Ever since Shirayuki announced that she would be entering the Triple Tiara, the attitude of the people around her had clearly changed. Grass Wonder, who usually kept a slight sense of distance, began approaching her more frequently, while Special Week came over whenever she had free time.
Today was the same. At Shirayuki's seat, Special Week stood behind her, helping braid her hair.
"How is it, Shirayuki? Isn't it super cute?" Special Week held up a mirror. Shirayuki's face was reflected inside, and behind her hair was now a princess braid.
It was impressive that Spe-chan got up every day to braid her hair like this. Just looking at it made Shirayuki feel that it must be troublesome.
"With this, we look like a pair, hehe~" Special Week patted her own hair and let out a simple, happy laugh.
Recently, they had always been trying to push Shirayuki in a "pretty" and "cute" direction, making her appear even more charming. Shirayuki roughly understood the reason. The Triple Tiara was also known as the filly crown, and it had a very beautiful title, the "Princess Crown." It was a race path chosen by Uma Musume pursuing the image of a princess or queen.
At Tracen, the Uma Musume connected to the Triple Tiara included the Triple Tiara winner Mejiro Ramonu, the "Empress" Air Groove, and the "Heroine" Hishi Amazon, who, because of her status, wanted to enter the Triple Tiara but had no right to apply.
Although the Triple Tiara and the Classic Triple Crown were both races an Uma Musume could only challenge once in her lifetime, the goals behind them were different.
Looking at Special Week, who was standing behind her with both hands on her shoulders and happily asking what she thought, Fujiwara Shirayuki thanked her and said, "It's very pretty."
It was true that Shirayuki would be entering the filly crown races, but her goal was not to become a princess among Uma Musume. She had simply been forced to choose the shorter-distance race route because of her distance limitation.
While Special Week played with her hair, Fujiwara Shirayuki could not help thinking this.
"Shirayuki, someone from the student council is looking for you. They said there's work."
Mejiro McQueen walked in from the doorway and spoke to Shirayuki at her seat.
After seeing Special Week helping Shirayuki tie her hair, Mejiro McQueen frowned slightly.
"Spe-chan, if you do it like that, you'll cover Shirayuki's beautiful brow line. It should be done like this." Mejiro McQueen picked up a comb and helped Shirayuki tidy her bangs.
"It's a pity we don't have lip balm. Otherwise, it would be even better."
"McQueen... didn't you say someone from the student council was looking for me?"
Why had she suddenly started dressing Shirayuki up too? Sitting here, Shirayuki felt like a dress-up doll. And this was while Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa were not even present. If they were here, things would probably become much more troublesome.
"That's right. Hurry along, Shirayuki."
Mejiro McQueen, who had gotten a little absorbed, finally came back to herself. Only after Shirayuki left the room did she withdraw her gaze.
She let out a soft breath.
She had not expected Shirayuki to be a filly. That meant the two of them would not be able to meet in the Triple Crown races in the future. It was a little regrettable. After all, Shirayuki was the Uma Musume who had defeated her, and Mejiro McQueen wanted to take back victory in a race.
However, she was also somewhat happy, because Shirayuki was about to stand in a position equal to theirs, yet complementary.
The Classic Triple Crown meant an Uma Musume aimed to become an emperor, while the filly crown meant an Uma Musume aimed to become a princess. Both stood at the peak of Uma Musume, but each pursued a different ideal.
Just how well-matched would those two kinds of Uma Musume be when placed together?
Recently, Mejiro Dober had said that her relationship with Shirayuki had made further progress. As for what kind of progress, there was no need to explain. The two of them had probably become close in that sense. Originally, Mejiro McQueen supported their relationship, but after hearing that Shirayuki was a filly, her thoughts changed a little.
She did not oppose an Uma Musume being together with another Uma Musume. However, if that were the case, then surely it should be a colt-type and a filly-type pairing. One pursued the dignity of an emperor, and the other pursued the beauty of a princess. Those two together should be the most suitable.
But right now, Mejiro Dober was a filly, and Shirayuki was also a filly.
How should she put it? It gave the feeling of a princess running away with another princess.
Meanwhile, around Shirayuki,Special Week, Grass, El, Opera O, and many others were mostly colt-type Uma Musume. More than ninety percent of them felt a different kind of attraction from Shirayuki.
Even Mejiro McQueen felt the same. She was also a colt-type.
So now, Mejiro McQueen could no longer support Dober and Shirayuki's relationship as wholeheartedly as before.
After leaving the classroom, Fujiwara Shirayuki went straight to the student council room. When she entered, she saw Rudolf and Air Groove talking.
"President, did you call for me?"
"Mm." Rudolf called Shirayuki over and explained the student council's recent activity.
Summer had ended, and autumn was gradually approaching. Tracen wanted to hold an autumn-themed event. The name had already been decided: Tracen Harvest Season. To gather the opinions of student council members, Rudolf had called Shirayuki over.
"I see. When will the event begin?"
"Half a month from now. In other words, after the L'Arc selection race ends."
Because Shirayuki needed to take part in the race, Rudolf would not ask her to help prepare the event. She could focus on training with peace of mind.
Speaking of training, Air Groove looked toward Shirayuki.
"I heard you're planning to enter the filly crown races. Is that true?"
"Mm."
"Unexpected, isn't it, Air Groove? Shirayuki is also a filly."
"Indeed. It is beyond what I expected. I did not expect Shirayuki to also pursue feminine beauty and grace."
That sounded really strange.
She had been an Uma Musume for some time now, but recently, Shirayuki had become more strongly aware of the fact that she was female than before. That awareness mainly came from the way other people treated her.
If things continued like this, Shirayuki felt she really might be feminized completely.
"Vice President, I only think the filly crown races suit me best. My real goal is to pursue strength and speed!" Fujiwara Shirayuki tried to say it as boldly as possible.
"Strength... Do you also want to become an 'Empress'?"
"That's your title, Vice President."
"Not only mine. Any Uma Musume who pursues both beauty and strength can obtain that title. Shirayuki, I see that potential in you." Air Groove looked at her seriously, the red eye shadow at the corners of her eyes fully displaying her mature charm.
"Shirayuki, Air Groove is an Oaks winner. If there is anything you do not understand, you can ask her for guidance. Air Groove, Shirayuki is a junior walking the same path as you, so please look after her as well."
"Of course. However, my care will not mean indulging her. Rather, I will be stricter with her than with others."
"That's fine, Vice President Air Groove." Fujiwara Shirayuki raised her head. "If I do something poorly, please scold me properly."
Looking at the white-haired girl expressing her determination, Air Groove reached out and touched her head. Shirayuki's soft ears changed shape beneath her palm.
Air Groove's mother had guided many juniors, and Air Groove also wanted to inherit her mother's great work by educating Uma Musume with ability and ambition.
Shirayuki was one of them.
This child might become the next "Empress."