"Hmm, is she here for the evaluation too?"
Shifting her gaze away from that aloof figure, Grass Wonder didn't deny Rudolf's words.
She truly had sensed a future where she and Special Week might become rivals—though it was just a fleeting, indistinct thought.
And Rudolf's words had confirmed her premonition.
"That's right, Special Week is also here for the evaluation. If all goes well, she'll be in your year. Today's meeting might even be the start of a friendship."
"But that depends on her passing, doesn't it?"
Seiun Sky, who had sidled over, seemed intrigued by Special Week as well. Like Grass Wonder, she felt an inexplicable competitive urge stirring within her.
"By the way, is she also a young lady from a prestigious family like King Halo? After all, President Rudolf, you're accompanying her—she must have quite the background."
"Special Week comes from the countryside in Hokkaido. She's hardly from a notable family… Well, considering Centaurea's connection with Nearl, maybe she brushes shoulders with that world?"
Rudolf found this situation unusual herself.
The relationships between Special Week, Centaurea, and Nearl were rather tangled, and since it involved personal matters, it wasn't something she could casually discuss.
Fortunately, the examiner's call interrupted the young ones' curious questions, giving Rudolf a slight breather.
Compared to these youngsters, she didn't know much more herself—if they kept pressing, she wouldn't know how to respond.
"Is Special Week here?"
The examiner called out again, flipping through the roster in her hand, confirming this was the last trainee left to be tested today.
"Strange, hasn't she arrived yet? Being late counts as a fail."
"I'm not late."
"Eep!"
The sudden reply made the relatively young staff member jolt.
She turned around to see Special Week approaching at a steady pace, her expression unchanged, her gaze fixed on the employee who had taken a step back.
"I'm not late."
She repeated the statement clearly, her face serious, her tone almost pressuring in others' eyes. Yet paired with her youthful face and 143cm height, it created a strangely endearing contrast.
At least, the staff member who had just been startled found it adorable. She even dismissed the thought of complaining that had flashed through her mind seconds earlier.
'How precious—she must be worried about being eliminated before showing her abilities.'
She interpreted Special Week's statement as reflecting the young filly's inner thoughts, thus viewing her through a self-imposed filter.
"Alright, alright, big sis understands. No need to rush. Even if you were a little late, it'd be fine—rules are made by people, after all."
"But I'm not late."
"I get it. Come on, onto the track. You're the last tester today, so there's no need to hurry."
Completely missing Special Week's point, the recorder made her preparations. Special Week blinked but didn't argue further, heading toward the grass track.
Before the test began, the staff asked Special Week to take a careful, slow lap to get a feel for the grass conditions and avoid mishaps due to unfamiliarity.
For instance, stumbling because of uneven turf without mental preparation.
This was no joke—it had actually happened before, resulting in a filly fracturing a bone, hospitalized, and missing her chance to explore her full potential.
Special Week complied without objection, starting her slow run, her hooves exploring the fresh grass. Meanwhile, at the finish line, a group of trainees gathered, watching her every move.
Grass Wonder and the other two were just there for the spectacle—young and inexperienced, they couldn't discern much. But Rudolf could glean a few clues even from this warm-up.
"Special Week's focus is remarkable. Her body moves with steady rhythm—she's truly sensing the grass's undulations."
"Of course. I specifically trained her for that. Given her original temperament, spacing out or panicking during a race was entirely possible. Her running style demands precise judgment of conditions, so I focused on correcting that."
Platinum stated this matter-of-factly. Nearl seemed to recall something, her smile stiffening slightly.
"You mean that training?"
"Mhm? You saw?"
Platinum raised an eyebrow, not entirely surprised that Nearl knew—when their Domains had clashed during their previous encounter, memories had briefly intersected, so glimpsing something wasn't odd.
However, Rudolf on the side felt like she was listening to riddles. Only one thought crossed her mind now.
"Are these two speaking in code?"
Her curiosity itching, Rudolf coughed softly, preparing to ask Nearl—since she wasn't at all familiar with Centaurea, who seemed rather cold.
Her previous attempts at conversation had gone nowhere, met with mere "Mm," "Ah," or "Oh," as if she were talking to an AI.
"Nearl, what training are you referring to? Could it be applied widely?"
Admittedly, upon hearing this, Nearl looked at Rudolf as if she were a daredevil.
'Daring to use Rea's training methods—President, your courage is commendable, and your thought process truly mysterious.'
But simply answering was fine—though the method would likely disappoint Rudolf.
"You want to know, President? That method can't be replicated on a large scale. Rea, she…"
Mid-sentence, Nearl suddenly paused. She glanced at the grass track and shook her head.
"It seems we'll have to continue this in a few minutes. For now, let's see how Spe-chan runs."
"Alright."
Rudolf had no objection, for Special Week had finished her warm-up and returned to the starting line. Her evaluation for entry into Tracen Academy was about to begin.
With a whistle, the starting gate before Special Week closed, now obscuring most of her—from outside, only two slightly swaying ears were visible.
"Special Week, ready."
"Yes."
Hearing the call, Special Week bent slowly and steadily, leaning sideways, her dominant hoof firmly planted on the ground.
The daylight was just right. Though less intense than at noon, the sun still illuminated the grassy field, like laying out a golden carpet for Special Week—even though her training over the years had often been shrouded in dark mist.
"Master, I'm ready. I will become Japan's number one Uma Musume."
Special Week closed her eyes.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! 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.