"Why did Dr. Lights take so long over there?"
Hishi Miracle, who had flopped back onto the sofa, buried her face in the cushions, her voice coming out muffled and heavy.
"Is there a 'Hanako-san' in the toilets here too?!"
"We're in France, you know. Even if there were a ghost in the restroom, her name would probably be Louise."
Liberty Island caught her own reflection in the mirror and flashed a satisfied smile, having tied her hair into a ponytail using one of Dream Weaver's spare ribbons. She toyed with the details of her hair while absentmindedly answering Hishi Miracle's grumbling.
Hishi Miracle rolled her head against the sofa, deciding she couldn't just lounge around aimlessly anymore. She scrambled up, rushed over to Liberty Island, and began shaking her by the shoulders.
"Hanako-san, Louise—who cares about that! The point is, the three adults of the team are all missing! How could it be such a coincidence?"
"They must have ditched us to go have a celebration that only grown-ups are allowed to have!"
"Liberty, stop fussing over your hair and come with me to find the Trainer and the others!"
Her hairstyle getting ruined by the shaking, Liberty Island gave a sharp shove backward with her head, sending Hishi Miracle stumbling back with a startled "Oof!"
Ignoring Hishi Miracle's noisy protests, Liberty Island went back to fixing her hair in the mirror. Once she deemed it perfect, she finally turned around and tilted her head at Hishi Miracle, as if putting herself on display.
"Well? Do I look like her?"
"Like... what?"
Hishi Miracle tilted her head, momentarily lost as to what Liberty Island was getting at.
"The hairstyle, obviously! I used Master's spare ribbon to tie a high ponytail exactly like hers!"
Though she felt her friend lacked an eye for appreciation, Liberty Island patiently explained herself.
"So? Does it look right? Do I have that 'Master' vibe?"
To drive the point home, Liberty Island stood up from the vanity and trotted in place with her back to Hishi Miracle.
Looking at the familiar ribbon and the iconic ponytail, Hishi Miracle rubbed her chin and let out a series of thoughtful, ambiguous hums.
"I mean, there's a resemblance, sure. But it feels like... something is off?"
"But what exactly is the difference?"
As Hishi Miracle spoke, she began circling her, looking from different angles. Seeing that her friend was actually taking the critique seriously, Liberty Island felt a surge of motivation and kept up her rhythmic jogging in place.
After trying several angles, Hishi Miracle suddenly noticed something while standing on her tiptoes. She clapped her hands together in a sudden epiphany.
"I've got it! I know why it felt weird!"
"It's because the Trainer isn't as tall as you, Liberty!"
"...Don't you dare say that in front of Master. It's incredibly rude."
Liberty Island turned around with an exasperated look. But before she could say another word, her phone on the vanity suddenly let out a chime.
"A call?"
Liberty Island murmured in confusion. She walked over and picked up the device.
"Ah, it's Agnes Tachyon."
"What is it? What is it? Is there finally news about the Trainer?!"
Liberty Island answered the call, waving a hand to signal Hishi Miracle to quiet down so she could hear.
"Agnes Tachyon? Where did you run off to? Did you go find Master? By the way, did Sugar Lights go meet up with you guys too?"
After Liberty Island finished speaking, there was a long, strange silence from the other end of the line.
Just as Liberty Island's brow began to furrow in confusion, Agnes Tachyon's voice finally came through—sounding utterly exhausted.
"Some things... are difficult to explain over the phone."
The response only deepened Liberty Island's confusion. What could possibly be so hard to say over a call?
But before she could voice her doubts, Agnes Tachyon spoke again, her tone laden with a thousand complex emotions.
"Just... come to the infirmary first."
With that, the line went dead.
Liberty Island stared blankly at the screen, phone still in hand. She couldn't wrap her head around what was happening, but Agnes Tachyon's heavy tone and the mention of the infirmary sent a wave of inexplicable dread through her heart.
"What's the word? What did she say?"
To Liberty Island, Hishi Miracle's chirping by her ear felt like static—she could hear the words, but the meaning wouldn't sink in.
She reached out and gripped Hishi Miracle's shoulders, as if needing the physical contact to keep herself upright, but she quickly realized she couldn't falter.
Agnes Tachyon hadn't mentioned bringing Hishi Miracle along. Something must have happened at the infirmary that Hishi Miracle wouldn't be able to handle.
Even though Hishi Miracle had joined the team first—and Liberty Island occasionally called her 'Senior'—in her own heart, Liberty Island felt she was the stronger of the two.
Otherwise, why would Agnes Tachyon have called her instead of Hishi Miracle?
To her, it was a subtle confirmation that she was seen as the more mature one.
Looking at the still-clueless Hishi Miracle, whose eyes were free of any shadow of worry, Liberty Island bit her lip. She gave herself a silent pep talk and steeled her heart.
"It's nothing."
"They'll be back soon. I'm just going to the restroom first."
Tossing out the quick lie, Liberty Island didn't look back. She brushed past Hishi Miracle's shoulder and bolted for the door of the waiting room.
"Why is everyone obsessed with going to the bathroom!"
Ignoring the noise fading behind her, Liberty Island sprinted toward the infirmary.
She had been here before when she acted as a training partner for Dream Weaver, and the map of Longchamp Racecourse's backstage was etched into her mind.
Unlike Sugar Lights, who had to rely on a wheelchair, Liberty Island was an Uma Musume in the prime of her career. She was fast. In no time at all, she reached the infirmary doors and burst inside without a second's hesitation.
"Agnes Tachyon! What on earth happen—"
The words died in her throat. The moment she saw Agnes Tachyon's grim face and Sugar Lights sitting with her head bowed, her expression hidden in shadow, Liberty Island understood everything.
Yet, she refused to believe it. Everything had been such a beautiful story until just moments ago; how could it shatter in the blink of an eye?
Liberty Island couldn't accept it. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"Where's Master? She... she isn't here, right?"
Sugar Lights didn't look up. She seemed completely lost in her own world, deaf to any sound from the outside.
It was Agnes Tachyon who finally reacted, though her voice was anchored by a profound weight.
"Right there."
She pointed toward the white curtain that partitioned the room.
Staring at that curtain, Liberty Island swallowed hard, the lump in her throat feeling like lead.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.