As the Japan Cup drew closer, the European uma musume arrived in Japan one after another.
Shirayuki kept rushing back and forth between the airport and Tracen. Before she could finish one thing, Rudolf would call her over for another. She had to serve as interpreter for the foreign uma musume, since among the students, her English was the best.
During her rare moments of free time, Shirayuki thought about going to Chiya's side to relax a little, only for Grass Wonder, Seiun Sky, and the others to come running over again. In the end, Shirayuki had no choice but to stay with them.
"Thank you for your hard work, Shirayuki. Go and rest."
After Shirayuki handed the documents to Rudolf, Rudolf said this to her.
"Rest?"
Shirayuki had almost forgotten that something called rest time still existed in this world.
"Sorry. The student council temporarily couldn't find anyone suitable, so many things could only be left to you. Now that the participating runners' information has been arranged, leave the rest to me and Air Groove."
"Will that be all right?"
"Of course. There are only some scattered tasks left, so I won't take up more of your time."
"Yes. Then I'll be going, President Rudolf."
"Mm. Oh, right."
Rudolf handed Shirayuki an amusement park ticket. It had originally been a prize for a summer event, though Rudolf had no idea who had left it here. Seeing that it had not expired yet, she gave it to Shirayuki.
"Have fun this weekend. Relax a little."
"Thank you, President Rudolf."
Rudolf waved her hand, her expression indulgent.
Right now, Tracen had two main pillars. One side was being held up by Rudolf, and the other by Shirayuki. The Emperor and the Empress were already almost equal in name.
Rudolf admired Shirayuki very much. To be honest, with Shirayuki's current ability, she would have no problem serving as student council president. But she was Air Groove's successor, so naturally, she would take over Air Groove's position.
As for the child Rudolf had her eye on…
"President, I came to find you!"
Tokai Teio wagged her tail and came running over mischievously.
"I found a rhinoceros beetle in the vegetable garden out back! Look!"
Rudolf pinched the bridge of her nose.
If Shirayuki was the reliable junior who noticed when Rudolf was tired, brought her tea, and helped ease the tension in her shoulders, then Tokai Teio was the troublesome child who only made people worry. She could not help with the work, and worse, she often created more problems for Shirayuki.
That was why Air Groove had been finding Teio more and more unpleasant lately. Compared with Shirayuki, the gap between them was simply too large.
Even though Rudolf intended to bring Shirayuki and Teio together, the two of them were not compatible at all. Beside Teio, Shirayuki looked more like a parent.
On the other hand, Rudolf noticed that Air Groove seemed to have somewhat special feelings toward Shirayuki.
Once Air Groove awakened to those feelings and ignored her senior status to get together with Shirayuki, Teio would not even have a place to cry.
Looking at Teio, who was lying on the table playing with the rhinoceros beetle, Rudolf sighed.
"Teio, why don't you go find Shirayuki?"
"Mm? I'm waiting for Shirayuki to come find me."
"Shirayuki will come find you?"
"That's right. Seeing how free I am, Shirayuki will definitely come keep me company! She's my right-hand helper, after all, so I just need to wait here obediently for Shirayuki to come."
"Teio…"
Father truly cannot save you.
…
"Tokyo Amusement Park, July First to November First. There's one week left. The summer event has already passed, but the autumn event can still be joined… This ticket may be used by the purchaser and one relative… Oh?"
Shirayuki looked at the small print on the ticket.
Purchaser and relative.
There would also be prizes on the day, seasonal desserts, a special autumn dinner, and limited-edition uma musume pillows and signed posters!
Now she had no choice but to go.
What Shirayuki had lost in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was not only victory, but also Trêve's shoes. As an uma musume enthusiast, her feelings were like someone who had worked hard to save up for a figure, only for her mother to treat it like a toy and give it to the brat next door.
Utter despair.
To ease her sadness, Shirayuki had bought a whole pile of uma musume merchandise when she returned to Japan.
Now, she was addicted to buying it.
Who should I go with?
Shirayuki thought happily.
Teio, Spe-chan, Dober, or maybe…
No, wait.
This was a rare chance. Why should she bring one of her friends?
The ticket said relative.
In that case, there was only one person.
Shirayuki's heart gave a thump, and she slowly clenched her fist.
She would go with Chiya.
She could not tell anyone about this.
Once anyone found out, her plan to go out and have fun with Chiya would fall apart again.
For some reason, whenever she was together with Chiya, Seiun Sky, Mejiro Dober, Rice Shower, Hayakawa Tazuna, and the others seemed to form a united front, appearing one after another.
So this time, Shirayuki would move in secret and pretend she knew nothing.
"Yuki-chan, what are you…"
"Yi!"
In a flash, Shirayuki disappeared.
El Condor Pasa blinked.
What was that about?
Back in her dorm room, Shirayuki put the ticket into her pocket.
"Shirayuki, are you going to take a bath?"
"I'm not!"
Mejiro Dober was startled. Looking at Shirayuki's stubborn expression, she nodded with a head full of question marks.
"Then I'll go wash first."
Shirayuki pressed down on her skirt.
This was her war.
She would do everything possible to stop herself from being discovered.
Once Mejiro Dober went to bathe, Shirayuki took out a book, tucked the ticket inside, closed it, and hugged the book to her chest. Her heart pounded nonstop, as if she were sneaking around after doing something wrong.
Now, surely no one would get in the way of her and Chiya.
"Oh, right, Shirayuki. The Mejiro family is having a gathering this weekend. Do you want to come with me?"
"I'm not going."
"…What about Trainer?"
"He has something to do."
No matter who came now, Shirayuki would refuse them all.
This weekend, she absolutely had to go out with Chiya. Shirayuki refused to believe that she was not even allowed to have time alone with herself.
Yuki-chan, want to go out together this weekend?
Grass Wonder sent her a message.
Shirayuki refused.
"Shirayuki, Trainer invited us to go eat at a buffet this weekend. You should come too, right?"
Special Week called her.
"No."
As if everyone had collectively launched an attack, Seiun Sky asked if she wanted to go fishing that weekend, Rice Shower wanted to go out with Fujiwara Chiya, and Hayakawa Tazuna wanted to go on a date with the two of them.
But no matter who it was, Shirayuki's answer was only two words.
Not going.
"Chiya, are you sure you're not coming to the signing event this weekend? It's Shinzan, you know! The second Triple Crown winner!"
Listening to Katsumura Youta's excited invitation, Fujiwara Chiya trembled all over.
He opened his mouth and was just about to agree, but then gritted his teeth and swallowed the words back down.
"I… have something that day."
"You're not even going to a signing event? Fine, then."
After Katsumura Youta left, Fujiwara Chiya collapsed into his chair.
In order to go out with Shirayuki, he had missed Shinzan's final signing event.
Why did it have to be at this exact time?
It was as if heaven itself was deliberately making things difficult for him, forcing him to choose.
Was Shirayuki more important, or were these things more important?
Faced with all kinds of temptations, Fujiwara Chiya ultimately chose Shirayuki.
In the seat beside him, Darley stood up.
"I'll head back first, Trainer."
"Mm."
Before leaving, Darley turned her head.
The corner of her mouth curved into a playful smile.
"I hope you have a pleasant weekend."