Known as the heavenly twin stars, the Gemini constellation.
How could Admire Vega not know of it.
Among the stars of Gemini, the brightest is Pollux, located at the heart of the constellation.
Why... would Cafe suddenly bring up this star?
"I think Admire Vega's character is very close to that of Pollux."
Across all of Tracen Academy, apart from Admire Vega herself, the one with the deepest understanding of the sky was probably Manhattan Cafe.
She held a strong interest in those shimmering celestial bodies, those mysterious and unknown presences.
So Manhattan Cafe believed the other girl should understand what she meant.
Leaning back, Cafe signaled she had said her piece.
Character...
At this point, Admire Vega finally recalled how people defined that orange star in the sky.
Brave, steadfast, undaunted by hardships, using wisdom to find solutions to problems.
Comparing Admire Vega to Pollux meant Cafe believed she possessed those very qualities and could find the key to break through the deadlock.
Those who didn't understand the allusion had no idea what Cafe was talking about, just scratching their heads in confusion, finding the statement baffling.
But Admire Vega understood.
This was a secret language belonging only to enthusiasts like them.
Nothing suited the current situation better than this blessing.
"Oh? Admire Vega's steps have become firm! What's this, what's this? Could this be the key to unlocking her unstoppable mode?"
Gold Ship exclaimed, watching Admire Vega no longer sway uncertainly.
"Resilient, decisive, clever, wise—that's probably what Cafe meant to convey," Agnes Tachyon spoke lightly from beside Cafe. "She just used terms only they understand."
"I see, as expected of the one closest to Cafe! Even cheering her on leaves no room for outsiders to butt in!"
"Alright, Admire Vega is catching up—! She's choosing to stay close to the other three, not letting them shake her off. Is this the strategy Admire Vega has finally chosen?"
Keeping her attention focused on the race, Gold Ship continued her uniquely styled commentary.
Having said her brief piece, Agnes Tachyon leaned back in her chair again, watching the track with an emotionless gaze.
Although she was the one who called Gold Ship to save her a commentator's spot, she had no real interest in it. This was purely a measure to keep Cafe here.
If Agnes Tachyon had to commentate on the race non-stop, even for just a few minutes, she wouldn't be willing to waste the effort.
"Though Pollux also symbolizes emotional steadfastness and decisiveness, carrying a meaning of devotion," Agnes Tachyon added inopportunely.
"What!? There's that too? No wonder Admire Vega looks like she's taken a strength pill—she received a response, huh? Can the race end now?"
"That's not what I meant at all," Cafe couldn't help interjecting, as if drained of energy, she shot a glance at Agnes Tachyon beside her. "What are you even trying to do…"
She had intended to cheer for Admire Vega in a way so subtle no one would understand, but this Agnes Tachyon just had to add that extra bit.
Look at the students around them—hadn't they misinterpreted her feelings for Admire Vega again?
In this kind of situation, even ordinary encouragement would be tinted with an ambiguous atmosphere through those colored lenses.
So could you please say less…
Manhattan Cafe stared at her.
"Now, now, Cafe, I'm helping you here."
"Helping me…?"
You must be joking.
Ever since you made me sit here, disaster hasn't stopped.
Watching the racers get closer and closer to the finish line, Manhattan Cafe felt like she was about to be handed out as a prize.
Is this your idea of help? Making me become someone's girlfriend among those four?
"Don't just focus on the surface, Cafe. It's not the time to observe physical phenomena anymore."
Completely unfazed by Cafe's glare, Agnes Tachony replied frankly.
"In experiments, there's a verification method: when two objects can't be compared directly, you find an intermediary that can interact with both, then keep that intermediary in a stable state."
And right now was the process of maintaining that stability.
"Agnes Tachyon, you treat everything like an experiment. It's utterly detestable…"
"I'd rather hear it called 'dedication to an ideal.'"
"Your ideal is built on others' suffering."
"Hahaha~ Cafe, my dear, ideals and justice aren't the same. Not everyone's ideals bring benefits to others. Moreover…"
'Gaining' is itself a form of aggression, it's just that people assign values of high and low, noble and base.
"Really… someone like you should just be destroyed."
Looking at Agnes Tachyon laughing heartily without a care for others' feelings, Cafe's face was full of disdain.
"Well, though I'm quite curious who you'd end up with, since I promised to help you solve this problem, I naturally can't just watch you be given away."
"What?"
"Timing-wise, it should be about right," Agnes Tachyon showed a mocking smile. "Wait a little, and prepare to welcome your own white… no, your dark prince."
Agnes Tachyon said things that were forever inscrutable.
--+--
Catching up?
Hearing the footsteps behind her, Green Grass narrowed her eyes.
The right choice.
If the front-runner were any other Uma Musume, one could wait for them to slow down on the final turn, then use stamina conserved from the early and mid-race to accelerate and overtake in that moment.
But with Silence Suzuka, it was hard to guarantee she'd decelerate on the curve—that much was clear from the first turn.
While she did drift toward the rail due to centrifugal force, compared to her speed, the distance was completely acceptable.
Relying on her own legs, Silence Suzuka counteracted the powerful centrifugal force.
Taking the turn tight while moving at high speed—wasn't she afraid her legs would snap?
Clearly, the key to Silence Suzuka maintaining such an extreme running style wasn't just her fierce desire to lead, but also the legs supporting her through the entire race.
Her bones and muscles were enduring pressures unimaginable for an ordinary Uma Musume.
Aberration.
A term for certain Uma Musume with special abilities.
Be it mental or physical.
Those with aberrations could often touch the limits of what Uma Musume could achieve.
Oguri Cap had an aberration. Narita Brian had an aberration. And the Silence Suzuka before them—she too had an aberration.
The rapid rhythm of footsteps echoed through the training field, mud mixed with grass blades spraying into the air.
Narita Brian, biting hard at her opponent's heels, suddenly widened her eyes.
It's happening again…
That unbelievable feeling.
Right before her eyes, yet in her perception, it was as if she had vanished.
For Silence Suzuka, running at the front, an endless straight line stretched out before her.
--+--
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.