T.M. Opera O had a hard time describing her current feelings. As Rice Shower had said, she was the type with outstanding social skills at the academy, to the point that some of the more reserved Uma Musume had trouble getting along with her. Of course, after a while, everyone got used to her exaggerated actions and behavior and would have a new understanding of her inner self.
But, as Rice also said, although she seemed to show off her glorious figure in front of some girls—like her contemporaries, Mayano Top Gun and Narita Brian, who had been "harassed" by her quite a bit in the past—the truth was different.
Narita Brian was naturally kind and could get along with her. But Mayano Top Gun was getting a little tired of her pestering. And Opera O would always continue to "pester" her with the line, "It would be a pity if someone in this world didn't appreciate the Overlord's charm."
But in reality, while she seemed to have a good relationship with everyone, those who knew her well would find that her heart was a place almost no one could enter. She seemed extremely easy to get along with, but it was hard to see her true feelings. Even though she never lied, she rarely revealed her true self to anyone.
Almost everyone in the school had been invited by her to participate in an opera performance, even just as an audience member. But even those who had shared the stage with her, or were her earliest fans, never had much interaction with her beyond greetings and opera.
They hadn't even had the chance to hold her hand. However, she had always hidden this well, and almost no one noticed.
But, fortunately, Rice Shower, as a less confident girl, paid close attention to a confident existence like her. She had secretly gone to watch her opera performances and had observed this over many viewings.
But, such a student Opera O, actually kissed Mr. Kitano! This is impossible!
Unless, unless they have that kind of relationship... but Mr. Kitano has only been here for less than two days. How could they have developed that kind of relationship so quickly?
"Hahahaha! That's an interesting question!" Opera O's loss of control was only for a moment. Soon, she was laughing again, asking Rice in return with a gentle smile:
"But, why is our one-in-ten-thousand, most beautiful blue rose, so concerned about the Princess who possesses both wisdom and beauty?"
"Could it be? That our most beautiful blue rose also wants to compete with me, the Overlord, for the position by the Princess's side? If so, then you standing before me now, is that a challenge to the Overlord?"
"Rice, Rice hasn't decided yet..."
"B-but Rice hopes, student Opera O, that you can tell me. If, if you and Mr. Kitano have that kind of relationship, Rice, Rice will..."
As expected, her straightforward way of speaking was even more devastating to a less confident child like Rice. Her cheeks were flushed red. She still didn't know what her feelings for Kitano were, only attributing them to a hazy sense of familiarity.
But she already felt this familiarity was affecting her judgment. In the past, no matter how anxious she was, she would never have directly questioned someone like this. She had never felt she needed to monopolize a friend. Everyone should have more friends, not all standing by her side.
But... only at the moment when she saw Opera O kiss his hand, she didn't know what the sourness and negative emotions welling up in her heart were, but the feeling was unbearable.
Just imagining him standing next to Opera O gave her a heart-wrenching pain, as if her only important thing had been forcibly taken away.
But her rationality told her that even if that were the case, she had no right to stop it. Her relationship with him was barely an acquaintance.
Her emotional and rational sides were constantly at war in her mind, making her feel turbulent and uneasy. But in the end, she still followed the guidance of her heart.
"If, student Opera O and Mr. Kitano, really have that kind of relationship..."
"Rice... will be very sad."
Finally, suppressing her shyness and anxiety, she said something that shocked even herself, following the guidance of her heart.
And at the same time, she finally saw, for the first time ever, Opera O's expressionless face. At that moment, she felt that Opera O's gaze was no longer that of looking at a fellow student.
It was the look of someone truly looking at a rival, a formidable enemy.
Meanwhile, Kitano was completely unaware of what had happened between Rice and Opera O. He was currently busy with his true objective for this trip.
"I didn't seem to find her at the training grounds... even Bourbon wasn't there. What's going on?"
"I'll have to ask Senior Fujiwara. If I can't find her at the training grounds, then where should I look..."
He sent a private message to Reiko. He himself was searching for the Mejiro family Uma Musume that she and Ryan had entrusted to him. After thinking for a while, relying on his transmigrator's advantage, his memories of the Uma Musume, he came to a certain place.
A simple tent made of dark cloth, a small divination hut that added a touch of mystery to Tracen Academy—this was the territory of "Matikanefukukitaru," and also the place where she had established herself at Tracen, besides her grades and strength.
She was a Uma Musume with some insight into divination. Her divinations were mostly accurate, except for when it came to herself. Therefore, many troubled or race-frustrated girls would come here to try their luck. Some of them had even undergone a transformation here.
With a "let's give it a try" attitude, he bent down and entered the tent. Soon, he found that someone was already sitting at the divination table.
"I'm sorry... please wait a moment."
A soft, slightly unconfident voice came from the side. Compared to her unconfident voice, the incredibly mature body of this Uma Musume was impossible to ignore.
This was Meisho Doto, Matikanefukukitaru's forcibly recruited follower—of course, she was also one of Opera O's followers. Strictly speaking, with her soft personality, she would probably agree to anyone's request.
He nodded gently. His gaze fell on the person receiving the divination. A back that looked a little familiar, with what seemed to be chestnut-colored hair?
The light in the tent was too dim. Only the crystal ball in front of Matikanefukukitaru emitted a purple glow. At this moment, the diviner with the golden hair was mumbling something, brewing her "special ability"—its name being "how to make up nonsense while increasing accuracy."
"The result of this divination is—Great Fortune!"
"Eh! Really? Is it Great Fortune?"
The chestnut-haired Uma Musume was surprised, seemingly shocked that she could get such a result. Then, she was overjoyed and said to Matikanefukukitaru:
"Then does that mean I can win my debut race? Can I also bring glory to the Mejiro family like Ryan and McQueen?"
"That's right-desu," she replied in her characteristic verbal tic.
"But, this Great Fortune is not ordinary. The result of the divination is that you will meet your benefactor, who will guide you on the path to success."
"And that person, the direction points to—here!"
She suddenly pointed towards the entrance—it should have been towards the entrance, but now, that position was blocked by the entering Kitano, causing her finger to point directly at his face.
Following her finger, the chestnut-haired Uma Musume finally turned her head slowly. At this moment, he was finally sure that he had found the other member of the Mejiro family that Reiko and Ryan had recommended to him.
—Mejiro Palmer. A well-known existence at Tracen Academy. And the reason for her fame was not her strength, but her bloodline, and... her very handsome looks.
In the past, he didn't know what kind of face could be called "a combination of beauty and handsomeness," but at this moment, her appearance finally solved his long-standing confusion.
This term was tailor-made for her. It was a pity that as a Uma Musume, especially one from the Mejiro family, she seemed to have a greater mission weighing on her.
Therefore, Reiko and Ryan had recommended him to her. They hoped that he, this "genius trainer," could help this young lady of the Mejiro family unlock her potential.
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (290 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (240 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (110 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (120 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (310 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (120 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (140 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(70 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (193 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (140 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (100 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (70 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (100 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (120 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (120 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (85 Chapter)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (60 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (70 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (120 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (120 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (60 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (90 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (90 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (70 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (70 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (70 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (20 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (20 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (30 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (30 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (30 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.