After a few days, Orfevre, under the careful care of Ikezoe and Curren Chan, slowly started to recover from her dazed state. From being initially blurry and disoriented, she gradually transformed back into the Orfevre that everyone knew.
After repeated examinations by the doctor, it was confirmed that Orfevre's body had no problems. Once Orfevre's mental state stabilized, she was officially discharged, and she could finally return from Tracen Academy's infirmary to the training grounds.
"That's great, Orfevre, phew... We can now leave and go back to training."
Orfevre had been ill for several days, and Ikezoe had also been by Orfevre's side, taking care of her for those days. During this time, Ikezoe did almost nothing else. He stayed by Orfevre's side for the majority of his days. When Orfevre was in bed, Ikezoe also tried his best to fulfill almost anything she asked for.
It could be said that, apart from matters concerning bathing and going to the restroom, Orfevre had spent almost all of her time in the infirmary with Ikezoe. They even had meals together, with Ikezoe bringing them in bento boxes, and he always slept right beside her bed, using a recliner.
It could be said that this was the first time Orfevre had spent such a long time completely conflict-free with Ikezoe since joining his team. Previously, whenever Ikezoe got too close to her, Orfevre would unconsciously exhibit aggression as if a hidden gene in her DNA had been triggered, and Ikezoe would quickly dodge away like he had PTSD, making a swift escape.
However, this time the setting was not the training grounds or the team building but the infirmary, and Orfevre's mental state had improved day by day during this period, restoring her vigor. But now that she was facing the person who had been constantly taking care of her, even if Orfevre had a bad temper, she didn't have the heart to punch or kick someone who had looked after her so much. Orfevre still had a gentle side; it was just that it wasn't very easy for her to show it in front of Ikezoe.
"Um, I..." Orfevre looked at Ikezoe, who was bustling about in front of her, and tried to open her mouth, wanting to say a word of thanks.
However, the words were stuck in her throat. Orfevre tried incredibly hard to express her gratitude, but it was still extremely difficult. Wearing a mask, she only felt a rush of heat from her breath around her mouth that lingered for a long time.
"Hm? What's wrong?" Perhaps because Orfevre was wearing a mask, Ikezoe heard a sound but couldn't see Orfevre's hesitant expression, so he couldn't help but ask.
"...Nothing." In the end, Orfevre gave up. She belatedly realized that her gratitude shouldn't be expressed through words, but through actions instead.
But what should she do? How could she show her gratitude to him? Should she try to stop kicking him in the future? Orfevre thought to herself, but even she didn't think this kind of thing had anything to do with "gratitude." Perhaps she should do something that would make Ikezoe happy... Perhaps she should try to cook something for him? Orfevre thought this, subconsciously looking at her palms, but silently sighed.
Orfevre's palms were not soft; they weren't as delicate and fair as Curren Chan's. Due to various childhood roughhousing with her sisters, and even experiencing a period of the family's "experiential living"—which was actually an activity like a survival game initiated by Stay Gold, where their family would go to a villa in the deep mountains for a period of time to experience life without electricity, gas, and even having to fetch their own water.
And because of this life, Orfevre had some calluses on her palms, formed from chopping wood and starting fires. But as for cooking... it could be said that, apart from Gold Ship, who surprisingly had this talent, every single member of the Gold Family was completely clueless about it. Orfevre still remembered trying to make a plate of dumplings once, and then... she didn't recognize what that pot of mush was. She also didn't know how those who made dumplings managed to do so without breaking the skin or revealing the filling.
'Sure enough, I should just gift this guy something he likes.'
"Hehe, Orfevre, you look much better, that's great." Meanwhile, Curren Chan, as always, came to the infirmary. Looking at Ikezoe, who was currently organizing daily necessities, Curren Chan smiled gently:
"Onii-chan, Curren Chan will take care of that for you. You have been very busy lately; why don't you go and get some good rest?"
"Ah... now that you mention it, I do feel a bit tired..."
Ikezoe had also started to feel very tired lately. Taking care of Orfevre was not an easy task, especially a mentally listless Orfevre. Although she was not as violent as she usually was, a dispirited Orfevre was actually what worried Ikezoe the most. And now that Curren Chan mentioned it, he really did felt that he should get a good nap. After yawning, he said to Curren Chan:
"Then I'll leave this to you, Curren Chan. After you've finished tidying everything up, you should also go and get some good rest. Let's consider today a day off, but tomorrow, both you and Orfevre need to return to training, okay?"
"Mhm, got it~"
Curren Chan smiled as she watched Ikezoe leave, then turned her gaze to Orfevre at the side, greeting her with her usual smile, and said to Orfevre:
"Orfevre, I'm happy to see you've recovered. Would you like an apple? Curren Chan can peel it for you~"
However, although she seemed to be asking for Orfevre's opinion, Curren Chan still picked up a small fruit knife without asking, sat in front of Orfevre, and skillfully began to peel an apple.
"Um, Curren Chan, thank you very much for helping me this time." Orfevre rubbed her hair for a moment, saying somewhat awkwardly:
"At first, I thought that you disliked me and that you were a pretentious brat, but now I know I misunderstood you. You're a good person."
"Hehe, it's rare to hear words of thanks from Orfevre~ But Onii-chan did most of the work, you know? Why aren't you thanking him instead?"
"Ah... I don't know why, but I just can't bring myself to say it..."
Facing Curren Chan's question, Orfevre also said with an awkward laugh. She also felt that something was wrong with her; she could get along with Curren Chan very naturally, but only with Ikezoe, she seemed unable to be so frank.
However, Orfevre's answer did not surprise Curren Chan at all. At this moment, Curren Chan, who was lowering her head and peeling an apple, slowly reined in her smile, and said word by word in a somewhat indifferent tone:
"However, Orfevre, you actually weren't wrong. I REALLY don't like you a lot."
"...Eh?"
Orfevre's heart skipped a beat at her words, and her pupils contracted as she looked at Curren Chan, only to see Curren Chan still lowering her head, speaking faintly:
"Because Onii-chan's gaze is always on you. Even though Curren Chan is Onii-chan's first Uma Musume, whenever you'd appear, Onii-chan will always place you as his biggest concern."
"I am very gentle with Onii-chan, just as he is with me. But not only are you hurting my Onii-chan again and again, you actually receive his forgiveness and also gain his favor faster than me."
"—I originally thought that Onii-chan was just impressed by your talent, valuing you as a Trainer would. But during this time... Orfevre, your performance has been completely dogshit."
"You constantly hurt my Onii-chan, and you can't even show the determination to win as an Uma Musume, yet you can still receive Onii-chan's forgiveness again and again..."
"Orfevre, I'm actually VERY angry at you right now."
Saying this, Curren Chan also silently raised her head, and at this moment, Orfevre saw for the first time what Curren Chan looked like without a trace of her usual smile on her face.
And from Curren Chan's body, her Aura started to leak out and was actually assaulting Orfevre. Orfevre's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously used her own Aura to resist. For a moment, even the water in the cup nearby seemed to slightly ripple under the clash of the two Uma Musume's Aura... However, Orfevre was at a clear disadvantage in this confrontation because Curren Chan's words made her feel a crushing emotion... guilt.
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Shit man, this Uma Musume place is fucked. I saw an Uma clap her hands together and say "Domain Expansion" or some similar shit and everyone around become Rushed, ran out of Stamina and became glue. The camera didn't even go onto her, that's how common shit like this is. My ass is procing Level 1 "Super Duper Stoked!" and "Extra Tank". I think I just heard "And This Is To Go Even Further Beyond!" two positions over, I gotta get the fuck outta here!!!!
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.