"Seriously, Peach-chan, your swimsuit looks so high-end. Are you sure a supermarket sells stuff like this?"
Tokai Teio squinted, leaning in for a closer inspection.
Peach Waves shrugged, nonchalant.
"Yeah, apart from being a bit pricey, it's nothing special."
"How much?"
"Fifty thousand."
"Fifty thousand?!"
Tokai Teio nearly choked.
"Is that a lot? I get millions in my monthly card allowance."
Peach Waves blinked, unfazed.
"Gulp—ahaha… that's still a lot!"
"Anyway, let's go. I'll go get the president doll for you."
Dressed in her training clothes, Peach Waves led Tokai Teio and Heavy Artillery toward the staff dormitory, secretly pleased with her own "Little 13" look.
"Alright! Let's go, Heavy Artillery! We're getting the president's doll!"
Special Week had just finished her test and was catching her breath. Beside her, Urara had collapsed to her knees.
"I'm so tired… I thought I had a chance…"
Special Week, still panting, pointed ahead.
"Ah! Suzuka—I saw her just now!"
"Special Week… you're amazing…"
"Ahaha, you ran well too, Urara."
They had both changed back into their uniforms and were heading back to the dorms.
"I lost."
"Mm."
"I'll work harder next time."
"By the way, why didn't I see Peach-chan today?"
Urara paused, remembering Peach Waves' glum expression during self-study.
"She got punished for something. Had to clean the pool. I heard she even bought a swimsuit just for it."
"Peach-chan… cleaning the pool… in a swimsuit…"
Special Week's mind wandered, picturing Peach Waves in a pink-and-white swimsuit.
"She must've looked really cute…"
"Yeah, I think so too."
"Well, see you tomorrow!"
"Bye—"
As Urara walked off, Special Week lowered her head, deep in thought.
"Suzuka and Peach-chan are friends… they must be on the same team. I want to be on their team too…"
She wandered toward the school gates, muttering to herself—until something caught her eye.
A sign stuck in the greenbelt. Three Uma Musume were "planted" in the ground like turnips.
"Spica… if I don't get in, I'll bury you—uh."
She turned away, only to step on something soft.
Squish.
She looked down.
"Eh?"
It was Gold Ship. Flanking her were Scarlet and Vodka, all wearing white masks and black sunglasses.
They looked like anything but trustworthy.
Special Week froze.
"Scarlet, Vodka—go!"
Gold Ship snapped her fingers. The two lunged forward.
"Wait, I haven't even—"
Whump.
They stuffed Special Week into a sack and carried her off toward the Spica activity room.
Meanwhile, at Peach Waves' dorm, Tokai Teio and Heavy Artillery stared at the oversized Rudolf doll on her pink-and-white bed.
"Ahaha! The president doll!"
Tokai Teio dove onto it, hugging it tight and rubbing her cheek against the plush.
"Sniff… ahh, it smells like… Peach-chan?"
"I slept with it last night. Hope you don't mind."
"No, no! It smells amazing—like you!"
Peach Waves blushed.
Why does this feel so weirdly embarrassing…
"She's still the same… and she's got president posters on her wall too."
Peach Waves gently pushed her toward the door.
"Alright, you got what you came for. Off you go."
"Thanks, Peach-chan! I'll bring you a gift next time!"
"Haha, no need. Really."
"We're off to the activity room. Special Week should've been abducted by now."
Sure enough, Peach Waves soon spotted Gold Ship and her crew hauling a sack toward the activity room.
"Got her?"
The trio stopped and turned.
Gold Ship lowered her voice.
"Got her, boss. What's next?"
"How's the quality?"
Scarlet gave a thumbs-up.
"Top-tier."
"Alright then… hehehe… we're gonna make a fortune!"
They all tried to hold back their laughter, faces twisted in mock villainy.
Inside the sack, Special Week trembled.
I knew it! The big city is full of bad people! I should've eaten more carrots before I died!
Peach-chan… I'm sorry about last night. Your face really did taste good… but I didn't mean to bite you!
They reached the activity room and set her down, pulling off the sack.
Special Week blinked at the sight of three unfamiliar faces—trainers.
"You're the wanted man the police took away!"
"Wanted?!"
Scarlet and Vodka turned to Okino, horrified.
"No, no! I'm not a wanted man—I'm a maniac!"
"HUH?!"
"Bah, I mean—I'm a trainer! A real, certified trainer!"
Okino cleared his throat and turned to Special Week.
"So, Special Week, would you like to join our team?"
She stepped back, wary.
"I don't think our personalities match…"
Wait… didn't Peach-chan say this guy was her trainer?
She glanced around—and spotted Peach Waves chatting with Suzuka nearby.
Her eyes lit up.
"No need to think. I'll join!"
Okino blinked.
"Wait—you're joining?"
"Yeah. Is that a problem?"
For Special Week, food was important—but Suzuka and Peach Waves were everything.