Daiwa Scarlet let out a yawn.
She had always been fixated on maintaining her image as the perfect student—top grades, impeccable social grace, flawless manners.
In everything she did, she strove to be the best. Though she hadn't quite realized it yet, that earnest, fiercely competitive spirit of hers was exactly what made her so endearing.
But since she was the only one in the lab today, surely it wouldn't hurt to slack off just a little, right?
Come to think of it, it really was unusual for Tachyon not to be in the lab…
That's what Scarlet was thinking.
To most people, Agnes Tachyon was something of an enigma—randomly appearing in class, randomly spotted in the dorms or cafeteria, but otherwise impossible to find.
But those who knew her even a little were aware that her daily routine was shockingly monotonous.
She woke up naturally every day, ate breakfast if it was still being served, otherwise went hungry.
After splashing some water on her face, she'd throw on some ill-fitting clothes bought online and head straight to the lab. There she'd sit all day, until hunger finally drove her back to the dorm at night to crash.
Apart from the occasional visit to her favorite café, Tachyon was practically rooted in the lab. There was even that one time she'd gone a full day and a half forgetting to eat.
Manhattan Cafe once remarked sharply, 'That girl has zero life skills. Honestly, if you wanted to kill her, it'd be easy—just lock her in the lab without food. Wouldn't even need to lock the door. She'd starve within a week.'
So, from time to time, Scarlet and Manhattan Cafe would drop by the lab, just to check on her and make sure Tachyon didn't actually end up dead.
Today, finding the lab locked, Scarlet was genuinely surprised—it was the first time she'd come and not found Tachyon inside.
Worried Tachyon might have passed out from hunger in there, Scarlet retrieved the spare key from under the flowerbed and unlocked the door, only to find the lab empty, save for the steady hum of the drying oven.
Maybe she went to her favorite spot… With that thought, Scarlet settled onto the sofa to wait for Tachyon's return.
Before long, she heard noise outside the door and perked up immediately.
"Look, if you can't find me in the dorm, just come here. Chances are, I'll be in the lab."
"A lab this big, taking up almost a whole floor, and no one's supervising? You're the only one here?"
"Daiwa Scarlet and Manhattan Cafe drop by sometimes to help. The other Uma Musume are too clumsy—one wrong move and they'd break something. When things get too busy, I get help from students outside Tracen."
…Wait, there were two voices? Scarlet's ears twitched.
One voice was familiar, and the other… was also kind of familiar.
"Huh? Why's the door open?"
With a turn of the handle, two figures stepped into the lab and immediately spotted Scarlet sitting on the sofa.
Scarlet saw them clearly too. One was dressed in a hideous wool sweater, with crimson eyes that seemed hazy, as if veiled by shutters—that was Agnes Tachyon.
The other was all in white, looking utterly listless, with strikingly dark, hollow eyes.
"—Platinum? What are you doing here?" The words slipped out before Scarlet could stop herself.
She knew Agnes Tachyon.
She knew Platinum, too.
But seeing the two of them together? That, she did not know.
Their connection was about as real as the relationship between 'Strangers' and an actual married couple—meaning, there was none at all.
"Wait, huh? You two… know each other?" Scarlet fell into a brief silence, struggling to form a coherent sentence.
"Good evening, Scarlet," Tachyon said, running a hand through her messy hair before tossing her bag onto the sofa.
"Evening," Platinum nodded toward Scarlet. They'd trained together a few times, but they weren't exactly close.
What in the world was going on?
Tachyon, being her usual self and now faced with the tantalizing body of a fellow Uma Musume who'd beaten her before, was eager to have a good chat.
Platinum, on the other hand, wasn't close to Scarlet and had no idea what to say to her.
So, the two of them simply walked past Scarlet as if she were air.
"Why did you bring me to the lab?" Platinum glanced around. "It's spacious, sure, but wouldn't a café be better for talking?"
"Who said anything about talking?" Tachyon smirked, reaching out to run her hand over Platinum's shoulder. "What I'm interested in… is this."
Huh?
Wait, huh?
Hearing the exchange and seeing Tachyon's gesture, Scarlet nearly lost her composure, wondering if she'd misheard.
Tachyon was a good half-head taller than Platinum.
As she draped an arm over Platinum's shoulder, she leaned down slightly, that trademark, subtly pitying smile—which no one else ever understood—playing on her lips.
Platinum bit her lip slightly, shoulders tensing, her brow furrowed as she watched Tachyon's hand, but she didn't push her away.
What kind of scene was this?
Someone, please tell me, what kind of scene is this?
Scarlet felt like she might bite clean through the hand she'd clapped over her mouth.
Just what was the relationship between these two? To be this intimate?
Tachyon was always so lethargic, tuning out any topic that didn't interest her—a complete individualist.
Platinum was shy, standoffish, and carried a defensive edge. Though she wasn't actually harmful, she never let anyone get close.
These two were like a pair of inert gases—even pressed together, they shouldn't have reacted at all.
So how were they… attached?
And this posture… it was like a classic reenactment.
What was classic, and what it was reenacting—well, that couldn't be said aloud.
Had something set Tachyon off? How had she gone from mad scientist to smooth operator?
And Platinum—sure, you're reserved, but where's that fighting spirit? Why aren't you throwing punches?
Calm down, calm down. Daiwa Scarlet, you must maintain your poise. Stay unshaken, even if Mount Tai collapsed before you.
Maybe it's not what you think? Maybe it's all a misunderstanding. If it turns out to be a big joke you've made of yourself, you'd die of embarrassment.
Thinking this, Scarlet shakily raised a finger, pointing first at Tachyon, then at Platinum, who was practically nestled in Tachyon's embrace.
"…Um… What's this?"
"If I may ask… what exactly is your relationship?"
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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!
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