Garden Gale was losing her mind.
Her current mental state was like a burnt-out corporate worker forced to listen to a cheerful bird chirping nonstop after an entire week of relentless overtime.
A Social Butterfly.
What exactly did it mean? Originally a mash-up of "social" and "butterfly," it described someone bright, extroverted, and proactive in social interactions.
For instance, the girl currently at Garden Gale's side—Curren Chan.
She was practically the embodiment of sunshine, an extroverted queen, a social terrorist of epic proportions!
Did her mouth never need a break? It hadn't stopped running since they met. One moment chatting about Ritto Dorm, the next discussing Tracen Academy's history, and then suddenly turning to interrogate Garden Gale about her own background and abilities—while also warmly greeting random strangers they passed by.
"Ah…! It's Curren-chan!"
An Umamusume standing beneath a willow tree recognized Curren Chan and waved with a cheerful smile.
"That's right~! It's the world's number one cutest Curren-chan!" Curren Chan happily responded, striking a pose toward the steadily gathering crowd. "Curren~, I'm Curren Chan de-su! The entire world is overflowing with 'cuteness'☆! Don't look anywhere else—your eyes should always be on me, Curren-chan!"
"Remember to follow my Umastagram, wink~ wink~☆!"
A single wink, and heart rates skyrocketed!
"Wow~~~ Super adorable! Following immediately!"
Meanwhile, Garden Gale stood on the outskirts of the crowd.
She stared blankly at Curren Chan in the center, momentarily unsure what to even say.
If she described this scene again, it would just be repeating herself—because once again, she genuinely felt like she was staring straight at the sun!
Really…
With personalities this drastically different, could they seriously become good roommates? Dorm Leader Fuji Kiseki had clearly overestimated things… Argh! Why'd you have to stick me with Curren-chan of all people!? Letting me live in my lonely, peaceful solitude—is that too much to ask?
"Huh? Huh?" Amidst charming her fans, Curren Chan finally realized something was off.
She quickly scanned the crowd, spotting the familiar hooded sweatshirt tucked away in an inconspicuous corner. Her eyes immediately brightened as she trotted over, and the crowd respectfully parted to clear her way. Before Garden Gale knew what was happening, Curren Chan had already grabbed onto her arm, cheerfully declaring to the audience:
"This is my friend, Garden Gale-san! Please give her plenty of support too!"
—In that instant, everyone's gaze fell upon Garden Gale.
Without even a shred of mental preparation.
Garden Gale glanced left, then right, seeing countless eyes locked onto hers. Some smiled warmly, others shouted requests for her Umastagram, and a few simply looked curious, clearly wondering who exactly she was.
Her heart was calm.
As tranquil as a placid sea.
...
She promptly passed out on the spot, instantly losing consciousness.
Curren Chan noticed something was off from the sudden slackness in the arm she was gripping. Luckily, she was an Umamusume with quick reflexes, swiftly catching her roommate before she collapsed completely. Curren opened her mouth, about to ask what was wrong, but turned to find Garden Gale's eyes already shut, falling stiffly backward into her arms.
"Eh!? Garden-san? Garden-san?! Why did you faint!?"
Panicked cries and confusion erupted simultaneously.
...
"Are you feeling better now?"
Outside President Rudolf's office, Curren Chan stared worriedly at Garden Gale, who sat slumped on a chair in the hallway, face pale, sipping slowly at a cup of water.
"Thank you... I'm fine now."
...What the heck happened there?
Curren Chan still couldn't comprehend why Garden Gale had suddenly fainted like that.
But, when she asked about it, Garden Gale just mumbled vague excuses, initially saying something about low blood pressure (Seriously? How could a low-blood-pressure Umamusume even run?), then quickly changing it to low blood sugar and feeling generally unwell.
Curren had formed a preliminary impression of her new roommate.
Not very talkative, huh?
After she'd finished her meeting with President Rudolf, which hadn't covered much aside from future goals and plans, Rudolf herself had mentioned Garden Gale directly, advising Curren that if she ever had time, she should try learning from her roommate. According to Rudolf, Garden Gale was a prodigy whom even Tokai Teio had repeatedly praised.
She hadn't seen Garden Gale race yet, but she figured she must be incredibly strong.
So, Curren's impression of Garden Gale evolved from merely "quiet" to "quiet but deadly."
Perhaps this was how misunderstandings spread.
"Let's head back to the dorm first. We met President Rudolf already, and we still haven't finished unpacking," Curren said with another cheerful smile, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning forward slightly, looking playfully mischievous.
Garden Gale nodded like a puppet whose strings had been tugged. "Ah… okay."
Actually, she really wanted to head to the library... but was simply incapable of voicing the rejection.
Thus, the two walked off side-by-side.
At the same moment, from another staircase emerged an Umamusume with her hair tied into a high ponytail. Her gaze was locked firmly onto the student council president's office—
—Tokai Teio had arrived.
Holding onto a document, she knocked lightly at the door. While she waited, she caught familiar voices behind her, casually glancing their way out of curiosity. But her attention quickly returned to the office—after all, inside was the Umamusume she admired the most:
President Symboli Rudolf.
However, with that fleeting glance, Tokai Teio noticed a familiar figure walking alongside an unfamiliar Umamusume.
That silhouette…
She immediately recognized it.
Garden Gale!
Her previously casual gaze suddenly sharpened with confusion and intensity. Even her posture shifted, body half-twisted around to watch Garden Gale's receding figure. Teio opened her mouth slightly as if to speak, but ultimately, no words came out.
A wave of confusion swept over her.
…Who was that Umamusume?
Why was she walking alongside… GG-san?
"Teio?"
"Teio?"
From within the president's office, Symboli Rudolf's calls grew steadily louder. Rudolf herself frowned slightly, staring at Tokai Teio frozen in place at the doorway, staring blankly off into the distance—like Alice lost in Wonderland—feeling just as confused herself.
Was there something in the air today?
---
T/N: TEIOS ALREADY JEALOUS???? LMAOOOOO STUPID BRAT
OKAY i decided to draw garden gale (this is future me btw)
COMMENT HERE garden gales appearance, i know she has black hair and stuff, but i forgot everything else heuheuheuheuh COMMENT picture will be idk someday maybe ill put it in a aux after i draw her
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