"This is the infirmary!"
Inside the open doorway, a gentle older sister in a white coat smiled and waved at Dream Weaver and King Halo.
But before Dream Weaver could respond, King Halo was already pulling her along, dashing down the hallway again.
"This is the teachers' office!"
In front of the open window, a new female teacher sorting through lesson plans gave a helpless smile at the quirky little troublemaker from her class.
Just as Dream Weaver was about to explain her earlier heroic feat, King Halo tugged her away, and they burst out of the school building.
"This is the playground!"
On the sunlit playground, a group of elementary school kids running around turned at the sound of King Halo's bright voice, staring at the two with puzzled looks.
"I—"
Dream Weaver wanted to stop and take a look at the playground—after all, it was where she'd be training for the next six years—but before she could finish, the rushing wind snatched her words away.
"And this is a totally plain, mysterious little path that's weirdly popular for no reason!"
King Halo pulled Dream Weaver over to a spot near the school building's wall. True to her words, it was just an ordinary narrow path—no more than ten meters to the dead end, wide enough for maybe three people side by side. Sunlight didn't even reach here; it was just a little alley tucked in the shadow of the building.
Dream Weaver didn't have time to explain to her big-sister-in-elementary-school why this spot was popular. Understanding something like this was still too much for a second-grader like King Halo. Maybe by fifth grade, she'd figure it out naturally.
At any rate, after this long tour, Dream Weaver finally managed to get her words out.
"Big sis… I've… had… enough already."
As an elementary schooler herself, Dream Weaver was completely out of breath after being dragged around almost the entire campus.
Meanwhile, King Halo, also just a kid, was still full of energy. She tilted her head and said:
"Really? What a shame—I still have a bunch of other totally normal but weirdly popular spots to show you!"
Just how widespread is the gossip at Tracen Elementary? Back in my day, I didn't find a spot like this until fifth grade, and only because I wandered off during P.E.!
Leaning against the wall, panting, Dream Weaver fumed silently at those older kids who'd been blabbing where they shouldn't.
"Well, but… I guess here is fine too…"
King Halo glanced around, and after making sure no one else was nearby, she spoke as if she'd made up her mind about something.
Hearing King Halo's suddenly hesitant tone and noticing the faint blush on her cheeks, Dream Weaver felt like she was about to break into a cold sweat. She slowly backed closer to the wall, frantically searching through the memories from this "script."
In the script, she'd been found and adopted by King Halo's mother, Goodbye Halo, who happened to be passing by. She'd spent the next six years growing up alongside King Halo, who was only a year older.
Dream Weaver desperately sifted through those six years of memories, trying to find some clue that would explain what was happening now, but all she could recall was the same elite, mischievous "Ohohohoho!" laughter, playing on repeat like a broken record.
Was she always like this, even as a kid?!
Dream Weaver closed her eyes in despair. Two lifetimes really weren't enough to broaden one's horizons.
The air grew thick, each second stretching out unbearably long.
Just as Dream Weaver's imagination was about to hit overdrive, King Halo spoke up, her tone a mix of excitement and nervousness.
"You can open your eyes now."
Hearing that, Dream Weaver could only open her eyes apprehensively. What appeared before her was a red ribbon.
Huh?
King Halo held the ribbon out in one hand, while the other nervously clutched at her skirt. Her eyes darted around, as if deliberately avoiding Dream Weaver's gaze.
"It's a gift. You… don't like it?"
Dream Weaver numbly took the ribbon. Staring at that familiar shade of red in her hand, she instinctively asked:
"Why?"
Hearing that, King Halo's voice grew even more hesitant, and the blush on her face spread further. But she braved through it and answered:
"Before, when we passed by the accessory store window, I noticed you couldn't stop staring at this red ribbon."
"So I used my saved-up allowance to buy it. I wanted to give it to you, as… as a gift to celebrate you starting school."
At that moment, the memories from the script suddenly felt real. Looking at the red ribbon in her hands, Dream Weaver realized that the "her" in the script was also herself—these were her own memories.
It wasn't just background setting for a script; this was something that had truly happened.
A changed… worldline, huh…
Mulling over the term, Dream Weaver skillfully tied the red ribbon into a high ponytail.
Then, she pointed at the blue ribbon tied around King Halo's horse ears and said with a smile:
"I really like it. And… it matches your ribbon, big sis."
Hearing that, King Halo's nervousness vanished. Seeing how much Dream Weaver liked her gift, she placed one hand on her hip and brought the other to her face, letting out another elated "Ohohohoho!"
"Of course! After all, I am—"
"An elite big sis."
Before King Halo could finish, Dream Weaver chimed in with the second half.
Dream Weaver couldn't help but laugh as she looked at her flushed elementary-school-aged big sis.
The blush on King Halo's face deepened—whether from embarrassment or annoyance, it was hard to tell. She darted to Dream Weaver's side, pinching her cheeks and putting on a mock-fierce expression.
"Don't steal your big sister's lines!"
Dream Weaver giggled, her words slurred from the cheek-pulling.
"Sh'not like I'm playin' along 'r anythin'."
Seeing Dream Weaver's unrepentant grin, King Halo gave her little sister's cheeks another good squish.
"Hmph! Mere foolish little sister, I shall magnanimously forgive you. After all, I am an elite big sister!"
King Halo gave a few more pinches before finally stopping. Maybe it was Dream Weaver's imagination, but the last part of that sentence seemed rushed.
Dream Weaver was about to tease her further, but as she looked at King Halo—who wasn't much taller than herself—a thought occurred to her.
"Big sis, you have amazing stamina. You didn't even get out of breath after pulling me around for so long."
Dream Weaver vaguely recalled hearing King Halo's name in the real world too—she seemed to be a pretty outstanding Uma Musume. Since she herself didn't know how elementary schoolers should train, why not try working out with this future star while she was still a kid?
Before Dream Weaver could even suggest it, King Halo puffed out her chest proudly, unable to suppress the grin on her face. Her eyes shone with unmistakable pride and joy—she was clearly thrilled to be admired by her little sister.
"Then let me take you running! Who could refuse, when I'm such an elite big sister!"
--+--
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.