Tazuna Hayakawa didn’t keep Li Ze waiting long.
By the time she’d boiled water and prepared tea, the doorbell rang.
Before opening the door, Li Ze gave the room one final inspection.
Perfect.
Absolutely looked like two people lived here.
Now for the excuse explaining his own absence.
Plan A—Natsume Sawa was out working—felt too flimsy.
He’d just received a decent race payment.
Why would he immediately take a shift?
Then Plan B.
Natsume Sawa had gone out for a social engagement.
Yes.
That was foolproof.
Feeling confident, Li Ze reached the door and opened it.
Two figures appeared before her.
One tall.
One small.
The taller one was the “Green Demon” who had offered to help her outside the racetrack.
Tazuna Hayakawa.
As for the smaller one…
That crescent-shaped white cowlick.
Reddish-brown hair falling behind her.
Tracen Academy’s uniform wrapped around a still-developing, petite body.
Naturally, that assessment was made by middle-school standards.
Li Ze didn’t even need to search his memories.
He knew immediately who she was.
The girl who lost her dream of an undefeated Triple Crown…
Suffered three fractures…
And still created an immortal miracle.
Tokai Teio.
He remembered her so instantly not because she was already famous before debut.
But because in his previous life…
Li Ze could hardly forget the tiny girl.
Every time he saw anything related to horses, her figure automatically surfaced in his mind.
She was carved into his DNA.
Silently marveling at that, Li Ze stepped aside.
“Miss Hayakawa and Miss Tokai Teio, correct?
Please come in.” “Sorry for disturbing you without much warning.” “Not at all.” After exchanging some obligatory pleasantries, the three sat around the apartment’s only low table.
Three steaming cups of tea rested on top.
“I’m afraid my humble home is rather simple, so I only have tea to offer.” Li Ze sat perfectly straight, like a refined young lady from an old family.
Question.
What man had experience pretending to be a woman?
The obvious answer was almost none.
Much less Li Ze, a former shut-in.
Before transmigrating, his interactions with girls had been limited to female classmates and relatives.
And even those relationships were usually no more than nodding acquaintances.
A natural-born recluse.
With no model to imitate, Li Ze didn’t dare act casually.
What if he overdid it and offended the guests?
So he settled on portraying a reserved, refined lady.
If his acting ability had been better, he would’ve preferred a completely emotionless character like Yuki Nagato.
“Miss Natsume, there’s no need to be so formal or nervous.
“We came today on behalf of Tracen Academy to invite you to enroll.” Tazuna explained her purpose.
Symboli Rudolf’s continued interest in Natsume Reiko was precisely because of this.
In Tazuna’s view, it would be a waste for a seedling like Reiko not to receive the best resources available at Tracen Academy.
Under Rudolf’s leadership, Tracen kept its doors open to talented Uma Musume from regional schools.
There were even policies favoring them.
Oguri Cap, for example.
The “Gray-Haired Monster” enjoyed resources at Tracen far beyond what ordinary students could imagine.
Though Oguri herself reportedly claimed that all she really wanted was enough food at every meal.
“Join Tracen Academy?” Li Ze frowned slightly.
On Natsume Reiko’s beautiful face, the expression looked almost painfully melancholy.
Tokai Teio sat quietly beside Tazuna.
When going out with adults, she knew better than to cause trouble.
Especially in a formal situation.
Still…
Why did her heart suddenly ache a little?
Tazuna, tempered by years of experience, merely allowed the corner of her mouth to curve upward when she saw Li Ze’s expression.
If her theory was correct…
This could become very interesting.
Suppressing her mischievous amusement, Tazuna continued: “If Miss Natsume is worried about your Trainer, you can safely enroll.
“Even after entering Tracen Academy, Natsume Trainer would remain your Trainer.
“That relationship wouldn’t change.
“However, he would not become an official Tracen Academy Trainer.
“We could issue him an access pass.
“I apologize that we’re unable to grant him Tracen Academy Trainer status.” These were benefits Tazuna herself had authority to offer.
Her understanding of academy policy wasn’t much worse than Rudolf’s.
In fact, before Rudolf became Student Council President, much of the chairman’s work had passed through Tazuna’s hands.
“…” Li Ze fell silent.
His brow relaxed slightly.
Then he picked up his tea and slowly took a sip.
What do I do?
What do I do?
What the hell do I do?!
Beneath the calm exterior…
A hurricane raged.
Li Ze genuinely didn’t know how to answer Tazuna.
Was he supposed to tell her that Natsume Sawa and Natsume Reiko were literally the same person?
No.
People who voluntarily exposed their own secrets were generally idiots.
Then…
Wait.
Something feels wrong.
Li Ze finally noticed a discrepancy.
Something about Tazuna’s wording seemed strange.
But what?
“Miss Natsume, where is Natsume Trainer?
I don’t believe I’ve seen him today.” Right.
Natsume Sawa.
No.
Me!
She’s saying I wouldn’t join Tracen officially.
I’d just get a pass and continue guiding Natsume Reiko when necessary?
Actually…
That doesn’t sound impossible.
But then what about the training ground I rented?!
Only a few days earlier, Li Ze had finally negotiated the use of that old Uma Musume academy’s facilities.
He’d haggled endlessly before the owner agreed to a low price.
And now all that effort would be wasted?
I refuse!
“Miss Natsume?” “Sorry.
I got distracted.
“I’ll need some time to think about this.” Li Ze finally remembered that he was currently entertaining guests.
He used the safest possible answer to delay the issue.
He could think properly afterward.
Tazuna didn’t mind.
“If you’re still considering your options, I can offer another possibility.
“Tracen Academy has an auditing-student system.
“Compared to transfer students, auditing students have far more freedom.
“They aren’t required to attend Tracen’s theoretical courses, though they’re still welcome to sit in on them.
“They can also use academy facilities freely.
“The evaluation standard is similar to that for transfer students.
“You can find all the details on Tracen Academy’s official website.” “I see.
“Once Natsume Sawa returns, I’ll discuss it with him carefully.” “When you’ve made a decision, contact me at the number I gave you.
“I’ll handle the matter immediately.” “Thank you.” After that, they stopped spending much time on the subject.
Tazuna changed topics.
Li Ze responded in as gentle a voice as possible.
To him, this was simply what interacting with unfamiliar people was like.
Humans always encountered situations that made them uncomfortable.
Even a shut-in had to speak with strangers sometimes.
That was when the social mask came out.
Once the Persona was equipped…
Everything became easier.
During the entire conversation, Tokai Teio barely spoke.
She listened quietly while observing the girl across from her.
The gentle voice.
The elegant manner.
For some reason, Tokai Teio thought of the phrase she’d learned in Japanese class.
Yamato nadeshiko.
And somehow…
There were traces of the President in her too.
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