Perhaps it was because guiding a complete novice proved more taxing than expected, but T.M. Opera O's cheeks were slightly flushed, with glistening sweat trickling from her hairline down to the corner of her eye.
Dream Weaver's breathing had also grown a bit labored.
She knew she couldn't dance, which was why she usually chose songs that required little movement for her performance stages. A vigorous, dazzling waltz like this was a first for her.
"So, how was it? It might still fall short compared to you on the track, but even now, you can still shine brilliantly."
After catching her breath, T.M. Opera O smiled at Dream Weaver and pointed toward the mirror, where Dream Weaver stood panting, her skirt slightly disheveled, yet radiating an indescribable allure.
"Common sense would say that's just the sunlight hitting my face."
Dream Weaver gazed at her own dazzling reflection as she spoke.
"But in people's eyes, the one glowing is you, oh my rival."
Faced with T.M. Opera O's words, Dream Weaver neither agreed nor disagreed, only staring somewhat dazedly at her own image in the mirror.
A long moment later, she finally sighed and said in a resigned tone,
"Alright, alright, I know what you're trying to tell me."
"Oh, as expected of my rival—so clever!"
T.M. Opera O let out a hearty laugh, then blinked her sparkling purple eyes at Dream Weaver, as if waiting for her to spell it out.
"You want to say that I'm the center of the stage, whether on the racetrack or in real life, and that I shouldn't feel flustered facing the audience—or rather, the support of my fans, right?"
"Because I'm the one leading everything, after all."
At this point, Dream Weaver tilted her head and asked T.M. Opera O in a puzzled tone, "But there's still something I don't quite get…"
"Why did you suddenly pull me into dancing just now? It's almost as if you saw right through what I was thinking."
In response to Dream Weaver's question, T.M. Opera O simply lifted her chin proudly and laughed.
"Because I am the Conqueror!"
"You might as well say you can read minds…"
Dream Weaver gave a wry smile at that, strangely feeling mind-reading would be a more reasonable claim than declaring oneself a conqueror.
"So then? My rival, now that you know you're the center of the stage, have you figured out how you want to face your fans?"
T.M. Opera O blinked, asking with curiosity.
Dream Weaver stroked her chin and answered almost without hesitation, "I like everyone very much, and I don't want to see anyone feeling neglected or shedding tears, so my decision is—"
"I'll just charm them all!"
"Wahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Upon hearing this, T.M. Opera O suddenly burst into laughter, patting Dream Weaver's waist as she roared with amusement.
"As expected of the Conqueror's rival! Even your choice is exactly the same as mine!"
"If the sun's light shone on only one person, it would be far too intense. That's why it must shine equally upon everyone!"
If anyone else had heard Dream Weaver's answer, they definitely wouldn't have reacted this way.
But who was T.M. Opera O?
As one of Tracen Academy's top narcissistic Uma Musume, a self-proclaimed conqueror who thrived on being the center of attention, she completely understood Dream Weaver's response.
After all, that was how she treated her own fans too.
But fans were just fans. T.M. Opera O had long since set herself apart from so-called admirers.
Yes, in her self-absorbed way, she had already confirmed that she and Dream Weaver shared a more special connection.
That of rivals—equals.
And precisely because of this, she always insisted on addressing Dream Weaver as "rival." It was T.M. Opera O's way of distinguishing herself from other Uma Musume.
So when she heard Dream Weaver say "all of them," far from being upset, she laughed heartily, patted Dream Weaver, and asked if she wanted some of her own advanced experience.
Now consciously freed from being just a prize and stepping into the role of the stage's leading figure, Dream Weaver naturally didn't refuse.
Seeing how T.M. Opera O was surrounded daily by a crowd of Drama Club fans on campus was proof enough of her expertise in this area.
Several dozen minutes later, Dream Weaver, having felt the impact of this newfound knowledge, nodded as if a light had dawned on her.
"I see, I understand now. I'll definitely put this to use next time."
Bathed in sunlight, T.M. Opera O responded with an encouraging smile.
This scene suddenly reminded Dream Weaver of the first time she and T.M. Opera O had met.
Back then, with not a single stat maxed out, no item boosts, no field assistance, and facing the Satsuki Sho, she had been lost in uncertainty about the future.
Just when she didn't know whether she could win the Satsuki Sho, it was her greatest rival on paper, T.M. Opera O, who sought her out and helped untangle her worries.
The present moment made Dream Weaver recall that past.
Even if it wasn't the same world, T.M. Opera O always seemed to sense her confusion and arrive promptly to guide her in her own unique way.
"Thank you, T.M. Opera O."
"What's this all of a sudden, my rival?"
T.M. Opera O blinked, seemingly caught off guard by Dream Weaver's sudden thanks.
Dream Weaver opened her mouth to say something, but another thought quickly pushed its way to the forefront of her mind.
Curiously, she asked, "But why do you keep calling me 'rival, rival' like that? It sounds strange, almost as if I've changed my name from Dream Weaver to 'Rival.'"
"Because that makes it more special! There are so many fans, but my rival's rival is only me!"
T.M. Opera O didn't hold back or feel the need to; she openly stated the reason she always addressed Dream Weaver as her rival.
"You don't have to keep doing it, really…"
Dream Weaver shook her head with a soft laugh. She hadn't expected it to be for such a reason.
"But everyone is special to me in their own way. T.M. Opera O is just T.M. Opera O, not any other Uma Musume."
"But the Conqueror isn't satisfied with just that kind of special."
T.M. Opera O blinked, leaning in until her nose almost touched Dream Weaver's.
"Then maybe a little more special?"
Faced with T.M. Opera O's lack of personal space awareness, Dream Weaver felt she was starting to get somewhat used to it. Instead of being startled, she tentatively suggested,
T.M. Opera O didn't answer, only blinking slightly in response.
"Even without deliberately calling me 'rival,' I'd still be special that way, wouldn't I?"
"How is a T.M. Opera O who goes by the same name as others any more special than any other fan?"
Dream Weaver, who had been helped by T.M. Opera O many times before, blinked and smiled.
"Even if we use the same name, this T.M. Opera O is just a little more special, okay?"
Finally satisfied with the answer, T.M. Opera O pulled her face back from Dream Weaver's nose, planted her hands on her hips, and nodded triumphantly before her.
"Then from now on, I'll call you 'Dream!' My rival!"
It seemed she still couldn't quite drop that title just yet.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.