Chapter 37: Something Good to See? Let Teio Take a Look!
Today, I'm visiting Teio as a challenger and also to apologize for causing that commotion...
"Anyway, I must make Teio understand that I just want to face her fairly in battle."
Stardust Mirage stood outside the hospital room door, not pushing it open immediately.
Although she had rushed over in a moment of excitement, only at the door did she remember that her previous actions likely also implicated another party involved: Tokai Teio.
Even though her intention was just to declare war, it inevitably affected Teio too. Meeting again now without apologizing might make people think she was using Teio's fame to promote herself.
Having roughly thought through what to say next, Stardust Mirage took a deep breath and pushed the door open:
"Excuse me, I'm here to visit—"
"Ah! It's Stardust Mirage!!!"
A blur flashed before her eyes. Stardust Mirage only felt a weight in her arms, instinctively catching the figure, and then looked down.
It was Tokai Teio.
"Has Stardust Mirage come to visit me?!"
Suspended in the air and cradled in Stardust Mirage's embrace, Tokai Teio tightly wrapped her arms around Stardust Mirage's neck. With practiced ease, she adjusted herself into a comfortable position, blinking her large eyes as she beamed a radiant smile at the person before her.
"Listen, listen! I saw your interview with Oguri Cap! That was amazing! The second Oguri Cap, wow!"
"..."
Watching Teio excitedly chatter away like a rapid-fire machine gun, Stardust Illusion helplessly placed her back on the hospital bed before saying:
"This matter must have troubled you, right? I spoke without thinking at the time. I'm sorry."
"Huh?" Tokai Teio tilted her head as she sat on the bed. "What was wrong with what you said?"
"Well... Tch, anyway, as long as it didn't affect you, that's what matters most."
Seeing the innocent look in Teio's eyes, Stardust Mirage immediately realized she had once again overthought things out of habit. In Teio's eyes, such a public challenge might even seem cool.
The two chatted for a while about recent races, starting with Stardust Mirage's second debut race. Teio listened intently to her account, showing great interest in the giant horse girl named Daiten Tendo.
Then they talked about Teio's second race, where she displayed extraordinary speed.
She maintained a position between second and third in the first half, but in the final 500 meters, Tokai Teio suddenly accelerated, once again using that special stride—the Ultimate Teio Step.
In the end, she defeated all her opponents with an absolute lead of four lengths over the second-place finisher.
"That running style was something I realized while racing with Stardust! It's the ultimate Teio Step! Let me show you!"
Carried away by excitement, Teio tried to jump off the bed to demonstrate for Stardust Mirage, but she was quickly pressed back down.
"Isn't your strain injury still not healed? Don't delay your recovery time."
Having rarely interacted outside of races, the two now felt much closer.
At Stardust Mirage's request, Teio began calling her "Stardust," and Stardust Mirage no longer treated Teio with the cautious reverence of a star, as she had at the beginning.
"Hmph, it's almost healed anyway. Once it is, I'll have my trainer schedule a practice match with your team Draco!" Tokai Teio made a playful face, sticking her tongue out at Stardust Mirage.
The team name "Draco" had been changed on the spot by Toyama Hikaru.
Teio had also expressed dissatisfaction earlier that Stardust Mirage hadn't joined their Spica team, hence her suggestion for a practice match.
"I don't think a practice match is necessary," Stardust Illusion declined with a smile.
"Huh? Stardust, don't you want to run with me?!"
"That's not it. I just want to save our showdown for the classic triple crown races. At the Satsuki Sho, I'll let you see exactly how much stronger I've become."
Stardust Mirage explained, and she truly meant it.
Losing to Tokai Teio had become an obsession for her, so she didn't want to face Teio too soon.
Old Man Musaka had also said that preserving this frustration from defeat would further strengthen her resolve to improve.
"Hmm! I understand! Stardust, you also said, 'When one person meets another, a wondrous reaction can occur, and it might even change the world,' right? So you want to reunite with me on a grander stage!"
Tokai Teio spoke in a knowing, adult-like tone, nodding with her arms crossed over her chest, as if to say, "Mhmm, I completely understand now."
"That's roughly the idea," Stardust Mirage replied, though she found Teio's phrasing a bit odd, she still nodded in agreement.
"Hehe, I also saw in the news that it was your confession to me. Does Stardust really like me?"
As if suddenly remembering something, Tokai Teio asked with a mischievous grin.
"Pfft!!!"
Before Stardust Mirage could react, the sound of someone spitting out water suddenly came from the bed separated by a curtain behind Teio, followed by a series of violent coughs...
Stardust Mirage and Teio exchanged glances, silently asking if Teio knew who was in the neighboring bed.
"Agnes Digital, what's wrong?"
Teio simply turned her head and asked.
"...So, so cool! Too cool!"
From behind the curtain came Agnes Digital's ecstatic, almost suffocated groan.
The two exchanged glances again, unsure what was happening over there.
"Ah, you two don't need to worry about a paramecium like me! Just, just keep talking!"
Sensing the silence, Agnes Digital quickly urged them to continue.
Originally hospitalized for rest due to low blood sugar from staying up late to meet a deadline, she never expected to witness such a scene.
Her mind was already painting a picture:
["Does Stardust really like me that much?"
The devilish Tokai Teio provokes the tall and handsome Stardust Mirage, only to have her hands seized and pinned forcefully to the hospital bed.
Stardust Mirage slowly leans close to Teio's ear, blowing a warm breeze into her ear canal. Watching Teio tremble slightly, her ears turning red, Stardust Mirage says with a mischievous smile:
"Teio, you're playing with fire, you know?"]
...
Ah, this scene! Three Goddesses, take me away! Guhehehehehe...!
Hearing the strange laughter from behind the curtain, Stardust Mirage walked over in annoyance and pulled the curtain aside with a swift motion—
"Gwah!!!"
The horse girl lying on the bed by the window let out a strange cry, covering her face with a drawing board.
She knew she had interrupted their conversation and felt a bit flustered.
Uncertain what Stardust Mirage intended to do, she quickly begged for mercy:
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I just wanted to see the interactions between uma musume! I really didn't mean anything else!!!"
Looking at the sweet-faced but utterly pitiful Air Groove, Stardust Illusion sighed and reached out to take the drawing board from her hands.
It had to be said, this uma musume otaku's drawing skills were truly impressive. In just that short time, she had already sketched the line art for a drawing.
In the drawing, Stardust Mirage was depicted in a more masculine style, wearing a wicked smile as she pinned a disheveled Tokai Teio firmly to the bed...
Amidst Agnes Digital's cries of despair, Stardust Mirage tore off the clearly inappropriate page and stuffed it into her pocket.
"Alright, this is confiscated. You're not allowed to draw me."
She said expressionlessly.
"Ah! How could you?!"
Agnes Digital was devastated. She leaped off the hospital bed, not even bothering to put on her shoes, and ran over barefoot, clinging to Stardust Mirage's leg as she tearfully pleaded:
"Please give it back to me! I won't show it to anyone! I'll die without it!"
"What did you draw? If it's photos, I still have some here."
Tokai Teio, puzzled by the spectacle, chimed in.
Just a drawing? She often gave photos to her fans. What was the big deal?
Why were these two making such a fuss?
"Kids shouldn't worry about this."
Stardust Mirage didn't want Teio to see something on the level of a doujinshi, so she brushed it off casually.
"Ah! I'm not a kid! Take this!"
Hearing herself called a kid, Teio angrily pulled a pillow from behind her and threw it.
"Alright, alright, I'm the kid... Let's wrap up here for today. When can you leave the hospital, Teio?"
Catching the pillow, Stardust Mirage checked the time and realized it was almost the hour she had agreed upon with Toyama. She freed herself from Agnes Digital's grasp and returned the pillow to Tokai Teio.
"The doctor said I can leave in a few days," Tokai Teio shook her head proudly. "Since you want to compete with me again at the Satsuki Sho, I'll make sure to surprise you then."
"My undefeated triple crown journey will begin with defeating you then!"
As she spoke, she stretched out her fist toward Stardust Mirage in a challenging gesture.
"The one who'll surprise the other might not just be you."
Stardust Mirage tapped her fist against Teio's, then turned and walked out, disappearing behind the door.
"So, what was that drawing about?"
Watching her rival leave the room, Tokai Teio turned to her temporary roommate with a curious expression.
"Hehe, it's something adults love to see! I'll draw it for you right away!"
Agnes Digital grinned slyly as she picked up her drawing board.
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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