There were still several years to go before she could complete the main quest, and this period of pure, unburdened time was incredibly precious to Dream Weaver.
She didn't need to worry about how to cover medical expenses, nor did she need to strategize about defeating strong rivals on the track. All she had to do was train day after day in this peaceful life, quietly building up her strength—that was enough.
At first, Goodbye Halo had considered asking her old trainer to coach them, but after several morning runs with her daughters and witnessing Dream Weaver's guidance and well-measured intensity with King Halo, she quietly let go of that idea.
A foundation of this level was sufficient for now. As for more systematic running techniques, those could wait until they officially entered Tracen and were assigned their own dedicated trainer.
For a young Uma Musume like King Halo, these days were monotonous. But out of pride and a sense of dignity as an older sister, she refused to allow herself to quit training arbitrarily.
Gradually, the innate love for racing embedded in every Uma Musume's instincts led King Halo to set aside her resistance and throw herself wholeheartedly into training.
Of course, another reason she persisted was talent.
King Halo possessed far greater natural ability than Dream Weaver—whether it was her flexible physique, nimble footwork, or even how quickly she broke through her own limits, she surpassed her sister at every turn.
Victory brings its own intoxicating rush.
And for someone like King Halo, who valued pride and dignity above all, winning against Dream Weaver again and again in training earned her little sister's admiration.
A first-rate older sister ought to outshine her younger sister in every way—only then could she truly serve as her guiding light. That was just common sense, or so King Halo believed.
If it were anyone else, they might have grown insecure under the weight of King Halo's immature mindset, worn down by endless losses and the obvious gap in talent.
But Dream Weaver wasn't like that. To her, training was just training. What mattered was the strength she built through it—winning or losing didn't concern her.
As for the talent gap?
She had already experienced the pressure of true genius on that rainy day at the Tokyo Racecourse.
Faced with the overwhelming, near-hopeless gap when Tokai Teio finished seven lengths ahead of the rest, Dream Weaver's answer was to surpass her, to become the undisputed champion by a dominant margin.
What might have fostered a twisted dynamic between other sisters remained perfectly calm and normal between Dream Weaver and King Halo.
But nothing in this world lasts forever except change itself. This chapter of their lives was destined to end. The day Dream Weaver stepped back into Tracen Academy, the paused rhythm of fate between them began to beat once more.
Tick… tock…
The hands of the clock turned, digits flickered, and the morning sun streamed through the window, forming a brilliant beam of light in the air.
Years of morning training had honed Dream Weaver's internal clock, waking her just before the alarm sounded. As usual, she slipped out of bed.
She changed into her Tracen uniform, neatly tied the ribbon at her collar, and skillfully pulled her hair into a ponytail.
Today was her debut race, held at the Tokyo Racecourse.
The familiar setting didn't strike her as particularly noteworthy—it was close by, after all.
Most Tracen students ran their debut races at the Tokyo Racecourse.
After leaving the dorm, Dream Weaver walked straight past the school gates, boarded the train, and soon found herself back on familiar grounds.
She glanced around, found a staff member, handed over her competitor's pass, and was granted early access to the venue.
There was still some time before the race. Not only were there no spectators yet, but Dream Weaver was also the only competitor who had arrived.
Uma Musume who hadn't yet debuted didn't have racing uniforms. In the empty locker room, Dream Weaver changed into a sports jersey marked with her number.
Once ready, she stepped out onto the track.
Warm, gentle sunlight spilled over the lush grass, and the familiar scent filled the air. As she set foot on the track again, the Tokyo Racecourse buried in her memories awoke in that moment.
But unlike the oppressive solemnity of the rain, the weather today was clear and bright. The golden sunlight clung to Dream Weaver's skin, wrapping her in a comforting warmth.
Gazing up at the strikingly clear blue sky, Dream Weaver took a deep breath.
Until this moment, she hadn't felt anything particularly special about her debut race. It was only upon returning to the Tokyo Racecourse that she truly understood what it represented.
"After the debut race, I can compete in official races. Which means… the mission officially begins now."
She narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked up at the gentle sun in the sky.
The start of the mission meant the end of everyday normalcy.
The life she had grown accustomed to over the past decade, everything she had experienced at the Halo household—all of it would come to an end with the beginning of her mission.
But so what? It was just the end of her training phase, a time to gather strength. This was all just part of the script. More important things awaited her.
Just as complex emotions began to stir within her, Dream Weaver coldly severed those thoughts.
"Wow, didn't expect anyone else to be here this early!"
A girl's voice called out from behind. Dream Weaver steadied herself, turned around, and faced her opponent for the race.
The Uma Musume before her had medium-length golden hair that shimmered under the sunlight, almost as if she herself had become a part of its warmth.
Meeting those amber-purple eyes, Dream Weaver gave a slight nod.
"You're quite early yourself."
Dream Weaver could see the anticipation in the other Uma Musume's eyes. Unlike herself, who was used to this schedule, this girl had clearly woken up early just for her debut race.
Sure enough, at Dream Weaver's words, the girl scratched her head sheepishly.
"Hehe, I was too excited yesterday. The thought of officially debuting made me want to get here as soon as possible."
"I can't let everyone's expectations down!"
As she spoke, the girl enthusiastically patted her chest as if psyching herself up.
Dream Weaver's eyes swept over the other's well-toned physique before finally lowering her gaze.
"Huh?"
The golden-haired Uma Musume tilted her head in confusion, wondering why the other had suddenly gone quiet.
It wasn't until she felt an intense stare fixed on her legs that she belatedly flushed, waving her hands awkwardly before covering her thighs in a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
"What are you looking at?!"
Even though showing some skin was perfectly normal, being stared at so intently made her feel strangely shy.
Dream Weaver didn't seem to notice her embarrassment and continued gazing at her legs, her tone calm and even.
"No wonder you're so confident. Pretty impressive."
"Huh?!"
--+--
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.