24: Chapter 23: Nature, My Hero!
24: Chapter 23: Nature, My Hero!
Naturally, Li Ze knew nothing about the conversation between Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove.
After Air Groove fell silent, Tazuna called her over and they left together.
Even if Li Ze had heard Rudolf’s judgment of her…
She probably would’ve smiled calmly.
Same principle as always.
Nobody understood one’s own situation better than oneself.
Rudolf wasn’t wrong.
Li Ze really did rely on the system to activate skills.
Of course they were rigid and mechanical.
The trigger conditions were written right there.
Tell her to forget the system and talk about “aura”?
How was an ordinary human supposed to know what aura even was?
“Little Natsume, what are you thinking about?” “Big Sister Tazuna, I’m thinking about what I can eat for lunch that costs the least.
“That’s why I don’t like appearing in public as an Uma Musume.
“Compared to ordinary humans, Uma Musume eat far too much.
“My expenses increase enormously.” Li Ze answered honestly.
Poor people had to calculate every coin.
During that first month of training, before Natsume Reiko successfully debuted…
Even instant noodles with one sausage had been a luxury when she was Natsume Sawa.
“Oh?
“Then I’ll privately sponsor you a little.” “Thank you, Big Sister Tazuna.
“I won’t pretend to be polite.” She’d already told Tazuna her greatest secret.
Accepting a bit of money from her didn’t weigh heavily on Li Ze’s conscience anymore.
Poor…
So poor.
“Speaking of which, you’ll need to work hard on your fundamentals after returning.
“When are you free recently?
“I’ll train you personally.” “Huh?
“Big Sister Tazuna is going to train me herself?” “Yes.
“Otherwise, the Emperor won’t let you go.” “Huh?” Li Ze didn’t understand.
What had she done that would make Symboli Rudolf “not let her go”?
If Tazuna didn’t come capture her personally…
Would Rudolf arrange for someone to stuff her into a sack and carry her to Tracen Academy?
“The Emperor hates seeing talent wasted more than anything right now.
“And your situation is…
“Rather serious.” “What do you mean?” “This isn’t the time to explain.
“Listen.
“Someone’s coming.
“They’re probably looking for you.” “Hm?” Li Ze looked confused.
She couldn’t see anyone approaching.
Wait.
Footsteps.
Was Tazuna’s hearing even better than hers?
Rapid impacts echoed closer.
The sound of an Uma Musume running.
Before Li Ze could fully turn toward the noise…
The owner of those footsteps appeared directly in front of her.
“Reiko!
Let me show you around Tracen Academy!” The petite figure made the person’s identity obvious.
Tokai Teio, who had been clinging to Symboli Rudolf when they left, had now appeared before them.
Can I refuse?
Li Ze didn’t actually want to tour Tracen Academy.
But rejecting Tokai Teio…
That radiant smile made saying no unusually difficult.
At a time like this…
Only Big Sister Tazuna could save her.
Surely she could— “Perfect timing.” Tazuna smiled.
“Little Natsume, I need to go process your auditing-student permit.
“You can spend some time with Tokai Teio.
“If you have questions about your problem, you can ask Teio.
“The Emperor already explained what happened during the race to you, right?” “Yes!
The President told me everything!” “Wait—” That’s not what I meant!
Li Ze watched Tazuna disappear into the distance.
Her heart wept.
That wasn’t what she wanted to say!
“Come on, come on, Reiko!
Let’s go play!
“Did you drink the honey special from last time?
“Was it good?” Honey special…
Tokai Teio’s reminder made Li Ze remember yesterday’s drink.
This morning, too lazy to go out for breakfast, she’d eaten bread with the honey drink.
If she had to review it honestly…
“It tasted pretty good.
“But there was too much honey.
“A little too sweet.” “A little”?
It was absurdly sweet!
Could normal humans even tolerate that sweetness?
Li Ze had diluted the remaining drink with cold water.
The original concentration was genuinely too much.
Even now, half a cup of diluted honey special remained in the refrigerator.
“Really?
So Reiko doesn’t like it that sweet.
“But that’s okay!
Tracen Academy’s honey specials are even better!
“You can just ask the shopkeeper for less sweetness!” “Mm.
I’ll remember.
“Teio, don’t you need to train today?” “Nope!
Today’s my rest day.
“I don’t have a Trainer yet, so I determine my own training schedule.” “What about academic classes?
“You still attend normal lessons, right?” Tracen Academy didn’t merely teach Uma Musume how to run.
It also offered many theoretical classes.
Li Ze had even seen information about a law program.
Given that…
An enrolled Uma Musume like Tokai Teio should still need to complete academic coursework.
“Academic classes?
“I already finished most of them!
“Reiko probably doesn’t know, but Uma Musume like us who are about to debut have already completed most required theoretical hours.
“We mostly just need to pass exams now.
“Special Week is one of the few who still needs extra lessons because she only recently joined the academy.” “Special Week?
“The girl who debuted recently?” “Yep!
Reiko knows Special Week too?” “Of course.
“The first winner in history to stand dazed on the Winning Live stage.
“The only person more ridiculous is probably Gold Ship, who turned the Winning Live into a street-dance performance.” As expected of Gold Ship.
Li Ze had watched a broadcast where Gold Ship put on sunglasses and performed street dance on the victory stage.
Honestly…
The dancing wasn’t bad.
After that stunt following her debut race…
Gold Ship immediately entered Uma Musume history.
History textbooks decades later might say: On this day in this year, Gold Ship performed street dance during her debut Winning Live, beginning the era of unserious victory performances.
“Reiko, don’t you regret it?
“You and Nature both skipped the Winning Live.
“The lead position got handed to third place.” Me?
Perform the Uma-Pyoi dance on stage?
Smile happily while singing about “your beloved horse girl”?
Spare me.
Just imagining it made Li Ze’s entire body break out in goosebumps.
Forget being injured that day.
Even if she’d been perfectly healthy…
She still wouldn’t have gone onstage.
“It’s fine.
“I don’t like that stage anyway.
“And I can’t dance.” “Oh!
I forgot you never learned!
“Perfect!
I’ve been teaching Special Week and the others dancing recently.
“Reiko, join us!
“I really want to see you perform on the Winning Live!” Tokai Teio grabbed Natsume Reiko’s hand.
The soft sensation of her palm traveled into Li Ze’s brain.
This kid’s skin is really soft…
Wait.
Why am I thinking about that?!
I need to refuse.
Refuse!
Li Ze opened her mouth, ready to reject the invitation directly.
Then she saw the sparkling stars in Tokai Teio’s eyes.
This kid…
Is impossible to reject.
Big Sister Tazuna, please come back.
Against this girl, I’m helpless.
Anyone will do!
Please, Three Goddesses, send someone!
Energetic, adorable younger girls like Tokai Teio were Li Ze’s natural weakness.
Even though his preferred type leaned older…
He couldn’t bring himself to dislike younger girls either.
Apparently Li Ze’s prayer moved the Three Goddesses.
A voice sounded beside them.
“Reiko?
Teio?
What are you two doing here?” The newcomer wore Tracen Academy’s uniform.
Nice Nature.
She appeared to be alone.
Perfect.
Add Nature to the party.
Then Teio won’t cling to me alone.
Nature…
My hero.
Nice Nature, who had only just arrived, was thoroughly confused.
For some reason…
Natsume Reiko’s gaze toward her suddenly became incredibly passionate.
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