After Mizuki returned, she checked the time— around 10 PM. She didn't stay up late and went straight to sleep. Going to bed and waking up on time felt great.
While many were still working overtime or enjoying the "blessing" of a 996 schedule, her routine was peaceful. Life was busy yet fulfilling, and with the rewards from the system, it was sweet indeed.
The next morning, Mizuki woke up and immediately received messages from her Trainees.
[Special Week: Good morning, Trainer-san! My motivation today is also Number One in Japan.]
[Daiwa Scarlet: I'm full of energy too! I won't lose to Special Week-senpai.]
[Gold Ship: Hahaha! Then Golshi will just be the weakest one in Spica.]
[Vodka: @Gold Ship, Weak? You have world-class late-stage speed, the ability to catch up regardless of the gap, are rumored to have mastered every method to overcome enemies... you're even hailed as the 'Unsinkable Gold Ship.' If that's weak, the rest of us have no hope.]
Vodka pointed out that Gold Ship was trolling again. It might work on McQueen, but they wouldn't fall for it.
[Gold Ship: Hahaha! Being praised like that by Little Vodka, I'm gonna get cocky.]
[Mejiro McQueen: What do you mean 'gonna get cocky'? You're ALWAYS cocky.]
[Mizuki: Oh? It seems our Spica group members are all incredible. Setting aside those who haven't debuted, we already have titles like 'Otherworldly Front Runner,' 'Long-Distance Master,' and 'Unsinkable Gold Ship.']
[Special Week: Uuu... looking at it this way, I really am the weakest one in Spica.]
[Mizuki: That's a sad story indeed, Spe-chan. You should've joined my team sooner! (hand-on-hip-laugh.gif)]
Mizuki teased Speciail Week a bit, finding it quite amusing.
[Mejiro McQueen: Honestly, Trainer Mizuki, you can't say that! What's wrong with not having results yet? It's called future potential! @Special Week, you are a rising star with a bright future!]
[Special Week: Right! I'll work hard to become the Number One Uma Musume in Japan! My goal is to be the real General of Japan!]
[Mizuki: Go for it, go for it.]
Seeing the chubby-pony's comment, Mizuki felt a bit embarrassed. McQueen was as gentle as ever. She quickly sent an emoji to encourage Spe as well, otherwise, she'd really seem like too much of a jerk.
[Special Week: Thanks, everyone! Um, Trainer-san, we're at the cafeteria now. There are so many people in line. What do you want to eat? I'll grab it for you.]
[Special Week: There's so much good stuff here! Steak, egg pancakes, dumplings... I'll grab a serving of everything for you. Can you finish it all?]
[Mizuki: How much?!]
Mizuki was stunned. She hadn't expected her to grab a serving of everything.
[Vodka: @Daiwa Scarlet, I forgot to bring my homework. I'm going back to get it. Grab a bowl of beef noodles for me.]
[Daiwa Scarlet: @Vodka, honestly, you're so lazy. Get it yourself next time!]
Scarlet was speechless, but she grabbed a bowl of beef noodles for Vodka anyway.
[Mizuki: OK, you guys eat first. I'll be there in a bit. There's no training today, so feel free to arrange your own time. Just go to bed early tonight. Tomorrow, we head to Kyoto Racecourse together.]
[Special Week: Mm-hmm!]
[Vodka: Roger that.]
Everyone responded one after another. Many Umas in Spica would still do extra training on their own, but as long as the intensity wasn't too high, it was generally fine. Mizuki knew this and figured she'd remind them later. She quickly finished washing up and set off for the Tracen cafeteria.
When she arrived at the cafeteria, she spotted Special Week. She was sitting with King Halo, Grass Wonder, El Condor Pasa, and Seiun Sky— this was the "Golden Generation" having breakfast together.
Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka had finished their breakfast in a hurry. They had a small math quiz this morning and went to the classroom early. Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen were on morning duty, so they had also headed out.
Aside from Spe's group, there were plenty of others having breakfast today. For example, Nice Nature was there, along with Twin Turbo and Daitaku Helios. Mizuki said hello and sat down to eat with them.
They were chatting, and the current topic was Seiun Sky's punishment for sweeping the floors. However, they had new members to join her in her misery, namely Twin Turbo and Daitaku Helios.
"Uuuu... tell me, why am I so unlucky? Why did I have to be the one caught?" Twin Turbo was currently crying, her tears flowing non-stop in a comical fashion.
"Forget it, forget it. It's fate, Turbo. Yesterday, Matikane Fukukitaru-senpai and Copano Rickey-san said that our luck and Feng Shui are bad, that's why this happened,"
Daitaku Helios laughed. She actually seemed quite happy— was this the optimism of a Gyaru?
Matikane Fukukitaru was a self-proclaimed fortune-telling genius, while Copano Rickey was known as the "Feng Shui Master." Having both of them evaluate you was like securing your life's merit points.
"What happened?" Mizuki took the dumplings Spe gave her and asked while eating. The dumplings at Tracen were surprisingly delicious, she really couldn't stop eating them.
If Mejiro McQueen were here, she'd surely turn the tables on Trainer Mizuki. "Look at how much you're eating?! Who's the Fat Pony now?!?!"
Unfortunately, she missed her chance.
"Nya-ha! Let the cute Seuin-chan tell you, Trainer Mizuki," Seiun Sky said cutely. She was smiling, the number one at acting adorable. Inwardly, she was actually quite helpless— her love for fishing had indeed been leaked by Trainer Mizuki, and now she had been embarrased in front of the whole world.
But she had thick skin. The "delicate and cute Seuin-chan" couldn't dwell on such things. If there were troubles, she'd just go fishing. She loved this leisurely life.
Though, Trainer Mizuki really shouldn't spread more rumors about her, or she'd really have to drag her to the basement...
"It's like this: yesterday while I was sweeping at Tracen Academy, Twin Turbo and Daitaku Helios ran over. They said they wanted to hold a race to witness their friendship, and they invited me to be the referee."
"I tried my best to advise them, saying that Tazuna-san was around today and they should be careful."
"But I guess they were in their rebellious phase. Those two didn't listen at all and just bolted."
"Then, not long after they ran off, Tazuna-san brought them back by their collars, one in each hand, to join my sweeping army."
"Nya-ha! Now I am the Boss of the Sweeping Gang, and they are my Left and Right Hands!" Seiun Sky laughed. Now she had company and wouldn't be lonely anymore.
"Yeah, Tazuna-san is seriously fast. Even though I was running at full power, a green flash went by, and when I looked back, I'd already been caught," Daitaku Helios said excitedly, reviewing her experience with great interest.
"But even if I had to run it back, I'd still race Turbo. Yesterday's sunset, the afterglow... witnessing our friendship under that light was such a vibe, wasn't it?" Helios said movingly in her usual slang.
"I mean, can't you race on the track? You'll bump into people like that," King Halo said, speechless. She couldn't understand their logic.
King Halo's behavior was actually the most compliant with student regulations. In the eyes of teachers, she was very reliable compared to the others.
She is truly a First-Rate student.
"No way, we checked yesterday. No one was around. Besides, running on the track isn't unique at all," Helios said seriously.
"True. No matter what, we had to run that race. But sweeping... Turbo doesn't want to do that! Remember, Nature? Our goal is to defeat Tokai Teio and show her how strong we are!"
"Nature, let's challenge Tokai Teio in the next race! Let's beat her together and show her how strong Twin Turbo is!"
Turbo was full of fighting spirit and stopped crying. Her tears were dedicated to yesterday's sunset and her currently burning passion.
"Eh? Beat Tokai Teio? Me?" Nature pointed at herself. Although she had fantasized about it, that dazzling existence felt unreachable.
"Uuuu, so touching... running under the sunset." Special Week was actually moved to tears, entering her "Special Crying" mode again.
"Hmph, exactly! We have to beat Teio! So, Turbo will not sweep! Yada yada, I want to train! Twin Turbo will never be a slave to authority!" Turbo showed her tough side.
"Hey, keep it down. Air Groove is behind us. Also, stop crying and eat something! Class is starting soon; you'll be hungry if you don't eat," Nature said virtuously, her wife attributes in full display. As she spoke, she stuffed a meatball into Turbo's mouth.
"Mmph, I won't eat... I'm going on a hunger strike in protest..." Turbo said, baring her teeth, but after a few bites of the meatball, her angry expression vanished, replaced by a look of shock.
'This tastes pretty good...'
"Mmph, thank you, Nature. You're the only one who's good to me!"
"It's fine, it's fine. Only after eating can Turbo have the strength to sweep the floors at Tracen," Nature said with her signature shrug and a cheeky expression. Twin Turbo fell straight into the trap.
"Wha... What?" Hearing this, Turbo was stunned. She didn't expect Nature to say something so cruel and immediately lost her temper, crying out loud again.
"Hey, don't cry, don't cry! I was wrong!" Nature quickly started coaxing the "child."
At this time, Daitaku Helios took the initiative to talk to Mizuki. She invited her to bring Spica to join their club.
"Trainer Mizuki, you must come hang out with our Gal Club! There are many gals and bros there. You and your friends from Spica will definitely have fun! It'll be a total banger!"
Daitaku Helios had a bright enthusiasm; it seemed everyone around her would be infected by her sunny attitude, melting even the iciest hearts.
(T/N: Ruby is an exception.)
Mizuki agreed, though for some reason, hearing the word "Gal" made her wonder what she'd look like if she got a gyaru makeover...
Soon, breakfast was over. Special Week asked Mizuki what kind of race she should participate in next. She had called herself the weakest of Spica today, so she wanted to race to prove herself.
Mizuki gave her suggestion: have Spe enter the Kisaragi Sho (G3) on February 8th. The Kisaragi Sho is an 1,800m turf mile race, and importantly, it is held at Kyoto Racecourse. As a G3 event, it is also one of the preludes to the Classic Triple Crown. If she could win the Kisaragi Sho, her chances of doing well in the Triple Crown would increase significantly.
Special Week memorized it and was very excited. That's how the General of Japan was— once she was happy, her tail would wag uncontrollably.
Looking at the speed of it now, she must be thrilled. After all, this was her first graded stakes race. Her expression became serious and very focused.
"Also, Spe-chan, wake up early tomorrow. Don't be late, and follow the group. Don't get lost," Mizuki instructed.
"Okay! Trainer Mizuki, thank you!"
"Then I'm off to class. Trainer-san, you should have a good rest today too." Special Week expressed her gratitude enthusiastically and left. She was so happy to have joined Spica. Without Trainer Mizuki, she would have been very hesitant about which races to enter.
Mizuki then got up to leave as well. However, as soon as she stood up, she froze in shock. In the corner of the cafeteria sat Oguri Cap. Her rice was piled up like a mountain, yet it was being finished off at high speed.
Mizuki was stunned. 'I thought Special Week was already unrivaled in eating; what kind of monster is this?!'
She couldn't help but sigh after recognizing who it was. Oguri Cap ate like this, yet Rudolf insisted on keeping the cafeteria in an all-you-can-eat format. This was, in its own way, a silent form of love.
'Rudolf, just let her be. You spoil her so much, and yet all you've managed is a bit of ice skating...'