After Cafe and Sunday Serenity set off, Oguri Cap and Maruzensky happened to arrive at the school gate at the same time.
Spotting each other, they exchanged greetings.
"Good morning, Manhattan Cafe."
"Hello."
Nodding in response to Belno Light's words, Manhattan Cafe led her friend over to the group at a leisurely pace.
"Hmm...?"
Just then, Oguri Cap suddenly narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Manhattan Cafe's face.
"W-What is it, Oguri?"
"It's really rude to stare at someone like that,"—Belno Light gave the naturally expressionless dapple-gray girl a light pat.
"Ah, my apologies."
Meeting those confused golden eyes, Oguri Cap averted her gaze.
"Honestly, you absolutely must not do anything strange in front of the local students, okay?"
They were representing the face of Central Tracen.
In just a few short months, they had gone from unknown local students to becoming representatives of Tracen.
The leap felt almost like a dream.
So President Rudolf's mission absolutely, positively must not be messed up!
They needed to project Tracen's authority while also making the locals feel they were approachable.
It was quite a challenge.
Last night, Belno Light had spent half an hour chanting and meditating, hoping she could get through this ordeal and emerge refined.
Before that, she had to keep a close watch on the oblivious girl beside her, preventing her from doing anything too outrageous.
Like just now!
"Ara ara..." Maruzensky beside her touched her cheek. "No need to be so strict about the rules, you know. Tracen's school atmosphere is actually quite relaxed."
"R-Really? I suppose so."
Knowing she might have been overzealous, Belno Light coughed awkwardly a few times.
"Then, won't you introduce Cafe's friend to us?" Maruzensky continued.
From the start, this masked girl had been standing silently behind Manhattan Cafe.
They'd never seen this child before.
"Right. When President Rudolf mentioned that Cafe would be bringing a friend, my first thought was that it might be Miss New York Black Tea."
"Thinking about it carefully, New York Black Tea isn't a Tracen student either." Belno Light tapped her head.
Seeing everyone's attention focused on the 'friend,' Manhattan Cafe realized she'd overlooked a crucial issue.
She hadn't yet made up a fake name for the forged identity.
"Well, my friend... doesn't like showing her face, and her training schedule doesn't line up with ours. You're probably meeting for the first time..."
Speaking slowly to buy herself time to think, Cafe wracked her brain.
The name 'New York Black Tea,' which had instantly popped into her head, was already taken—what should she choose next?
A name that suited the 'friend' and rolled off the tongue easily.
Just as Cafe was about to pluck a few characters from books she'd read to piece together a passable name, the 'friend' spoke.
"Sunday Silence."
Huh?
"My name is Sunday Silence. Pleased to meet you."
The girl bowed her head to them and said this.
Sunday Silence.
Was it a fake name the 'friend' came up with on the spot?
Or perhaps...
Manhattan Cafe blinked.
She was surprised to realize she didn't know her friend's real name.
Because ever since she was born, the 'friend' had always been the 'friend.'
This way of address had never changed.
Words stuck in her throat, and Cafe found she couldn't say anything.
"So it's Sunday Silence, then? Nice to meet you." Belno Light also bowed in greeting.
"Hmm..."
Oguri Cap narrowed her eyes.
Staring at the slightly unnatural red pupils above the black mask, Oguri suddenly felt a powerful sense of familiarity.
It felt like... she'd seen those eyes somewhere before.
But where? Oguri Cap fell into thought.
Just then, Belno Light delivered a karate chop to the top of Oguri's head, instantly shattering her barely gathered concentration.
"Oguri... stop staring at people like that, it's so rude!"
Why did it feel like Oguri had been spacing out more often since the [Mainichi Okan] race?
Staring so intently without even blinking.
What if she did the same when they met the local Tracen students?
They absolutely mustn't do anything strange and get labeled as 'eccentric.'
No matter how relaxed the school atmosphere was, they couldn't leave a bad impression!
Belno Light quietly lectured her from the side.
Rubbing the spot on her head where Belno Light had chopped her, Oguri felt her train of thought drift away with the wind.
"Belno..."
Oguri Cap puffed out her cheeks slightly.
"Just now, you let something incredible slip away."
"Huh? What?"
"...Never mind, it's gone now anyway."
"W-What's with that look?"
She had the expression of someone who'd lost something important.
'I was just doing what any league coordinator should—Oguri's the one who's too scatterbrained!'
Belno Light thought to herself.
"Alright everyone, let's not waste any more time." Maruzensky clapped her hands. "The train will be arriving soon, it wouldn't do to keep them waiting."
Then she turned her head.
"Sunday Silence, was it? Though it's our first meeting, let's get along well from now on."
"Mm, likewise," the girl replied.
"Then let's be on our way."
Following behind Maruzensky, Oguri Cap couldn't help but ask, "By the way, why is she leading?"
Seeming almost exasperated by Oguri's denseness, Belno Light explained: "Of course, it's for the most senior to host..."
Brown ears twitched, emitting a soft 'Hm?' sound.
"Ahem, of course it's for the most experienced to take charge," Belno Light quickly corrected herself.
"I see." Oguri Cap nodded. "Most experienced means most senior, I get it."
"Hey... don't go repeating my slip-ups."
--+--
Ding-dong!
Following an announcement, the train slowly pulled into the platform.
The five girls stood near the exit, waiting for the passengers to disembark.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly rang out from the crowd.
"Ureeeeeee—!"
With a spirited shout, a petite girl burst through the dense crowd of passengers with astonishing speed.
Her short brown twin tails and the small fang visible at the corner of her mouth radiated vibrant energy.
"Kehahaha! No matter where you are, charging ahead first—that's the soul of an Edo child!"
Hands on her hips, the girl let out a hearty, boisterous laugh.
Observing her, Manhattan Cafe recalled the information Rudolf had provided.
Local record: 15 races, 9 wins, 1 second place, 2 third places, once achieving an impressive 7-win streak.
Her seemingly small frame concealed a truly formidable ability.
"Inari One! The peerless Edo spirit of Oi Tracen."
--+--
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.