"No way..."
Shiragawa stared at the newspaper headline in shock.
Even though she was still eating, she'd forgotten to chew, her mouth hanging open as she let out an indistinct sound of disbelief.
Across from her, Dream Weaver, who had just swallowed a large mouthful of rice with a fried pork cutlet, looked up at the noise.
"At least finish swallowing before you start exclaiming," Dream Weaver said.
Hearing the reminder, Shiragawa gulped down several quick sips of water, washing down the food in a rushed swallow.
She didn't even give herself a moment to breathe. Immediately after swallowing, Shiragawa flipped the newspaper around and thrust it toward Dream Weaver.
She tapped her finger emphatically on the glaringly obvious front-page headline. "Shinzan! Miss Shinzan has made a comeback!"
Following her finger, Dream Weaver read the words aloud. "'The Uma Musume blessed by the gods... a dazzling return after a year's absence?'"
Before Dream Weaver could carefully examine the content or the image printed in the paper, Shiragawa slammed the newspaper down onto the dining table with a thwap.
The loud noise made the ears of several nearby Uma Musume still eating their meals instinctively prick up.
Shiragawa paid no mind to their slightly annoyed glances, her excitement bubbling over as she addressed Dream Weaver.
"I knew it! I knew Miss Shinzan hadn't given up on the racetrack! She must have seen our performances and decided to make a comeback!"
Dream Weaver offered no comment.
Though she spent nearly every day at the training grounds, she knew from snippets of conversation with her friends that her very public victories in the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby had already caused quite a stir in the world.
Learning that another Uma Musume had chosen to step forward because of her only strengthened Dream Weaver's resolve to charge toward the final goal of the Triple Crown.
However, compared to Dream Weaver's calm demeanor, Shiragawa's expression was overflowing with excitement.
She had always been a devoted fan of Shinzan. Now, seeing the Uma Musume she admired return to the track because of her and her friends' efforts, joy practically filled Shiragawa's heart to bursting.
She didn't care if Dream Weaver wanted to listen or not, counting on her fingers as she launched into a recital of Shinzan's glorious past.
"The second year of the Genna era, an Uma Musume..."
"Isn't that time span a bit too long ago...?"
Dream Weaver, who had just picked up a piece of fried pork cutlet with her chopsticks, felt a few metaphorical black lines streak across her forehead and couldn't help but speak up.
Flushing bright red from her over-excitement leading to a slip of the tongue, Shiragawa scratched her cheek awkwardly and gave an embarrassed laugh before continuing.
"Well, Miss Shinzan was actually taken to Europe when she was very young. She might not have spent as much time in Japan as she did in Europe back then."
"You've told me that many times already."
Dream Weaver replied while chewing her food.
As Shiragawa's roommate, whether she wanted to or not, she had heard the other girl recount Shinzan's past many times over.
"That's exactly what makes her even more admirable, isn't it?!" Shiragawa's eyes shone.
"Even though she spent the vast majority of her life in Europe, she still fought hard for us Japanese Uma Musume! I heard she even fell out with the Europeans who originally supported her, all to fight for more rights for Japanese Uma Musume!"
"Miss Shinzan is practically our comrade—no, a senior who paved the way before us!"
Dream Weaver raised an eyebrow at that. This was the first time she'd heard Shiragawa mention it.
Usually, after finishing Shinzan's background introduction, she'd just start repeating the glory of her Triple Crown victory.
"Some people might still not understand the weight of Miss Shinzan becoming the first domestic Triple Crown winner! Let me explain it to you again today, Dream!"
"When Miss Shinzan reached the summit as a Triple Crown winner—ah, who were her opponents back then? What were the top ten Uma Musume in that Kikuka Sho like—"
Just like this.
Dream Weaver reached over and rapped her knuckles lightly on Shiragawa's forehead, pulling her back slightly from her fervent state.
"I've already 'tasted' that story way too many times."
"Compared to that, I'm more interested in what you said earlier."
Shiragawa rubbed her forehead, tilting her head in confusion. "My... golden star?"
"Of course it's about fighting for rights and falling out with Europe!"
Dream Weaver shook her head. Shiragawa was usually quite clever, but for some reason, whenever Shinzan was mentioned, her brain seemed to short-circuit.
Then again, considering she herself was probably, maybe, should be, or seemed to be the same way, she decided not to voice that thought out loud.
Shiragawa, not quite understanding but sensing the importance, hummed meaningfully a couple of times.
She crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and looked at Dream Weaver with sparkling eyes.
"I knew Miss Shinzan's story would attract many people. Even you couldn't resist wanting to know more Dream!"
"Isn't it possible that your previous repeats were just too poorly delivered..."
"Enough talk! Let me enlighten you about the grandeur of Miss Shinzan's past!"
Wham! Shiragawa slapped the table again, cutting off Dream Weaver and making the ears of the nearby Uma Musume, who had just settled back down, prick up once more.
Under the puzzled gazes of everyone around, Shiragawa chuckled a couple of times before declaring in a loud voice:
"Virtue began with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, fame and merit passed through Xia, Shang, and Zhou. The Five Hegemons and Seven Warring States stirred the Springs and Autumns—their rise and fall passed in a blink through history's hands.
"A few names fill the annals' lines, while countless mounds lie north of Mang Hill. Those before sowed the seeds, those after reap the yield—so why speak of dragons battling tigers with such zeal!"
Seeing her about to slap the table again, Dream Weaver quickly grabbed Shiragawa's already raised right hand, her expression utterly complex.
"Why on earth do you even know introductory verses like that...?"
"I only know what I know," Shiragawa said matter-of-factly.
"And besides, starting a long-winded introduction with an introductory verse helps grab the audience's attention, doesn't it?"
Dream Weaver's mouth twitched. She glanced around and, sure enough, found everyone's eyes on them.
Her attention-grabbing tactic had actually worked. Dream Weaver even felt like the entire cafeteria was looking their way now.
"Fine... go on then."
Dream Weaver sighed but said no more, releasing Shiragawa's hand and sinking back into her chair. She gestured for her to begin her performance.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
But just as Shiragawa cleared her throat twice, ready to showcase her talent, exclamations arose from the Uma Musume at a table a little further away.
Before Dream Weaver and Shiragawa could even turn to look, a somewhat familiar voice carried over through the crowd, reaching their ears.
"Hearing someone deliver a long lecture about my own story... is something I'm still not quite used to, it seems."
Shinzan stood amidst the gathering crowd, offering an apologetic smile to Shiragawa.
"Excuse me, but could I borrow your friend for a little while?"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.