Hearing the voices around her, Special Week jumped in surprise.
"What's wrong? Shirayuki and I are friends, so is there anything strange about it?"
"I don't know whether to call it strange or just surprising… This is a dance party, Spe-chan."
"What's wrong with a dance party?" Special Week blinked.
Looking at her slightly embarrassed yet confused expression, Shirayuki's restless heart gradually calmed down.
Spe-chan really did not understand anything.
"It's nothing. Spe-chan just needs to stay the way she is now."
"Of course. I'll always stay the way Shirayuki likes."
The moment those words fell, another wave of cheers erupted around them.
"So that's why Chiya isn't worried about Shirayuki." Nishizaki Ryuu nodded in sudden understanding.
"Everyone has their own tastes, I guess. Wait, don't tell me Shirayuki is… Chiya, keep Shirayuki away from my sister from now on! Unless she gets through me first, she's not touching that child!"
Listening to the noisy trainers around him, Fujiwara Chiya silently covered his face.
Right now, he wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it. Why did I choose a dance party back then? Was my brain broken? Wouldn't a water gun fight have been more fun? Don't underestimate Gold Ship's high-pressure water gun with a ten-metre range!
"Cough, cough. Everyone, I'm going to the restroom."
Finally unable to endure the commotion around him, Fujiwara Chiya chose to leave. Although Shirayuki's side was still suffering on the stage, at least he could let this body relax for a while.
Closing the door, the noise inside the room was cut off from his ears. Fujiwara Chiya took a deep breath.
"Ya, Trainer. What a coincidence."
A green big cat waved at him.
"Sky? Why are you outside?"
"It's too noisy inside. Even I can't sleep while listening to people dance like it's a club."
"Did you just come out?"
"No." Seiun Sky leaned against the wall. "I figured that with Trainer's thin skin, you probably wouldn't last until the dance party ended. Was Shirayuki getting too much attention, so you ran out here for some air?"
"You actually guessed it."
"Because I've been watching Trainer."
Seiun Sky gazed at the quiet campus. Since all the students had gathered at the venue, there were not many people outside. It almost felt as though the entire campus belonged only to the two of them.
"Walk with me, Trainer. You're looking for something to distract yourself anyway."
He had been completely seen through by Seiun Sky.
The two of them wandered aimlessly around Tracen. Seiun Sky picked a flower from the side and tucked it into her hair, then picked another for Fujiwara Chiya.
"It suits you, Trainer."
"I'm a man."
"What's wrong with that?"
When he was with Seiun Sky, even the air seemed to become quiet.
"Yuki-chan, let's exchange a friendship kiss too."
Grass Wonder's voice suddenly reached Fujiwara Chiya's ears.
"What's wrong, Trainer?"
"Nothing…"
Looking at Fujiwara Chiya's face, Seiun Sky reached out and took his hand.
"Trainer's body is over here, not over there."
"I know."
The two continued chatting casually, just like before.
"Speaking of which, there's another field outside Tracen, right? Did you know?"
"Of course. I've even taken them there."
"I found a big pond there. There are lots of fish too. Most importantly, there's a big rock beside the pond. Don't you think it's a perfect place to sleep and fish at the same time?"
"I'm impressed you managed to find that place."
"Because my nose is sharp." Seiun Sky swayed her tail.
"So, Trainer, want to come see it with me?"
"When I have time."
"When you have time, huh… Then can I book you in advance? I want to reserve Trainer Chiya's time. When someone comes looking for you, you can tell them, 'I'll be spending that time with Seii-chan, so please excuse me.' How does that sound?"
"When I say I'm busy, I don't mean because someone invited me. I mean work. Right now, we're in the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara period, and there's also the overseas expedition. Director and Central keep calling me away. That's what I'm busy with."
Seiun Sky gave a meaningful hum.
"If there's no work on the day you reserve, then I'll go out with you. How's that?"
"Heh~ So Trainer does know how to spend time with me, your friend."
"Are you teasing me? No matter what, I've definitely spent time with you."
"I always thought Trainer was a very busy person. Uma Musume have things to ask of you, trainers have things to ask of you too, and then my priority keeps getting pushed further and further back. Only after everyone else is solved does it finally become my turn."
"Others before oneself. If someone else needs something, of course I have to handle their matters first."
"When Trainer says 'oneself,' are you talking about me? Don't tell me Trainer's actual system is that the lower the priority, the higher the priority really is. The people you act like you care about the least are actually the ones you care about the most. Is that it?"
"Why did you suddenly twist this into affection levels?"
"Then I'll take it that way. In that case, putting me last is perfectly reasonable." Seiun Sky's tone suddenly became cheerful.
The dance party on Shirayuki's side was nearing its end, so Fujiwara Chiya prepared to head back early. If Nishizaki Ryuu and the others found out that he had escaped halfway through, things would get troublesome.
After talking with Seiun Sky for a while, his mood had lightened considerably. Compared to the noisy venue, this leisurely atmosphere suited him much better.
"Speaking of which, Trainer, I was actually planning to dance today too. I even prepared an outfit for the dance party."
"Then why didn't you go?"
"How should I put it? Once I saw how many people there were, I didn't feel like going anymore." Seiun Sky placed both hands behind her head. "Rather than lining up over there, I'd rather come out here and walk around with Trainer. What about you, Trainer? You must have prepared quite a lot for this dance party too, right? Like practicing your steps because you were afraid of embarrassing yourself."
"How much do you have to see through me before you're satisfied?"
"Sorry, sorry. Trainer is just too easy to read. Boys all care a lot about their pride." Seiun Sky giggled. "Actually, I'm the same as Trainer. I practiced too."
"Even though you weren't planning to go?"
"Exactly. If I don't dance, then all of Seii-chan's previous effort will go to waste."
Those sky-blue eyes looked at him.
"So, Trainer, in order to not let Seii-chan's effort go to waste, will you dance with me?"
"You're joking with me. Instead of finding an Uma Musume, you came to me?"
"What's wrong with that? Trainer is half Uma Musume too, isn't he? So it should be fine if I treat you like an Uma Musume."
"You really are good at sophistry."
"I'll take that as praise. This humble girl has no talents except sophistry." Seiun Sky smiled.
Fujiwara Chiya hesitated for a while before finally speaking.
"I'll only dance one song with you. I still need to go back. They're probably already looking for me."
"One song is fine. One song is enough."
Seiun Sky took his hand, then pulled him to the side.
In that silent campus, the two began to dance.