Regarding holidays… you hope that when a holiday approaches, time feels like it's crawling, and then when the holiday actually arrives, if you have nothing to do, time will still feel like it's crawling, and then you'll start wishing the holiday would end sooner.
Of course, if you have fun every day, you might feel like the holiday ends in a blink of an eye.
Just like a certain author, who closes her eyes for a nap and opens them to find half the morning gone.
And naturally, this is because Rei Zai is currently rolling back and forth in her living room, even inventing various ways to roll.
There are still 3 days until the holiday ends, and everyone from school will arrive the day before the holiday concludes, but before that, there really aren't many people at the Academy.
Although there are indeed many who live nearby, most are just acquaintances, so it's not really appropriate to visit.
As for the Student Council… there are only Rudolph and Maruzensky; everyone else has gone back to visit relatives. Even Air Groove was forcibly called back home by her family.
There haven't been any new games these past few days, and even if there were, they'd be the kind that require cooperation to play. Damn it, this must be Rudolph's conspiracy to make her go to the Student Council to help with affairs! She's noted this grudge!
After mentally adding another mark against the Emperor for some inexplicable reason, Rei Zai couldn't help but laugh.
Then she instantly slumped.
Ah… has her sense of humor become so low that she can laugh at something like this…? She felt a strange sadness ().
No, she can't go on like this anymore! Rei Zai suddenly sat up.
At a time like this, she really should… just as she was thinking of going out for a walk, a phone call came in.
Looking at it, it was the Emperor.
No, you don't call when I have nothing to do, but you call when I'm about to do something else, right!?
Damn you, Rudolph, I've noted this grudge!
"Hello, what's up?"
"Your team's division application has been approved, and your assessment has also passed. Just have you and your Trainer go to the Chairman's office to sign," the Emperor said concisely.
"I see, anything else?"
"Also, please buy me some snacks, the kind that can be kept in a drawer = ="
"All eaten again?"
"Yes, who ate them, I wonder? = =" Her tone was full of resentment.
"Anyway, since I bought them, is there a problem with me eating a little?" Rei Zai's words showed no trace of guilt.
"Tsk, just buy me some. Without them, my efficiency in handling matters has dropped significantly."
"Yes, yes, the usual flavors?"
"Mm, by the way, it seems like Umaibo has a new flavor. Keep an eye out for it."
"OK, what flavor is it, by the way?"
"Strawberry Mapo Tofu flavor."
"???"
Although it was outrageous, what was even more outrageous was that Rei Zai actually bought it.
Japan has been making these bizarre snacks for a while now, but no matter what, it's still outrageous. So outrageous that Rei Zai wished she could yell "Heresy!" and tear down the supermarket.
On the way to the Chairman's office, she dropped the snacks off at the Student Council Room, then headed directly to the Chairman's office.
There was hardly anyone along the way, and in the Chairman's office, there were only the Chairman and Trainer Okino.
"Eh? Where's Junko-nee?" Rei Zai, not seeing the familiar green figure, asked about her whereabouts.
"Oh, she's helping me with other matters, which is also something I'll be talking about later."
The Chairman took out a Trainer license and three contracts from under the desk.
"This (Trainer license) is for you. Then, both of you should review the team division contracts and sign each copy. You two will each keep one copy, and the Academy will keep the other."
Both read through the contents of the contract and, after confirming there were no objections, signed and fingerprinted them.
"Alright, then, next is the second matter, which is about a new competition."
"A new competition?"
"Mhm, after watching your Arima Kinen race, I suddenly thought of something: there are so many Uma Musume whose strength remains formidable even after retirement, yet there are too few competitions for them to participate in!"
"Besides the year-end Arima Kinen, Dream Cup, and Legend Cup, the only option is to go abroad. While this is a journey full of glory, it is still detrimental to the domestic Uma Musume industry and to Tracen Academy's recruitment."
"Therefore, I have decided to host a series of races, named the URA Competition!"
"And as someone who started fostering a team this year, you are perfectly suited to be the main figure of this series."
"Eh?" Rei Zai looked at Trainer Okino.
"Trainer Okino will naturally participate, but Special Week, whom he currently oversees, is participating in the Twinkle Series, so she's not suitable for promoting the URA Competition specifically. It's best to have an Uma Musume who debuted this year, and if it's you, you can definitely find an Uma Musume suitable for debuting this year, right?" The Chairman then began to explain her plan.
With Rei Zai, who is both the most popular Uma Musume and a newly appointed Trainer, as the ambassador, she would cultivate an Uma Musume to begin her classic three years, and after completion, participate in the first URA Competition.
The URA Competition will allow all kinds of Uma Musume to participate on a come-one, come-all basis, with no restrictions on nationality, venue, or distance. Competitions can be set up for various distances and venues.
Wow… it feels like a lot of trouble… but it also seems pretty good?
At least, purely as a challenge, this is indeed a very good challenge.
According to the Chairman, this URA Competition will be a gathering of strong opponents. It will be a good challenge for both Trainers and Uma Musume.
Trainers can try to cultivate an Uma Musume during the classic three years who can rival those veterans. If successful, they will immediately rise to prominence; for Uma Musume, running with powerful opponents itself holds irreplaceable significance.
"That's about it. What's your choice? If you're unwilling, I can ask others," the Chairman felt that arranging things so arbitrarily wasn't ideal, and since nothing had officially started yet, all of this was just a grand vision. Being rejected was quite normal, so she took a step back.
"Does that even need to be said? Of course, I'll participate." Rei Zai naturally wouldn't refuse; now she'd have something to keep her busy.
"Excellent! Then you two can go back for now. Later, when you find an Uma Musume you want to cultivate, just tell me, and the Academy will do its best to help her join your team!"
"That's not necessary, really = =" The Chairman seemed very excited.
But to find an Uma Musume who can debut immediately and has enough talent… it feels like the specifics will have to wait until this holiday ends… but at least there's finally something to do.
After asking Trainer Okino if he had any other plans and learning that he intended to go see Gold City's fashion show, Rei Zai decided… to go home and continue rolling around.
Just hold on! Just a few more days and she'll have something to do!
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!