"Whoa."" x5
Inside the training room the Spica team—minus Gold Legend—stood in a circle around a newspaper.
"So cool, Legend."
Teio pointed at the photo of Gold Legend breasting the tape, envy all over her face.
"Of course—who do you think I am!"
Gold Legend puffed out her chest.
"Cool, sure, but the Winner's Stage…"
McQueen stared at the picture below with mixed feelings.
"Didn't you say dancing was no problem?" The Trainer jabbed at the moon-walk shot. "This is how you did it?"
"I did ask Teio for help!" Gold Legend nodded.
"But I didn't teach you that." Teio blew her cover without hesitation. "The president was furious: 'A sloppy Winner's Stage performance disgraces the academy.'"
"…There's a really deep reason—let me explain." Gold Legend wilted.
"Fine, we're listening." McQueen folded her arms; Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet nodded in sync.
"Honestly, I thought Little Aunt's moves were great—Michael Jackson, yeah!"
Gold Ship produced sunglasses from nowhere and struck a classic pose.
"Mainly, when the music started I realized I didn't know the routine," Gold Legend said, slumping into a chair. "I tried to copy the others, but it was a solo."
She had planned to blend in with the group—her talent and reflexes could have handled it—but her huge margin had denied the rest any right to the Winner's Stage.
"So you improvised?" The Trainer rubbed his temples at the newspaper.
"I thought it was fine—the crowd looked excited."
"…True." He recalled the dance and nodded.
"Still, cute style suits an Uma Musume better," Daiwa Scarlet offered sagely.
"Whatever—anything goes!" Gold Legend threw up her hands.
"…All right, next time. Legend, your debut's done—what now?"
The Trainer asked.
"What do you mean? Just follow the schedule."
"Got it. Then we're finished for today—dismissed!"
"Yeah!" x5
…
"Ah, I'm so bored." Gold Legend sat on a bench, staring blankly at the setting sun.
"Hey, you over there, could you help me with something?"
A strangely familiar voice drifted over.
Gold Legend glanced over and saw an Uma Musume with reddish-brown ears and a tail struggling to walk while carrying several boxes of unknown contents, the stacked boxes obscuring her face.
"...Are you calling me?"
Gold Legend looked left and right, confirmed there was no one else, and asked cautiously.
"...There's no one else besides you, is there? Could you please lend a hand? As you can see, I have a bit too much stuff."
"Oh, oh."
Realizing what was happening, Gold Legend quickly stepped forward and took half the boxes.
The Uma Musume revealed her face... Isn't that Nice Nature!
"It's Nice Nature!"
As if provoked, Nice Nature's ears and tail stood straight up.
"..." I didn't even say anything yet.
"Eh, ah, sorry, sorry, um... ahaha. Hello, I am Nice Nature, thank you for your help."
Izao Izao, suddenly realizing her rudeness, gave a slightly awkward smile, then introduced herself formally.
"...It's fine. Hello, I am Gold Legend."
Gold Legend didn't mind, simply observing the lovable Uma Musume closely.
"Gold Legend? Ah, the delinquent who frequently gets hauled into the station!"
So, this is never going to end, is it?
"Ah, um, I am so sorry!"
Nice Nature, who spoke without thinking yet again, apologized hurriedly, but her movements were quite comical since she couldn't bow while holding the packages.
Forget everything else, brothers, let's all shout: "Nice Nature, Yyds (Forever Third)!"
"...Are you thinking something rude?"
Nice Nature shivered.
"..." Shaking my head frantically.
"Really?" Nice Nature gave a look of suspicion.
"What are these?" The desire for self-preservation made Gold Legend hastily change the subject.
"Hmm, these? These are gifts from the regulars at the Shopping Street. Honestly, even though these kind gestures are for me..."
Miss Nice Nature mumbled.
"Izao Izao, you're really popular."
Gold Legend said, mimicking Oguri Cap's straightforward and earnest tone.
"Eh!" Nice Nature blushed. "Hey, stop joking! I'm just a very ordinary, commoner-type Uma Musume."
"No, Nice Nature, you really are cute." Looking at the blushing Nice Nature, Gold Legend said sincerely.
"..." Miss Nice Nature silently lowered her head, hiding behind the boxes.
After delivering the gifts from the elders of the Shopping Street back to the dormitory, Miss Nice Nature timidly asked Gold Legend.
"Um, Classmate Golden Legend, do you have time now?"
"I don't have anything planned for now. What's up?"
"Nothing much, I just wanted to treat you to dinner, just as thanks! Don't overthink it!"
"Sure." I couldn't ask for more!
Gold Legend, enchanted by Miss Nice Nature's cuteness, nodded frantically.
"Alright, follow me! I'll take you somewhere nice."
..."Mmm~ Smells good! Uncle, do you have any freshly grilled skewers?"
Following Nice Nature, they arrived at the Shopping Street near Tracen.
Miss Nice Nature, upon arriving here, seemed like she was home, and her tone became relaxed and casual.
"Oh, oh, isn't this Little Izao Izao! Yes, we have them, we even have chicken gizzards!"
The uncle selling skewers clearly recognized Nice Nature and greeted her enthusiastically.
"Oh, great, I'll take one too... Ah, wait, I'm not the one eating today!"
Miss Nice Nature, who had answered instinctively, suddenly remembered the purpose of their visit.
"It's this Uma Musume here who wants to eat. Please select some of your recommended snacks and pack them up for me."
"Sure, leave it to me!" The boss happily agreed, then seemed to remember something and turned to ask Gold Legend, "Are you Little Izao Izao's friend?"
"No, no, no, we're just classmates, just classmates!"
Nice Nature hurriedly explained.
"...So in Nice Nature's heart, we're not friends? That's heartbreaking, boohoo."
Seeing Nice Nature's panicked expression, Gold Legend felt playful and put on a heartbroken look.
"Eh! No! That's not what I meant!"
Nice Nature became even more flustered.
"Little Izao Izao, how could you treat a friend like that!"
"Um, I didn't mean it like that, sorry about that anyway!"
"So, are we friends?"
Gold Legend put on an expectant look, staring at Nice Nature with wide eyes.
"...Fine, I get it. This is my friend, Gold Legend."
The defeated Izao Izao reintroduced her to the boss.
"That's better. You have to cherish your friends." Seeing Nice Nature like this, the boss finally felt relieved. "Since you're Little Izao Izao's friend, I can't be stingy either. Classmate, please wait for me. I'm going to gather all the recommended snacks from the Shopping Street right now!"
Then the boss rushed out with lightning speed.
"No, that's not necessary—" Gold Legend only had time to reach out with an Erkang Hand before the boss was already out of sight.
"Uncle, he's so fast. Fast enough that I almost want him to run races for me."
Nice Nature, having calmed down and realized she had been teased, narrowed her eyes and complained.
"Is this the Miss Nice Nature beloved by the people of the Shopping Street? I've learned something new."
Gold Legend said with a hint of admiration.
"Hmm, rather than being beloved... well, among the students at Tracen Academy, I suppose I'm the type of Uma Musume who is 'easy to talk to'." Ignoring the previous joke, Nice Nature explained, "My family is also from a Shopping Street like this. My dad runs a small bar, and I helped out there when I was little. So, I had many opportunities to talk to the people on the Shopping Street and the regular uncles and aunties.
"Well, because of that environment, I grew up feeling quite ordinary. Thanks to that, I'm really grateful that I can meet the uncles and them here on the Shopping Street."
Gold Legend listened to Nice Nature's words with a smile.
"...It seems like I got off topic while talking."
Nice Nature, realizing this, said somewhat sheepishly.
"Not at all. I just feel that Nice Nature is truly outstanding."
Gold Legend said with a laugh.
"Ahaha... I told you, I'm not that outstanding. It's just that... the people around me are very kind to me. They constantly cheer me on and support me, even though I'm just someone who runs a bit fast. They even sent me here. The day I left was incredible—the streets were decorated everywhere with flags, completely like a festival."
Remembering her lively hometown when she left, Nice Nature became excited, then grew disappointed again.
"Well... everyone must have been expecting a glorious victory from me, but I've only managed these mediocre results..."
"Oh, oh, Classmate Gold, sorry for the wait! Take these! I'm entrusting Little Izao Izao to your care."
Just as Gold Legend was thinking about how to comfort Nice Nature, the boss returned with various snacks.
"Ahaha, what is Uncle talking about, Classmate Legend? Hurry and eat while they're hot!"
Seeing the boss return, Nice Nature immediately put on her trademark smile again.
"..."
"Ah, there you are! Hey! Nice Nature! I finally found you! ... Hmm, Legend, why are you here?"
The sudden voice interrupted what Gold Legend was about to say. That distinctive voice belonged to Teio / Tokai Teio.
"Teio / Tokai Teio, as you can see, I'm here to sort out dinner. What's wrong? You look rushed."
"Ah, right, I came to find Nice Nature." Teio / Tokai Teio remembered her purpose and turned to Nice Nature. "Seriously, Nice Nature, we agreed to go shopping together today."
"...Ah! Sorry, Teio / Tokai Teio, I forgot."
Nice Nature, who seemed to remember something, quickly apologized to Teio / Tokai Teio.
"Honestly!" Teio / Tokai Teio crossed her arms and grumbled angrily.
"Alright, don't blame Nice Nature. She was doing this to thank me because I helped her with a small favor. Here, this is compensation."
Gold Legend interjected promptly, sharing the snacks in her hand with Teio / Tokai Teio.
"...For the sake of the snacks, I forgive you both."
"Thank you for your great generosity, Lord Teio / Tokai Teio."
Izao Izao, seeing Teio / Tokai Teio calm down, also said with a smile.
"Well, let's continue shopping then. Legend, you might as well join us."
Teio / Tokai Teio extended the invitation to Gold Legend as well.
"Speaking of which, do Teio / Tokai Teio and Classmate Legend know each other?"
Izao Izao asked doubtfully.
"Yep, we're on the same team."
"Eh!"
Izao Izao glanced at Gold Legend in surprise.
"Does that mean Classmate Legend is the highly talented type?"
"Yeah, Legend is super strong! She won her Debut Race two days ago by an overwhelming 15 lengths."
"That's amazing, you've already debuted! You seem so approachable, I thought..."
"..."
Gold Legend suddenly felt Miss Nice Nature pulling away from her, psychologically speaking.
"It's okay, Nice Nature. No matter what, we're friends."
Sensing what was happening, Gold Legend quickly tried to salvage the situation.
"R-really? Can an ordinary Uma Musume like me be friends with you?"
Miss Nice Nature is cute even when she's feeling insecure.
"What are you talking about, Nice Nature? Both Teio / Tokai Teio and I are your friends. Right, Teio / Tokai Teio?"
Gold Legend winked at Teio / Tokai Teio.
"Although I don't know what happened, Nice Nature is my irreplaceable best friend!"
Teio / Tokai Teio grabbed Izao Izao's hand and said affectionately.
"Teio / Tokai Teio... Okay, I understand. Please take care of me from now on, Teio / Tokai Teio, and Classmate Legend."
Should I be under the car?
Watching the two happy Horse Girls, Gold Legend was left speechless by that "and more."
Later, at the karaoke session, Gold Legend sang "Outside the Triangle" right in front of Teio and Nature…