"Wait, no—why is the screen up there showing footage of Tamamo Cross?!"
Standing in the lobby, Sakuraba looked up at the giant LCD screen hanging overhead and frowned.
Damn it, back then all I was thinking was that the bigger it was, the more expensive it'd be, so I just picked the biggest screen possible and had it installed here.
But why the hell is a screen this huge playing a commemorative video of Tamamo Cross winning the Takarazuka Kinen?
Principal Nishikino, are you seriously trying to kill me here? How dare you hit your boss right where it hurts!
You've got some nerve!
Get out here and explain yourself!
Of course, Sakuraba wasn't so unreasonable that he'd sack the principal over something like this. After all, the principal had helped him burn through so much money he was basically one of Sakuraba's benefactors.
Still, that Tamamo Cross video stabbing him in the chest definitely had to come down.
Damn it.
It hurts just looking at it!
While Sakuraba stood there grumbling to himself at the electronic screen overhead, a flurry of footsteps sounded behind him.
He turned around, and sure enough, the students he had been waiting for had arrived.
"Ah, so you're the new students joining the international class? Welcome to Nishikino Academy!"
Seeing that the foreign Umamusume looked a little uneasy, Sakuraba immediately gave them a brief introduction in fluent English.
Good thing my English is solid, or this would be painfully awkward.
"And here—"
What followed was basically the usual string of pleasantries. Sakuraba had far too much practice with that sort of thing from business socializing.
But just then, he noticed that among the girls standing before him, one black-haired Umamusume looked off after hearing what he said.
Huh?
Not adjusting well to the new environment?
I should remember her name...
Right!
The literary-girl one!
"Miss Sunday Silence?"
At his voice, the girl in front of him gave a start, trembling like a startled rabbit.
Huh. It's kind of cute, actually.
"No need to look so surprised. As an investor, remembering the name of every student who joins Nishikino Academy is only the bare minimum of my responsibility."
"Especially you girls in the international class. You came from so far away, so I have to make an extra effort to remember you."
"...For now, this is your home. That's what Nishikino Academy exists for."
Yes, home.
That was Sakuraba's whole positioning for the international class.
You little scrub horse girls can just treat this place like a nice vacation and enjoy life here in peace.
I'll cover the rest of the expenses.
It's a free hotel. You'd be crazy not to stay, right?
"Can I really... think of this place as a home?"
Sunday Silence seemed especially shaken by his words.
Heh heh, this kid looks pretty anxious.
It's fine. Since you're one of my lucky stars, of course I'll make sure to calm you down properly.
"Of course you can."
"That's what this place was built for."
"So just stay here without worrying, Miss Sunday Silence. At least at Nishikino Academy, you won't need to worry about being driven away for being 'trouble.'"
Perfect.
Watching the color return to the girl's face at a visible speed, Sakuraba laughed to himself.
As expected of me. I won over the foreign transfer student with ease. Wahahaha.
After settling Sunday Silence down, Sakuraba went to check on the other Umamusume.
Strangely enough, this kind of unease seemed to be unique to Sunday Silence alone.
Still, that worked out fine. It meant Sakuraba didn't need to spend too much more effort soothing everyone else.
After showing the international students around the campus, Sakuraba handed them over to the academy's teachers to get them settled in.
And just as he was about to slip off and slack around for a bit, someone from among the foreign students called out to stop him.
"Please wait!"
"?"
Sakuraba turned back in confusion and found that it was Sunday Silence.
"What is it, Miss Sunday Silence?"
"Are you usually here at Nishikino Academy?"
She asked it with no attempt to soften the question.
"Huh?"
Why ask that?
Sakuraba blinked, then answered honestly.
"Well, I may be an investor in Nishikino Academy, but it's not like I'm always here in Hokkaido~"
"I see?"
Sunday Silence sounded calmer now—almost too calm.
"Then if I need something from you and you're not here, what am I supposed to do?"
"Uh..."
Sakuraba had honestly never thought about that, so he said, "How about asking one of the academy's teachers? They should be able to handle whatever problem you have."
"No. It has to be you."
"..."
Sakuraba's brows lifted slightly. This foreign student seemed a little... clingy?
Better just smooth this over for now.
"It's fine, Miss Sunday Silence. As long as you do well here, I'll probably stay around Nishikino a bit longer too... maybe?"
Even Sakuraba sounded a little unsure when he said that.
After all, his own schedule really was all over the place—one moment in Hokkaido, the next in some completely different location.
"I see. Then I understand."
Sunday Silence nodded, then turned and walked back toward the rest of the group.
Watching her retreating back, Sakuraba couldn't help muttering to himself.
"...What a strange kid."
Whatever. He didn't care that much.
He still had other things to do.
What Sakuraba didn't realize was that after he turned and walked away, Sunday Silence stopped again.
Only this time, her gaze shifted from his back to the giant screen in the lobby.
She looked at Tamamo Cross running across the screen.
And she thought of the way Sakuraba had been standing beneath it earlier, watching quietly.
...If I were the one up there, would he stand here and watch too?
"Miss Sunday Silence?"
The teacher leading the group called her back with a gentle reminder.
"It's nothing. I'm coming."
After answering, Sunday Silence followed the group again.
But by then, a tiny seed had already started to sprout in her heart.
She was an Umamusume who had always brought misfortune with her...
If there really was a place willing to take her in...
Then she would absolutely do everything she could for that place.
Sakuraba Ryo...?
I'll remember your name.
You kind person who was willing to take me in...
Holding onto that desire to repay him, Sunday Silence's steps grew a little lighter as she followed the others.
Ever since she was born, with bad luck clinging to her every step, she had never once seen anyone smile because of her.
And now, someone had shown a gentle smile even to an Umamusume like her.
Then she had to repay that, didn't she?
...I want to see him smile like that one more time.
As she walked, Sunday Silence lowered her head slightly, and the bangs falling over her face partly hid the faint curve rising at the corner of her lips.
---
T/N: heres ur updates :3 meeting the 4 chaps a week quota :3 do u think itd be better to do it earlier in the week to make u guys wait more for the bonus chapters
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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