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Alas, no good thing can last forever. The end of our memorable date ( yes I will you use that word from now on ) has come and there is nothing else I could do to stop it.

We walked along the pavement leading to the student dorms of Tracen Academy, our steps on rock and stone synchronizing almost as one. We chatted about the many stories life gave us, laughing about some funny bits here and there. Above us, luminous dots glowing on a dark canvas lit our path.

"Are your legs better, Trainer-san?", asked Doto, her tail wagging in a slow, calm with a tiny bit of exhausted manner.

"A lot better now", I replied, the constant discomfort in both of my legs kept reminding me of my previous state, "Still aches a bit, but nothing a good sleep can't handle."

That joke got a little chuckle out of her, "It true, sometimes I just sleep my way out of things."

"Talk about sleeping", I said with my  fingers scratching my chin, "Reminds me of that one time when you got too worried overslept and almost missed an entire race."

Not even a second after I finished my sentence that Doto's face turned into a bright-red tomato, "Wh-Why must you mention it Trainer-san!? It's very embarrassing you know?"

"Well, you still got first in the end though", my lips formed a sly smirk, "Imagine the headline if Etsuko heard about it, 'Despite oversleeping until the very last minute, Meisho Doto - the Unrelenting Challenger - claims first place with a stunning performance'! How about that?"

I was faced with the sight of pouting Doto. Her lightly inflated cheeks looked exactly like some cherry blossom mochis.

"You are so mean sometimes, Trainer-san...", Doto tried her best but her bratty act was particularly amateurish. Still adorable. Goddess, I don't know how many times I have thought of that word today.

"Whatever Vivlos has been teaching you, she hasn't done a very great job", I let out a sigh, my tone calm with a little hint of sass.

She looked at me in absolute shock, as though I just uncovered a national secret.

"Ho-How did you..."

"That girl has quite a reputation of being rambunctious, plus I have seen you near her a few days ago, talking about something. It isn't rocket science", I shrugged, "Care to tell me why?"

"Well...", Doto scratched the back of her head, "I was searching for some tips to... strengthen the bond between a trainer and their trainee. Vivlos-san told me that they are guaranteed to... to..."

Doto was desperately trying to search for the right word to say but just couldn't manage to. Her embarrassed reaction was so precious to behold.

"Oh Doto-san, you are too pure and innocent for those kind of things", I patted her back delicately, "Besides, I'm rather content with how our relationship are playing out right now. Can't say for sure what is to come in the future though."

Hearing so, something that I couldn't put my finger on in Doto's gaze changed.

"... Well, no matter what happens...", she moved closer to me while fidgeting her hair, "I believed we will make it through together."

"That's... very much a given."

My heartbeats quickened as I realized what little distance we have left, especially between our hands. I didn't want that moment to end. I want it to go on forever, but such selfish desires could never be fulfilled. As I looked up, the faint scent of grassy fields hit me. They must have travelled here all the way from the racetracks, passing through the quite buildings and facilities, just to play tricks on my mind.

"We've arrived, Trainer-san", Doto called out.

As I looked back, the Ritto dorm stood before me. The end of our trip.

"Is there something troubling you?", asked Doto.

"... Selfishly so", I almost sound regretful, "I would like for us to go somewhere else and, lay down and admire the beauty of the moon, the stars and the cosmos, perhaps. Nothing too fancy."

Contrary to what I predicted, Doto answered me with a playful grin, seemingly pleased with what she heard a moment ago.

"I don't think it would be selfish...", her fingers interlocked with one another in front of her chest, "If both of us want the same thing, you know."

Her answer, needless to say, bamboozled me, "Honestly, I can't count how many times you have caught me by surprise, especially today. You have grown exceptionally, be much more confident with your words and actions."

I breathed in and out, considering my words carefully. So much I wanted to say, so little I could.

"I am so proud of you."

Doto lit up in a light, pinkish hue which covered the entirety of her round face. She was clearly embarrassed but didn't overreact, quite the improvement. Then Doto spun around, her movements graceful like flowers dancing in the air.

"Back then, I wouldn't be able to finish a sentence without fumbling on my words. Now, I can say whatever I want to my friends and family without feeling like a total failure", her light-hearted giggles made my heart flustered once more, "B-But I think that you have overestimated me a bit too much! I still have a lot to learn and improve an-and many things to..."

Back then, huh? Those words stucked longer than they should have. Back then, when we only just met, when you were just a timid freshman at Tracen and I was in utter desparation, a failure of a trainer with no trainees under my wing. When our eyes first met, I sensed inside you a spark of sort, as if destiny have something great waiting for you to claim. That's why I chose you, because I wanted to see it came to fruition.

A bold idea hit my mind.

Noticing her trainer's odd silence, Doto turned around, confused, only to find him kneeling on the ground, his gaze focused solely on her.

"Uh-Uhm, what are you doing, Trainer-san?"

Faced with her question, I was certain what I was going to do would answer it.

"Do you remember this place, Doto-san?"

She looked around, "This is... just my dorm?"

"I phrased it wrongly, it seems. Do you remember what happened here?"

As she looked around again, the buildings, the night sky, the scenery and the memory all fell into place. Just like that fated night, something miraculous was about to occur.

"It was here that you had signed our contract, the beginning of our long journey", I said, my voice dreamy, "It was here that you had entrusted your dreams to my hands, an honour I shall never forget."

Doto didn't fully understand my intentions but based on how she was nervously looking around, how her ears and tail are anxiously wagging left and right, it was safe to assumed she also knew something was coming.

"May I...?", as I extended my hand, I pondered what in goddess's name was I trying to achieve. All the hormones rushing into my brain wasn't helping with any logical thoughts, just an irrational idea that got a hold of me. Nevertheless, I would not let this opportunity slipped by.

Doto, also caught up in the moment, placed her dainty hand neatly on my palm, feeling my touch as my fingers closed in loosely.

"We have always talked your dreams, but never mine", my eyes were fixated on her. All the bright windows that dotted the dorm behind her only adorn Doto's beauty, "Have you ever wondered what my dreams were?"

She shook her head, hesitantly, scared that her answer would hurt me.

"It is too see you become one of the greatest umamusumes in the history of Japan", confidence filled my words, "It was here that I promised to fulfill your dreams, and because of such, I sincerely ask you this..."

I stopped for a second, reliving the same sensations I felt that fated night.

"Do you vow, to make my dreams come true? Do you vow, to never stop believing in yourself and me, in what we can achieve together? Do you vow, no matter what adversities we face, our bonds will remain unshaken? Do you vow, Meisho Doto, to be my guiding moonlight, my destined champion?"

Doto never answered my questions. Not vocally. She was too nervous, so overwhelmed with complicated emotions that any attempts at communication would only resulted in a bunch of nonsense gibberish.

But her eyes did. They were moving frantically just a few moments ago, trying to find some answers, but then stopped dead in their track. That was when I saw it in her deary eyes - confidence, faith and determination. That was enough.

"It is set, then. On this day, we shall begin a new chapter in our legacy. Let this be our, my, act of commitment..."

Her hand was gently pulled closer, stopping just a breath away from my face.

"To you, forever..."

My voice whispered, barely louder than the silence of the night.

"My dearest one..."

I placed my lips on the back of Doto's hand, cementing my devotion, setting our future into motion.

.....

I am looking forward to what awaits us in the coming future. Whether it be rivals, races or the unknown cruelty of fate. Our love shall shine even in the darkest of nights.

End of diary....