Today I'm here as a challenger to visit Teio—and to apologize for causing that stir…
"In short, I have to make Teio understand that I just want a fair fight."
Stardust Mirage stood at the door and didn't push it open just yet.
She'd run over hot-headed, but at the door she remembered there was another party entangled in all this: Tokai Teio.
Though she'd meant only to issue a challenge, it might have impacted Teio. If she didn't apologize, it might look like she was riding Teio's popularity to hype herself.
After thinking through what to say, she took a long breath and pushed open the door.
"Sorry to intrude. I'm here to—"
"Ah! It's Stardust Mirage!!!"
A blur flashed before her. Stardust Mirage felt weight in her arms, reflexively grabbed the figure—then looked down.
It was Tokai Teio.
"Did you come to visit me, Stardust Mirage?!"
Suspended in her arms, Teio looped both hands behind Stardust Mirage's neck and, with practiced ease, adjusted to a comfortable position. She blinked big eyes and beamed.
"Listen, listen! I watched your interview with Oguri Cap! Amazing! 'Oguri Cap II'!"
"…"
Watching the rapid-fire Teio, Stardust Mirage helplessly put her back on the bed.
"Did that cause you trouble? I got hot-headed and said those things. Sorry."
"Eh?" Teio cocked her head. "What about them?"
"Uh… tch. Anyway, if it didn't affect you, that's best."
Seeing Teio's innocent gaze, Stardust Mirage realized she was overthinking again. In Teio's eyes, a public challenge might even be cool.
They chatted about recent races—first Stardust Mirage's second debut run. Teio listened carefully, fascinated by the giant horse girl, Daita Tendo.
Then they talked about Teio's second race, where she displayed extraordinary legs.
She sat second or third in the first half. In the last 500 meters, Teio suddenly powered up and used that special footwork—the Ultimate Teio Step.
She won by four lengths.
"I learned that style when I raced with Aster—no, with Hoshi—umm—with you. It's the Ultimate Teio Step! I'll show you!"
Fired up, Teio tried to jump out of bed to demonstrate, but Stardust Mirage pressed her down.
"Didn't you pull a muscle? Don't delay your recovery."
They rarely interacted off the track, and the two grew more familiar.
At Stardust Mirage's request, Teio switched to calling her "Stardust," and Stardust Mirage stopped treating Teio like a celebrity to tiptoe around.
"Hmph, I'll be fine soon. Then I'll have the trainer set a scrimmage with your Draco team!" Teio stuck out her tongue with a face.
That was the team name Hushan had just changed.
Teio had been a little unhappy Stardust Mirage hadn't joined Spica, hence the scrimmage talk.
"Let's skip the scrimmage." Stardust Mirage smiled.
"Eh? Stardust, you don't want to run with me?!"
"It's not that. I want to save our showdown for the Classic Triple Crown. At the Satsuki Sho, let me show you how much stronger I've become."
She explained. Losing to Teio had become an obsession, so she didn't want to face her too soon.
The old man had said: if you preserve the unwillingness born of defeat, it will further fuel your will to become stronger.
"Mm! I get it! You said 'when one person meets another, a wondrous reaction can happen—maybe even change the world,' right? So you want our reunion on a grander stage!"
Teio put on a little-adult pose, arms folded, nodding like: "Mm-hmm, I totally get it."
"Something like that." Stardust Mirage felt her phrasing was odd, but nodded.
"Hehe, I even saw news saying that was your confession to me. Do you really like me, Stardust?"
As if struck by a thought, Teio asked with a wicked grin.
"Pfft!!!"
Before Stardust Mirage could react, a spray erupted from behind Teio's curtain-separated bed, followed by a bout of violent coughing…
Stardust Mirage and Teio exchanged looks. Stardust asked with her eyes if Teio knew who was in the next bed.
"Air Groove Digi, are you okay?"
Teio simply asked.
"…Re-reality is too supreme!" came Air Groove Digi's near-suffocated moan of joy from beyond the curtain.
The two met eyes again, baffled by whatever was happening over there.
"Ah, don't mind me—I'm just a humble little grass-carp. J-just keep talking!" Sensing the awkward silence, Air Groove Digi hurried to reassure them.
She'd been hospitalized for low blood sugar after an all-nighter on drafts—only to run into this show.
She could already imagine the panels:
"'Do you really like me that much, Stardust?'
"Little-devil Tokai Teio teases the tall, handsome Stardust Mirage—only to have Stardust grab both her hands and pin her to the bed.
"Stardust leans in to Teio's ear, breath warm on the cochlea. Watching Teio tremble, the tips of her ears turning red, Stardust grins wickedly:
'Teio, you're playing with fire, you know that?'"
…
Ahh, that image—Three Goddesses, take me! Guehehehehe…!
Hearing the creepy laugh, Stardust Mirage marched over and yanked open the curtain between beds—
"Gwah!!!"
The horse girl in the bed by the window squeaked and hid her face behind her sketch board.
She knew she'd interrupted them and panicked at Stardust Mirage approaching. Hastily, she pleaded:
"I was wrong, I was wrong! I just wanted to watch you horse girls interact. I didn't mean anything else!!!!"
Despite the sweet face, Air Groove Digi was truly a disaster. Stardust Mirage sighed and took the sketch board.
To be fair, her otaku linework was impressive. In that short time she'd already laid out a page.
On it, Stardust Mirage was drawn in a more masculine style, smirking, pinning a disheveled Tokai Teio to the bed…
Amid Digi's wails, Stardust Mirage tore off the obviously unpublishable page and stuffed it into her pocket.
"Confiscated. Don't draw me."
Deadpan.
"Ah! Why?!" Digi leaped off the bed, shoes forgotten, pattered over, and latched onto Stardust Mirage's thigh, sobbing:
"Please give it back! I won't show anyone! Without it I'll die!"
"What did she draw? If it's a photo, I've got plenty."
Teio watched the crazy scene, confused.
It was just a drawing. She gave photos to fans all the time. What was the big deal?
Why were they making a fuss?
"Kids shouldn't worry about this."
No way was Stardust Mirage letting Teio see doujin-level content. She fobbed her off.
"Ah! I'm not a kid! Take this!"
Irate at being called a kid, Teio grabbed her pillow and flung it.
"Alright, alright, I'm the kid… Let's stop here today. Teio, when can you be discharged?"
Catching the pillow, Stardust Mirage glanced at the time—it was almost the one-hour mark—so she pried Digi loose and tossed the pillow back.
"The doctor says a few days." Teio wagged her head, smug. "Since you want to face me at the Satsuki Sho, I'll make you drop your jaw."
"My undefeated Triple Crown journey starts by beating you then!"
She stuck out a fist in challenge.
"The one dropping jaws might not be just you."
Stardust Mirage bumped knuckles and headed out, disappearing beyond the door.
"So… what was in that drawing?"
Watching her rival leave, Teio finally turned to her temp roommate, full of curiosity.
"Hehe, the thing grown-ups love best. I'll draw it right now so you can see!"
Digi flashed a wicked grin and raised her board.
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