A little while later, inside Elizabeth's castle—
Daiwa Scarlet was slumped over the table, face buried in her arms, unable to say a word.
She regretted it. Deeply.
Seiun Ryoka had hugged her of her own accord just moments earlier, giving her the rare chance to melt into that warm embrace and enjoy it to the fullest. But she had gone completely rigid and failed to react, letting the opportunity slip away.
Agnes Tachyon waved one of her sleeves and patted Daiwa Scarlet on the head, as if comforting her. In truth, though, she first glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, then leaned in close and whispered something in Scarlet's ear.
Scarlet's ears immediately shot upright. Her face flushed even redder, guilt written all over it.
Meanwhile, Ryoka stood with Elizabeth, properly hosting her friends from America, though honestly, she would rather have gone straight to Latifa's villa.
Whenever she stayed around Elizabeth, she could not help worrying whether this girl might end up learning things she was too young to know.
Maybe that was just because her own moral standards were too high.
Still, Elizabeth had been so insistent, and besides, Goodbye Halo and Winning Colors had left their luggage here, so Ryoka had no choice but to make the trip.
Elizabeth was as enthusiastic as ever. Folding up her fan, she clasped both hands together and said, "Sister, Britain welcomes you!"
Her eyes sparkled like they held a sky full of stars.
Ryoka's response, by contrast, was rather perfunctory. "Yes, yes, I know. Thanks for the welcome."
Even so, she casually rubbed the girl's head with practiced ease, and Elizabeth instantly looked delighted.
How to put it? She was rather like a cute cat—one that seemed perfectly content no matter how much affection you gave it.
But that was not entirely true. When Winning Colors decided Elizabeth was adorable and reached out as if to pat her too, the maid abruptly stepped forward and refilled her teacup.
"My apologies."
She bowed slightly, her manners impeccable. Yet the fact remained: she had interrupted Winning Colors, and Winning Colors clearly felt awkward because of it.
Elizabeth shot Winning Colors a subtle glance, then continued acting as though nothing had happened, staying close to Ryoka and indulging in a bit of spoiled behavior.
Ryoka thought to herself that the girl really did recognize people clearly.
Not that it was a bad thing. At least there was no danger of her being lured away by just any pretty girl.
As they chatted, Ryoka learned that the two American girls had decided to take a short break to better prepare for their upcoming races, and so they had come to watch her compete.
"Oh, I see." Ryoka nodded. Then, with a teasing smile, she added, "Was it because I wasn't around, and you lost your motivation? In that case, maybe I should race in America more often later this year."
As she said that, she lightly tapped each girl's fingertips with her own pale fingers, the gesture carrying a hint of meaning.
"Really?" Goodbye Halo's lovely face immediately took on a soft blush. Her ears and tail twitched on their own, and her good mood was obvious.
Winning Colors, more practical as ever, focused on the races instead. "I'll show you how much I've grown. I'll stand on the winner's stage with you."
But even as Ryoka thought Winning Colors was being the more matter-of-fact one, she noticed a faint blush had appeared on her face too.
"I'll sing together with you," Winning Colors said softly.
Ryoka could only smile inwardly.
Really now?
Weren't American horse girls supposed to be more open and direct? How had Winning Colors managed to say something so indirect instead?
If not for the cute flush on her face, Ryoka really would have taken it as nothing more than a normal invitation.
She had never heard of anywhere that treated "singing together" as a coded way of talking about a date.
At least, she certainly had not.
Of course, if Winning Colors had said she wanted to sing with her all night, then Ryoka would have started reading more into it.
After all, just as no person—or horse girl—could keep running at full intensity for an entire day or night, no one could possibly keep singing like that for that long either.
If it were merely a contest of endurance, perhaps someone could keep running. But singing? No chance. At that point, it had to mean something else.
Ryoka felt her reasoning was perfectly sound.
Just then, Donna inserted herself into the group.
"S-Seiun-sama, please allow me to refill your tea."
She was clearly imitating the maid, trying to break up Ryoka's interaction with the two American girls.
After all, Goodbye Halo and Winning Colors had each been holding one of Ryoka's hands. If no one interrupted them, the situation looked like it might escalate even further.
With Donna stepping in, the two girls had no choice but to let go, lest the tea spill onto Ryoka.
Only then did Ryoka notice something unusual about Donna.
She had changed out of her Japan Tracen Academy uniform and into an almost entirely black maid outfit. The fabric across her chest was stretched taut, and the buttons looked like they might burst at any second.
Ryoka nearly clicked her tongue in amazement.
So that was where she had gone. She had disappeared for quite a while, only to return dressed like this? Interesting.
Donna was obviously up to something. Otherwise, why would she have changed into a maid outfit and deliberately worn one that fit her so tightly?
Ryoka refused to believe a castle this large lacked enough fabric or a capable tailor.
Even if the standard maid uniforms had not been made for someone with Donna's build, a tailor could easily have adjusted one on short notice. Yet here she was, wearing something that looked ready to pop at any moment. Ryoka simply did not believe there was no ulterior motive behind it.
Wasn't it uncomfortable with the fabric stretched so tightly? Didn't it feel constricting?
Seeing Donna putting herself through that, Ryoka even had the absurd urge to drag her into the changing room and tear open the overly tight outfit so the girl could breathe properly.
Not because she wanted to get a better look at what was hidden beneath all that black, of course.
She only wanted Donna to be more comfortable. Naturally.
Ryoka thought Donna was far too hard on herself. A figure like that was being visibly compressed by the tight fit, which was honestly a waste.
And then, at that very instant, an unexpected assassin appeared.
The girls all seemed to hear a tiny snap.
A round white button suddenly shot loose like an arrow from a bow, flying straight toward Ryoka's face.
Ryoka: "?"
Join here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 180)
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 285
"Is this chat group even serious?" 150
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (This matter is completely finished.)
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 255
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 210
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 305
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer (This matter is completely finished.)
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 130
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 155
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 120
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 155
My Harem Is Indescribable 105
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 110
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 110
Still playing traditional Honk 96
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 95
What Should I Do After Switchi 51
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 105
Checking In in Demon Slayer 95
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 105
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel (This matter is completely finished.)
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 90
Why did they assign me to Uma 80
MYGO Beauties 75
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 80
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 100
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 120
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 65
The Uma Musume Who Became 70
I'm Definitely Not the King of 105
After Maxing Out Every Class 110
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 95
I, the Elden Sword Saint 60
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 60
No One Knows Pokémon Better 60
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 69
From Trilobites to Titans 57
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 75
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 86
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 70
Honkai: The Fire Devil 70
Honkai Transformation Cards Volume2/30
Age of Heroes, I'm Just a Back 60
Uma Musume Has No Weird Fan Le 36
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