Running into a cute girl clutching bread in her mouth at a street corner on the way to school—now that's a classic anime scene.
Too bad real life isn't an anime, and Dream Weaver didn't have any bread to eat.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened on the way from the train station to Tracen Academy. Dream Weaver made it smoothly to the school gates, nodded at the green-hat-wearing big sister stationed there, and entered the campus.
Without hesitation, she dashed straight toward the cafeteria. With her speed, she reached her destination in no time.
Standing at the entrance, Dream Weaver glanced at the time on her phone. Plenty of time to spare. A smile spread across her face—she'd made it on an empty stomach, and now it was finally time to eat.
"Sorry, dear. Breakfast is all out today."
The cafeteria lady offered an apologetic smile.
She didn't notice the expression on Dream Weaver's frozen, stunned face, instead murmuring to herself with a hint of admiration.
"That gray-maned Uma Musume was something else. She nearly polished off all the breakfast by herself."
"What was her name…?"
Dream Weaver asked, her voice dripping with resentment.
"Let me see… I think she said her name was Tamamo Cross."
Tamamo Cross—Dream Weaver had heard that name before. Rumor had it she was an incredibly strong gray-maned Uma Musume.
That matched what the cafeteria lady had just said.
"I won't forgive you, Tamamo Cross!"
Ignoring the startled look from the cafeteria lady, Dream Weaver clenched her fists, growled under her breath, and stormed out of the cafeteria.
After only managing half a bowl of rice and some miso soup last night, she was already starving. If she hadn't distracted herself by thinking during the train ride, she wasn't sure she would've made it to the cafeteria at all.
But just as she pushed open the cafeteria doors full of hope, she was met with a hellish reply.
Even her angry grumbling couldn't drown out the gnawing hunger. After leaving the cafeteria, Dream Weaver felt drained and listless. She leaned against a random wall, trying to ease the discomfort.
In her dazed state, she even started thinking about her white skill, Endurance. Why did it only work for enduring pain? Wasn't hunger just as unbearable? Maybe if she upgraded it to a blue skill, it would help her endure hunger, too.
Just as she was losing her grip and considering using an item, a bright, cheerful voice called out from behind her.
"Huh? Dream Weaver?"
She turned around and saw a somewhat familiar Uma Musume holding two cups of drink with honeybee designs printed on them.
"Thank you, Tokai… Something."
In thirty seconds—just thirty seconds—Dream Weaver downed the super-sweet honey drink, wiped her mouth, and thanked the girl who'd shared it with her.
"It's Tokai Teio! We just met yesterday, you know!"
Tokai Teio replied, a little annoyed, though her playful tone made it sound more like she was pouting.
"Sorry for getting your name wrong. Please forgive me, Daichi… Deio."
Dream Weaver apologized sincerely.
"Why does it feel like you're using less and less of my actual name?!"
Teio, frustrated at having her name misremembered twice in a row, gave Dream Weaver a light whack—though her weak swing only came off as endearing.
"I'm really sorry. Maybe it's because I haven't had breakfast. Let me apologize again, um… Ocean Tiger Divine Warrior."
"Who even is that?! That's not me at all!"
For Tokai Teio, meeting Dream Weaver had only happened yesterday. But for Dream Weaver, it felt like a distant memory. Purposely joking around helped her recall details about Teio.
It definitely wasn't just to tease her.
"You are totally teasing me on purpose, aren't you?"
Teio eyed Dream Weaver suspiciously, but Dream Weaver kept a straight face, as if she really was just lightheaded from lack of food.
In the end, the kind-hearted Teio let out an exaggerated sigh and handed Dream Weaver her other cup of honey drink.
"Here, get some energy back with sugar."
"Thank you… Honey drink…"
"I'm Tokai Teio! How did I turn into a beverage?!"
In the end, Dream Weaver chugged down the honey drink Teio had been planning to enjoy during class.
Watching Dream Weaver's pale complexion gradually return to a healthy glow, Teio crouched beside her, resting her chin in her hands, and asked doubtfully:
"Weren't you super serious during your debut race?"
"How'd you learn to be such a jokester after just one day?"
"I guess good news puts people in a good mood."
Having just realized she was almost one-fifth of the way toward her goal, Dream Weaver felt much more relaxed now that her hunger was satisfied.
But Tokai Teio took her words another way.
"You're only now feeling happy about your debut race?"
"But—" Teio stood up as she spoke. With the sun behind her, its warm glow encircled her, making her seem like she was shining.
Pointing at Dream Weaver, she declared in her characteristically bright voice:
"I won't lose to you in the next race!"
"I, Tokai Teio, will become an Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume!"
The term "Triple Crown" struck a chord in Dream Weaver. Though she didn't yet know the exact conditions for the Triple Crown proof, it meant she wouldn't pass up any chance to claim it.
The classic Triple Crown races of the real world were naturally included.
Which meant—Tokai Teio would become her rival.
Even if Teio had kindly given her two cups of honey drink, Dream Weaver couldn't just hand over the Triple Crown. Her gaze sharpened instinctively, much like when she'd faced T.M. Opera O.
But before she could stand up, a familiar chime echoed over Tracen Academy.
Class was about to start.
No time to chat. After exchanging a glance, Dream Weaver and Tokai Teio immediately sprinted toward the school building.
As Uma Musume, they could, of course, make it to their classrooms before the bell. Before parting ways, Teio looked at Dream Weaver with a curious expression.
"Somehow, it feels like your agility has improved a lot, and it's only been a day."
"Don't tell me you weren't even going all out during your debut race?"
Without waiting for a reply, Teio continued on her own:
"But it's fine. Even if you were holding back, I, Tokai Teio, will definitely beat you and become the Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume."
"Just you wait—at the Satsuki Sho, I'll defeat you!"
With that, she clip-clopped away toward her classroom.
The familiar phrasing made Dream Weaver pause for a moment, but she shook her head and headed to her own classroom.
She hadn't forgotten her most important goal for the day: she still needed to ask her teacher about the details of the G3 races.
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T/N: I thought it was oguri cap so i checked the chinese variant and it is actually tamamo cross, incase yall were going to ask.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.