"So... who was that girl, King?" Her mother repeated the question calmly.
The answer should have been simple. Yet, under her mother's gaze, King found herself stumbling over her own words.
She instinctively straightened her posture.
"It... it was Asaji."
"She..."
"...She's my classmate."
"Classmate?" Her mother's eyebrow rose ever so slightly.
"Y-Yes." King quickly nodded.
"But Asaji is a very diligent person, I promise. You shouldn't be worried about her."
"I see..." Her mother softly added before turning her gaze back toward the passing scenery beyond the car window.
After a brief silence, she spoke again.
"It's rather unusual for you, King."
The sudden call of her name made King blink, and her head raised slightly, while her mother resumed.
"You've never been one to spend much time with others."
"When you were younger, you always kept your distance from your classmates."
"To the point that even your teachers became concerned."
"And I'm genuinely thrilled to see that you finally forged your own connection with the rest of society."
King lowered her gaze.
"So..." She hesitated.
"Y-You're... alright with me having a friend, Mother?"
Still looking out the window, her mother continued, "Hm... What should I say?"
"It's your life, King."
"I have no intention of interfering in every aspect of it."
"So no... I don't object."
With that response, King's shoulders slightly relaxed.
But before she let her guard down, her mother continued.
"However... There is something that still concerns me."
King's expression stiffened again.
"Your behavior has changed considerably over the past year."
"You've become..."
She paused, choosing her words carefully.
"...rather recalcitrant."
"Especially toward the servants employed to perform their duties."
King's fingers tightened together.
"I..."
"I only thought..."
"If I became more independent..."
"It would help me once I enrolled at Tracen Academy."
"Especially, if I had to live in the dormitory..."
"I might've learned how to take care of myself."
Her mother shook her head gently.
"Well... You wouldn't need to."
And King looked up.
"You could simply commute."
"I can arrange for a driver to take you to and from the academy every day."
"There would be no need for you to reside in the dormitories."
"After all, it is the more reasonable arrangement."
"It would also minimize unnecessary distractions that could interfere with your training."
Her mother folded her hands neatly on her lap.
"And I believe..."
"We shall proceed with that arrangement."
"But... Mother, I—"
Before King could finish—
Her mother looked at her.
It wasn't a raised voice nor a harsh expression.
Just a single glance.
And it was enough...
King's words instantly caught in her throat.
She lowered her head almost instinctively.
"Y-Yes... Mother."
"Good."
Her mother returned her attention to the window.
"I'm glad we could come to an understanding."
After a brief pause, she continued.
"As for this... confidant of yours."
"I trust she won't become an obstacle on your path to Tracen Academy."
King quietly nodded.
"Yes..."
"I promise Asaji would never do that."
"Let's hope she doesn't."
And the conversation ended there.
King silently clenched her fist on her lap.
For the remainder of the drive...
She never spoke another word...
...
...
...
The next morning—
King sat quietly at her desk before class.
Her mother's words still lingered in her mind.
She wanted King to continue living at home instead of staying in the dormitories.
It was the sensible, convenient choice.
But... she had already made a promise.
A promise that she would one day attend Tracen together with a certain person.
That they would live in the dorms, train, and race together.
And now, it was all about to be shattered.
Until, suddenly—
"HELLO, HALO!"
Two hands landed right onto both of her shoulders.
King nearly leaped out of her seat.
"W-WHAT?!"
She spun around in surprise.
Only to find a familiar, cheerful grin waiting for her.
Instantly, King let out a deep sigh.
"It's you, Asaji."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"Must you always startle me like that?"
"Hehehe, sorry." Asaji scratched the back of her head with a sheepish grin.
"But every time I see you spacing out..."
"I just can't resist giving you a little scare."
"Tsk..." King clicked her tongue.
"Enough of that."
"Go take your seat already."
"Yes, ma'am!" Asaji saluted playfully before skipping back to the desk in front of King.
She tossed her bag onto the chair and settled in.
Before King could even gather her thoughts again—
Asaji spun around to face her.
"So..."
"What's wrong, King?"
"W-What do you mean?" King blinked.
"You've looked worried all morning."
Asaji tilted her head.
"Did something happen while I wasn't around?"
She suddenly gasped.
"Oh! Did you step on dog poop on your way here?"
"We can go clean your shoes if you want!"
King's eye twitched.
"It's not that!"
"And would you stop making such ridiculous assumptions?!"
She folded her arms.
"Besides... I came here by car, remember?"
Asaji immediately shot up.
"Oh! Right!"
"I forgot."
King then sighed again.
Despite the brief exchange...
The same heft in her chest remained, her mother's words still repeating in her mind.
She still hadn't figured out what she should do.
Then—
Asaji looked back at her, this time with a gentler smile.
"So... What really happened, King?"
King hesitated.
Then, quietly answered.
"It's just..."
"My mother wants me to continue living at home once we enroll at Tracen."
She lowered her gaze.
"And..."
"I can't help feeling guilty."
"After all, I promised we'd stay together in the dorms..."
"...when we enrolled at Tracen together."
King quietly clenched her fist.
"I'm..."
"I'm truly sorry it turned out this way."
Asaji simply smiled and shook her head.
"No, not at all."
"It's okay, King!"
"We're still going to Tracen together, aren't we?"
"We'll still get to train together."
"We'll still get to hang out."
"That's why we wanted to stay in the dorms in the first place."
"So I could show you more of the world outside."
She laughed softly.
"Since your mother's curfew barely lets you go anywhere."
King's expression softened.
"Thank you..."
"Thank you for understanding, Asaji."
"I really do hope that we can still—"
"But..." Asaji suddenly interrupted.
"But shouldn't that decision be yours, Halo?"
"Shouldn't you be the one to decide where you want to live?"
"It's only fair that way, isn't it?"
She then quickly waved both hands.
"Not that I'm saying you should rebel against your mother's will."
"But... As we grow older..."
"Shouldn't we be the ones making our own decisions?"
"Just like when you chose to let me train with you."
King immediately corrected her.
"You practically invited yourself."
"And when we talked on our first day!"
King let out a small sigh.
"You were the one who started the conversation."
"Well, most importantly...!"
"You're the one who suggested we go to Tracen together."
King froze, and her eyes widened slightly.
"You're the one who wanted us to go to Tracen together."
"To race together, to seize our own legacy together!"
Asaji then smiled warmly.
"And you're the one who suggested we stay in the same dorm."
"That we get to achieve our dreams together!"
With that, King quietly looked at her.
Meanwhile, Asaji simply continued, "But...!"
"If you truly think following your mother's wishes is the right thing to do..."
"I understand." She shrugged lightly.
"After all... We only get one mother."
"And... You started racing because of her, too, didn't you?"
"So..."
"I think it's only natural that you'd want to follow what she wants."
She then laughed awkwardly as her smile softened.
"But... It sure would've been nice."
"If it were just the two of us..."
"We could spend all our time together!" she added, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"We'd train together!"
"Have late-night study sessions together!"
"We'd get to enjoy all the local delicacies together!"
"From morning until night!"
"It sounds like so much fun!"
"But whatever you choose..."
"That decision should be yours, Halo."
"And I'll respect it with all my heart!"
At that, King remained frozen.
She could only stare at Asaji in silence.
Unable to find the right words to respond.
For a long moment... She simply lowered her gaze.
Asaji's words lingered in her mind alongside her mother's.
She really did want to stay with her.
She wanted to live in the dormitories.
She wanted to experience life away from home.
To learn things on her own.
To build herself up with her own hands.
Yet...
Deep within her heart...
She still longed for one thing above all else.
Her mother's acknowledgment.
The reason she had begun racing in the first place.
She wanted her mother to praise her.
To finally look at her... And see her as someone worthy of carrying on her legacy.
But at the same time...
King wanted something for herself.
To live independently.
To make her own choices.
To discover who she could become without always being guided by someone else's expectations.
She quietly lowered her head.
Unable to find the answer.
Unable to decide...
Which path was truly the right one...
Until—
King suddenly looked up with her eyes lit with determination.
"I've got it."
She turned toward Asaji, who was still smiling at her expectantly.
"Perhaps... I can convince Mother to let me stay in the dorm."
"I simply need to explain how it would benefit me."
Asaji's face immediately brightened.
"Oh! I like that idea!"
"You could tell her it'll help you become more disciplined!"
King nodded enthusiastically.
"And that living independently would improve my ability to solve problems on my own."
"Exactly!"
"Tell her that too!"
"Maybe she'll change her mind!"
King smiled a little wider.
"You know what... I think she just might!"
...
...
...
Later that evening—
"I disagree."
King's mother sat across from her at the dining table, her expression as composed as ever.
"I don't believe allowing you to live without supervision would benefit you in any meaningful way."
King quietly lowered her gaze.
"But, mother..."
"You see... I have nothing against the idea of living independently, King."
"It sure has its advantages."
"And so are its disadvantages."
"But those alone should not determine the course of your future."
"After all, you have yet to demonstrate the qualities that would convince me you could thrive under those circumstances."
She then folded her hands neatly together.
"Unless you can prove otherwise."
"Up until your current state, you have yet to demonstrate a level of ability that truly satisfies me."
"Without proper guidance..."
"It is easy for someone to lose sight of themselves without even realizing it."
She then looked directly into King's eyes.
"So, tell me, King..."
"Are you satisfied with where you stand right now?"
"From what I've seen, you are still far from the ideal student Tracen Academy seeks."
"Much less someone capable of competing for victory."
A heavy silence settled between them, and King clenched her hands even tighter.
Then—
"Perhaps... Tracen was never meant for you."
King's eyes instantly widened, and her entire body visibly flinched.
But before King could correct her mother, her mother continued.
"Tell me, King Halo."
"Did those ideas truly come from you?"
"Or... did someone fill your head with that idealistic nonsense?"
"Perhaps... that confidant of yours?"
"Asaji... Was it?"