"Ah! It's Rei-chan!"
"Can I get an autograph?"
"Can we take a picture?"
"I want a hug!"
When walking on campus during break time, Zero inevitably encountered situations like this.
Strong, gentle, yet petite and cute, she was now completely the iconic mascot of Central Tracen.
"Hmm, yes, you can." But she didn't dislike it.
After all, everyone is a cute Uma Musume, who wouldn't want to cuddle?
However, speaking of cuddling, she still held a grudge against the Three Goddesses for a certain incident.
Back when she was training alone in the deep mountains, daily tasks would be issued. The task was [Cuddle with an Uma Musume], offering the highest reward for the day, but where was she supposed to find an Uma Musume?!
Later, after she moved to the city, she thought she could finally cuddle with an Uma Musume and complete her daily task. But then, it stopped being issued.
Yes, this daily task was gone. The Three Goddesses had deliberately teased her.
"Rei-chan, can you make a face?"
Just as she thought of that incident, she conveniently puffed out her cheeks and glared at the other party, who, in turn, took a picture with an "awsl" expression.
Fortunately, the Uma Musume were all good children and knew she trained frequently, so after a brief moment of satisfaction, they dispersed. Some even spontaneously maintained order.
However, that being said, she still spotted a familiar large bow in the nearby bushes.
"Hoo~ Eh~~~, this pure feeling~ Ugh!"
A pink-haired Uma Musume was squatting in the bushes, her face looking like she was about to ascend to heaven, frantically jotting down her inspirations on paper. If someone didn't know her, they would probably keep their distance.
But for Zero, it didn't matter. In fact, she quite liked her, because the other party was very interesting.
If geniuses in the Uma Musume world all have their quirks to some extent, then this one was the epitome of them.
A celebrity who joined Tracen Academy "because she wanted to see other Uma Musume's pairings and how they cuddled," and then took to the race track "because she wanted to see up close the beautiful friendship of Uma Musume competing and understanding each other on the track." She could run on any terrain and in the worst road conditions, making her Zero's predecessor as an all-rounder.
Her greatest achievement was defeating Opera O in the Tenno Sho Autumn and causing Meisho Doto to lose her second-place position (?). Zero had watched that race. Alice Digital had an ecstatic expression, intently staring at Opera O and Nato fiercely competing behind her until she crossed the finish line.
It was also that race that made everyone realize her true strength might be more than what she showed. So, her Trainer deliberately arranged several races with Uma Musume who had strong 'CP vibes.' In those races, Alice Digital, living up to expectations, would surge ahead just to admire the Uma Musume in front, securing first place.
Later, with time, she… started writing novels, and her pen name could be found in everything from lighthearted romance to bizarre fanfics. After her retirement, she expanded her business, venturing into the manga industry, but despite having the skill, she never drew adult comics. She herself declared, "It's already blissful for me to draw the bodies of those cute children; if I go any further, I'll die!" This left countless gentlemen distraught, as they knew that if it were Alice Digital, it would probably really come true.
However, despite all that, in actual conversation, she was a cute child who would stutter just talking to an Uma Musume. Especially the first time Zero caught her, due to the height difference, she hugged her waist, and Alice Digital immediately "died of bliss" on the spot, startling Zero. Later, their relationship inexplicably became very good, perhaps due to their shared nature as "DDs" (die-hard fans)?
For example, now… "Digital, look over there, it's the Emperor and CB!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh! Where! Where?!" The other party immediately looked up, scanning her surroundings, and then her face fell when she found nothing.
"Mo~ My best friend! Why do you deceive my feelings like this?!"
"Because your reaction is indeed very interesting." Zero also chuckled softly.
"So mean! But Rei-chan's little devil look is also super awesome~" Alice Digital started jotting something down in her notebook again.
"Alright, I have something serious to talk to you about." Zero also had a sudden idea.
"Eh? What?" The large bow, like her main body, was twitching.
"I, you see, bought a very large house outside, equipped with everything from living quarters to training facilities. So, the training location for my team has been set there."
"So?"
"I ask you, Alice Digital, do you want to see cute juniors sweating and striving for their dreams?"
"I do! Of course, I do! But the school's training ground is too open. If I observe them nearby, it might affect them…" Alice Digital, who had been speaking passionately, suddenly deflated.
Although she was the leader of the DDs, she was also a DD with principles. She would never affect the daily lives or training of the Uma Musume. It was precisely because of this that she often hid in strange places, leading to some strange campus ghost stories.
"So, didn't I say? My new house has 'training facilities,' you know?"
"Could… Could it be?!"
"That's right. For safety, some public areas have surveillance, and even the track has cameras to replicate the race scene." Her lips curled slightly; she was about to succeed.
"Please, I must go, my best friend!"
"Of course, that's why I told you, because I wanted you to come." It took no effort at all.
"As expected of my soulmate!"
"But Digital, look, if someone unauthorized enters the house…"
"What?! Someone wants to destroy such a beautiful holy place! I will not allow it!"
And so, a security guard who basically monitors surveillance at all times was acquired.
Of course, she would still be paid, but human employees are no match for Uma Musume employees, and they're more pleasing to the eye.
After telling the other party the address, the two parted ways. Zero still had one place to go.
The cafeteria.
There's a saying circulating in Tracen: If you want to find Oguri Cap but can't find her anywhere, go to the cafeteria. If you need to ask her for a favor, treat her to a meal first.
So, this time, she was naturally going to find Oguri Cap…'s accessory, Tamamo Cross.
"Hey! You said it all out loud! I'll bite you!" Tamamo Cross, with a vein throbbing on her forehead, glared at Zero, who was acting like a narrator and saying all her thoughts aloud.
"Well, even so, Senior Tamamo is indeed often by Senior Oguri Cap's side, isn't she?"
"Ha?! How could I possibly…"
"From the dorm to school, then to eating, to training, and back to the dorm."
"…." Tamamo fell silent.
"Mmm (chew), so Rei-chan, are you looking for Tama-chan for something?" Oguri Cap still had a super-sized portion of food in front of her.
"Ah, strictly speaking, I'm looking for both of you, but Senior Tamamo is more troublesome."
"Indeed, Tama-chan often causes a lot of trouble." Oguri Cap nodded seriously.
"I especially don't want to hear that from you?! And what exactly are you here for?! To pick a fight?!" Tamamo Cross was super fierce.
"Ah, it's nothing much, mainly I hope you two can 'use your full strength' and run with me."
"Hmm?" Don't we run together often?
"While activating your domain."
"Oh~? It seems you also understand this thing?" A look of interest instantly appeared on Tamamo's face.
Oguri Cap was still eating.
"Yes, so I really want to understand what a domain truly is."
"But I don't feel like running right now~"
As expected, Senior Tamamo is starting to play coy… "But Tamamo, aren't we going to compete with each other later? It wouldn't hurt to bring her along, would it?"
"Can you just shut up?!!!" I finally had a chance to see this disrespectful girl get flustered! (Though she wouldn't)
"No, if I shut up, I can't eat."
"So why are you eating in the cafeteria at ten in the morning?!"
"Then… next time I'll come at nine?"
"That's not what I meant!!!"
The daily interactions of the two seniors were as amusing as ever, a tsundere and a dense person together.
Zero rested her chin on her hand, watching the two interact with a motherly smile, completely ignoring the "died of bliss!" cry from a certain corner.