Agnes Digital was carried back to the dorm by Gold Legend.
Agnes Digital woke up once during the trip back, and upon realizing she was draped over Legend's shoulder, she promptly fainted again.
Having no choice, Gold Legend carried Digital all the way back to Tracen Academy.
Fortunately, Digital and Legend were in the same dorm building, so she didn't have to walk far.
"Late on the very first day of school, that's something. You're only the second person to do that in all my years as Dorm Head."
Gold Legend had just arrived at the dorm entrance, carrying Digital, when she heard Fuji Kiseki's teasing remark.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Special Week, still frantically bowing and apologizing, hadn't quite processed the comment. "Eh? Who was the first?"
"..."
Gold Legend rolled her eyes at Fuji Kiseki.
"The one behind you," Fuji Kiseki said with a smirk.
"Eh?" Special Week's eyes turned into dots as she turned her head blankly.
"Woah! Gold Student, what are you doing here?!"
And who is that pink-haired girl on your shoulder?
"...I am an Uma Musume, after all. Is it strange for me to return to my dorm?" Gold Legend was too exhausted to talk. "Dorm Head, where is Agnes Digital's room? I'll take her back."
"It's downstairs from you. Ah, and while you're at it, take this Little pony next to you to the lounge."
You know where it is.
Fuji Kiseki waved her hand.
"Little pony?" Special Week tilted her head, confused.
"Yes, yes, yes. Now, Special Week, follow me." With that, Gold Legend started walking on her own.
"Yes!" Special Week snapped to attention and quickly followed... After spending some time dealing with Agnes Tachyon, who was superficially inquiring about her well-being but was actually plotting something, Gold Legend dumped Agnes Digital onto her bed.
The mentally exhausted Legend led Special Week to the lounge.
After giving Special Week some not-so-important instructions, Gold Legend returned to her dorm.
She finished writing her diary, washed up, threw herself onto the bed, and Legend fell asleep like a dead dog... "Wake up! You finally came here, and you're just going to sleep?" A somewhat familiar voice spoke.
Gold Legend opened her eyes.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
"Hi~ Did you miss me? No matter when or where, your dear id will respond to your expectations!"
A face she was already very familiar with filled her entire vision.
"..."
Gold Legend rolled over, choosing to continue sleeping.
"Hey, hey, when you're alone with a girl, you should look properly into her eyes."
The familiar voice, using an unfamiliar tone, spoke words that seemed strangely familiar.
"...So, what do you want?"
"That's mean. Can't I come see you if I don't have a reason? I'll be sad."
Gold Legend reluctantly sat up and looked at the girl in front of her.
"So, why interrupt someone's peaceful sleep?"
"Oh, it's just sleep, it's not a big deal." The girl smiled sweetly.
"#" A vein popped on Gold Legend's forehead.
Gold Legend was not good at dealing with people like this.
She would rather deal with the goofballs of the Gold Clan; at least they were compatible.
"Alright, alright, don't get worked up." The girl's smile was still dazzling. "Honestly, girls won't like you if you act like this."
"...Why would I need girls to like me? I am a girl right now, and an Uma Musume, of the highest purity, okay?!"
"...Ha, perhaps I should have left you a little emotional intelligence when we split?" The girl sighed dramatically. "Those children will have a hard time."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Can we get to the point?"
Gold Legend was getting impatient.
"Before that, why don't you look around?" the girl said meaningfully.
"Around?" Gold Legend looked around. "This is..."
They were standing upon a sea of flowers.
Moonlight streamed obliquely through the faint pink air, which was filled with the sweet scent of flowers, casting sparse, dappled, graceful silhouettes of the flowers at their feet, like ethereal beauties untouched by the mundane world.
Looking up, the sky was full of stars, like brilliant diamonds adorning a black velvet canopy. The dazzling glare was softened by the faint pink mist in the air, leaving behind endless tenderness and lingering affection.
"...I remember you saying," Gold Legend was startled by the sight before her and squinted, "this is my mental world, right?"
"Yes, it is. The place that reflects the truest mind, our exclusive [Paradise]!"
"Then why did it change into this?" Gold Legend looked up at the enormous moon, puzzled.
"Well, I only know that the flowers at our feet are because of me," the girl said gracefully. "After all, only a sea of flowers can represent the soul of a flower-like maiden such as myself."
"...Are you saying all that stuff above is a reflection of me?"
"I'm curious too, why did it turn out like this?" The girl continued smiling.
"Could you please stop speaking in riddles?" Gold Legend looked seriously at the girl.
"Fine, all I can say is, the time is almost here." The girl's voice held a hint of indulgence.
"The time?"
"It's almost been a year since you [woke up], hasn't it?"
"...Yes."
"Your growth has also lasted a year, and the actualization is finally coming to an end." The girl's smile grew even brighter. "With the arrival of the second [Inheritance], [she] is also about to wake up, and [we] will finally be whole!"
"..." Gold Legend looked thoughtful.
A gentle breeze blew past, lifting the hair of both girls.
Gold Legend caught a feather that floated down.
"...What does [her] awakening mean?" Gold Legend asked, looking into the girl's eyes.
"I already told you," the girl's smile was unchanged.
"...Never mind. As long as it doesn't affect the race when the time comes." Gold Legend remembered the Satsuki Sho was in April.
"Oh?" The girl looked surprised instead. "You actually care about the race? You're finally starting to look like an Uma Musume. No wonder the scenery in the sky took shape."
"No wonder?"
"Oops, I accidentally said too much." The girl covered her mouth. "Some things don't need to be dwelled upon. Beautiful girls always have little secrets, don't they?"
"...I'm leaving." Gold Legend said, sporting a grumpy cat face.
"Take care, and remember to come spend time with me often. You wouldn't want a cute girl to be lonely, would you?" The girl waved with a smile.
"..."
I really can't handle this girl.
Gold Legend thought to herself.
Silence fell for a moment.
"Why aren't you leaving yet? Are you reluctant to part with me?" Seeing Legend still standing there, the girl asked curiously. "It makes sense, too. It's only human nature to be reluctant to leave a lovely, flower-like maiden like me."
"...Stop being so narcissistic. We look exactly the same."
Gold Legend sighed and decided to be straightforward.
"How do I leave?"
"..." The girl was stunned.
"I said, how do I leave?" Gold Legend was starting to give up hope.
"Pfft hahahahahaha!" The girl shook with laughter.
"..."
"Sorry, sorry." The girl struggled to suppress her laughter. "You just have to think it; after all, this is your world."
"...I understand." Gold Legend wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and bury herself right now.
"Oh, right." Legend, who was ready to flee immediately, suddenly thought of something, turned back, and asked, "Have you thought of a name for yourself?"
"A name? Aren't we both called Gold Legend?" the girl asked, confused.
"No. Isn't [she] about to wake up? That makes three people here now, right?" Gold Legend said matter-of-factly. "In that case, we can't all be called [me], so I think we should give ourselves names!"
"That's certainly a novel idea!" The girl looked amused.
"Right? Even if it was just a sudden whim."
"Well, in that case, call me [Flower]. After all, I am a maiden as beautiful as a flower!"
...Alright.
What about you?
...Can't you just call me Legend?
But we are all 'Legends'.
...In that case.
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