thin ice with Tazuna for that one incident in the shopping center. And that other one with the swimming pool… and the weight room… and…

“I’m sorry…” the small uma whispers.

“Don’t be, sweetie.” I tell her and carefully raise my hand to pat her head, between her black ears. Uma are tall even as children, she is already the same height as Aoi. “It really was an accident. I have another couple pairs at home.”

“O-ok.” She mumbles and I take my hand away.

“Go on. I think Golshi is going on a pirate adventure now.”

Once the girl runs off to catch up, I turn and look up to see Fenomeno’s face. She looks slightly jealous as she watches over Gold Ship and the kids.

“You ok, Meno?” I ask and reach out for her arm, grabbing her attention.

“Y-yes!” She shouts and some birds fly away from the old people feeding them nearby.

I look over her face and I notice how she is lightly blushing again.

“Ok. Just let me know if you need anything.” I step away from her and look over to where only Festa stands now. Where did Stay Gold go? Eh, she’ll probably show up again later. “Alright, let’s get back to campus. Taishin wanted to get some extra training in today. And I know you have your date later, Festa.”

“S’not a date.” She huffs lightly, but lets me begin to walk towards campus next to her.

I know it is just more late night poker with her roommate, but sometimes I get the feeling there may be more going on there. Or at least she wishes there was.

I only hum and drop it as Meno steps up on my other side.

“Will you be ok without your glasses, Boss?” She asks worriedly.

“It’ll be annoying, but I will survive.” I tell her. “Aoi won’t be home from her trip with Meek until tonight, so she can’t grab another pair for me. And we don’t really have time to make a detour. I told Taishin I’d meet her soon. Maybe I could grab some tape from my office.”

“I can go get them!” Meno shouts again and then looks almost devastated when a child we were passing starts crying. “I-I… I’m sorry…”

“Oh, Meno…” I grab onto her hand and she freezes up, turning red and nearly falling over as she was mid step.

She grips my hand tightly and I can see Nakayama smirk over at her and her glare back. I will not acknowledge that interaction outwardly.  Internally, though, I laugh.

“You don’t have to go get them, Meno.” I tell her.

“I’ll get them, Boss!” She is a bit quieter this time, but not enough as the people around us look over before turning back to what they were doing.

“Alright, alright.” I chuckle and release her hand, opting to fish in my pocket for my keys. After taking off my apartment key, I hand it to her. “Here, I trust you won’t lose it.”

“I won’t!” She takes it and with a salute, runs off a different way.

“Dork.” I sigh and keep walking with Festa.

“You three are unbearable sometimes.” The brown haired uma says, eyes still facing forward.

“Hm? How so?” I ask, knowing I probably won’t get an answer.

“You and Kiryuin are all sweet on her and her on you two, then turn around and deny it.” She sighs. “It’s mellowed her out a bit, which is nice. Doesn’t get on our cases as much. But, sometimes it’s almost painful watching this… mess.”

I am surprised she answered and for a second I don’t say anything.

“Well… she is our trainee. The school wouldn’t al-“

“Bullshit. I know there is no such rule in the books for that.” I look over at her in shock at her annoyance and her words. “Yeah, I read it. Why is that a surprise?”

“I-I don’t know. Sorry.” We sit in a small silence before I speak up again. “You seem rather… bothered by this. You got some bets going on us or something?”

“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. Maybe I’m sick of you all being stupid.”

Chapter Text

“How are you going to help if you can’t see?” Taishin huffs and looks away.

“I’m near-sighted, not blind.” I laugh as we walk to the track, I know she is not actually mad. “And Meno is getting my back up pair from home.”

We have barely started when Fenomeno comes running up.

“Here!” She hands over a case and I put on the glasses inside and take my key back. “I got them as fast as I could, Boss!” She gives a salute.

I stare at her for a second, not really thinking anything besides how cute and sweet she is and tug on her arm until she leans down enough I can kiss her cheek.

“Thanks.” I whisper and turn back to watching Taishin to hide my red face.

Oh goddesses, why did I do that. Meno is very quiet. What is she thinking?

I chance a peek back at her and she is completely frozen in place, still leaned down, almost seeming to not breathe.

“Meno?” I call her name and she gasps. Maybe she wasn’t breathing. That’s concerning.

“I…” She starts, completely flushed, before turning and running away.

“What’d you do to her?” Taishin asks as she finishes her current lap, barely breathing heavy.

“Um. Well.” I feel my face be warm. “I kissed her cheek. And I thought… I thought it would be ok? But now she’s run away.”

Taishin looks the way Meno ran off and then huffs with a slightly red face. “I can’t give advice on this. Hayahide is the one to ask. Or Ticket.”

Oh? Are the BNW rumors true?

“I’m going back to running.” She tells me and leaves before I can say anything.

I am watching over her and making notes when there is a loud scrapping noise of metal on cement then the sound of something being dragged along dirt and grass nearby.

“What the…” I turn to see Gold Ship looking proudly at a small-ish fishing boat sitting on the grass, clearly having been dragged there by the destroyed lawn behind it. “Gold Ship!!”

Orfevre is looking on with a small grin as well with Stay Gold standing on top of the boat with Festa and Journey.

“Where did you even… WHY?!” I yell as I make my way over to them. “One of you, explain!”

“I was down by the river and I saw a notice on the bulletin board that this was for sale. I knew Golshi wanted a boat, so I let her know.” Stego tells me with a shrug when I am close enough.

“Golshi.” I sigh and turn to the uma with her hands on her hips. “In the hour and a half I left you alone, you played with the children… then bought a boat.”

She nods with her signature chaotic grin.

“And where are you planning to put this? I doubt it is seaworthy anymore with how you dragged it on the ground for goddesses know how long.” I peak at the back of it. “And it has no motor.”

She actually seems disappointed by that realization.

“I did try to warn you.” Journey tells her as she effortlessly hops down and turns to me. “Those are different glasses, aren’t they?”

“Yes, Golshi broke the other ones. Again.”

She nods and heads over to Orfevre. I just sigh as I hear Tazuna rushing up behind me. I’m surprised Akikawa isn’t with her.

“Hi.” I tell her as I turn around. “We’ll move it somewhere else. Is there anywhere we can store it on campus?”

I can see the crowd forming a bit away and the students staring out the windows of the school. Golshi and by extension Athena antics are not uncommon, but are always a spectacle for everyone to see.

“There is room in the garage.” Tazuna tells me and then stares sternly at Gold Ship, though the uma is unfazed and continues posing around the boat as if she were its captain on a fishing trip. Even Stego is joining her with a little salute and a pretend fishing rod of her own. Festa has jumped down and is over by where Taishin has stopped to watch us from the track. “We can keep it there for a week.”

“Thank you. We’ll have it outta there before then, I promise.” I assure her and turn to the uma. “Hey! We need to get this to the garage!”

They manage to get it to the garage with little issue, but there is definitely a hole or two where rocks and cement had scrapped away the already weak hull of the old boat. I catch up with them after I finish up with Taishin. She chooses against joining us as she wants to go find Hayahide and Ticket to get dinner.

“Golshi. How did you even afford this?” I ask her as we look at it.

“The old captain already had his replacement vessel, so he was eager to get rid of this one. I got a discount! And then I bought some yakisoba! We brought the S.S. Gold here afte-!”

“S.S. Gold?” I ask.

“Dad named it.” Festa answers for her as if it was natural.

“Yah! Dad named it! We are all sailors upon the mighty S.S. Gold! Not as mighty as the S.S. Gold Ship, but close! The Gold Ship can fly into spac-!”

I tune her out just a little as she goes off on her tangent, choosing to instead look at Stego.

“Dad, huh?” I joke and the shortest uma here shrugs.

“I am the oldest of them.” She simply says and smiles a bit wider than I’ve seen.

Not her smirk or grin, but a smile. She likes being called dad.

Chapter Text

I slowly wake up and squeeze my hold on Aoi just a bit tighter, burying my face in her hair. She was only away for a week with Meek, but I missed her so much. As more of my senses filter in, though, I realize I am beyond hungry.

I grumble some unintelligible words that I don’t even fully know as I carefully get out of bed to not wake my wife, giving her temple a small kiss before I am too far away.

Throwing on a long sweatshirt and not bothering with pants, just wearing my boxers, I step out of the room and head towards the kitchen. The sun is still not out and I don’t bother turning on any lights.

“Good morning.” A voice says as I walk through the living room.

“G’mornin’.” I mumble back, in English. My brain isn’t awake enough to remember my Japanese yet.

After another step I stop in place, snapping fully awake.

Who?!

I hit the light switch next to me and am blinded for a second.

“Hi, Noahy.” Happy Meek says as I blink to clear my vision and see her on the couch.

“Um, hi.” I respond. “How… Why… D-did. Did you need something, Meek?”

“No. I-I couldn’t sleep, so I came here. It’s nice here.” She says even quieter than normal and looks down. “Is that… not okay?”

Geez, I had forgot that we trusted her with a key. We haven’t given any of the others keys because honestly, I don’t trust them to not purposely scare me or something.

Should give at least Meno one, probably.

“No! That’s perfectly fine!” I hurriedly tell her. “You just surprised me!”

“Who are you talking to, love?” Aoi is rubbing her eyes as she stands at the end of the hallway in her nightgown. I look at her and then back at Meek.

It’s obvious she could not hear Meek in our room before with how quiet she is.

“O-oh! Meek!” Aoi nearly squeaks as she follows my gaze and rushes back into our room with a very red face. She comes back out with some sweatpants and a t-shirt hurriedly thrown on. “Good morning, Meek!” She turns to see me again and quickly grabs me to shove me towards the bedroom. “Go put pants on!”

It is only now I remember what I am wearing and grab a pair of pj pants out of my drawer. I nearly fall over trying to rush to put them on.

The two of them are talking quietly and I don’t want to interrupt, so I go finally get myself a snack.

While I am eating my granola bar, I see some hot cocoa mix in the cabinet next to the box. It isn’t anything fancy, but it came in the stuff my brother had sent me last week. He really likes to send me things. Sometimes we have almost no space for everything. I make three mugs and carry them carefully out to the living room.

“Oh, thanks, dear.” Aoi tells me with a smile as I sit down after setting down two of the mugs on the table.

“Thank you.” Happy Meek says quietly and reaches for one.

I let them talk more and try not to listen as I zone out sipping my cocoa. I want to go back to bed.

And cuddle with Aoi. I love when Aoi lays on me like a weighted blanket. She isn’t much shorter than me, but sometimes she seems so small when we sleep.

I want to cuddle Meno, too. She’s probably very stiff at first, but eases up as she calms down. I want to lay against her sides. I feel like she’d be very warm.

I stop myself at that and shake my head a bit to disperse the heat in my cheeks. Goddesses, this is worse than when I had crushes in grade school… that wasn’t too long ago, but it does feel like forever.

Now I’m worried about Fenomeno. I haven’t seen her since yesterday. I hope I didn’t scare her.

“…don’t you think, Noahy?” I catch my name, but not the rest of the sentence my wife says.

“Huh?” I mumble and turn my attention to them. “S-sorry.”

She frowns at me for a second and I feel bad.

“I said we have the guest room that Meek can use if she ever needs to get away from things. Doesn’t that sound like a good idea?” She repeats herself. “A-any of the girls could use it if they need to.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!” I say and turn to Meek. “I can get the blankets for the bed out now if you wanna sleep.”

She looks between us for a good moment. “…Yes, please.”

“Alrighty.” I say as I set down my mug and get up.

The next day goes smoothly, minus a missing Fenomeno. And later that night Stay Gold asks if she can stay at our apartment.

Sounds like she is trying to hide from a few of her exes? girlfriends?

“You know where everything is.” I jokingly tell her, but turn more serious. “Are you going to be ok with… ehh, all that?”

She understands what I am trying to say and nods. “Should be.”

I look at her a second longer and nod myself. “Goodnight.”

The next morning we are eating breakfast when there are firm knocks on the door. I am the one to open the door a crack to three very tall, very pissed off uma.

“We need to speak to Stay Gold.” The most angry looking one says.

“Please.” An uma who kinda looks like Orfevre adds on and I can tell she is (by the tiniest of bits) the calmest.

I glance back into the apartment behind me and to where Stego is watching from the kitchen. She sighs. And starts walking over. I silently ask if she is sure and she nods.

“I’ve put this off long enough.”

I look at the angry women outside in the hallway and back.

“Do not kill my trainee. Or seriously harm her.” I stand my ground to the umas who could easily end me.

“We promise we won’t.” The calmer one says and I stare all of them in the eyes before I start to feel very, very intimidated myself.

“Move please, Trainer.” Stego says calmly, like she is sacrificing herself for the greater good and slips out the door. “I’ll see you at the academy.”

She pulls the door shut and I am left standing there.

Chapter Text

Festa steps in my way as I am about to enter my office. I am arriving back after working with Journey and Orfevre at the pool and just want to get my laptop and store today’s notes and go home.

“Gold Ship kidnapped McQueen…” She says calmly and I just stare up at her, too tired to process this quickly. “from her lunch date with Teio.”

I hang my head and sigh. My exhaustion is pushed to the back burner as I stand upright again.

“Course she did. Where are they at?” I ask seriously, ready as I can be to deal with this.

“Same place you found her before.” She says as she wanders off.

I send a text to Aoi and then hurry down the halls to that old classroom.

“Gold Ship!!” I yell as I get closer and two doors open.

I ignore the first one, where a disheveled Jungle Pocket and a less disheveled Tachyon look out with yellow eyes in the darkness next to them, in favor of the second where my target waves excitedly at me.

“Heya, Noahy!”

“Gold Ship. Where is McQueen?” I ask as I come to a stop in front of her.

“Ooo, full name.” I hear Tachyon say behind me before she is shushed by the other two.

Great, an audience.

“Well, I wanted to spend time with McQueenie, but she was busy all this week!”

“So you took her from her date with Teio?” I ask and try to push past her, forgetting that she very much out powers me, both in height and strength. She does not budge.

“Teio found it funny actually.” McQueen’s voice says from inside the room and then I hear a giggle that is not hers.

“What?” I ask the world and Golshi finally lets me by with a grin.

Inside I find Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen sitting there eating snack cakes and drinking tea.

“What?” I repeat.

Gold Ship grins as she moves around me and I finally see she is wearing a suit as she gives a very elaborate bow.

“I wanted to give Grandma the best bday I could!”

“I-I’m not…!” McQueen tries, but is cut off by her own girlfriend.

“So Gold Ship and I came up with this secret little date!” Teio says proudly and I am barely following.

“And why couldn’t you have just brought her here normally?”

“Less exciting.” Gold Ship says with a serious face now and Teio nods along.

I turn to McQueen now and she smiles.

“Are you okay? Gold Ship didn’t put you in the sack, did she?”

Memories of the time Golshi had taken me on one of her spontaneous adventures to the beach come to mind and I swear if she did that to McQueen…

“Yes, I am okay. She did carry me in a sack, but I don’t mind… Now at least.” She smiles at Teio. “This was a fun birthday.”

I look at her longer before sighing.

“Just… have this cleaned up when you are done and don’t miss your curfew.” I rub my eyes. “I’m heading home.”

“Aye, aye, cap’n!” Gold Ship does a salute as I turn around.

“Have a good night!” I hear Teio say as I step out of the door.

I am trudging my way through the main doors after getting my bag from my office when I am scooped up by someone.

I scream and punch and kick at the one holding me. I will not go down quietly or without a fight!

The person just takes every hit without flinching.

I’m not that weak… am I? I workout with the girls and Aoi all the time!

“Dang Coach, gonna make me deaf!” A familiar voice speaking english says and I look up at the one holding me in a bridal hold. “Yer normally very hard ta sneak up on!”

Dark brown fluffy hair with longer ears and green eyes and a stupid almost Golshi level grin stare down at me.

“Mystic? How? How are you in Japan?” I ask as she lets me down.

I haven’t seen my old trainee from Canada’s big academy in almost two years. I try to stay in touch with them, but with all of us having such busy lives, it is hard. I need to try harder.

Mystic Mirage and her much calmer adopted sister Dapper Breeze were the uma I trained before moving here.

Taking two on your second time training was not ideal. Then again, my situation here is far from ideal, too…

“Breeze an Stormy are ‘ere, too!” Mystic nearly yells and I stare at her.

“You’re all here?” I ask and feel arms wrap around my shoulders, pulling me against a taller body.

This is Stormy Charm. I know without looking that it is the uma with long nearly midnight hair with a curious blue bolt on her bangs that almost matches her eyes. Stormy was my first trainee.

I know it is her because Breeze does not like touch.

“Coach!” She says happily and squeezes me, very hard. The noise I make reminds her that I need air and she releases me. “Oh, sorry!”

“Hi, Stormy.” I chuckle as I get my breath back and look off to the side to see Breeze and she waves. “What brings you all to Japan?”

Before they can answer we hear the steady noise of heavy boots running towards us. I could tell that they had picked it up before me by how their ears all perked up.

“Boss!” A voice that I have missed booms in the empty courtyard. Fenomeno rushes to put herself between me and the girls, not turning her back to them as she looks over her shoulder to me. “I-I heard you scream. Are you ok?!”

How did she know it was me that screamed?

Not important right now. I need to defuse this. Especially before Stormy or Mystic tries to be funny.

Goddesses, Aoi was right when she said I get most of the crazy uma.

“Meno, stand down.” I tell her and move to step around her. She seems reluctant to let me as she holds out her arm to block me. “It’s okay.”

“Boss?” Breeze speaks up, intrigued as Mystic stares blankly. “Is that what you have them calling you?” She quietly giggles, though shrinks a bit under Meno’s intense gaze.

Oh. I forgot only Breeze is fluent in japanese. She knows many languages, but the other two do not. Has she been their translator as they’ve been here?

“Meno, stop. Stand. Down.” I tell the still glaring uma. “I know them. Really, it’s okay.”

“You do?” She asks and relaxes more as I explain that they are my former trainees. And she swiftly turns and bows deeply to them as she apologizes. “I’m very sorry!”

“I didn’t realize you had such a devoted protector, Coach.” Stormy says with a grin and my eyes widen as Meno turns red. That… that was japanese. “What? Is only Breeze allowed to speak another language?”

“Nonono!” I say quickly to her and she laughs. “A-anyway, what are you even doing here?”

“Mystic is here to run a few races. Your brother signed her up. He was unable to join us though. Breeze suggested we all come to see you.” Stormy explains, staying in japanese, as Mystic flexes when she hears her name. She loves showing off.

“I wanted ah new challenge, Coach!” Mystic yells excitedly and stands next to Fenomeno, who is actually shorter than her. Something not often seen as Meno usually towers over everyone, including most uma.

Though, Mystic is just tall in general.

“I wanna race Miss Big an Scary Guard-dog ‘ere!” She says and Meno stares evenly at her. I can’t tell if she understands Mystic or if she can pick up on the vibe or needs me to translate.

Fenomeno is as diligent with her classes as she is with everything, but I’m not sure how much they actually teach in the english courses here.

“Myst-“

“I will race her, Boss.”

Chapter Text

Fanomeno insists on walking with us all the way to the apartment, holding my hand. I can’t tell if she is still suspicious of the other uma or not.

When we arrive, Aoi is very happy to see Breeze, Mystic, and Stormy. While she had only met them in person a couple times, she had helped me make plans and training routines for them back then.

I barely hold in a chuckle as I think of how dorky we were, having some of our limited date time being used to work essentially. I guess we still are like that, but with limits now. No more working during dates. We can talk about the trainees though.

Lately, we’ve only really talked about one specific trainee…

Fenomeno sits herself between Aoi and I on the couch while Breeze has commandeered the recliner and Stormy and Mystic lay down on the floor. There is more than enough space on the couch, but that is where they chose.

Breeze watches Aoi, Meno, and I closely the whole time we catch up, probably having realized what is going on by now.

I notice the time and put my hand on Meno’s arm to get her attention.

“Meno, I don’t want you to miss curfew.” I say quietly when she turns to me and leans her head down closer to me, though I know the others can hear it still.

Meno is old enough that she could live off campus if she wanted to, but it was better to just stay in the dorms. Even if that made her need to still follow curfew.

“Of course.” She seems reluctant to get up, but manages to as the couch groans under the movement. I get up with her to walk her out.

“We’ll be right back.” Aoi tells the others and joins Meno and I at the door. “Meno, lean down please, dear.”

When she does, Aoi gives her a kiss on the cheek. I take the opportunity of Meno frozen in place to leave one on her other cheek.

“Be safe getting home, Meno.” I tell her and fix her hat just a bit before she unfreezes and stands up very straight. Though her tail and ears give her away, never stopping moving around.

“O-of course, Boss!” She shouts and her face is so very red. “Good… goodnight!”

The woman rushes out the door after that and Aoi and I chuckle.

“She is cute.” My wife says just before we hear the sounds of people falling over.

Behind us, Stormy and Mystic lay in a pile at the entrance to the living room. They were clearly eavesdropping.

“I told them not to.” Breeze says from her comfy chair as we walk over.

The next morning we all arrive at the track to find Meno already there and ready. Her, Gold Ship, and Taishin are warming up. The other two must have insisted on participating when Meno told them.

Unfortunately, Aoi and Meek had their own training planned in the pool today. As much as they both wanted to come watch, they weren’t going to interrupt their already set plans.

“They sure are intense.” Stormy observes as we approach.

I catch her looking at where Orfevre is basically aura farming near Journey. She talking with Festa as the latter is stretching to join the race.

Honestly, I am surprised Orfevre isn’t wanting in.

“Ah, yeah, they are.” I tell her with a chuckle before checking in on Mystic in english. “You ready?”

“They’re going down, Coach!” Her voice carries and the others look over, the air getting a bit tense.

“Did either of you two want in?” I ask Stormy and Breeze.

“I’m good to watch.” Breeze tells me and Stormy nods with her.

We set up everything and I am thankful that today was a day we had the track.

At the drop of the flag Stego holds, they are off.

Golshi and Taishin hang back, biding their time.

Mystic is out in front, making me wonder if she has been working with my brother to change to be in the front from a more paced style we had worked on before.

Meno isn’t too far behind her, but she is locked in and waiting as she keeps up.

Festa hangs out not far from her, quite focused on Mystic.

Mystic seems to say something to Meno as she gets even with her as they reach the next turn. This seems to fire Meno up as she puts on even more speed, pushing into the lead and slightly widening it.

Gold Ship is right on their tails, really starting to put her immense power on display, but Festa isn’t about to let her go by easily.

Taishin may be last, but she isn’t far behind herself. She manages to keep right next to Golshi as they slip past Mystic and Festa.

Mystic isn’t about to be defeated easily as she passes Taishin and Festa again.

Taishin puts her all into it as she barely gets past her at the finish.

Meno grabbed first, Gold Ship right behind her in second, Taishin squeaked into third, with Mystic barely after her, and Festa last.

“Dang, Coach! What’re ya teachin’ them?!” Mystic exclaims as she comes to a stop near me and Stego with a grin that again nearly matches the one Golshi displays now as she and Stormy bug Meno and Taishin.

Somehow they’ve managed to get Taishin to crack a small smile at their antics. Meno is actually laughing at whatever was said.

Breeze, Journey, and Orfevre seem to be getting along. I cannot hear what they are discussing, but it must be of the highest seriousness based on their body language and faces. Though they may just be farming again and the topic be nothing serious.

I smile as I look over all of them.

Chapter Text

The days pass with more training and many races. Mystic joins for some scrimmages to get used to the turf here as she is preparing for the Derby.

I had asked why they arrived so early, but I just got told they wanted to see the sights and use this as a vacation, too. None of them had any races back at home, with both Stormy and Breeze being retired and Mystic going to be after the Derby.

She wanted at least one international race before she finished and took the offer to teach alongside her sister at the academy back home.

“Boss, I am done with my patrol!” Fenomeno interrupts my thoughts, walking up to my desk to salute me.

Taishin looks up from her phone as she sits on the couch in the corner.

“I don’t want to be in here if you get all lovey-dovey.” She says with an even stare over at us.

Meno chokes on air while I fight the warmth in my face.

“W-we. We aren’t, Taishin.” I tell her and clear my throat as I turn back to the larger uma. “Thank you, Meno. Good job. Now I believe you both have class soon.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Taishin grumbles, but grabs her bag anyway to head out. “See you later.”

I am glad she has felt comfortable enough to share a space without getting too prickly. It was a lot to get her to open up just a little and trust me. Even if just a minuscule amount.

Fenomeno is still frozen in front of me.

“Meno, you should get going, too.” I tell her and this seems to reboot her.

With a cough she salutes and I hand her her bag that I watch over while she does her self imposed patrols.

“Have a good day, dear.” I tell her and she is red as she rushes out faster than normal.

“She’s sure in a hurry today.” Aoi’s voice fills the space as she steps in. “Hi, love.”

“Hey, honey.” I say back as she rounds the desk to stand next to me and I move some papers off the corner she always sits on.

“Meek does not want to run in the Derby.”

“I thought she wanted to?” I turn to her in surprise.

“I’m not sure why she doesn’t. She will not tell me.” I can see the worry and sadness on her face and I stand so I can pull her into a hug.

“Do you want me to talk to her?” I offer and she just hugs me tight before pulling back.

“No, I will ask her again tomorrow. I think I already know the answer.” She sits herself on that corner of desk. “I believe she is intimidated by the fact several of the others are going against her this time.”

“Because Orfe, Meno, and Mystic are participating?” I sigh. “Festa is not going to join. Journey is in her Senior year, so she is getting ready for the Takarazuka Kinen with Stego instead.”

“Why did Festa drop out?” She asks incredulously and I sigh again.

“Didn’t give an exact reason. She just said she did not want to.” I rest my head on her leg and she begins petting my short hair. “I can’t wait for summer camp.”

She hums and sighs when we hear my phone ringing. She grabs it before I can and answers.

“Hello, Tazuna.” Aoi says and leans just enough away when I reach to take it from her. “Oh, no, you did call them… Mhm. They’re here.” Her eyes widen. “I’ll tell them…. Goodbye.”

“What. Did something happen?” I ask, now worried.

“We should find Gold Ship.” She hands over my phone with a small laugh. “And ask her what she is up to today.”

We find Gold Ship in the kitchen of the cafeteria with a huge mess around her and a very big cake on the counter. The staff are not looking happy.

“I wanted to make a cake for your birthday, my brilliant second-in-command of the S.S. Golshi! And one for Orfevre! So I made the biggest cake I could! Two cakes in one!”

“And why is there everything all on the walls and ceiling… and you?”

“A spider.” She says as if it was the best explanation and the most obvious thing.

“A spider.” I repeat back and watch as a glob falls off the ceiling and onto her head. She doesn’t even flinch. “A-also, my birthday isn’t until July, you know this!”

“Exactly!”

I sigh and look at Aoi who sets down some cleaning supplies before going back to the storage for more. I didn’t even see her leave to get some the first time.

Chapter Text

Today has been so long, but it is worth it. Getting up extra early was hell. With two girls competing in the Derby from Athena and then Mystic, too, I wanted to make sure I gave each of them some one on one time before everything started.

“You don’t need to worry about us, Trainer.” Journey tells me as I check in with Orfevre. “You should go see Fenomeno.”

I know she wants me to catch that small smirk as she turns away from me to fix Orfe’s racing silks some more. Journey is calculated in everything she does.

“I’m checking in on everyone today.” I tell her stubbornly and ignore my warm face. “I can leave though, if you really are good.” I say this looking at Orfe directly this time as she watches in that intense way she regards everything around her.

The taller uma nods after a moment and I simply nod back as I make my way out. I can hear them talking quietly as I do so, but I cannot make out the words.

Sometimes I wish I had the hearing of an uma.

“Mystic?” I knock on the door across the hall from Orfe’s.

“Coach!” I can hear her yell from behind the door and it opens so fast that I fear it’ll come off the hinges. “Other Coaches are here, too!”

I can see Aoi talking with my brother behind her.

“Hey, dumbass. Not even gonna say hi?” I ask as I enter the room, pointing mock accusingly at him.

“You were busy!” He defends himself with a finger dramatically pointed back at me.

“You still coulda -“

“Hey! He is here now, Noahy.” Aoi shuts us down as if we were squabbling children.

I guess we are…

“Wait.” I turn to her. “Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“I only just came to see Mystic while you were with Orfevre, dear. I did not get a chance to tell you.” She points out and I sigh.

“Sorry.”

We chat for a while before my phone going off interrupts with a message from Fenomeno.

Boss. I need you.

“I’ll be ri- I have to go check on something.” I rush to tell them and step towards the door before any of them could move.

As a human, I may be much slower than an uma, but I run as fast as I can down the corridor, dodging the few people in there. A fellow trainer shouts after me and I ignore it.

Meno got a room a bit farther from the others in our group and I am breathing a little heavy by the time I reach it, knocking as carefully as I can in my small panic.

“Boss!” She grabs my hand and tugs me through the barely opened door, seeming very distressed.

“M-Meno, what’s wrong?” I ask and quickly look her over, praying she isn’t hurt.

She shoves something into my arms, something fabric and stiff.

“Your hat?” I ask as I look down at it, immediately noticing a big rip through the durable material on the top, making the separate ear holes one big hole now. “H-how did this even…?”

“I DON’T KNOW!” She yells and hangs her head as she tries to hide her silent sobs.

The hat was a gift from her father and I know it means the world to her. To see it so damaged and adding the fact she does not know how it ended up like this is hurting her a lot.

“Meno.” I set the hat down on the small dressing table and step closer to her.

The moment I am within reach, she pulls me to her and clings tightly.

“We can fix this. It can be repaired.” I whisper into her hair as she buries her face into my shoulder.

This cannot be comfortable for her, leaning down this far.

It shocks me to my very core to see her so upset. I’ve seen her sad because she scared the children again or the old ladies thought she was a thief. But this is from somewhere much deeper in her.

All I can do is pet her spiky hair and whisper calming words to her.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” I ask when I feel her breathing calm.

She freezes for a second at the endearment and her ears swivel to fully alert. The one closer to me hits my head just above my own ear lightly as it moves forward before seeming to recoil back against her own head. Her tail gives a fuller swish before returning to the occasional agitated flick as she pulls herself back from my shoulder.

“Aoi is good with fixing things. She’ll be able to fix your hat, sweetheart.” I test the word again and it has a similar effect.

Guess she likes that one. I’ll file that away for later. More pressing issue needs attention first.

“She can repair it?” Meno asks in a small hopeful voice as she stares into my eyes.

“She should be able to. Finally use that emergency sewing kit she carries.” I chuckle at that and pull out my phone.

“Is everything okay?” The moment she picks up, I see Meno focus on the phone. “You rushed out of here.”

“No. We need your help down here.” I tell her and I can hear her starting to run, her footsteps echoing.

Was she already in the hall?

“Open the door.” She says as we hear hurried steps outside the room. Meno pulls the door open in time for her to slide in like a baseball player, popping up quickly and dusting off her clothes.

I love this woman.

I look over both of them and my heart feels warm and full, despite the problem at hand.

I love these women.

A shake of my head clears it as Meno shows Aoi her hat, fresh tears filling the edges of her eyes again.

“Oh, no. How did this happen, dear?” Aoi takes the hat from her and moves to sit on the couch in the corner. “We don’t have much time, but I should be able to get this temporarily closed.”

Not wasting more time, she pulls her small kit out of the hidden pocket in her vest.

You wouldn’t know it was in there if she didn’t show you. Somehow her vest still manages to lay flat.

“Will it hold?” Meno asks as she sits next to her and watches intently.

“It should until after the race.” Aoi assures as she works the thread through the thick material.

We can hear the announcers beginning their spiels and Meno looks scared again as we hear the other racers making their way to the tunnel.

“There!” Aoi stands and pulls Meno up with her, holding the repaired hat out to her. “I’ll give it a more permanent repair when we get home, dear. I promise.”

“THANK YOU, BOSSES!” Meno yells at nearly her full volume and I cringe just the tiniest bit.

It is immediately replaced with a fierce blush when Meno places a rushed, but solid kiss to Aoi’s cheek then one to mine.

My wife and I are both left speechless and red as we stare after her.

Chapter Text

“It’s Fenomeno! It’s Orfevre! Fenomeno! Orfevre!” The announcers are rapidly shouting as the crowds go wild, myself included.

Even Taishin is leaning on the railing to get a better view as they near the finish.

A photo finish.

As we wait for the decision, I watch Meno and Orfe catching their breath.

“Orfevre is the winner!” Comes over the speakers and I see Meno deflate the tiniest bit.

Orfe says something to her and she stands up straighter again, nodding along to whatever was said.

Everything is a blur as Aoi and I make our way to the podium area.

“Bosses!!” Meno shouts when she sees us and jumps down without giving the crowd their chance to take photos of her.

“M-Meno?!” Is all I squeak out before she kisses me.

Not a small one on the cheek like earlier, but a real one. Her lips on mine.

With me still in shock and tightly in her grasp, she tugs in Aoi and gives her just as fierce of a kiss.

Both of us are stun locked as we stare at her once she has pulled away enough to look at us.

I regain my senses in time to see her realize what she has done and release us. She steps back a little before turning and bolting for the tunnel.

“MENO!” I shout after her, but she is too far already.

The reporters snapping photos filters into my brain in the background. I know I should be concerned about what they are photographing and writing in their notebooks and broadcasting to tvs and radios, but I can’t get past the look of pure fear on Meno’s face as she turned away.

“Go after her!” Journey harshly whispers next to us as she makes her way to Orfevre to congratulate her and distract everyone.

Golshi and Taishin make a sort of wall between us and the now very interested media.

“I need to apologize! She must not vanish into the black hole! Or the S.S. Gold Ship will not fly!” Golshi announces, with the most serious expression I’ve seen on her. Even more than when she actually focuses on racing.

Apologize?

“Go already.” Taishin reinforces what Journey said and we both run to the tunnel.

The first place we check is her changing room, but she isn’t there. There is barely a sign she has been here even for a moment. Her casual clothes still hung up and her phone and other items sitting on the table. The only thing missing is her keys.

We make sure to bring all of her stuff with us before we hurry out to look for her back at school.

Fuji tells us she hasn’t seen her come back yet and we begin to worry even more. We drop off most of her things, electing to just bring her phone and wallet.

We search everywhere that we can think of before the sun has set and we head back to our apartment. Fuji and Amazon both said they’d call us if they saw her.

Unfortunately, that does little to lessen our worry.

The air is so tense as we begin our nightly routine. Only to come to the realization there is something in our bed.

There, curled up in our blankets, burying her face into them and the clothes of ours that she wears is the one we have been searching for.

I whisper her name, but she is dead to the world.

Deciding it’d be best to wait until tomorrow to deal with this, we slip into the bed on opposite sides of her.

Meno stirs, but doesn’t wake as she shifts onto her back, unconsciously giving us more room on the mattress.

Ever selfless, even in her sleep.

Chapter Text

I wake up to the sharp sound of Aoi’s phone ringing.

“…Hon… your phone…” I grumble and bury my face into the warmth in front of me. So warm and soft and solid. Comfy.

I hear her mumble as the blankets make some noise and the ringing finally stops.

“Hello?” She tries to clear the sleep from her voice. So adorable. “Hi, dad.”

Oh, it’s her dad. Why’s he calling so early in the morning?

I shift enough to see the clock without letting go of the warmth I was holding onto tightly.

11:30.

Oh, shit.

My mind begins to catch up as I realize that if Aoi grabbed her phone, she wouldn’t be in range for me to hold onto. Memories of last night come back as sleep leaves my brain.

I turn back and come face to face with a frozen stiff Meno who must be holding her breath.

“Morning, sweetheart.” I give her a small smile and her face gets more red as her ears perk completely alert. Her tail is still pinned below her, but I am sure it would be swishing happily if it wasn’t. “Please breathe.”

She gasps and needs a few deep breaths as her body remembers that is something it needs to do. Her eyes never falter from staring at me wide eyed in fear.

“You wanted to say something to both of us?” Aoi is asking into the phone as she shifts back closer to us.

I try not to giggle as Meno freezes again.

“Noahy?” Aoi’s dad’s voice asks as Aoi puts it on speaker.

“Hi, Osamu.” I answer and lean a little closer to the phone. “How’re you doing?”

“I’m very good. I just wanted to check on you two after what happened yesterday.”

I glance over at Aoi and she looks just as confused.

“Wh-what happened yesterday?” She asks and I hold onto her wrist of her hand holding the phone to ground her.

Unfortunately, it is all I can reach over Meno. Meno can tell as well that her anxiety is rearing its ugly head and slides her arm around Aoi to pull her more against her side.

We do need to talk about the kiss still.

……….

Wait. That can’t be what he is mean-

“I was reading the newspaper this morning and imagine my surprise when I saw you two front and center on the first page with your trainee!” He chuckles.

Dear goddesses, it is.

“When I said to get close to your trainee, that is not what I meant.”

Meno lets out a strangled noise and I really hope she doesn’t stop breathing again.

We sit there in mortified silence with Aoi hiding her face against Meno and I am just staring at the phone.

We should have confronted the reporters. But what would we have said?!

Meno was more important! She is more important!

“Good for you.” Osamu’s voice filters through the speakers again and stops my spiraling thoughts cold. He chuckles a little before continuing with a warmth only a proud father can manage. “I am happy for you three. Is she there with you?”

I poke Meno gently when she stays quiet and she speaks up.

“H-hello.” She clears her throat and I can see her professional mask sliding into place to hide her fear. “My name is Fenomeno. It is good to meet you, sir.”

We hear him let out a full laugh at that. “So official! Osamu Kiryuin, but you can call me dad. Or Osamu like Noahy. It is very good to meet you, too. I would like to talk to you about racing sometime, Fenomeno. Though sadly, I have to go now. My wife wants to go out to lunch.”

“Tell her I said hi!” I tell him and he chuckles.

Aoi’s mom is very sweet. Like Osamu, she instantly accepted me into the family and helped a lot with getting me approved and cleared for things and settled in when I moved to Japan.

It makes me extra happy, and honestly does not surprise me, that they are so accepting of Meno so quickly.

“Of course I will. You three should visit soon.”

“We will, dad. Now go before mom gets mad!” Aoi finally speaks up.

“Yes, yes. Goodbye. I love you all.”

We say our byes back to him as he hangs up.

“So…” I draw out as we sit in the now quiet room.

When they both stay silent, I choose go first.

“I love you, Meno.”

The fear in her eyes is quickly gone as her jaw hangs open slightly.

“I love you, too, Meno.” Aoi takes the hint and now the poor uma is looking back and forth between us in pure shock as tears begin to well in her eyes.

“I-I-I….” Meno takes a moment. “I… I love you both. So so much.”

I am tugged back against her side as she squeezes Aoi and I very tightly, making it hard to breathe.

“Ah gah! M-Meno!” I tap her stomach multiple times and she remembers her strength.

“I’m sorry!” She yells and I stop whatever ramble she is about to start with a kiss.

That fries her brain as her ears return to completely alert and her face rivals a cherry.

Aoi giggles and takes the opportunity to give a kiss of her own.

The front door unlocking and opening makes us all freeze.

Fenomeno is the first to recover as she hops out of bed as silently as someone of her size can and places herself by the door, almost using herself as a shield.

She presses her ear against the bedroom door and I slip out of bed as well, grabbing the bat I hide under the bed.

The one Aoi thought I was crazy for having there.

Aoi grabs her phone again and is ready to call emergency services when a loud voice from the living room makes us all stop.

“WAKEY WAKEY, YAKISOBA AND BEANS!!! GET UP HONEY BADGERS!! YOUR CAPTAIN IS HERE TO PREPARE FOR BLASTOFF!!”

Gold Ship?!

How the fuck did she get the door unlocked?!

Chapter Text

“GOLD SHIP!” Meno booms and rushes out of the room before we can stop her.

She is still wearing a pair of my basketball shorts which her large frame makes look quite short, and her plain undershirt she wears under her race wear.

At least that part fits her correctly.

“Bwahahhahahhaa!! WHAT ARE YOU WEARING MAME-CHAN!?” Gold Ship is laughing.

“Gold Ship!” I cut in as I can see Meno getting ready to launch at the other uma. “ENOUGH!”

Both uma look at me in shock. I don’t think either of them have heard me raise my voice like that before now that I think about it.

Aoi looks a little startled as well, but she seems to recover faster than the two in front of us.

Even during the Team’s most chaotic moments or just trying to be heard over the noise of training, I’ve not sounded like that.

Meno watches with something akin to awe while Golshi is still just frozen, for once.

“Why are you here? And how did you open the door?” I stop in front of Golshi and stare evenly up at her.

There has been enough emotions lately. I want to just climb back into bed and cuddle my wife and our girlfriend. I am not in the mood to deal with a Gold Ship Mess.

“The Great Captain Golshi needed to say something to Mame-chan!”

I stare up at her again as I know Meno is bristling at the dumb nickname behind me.

“And how did you open the door?” I prompt, trying to give Meno a second to calm down before hearing whatever nonsense Gold Ship has to say to her.

“Lock is easy.” She nods almost sagely and Meno sputters before angrily taking a step forward and another. She does not say anything and that worries me greatly.

“No! No!” I grab onto the hem of her shirt and tug back as much as I can against her strength. “MENO!”

“Meno!” Aoi grabs onto her as well, managing to get a grip around her hips.

“Woah, woah! No need to turn my beans into tofu, Mame-chan!”

“Not helping, Gold Ship!” I snap at her, straining to keep Meno back. “Meno, sweetheart, calm down. Please.”

I can tell the nickname filters through her anger because her ears swivel more in my direction.

“It’s okay, dear.” Aoi tries and Meno’s ears flatten back. “I mean not okay… but please calm down. We will deal with Gold Ship.”

Meno stops, but I can still see how tense and ready to spring she is. So I keep my grip on her shirt, moving my other hand to her arm.

“Ok.” She practically growls and turns around to go sit on the couch instead, Aoi and I letting go before she can accidentally drag us.

“Gold Ship. What did you need to say? Keep it quick.” I tell Golshi and the uma looks over to Meno with a look like shame.

Can she even feel that?

“I ripped her hat.” She says.

“WHAT?!” Meno goes to stand again, but Aoi successfully pushes her back down and sits on her lap.

If she wants to get up suddenly, she’d have to toss Aoi to get up or wait for her to move.

“I wanted to try it on while you were changing. It got caught on the bag. I pulled too hard.” For once Gold Ship is staying focused for longer than 3 minutes. “So I shoved it back in.”

Too hard? It looked like she had pulled with all her strength to make a rip that bad!

Meno is seething and I can see how much she wants to tackle Golshi.

“Gold Ship. We will talk about your punishment later.” I tell the uma in red. “Apologize to Meno and get the fuck out.”