Gold Ship never expected to run into Light Dyna here.
And Dyna, of course, had no idea what Gold Ship would be busy with in a place like this. Of the three of them, only Zoff was an outsider; seeing the two freeze at the sight of each other, she had the distinct feeling she had just stumbled onto something major.
"What are you doing here?"
Unexpectedly, Gold Ship did not put on one of her usual sour faces toward Dyna. Her tone was still sharp, but at least she did not bristle and hiss on reflex anymore.
"Um… I wanted to spend New Year's at Tracen?"
That was Dyna's answer. Gold Ship said nothing after hearing it, merely returning to what she had been doing.
Curious what kind of work could make Gold Ship this calm, Dyna stepped to the side and saw silk handicrafts between Gold Ship's fingers, along with several unfinished paper crafts spread out on the table.
Gold Ship could do handcrafts?
Dyna wanted to ask, but she was afraid Gold Ship might snap at her. Then she remembered Zoff was standing right beside her, and her hesitation instantly vanished.
Use every resource available.
"So… are those for giving to other people?"
"If not, then do you think I'm leisurely making them to pass the time? I thought you were a fairly clever horse girl, but apparently you don't even have that much sense?"
Gold Ship never looked up from the paper she was rapidly folding, treating Dyna's question with open disdain.
Zoff puffed out her cheeks and tugged hard at the hem of Dyna's clothes, whispering in French, "That orange-haired gremlin is seriously annoying. How do you even know her?"
Her good friend had just been snapped at by some horse girl she did not know. Naturally, Zoff was irritated. Since this was the other side's home turf, she figured it was safest to say it in a language the orange-haired menace could not understand. Back in France, she had taught Dyna quite a bit of French already, so basic conversation was no problem.
"Well… she was my opponent in my debut race. She got her result invalidated for a foul, so I guess it's normal for her to be a little resentful…"
Dyna could only simplify the story. If Zoff learned the full details, then given her personality, she would probably charge straight at Gold Ship, and then it would become an incident between two different Tracen schools in two different countries.
"Hah! So that's what it is. A horse girl who still couldn't beat you even after resorting to cheap tricks. Hmph. If she dares come to France…"
Zoff folded her arms and glared at Gold Ship just as fiercely, then delivered her threat:
"I'll make her fly. Let her experience the French sky."
That might really happen someday, but that was not important right now.
Gold Ship listened to the two shorties muttering in a language she could not understand, and it put her in an even fouler mood. Her irritation got bad enough that she accidentally tore the origami in her hands.
Still, she kept a perfectly calm face, picked up another sheet of paper, and started folding again.
They were gifts for other children, after all. No need to delay the schedule for one chestnut-haired nuisance, right?
"Waaah~ Dyna big sis! Long time no see! Nnngh!"
A bright, childish voice suddenly rang out from the far end of the corridor behind Dyna, followed by the rapid tap-tap of little dress shoes on tile. Then Dyna felt something soft latch onto her waist from behind, clinging to her completely.
"Hm? Ah—Little Cattleya! Long time no see. How come you haven't come to play at the shop lately?"
Dyna turned with a smile, looking at the tiny horse girl, then effortlessly scooped her up and spun her around twice.
"Big Sister Artisan said your place is bad, so she wouldn't let me go."
Camelia answered with pure honesty. Children were always so straightforward.
The answer landed on Gold Ship like a devastating critical hit.
"…Ahaha, I see… Have you seen Nakayama Fest lately?"
Dyna laughed awkwardly. She could feel a growing aura of darkness behind her, but apparently Camelia was suppressing it with all her might.
Camelia shook her head. "Celebration Big Sis has been kind of gloomy ever since Arima Kinen. She keeps shutting herself in her room all day and only comes out for a little food after I've already gone to sleep."
"I see…"
Dyna could understand Nakayama Fest. After the Arc, then coming straight back to Japan Cup and Arima Kinen, poor results and a period of depression were perfectly normal. But from Camelia's description, it sounded like Nakayama Fest was not merely feeling down—she was actively wearing herself out.
Meanwhile, Zoff had developed an intense interest in the adorable Camelia. Once Dyna put the girl back down, Zoff immediately went on the offensive, squishing her cheeks nonstop. Camelia, for her part, had made a good first impression of the pink-haired big sister beside Dyna, so she let Zoff fuss over her however she wanted. Eventually, she simply relaxed bonelessly in Zoff's arms.
"It's not like that… don't listen to a child's nonsense. I've just been reviewing race footage in my room. You can see, can't you? I still came out here for the New Year festival."
Nakayama Fest had shown up with extremely heavy dark circles under her eyes, accompanied by the rest of the Gold family. She looked terrible, but when she faced Dyna she still managed a strained smile. Dream Journey, the shortest one there, pressed a finger lightly to her lips as she watched.
It really was rare to see Fest make that kind of expression.
The magic Dyna carried was no ordinary thing.
"Celebration Big Sis hehe"
Camelia's head still bore the weight of Zoff leaning on her. Her ears were getting sore under the pressure, but it felt kind of nice.
"Happy New Year, Miss Dyna." *2
Gold Journey and Dream Journey greeted her at the same time. Dyna returned the greeting. As for why Gold Ship was nowhere to be seen, Dyna guessed she had probably been drafted into Tracen's kitchen and was too busy to get away.
The atmosphere here was warm and harmonious.
But one person had not been invited to this little party…
And who was that person?
You, Gold Ship!
The horse girls Dyna knew and did not know alike had formed a circle around Light Dyna, and the only one excluded from it all was the horse girl off to the side, folding paper by herself.
At that moment, Gold Ship thought she heard laughter in her ears.
In the end, though, she decided not to care.
A tyrant's road was always a lonely one.
Coming to these activities that had nothing to do with racing in the first place was already a waste of time!
That was how Gold Ship comforted herself.
But when she saw her eldest sister, second sister, and third sister all gathered around that chestnut-haired girl…
Even the little one, too!
"Artisan, want to come have lunch with us later? Gold Ship says she prepared a special set just for us today."
The moment Gold Journey proposed it, Gold Ship—who had been folding paper—set the sheet down and replied with absolute certainty:
"I'm going."
Gold Journey, who had originally been worried that Gold Ship might sulk and refuse, was completely relieved. It looked like her little sister really was growing up quickly. A more mature Gold Ship would surely cause far fewer accidents on the racetrack in the future.
Otherwise, with that untamed Golden spirit of hers, she really might end up having her horse-girl status revoked.
The group headed for the cafeteria.
And after eagerly picking up Gold Ship's special family set…
Everyone sat at the table wearing expressions too complicated for words.
Yakisoba bread. Steamed buns with rice. And ramen.
What kind of all-carbs mega combo was this?
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter116)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 118
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 111
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 80
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 112
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 95
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 89
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 53
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 61
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 65
Uma Musume: From Beginner 61
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 37
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