“Uma Musume are like idols; when they stand on the racetrack and stage, they often bring passion and dreams to people.”
Polaris Glacier felt that she completely understood this statement now.
She sang joyfully, danced, and conveyed the surging happiness in her heart to the audience, a genuine smile unconsciously blossoming on her face.
When the winner’s stage ended and she returned backstage, she still hadn’t quite come back to her senses.
Polaris Glacier habitually tilted her head slightly, looking at the ceiling of the lounge, feeling an unusual sense of exhilaration in her heart.
It was somewhat similar to the feeling after running alongside Maruzensky, yet also a bit different, but one thing was certain: she really liked this feeling.
“I want to experience something like this again…”
When is the next race?
She wanted to know now, she wanted to participate now, she wanted to win again now, she wanted to stand on the stage again!
Her emotions surged, as if reaching a certain critical point, and a Chilling Aura, even more biting than before, suddenly erupted around her, instantly dropping the temperature in the lounge to freezing point.
Tiny ice crystals gradually condensed on the mirrors originally used to help the Uma Musume get ready, and faintly, words seemed to flow within them.
If one looked closely, they would find:
[Innate Skill: Chilling Aura Lv.3 → Lv.4]
[Description: Constant invasion!
Your body will release a Chilling Aura that drifts backward with the wind.
Uma Musume running behind you will continuously have their stamina drained.
The closer they are to you, the faster the drainage.
A small amount of the drained stamina will be continuously restored to you.]
“Hoo…”
After her body released the Chilling Aura, Polaris Glacier quickly calmed down instead, and she no longer cared as much about the winner’s stage and the race.
She gently exhaled, gradually put away the lingering emotions in her heart, and returned to her persona as a young lady.
She quickly changed back into her own clothes, left the lounge, and went outside, immediately spotting the Head Maid and Trainer Kumi waiting for her together.
Smiling, she jogged over to meet them, and the three of them then took a car back to the temporary hotel.
After resting for one night, they took a train back to Fuchu the next morning.
Since the academy had already started classes when she returned, Polaris Glacier decisively sent a message to her teacher asking for an extra day off.
And in the afternoon, she didn’t go to the academy, merely jogging leisurely on the training ground of her own estate.
In the evening, she was even more free.
After dinner, she took a short stroll in the front garden, then returned to her room and lay on the bed, browsing the JRA Friend Circle on her phone.
When it was time, she lay down to sleep, and thus the day passed.
At seven o’clock the next morning, Polaris Glacier woke up on time, relying on her internal clock.
After completing her wash-up, breakfast, and other steps, she got into the John Butler’s car and returned to Central Tracen Academy once again.
“Good morning, Polaris Glacier.”
Miss Hayakawa stood by the academy gate as usual, greeting every student with a good morning.
“Good morning.”
Smiling, Polaris Glacier replied and walked into the academy without stopping, heading towards the teaching building.
After the cafeteria lunch commotion, the training ground co-running and tire-dragging incidents, and yesterday’s debut race promotion, she was now truly in a state where everyone in the academy could call her by name.
As she walked, many enthusiastic and outgoing students greeted her.
She vaguely felt that her young lady persona was having trouble coping, and for a moment, she couldn’t quite figure out if this was a good thing or not.
In the classroom, Sirius Symboli seemed to have arrived a while ago and was reading her textbook to preview.
Seeing her enter, she raised her hand and waved:
“Morning, Polaris.”
“Good morning, Sirius.” Polaris Glacier nodded in acknowledgment and sat down in her seat.
The seat in front was still empty; clearly Miho Shinzan hadn’t arrived yet, but she should be coming soon.
Just as she was thinking this, the other party happened to pull open the classroom door and walk in.
“Good morning, Miho Shinzan, how did you sleep last night?”
Miho Shinzan had just walked to her seat when she heard Polaris Glacier ask this question.
“Good morning, Polaris Glacier.”
She first greeted Polaris Glacier, then continued with the answer to the question:
“To be honest, I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“I know, because your complexion tells me so.” Polaris Glacier nodded, showing an expression that said, “I knew it.”
“The dark circles under your eyes are a bit heavy, did something happen last night?”
Hearing this, Miho Shinzan paused, then scratched her face a little awkwardly, turning her head to the side and saying:
“Let’s not talk about it, I feel really embarrassed.”
“Mihono, just tell us.
Anyway, there’s still some time before class starts.
Maybe talking about it will help you relax.” Sirius Symboli heard the conversation between the two and immediately became curious.
She promptly put down her textbook, got up, and walked closer, trying to interject into the conversation.
Seeing this, Polaris Glacier also smiled and gave an assist, casting a curious look at Miho Shinzan.
“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you.”
Seeing both of her friends looking so inquisitive, Miho Shinzan hesitated for a moment, but finally gave in, choosing her words carefully before speaking:
“I had a nightmare yesterday, and it was a very strange one.
It kept me from sleeping soundly all night.”
“How so?”
“I dreamed I was running on a racetrack filled with wind and snow.
There were no cheers from the audience, and no other Uma Musume running with me, only bone-chilling, cold snowflakes.”
“My stamina was constantly draining, but the view ahead was blurry, I couldn’t see the finish line at all, and my body couldn’t stop, I could only keep running.”
“What happened after that?”
Sirius Symboli seemed to be completely engrossed, leaning slightly forward, looking completely absorbed.
Polaris Glacier, on the other hand, was thoughtful, her head slightly lowered, wondering what she was thinking.
“After that… my alarm clock rang.”
“Huh?!”
What kind of nonsensical, incomplete script is this?!
Sirius Symboli immediately deflated, shook her head, lightly patted Miho Shinzan’s shoulder, and turned back to her seat.
“Um… Sirius Symboli?”
Miho Shinzan was also a bit flustered seeing this.
Didn’t you two ask me to tell you?
Why are you unhappy now?
“Miho Shinzan, I think you don’t need to worry too much about this nightmare.
After all, it’s just a nightmare, and we still need to look forward.”
Polaris Glacier still smiled, saying a word that could barely be considered comfort, and imitating Sirius Symboli, lightly patted Miho Shinzan’s shoulder.
“Polaris Glacier…” Miho Shinzan sighed softly, wishing she had insisted on not saying anything.
“Ding~ ding~ ding~ ding~”
Soon after, the class bell rang, and the teacher also opened the classroom door immediately.
After checking the number of students present, she officially began the class.
The lessons were not difficult for Polaris Glacier; she could easily understand all the knowledge the teacher taught.
For slightly more important points, a simple note would suffice.
During the break, Polaris Glacier specifically ran to the senior department, mainly to deliver the gift she bought in Chiba to that Horse Girl senior.
When the other party found out, she happily accepted the lipstick and small mirror, promising that she would definitely go cheer for Polaris Glacier’s next race as well.
During lunch break, Polaris Glacier, Sirius Symboli, and Miho Shinzan once again walked together towards the cafeteria.
Over these past few days, Polaris Glacier’s appetite had significantly decreased compared to when she first started.
Sirius Symboli had even asked about it curiously.
At that time, Polaris Glacier’s answer was: “I’m basically tired of the cafeteria food.”
For food she was tired of, she couldn’t maintain much appetite, so naturally, she ate less.
“Mr CB is back!
Mr CB is back!
She just arrived at the academy gate!”
As the three walked, multiple shouts of excitement suddenly came from around them, causing them to involuntarily slow their steps.
Miho Shinzan tilted her head, as if she had thought of something, and asked uncertainly:
“Mr CB?
Is it the Triple Crown Horse Girls, Mr CB?”
“It’s clearly her, isn’t it?
Besides CB-sensei, who else in the academy can make everyone so excited right now?”
Sirius Symboli crossed her arms, stopped completely, and cast her gaze far towards the source of the commotion.
Polaris Glacier also stopped in turn.
She knew what Sirius Symboli and Miho Shinzan were talking about; her teacher had also mentioned it during class when explaining classic races.
Mr.
C.B., or rather CB-sensei, was the third native Triple Crown Horse Girls after the famous Horse Girl, Miho Shinzan.
The time she achieved the Triple Crown was not far from now, it was just last year.
“I want to go see, you two go ahead.”
Polaris Glacier said, then suddenly started running towards the academy gate.
“Huh?
Polaris, why are you suddenly…”
Sirius Symboli watched Polaris Glacier gradually move away, exchanged glances with Miho Shinzan, and decisively stepped forward to chase after her.
“Eh…”
Seeing this, Miho Shinzan’s mouth slightly opened, looking as if she wanted to say something but held back.
After thinking for a moment, she still ran after them.
By the academy gate, Mr.
C.B., dressed in casual clothes, was smiling as she faced the Uma Musume surrounding her.
“Everyone, don’t crowd together.
Those who need to eat lunch, go eat lunch first.”
Her words still carried some weight, and the Uma Musume were all very sensible.
Everyone gradually made way, allowing Mr.
C.B.
to walk towards the inside of the academy.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Mr.
C.B.
felt an extremely strong presence of a gaze.
She turned her head and found it was a Polaris Glacier she hadn’t seen before.
Her azure eyes were peculiarly condensed with frost at this moment.
Mr.
C.B., knowing what that meant, gradually showed an interested expression on her face.
She raised her hand and waved friendly towards the other party, not lingering any longer, and walked straight towards the teaching building.
“Hey, Polaris, why did you suddenly run off?
Is CB-sensei’s appeal really that great?”
In the crowd, Sirius Symboli stood beside Polaris Glacier, complaining with a puzzled expression.
“The appeal is indeed quite great.
At least, I have a special idea about the title of Triple Crown Horse Girls.”