Stopping in front of an elegant wooden door, Mejiro Dober paused, knocked, and after hearing a response from inside, said to Fujiwara Shirayuki, "We're here."
The latter nervously checked her outfit. She was currently wearing the blue-purple dress Mejiro Dober had given her.
"They're all Tracen students, just in different classes. There's no need to be nervous." Seeing her cute expression, Mejiro Dober smiled and opened the door. Warm sunlight spread across the dark red carpet, revealing three girls in front of Fujiwara Shirayuki.
"Dober, you're here." They greeted her, their gazes shifting to the white-haired girl behind her. "And who is this?"
"Shirayuki, my younger sister."
Mejiro Dober introduced her.
"Hello, my name is Fujiwara Shirayuki. It's a pleasure to meet all of you, ladies."
"Haha, what an interesting kid." The girl with the flashy hairstyle laughed boldly, then waved. "Come on, sit here."
They naturally welcomed her.
Including Shirayuki, there were five Uma Musume present: Mejiro Dober, Mejiro McQueen, the bold girl from before, and another girl sitting beside her, wearing a bow with braided hair, her expression gentle and soft like cotton.
"Shirayuki, I didn't expect you to come to the gathering too." Mejiro McQueen greeted her.
"Yeah… should I have made a reservation beforehand?"
"No, no. If we knew you were coming, we would've made another cake." In front of Mejiro McQueen, desserts were stacked on a stand, reaching six layers high.
"Dober told me quite a lot about you. That child has really been taken care of by you."
The bold-haired girl nodded in thanks.
"To be honest, I'm the one being taken care of. Um…"
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Mejiro Ryan, and she's Mejiro Bright. Just like you, both of us are students at Tracen."
"Ryan-senpai, Bright-senpai, nice to meet you."
The soft-looking girl gently waved.
"I heard from Dober that she found a very cute little sister. Now that I see you, you really are adorable." Mejiro Bright clasped her hands lightly, her voice as soft as her demeanor.
"You flatter me…"
"Ramonu, Ardan, and the others all went to the main hall. There are many guests this year, so they have to entertain them."
"We should thank them."
Thanks to those pillars of the Mejiro family, they could relax here and enjoy desserts and tea.
"So, Dober, won't you tell us what's been going on between you and Shirayuki?" Mejiro Bright smiled. "Every time you talk to me, you mention Shirayuki at least three times."
"I'm curious too. You two must be very close. I've never seen you call anyone your little sister before." Mejiro Ryan added.
"Bright, Ryan…" The topic suddenly shifted to her, and Mejiro Dober became a bit flustered.
Of course, these were her childhood friends, so she wasn't as reserved as she was outside.
"Then I'll share a little…"
She had been wanting to talk about how cute Shirayuki was anyway.
On the other side, after finishing breakfast, Fujiwara Chiya and Kiryuin Aoi left the restaurant.
For some reason, he felt like someone was watching him.
"What's wrong, Chiya? You keep looking around."
"No… it's nothing…"
Was he just being paranoid?
Or was this feeling coming from Shirayuki?
Either way, after scanning the surroundings, he found nothing.
"Where to next?"
"The shrine." Fujiwara Chiya carefully glanced at the flyer in his pocket. "There's a shrine nearby. Let's go check it out."
"Okay." Kiryuin Aoi followed happily.
After they left, two more figures appeared where they had just been.
Rice Shower and Nase Fumino.
Tilting her head, Rice Shower looked at Nase Fumino beside her.
"Why is Trainer Nase following us too…"
"Understanding your opponent is also part of training. Right now, I'm studying Trainer Chiya's habits."
Nase Fumino said this without blinking, clearly lying.
Her attention was completely on Fujiwara Chiya. When she saw Kiryuin Aoi trying several times to hold his hand, she nearly ground her teeth.
Fortunately, Kiryuin lacked the courage to actually do it.
Back in high school and even university, Nase Fumino had skipped grades. She ignored every boy who showed interest in her, dedicating herself entirely to studying trainer knowledge. She entered Tracen as the youngest genius trainer and even obtained an intermediate trainer qualification.
Yet when she met Fujiwara Chiya again, she was overtaken by someone ordinary with no deep connection.
Seeing Kiryuin Aoi's happy expression, Nase Fumino felt irritated, her usually calm face showing rare anger.
Beside her, Rice Shower carefully observed this fellow "stalker."
The moment she saw that expression, she understood everything.
Another bad woman!
All that talk about studying habits was a lie, she just wanted to watch Kiryuin Aoi and Onii-sama together!
As someone who loves her brother, Rice Shower strongly condemned this!
This one was also her enemy.
Meanwhile, Fujiwara Chiya and Kiryuin Aoi had reached the shrine.
Looking at the endless staircase, he was reminded of the day he met Matikanefukukitaru.
"So long!"
Was Happy Meek trying to mess with him by choosing such a place?
Halfway up, he was already exhausted.
"Chiya, can't keep going?"
"I might need… a walking stick. Aoi, how are you this fit?"
"Yeah, sometimes I personally try the training plans I make for the Uma Musume."
"That level of training is survivable for humans!?"
"It's fine."
She's basically a human Uma Musume, Fujiwara Chiya thought.
"Let me help you." Kiryuin extended her hand. "If you hold onto me, it'll be easier."
"…Thanks."
He took her hand.
You scheming woman!
Nase Fumino gritted her teeth, watching from afar.
She brought him here on purpose, didn't she!? Who would pick a shrine with stairs this long otherwise!?
She could practically hear the calculations in Kiryuin's head.
Unfortunately, she could only watch helplessly.
She didn't have that kind of stamina. In fact, she was below average.
Watching the two get further away, she couldn't move another step.
Her clothes stuck to her legs from sweat, making it even harder.
"When… are they going to add a cable car…" she gasped.
"Trainer Nase, Onii-sama is already up there!"
"I know… let me rest…"
Leaning on the railing, she felt like an uma musume in the final sprint.
Finally, after her fourth rest, Rice Shower grabbed her hand.
Even if she was a rival, she was still Onii-sama's acquaintance.
Rice Shower wasn't heartless enough to leave her behind.
After finally reaching the shrine, Nase Fumino collapsed onto a bench.
Fujiwara Chiya and Kiryuin Aoi tossed coins and prayed.
"What did you wish for?" she asked.
"If I say it, it won't come true."
Then they moved to the fortune box.
"Romance…" Kiryuin murmured.
"You're interested in that?"
"…A little."
Chiya was surprised.
Then she asked, "What about you? Anyone you care about?"
He blinked.
At the same time—
Another voice overlapped.
Mejiro Ryan.
Back at the Mejiro tea gathering—
"Shirayuki, do you have someone you care about?"
"Someone I care about?"
"Yes." Ryan pointed at her ring. "Is that an engagement ring?"
"Eh!?" McQueen dropped her cake.
"It's not!" Dober protested.
"It's from a friend," Shirayuki explained.
"I see… so you don't have anyone?"
"I do."
"WHO!?"
"Dober-onee-chan."
Silence.
"…That counts," McQueen said.
"Do you plan to get married?"
"Not right now."
Back at the shrine—
"I want to focus on being a trainer first," Chiya said.
"So no one?"
"…You could say that."
As evening fell, both groups returned.
At a hotel.
"Onii-sama!"
Rice Shower suddenly appeared and hugged him.
"Rice Shower!? Why are you here!?" Fujiwara Chiya was caught completely off guard, his body stiffening for a moment before he looked down at her.
"I was out with Trainer Nase!"
Nase Fumino sat on a bench nearby, her posture slightly slouched, breathing steady and quiet as if she had simply run out of energy mid-step.
"…She's asleep?"
"Rice dragged her around…"
Chiya let out a small sigh, glancing between the two before crouching down. Carefully, he lifted Nase Fumino onto his back, adjusting her weight so she wouldn't slip.
"Let's go home."
As he walked, the night air grew cooler, the distant city lights flickering in his vision.
"Chiya…" she murmured, her voice faint and unfocused.
"I don't want to go…"
Her grip on his shoulder tightened slightly for a brief moment, then loosened.
Then she fell silent again, her breathing returning to a slow, even rhythm.
That phrase…
Familiar.
It lingered in his mind, like an echo that refused to fade.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced.
A crying girl.
"Chiya!"
"I said stop causing trouble!"
"Just a few years abroad."
"…That long?"
"We'll meet again."
"Don't go!"
"Act like a proper Nase family member, Fumino!"
Her small hands clung desperately, refusing to let go, her voice breaking as she was pulled away.
Her face became clear.
Fujiwara Chiya froze.