Time slipped by before anyone realized it, and the sky gradually darkened.
After a full day of intense training and meticulous review, the setting sun had quietly sunk westward, draping the entire training ground in an orange-red afterglow.
With a broad smile and warmth in his eyes, Imanami Takatoshi sincerely invited Yasui Makoto and Kitasan Black to stay for dinner and spend the night.
Faced with such hospitality, Yasui Makoto and Kitasan Black did not hesitate for long before accepting.
A short while later, inside the estate's dining room, a long table had been set with warmth and elegance, laden with a dazzling array of delicious dishes.
A rich fragrance filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.
Everyone gathered around the table, and laughter and cheerful voices rose one after another, sweeping away the fatigue of the day in an instant.
Imanami Takatoshi was hale and spirited, vividly telling all kinds of amusing stories about the Gold family Umamusume, making everyone burst into laughter from time to time.
In the pauses between the old man's stories, Lucky Lilac, seated close beside Kitasan Black, curiously asked about all sorts of things related to Tracen Academy.
She threw out one question after another, asking about everything in detail, from the academy's architecture to its daily training courses, and then to its colorful campus activities.
Kitasan Black answered each one patiently with a smile.
As Lucky Lilac listened, the anticipation on her face grew stronger, but a strange look gradually appeared there too.
"Kita-senpai, why does the Tracen Academy you're talking about…"
After hesitating for a moment, Lucky Lilac finally could not help asking, "sound so different from what the other senpais said?"
"Especially Gold Ship-senpai. The academy she described and the one you're talking about… sound like two completely different worlds."
As she spoke, she furrowed her brows slightly, her eyes full of confusion. She could not help remembering how Gold Ship had once described the academy with such animated gestures and absolute confidence, her exaggerated words and expressions seeming to appear right before her eyes again.
Hearing this, Kitasan Black paused slightly at first. Then, remembering Gold Ship's eccentric, wildly imaginative way of doing things, the corner of her mouth could not help twitching.
She revealed an awkward yet polite smile and coughed lightly, trying to organize her words.
"Uh… Lilac-chan, Gold Ship-senpai has a rather unique personality, and her ideas are very original."
"When she describes things, she might… embellish the details a little."
As she spoke, she searched her mind for the right wording.
"Tracen Academy really is a place full of energy and opportunity. It has rigorous, well-organized training courses, as well as all kinds of colorful activities."
"Gold Ship-senpai probably described it from her own unique perspective, so it might be a little different from reality, haha…"
Lucky Lilac tilted her head, looking thoughtful as she digested Kitasan Black's explanation.
She remembered again the mysterious "midnight carnival" Gold Ship had said existed at the academy, and the "weird costume run" that could suddenly be held at any time. Those were completely different from the ordinary but fulfilling academy life Kitasan Black had described.
"Then… Senpai, does the academy really not have the kinds of very special activities Gold Ship-senpai talked about?" Lucky Lilac asked, her eyes carrying anticipation for those strange, novel scenes.
Kitasan Black smiled and ruffled Lucky Lilac's hair.
"Most activities at the academy are actually centered around improving our abilities."
"Occasionally, there might be some creative events with a fresh twist, but they're definitely not as exaggerated as Gold Ship-senpai made them sound."
"Still, the academy is very big. Maybe there really are unexpected surprises hidden away in some corners, and everyone just hasn't found them yet."
Lucky Lilac nodded as if she half understood. The curiosity in her eyes had not completely faded, but she no longer dwelled on the question.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly into a shy little smile. Looking at Kitasan Black, she gave a soft "Mm."
"Thank you, Kita-senpai. I think I more or less get it now."
"Good, good. Uh…"
Kitasan Black nodded repeatedly, then looked at the food on the table and smoothly changed the subject, praising it from the bottom of her heart.
"By the way, this dinner Grandpa Imanami prepared really is delicious!"
Hearing this, everyone chimed in one after another. Imanami Takatoshi only smiled, then began encouraging everyone to eat.
As time passed, the food on the table was gradually swept clean, and everyone ate to their hearts' content.
When the final dessert had been finished, dinner officially came to an end.
The Umamusume all got up to help clear the tableware, while Imanami Takatoshi, as the host, accompanied Yasui Makoto on a stroll through the estate.
Night had completely covered the earth, and stars glittered across the sky. After wandering for a while, Yasui Makoto headed to the guest room arranged for him, planning to organize what he had gained today and then have a good rest.
Yasui Makoto sat at the desk in the guest room. The warm yellow desk lamp gave off a gentle light, illuminating the notebook spread open on the table.
Holding a pen, he focused on writing down what he had learned from today's training. Line after line recorded Kitasan Black's performance in the mock race, the problems she had exposed, and the direction for improving her later training.
Just then, his phone rang.
Yasui Makoto put down his pen and picked up the phone. The screen showed an incoming call from "Almond Eye." He raised his brows slightly and casually answered.
"Hello, Almond Eye. It's pretty late…"
"Good evening, Trainer!"
Before Yasui Makoto could finish, Almond Eye's energetic voice came from the other end of the phone. "I'm not interrupting your rest, am I? Did you and Kita-senpai get anything out of visiting the Gold family today?"
Yasui Makoto smiled without realizing it. Leaning back in his chair, he gazed out at the night beyond the window and began carefully recounting the day's events.
From Kitasan Black's wonderful performance in the mock race, to his review and exchange with Imanami Takatoshi, and then to their interactions with Lucky Lilac.
Almond Eye listened with great interest from the other end of the phone, letting out sounds of amazement and laughter from time to time.
"By the way, Mr. Yasui," After listening for a while, Almond Eye changed the subject, her tone carrying a trace of confusion. "I called Kita-senpai just now, but why hasn't she picked up at all? What is she busy with?"
Yasui Makoto could not help smiling.
"Kita-chan? She's probably having a great time with the Gold family Umamusume right now."
"They're all sleeping in one big room tonight, so they're probably playing something like a pillow fight and making a racket. It's normal for Kita-chan not to hear her phone."
As he said this, he could not help recalling how, before he entered this bedroom, Gold Ship's loud voice had echoed down the hallway: "There are so many of us, so let's have a pillow fight tonight!"
"Wow, that sounds so fun!"
Almond Eye said excitedly, her voice full of envy. "I kind of want to go play too… Oh, right."
She suddenly changed the subject again. "I heard from you and Senpai that you met Lucky Lilac today. She…"
"What kind of Umamusume is she?"
---
bonus chaps
100 stones → 1 bonus chap
200 stones → 2 bonus chaps
300 stones → 3 bonus chaps
and so on :3
100+ new chaps a week across all my TLs on the P website :)
hehe every 100 followers on either instagram or twitter = 5 bonus chaps...?
(for all ongoing tls)
discord.gg/wisetl
patreon.com/wisetl
instagram: hanbaowise
twitter: WiseKingOfUruk_