"Is... is that right?"
Narita Top Road looked somewhat bewilderedly at Admire Vega.
"That's right."
As expected of Admire Vega—even in a situation like this, she could respond with an utterly straight face and unwavering tone.
"Oh, right, right! Didn't expect you to see through us, ahahahaha—"
With her companion's confirmation, Narita Top Road laughed loudly while scratching her head, putting on an act like she was troubled.
"Hmph."
People tend to believe what they want to believe. Faced with such an unusual pair, Dream Weaver didn't feel the slightest bit suspicious. Instead, she prided herself on her sharp eye, thinking she'd spotted their peculiarity at a glance.
This reaction must be their panic after being exposed by her!
After winning a G3 race, Dream Weaver was now worthy of being personally scouted by a trainer, not like those Uma Musume who hadn't yet debuted, waiting to be chosen in school training matches.
Having long prepared for this, Dream Weaver took one look at Narita Top Road and Admire Vega's awkward behavior and pegged them as part of the group coming to recruit her.
But after responding, it occurred to both Narita Top Road and Admire Vega: if they could get Dream Weaver to join their training team, wouldn't that give them a reason to be together every day?!
The two, who had only admitted it under pressure, suddenly had a gleam in their eyes.
"My trainer is amazing! Without his help, I never could have won the Kikuka Shō!"
Narita Top Road eagerly started promoting first.
"Same here."
Admire Vega followed up immediately.
"And if you join my team now, there's a limited-time reward! Like... like a 'One-Day Narita Top Road Pass' or something!"
In her eagerness to get Dream Weaver to join, Narita Top Road even made up a nonexistent reward on the spot.
"Same here."
Admire Vega seemed to quite approve of her quick thinking and chimed in again.
"How is that the same?! How could you have that kind of pass?!"
"I can have an 'Admire Vega Pass.'"
"At least add an expiration date!"
Watching the two chirp away in front of her, Dream Weaver suddenly laughed. Although she had cherished memories in the scripted world and very much wanted to be friends with these two again...
When it came to trainers, Dream Weaver had already made up her mind long ago.
"So, sorry about that."
In front of Narita Top Road and Admire Vega, Dream Weaver apologetically waved her hand.
Her action made Narita Top Road and Admire Vega exchange a glance, as if communicating through their eyes.
"You've already chosen someone?!"
"Who beat us to it?"
Simultaneously, the image of a certain person surfaced in both their minds.
Was it King Halo? To think we were too late!
Just as the two were secretly lamenting their lack of initiative, the sound of footsteps suddenly came from around the corner behind them.
Now experienced, all three turned to look at the same time.
The newcomer was actually King Halo, clutching a piece of bread in her mouth. Seeing three people staring at her from such a small corner, a sweatdrop appeared on King Halo's forehead.
"Huh?"
"Am I... late?"
"You guys... don't tell me you all read the same manga?"
Dream Weaver knew her performance might make some trainers eager to recruit her.
But she never expected that three Uma Musume would try to use the same method to approach her in a single day.
Looking at the three now avoiding eye contact, Dream Weaver sighed helplessly.
She had prepared herself for a lifetime without crossing paths, yet here they were, all showing up at once. Is this what they call fate?
"First, don't use such a risky way to try and pick people up in the future."
In front of the three, who were now trembling like quails, Dream Weaver held up a finger.
"And—"
"Next time, don't hug people so tightly. It makes it hard to breathe."
She walked up to Narita Top Road and poked her soft cheek.
"Don't step on people's breakfast. Every grain of rice and every piece of bread is precious. No wasting."
She gently tapped Admire Vega on the head.
"Eating bread while running is a manga trope. The person you bump into might not be the story's protagonist. What if you ran into the chairman?"
Finally, stopping in front of King Halo, Dream Weaver smiled wryly. Facing this girl who'd made the most classic entrance—bread in mouth, yet still late—she simply booped King Halo on the nose.
Seeing all three bow their heads obediently, a faint smile touched Dream Weaver's lips.
"Lastly, my name is Dream Weaver. Class 1-1, Tracen Academy. If you've got nothing else to do—"
"Feel free to come find me to hang out anytime."
Hearing this, all three looked up simultaneously, their eyes shining with hope.
But Dream Weaver had already turned her back to them and was walking toward Tracen, leaving behind only a cool silhouette and a casual wave.
"Hmph."
Since they'd come to her, Dream Weaver saw no reason to hold back. She knew these three were good kids, and being able to reconnect with them was something she truly wanted.
Feeling rather proud of herself for using what she thought was a smooth, adult way of handling things, Dream Weaver gave a self-satisfied inner chuckle and left the scene of her heart-stirring 'crime.'
But her composure lasted less than ten minutes. As she stepped onto the Tracen campus, she caught sight of a rather troublesome figure out of the corner of her eye.
Leaning against a tree, T.M. Opera O stood with her arms crossed in a cool pose. Noticing Dream Weaver's gaze, she even winked.
'Getting tangled up with this one right now would definitely be trouble,' Dream Weaver thought, pretending not to see her and quickening her pace to leave.
But would T.M. Opera O give up so easily?
After Dream Weaver had walked a distance, she spotted T.M. Opera O again in her peripheral vision, having shifted to a new pose.
Faced with such persistence, Dream Weaver realized this girl wasn't going to give up easily. She could only sigh, stop in her tracks, turn around, and ask in a resigned tone,
"What is it?"
"Hmph hmph hmph! Ahahahaha!"
"Drawn in by the Conqueror's aura, are you?! Very well! To answer the admiration of others is also the duty of a King!"
Seeing Dream Weaver stop, T.M. Opera O immediately burst into laughter, her overwhelming confidence making Dream Weaver's eye twitch.
'Did I want to be drawn in? You're the one shamelessly pestering me!'
"Be not nervous, nor shy, oh you who admires the King's radiance! The Conqueror stands before you. Release your adoration for me to your heart's content!"
T.M. Opera O spread her arms wide, striking a pose that seemed to invite Dream Weaver in for a hug.
--+--
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.