In the cafeteria, Fujiwara Shirayuki sat together with Special Week and the others.
Under the gazes of the people around her, Fujiwara Shirayuki felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.
Why was there another problem right after Rice's matter had finally settled?
Was today never going to calm down?
"Yuki-chan, ah~"
Grass Wonder brought a spoon to Shirayuki's mouth and smiled.
Fujiwara Shirayuki swallowed.
She looked at Special Week, whose eyes had lost their light, then at Gold Ship, Meisho Doto, and the others, whose eyes were wide open. Shirayuki tugged at her collar.
"Grass, I can eat by myself."
"Yuki-chan, ah~"
Grass Wonder moved the spoon a little closer.
"Ah~"
Enduring the needle-like gazes from around her, Shirayuki ate the food. At this point, she could no longer tell what it tasted like. It felt like she was eating her own flesh.
Seeing Shirayuki eat the food she gave her, Grass Wonder's smile became even more beautiful.
"There's carrot pie here too. I'll cut Yuki-chan a piece."
"Hold it right there!"
Unable to endure any longer, Special Week slammed the table and stood up.
"What are you doing, Grass? You've been feeding and feeding her this whole time for no reason! Is Shirayuki someone who needs you to feed her? What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Spe-chan, calm down! Spe-chan!"
Meisho Doto and the others immediately moved forward to hold her back.
No. She could not calm down.
This Grass was going too far!
How dare she act so intimate with Shirayuki right in front of her? Clearly, she was Shirayuki's best friend. Even she had never fed Shirayuki before. What right did Grass have?
"Oh my? Spe-chan, what's wrong? Did I do something that upset you?"
Grass Wonder lightly touched her cheek, her expression full of confusion.
That acting was so perfect that Gold Ship immediately decided to award next year's Oscar for Best Actress to Grass Wonder.
"What do you mean, upset? What exactly are you trying to do? Are you picking a fight?"
"I'm only feeding Yuki-chan."
"That's exactly why I'm asking why!"
As if she greatly enjoyed seeing Special Week lose control, Grass Wonder spoke unhurriedly.
"Because Yuki-chan asked me to."
"Hah??"
Everyone's gaze gathered on Fujiwara Shirayuki.
Her body immediately curled up into a ball, her white ears shaking in panic.
"Actually, that wasn't what I originally meant..."
After Shirayuki explained, everyone finally learned that she had asked Grass Wonder to serve her for one day.
"What I meant by service was just ordinary company. I didn't mean this."
"Really, Yuki-chan. Company is company, and service is service. You can't mix up the two meanings. Since you already said it, you can't take it back. If you want company, then let's make another promise next time we race."
As she spoke, Grass Wonder gently hugged Shirayuki and lightly stroked her cheek. That intimate scene made Gold Ship let out an "oho," while Agnes Tachyon showed an intrigued expression, clearly wanting to see how the matter would develop.
Only Special Week's cheeks were flushed red. She was obviously furious.
"In that case, I'm challenging you too, Shirayuki!"
"What?"
"Let's race! The loser has to obey one request from the winner!"
Special Week felt that her current condition would let her perform at five hundred percent of her ability. A mere Fujiwara Shirayuki could be kicked behind her with two steps.
"This..."
"Shirayuki, are you scared to race me?"
"That sort of thing should happen in the Twinkle Series, Spe-chan."
Grass Wonder stepped forward.
"Yuki-chan and I made our promise while betting on the result of a race. It happened under the witness of thousands of spectators. That is why the promise between me and Shirayuki carries the same weight as the race itself."
Grass Wonder continued.
"But what about you, Spe-chan? Are you planning to use an unimportant training race to make a promise with Shirayuki?"
She spoke softly.
"I value Yuki-chan very much. She is my most important friend. That is why I want to race with her and run with her. Every promise between us carries meaning equal to the race itself."
Her ice-blue eyes looked at Special Week as Grass Wonder said in a low voice, "Or could it be, Spe-chan, that your feelings for Yuki-chan are just as casual as the promise you want to make with her?"
Stab!
It was as if an arrow had pierced Special Week's chest. She clutched her heart and staggered before collapsing.
Grass... Grass Wonder, just you wait. I absolutely won't let you get away with this!
Looking at Special Week lying on the ground, uncertain whether she was alive or dead, Grass Wonder smiled and sat back down.
"Yuki-chan, let's eat."
"Not only did she finish someone off, she even danced on the grave. Grass Wonder... what a terrifying child."
Gold Ship clenched her fist, mourning Special Week's passing.
While the Tracen cafeteria was descending into chaos, elsewhere, at the House by the Sea restaurant, Mejiro Dober had found Mejiro Bright.
"I heard the seafood ramen here is very delicious, Dober."
Mejiro Bright's soft, relaxed voice reached Mejiro Dober's ears.
Dober nervously looked around.
Besides the trainers, there were also many tourists here. Although Shirayuki's daily support had helped ease Mejiro Dober's fear of men somewhat, she still felt deeply uncomfortable in such an unfamiliar environment.
At this time, she should have finished helping Shirayuki bathe, then eaten lunch together with her. But since Bright had invited her, Dober could not simply refuse.
Shirayuki would not have something happen with Special Week, right?
Probably not.
After all, there were so many people around. With Special Week's ability, she probably could not take down Shirayuki in one move.
With a little more comfort in her heart, Mejiro Dober picked up her chopsticks.
"Then I'll try it."
"Dober, eating it this way makes it even more delicious."
Mejiro Bright placed the soup and sauce into her spoon, then ate it in one bite.
Mejiro Dober did not have the patience to arrange each spoonful like that.
"Bright, you called me here because you had something to say, right?"
"Yes~"
The other girl spoke leisurely.
"What is it?"
"I wanted to ask about you and Shirayuki."
Resting her elbows on the table, Mejiro Bright held her cheeks in both hands. Her golden pupils reflected Mejiro Dober's figure.
"You like that child very much, Dober. Has there been any new progress lately?"
"You came here just to ask that?"
"And to eat delicious ramen."
Mejiro Dober was a little speechless.
Looking at the clear soup, she said, "There hasn't been any especially obvious progress."
"Oh my~ Is Shirayuki not interested in that way?"
"I wouldn't say she isn't..."
Mejiro Dober thought of that day when Shirayuki had hidden under the blanket without telling her.
"Maybe... she's just too embarrassed to say it."
"Shirayuki is a shy child, isn't she? In that case, wouldn't it be better for Dober to take the initiative?"
"Take the initiative?"
"That's right. Small gestures like whispering close to her ear, holding her hand, or resting close beside her can all increase affection."
"Wh-Wh-What! Bright, you can't say things like that so casually!"
"I'm not saying it casually. If you don't believe me, do you want to try it with me?"
Looking at Mejiro Bright's smiling face, Mejiro Dober shook her head repeatedly.
"N-No need."
"But if Dober continues like this, things with Shirayuki won't move forward. You need to act before Shirayuki is taken away by someone else."
"Taken away? No one will take Shirayuki away. She's my little sister!"
The only person she really needed to be careful of was probably Special Week.
As long as Mejiro Dober guarded properly against her, there should not be any problem.
"But no matter what, if you don't act, nothing will progress. The beds in the training camp dorm are very close together. Dober, don't you want to do something at night?"
"Do something means... what exactly?"
"Of course, I mean taking Shirayuki's first special memory for yourself."
Mejiro Bright said something outrageous with an unchanged expression.