Chapter 31: Roommates at Each Other's Throats (Not Really)
After running behind the taxi Old Man Musaka Ginjirou was riding in, Starry Fantasy and the others finally stood at the school's entrance.
Central Tracen Uma Musume Training Academy—this was the highest-level horse girl school in all of Japan. Simply entering here meant debuting at the central level and embarking on one's racing career.
This was also where Stardust Mirage would be staying from now on.
However, upon arriving at the gate, Stardust Mirage immediately noticed that the place was already on high alert. The academy's main gate had been completely cleared out by a large group of people in black suits. Beyond the human wall in the distance, she could vaguely make out reporters desperately raising cameras and trying to take pictures of their group.
"Uh... What's going on?"
Watching Symboli Rudolf, Tazuna, and a lady in green clothes and a green hat walking towards them from inside the gate, Stardust Mirage was a bit confused. Were they here to welcome Oguri Cap?
"Haha, the Emperor is, of course, here for you and Bakushin O."
Old Man Musaka laughed heartily, gave Stardust Mirage a pat on the back, and pushed her directly towards the approaching Symboli Rudolf.
Completely caught off guard by this move, Stardust Mirage was shoved and stumbled. In her panic, her left foot tripped over her right, and her body instantly lost balance, toppling headlong toward the ground—
—No.
Before she could fully fall, she felt a pair of strong hands steadying her. Her face plunged directly into a mass of softness, and immediately, a clear citrus fragrance washed over her. Before Stardust Mirage could process what was happening, she instinctively took a deep breath of the scent…
"Are you steady now?"
Rudolf Symboli's voice, tinged with a hint of gentleness, sounded beside her ear, startling Stardust Mirage into hastily taking several steps back before finally finding her footing.
What the hell, what the hell, what the hell!?
Swish, swish, swish—
Listening to the frantic shutter sounds of cameras from the nearby reporters, Stardust Mirage felt her ears turn red with embarrassment. They pressed tightly against her hair, while her tail behind her wagged incessantly.
At this moment, she wished she could run back a few seconds and strangle the version of herself that had lunged forward and taken that big sniff.
What was I doing smelling like that!?
"Stardust Mirage, Sakura Chiyono-o, welcome to Central Tracen Academy. And welcome home, Oguri Cap, Trainer Musaka."
Rudolf Symbol seemed completely unaffected by the earlier incident. With perfect noble poise, she bowed to welcome the group before her.
"Play along with the Emperor; it's not easy for her," old man Musaka muttered under his breath, his volume precisely controlled so Stardust Mirage could hear. He then stepped forward with Oguri Cap to help the Emperor rise.
"Good morning!!!"
Sakura Bakushin-o completely missed the implication in the old man's words. Nonetheless, brimming with energy, she cheerfully raised her right hand and shouted a loud greeting to everyone.
Seeing the others react, Stardust Mirage didn't want to be left out. She hurriedly stepped forward to stand before the Central Tracen Big Three and stammered out a greeting:
"Everyone… um, no… Well, hello."
"Good afternoon. I assume you all know Rudolf and Air Groove?" The green-hatted girl smiled warmly and introduced herself in a gentle tone, "I am the Central Tracen Academy Chairman's secretary, Hayakawa Tazuna. I am here today on behalf of the Chairman to welcome you all to Tracen Academy."
Observing the green hat on Hayakawa Tazuna's head, Stardust Mirage fell into thought.
In her previous life, this Chairman's secretary appeared to be just an ordinary human. However, there were rumors that she might actually be an invincible horse girl—a very mysterious and formidable figure… So, was there a pair of horse ears hidden under that hat?
"Alright, everyone, listen to me for a moment," the Emperor said, seemingly noticing that the group's attention was wandering. She clapped her hands to draw everyone's focus back.
"Today, we are here to welcome two new students to the academy and to celebrate the return of Oguri Cap, the new queen of Japanese horse racing, to our campus.
We have all met before, so feel free to reach out for help in any area, whether professional or personal. We will all do our best to assist."
"Why not 'Do not disrespect Central' anymore?" Stardust Mirage heard Oguri Cap's murmured complaint beside her and instantly stiffened.
Huh? Oguri Cap still holds a grudge about that?!
Pointing out the Emperor's past blunder in public like this… I thought they were on good terms now, especially since the Emperor was willing to vouch for Oguri Cap with me earlier!!!
"Hahaha, Oguri Cap, you still remember that, huh?"
The Emperor showed no sign of anger at Oguri Cap's remark. Instead, she laughed heartily.
Having spent several years at school with this somewhat airheaded ash-haired Cinderella, Rudolf was long accustomed to her occasional off-the-wall moments.
Now, she stepped forward affectionately and wrapped an arm around a bewildered Oguri Cap, speaking candidly to the others:
"That incident was indeed my mistake for underestimating Oguri Cap back then. What I said was laughable. Now, I deeply understand that powerful horse girls can emerge from anywhere, whether Central or regional—like Oguri Cap, and like you…"
At this point, the Emperor turned her gaze toward Stardust Mirage beside her. Her eyes held a sharp intensity, and her expression showed a hint of apology:
"'Oguri Cap II,' Stardust Mirage, since Oguri Cap has recognized you as her successor, you must not let everyone down. After all, Tokai Teio has been waiting for you for a long time!"
"Yes!"
Hearing Tokai Teio's name, Stardust Mirage also grew serious.
The day after Oguri Cap's victory, she had heard that Tokai Teio had secured her second win in the Cyclamen Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse on the same day as the Arima Kinen.
Watching the footage of that race, Stardust Mirage understood deeply that Tokai Teio had evolved once again. Now, she yearned intensely for a chance to compete against Tokai Teio, even if it wasn't on the stage of the Triple Crown classics—
"How is Tokai Teio doing now?" she couldn't help asking. "Is she training at the academy?"
"That child…" At the mention of Tokai Teio, Rudolf covered her face. "She pushed herself too hard in yesterday's race and strained a muscle. She's recovering in the hospital now and will probably need a few more days before she's released."
"Eh?! Stardust Mirage, you're the 'Oguri Cap II' that Onee-san kept talking about for half the day? Ah! Now that I think about it, isn't she Oguri Cap herself?!"
Sakura Bakushin-o, who had been listening nearby, suddenly had a moment of realization, as if she had only just grasped the others' identities. This left everyone feeling rather speechless:
So after listening for so long, you only just realized Oguri Cap is Oguri Cap?
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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