Dream Weaver trudged along the track, breathing heavily, her eyes filled with exhaustion as if she'd just survived a great battle. The blood-red sunset dyed her silhouette crimson, like she was soaked in gore.
Behind her lay several Uma Musume, collapsed and motionless as if lifeless. The scene resembled something out of a post-apocalyptic showdown—a lone wanderer having defeated numerous powerful foes, once again embarking on her journey.
It would've felt even more dramatic if not for the two dead-eyed trainers in tracksuits standing off to the side, watching everything unfold.
Chizuru Haibara compared what she saw with the training manual, mentally reviewing the day's intensity. After confirming everyone's limits, she snapped the book shut with a sharp clap.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Everyone can head to the cafeteria to eat."
Her words acted like a legendary revival spell—the moment she finished speaking, several of the seemingly lifeless Uma Musume sprang to their feet.
"Hooray!"
Watching them, Chizuru could only shake her head helplessly before calling out to Dream Weaver, who was still walking slowly.
"Weaver—"
"Can you keep going? Do you need Mr. Satou to give you a ride to the cafeteria on his cart?"
Hearing her name, Dream Weaver turned around and offered a weak smile, but before she could say a word, her legs gave out and she slumped to the ground.
Chizuru was startled. She quickly waved the others over to help Dream Weaver up while she hurried to remove the horseshoes from her feet.
As she sat on Ken Satou's three-wheeled cart, Dream Weaver felt like a piece of pork being hauled off to market, with several people even gathering around to watch.
"We were only supposed to practice tactics today—I never should've agreed to let you train with added weight."
"This is my fault."
Chizuru spoke apologetically to Dream Weaver while steadying the cart. She'd been so impressed by Dream Weaver's performance that she thought adding horseshoes wouldn't be a problem.
Dream Weaver could only let out an awkward chuckle in response.
How could she possibly explain that when she heard training was over, she'd lost focus and failed to adjust to the weight properly, causing her to lose balance and fall?
"Did you sprain anything? If you feel even the slightest discomfort, tell me right away. I'll take you to the infirmary immediately."
Ken Satou, who was pushing the cart, also turned around with a worried expression.
"No, no, I'm fine. I just lost my balance for a second and fell."
Seeing the situation escalating, Dream Weaver quickly waved her hands to show she was okay, but her reassurances only made the others feel even more guilty.
"We don't have a professional support team here. Even the training equipment and saline solution were brought over by Mr. Satou last night and prepared with the principal."
"If only you were in the Central region…"
Chizuru hung her head dejectedly, but before she could finish, Dream Weaver cut her off.
"Training there wouldn't have given me a whole group of people pushing me on a three-wheeler."
"Besides, aren't all the big races nowadays dominated by the elite schools anyway? Seems like those Central folks aren't all that. I'd take a three-wheeler over that any day."
As she spoke, Dream Weaver laughed and patted the cart, producing a clattering sound.
"?!"
Before she could even gasp, the cart suddenly tilted—one of the wheels had come loose from her patting and rolled away.
It seemed the old thing had finally given out after years of hauling training equipment and meals for Kasamatsu Tracen.
"Well, now we really don't have a three-wheeler."
Dream Weaver looked up at Sumire Nanno, whose expression was hidden in the shadows of her hair.
"Don't worry, once I win a big prize race, I'll get the school a brand new, better one!"
She brushed herself off, stood up from the cart, and declared confidently.
Sumire seemed taken aback by Dream Weaver's response, pausing for a moment before muttering under her breath.
"That's not what I meant…"
"Before you two keep chatting, could we please focus on lifting the cart back up?"
Just as the two were locked in their gaze, Ken Satou's exasperated voice cut in from the side.
Under the setting sun, the students and staff of Kasamatsu Tracen found themselves collectively pushing a three-wheeled cart missing a tire through the campus. To an outsider, it might've looked like some peculiar training method.
"I do know there's a training routine that involves carrying tires… I guess we have a ready-made one now."
Ken Satou tried to lighten the mood as he pushed the cart.
"That's for truck tires. What kind of training could you even do with a three-wheeler tire?" Chizuru shot him a sidelong glance, unamused.
"How old is this thing anyway? How did it fall apart from just a tap?"
"It's been here since I enrolled. Honestly, I think it's just because Weaver's too strong."
"I don't want to hear that from someone who lifts me up during drills and elbows me like crazy in sparring matches."
Behind the cart, the Uma Musume chatted idly as they pushed.
"Hey, who placed second and third in yesterday's debut race again?"
"Second was Enishi Grass, and third was probably me? Why does it matter?" Sumire replied with a sigh, straining as she pushed.
"Doesn't that mean you both successfully debuted? Top three, right?"
"Successful debut? Hardly. Not to mention the local debut race rules have changed recently—even before, only first place counted as a true debut."
Hearing this, Dream Weaver suddenly realized that the differences between this world and hers weren't just surface-level. There were subtle variations in places she hadn't noticed.
She remembered that in the first script world, the top three in debut races could officially debut and even share the victory podium.
So that wasn't the case here?
Dream Weaver suddenly thought of Tokai Teio. She'd forgotten the debut rules of the real world—were they different there too?
Maybe debut races didn't count toward official records or something.
Could it be that Tokai Teio's Undefeated Triple Crown wasn't just a childish boast, but actually based on some subtle rule she hadn't noticed?
But there was no way to verify that now. She'd have to ask when she returned to the real world, Dream Weaver mused silently.
For now, the most pressing matter—
Was getting this three-wheeler back to the school building. Maybe they could still repair it with the tools there.
"Training, strength, debut races—none of that matters right now—"
"I just wanna eat—"
Kaze Kobayashi's wail echoed across the grounds of Kasamatsu Tracen, bringing everyone to a halt. The hunger they'd been staving off with chatter suddenly became impossible to ignore.
After a moment of silence, Chizuru spoke coldly.
"Operation codename—"
"The Great Sunset Escape!"
"Objective—"
"The school building and the cafeteria!"
"For tonight's dinner—"
"Charge, everyone!"
"Yeah!!"
With that order, everyone mustered their last reserves of strength. Fueled by the promise of food, they pushed the cart furiously across the campus.
The lingering glow of the sunset set the sky ablaze, painting it in shades of orange and red. Their shadows stretched and merged as they ran, until someone suddenly realized how foolish this whole scene was—if they were so hungry, why not just eat first and come back for the cart later? A laugh escaped them.
That laughter proved contagious. Soon, everyone realized how silly they were being—Chizuru's commands hadn't been cool or inspiring, just downright dorky.
But they didn't abandon the cart. Instead, they teased each other for being idiots as they continued pushing it across the campus.
Under that very same sunset, Koutarou Haibara stood in front of the cafeteria, a large ladle in hand, puzzled by the complete absence of people.
"Where did everyone go?"
"Did they finally get sick of my cooking?!"
He nervously rubbed his round chin as he wondered.
--+--
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.