After a bit of playful banter with Narita Top Road, Celestial Weave returned to the locker room with her.
They had only just met, but they had already grown much closer. It made sense, though. Influenced by Nice Nature, Celestial Weave had always had a soft spot for kind, hardworking people. And the gentle Narita Top Road could make friends with anyone; otherwise, she wouldn't have become the class president.
"Expected by others, hardworking, and a good personality—"
In the locker room, Celestial Weave counted Narita Top Road's virtues on her fingers, then clapped her hands as if in realization. "Aren't you just a protagonist! The most orthodox Shonen JUMP type!"
Narita Top Road, who had been a little shy from the praise, heard the last part and went straight over to pinch Celestial Weave's cheeks, saying fiercely, "What are you, the first-place winner, talking about!"
"You got in the top twee too."
Celestial Weave rubbed her cheeks and continued, "The ranking in the debut race isn't that important. As long as you're in the top three and successfully debut, it's fine."
"Besides, don't protagonists always have to lose once at the beginning? It's called building up for a bigger comeback."
Narita Top Road knew she was trying to comfort her, but she couldn't help but feel a little deflated, feeling that she had let down her trainer and friends. But she wouldn't dump these negative emotions on her new friend. She changed the subject. "So, have you chosen the song for the Winner's Live later?"
Celestial Weave tilted her head in confusion. "What song selection?"
"The first-place winner gets to choose the song for the Winner's Live performance. Don't tell me you forgot?!"
Narita Top Road looked at her in shock. For a once-in-a-lifetime debut race, the song for the first Winner's Live was something most horse girls thought about almost as much as training. Celestial Weave had such skill, but she hadn't chosen a song?
Seeing her expression, Celestial Weave suddenly had a bad feeling. She chose her words carefully. "First, let's confirm what exactly the Winner's Live is."
Hearing this, Narita Top Road was even more shocked. Who would have thought that the horse girl who had won the debut race with an absolute advantage didn't even know what the Winner's Live was. She was a Tracen student, not some country horse girl. Did she not have any classmates who had participated in a debut race?!
"Yume... could it be that you..." Narita Top Road frowned, coming up with a bunch of excuses for her in her mind.
"You're actually the illegitimate child of a famous family! You were raised in the countryside and only recently moved back to Tokyo! I know! This time, you're going to show all those who looked down on you, right!"
Quickly, combining Celestial Weave's background as a descendant of a famous family with the topics her classmates had been talking about recently, Narita Top Road came up with a flawless explanation.
Faced with this explanation, Celestial Weave could only sigh. "If I had that kind of backstory, maybe my sister wouldn't have cheered for me like that in public."
Hearing this, Narita Top Road also fell silent. She had forgotten about Saint-King Halo's personality. The "Saint-King Halo Combo" from the "Tracen Must-Watch List"—she really couldn't imagine a protagonist like Saint-King Halo being involved in that kind of backstory.
Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, Narita Top Road's gaze became pitiful. She held Celestial Weave's shoulders and said, "You've had it tough."
To have such a silly sister, it must be hard for Celestial Weave.
Celestial Weave didn't understand why Narita Top Road had suddenly said that. She also held her shoulders and said earnestly, "Before that, can you first explain what the Winner's Stage is?"
Looking at Celestial Weave's intelligent gaze, Narita Top Road suddenly felt relieved. Maybe... maybe both sisters were actually idiots.
A minute later, Narita Top Road had concisely explained what the Winner's Stage was.
And after hearing it, Celestial Weave was already sweating profusely.
I'm screwed. I completely forgot about this.
Thinking back, she seemed to have skipped the Winner's Stage in her real debut race. After training for a few years in the scenario mission, she had completely forgotten about its existence.
She had to perform on stage when she didn't even know how to dance?
She had already been embarrassed enough by Saint-King Halo's cheering. If she had to be in front of all the audience—
Celestial Weave shivered at the thought. She picked up her backpack and extended her hand to Narita Top Road. "Top Road, let's run away!"
"Don't say it like we're eloping!" Narita Top Road slapped her hand away and continued, "I remember the school has classes for this. You don't have to be so nervous, right?"
Hearing this, Celestial Weave smiled. "I skipped all of them!"
"Why?!" Narita Top Road was shocked again. Celestial Weave didn't look like a bad kid who would skip classes.
"To train!" Celestial Weave said, puffing out her chest without a shred of guilt. That's right. The mission had always been to win the race; it never had any requirements for dancing.
Looking at her, Narita Top Road opened her mouth to retort, but a question in her heart was suddenly answered. I see. So that's why she's so strong, she thought, looking at Celestial Weave with a complicated expression.
After a moment of silence, Narita Top Road chose her words carefully. "Yume, when did you start training?"
"When I was six. Why?"
"From six... until now?"
"Is there a problem? It's fine, I've managed the training intensity well. I won't have too many injuries." Celestial Weave thought she was worried about her and smiled, flexing her arm to show she was strong.
Looking at her, Narita Top Road felt a mix of emotions.
According to Celestial Weave, she had even planned her own training. Looking at her, she had probably skipped more than just dance class.
Narita Top Road suddenly pressed her lips together. She had also started training from a young age, but not as early as six. Moreover, she had a trainer to guide her. Even if she had thoughts of giving up, her coach would help her through it.
But Celestial Weave was different. A six-year-old child enduring the hardship of training, not only had to overcome the dual challenges of body and mind, but even had to plan her own training.
Looking at her current strength, she must have perfectly executed her plan.
Celestial Weave had persevered like this for ten years.
An image suddenly appeared in Narita Top Road's mind: while other children were gathering their friends to play freely, a young Celestial Weave was running alone on the playground.
Didn't she get tired? Didn't she want to slack off? Didn't she... feel lonely?
-------
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