Myriad Dreams did a massive stretch, her bones letting out a faint series of pops.
She squinted at the sign on the platform, her tone still carrying the laziness of someone not quite awake.
"Mm... no need to rush. Higashi-Funan Station is very close to the academy, we can just walk..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Special Week let out an even louder cry.
"Hi-Higashi-Funan?! Myriad Dreams-san, the broadcast just said 'Higashi-Fuchu'!"
"Higashi-Fuchu?"
Myriad Dreams blinked, as if the meaning of the word hadn't quite registered.
She gave her head a sharp shake and looked closely at the station sign— [Higashi-Fuchu].
"...Crap."
She snapped awake instantly, even forgetting to chew her gum.
"The station closest to the academy is Higashi-Funan! We got off one stop too early!"
"Ah?! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Myriad Dreams-san! I was in such a hurry, I accidentally carried you off at the wrong stop!"
Special Week panicked immediately, her ears and tail drooping as she bowed repeatedly in apology.
She looked as if she had committed a grave sin.
Looking at her like this, the small spark of irritation Myriad Dreams felt from the mistake vanished into thin air.
She sighed and gave a casual wave of her hand. "Alright, alright, it's fine. I don't blame you."
"You meant well... whatever, let's just run there. We're Uma Musume anyway, this distance is just a warm-up."
Just as the two were resigning themselves to a run, a middle-aged train station staff member in uniform, who had been listening to their conversation, walked over with a smile.
"Um, excuse me, young ladies."
He said kindly, "I overheard your conversation. You accidentally got off at the wrong stop and are headed to Tracen Academy, right?"
Special Week nodded hurriedly. "Yes! I'm very sorry for the trouble!"
The man smiled and shook his head. "No trouble at all. However, since you've ended up in Higashi-Fuchu, you could call it fate."
"As it happens, today is the opening day of the Twinkle Series. If you two are interested, it wouldn't be a bad idea to stop by and watch? Think of it as getting used to the environment."
"The Twinkle Series?!" Special Week's eyes lit up instantly, looking as though they were filled with tiny stars.
Coming from the countryside, she had almost never seen a real race— one where so many Uma Musume competed together— with her own eyes!
Her gaze was immediately filled with an intense longing.
She spun toward Myriad Dreams, clasping her hands together in a pleading gesture with those wet, puppy-dog eyes that were impossible to refuse.
"Myriad Dreams-san! Can we go see it? Just for a little bit! Please!"
Myriad Dreams didn't actually have much interest in watching races, all she wanted to do was check into the academy and find a place to finish her nap.
But being stared at by Special Week like that, she found it impossible to say "no."
"...Sigh."
She rubbed her forehead, feeling as though she had never been this helpless in her entire life (including her previous one).
Ultimately, she surrendered to the other girl's pure enthusiasm and pleading.
"Fine, fine..." Myriad Dreams sighed in defeat and chewed her gum. "Just for a little while. Once we're done watching, we have to run to the academy immediately."
"Yay! Thank you, Myriad Dreams-san! You're such a good person!" Special Week cheered instantly, her energy returning to full capacity in a heartbeat.
Watching Special Week's mood flip from cloudy to sunny in a split second, Myriad Dreams thought to herself.
'This girl's emotional switching is way too fast... Oh well, since we're already at the wrong stop, I guess I'll just treat it as an accidental excursion.'