Time moved to the next day, and the dance party officially began. Special Week brought Cesario to the venue. The girls were changing clothes in the dressing room, while the men—
"Refreshing!"
Nishizaki Ryuu put down a glass filled with chilled soda and called out to Fujiwara Chiya and the others.
"I remember everything prepared was non-alcoholic. Why are you drinking it like you're enjoying beer?" Fujiwara Chiya took a few sips. It was indeed sweet.
"This stuff hits harder than beer! And it's all ice-cold!" As he spoke, Nishizaki Ryuu picked up a few pieces of meat. "Although it's a student event, the food is really well prepared."
"Of course it is." Fujiwara Chiya grew proud. He had spent more than half of Rudolf's budget on this part. As for stage lighting, sound equipment, and so on, he had compared prices everywhere and found the most cost-effective options. He had even personally gone to bargain with the owners. If it had been Shirayuki and the others, they definitely would not have gotten such good prices. Those merchants were all sharp as monkeys. The moment they saw kids who knew nothing, they would raise the prices sky-high.
"Chiya, was it you, you brat, who put Shirayuki up to it!? After Cesario went home, she wouldn't say a word to me. And even when she did talk, it was all about Special Week and Shirayuki! It was you, right? You did that on purpose, didn't you!?" Katsumura Youta shouted while eating skewers and pointing at him.
"As an educator, it is my duty to keep children away from danger."
"Get lost! I'm fighting you!"
"What, you want to fight? Now? Here?"
"I'm opening a betting pool. I bet Chiya wins!" Nishizaki Ryuu laughed loudly.
"I'm in," Kuronuma added from the side.
"What about me? Who's betting I'll win?" Katsumura Youta pointed at himself.
"If no one else will, then I shall bet on Trainer's victory."
A voice came from behind. T.M. Opera O, dressed in a white uniform, straightened her posture. Her upright figure and handsome face made her look like a butler.
"Opera O, want a drink?" Fujiwara Chiya shook the soda in his hand.
"After I finish dancing with Shirayuki." She revealed a dazzling smile, leaving the trainers present momentarily stunned.
"There were no trainers at the dance party, but some people were so handsome they became trainers." Kuronuma pushed up his sunglasses and spoke as if stating a profound truth.
"I can't argue with that." Nishizaki Ryuu nodded in deep agreement.
"Damn it, why can't I dance? I want to go up there and dance with a cute girl too!"
"What's wrong? Do you even have a dance partner?"
"No, but isn't a dance party where you find a dance partner!? I want to use this chance to escape singlehood!" Katsumura Youta knocked his glass.
"Stop him, Trainer Katsumura's statement is dangerous!"
"Leave it to me!"
Nishizaki Ryuu picked up a piece of bread and stuffed it into his mouth, directly knocking him onto the floor. After finishing the job, Nishizaki Ryuu wiped away imaginary sweat.
"He almost destroyed this student event with one sentence." Fujiwara Chiya let out a breath of relief.
"Seeing all the trainers getting along so well puts me at ease."
"Where did you see us getting along…" Katsumura Youta swallowed the bread and climbed up from the floor.
"Next is dance time! Everyone, please enjoy the paired dances!"
The lights in the venue dimmed, and several beams gathered in the center. At the same time, Fujiwara Shirayuki appeared in a white dress. Her snow-white hair was decorated with a beautiful hairpin, and a blue necklace hung around her slender neck. Under the lights, she stepped onto the stage.
"It's my turn." Opera O bowed to the others.
"Oh… mm."
The trainers' voices paused for a few beats. After Opera O left, they looked toward Fujiwara Chiya.
"Chiya, you should understand Shirayuki's situation best, right?"
"What is it?"
"That child is getting prettier and prettier. You'd better keep a close eye on her. I heard children approaching adolescence are especially prone to impulsive behavior. If you don't manage her properly and she falls for some wild man outside, that'd be terrible."
You guys, when did you start acting like elders and commenting on Shirayuki?
"If I were ten years younger, I might have had a chance. Unfortunately, I'm already a scruffy uncle." Nishizaki Ryuu rubbed his chin and teased.
"Even if you were twenty years younger, it would still be impossible." Fujiwara Chiya curled his lips.
"So this is an older brother's possessiveness? Painful to watch."
"You have the nerve to say that about me? Aren't you always pretending to be a mature adult in front of Cesario, even though inside you're just an idiot?"
"Hmph, childish. I was already mature when you were still drinking milk."
Katsumura Youta took a sip of his drink and glanced toward the stage. At that exact moment, his eyes met Fujiwara Shirayuki's. Those blue eyes looked at him coldly, and Katsumura Youta immediately felt a chill run down his spine.
How strange. I don't think I've interacted with Shirayuki that much before. Why does that gaze feel so meaningful?
Katsumura Youta sank into self-doubt.
"What beautiful steps, Shirayuki." Opera O took her hand and spoke softly.
"Dancing beautifully is also part of an Empress's refinement."
"An Empress, hm… It seems you've found your goal."
The two danced gracefully along with the music. When the song ended, they stood before the audience and bowed. Thunderous applause filled the venue.
"Beautiful. Truly beautiful!" Katsumura Youta clapped desperately. Beside him, Fujiwara Chiya let out a breath of relief. It seemed the reaction was quite good. Fortunately, he had practiced day and night, afraid of embarrassing himself on stage. He and Shirayuki had secretly practiced in their room until Fujiwara Chiya's feet were numb from dancing.
After Opera O left, Shirayuki had not even managed to breathe a sigh of relief before Special Week walked onto the stage wearing a red uniform. Compared to her usual innocent and cheerful look, today she seemed rather handsome, carrying the air of a general.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Shirayuki."
Special Week looked at her seriously, then bowed and performed a gentlemanly salute.
"Please dance with me!"
"Mm…"
What is this feeling?
This was clearly Tracen's dance party, but somehow there was an obvious sense of who was leading and who was being led. Did everyone discuss this beforehand? Why were they all wearing this kind of outfit?
Shirayuki looked down from the stage and saw that Grass Wonder, Tokai Teio, and the others waiting for her were all dressed in men's uniforms. She was the only one wearing a dress.
Eh? Isn't this wrong?
Did Tracen assign these outfits to you? Or did you choose them yourselves?
Opera O aside, why are all of you like this?
Finally, Shirayuki's gaze landed on Mejiro Dober nearby. Like Shirayuki, she was wearing a white formal dress.
Shirayuki let out a breath of relief. She had thought she was the only special one, and for a moment she had wondered if she had worn the wrong outfit.
As the dance music drew to a close, Special Week wrapped an arm around Shirayuki's waist. On that normally innocent face appeared a seriousness Shirayuki had never seen before.
"Shirayuki, my dream is to become Japan's number one Uma Musume."
"Mm."
"So, after I become Japan's number one… let's race together again."
"Of course."
Hearing those words, Special Week smiled. At the end of the music, she kissed Shirayuki on the cheek.
The air in the entire venue went silent.
Then—
"Oooooohhhh!"
It exploded.