"So you're the Pilsudski that Air Groove-senpai mentioned."
Shirayuki looked at the brown-haired girl before her.
After realising she was not Air Groove, the other girl's excited expression cooled at a visible speed. Very quickly, it became the face of a cold, elegant beauty.
Her neat brown hair was decorated with a red clover hair ornament. A black dress lay beneath a white-gold coat, giving her an extremely refined air.
She was an uma musume, and also royalty from Ireland. Just by looking at the bodyguards around her, it was clear that her status was far from ordinary.
"That's right. I am Pilsudski," she said. "Looking closely, aren't you Second Place?"
"Second Place?"
"The one who lost to Trêve in the Arc."
If Trêve was the world's number one uma musume, then Shirayuki was the world's number two. At the academy in Ireland, they commonly called Snow Dancer "Second Place."
Of course, that was only a nickname among fans.
Shirayuki had lost that race, but her final charge through the storm had still earned her quite a few fans. There were many Shirayuki fans among Pilsudski's circle too.
But she was not one of them.
"So the current Empress is you. However, in my heart, there is only one Lady Empress, and that is Air Groove. Therefore, when I call out 'Lady Empress,' I am not referring to you. Do you understand?"
This girl is so troublesome.
No wonder Air Groove avoided her like the plague.
"And? Where is my beautiful, proud Lady Empress? I can hardly wait to see her."
"Air Groove-senpai went to Hokkaido."
"Is that so? You lot, prepare the car at once. Take me to Hokkaido!"
"Yes!"
The uma musume bodyguards behind her answered in perfect unison.
…
In the student council room, Pilsudski sat on the sofa, elegantly drinking tea.
She looked at Air Groove, who had a vein popping on her head, and showed a gentle smile.
"My beloved Lady Empress, to think you would have Snow Dancer deceive me into going to Hokkaido. This must be a test for me, yes? A test of my loyalty to you."
Shirayuki apologised to Air Groove.
The other party had even prepared the car and asked where in Hokkaido Air Groove was. Then Shirayuki casually answered with a place name from Kyoto, and Pilsudski exposed the lie immediately.
Who could have expected an Irish uma musume to know Japan this well?
Her Japanese was ridiculously good too!
After that, Pilsudski had brought Shirayuki back to Tracen and come straight here.
Air Groove pressed a hand to her forehead.
"If you have nothing else to do, leave. I still have work."
"I merely wish to quietly admire Lady Empress's heroic figure here. There is no need to mind me. Allow me to silently release the admiration in my heart."
The corner of Air Groove's eye twitched.
Shirayuki continued apologising beside her.
Pilsudski drank her black tea with a face full of smiles, her red eyes constantly sweeping over Air Groove, as if admiring the other girl's beautiful form.
"There is something I need to make clear, Pilsudski. The current Empress is not me."
Air Groove pulled Shirayuki in front of her.
"This child is the current Empress of Japan. So stop calling me 'Lady Empress.'"
"I know. That does not matter. To me, the only one worthy of being called Lady Empress is you, Air Groove."
"Oh?"
Air Groove narrowed her eyes.
"Why? Are you looking down on Shirayuki's ability? Do you think this child is inferior to me?"
"That's right."
In Pilsudski's heart, no one could compare to Air Groove.
She was willing to offer everything she had to her.
"I watched this child grow little by little. To me, the most important one is Shirayuki. Until she makes her name known, I have no energy to pay attention to anyone else."
Wait.
Why does this conversation feel like it's heading somewhere dangerous?
Shirayuki's ears stood up.
Behind her, Air Groove stroked her head and held her close.
On the sofa, the corner of Pilsudski's eye twitched several times.
"You think that highly of her?"
"That's right."
"Then I believe there is a need to prove something. Compared with the former Empress, the current Empress still has quite a gap. She may not be able to give me the same tension I felt when competing against you. Back then, the two of us clearly felt each other's hearts. Our desire for victory, and our obsession with defeating one another."
Pilsudski stood and walked in front of Shirayuki.
"I do not believe she can give me that feeling."
"Whether she can or not, you will only know after trying."
Air Groove bent down and rubbed her cheek against Shirayuki's.
"If Shirayuki defeats you, then that means she is the genuine Empress. And you should stop calling me that."
Nooooo!!
Do not use me as your shield, Air Groove!
I don't want to get dragged into your romantic mess!
Shirayuki looked to Rudolf beside her as if asking for help. However, both Rudolf and Narita Brian looked as though they were simply enjoying the show.
They were completely unreliable!
In the end, she had to rely on herself.
After hesitating for a moment, Shirayuki reached out and shielded Air Groove behind her.
"That's right. Let's race, Pilsudski. I'll show you who the real Empress is. Until then, don't even think about getting close to Air Groove-senpai!"
Crack!
The teacup made a cracking sound.
The smile on Pilsudski's face almost failed to hold.
A vein throbbed on her forehead.
Good, good, good.
She had thought calling so often had made things quite stable.
She had not expected someone closer to home to steal the advantage!
In that case, she needed to educate this little one properly in the race.
You are only Second Place from the Arc. Do not think that makes you invincible under heaven!
Holding back her impulse, Pilsudski said, "I very much look forward to racing you. Let us see whether your ability is as strong as your mouth. I will not disturb you all any further today. Where is my younger sister? I need to go see her."
"She might be outside eating ramen. You can look around first."
"An academy without Lady Empress holds no lingering attachment for me. I shall return to my room."
With that, Pilsudski left the student council room.
Shirayuki breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sorry, Shirayuki. I caused you trouble."
"No… I was the one who accidentally let it slip. Originally, I could have sent her to Hokkaido to catch crabs."
You really did want to send her to Hokkaido…
Air Groove stroked Shirayuki's head.
How should she put it?
When Shirayuki had protected her behind her just now, Air Groove had suddenly felt something strange.
As the Empress, she had always been the one charging at the very front. But now, Shirayuki had taken over that role, and Air Groove had instead become the one being protected.
From Shirayuki, Air Groove felt a certain…
Masculine charm?
That should be how to describe it.
She thought the way Shirayuki looked in that moment was very captivating.
"Air Groove-senpai, leave Pilsudski to me. I'll protect you."
Hearing those words, Air Groove's heart gave a sudden thump.
She coughed a few times, her cheeks inexplicably feeling a little warm.
"Mm. I believe you will not disappoint me."
Shirayuki showed a bright smile, then said goodbye to her.
Air Groove stared blankly in the direction Shirayuki had left.
A moment later, she turned her head and found Rudolf looking at her with a smiling expression.
"It seems I let you see an embarrassing side of me, President Rudolf."
"No. You let me see a very interesting side of you, Air Groove."