Chapter 124: Promise in the Sunflower Field / Monologue

—July. Three months had passed since we arrived in Europe, and the long-awaited summer had finally come. Unlike Japan’s sticky, sweltering heat, summer here is wrapped in dry air.

Amid that European summer breeze, we had come to a sunflower field for a shoot at a certain location.

“Didn’t expect so many sunflowers to already be blooming this time of year.”

“Guess things work differently here compared to Japan. Or maybe it’s just a different variety…”

It was a shoot in a sunflower field near the coastline. The sky looked higher and clearer than usual, and massive cumulus clouds, like palaces, spread their hems wide. As I gazed up at those freely growing clouds in the sky, a strange wave of nostalgia welled up, almost enough to bring tears to my eyes. What surfaced in my mind was a simple scene from summer vacation back home. Just one look at those clouds, and the longing for Japan kicks in stronger than expected. Maybe that’s a sign of how soft I really am.

As I ran my fingers across the sunflower petals—the symbol of summer—I wandered through the field with Tomio until we were satisfied. The staff had set up tents in the distance and told us we could do as we liked until preparations were done. So we were in our “free time” now.

Lately, we’d both been so busy we hadn’t had a moment to go out together like this. Maybe the staff were being considerate—but honestly, this felt like a date. The two of us chatted about whatever came to mind, aimlessly walking through the sunflower field.

The sunflowers ranged from a few dozen centimeters to three meters tall, towering way over both people and horse girls alike. Being dwarfed by them even at close range made for an overwhelmingly powerful sight. Some had heads over 40 centimeters in diameter, and up close they looked absolutely massive. The dark center part is a cluster of tubular florets, and what look like yellow petals are actually ray florets. If you stare only at the center too long, it starts to look kinda gross.

“It’s hot today…”

“Right? I feel like I’m about to boil.”

“Pfft…”

“What?”

“Nothing, it just made me laugh.”

“What did?”

“The word ‘boiled Apollo’ popped into my head. Couldn’t help it.”

“…That sounds kinda dirty the way you say it.”

“Wait, what? Why?!”

“...No reason.”

“Sounds like you’re the pervy one for thinking that.”

“Hah?! Shut up, you creep!”

“Ahaha!”

“Don’t laugh! You jerk!”

"Sunflowers under a bright blue sky with towering clouds"—it's the quintessential image of summer, but how often do you actually run into a scene like this in real life? We wandered freely through the maze of sunflowers, talking about anything and everything.

“Oh, a ladybug.”

“A seven-spotted ladybird.”

“So cute!”

“Huh, didn’t think bugs were okay with you, Apollo.”

“As long as it’s not a spider or one of those creepy centipedes.”

“Ahh, yeah.”

“It’s been a while since I really looked at a ladybug up close!”

There, on a leaf, was a familiar seven-spotted ladybug—just like the ones back in Japan. When I reached out to gently touch it, the ladybug flew up and landed right on the tip of my nose. “Wah, it landed on me!” I squealed and ran over to Tomio. But all he did was grin and find the whole thing amusing. Worse yet, he grabbed his camera and said, “Smile, smile!”

I wanted him to get it off, not take pictures! In the end, I sneezed and it flew off on its own, so crisis averted. I gave his chest a light thump and whined, “That was mean!” but he just smiled and said, “Sorry, it was too cute.” I had no words. All I could do was pinch the hem of his shirt and silently look up at him, trying to express a swirl of feelings I couldn’t put into words.

“I’ll send you the photo later. Want to head back to the staff?”

“Y-Yeah…”

Still feeling all muddled inside, I followed him back to where the staff were waiting. I got my makeup touched up inside the car, then headed back out.

The reason we came here today was to shoot a poster and a commercial—for a sports drink ad. The sunflower field had been chosen as the perfect summery backdrop. Though the main focus was the photo and video shoot, they also planned to post behind-the-scenes footage on video sites and social media, so I couldn’t let my guard down. I mean, this was my first time doing a commercial. And even a little scripted acting. I’d probably sound totally stiff and amateurish… Is that okay?

My outfit today wasn’t some bridal-style battle gear, but a clean, summery look—a white one-piece dress that left my neck and upper arms exposed, paired with a straw hat. A proper “pure” look. Apparently, one of my fan staff members had chosen it and even said I could keep it.

It was so obviously “pure” that I never would’ve picked it myself. But hey, I couldn’t show up in whatever casual clothes I wanted, so it’s not like I had much of a choice.

No mosquito bites, no visible stains. They fixed my hair, hat angle, smoothed the wrinkles in my dress, and moved the shoot along smoothly. Strong lighting kept shadows away, and the photographer’s voice rang out with all sorts of directions.

Since the shoot was set in a sunflower field, naturally the shots featured a lot of those big blooms. I held the sports drink bottle near my cheek, smiling brightly and showing off my white teeth.

“Yeahhh, looking good! That’s it, Apollo-chan! Try tilting your head cutely! Aaaaahh, perfect! Let’s get one with those puppy eyes now! …Ohhhh… yes… that’s gold!”

Following the photographer’s enthusiastic direction, I struck all kinds of poses, and before I knew it, the poster shoot was done. “Aaand we’re good!” came the wrap call. I checked the time and realized we’d finished way ahead of schedule. Since things were going so smoothly, I asked the producer if we could just move straight into the video shoot, and he gave the go-ahead.

In the original script, it said “run through the sunflower field,” but that part got scrapped for several reasons. I’d probably run too fast and lose my hat, mess up my hair and clothes—not to mention the human cameraman wouldn’t be able to keep up. Plus, we’d barely get to show off all these blooming sunflowers. And more than anything, with how serious I get when I run, I’d definitely make a face that would be useless for a commercial. …Though the producer did mutter something like, “That might be good in its own way…”

The updated script had things like “peek out from behind a sunflower,” “take a drink of the sports drink,” and “say the product name and ‘Now on sale!’” …That first one felt like something straight out of a cheesy old romance novel. Well, I guess it’s a straightforward way to convey a summer vibe. Makes sense, since they’ve got me in a white dress and straw hat and all.

Besides those shots, we’d be filming a bunch of different movements, so it looked like it was going to take some time. Let’s try to finish before the sun gets too high and the heat really kicks in.

While taking occasional breaks, I responded to the producer’s and cameraman’s requests. Just when I thought we were done with the final shot, the cameraman suddenly said this:

“Hmm, that was great! Okay, Apollo-chan, now turn to the camera and give us your brightest smile and say, ‘I love you!’”

“Ah, got it—”

“Wait, let’s say ‘I love you’ in Japanese! Picture someone special in your mind~!”

“Eh—?”

For a moment, the words “I love you” and “someone special” tangled messily in my head. My gaze wavered. I locked eyes with him. And right in that split second, the cameraman called out:

“What’s wrong, Apollo-chan? Come on, give it a try!”

To put it simply—I panicked. The trainer watching me looked confused. But I still had to say “I love you” out loud. If I’d thought about it calmly, I could’ve just directed that “love” toward the product. But instead, the feelings I’d carefully nurtured lost their destination, and my emotions landed completely off course.

“—I-I… l-luh… I… love… you…”

“Cuuuuut!! Apollo-chan, what happened?! We couldn’t hear your ‘I love you’ at all!”

Even though the camera was still pointed at me, my voice trailed off, and I covered my face with both hands. It wasn’t just the embarrassment of messing up in front of the whole staff—my feelings for him were overflowing, and I just couldn’t hold them back. It was humiliating on two fronts.

I grabbed a sunflower that had fallen nearby and used it to hide my face, crouching down to escape the camera’s view. Seeing that, the trainer called for a time-out from the producer and rushed over to me. Then he gently led me a short distance away, lightly stroking my burning red face.

“You okay? Got a bit nervous, huh?”

“…Mhm.”

Does he even realize it’s his fault my emotions went haywire? I know full well it’s mostly my own fault, but… having him be the one to comfort me just makes it harder to accept.

“…Your face turned red all of a sudden. Something happen?”

“Eh, well…”

“Is it something hard to talk about?”

“…Sort of.”

“I see. Think you can give it another shot?”

“I’ll… try my best.”

“Oh, wait a sec.”

Just as I mumbled out my weak reply, he tightened the hand he’d placed on my shoulder. I tried to turn back to the shoot, but he didn’t let me go. Since my dress left my collarbone area exposed, the feeling of his hand directly on my bare skin made my heart race with a mix of nervousness and embarrassment.

“…I want to hear your ‘I love you,’ Apollo. Not just as your trainer, but as one of your biggest fans—I want to show the world how amazing you are. Remember what we talked about the other day? That to become ‘the strongest,’ you need to be known. I want you to become a beloved Uma Musume, someone everyone adores.”

At some point, Tomio and I had a debate about what it means to be “the strongest.” He said, “You need a certain level of fame to truly be the strongest.” In other words, the more well-known you are, the more people see you as powerful.

Take Oguri Cap, for example—she became famous because the “monster from Kasamatsu” kept winning race after race against Central’s best Uma Musume. In short—she was ridiculously strong. Her story came after; the strength was real from the start.

When someone strong shows up, people talk. And when people talk, it’s proof that someone strong has arrived. A rule-breaking monster like her had fame that was off the charts.

Tomio has a dream—to make me the strongest stayer. And to solidify that title, I’m sure he believes I need way more recognition.

…But. The one I want to say “I love you” to—is only you.

I don’t want anyone to find out how I feel. …I’ll tell you someday. But not today.

Ugh, maybe I should just use this commercial as an excuse to confess. I mean, there’s no living being on Earth that could resist my genuine “I love you.” It’d probably boost my fanbase, too.

…Though in that case, you’d be the one who ends up regretting it. You wouldn’t get to keep my first real “I love you” all to yourself anymore. …So don’t say I didn’t warn you.

“…Alright. I’ll get my head straight and give it everything I’ve got.”

“Yeah. And who knows, this might even come in handy during our training, too…”

“…Huh?”

“Ah—never mind.”

What do you mean “come in handy during training”? Ugh, now I’m mad. I’m going to make the whole world see just how much I love you. It’s too late to stop me now. Even if a bunch of people start seriously falling for me, you’ve got no one to blame but yourself. You better be ready.

To Tomio Momozawa, that Uma Musume was truly one of a kind.

It was nothing short of destiny. Even when his very first assigned Uma Musume had merely risen to the Open Class, he’d been savoring his luck, thinking, “This is going well.” And yet—she didn’t just compete in G1 races, she won them. She even went on to claim the highest honor of all: the Japan Derby. From there, she swept two Classic titles, capped off the year with the Grand Prix, triumphed in overseas graded races and even international G1s. Her achievements brought her such acclaim that she came to be called the strongest stayer in history. How could one describe her as anything but irreplaceable?

In other words—though he rarely showed it outwardly—Tomio Momozawa harbored intense feelings toward Apollo Rainbow. If anything, not having some level of affection for her would’ve been stranger.

There was no doubt that Tomio Momozawa liked Apollo Rainbow. But with the complex tangle of his duties as her trainer and his admiration for a dream-like Uma Musume, he never allowed himself to express those feelings openly.

What he could do was watch over her from afar and ensure her well-being. To walk beside the Uma Musume chasing her dreams, and occasionally give her a push when needed. After all, the spotlight belonged to the girls living out their youth—it wasn’t meant for the trainers. Adults shouldn’t intervene too deeply in their world.

That was how he had intended to keep his distance and do his job professionally—but now, it was no longer Apollo Rainbow who was in too deep.

It was Tomio Momozawa.

Was it because he’d been relentlessly exposed to her affections? Or was he simply misinterpreting a student’s overly affectionate manner as something more than it was?

If she were just any Uma Musume, Tomio Momozawa probably wouldn’t have misunderstood. But Apollo Rainbow was no ordinary stayer—she had exceptional talent. After experiencing how hard it was to win a G1 race even as a sub-trainer, it was no wonder he had become so invested in her.

He watched in silence as his assigned Uma Musume followed the photographer’s directions and struck pose after pose. During those brief moments when the staff reviewed the shots, she would glance his way with shimmering eyes and smile shyly.

And this was during a photo shoot, no less. His heart felt like it was going to burst. For the record, she never acted this way during training—but when it was just the two of them in the trainer's room, passing the time, she could be even more shameless. Dance lessons, vocal training—they were all perfect opportunities for someone like her, who knew exactly how cute she was, to make her move. For Tomio Momozawa, her biggest fan and her trainer, spending time with her like that stirred up a strange flutter in his chest.

(...)

I love your profile.
He admired the peaceful expression she wore as she gazed out the window from the sofa in the trainer's room.
I love the razor-sharp focus in your eyes during training.
Her soft-looking cheeks, her small nose, her lips tinted with gloss—they seemed almost too perfect, like something sculpted.

Your eyes are so beautiful.
He loved how her amethyst-colored eyes narrowed when she smiled. When she tried too hard and tears welled up in those eyes, it made him worry as a trainer. But when those same eyes burned with fire during a race or training, they never failed to seize his heart. He wanted to look into those eyes forever.

Your expressive ears are amusing.
They drooped when she was down, shot up when startled, and bounced happily when she was delighted. Watching them was endlessly entertaining. Honestly, their size was part of the charm.

Your small back worries me.
Sometimes he feared she was carrying more than she could bear—that she might crumble under the weight of it all. But when she ran off into the distance across the green turf, that little back seemed strangely free from all those burdens.

Your unshakable spirit is noble and beautiful.
She never faltered, no matter the challenge. And yet, she still had the innocent air of a girl her age. It stirred a sense of duty in him—a need to protect her, no, a calling.

Everything about her was indescribably lovely. Irresistibly precious.

As he watched Apollo Rainbow in her elegant white dress, Tomio Momozawa squinted slightly, as though dazzled.

She’s so beautiful… like a fairy of summer.

(...God, I’m disgusting. I’m literally grinning like an idiot.)

For a trainer and Uma Musume to work well together, at the very least, their relationship couldn't be hostile. Only with mutual respect, affection, and friendship could they aim for the top.

…In the worst-case scenario, if the Uma Musume developed romantic feelings for her trainer, it wouldn’t be a problem. After all, the trainer—as an adult and guardian—could simply let those feelings pass unacknowledged. But it was never desirable for the trainer to fall for the Uma Musume. Some trainers failed to stop themselves—and ended up having to resign.

Is what I’m feeling romantic?
Or just fondness?
Tomio Momozawa found himself pondering that sometimes. But in truth, what he felt wasn’t as simple as either of those.

The feeling he held for Apollo wasn’t something as light as romance. Of course, there was admiration. But it wasn’t only that. If it was for her sake, he could give her everything. He could even walk away. That’s how deeply he cared.

It was love beyond words.

A blend of deep respect for her dedication, unconditional love like that of a parent, the passion of a man for a woman, and the awe of a dreamer watching someone chase a dream—it was all tangled together in one nameless, overwhelming emotion.

He wanted Apollo to soar higher than ever before. To become the strongest, most beloved Uma Musume known to all. He knew she’d worked hard enough to deserve it. He wished for her to reach greater heights, clearer skies—far beyond where she stood now.

…And yet, despite those wishes, he couldn’t help but feel lonely at the thought of her leaving.

The day they’d talked strategy in their shabby little trainer’s room until the sunset bathed it in orange. The day he’d followed her on his bike as she ran along the riverbank because the grounds were full. Those ordinary, quiet days that seemed small on the surface—yet carved out a space in his heart—felt like they were slowly fading away.

He had no intention of standing in the way of her glory. Yes, there was loneliness—but there was joy, too.

“—『I love you!』”

“…………”

Then, the commercial shoot resumed—and at the very moment Apollo shouted her brightest ‘I love you’, a slight pang of bitter regret passed through him. But at the same time, it reaffirmed something undeniable:

That his Uma Musume was the best of them all.

And so, he quietly lowered his gaze.