"What? Are you trying to say that whatever I do is useless?!"
Just then, a sudden high-pitched voice seemed to break through everything, causing the noisy cafeteria and the bustling students to fall into a moment of silence.
Silence, confusion, and commotion... Everyone couldn't help but focus their gaze on one spot. Kazuo, as if finding an opportunity to breathe, quickly turned around and followed the direction of their gazes—
The small and slender Daijin stood there, her ears even pulled back in anger. At this moment, she completely revealed an aggressive intent to resist.
She glared at the person in front of her, her brows almost furrowed together.
Across from her, Victory Ticket was completely flustered and didn't know how to respond. She even started to stammer, her mouth opening and closing like a fish's.
"Waaahhhhh... It's not like that, wait, wait a minute! Daijin—! I really didn't mean it that way!!"
And Biwa Hayahide, standing nearby, also stepped forward, pushing up her glasses and saying, "In fact, Victory Ticket is right this time. She said that for your own good, Daijin."
"As athletes, nutritional intake is essential for our bodies, but you're overdoing it now. Overeating can cause symptoms and physical reactions, which I believe your teachers covered in class, right?"
Just as she said, the food in front of Daijin was indeed several servings. If she were to eat it all by herself, the series of symptoms caused by forced overeating could even severely impact an Uma Musume's career.
Daijin frowned, lowering her head and muttering, "So annoying…"
"Enough… your appetite isn't that big to begin with, is it? If you force yourself, you'll have problems. And your complexion after you tried this last time—"
"Enough!! You're all so annoying!! Can't you just leave me alone!?"
She erupted once again. Perhaps the day's events had left her in an extremely unstable emotional state, and because of this, her suppressed feelings finally found an outlet.
"Daijin! I really didn't mean it, I just!"
Victory Ticket wanted to say more, but Daijin sharply retorted, "Enough! Don't come any closer!! Don't bother me anymore… I don't need your concern."
Leaving that remark, Daijin left the cafeteria alone.
The untouched food on the table grew cold. Seeing Daijin like this, Victory Ticket's eyes were already welling up with tears, while Biwa Hayahide gently rubbed her temples and sighed, "It's alright… at least skipping a meal is better than this… She was quite affected by that today, and it's better to let it out than to keep it bottled up."
"Um…"
Xiao Hai Wan had appeared before them at some point. "If you don't mind, I'll pack some for Daijin to take back. I'm her roommate, after all. Once she calms down, I'll try to talk to her."
"Xiao Hai Wan? Thank you so much."
"No, no… it's nothing."
When Xiao Hai Wan returned to her seat, Kazuo seemed to be lost in thought again, his expression looking very conflicted.
"You're really bothered by it, aren't you?"
Xiao Hai Wan seemed to have seen through him and asked proactively.
Kazuo nodded slightly and said, "Yes… Daijin's way isn't working… Honestly, she's a bit desperate right now. She almost overexerted herself running alone on the track late at night before…"
"Oh my… Could it be that the 'good-for-nothing' Daijin was muttering about after coming home late that night was Asama-kun?"
Xiao Hai Wan seemed to realize, covering her mouth slightly in surprise.
"Uh… she sees me that way?"
"Well~ I'm her roommate. That night she came home late, she kept muttering something, and besides—"
As she spoke, Xiao Hai Wan paused, looking at Kazuo again.
"Although she doesn't say it, I can feel that she feels somewhat apologetic."
Honestly, it was a bit hard to imagine… but coming from Xiao Hai Wan, it didn't seem like a lie.
Speaking of which—
How exactly did Daijin view her Trainer, and how did she view the relationship between a Trainer and an Uma Musume?
"I want to… understand Daijin's situation, Xiao Hai Wan. As her roommate, can you tell me?"
Perhaps he had made up his mind, as Kazuo was uncharacteristically serious.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
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