"...Fūga, have you considered transferring schools?"
Seeing Seiun Sky silently avert her gaze, Mejiro Ardan asked worriedly: "The situation Himeji Tracen Academy is in now can no longer be considered a 'school.'"
"If you choose to switch to another school, you..."
"Transfer? There's no need for that."
Seiun Sky gently interrupted Mejiro Ardan's unfinished sentence: "And I feel very happy every day I spend there."
Indeed, as Mejiro Ardan said, Himeji Local Tresen Academy is currently short-staffed in various positions, even to the point where it can only barely operate with a handful of active staff members, but...
"And, I also promised the Trainer to become the 'savior' of Himeji Tracen Academy."
Seiun Sky said with a cheerful smile: "Although 'saving' doesn't sound very girlish, since I've already promised the Trainer, in order not to disappoint everyone, I can only reluctantly take on this responsibility~?"
"..."
Mejiro Ardan looked at the cheerfully smiling Uma Musume beside her, remaining silent.
The savior of Himeji Tracen Academy? That's no ordinary challenge.
To revitalize Himeji Tracen Academy, one must not only achieve results on the track but also solve problems such as financial strain and a severe shortage of school staff.
To 'save'? That's not something that can be accomplished by just talking.
"...Are you really okay?"
After a moment of silence, Mejiro Ardan asked.
"Of course, it's fine, this is just..."
"I'm not asking about 'this matter,' I'm asking about you."
Mejiro Ardan interrupted Seiun Sky, her tone serious and earnest.
"By agreeing to this, are you really not forcing yourself?"
"That's for sure."
Seiun Sky was still smiling, her expression unchanged: "I would never do something that would force myself."
...Are you really not forcing yourself, Seiun Sky?
"Alright, alright, on a rare day off where we can openly be lazy, let's not talk about such serious topics."
She casually picked up a bag of snacks from the ones in front of her and handed it to Mejiro Ardan: "Here, want some snacks?"
"...Thank you."
Mejiro Ardan first stared at Seiun Sky's face for a while, then reached out and took the snacks she offered.
...It seems she's also a handful.
Mejiro Ardan thought to herself as she opened the snack bag.
"Want to play some games together?"
After tidying up the table from the snacks, Seiun Sky placed the basket Okumiya Takumi had given her next to the table, then reached out her arm, grabbed two game controllers, and placed one of them beside Mejiro Ardan: "...Anyway, we're just idle, aren't we?"
"..."
Mejiro Ardan looked around, then silently took the controller.
Games, huh... Sometimes she played with Ryan and the others at home.
"...? Utter Defeat?"
Looking at the game logo displayed on the screen, Mejiro Ardan murmured, repeating it.
...Isn't this the game that Hikari and Ryan have been playing recently?
What did they say about this game again?
Mejiro Ardan frowned, trying to remember, but the memories that came to mind were a bit blurry.
...Can't remember.
"What's wrong? The game is about to start, you know?"
Seiun Sky, seeing Mejiro Ardan still lost in thought, reminded her.
"Hm? Ah, okay."
Mejiro Ardan, snapping out of it, nodded, then unconsciously tightened her grip on the game controller.
...
"..."
Seeing her character fall from the sky once again, Mejiro Ardan helplessly turned her head to look at the Black-haired Horse Girl sitting beside her.
...Because of her series of actions, it was hard for her not to suspect that Seiun Sky was deliberately messing with her.
Looking at the Black-haired Horse Girl who met her gaze with an innocent expression, Mejiro Ardan sighed helplessly.
—Then, after a jump ten seconds later, she fell into the void once again.
"...Fūga?"
Watching her character fall from the sky and lie motionless on the ground, Mejiro Ardan finally couldn't hold back, grabbed her arm, and called out her name.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Seiun Sky, whose arm was grabbed, blinked innocently, asking confusedly: "Why are you suddenly holding my arm?"
"Do you really not know?"
Mejiro Ardan asked with a sweet smile: "How many times have you dragged me down?"
"Oh, what are you talking about?"
Seiun Sky, still trying to pretend she knew nothing, tilted her head, attempting to bluff her way through: "I don't understand anything... Oh dear~?"
"Still trying to pretend?"
Gently tapping Seiun Sky's forehead, Mejiro Ardan sighed: "Honestly... Can't we just cooperate well?"
"But wouldn't that be a bit too boring?"
The Black-haired Uma Musume, with no intention of backing down, playfully stuck out her tongue: "When playing games with friends, of course, having fun is the most important thing!"
"Do I look like I'm having fun right now?"
Mejiro Ardan looked helpless, but all she got in return was Seiun Sky's cheeky grin.
...How is this child even more mischievous than McQueen was when she was little?
Thinking this, Mejiro Ardan subconsciously glanced at the time.
Oh no, it's already so late.
"Sorry, I have to go."
"Hmm? What is it?"
Seiun Sky followed Mejiro Ardan's gaze to the clock on the wall.
"So it's already this late."
It was only then that Seiun Sky realized the time had reached 11:30 AM. She reluctantly put down the controller in her hand: "Oh dear... happy times are truly short."
"...You're the only one who's happy, aren't you?"
Mejiro Ardan gave Seiun Sky a disgruntled look, then stood up.
"McQueen and the others should be waiting for me by now, I have to leave."
"Mhm, come again next time."
Seiun Sky said this as she followed behind Mejiro Ardan, seeing her to the door.
She looked at the Blue-haired Horse Girl standing outside the door, meeting her gaze, and waved at her with a cheerful smile: "...Welcome to come play games with me again next time!"
"Can't we do something else besides playing games?"
Hearing Seiun Sky say this in a lighthearted tone, Mejiro Ardan pointed to the stairwell: "...Like going shopping together?"
"Go shopping in this hot weather?"
The moment the door opened, Seiun Sky felt a wave of heat hit her face, and she looked unwilling: "It's better to stay at home in the summer, isn't it?"
"...Aren't you a little too lazy?"
Mejiro Ardan looked at the Black-haired Uma Musume and couldn't help but complain.
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