"And this is the Whispering Tree." Tokai Teio pointed to a hollow, empty tree stump in the middle of the garden. "Every now and then, an Uma Musume who's lost a race comes here to pour her heart out."
"You know, letting it all out in secret after a setback can make you feel a whole lot better."
Platinum had always wondered about this.
You guys only have one tree? Wouldn't it be super awkward if you all showed up at night to scream and ran into each other?…
Don't tell me you have to take a number and book an appointment… Platinum mentally grumbled.
"And this is our Team Spica's training room!" Tokai Teio pointed inside, where the lights had just flickered on, revealing Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka, and Mejiro McQueen in a frantic, tangled heap. "Seriously, what are you all doing?"
Ahem... Mejiro McQueen coughed a few times, being the first to untangle herself from Vodka's grasp. "It's nothing, please pay it no mind."
"Yeah, haha..." Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet added, pushing and shoving as they separated from each other.
"Huh? I can't believe I was hugging you. You must have grabbed onto me."
"Don't be ridiculous, you were the one who grabbed me!"
"Hah? It was definitely you!"
"No, no, it absolutely had to be you!"
Looking past the two of them arguing, Gold Ship sat perfectly calm in a chair, watching the chaos unfold in the training room. Her hands were steepled under her chin, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.
"Alright, alright, we have a guest today! Let me introduce everyone. This is Platinum, who just won her debut race at Hanshin the other day."
The argument between Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet finally died down.
Along with Mejiro McQueen, the three of them lined up, each stroking their chins as they looked Platinum over, then proceeded to walk past her one by one.
What's with these looks? Platinum felt goosebumps under their intense, full-body scrutiny.
"Just judging by appearance, she seems like a fine girl indeed… Her lower body looks quite powerful too. Hehe, she really does seem to have the makings of a good runner." Mejiro McQueen patted Platinum's shoulder with a gentle, amiable smile.
"Do your best. I look forward to seeing you on the track. Your debut race is just the beginning; the road ahead is still very long."
"If there's anything you don't understand in the future, feel free to ask me. I'll hold nothing back."
"...?" You... you plump nag, what are you even going on about?
Next up was Daiwa Scarlet. She came over and took Platinum's hands, her eyes sparkling. "Since you've already run your debut race, that makes you my senior! I'm Daiwa Scarlet, pleased to meet you!"
"Very soon, I'll be running my debut race too. When that time comes, we might even be rivals, Senpai."
"Let's do our best together!"
"...?" Wait, what is wrong with you people? Staring at her own captured hands, Platinum was at a complete loss.
"Geez... You went and said everything I was going to say, what's left for me..." Vodka scratched her head. "Anyway, I'm Vodka. Do your best, Senpai."
Platinum shifted her gaze to Tokai Teio, only to find her standing off to the side, wearing an equally awkward smile.
Finally, Gold Ship walked over to Platinum. Donning a pair of sunglasses, she slung a burlap sack over one shoulder and patted Platinum's shoulder with her other hand. "Welcome, welcome. I am the great Gold Ship."
After saying this, Gold Ship let out a rather dissatisfied 'Tch,' muttering under her breath, "Failed to pull off the initiation ritual this time..."
"Um... well..." Tokai Teio waved her hands in front of her, maintaining that strained smile. "Platinum isn't here to join our team... She's just visiting."
"...You're kidding. Someone actually came to visit our shabby, tiny training room?"
"Our Trainer never manages to recruit anyone. Besides us, nobody ever comes to this training room."
"It's so out-of-the-way and old. It's like night and day compared to other teams' training rooms."
"I knew it. Nobody comes to this team unless they're dragged here."
"Don't say that, you'll make the Trainer sad..."
"That guy... he really would throw a tantrum and cry on the floor like a kid... I don't want to be the one to make him cry again..."
"Gold Ship, you're the last one who should be saying that."
Upon hearing Tokai Teio's explanation, the group huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.
Tokai Teio let out a soft sigh, shot an apologetic look towards Platinum, then strode forward—
"That's right. Not only has Platinum already run her debut race and won her ticket, she already has her own Trainer."
"It's just that, as a transfer student, the President asked me to show Platinum around the school, so I brought our guest here."
That should clear everything up.
Tokai Teio winked at Platinum as if to say, 'See? I've got it all handled.'
...But for some reason, Platinum felt that look in Teio's eyes was particularly sly, like a little fox plotting some mischief.
"Oh, she already has a Trainer." Gold Ship's enthusiasm instantly deflated, and she stuffed the burlap sack back wherever it came from.
"Yes, and speaking of which, it's really something to be envious of. Platinum's Trainer—" Tokai Teio revealed a flawless, cheerful grin, "—is the President herself."
"Eh?! For real? The President can be a Trainer?"
"Although I've only heard rumors..." Mejiro McQueen looked surprised. "Did the President... get her Trainer license?"
Halfway through her sentence, Mejiro McQueen's voice gradually trailed off. She stole a glance at Platinum, then another at Tokai Teio.
President Symboli Rudolf had successfully obtained her Trainer license and signed a contract with an Uma Musume—but that Uma Musume was not Tokai Teio.
While it conflicted with the timing of getting the license, if the President truly had the capacity to form a team, Tokai Teio was undoubtedly the one who most longed for that spot.
And now, the President's contracted Uma Musume was standing right in front of Tokai Teio.
Hey, Teio, you...
Sure enough, Mejiro McQueen watched as Tokai Teio's cheerful tone shifted. She was now looking at Platinum with a brilliantly bright smile.
"So, I was wondering if I could ask you, Platinum, for a race."
"...Can I interpret this as a threat?" Frowning, Platinum looked around the training room, then at Tokai Teio standing before her.
What's with this sudden shift in tone? Isn't this supposed to be a lighthearted school life story?
"No, no, that's not what I meant at all!" Realizing how her words could be misunderstood, Tokai Teio hurriedly waved her hands.
"I just want to see... between you and me..."
"Just where the difference lies."
Seeing that slightly bittersweet, bright smile on Tokai Teio's face, Platinum felt nothing but a profound sense of stomachache.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 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.