"Well, in the end, it was just motion sickness. A short nap and everything's fine."
Symboli Rudolf took the tray with an air of effortless ease, a far cry from the pitiful scene Nearl had witnessed that morning.
But seeing how desperately the president now wanted to forget that memory, Nearl tactfully didn't bring it up again.
However, as Nearl glanced around, she noticed that a certain brown-haired senior was still nowhere to be seen—even though her symptoms had been much milder than President Rudolf's.
"President, where's Maruzensky-senpai? Isn't she hungry?"
"…"
Rudolf's right hand, which had been lifting food to her mouth, suddenly paused, like a finely tuned machine jammed by a stray pebble, halting the whole operation.
She instinctively glanced back toward what was probably the rest area.
"Ah, well… I don't really know much about that."
"Know much about what?"
Even someone like Oguri Cap would've picked up on the oddness in that tone, let alone Nearl.
"President, did you… do something to Maruzensky-senpai?"
"Ahem!"
Coughing heavily a few times, a strangely flustered Rudolf racked her brain for a topic to divert everyone's attention. Even her usually meticulously groomed, majestic tail was swaying restlessly.
'Tying up a senior in a panic and teasing her… I really can't say that out loud.'
Recalling Maruzensky still hanging from the ceiling by her own doing, a wave of panic surged in Rudolf's heart.
'If they find out about this, the Emperor's impeccable reputation will be ruined. No, I have to change the subject!'
But in those few seconds of mental overdrive, she actually managed to come up with a perfectly legitimate excuse.
"Ah, right, that's it—Nearl! Have you finished eating yet?"
"No, I actually haven't—"
"Even better if you haven't! Let's discuss the task I'm assigning you for this afternoon first!"
Rudolf forcefully cut her off, her tone like an oncoming storm, leaving no room to think about anything else.
This left Nearl somewhat bewildered.
What did she mean by "even better if you haven't"?
Did the president need her to run a few laps right away?
But as an Uma Musume, running right after eating wouldn't cause stomach issues like it might for a human.
Was it urgent? But the way Rudolf was savoring her food now didn't seem to suggest that.
"…Alright, if the task is really that important."
Nearl reluctantly nodded. An image of Tachyon pulling out an energy bar flashed through her mind—she had a feeling she might need to rely on that for lunch today.
"It's mainly about discussing who you'll be responsible for. You know the purpose of this training camp, right?"
Honestly, the Emperor's serious expression combined with this topic successfully convinced everyone present that she genuinely had important matters to discuss.
That awkward question from earlier was temporarily pushed to the back of their minds.
"Since it's recovery training, Oguri Cap and the others naturally have a different pace compared to Uma Musume in regular pre-race preparation. But not every trainer is as free as Mr. Kitahara; they have many Musume under their care and limited time."
"I see, so that's why you organized this training camp, President?"
"Exactly. Agnes Tachyon hasn't had a trainer for a long time, and her self-training has many flaws."
"Super Creek joined voluntarily—she and Nase Fumino believe comparing different methods will help her improve."
"As for Mejiro Ardan… I'm not sure. She wanted to participate on her own, even though with the Mejiro family's resources, she wouldn't have to worry at all…"
After briefly explaining the backgrounds of the training camp participants so Nearl had a basic understanding, Rudolf finally got to the main point.
"Right now, Super Creek is still under Trainer Nase's care. As for the others, we'll step in to help—one-on-one. Thankfully, we managed to drag Maruzensky-senpai here last minute, so we have a bit more breathing room."
Picking up a piece of chicken and popping it into her mouth, the Emperor showed a satisfied expression.
She knew Nearl was skilled in the kitchen, but she hadn't expected her cooking to be almost on par with the chefs hired by the Symboli family.
Behind Rudolf, Ardan and Tachyon's ears perked up immediately, sensing an opportunity.
'One-on-one assistance!'
'Time alone together!'
Both of them grew restless, especially Ardan.
Tachyon got to chat with Nearl every morning, but while Ardan was recovering, she had to stay at the Mejiro estate—seeing Nearl was difficult.
And they both knew Nearl wasn't the type to have much free time, so they had to seize every moment.
'Should I speak up and ask?'
Agnes Tachyon hesitated. This wasn't like her usual casual interactions with Nearl; asking directly felt like a lashing to her pride.
She didn't care about her usual reputation—just idle gossip from ordinary folks. Her goals and thoughts were all dedicated to her supreme dream.
But once pulled into mundane daily life, gossip, and socializing, she was no longer that mad scientist.
Like a snail, her shell was tough, but inside, she was incredibly soft.
Most people were scared off by her eccentric exterior and reputation as a "mad science Uma," choosing to stay away early on.
Only someone equally unusual like Manhattan Cafe had broken through that shell and reached the inner layer.
Coincidentally, actively expressing her desire to get closer to Nearl was also part of her shame zone. Full of conflict, her words came a step too late.
"I…"
"Would you be willing to help me, Nearl?"
Before Agnes Tachyon could finish, Ardan cut in, raising her right hand high. Her beautiful violet eyes sparkled with a look of hopeful anticipation.
"Huh?"
Agnes Tachyon froze. She stared wide-eyed at the Mejiro family's young lady beside her, her brilliant mind—the best in Tracen Academy—temporarily crashing.
'I got beaten to it? How dare she just say it out loud? Where's her shame? Where's the restraint befitting a young lady? Is this the model young lady the Mejiro family is so proud of?'
Tachyon radar alert: enemy aircraft detected.jpg
In that moment, Mejiro Ardan's image rapidly transformed in Agnes Tachyon's eyes—from "a troublesome experiment with severe consequences if mishandled" to "a failed experiment in need of disposal."
Ardan also noticed the suddenly hostile gaze from beside her, but she had long been mentally prepared.
'If she attracts me, she'll naturally attract others too. I've been ready for that, but when it comes to matters of the heart, you really have to charge forward yourself.'
'Wanting the sunlight that shines on everyone to pause just for me—that's my own selfish little wish.'
"I'm sorry, Agnes Tachyon."
Mejiro Ardan offered an inexplicable apology to Tachyon, who was tugging at her lab coat, but there was no apology in her eyes—only a shimmering, hopeful anticipation, like pink bubbles.
"Aren't Uma Musume supposed to be faster than anyone else, after all?"
--+--
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.