The day of enrollment finally arrived.
On the station platform, a touching yet slightly exaggerated farewell drama was unfolding.
"Waaaah... Myriad Dreams, you have to take good care of yourself! You're going to Tracen all alone!"
Brilliant Radiance-mama was weeping like a fountain, nearly washing the entire station with her tears.
"Did you pack enough food? Do you have enough pocket money? Don't push yourself too hard in training!"
Swift Stride-mama said as she slapped Myriad Dreams on the back with enough force to make her stagger, all while fighting back the tears in her eyes.
"Just be happy. You've always been our pride!"
Myriad Dreams, dressed in casual sportswear and chewing her favorite gum, felt a bit overwhelmed by her mothers' deep affection.
She scratched her cheek, her eyes drifting elsewhere, as she promised in a somewhat hesitant tone: "I get it already... Don't worry, I'll... well... I'll make you proud and stand at the top of Japan!"
Finally escaping her mothers' "tear attack," Myriad Dreams breathed a sigh of relief and hopped onto the train with her suitcase.
After finding her seat, she immediately slumped down like a boneless cat, put on her headphones, and prepared to space out all the way to the academy.
However, just as she relaxed, she keenly felt a gaze piercing through from the side.
Myriad Dreams stole a glance out of the corner of her eye.
Sitting in the next seat was another Uma Musume also in casual clothes.
She looked bursting with energy, and the prominent cowlick on her head seemed to radiate curiosity.
She was staring at Myriad Dreams with wide, round eyes, her gaze so pure and direct that it made the slightly socially anxious Myriad Dreams feel incredibly self-conscious.
Internally, Myriad Dreams was dying of shyness, but she maintained an expressionless face on the outside, only unconsciously increasing the speed of her gum-chewing.
After a several-minute standoff where the gaze remained persistent, Myriad Dreams finally couldn't take it anymore.
She took a deep breath and abruptly turned her head, deciding to break the awkward silence proactively (and a bit stiffly).
"Um... is there... something on my face?" she asked in a dry, flat tone.
"Ah!" The brown-haired Uma Musume, startled by the sudden question like a frightened rabbit, snapped back to reality.
Her face instantly flushed bright red, and her hands waved frantically in the air.
"I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it! It's just... it's my first time seeing another Uma Musume from this close! So I was a little curious! I'm really, really sorry!"
She apologized with such vigor she nearly bounced out of her seat.
'So she's just a bit of a ditz', Myriad Dreams thought, instantly relieved.
Her tense shoulders slumped as her casual nature took back the lead.
"Oh, I see."
She blew a bubble and said in a lazy tone, "It's fine. I'm Myriad Dreams. And you? Are you enrolling at Tracen too?"
Of course, she already knew who this was, but Myriad Dreams pretended not to know her.
After all, calling someone by their name the first time you meet might make you look like a suspicious person.
"Y-Yes! My name is Special Week!"
Seeing that the other girl wasn't angry, the Uma Musume named Special Week immediately regained her spirit, her eyes sparkling.
"Nice to meet you, Myriad Dreams-san! Your ears and tail are a beautiful color! They look like the starry sky!"
"Pff..." Myriad Dreams felt a bit embarrassed by such blunt praise and subconsciously touched her horse ears, which featured deep blue gradient highlights.
"Th-Thanks. Uh... why are you so curious about me?"
Special Week nodded vigorously and replied with pure energy, "Sorry, I grew up in the countryside and rarely see others like me! So seeing you, Myriad Dreams-san, made me a little excited!"
"I get it, I get it," Myriad Dreams expressed deep understanding.
She slumped back into her seat and held out a piece of gum.
"Here, want one? Chewing helps relieve stress."
Special Week took it curiously. "Thank you!"
And so, on the train heading toward the academy of dreams, a casual, lazy Myriad Dreams chewing gum and a high-energy, curious Special Week formed a peculiar duo.
Myriad Dreams sighed inwardly:
'It looks like this academy life won't be quiet at all... but maybe that's not a bad thing? At least, it'll be more interesting than spacing out alone.'