[Attention, all students. Please assemble in the auditorium promptly at nine o'clock.]
That morning, the girl had just arrived at Toujou Hana's office when the announcement echoed through the intercom.
After handing the day's training schedule to the girl, Toujou Hana stood up. "Let's go as well. The Chairwoman sent word. All trainers, instructors, and teachers are required to attend."
Essentially, every employee at Tracen Academy.
"This happens occasionally. It might be for a major upcoming event, or perhaps a general adjustment to Tracen's operations. This must be your first time attending something like this. Just follow my lead later."
"Understood."
The girl nodded.
Tucking the schedule into the bag she always carried, she followed closely behind Toujou Hana and soon arrived at the auditorium.
Surveying the sea of Tracen students that nearly filled the vast hall, the girl narrowed her eyes.
Familiar faces, unfamiliar ones—close to two thousand in total.
That's quite a number of students…
"Over here."
Toujou Hana waved her over.
Once the girl approached, her trainer gestured toward a nearby group of Uma Musume, about half of whom wore glasses.
"You'll be with them. They're all trainees, just like you."
"Yes."
The girl silently walked over and took her place at the very back of the line.
Just then.
A slightly plump, short-haired Uma Musume with glasses standing in front of her turned around.
"So you're the legendary amazing rookie I've heard about."
A somewhat muted voice reached the girl's ears.
"Legendary amazing rookie?"
"Word's been going around. Someone got hired as a trainee during Tracen's busiest season, and was immediately assigned to work directly under a Senpai trainer," the bespectacled girl explained.
"By the way, where's your office right now?"
"The trainers' office."
"Ahh, just as I thought." The Uma Musume adjusted her glasses, the reflected light obscuring her eyes.
"We trainees have our own office, but it's not like the private ones the trainers have. Ours is shared by over a dozen people."
Currently, only a very select few had the qualifications to work directly with trainers, and they typically had already worked at Tracen for several years.
"And here you are, a fresh hire, already getting that kind of treatment. Calling you a 'legendary rookie' isn't an exaggeration, is it?"
The bespectacled girl stared at her.
"Perhaps I just got lucky…"
"I'm tired of hearing that sort of thing. Anyway, as the hot topic in the office, quite a few people want to meet you… Though, if you're always following a trainer around, you probably don't have time to visit the trainees' office, do you?"
"Time is indeed rather scarce."
"That's the downside of shadowing a trainer. Though running around all day isn't so bad either. For us, sitting still for hours on end is pure torture…"
She patted her slightly rounded belly.
Listening to this Uma Musume who had suddenly launched into complaints about the office environment, the girl's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.
This was all part of building relationships among the trainees.
She'd be dealing with them for a long time to come. Putting on an unpleasant face now would attach a negative label to this identity.
I need to create a perfect 'trainee' persona.
So, for now, I must endure.
"Silence! You're here. Sorry, let me through."
Right at that moment.
Belno Light, who had inadvertently overheard the girl's voice, squeezed her way over from the front.
"Belno-senpai?"
"Finally found you."
She caught her breath, a slightly goofy smile spreading across her face.
"I was almost dragged off to eat grass just now. So scary…"
"Eat grass?"
"Mhm. Judging the growth state of grass by its taste. Those geology-focused trainees actually started doing something like that. I absolutely refuse…"
Upon hearing the girl's voice, Belno Light seemed to have found her savior, hastily squeezing closer.
In this environment where everyone seemed a bit… off, Silence was her sole guiding light, the one who reminded Belno Light that she still lived in a civilized society.
She didn't know if it was a trick of the mind.
But standing next to Silence, Belno Light felt an inexplicable, powerful sense of security wash over her.
"You can tell the soil quality by eating the grass? There's such a thing? Let me see."
The bespectacled Uma Musume who had been talking to Silence perked up upon hearing this and immediately squeezed forward to investigate.
See! Just like that!
Belno Light pointed at her.
Hardly any of the trainees are normal!
"It might not sound good coming from me, but Silence, you absolutely must not get too involved with them!"
If her one and only underclassman were to also turn into that sort of person, Belno Light felt she might not survive in this group.
This lone, pure seedling growing in the muck must not be corrupted!
"…They do seem to have quite an exploratory spirit."
"No matter how exploratory, you shouldn't eat grass! And it's not even washed grass—it still had dirt on it! No, you absolutely must not get interested in them!"
Watching Belno Light puff out her cheeks like a small animal, earnestly refuting her point right in front of her…
"Alright, I understand," the girl nodded. "I'll listen to you, Senpai."
I'll listen to you, Senpai…
Listen to Senpai…
Senpai…
Pfft!
It felt like something pierced her heart. Belno Light clutched her chest.
"Heh, ehehehe…"
A strange giggle escaped her.
"Belno-senpai?"
Belno Light shook her head vigorously a few times.
She had just slipped into some kind of wondrous state, her mood soaring euphorically.
Clearing her throat awkwardly a few times, Belno Light raised a finger.
"That's right, Silence. Listening to me is the correct choice. I would never lead you astray."
"Of course."
The girl nodded in agreement.
Gazing at that quite refined and proper face, Belno Light unconsciously scratched her chest a few times.
So itchy.
Ever since Silence called her 'Senpai,' her heart had been plagued by this unbearable, prickling itch, as if it wanted to claw its way out of her chest.
Calm down!
Slap!
Belno Light sharply smacked her own cheek.
"Oh, right, Silence. Do you remember last night's incident?"
"Which one?"
"That one, the ghost one."
"Of course I remember. If you're scared, Senpai, you can always come rely on me."
"Really? I can?"
Belno Light's face now bore the bright red imprint of her own slap.
"Whether it's ghosts or anything else troubling you…"
"Certainly," the girl said. "If it's something that bothers you, Senpai, you can always discuss it with me. After all…"
The girl offered a gentle smile.
"I care about you, Senpai."
A wave of dizziness washed over Belno Light. She steadied herself with a hand to her forehead.
She cares about me…
She said she cares about me!
What is this? This restless, agitated feeling?
I never used to be interested in things like this.
My goal in coming to the Central district was to help Oguri.
But, it's strange…
She felt as if her feet were standing on two drifting clouds, unsteady and floating.
This agitation… it's like a dream.
And it feels… not entirely bad.
"Belno-senpai?"
Seeing Belno Light swaying on her feet, the girl hurriedly stepped forward to support her.
What's going on?
She only cared because Belno Light was Oguri Cap's trainee and held information about her training regimen.
It seemed her words had been misinterpreted.
Just as the girl was gently shaking Belno Light's shoulders, a harsh screech from the microphone echoed through the auditorium.
The crowd instantly fell silent, all eyes turning toward the stage.
Chairwoman Akikawa Yayoi stepped forward.
"Everyone!"
Her voice resounded through the hall.
"What I am about to announce is a matter of great importance."
She declared, "For the foreseeable future, all affairs of Tracen Academy will be entrusted to the Acting Chairwoman! Your future training schedules, race entries—all must receive approval from the Acting Chairwoman!"
Acting Chairwoman?
What's happening?
Not just the students, but even the faculty and staff were utterly bewildered.
"Now, let's welcome our new Acting Chairwoman to say a few words!"
With that, Akikawa Yayoi handed the microphone to the woman stepping up to the podium.
Slightly wavy black hair cascaded down her back, complementing her formal black suit. Simply standing there, she exuded a formidable, undeniable aura of authority.
"Greetings to all students and trainers of Tracen."
A calm, steady voice reached every ear.
"I am the Acting Chairwoman, Kashimoto Riko. For the time being, I will be responsible for overseeing all matters related to Tracen Academy."
She stated.
"During my tenure, I wish to emphasize three key points, which I expect you all to strictly adhere to."
Her dark golden eyes swept over the assembly.
"First: Discipline. Second: Discipline. And third—"
She raised a finger.
"Discipline."
--+--
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.