"Did the 'Emperor' send you?"
"Yep! This is a task personally assigned by the student council president herself. Of course, I have to carry it out perfectly!"
After some explanation, everyone finally understood the identity of this silly kid.
So she was the actual contact person from Tracen Academy.
With someone leading the way now, Sunday Serenity thought about slipping away first, but Teio blocked her path.
'It's partly your fault I was late and got lectured by the police! You have to take responsibility and see this through!'
Hearing the angry girl's shouts, she had no choice but to reluctantly act as a co-guide.
To be honest, Sunday Serenity wasn't very familiar with the surroundings either.
The images she'd seen in that mysterious world were quite different from the actual space.
Fragmented pictures made it impossible for her to form a coherent memory of the area.
"This is the store where we usually buy clothes and shoes," Tokai Teio said, pointing at a massive, opulent building bustling with people. More than half of the customers inside were Uma Musume.
Because of their tails, their tops and pants couldn't be shared with regular humans, so there was a need for many specialty stores for Uma Musume.
Additionally, their leg strength was astonishing. Most of the shoes they wore were heavily reinforced, and even high heels for special occasions had to be custom-made for extra stability.
Otherwise, items made for ordinary people would break easily if a Uma Musume handled them roughly.
"Does it also have training horseshoes inside?" asked Belno Light.
"Pretty much everything a Uma Musume needs is in there," Tokai Teio replied, counting on her fingers. "Not just horseshoes and shoes, but even everyday sportswear and jackets can be bought there. And if you're a Tracen student, you get a discount."
"Really? That's great!" Belno Light patted her chest in relief. "This means Oguri's training supplies are taken care of. I was worried about what we'd do if consumables like horseshoes were too expensive, wondering if I'd need a part-time job."
"So Light was worried about me!" The dapple-gray girl was shocked.
"Well, it's Oguri's first time coming to the central district, after all. There's a lot she doesn't know."
"There's a decent discount for students buying horseshoes. President Rudolf bought quite a few for me!"
"Oh, r-really? Miss Teio is certainly highly regarded by the 'Emperor,' isn't she?"
"Right, right!" She beamed with pride.
"And over here is the cinema," Tokai Teio continued her introduction, with the group of girls following behind.
"I recommend the newest movie! It's about a Uma Musume who overcomes injuries to finally win the Triple Crown!"
"And this place…"
The enthusiastic girl led everyone around.
Sunday Serenity followed along, learning as she went.
But the guide was a bit too excited, chattering nonstop at every spot they visited. The sun gradually sank in the west, and all sorts of messy things began emerging from the shadows.
The streets grew increasingly crowded, a cacophony of noisy sounds rising one after another.
Yet, aside from Sunday Serenity, no one else seemed to notice.
'Sister…'
A voice like that reached her ears.
It sounded like a lost child, but Sunday Serenity knew what such a lifeless voice signified.
A ghost.
Like the spirit of someone hit by a car, or killed in an accident.
Sometimes they acted like animals, emitting meaningless cries.
Other times, they could produce clearer human speech.
The world was far more than what met the eye or reached the ear.
Uninhabited, dark alleyways held a commotion that rivaled the main streets.
So Sunday Serenity instinctively tried to ignore such voices.
She didn't want to get too close to other ghosts; she always felt it might make her strange.
'Sister…'
The voice kept calling.
Never mind, just ignore it.
That's what she thought. But just then, someone grabbed her arm.
Oh no!?
Whipping around, she hurriedly shook off the grip.
There were Tracen students nearby. If they got burned, she'd be discovered—
"Calm down," Sunday Silence said. "She's not among the living."
A girl with brown shoulder-length hair and a long ponytail clutched the hand that had just been pulled away, a hurt expression on her face. Hidden deep within her purple eyes were faint, unshed tears.
Sunday Serenity finally noticed: the other's body appeared hazy and semi-transparent, as if wearing a long dress made of gray-white mist. Her arms and calves were barely distinguishable.
"Huh?"
This was the first time she had seen a ghost with such a clear appearance.
"Though it's rare, we occasionally encounter souls who cling to the world with powerful attachments," Sunday Silence explained, naturally referring to the girl before them.
'Sister…?' the girl spoke.
"I'm not your sister."
The girl seemed stunned, her face taking on a childlike, bewildered look.
"Such a childish question," Sunday Silence remarked. "Perhaps this child died a long time ago."
"A long time ago?"
"For example, in infancy."
"But her current appearance…"
"Possibly, another soul, connected to her by blood, is tightly bound to her."
The young girl's gaze remained fixed on her.
Sunday Serenity shook her head.
The girl wiped her tears and silently drifted away.
Meanwhile, Tokai Teio continued talking incessantly, until a loud 'grumble' interrupted the conversation.
Her face slightly flushed, Oguri Cap covered her stomach and said in a barely audible voice, "Since arriving this morning… I haven't eaten anything…"
"Speaking of which, we should probably head to Tracen soon…"
Looking at the gradually setting sun, it was getting late.
"That's true," Tokai Teio nodded. "Well, we can save the snack street for another day. For now, we should—"
"Wait just a minute—"
Suddenly, a hand landed on Teio's shoulder. Oguri Cap leaned in with intimidating pressure.
"Please explain clearly. About the snack street."
"Oguri!? But we'll run out of time, won't we?"
"Don't worry, Light! There are still two hours until the academy gates close. We can spend ten minutes on snack street, ten minutes getting to Tracen, and that leaves over an hour. It's a bit tight, sure, but if we push it, an hour is more than enough to fill our stomachs! So if we hurry now, we can still make it."
"Eh…"
Pressed by Oguri Cap's intensity, Tokai Teio found herself nodding repeatedly. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of 'Manhattan Cafe' staring into the distance, lost in thought, and immediately cried out in dissatisfaction:
"Hey! I've been doing all the talking since earlier! Don't just stand there slacking off!"
The girl snapped back to reality and ambled over slowly.
"You seemed to be enjoying yourself."
"That's because I have to set a good example for the new students," Tokai Teio declared, placing a hand on her chest. "As a senior of Tracen Academy! It's my duty. But honestly, I'm tired of talking now…"
Belno Light's ears twitched, as if realizing something. She timidly raised her hand.
"Um… Oguri may have transferred in, but she was already in high school back in the local region. So when she enters Tracen, she should be in the high school division too."
"What?" Tokai Teio frowned.
"And I'm an employee trainee. Strictly speaking, I'm not a student, but an assistant to the trainers…"
"No way!"
She turned her gaze to 'Manhattan Cafe'.
"I forgot to mention, I'm also in the high school division."
"Impossible!" Tokai Teio clutched her chest. "Don't tell me… among everyone here, I'm the youngest junior?"
Well, obviously!
Ahem. "My apologies, Senpais. Then, please allow me to lead you to the snack street now."
"Yes. My stomach has been yearning for sustenance," Oguri Cap said, clenching her fist, desperately trying to suppress the restless energy in her body.
"Let's hurry up and go," the black-haired girl urged. "It's best to return before nightfall."
"That's true," Belno Light nodded, quickly following after them.
Back where Sunday Serenity had been standing, the young girl's ghost still lingered.
The repeated calls of 'Sister… Sister…' seemed like a search for something lost.
"There's no need to pay it mind," Sunday Silence said to the pensive Sunday Serenity. "Even if they're rarely encountered, souls clinging to attachments are not few in number."
They were like morning stars hidden within the night sky.
Impossible to see all, impossible to count.
Just like the twin stars in the sky above, quietly twinkling overhead at that very moment.
--+--
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.