In the training hall, Shirayuki carefully curled her tail around a dumbbell.
After lifting it to a certain point, her body trembled, and she put it down again.
It was much better than the first time. At least she had not gone weak at the knees and collapsed directly. At this rate, she would probably get used to it in another half month or so.
All of this was thanks to Seiun Sky.
Ever since Seiun Sky decided to help Shirayuki desensitise her tail, she had even started cutting back on sleep. Whenever she had free time, she would come over and rub Shirayuki's tail, clearly enjoying herself.
And while rubbing it, Seiun Sky would smile and say, "How is it, Shirayuki? My technique isn't worse than Trainer's, right?"
"Mm… yeah."
That was what Shirayuki answered.
But in reality, the feeling was completely different.
When Chiya rubbed her tail, there was both the feeling of touching and being touched at the same time. Leaning against Chiya, Shirayuki could smell his pleasant scent, and Chiya could smell her fragrance. Their skin contact would overlap as well, creating an effect where one plus one became greater than two.
With Seiun Sky, there was only the feeling of being touched.
Compared with Chiya, it was clearly several levels lower. Not to mention, Chiya could precisely stimulate her sensitive points.
When it came to understanding her own body, no one could compare to Chiya. Even if Seiun Sky's technique was good, it was still far from enough.
Still, seeing how much Seiun Sky wanted to help, Shirayuki did not say anything more. It was rare for Seiun Sky's first response to trouble not to be sleeping.
Speaking of which, as expected, once I returned to Tracen, I can't properly spend time with Chiya.
There are people over there, and people over here too.
It feels like whenever anyone sees me together with Chiya, they come over and separate us.
Are they doing it on purpose?
I just want some time alone.
Why can all of you be alone with him, but I can't?
I want to relax without worrying about anything too.
Shirayuki put down the dumbbell and looked for a towel.
"Your Majesty!"
Seeing this, the little foals nearby immediately gathered around and took out towels.
"Thank you."
Shirayuki smiled and wiped off her sweat.
"I'll wash it and return it to you."
"No need!"
The pink-haired little foal said, "I want something used by Her Majesty!"
"I see…"
After Shirayuki handed the towel back to her, the little foals around them all showed envious expressions.
Becoming an idol really was getting more and more tiring.
She often fantasised about lying on Chiya's lap and freely having him stroke her ears…
And her tail too.
After experiencing it once, Shirayuki had started to like that feeling.
She would find another chance to try it again.
This time, Shirayuki planned to do it quietly, without letting anyone discover them.
"Yo, Shirayuki."
Narita Brian waved her hand.
"Training?"
"Mm."
"When I saw you eating at lunch, it looked like you weren't sitting on the chair."
"I was practising a half-squat. Ane-deshi said this kind of training lets me feel the movement of my thigh muscles more clearly."
"Bringing training into daily life? Impressive. You're becoming more and more wild."
Narita Brian praised her.
"What are you training now?"
"My tail."
"Your tail?"
"To maintain body balance. Has Brian-senpai trained hers before?"
"No… I haven't."
Forget training it. Narita Brian had never even thought about it.
Where did running require using the tail?
She only needed to swing her arms hard and drive her legs forward. Wasn't racing simply a matter of breaking through everything with raw strength? The only difficult part was grasping the timing.
"Would you like to try?"
Hearing Shirayuki's words, Narita Brian extended her tail and curled it around the dumbbell on the ground.
Just as she tightened her tail and lifted it upward—
"!!"
Narita Brian suddenly clamped her thighs together.
Her body swayed, and a flush appeared on her face.
She folded her arms and coughed a few times.
"Can't lift it?"
"Maa… it's fine. This training method doesn't suit me."
Shirayuki looked at her strangely trembling body.
It seems Brian isn't as sensitive as me. As expected, there are individual differences.
"I'm going to train now, Shirayuki. Oh, right. Before the Japan Cup, can you race me once? I've wanted to race you for a long time, but I never found the chance."
"Of course. When?"
"Tomorrow. I'll look forward to seeing what kind of surprise the White Wolf can bring me."
After saying that, Narita Brian turned around.
Her hand quietly touched the base of her tail.
Stroking Narita Brian's tail would probably get me killed, wouldn't it?
After training for a while longer, Shirayuki checked the time and put on her clothes.
There was still one important matter today.
The uma musume from Europe were arriving one after another.
…
At Tokyo Airport, dozens of reporters surrounded the arrival exit.
An important guest was arriving today, and they wanted to seize the chance to ask questions.
A few minutes later, a luxurious passenger plane stopped on the tarmac. Several uma musume bodyguards in black uniforms opened the door. They laid a carpet down the stairs and straightened their backs.
The entire plane was there to escort one person.
A member of the Irish royal family, and the previous year's Japan Cup champion.
Pilsudski.
A girl wearing a white-gold coat over a black dress stepped off the plane. Her neatly trimmed brown hair fell behind her with a gallant air, and her rose-red eyes shone brightly.
Adjusting her white gloves, the girl swept her gaze over the people at the arrival exit.
Not here…
She showed a bored expression.
"Let us go. To Tracen Academy."
"Please wait, Miss Pilsudski!"
The reporters crowded around her.
"Forgive me. The first thing I must do upon coming to Japan is meet my Lady Empress. She must be tired of waiting."
Pilsudski placed a hand over her chest.
"Ever since the day I parted from my Lady Empress, my thoughts have never left her. Today, my longing shall finally become reality. No one can stop me from taking hold of her now."
With that, Pilsudski was about to leave.
"Lady Empress?"
"If you mean the Empress, she's over there."
The reporters pointed toward another crowd not far away.
Pilsudski's ears stood up.
Following the direction of the reporters' fingers, she strode over.
"Excuse me, please let me through."
Pilsudski pushed through the crowd and saw a petite figure. Hearing the people nearby say "Empress," she did not even confirm the person's identity before directly hugging her.
"My beloved Lady Empress, I have finally found you."
She held the other girl in her arms.
"Have you taken good care of those flower seeds? They were the most beautiful roses I found in Ireland, filled with all of my affection. Uwaa… Lady Empress, after not seeing you for a year, it seems you've become shorter. Your waist also seems softer? Strange, did you dye your hair? I remember your beautiful hair used to be a dazzling black diamond."
Slowly, Pilsudski realised something was wrong.
She released her arms.
"No… you are not my Lady Empress at all. Who exactly are you?"
"I'm the one who wants to ask that. Who are you?"
After being suddenly hugged by someone for no reason, and even having her waist touched, Shirayuki replied with a displeased expression.