"Hold on a moment, come over here."
Watching Platinum circling around Maruzensky, Symboli Rudolf felt a headache coming on. If Platinum picked up too many habits from Maruzensky, what if she started singing Showa-era golden oldies on the Winner's Stage?
Letting her follow Narita Brian wasn't an option either. With Narita Brian's fierce glare, what if she scared the child?
Air Groove was out too, always scolding others. The negative influence on a teenager would be incalculable.
Frustrating and chilling. Looking around the entire student council, the most suitable person to look after the kid was actually me, Symboli Rudolf.
"What's up?" Platinum, who had been hugging Maruzensky's neck, popped her head out from in front of her.
"My, what a lovely child." Maruzensky smiled and patted Platinum's head. "I don't dislike straightforward kids, you know."
Watching the scene unfold, Symboli Rudolf felt a slight twinge of... something. It was just... how to put it? It felt like playing a raising sim, spending over ten hours raising a daughter, only for her to bring home some punk kid who calls you 'dad'.
But Symboli Rudolf wasn't the type to act on such petty feelings.
"Platinum, have you been adjusting well to school life lately?"
Platinum rolled her eyes thoughtfully. "I get along pretty well with everyone in Spica. Haven't really chatted much with my classmates though, since I'm mostly sleeping in class. I haven't even memorized all my classmates' faces yet."
A vein throbbed on Symboli Rudolf's forehead.
Calm down, calm down. She clenched her fists. Give the child some time to adjust.
"You joined at a bit of an awkward time, so you missed the summer beach training camp," Symboli Rudolf cleared her throat. "But that doesn't mean there won't be any more student activities."
"Soon, Tracen Academy will be holding this year's Fan Appreciation Festival. You can think of it as Tracen's open day. For the few days of the festival, the school allows non-students and staff to enter."
"Consider it a chance for fans to observe the Uma Musume up close. So every year, it's packed with visitors, shoulder to shoulder."
"During the Appreciation Festival, both academic classes and training sessions are suspended. In other words, the students also get a rare vacation."
Platinum's eyes instantly lit up, her ears perking up and fluttering.
"So you're saying... time off?"
Hooray for a carefree vacation!
She was already ready to embrace a life of lazy decadence! Hooray for flipping her sleep schedule to American time!
As for going out to have fun, Platinum hadn't even considered it. She never really intended to make friends in the first place, so going out with them was pure fantasy. In fact, even towards everyone in Spica, she maintained a deliberately cool attitude.
It was just that Tokai Teio was truly relentless, stubbornly determined to get Platinum to call her 'big sister'. How annoying.
"Don't even think about it," Symboli Rudolf shot her a look. "Don't just hide in your dorm for days on end like you've vanished from the face of the earth."
"Middle schoolers should act like middle schoolers. Going out with friends more often isn't a bad thing," Maruzensky added with a smile.
"While I'd like to say you're right, Maruzensky, have you forgotten you're also a middle schooler?" Air Groove interjected, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"But I don't have any friends."
"Even Spica... they're more like teammates, right? Besides Tokai Teio, I don't really talk to any of them normally."
With Platinum's remark, an awkward silence fell over the student council.
Air Groove looked left at Maruzensky, then right at Symboli Rudolf. Why weren't either of you saying anything? This is the moment when someone needs to break the ice, and you've both gone quiet?
Symboli Rudolf furrowed her brows.
It wasn't that she didn't want to speak... but recalling her own middle school days, she realized she had spent every day either eating, sleeping, running races, or... 'disciplining' her classmates.
She hadn't had any companions she could truly call friends.
She had always thought that was normal... until she saw the expressions on Air Groove and Maruzensky's faces. It dawned on her: Was I the abnormal one, with a life consisting only of those things?
"Everyone..." Symboli Rudolf sat at the desk, steepling her fingers. "I apologize for interrupting, but could you describe what I was like back in middle school?"
Perhaps seeing herself from others' perspectives would provide a more complete picture.
"Isolated the entire student body and faculty," came from Maruzensky.
"The first Uma Musume I ever saw who resorted to violence against her trainer," from Air Groove.
"Good for nothing but racing," from Narita Brian.
Symboli Rudolf broke out in a cold sweat.
"Was it really that bad?"
Anyway, Symboli Rudolf finally realized that socializing was also a crucial part of student life.
If Platinum went through her school years like she did... that would be truly tragic.
"—Well then, Platinum."
Thinking this, Symboli Rudolf vowed not to let Platinum repeat her mistakes.
"Since you don't have plans for the Appreciation Festival, would you be willing to help out?"
"Help out?" Platinum repeated, questioning. "With what?"
"The school has a butler cafe event planned. It's a bit of a tradition. Every year during the festival, volunteer Uma Musume dress up in butler outfits and help out for a few days. It's a good opportunity to interact with fans up close."
"Like T.M. Opera O, she's a regular worker at the butler cafe every year."
Symboli Rudolf picked up a business card and slid it to the edge of the desk, gesturing for Platinum to take a look.
"So, President, you're also part of the male idol group thing?"
"I go to help out when I don't have other commitments. After all, it's one of the main attractions of the Appreciation Festival."
In other words, one more person wouldn't make a difference, one less person wouldn't be missed.
Platinum clicked her tongue.
"Do I have to be a server? Can't I apply to be a dishwasher?"
"They have an ultrasonic cleaner for that, and it's not really a full restaurant."
"What about a cleaner?"
"The servers handle that when there are few customers. They can't exactly hire someone just for sweeping."
"Then I'll pass," Platinum shook her head vigorously. "I'm not good with crowded places."
"This is something you need to practice," Symboli Rudolf coaxed patiently. "As you run in more and more races, your number of supporters will also grow."
"By that time, you'll have to face large crowds for the Winner's Stage, variety shows, interviews..."
"At the very least, those situations have the fans in the audience and me on stage, right? Just thinking about having to smile and make small talk with strangers who are inexplicably enthusiastic makes me shudder." As she spoke, Platinum paled and rubbed her arms.
Seeing Platinum like this, Symboli Rudolf didn't push further. Some things couldn't be rushed.
"In that case, make sure you properly explore the Appreciation Festival. Don't just sleep in your dorm. If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime," Symboli Rudolf instructed.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 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.