A few days had passed since joining the Kasamatsu club, and Dream Weaver had effortlessly blended in with the Kasamatsu Uma Musume.
Though a thin, unspoken layer still lingered between them, the warmth rising from their hearts made them instinctively overlook it.
There was no need to go through the process of getting familiar all over again; already knowing and understanding each other, they quickly recreated the familiar scenes of Kasamatsu right here at Central Tracen Academy.
So these past few days, Dream Weaver's mood had been exceptionally cheerful.
In this short week, she had successfully saved her mother, reforged bonds with old friends—she even felt like nothing in the world could disturb her happiness now.
Until Sakura Bakushin O appeared before Dream Weaver once again.
Saying "once again" wasn't quite accurate, since Sakura Bakushin O buzzed around Dream Weaver every single day.
But this time, she was clearly here on a mission.
Sakura Bakushin O stood hands on hips before Dream Weaver's desk, beaming a bright smile at her.
"Good morning, Dream! The teacher sent me to pass on a message!"
Dream Weaver raised an eyebrow at that. Had her earlier skipped-classes-for-testing incident blown up? But hadn't Chizuru said she'd handle it?
With a puzzled frown, Dream Weaver replied, "What is it…?"
"Parental summons—"
The moment those two words fell, Dream Weaver was ready to bolt on the spot.
She absolutely couldn't accept dragging her mother, who had just recovered from a serious illness, to school for something like this.
Fortunately, before Dream Weaver could make a run for it, Sakura Bakushin O finally finished her sentence.
"…for a parents' meeting!"
"It's tomorrow!"
Startled half out of her wits, Dream Weaver shot Sakura Bakushin O an annoyed glare, then quietly sank back into her chair.
"Does something like this really need to be announced individually…?"
Usually, personal notifications were for individual matters.
Something like a parents' meeting should just be announced during morning homeroom or a class meeting, shouldn't it?
Hearing this, Sakura Bakushin O puffed out her chest, looking quite proud.
"As class president! Of course I have to inform every student one by one, to make sure everyone knows!"
Without waiting for Dream Weaver's response, she trotted off to find the next classmate.
Dream Weaver sighed, wordlessly watching Sakura Bakushin O's retreating back.
A parents' meeting…
Northern Starlight had attended quite a few of Dream Weaver's parents' meetings before.
But back then, Dream Weaver hadn't started racing yet; she was just an unremarkably good student at a regular school, with nothing much to report.
But now, after months of training and trials in the script worlds, Dream Weaver had not only become a student at Central Tracen Academy but also successfully debuted and won a G3 race.
What would her mother say about the achievements she'd made now…?
Dream Weaver rested her cheek on her hand, lost in thought at her desk.
Then again, maybe she wouldn't be able to come. She'd just recovered from a major illness—how could she leave the hospital so easily…?
--+--
"Of course I'll go!"
Northern Starlight bolted upright from her hospital bed, then chuckled apologetically after seeing the nurse adjusting her glucose drip jump in fright.
After offering a somewhat sheepish apology to the mildly miffed nurse, Northern Starlight turned her gaze back to Dream Weaver.
She patted her chest, declaring to her daughter, "When has Mom ever missed one of your parents' meetings? Don't worry, even if I have to crawl, I'll crawl back to Tracen tomorrow!"
"No need to be that dramatic…"
"If it's really not possible, please don't cause trouble for the nurses…"
Dream Weaver said helplessly, glancing at the still-rattled nurse.
"Relax, it's fine! Your mom is healthy as can be now!"
As she spoke, Northern Starlight extended her right arm and flexed a bicep.
"If not for those two old ladies ganging up to keep me down, I'd have been out of here ages ago to come play with you, Dream!"
"You shouldn't talk about Grandma and Auntie that wa—"
Dream Weaver's words were cut off as Northern Starlight reached out a hand.
She stroked Dream Weaver's round head, smoothing the bangs over her forehead, her face brimming with pride.
"But my Dream worked so hard to win her debut race and a central stakes race. What kind of mother would I be if I couldn't brag about my Dream properly in front of everyone?"
"I'm going to shout it in front of all the parents and teachers—my Dream is the absolute best!"
Northern Starlight patted Dream Weaver's cheek, grinning.
"So don't worry, Mom will definitely be there tomorrow morning."
"Even if—"
A dangerous glint flashed in her eyes.
"—I have to beat those two old ladies to their knees to do it!"
Hearing that, Dream Weaver wasn't sure whether to be moved or to persuade her mother not to get violent with her elders.
But no matter what she said, Northern Starlight was determined to go to Central Tracen Academy tomorrow and brag about Dream Weaver in front of everyone, just as she'd said.
And so, the next day, having shed her hospital gown and dressed neatly again, Northern Starlight stood before the gates of central Tracen Academy.
Gazing at the entrance, unchanged from her memories, a flicker of nostalgia passed through Northern Starlight's eyes.
After all these years, the school looked exactly the same, as if even time couldn't alter Tracen one bit.
As Northern Starlight was lost in emotion, a sleek black luxury car pulled to a stop before the school gates.
Dancing Brave stepped out in a long trench coat, casually removing her sunglasses as she looked up at central Tracen.
A few days earlier, her daughter King Halo had come to her for help, but Dancing Brave, busy with work overseas, hadn't been able to rush back immediately.
Hearing the parents' meeting was just days away, she simply arranged with her daughter to come today.
This trip wasn't just for King Halo's parents' meeting; Dancing Brave had another matter to attend to.
She'd heard Dream's mother had recovered and awakened, but fresh from a major illness, Dancing Brave doubted she'd have the energy to attend a parents' meeting.
Dream, who had struggled so hard to get this far, would surely be deeply disappointed if no one showed up for her. So—
Dancing Brave wanted to prove something: being a mother wasn't just about blood ties. That love and sense of responsibility toward one's child were what truly determined whether a mother was worthy!
"Just stay put in your hospital bed, unknown Uma Musume—"
"Your daughter—I'll take her!"
She had set her goal: today, she must advance toward becoming Dream Weaver's guardian.
Dancing Brave believed that with her wealth, capability, strength, and love for Dream Weaver, she could absolutely rebuild a mother-daughter bond with Dream Weaver in this world!
With spirited confidence, Dancing Brave strode forward, her trench coat flapping sharply with each step, brushing past Northern Starlight as she went.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.