She'd heard plenty of sayings about happiness being built on others' misery, but Dream Weaver never really felt the truth of them.
Even after winning races and seeing the defeated looks on other competitors' faces, she didn't get much joy from it.
But right now, she was genuinely feeling a bit of amusement at Shinzan's expense.
Besides, even if Shinzan also had memories from that other world, she was such a senior, so much older.
Surely, she wouldn't develop feelings for someone from a different generation.
Thinking this, Dream Weaver, hidden behind the curtain, nodded to herself.
As expected of a Triple Crown Uma Musume recorded in history. An adult like her is really different from those others who only bring me trouble.
"But a trainer's responsibilities don't include chatting about cartoons with their charge, so even if you're a shockingly old lady, it's fine!"
"In fact, the experience that only years can bring might even make your charge see you as more reliable! So, it's okay, go for it!"
Even though she'd turned Shinzan down, Dream Weaver didn't think there was anything wrong with her.
On the contrary, for a Triple Crown-level Uma Musume to come to Central Tracen Academy as a trainer was a good thing for all the students.
After offering Shinzan a few words of encouragement, Dream Weaver saw her out, the senior still muttering under her breath that she was not some old lady.
Maybe Shinzan really had some kind of magic.
After her, none of the Uma Musume who came for fortunes were anyone Dream Weaver recognized. She finally didn't have to hide behind the curtain with her heart pounding nervously.
After seeing off the last client, Dream Weaver walked out of the fortune-telling room, rubbing her shoulder.
She glanced around the classroom. Sakura Bakushin O was already nowhere to be seen.
Of the remaining fortune-telling booths, only one still had its 'occupied' light on.
Since this was a class event, Dream Weaver wasn't the only one playing astrologer; several classmates were sharing the duty.
But it looked like she might have been the second-to-last one to finish.
Curious about who could possibly have taken even longer than she did, Dream Weaver peeked toward that last remaining room.
After listening for a few seconds, she realized no voices were coming from inside.
"Was I wrong? Am I actually the last one?"
Muttering to herself, Dream Weaver walked into the room, thinking maybe the Uma Musume who'd been on duty there before had forgotten to turn off the light when they left.
But at that very moment, a low, resonant call suddenly came from behind the curtain.
"O lost and troubled Uma Musume, what do you seek here?"
The professional terminology and mystical tone far surpassed Dream Weaver's own amateur efforts.
To think our class actually has a professional like this, Dream Weaver marveled inwardly.
She was about to remind the classmate behind the curtain that the event seemed to be over, but then an idea struck her.
She'd been telling fortunes for others all this time but hadn't tried it herself.
So, she ventured softly, "Can you divine anything?"
"The stars shall provide the answer."
There actually was something Dream Weaver wanted to know. Not the recent realization that she might be popular, but a question that had plagued her for much longer.
Ever since her first script mission, figuring out how to break through her attribute limits had become Dream Weaver's biggest headache.
To win her missions, she had to become a stronger Uma Musume, and her capped attributes were undoubtedly the biggest hurdle to victory.
Although she didn't need to struggle so desperately now, and had learned through repeated script missions how to break through most limits, there was still one attribute Dream Weaver had no idea how to surpass.
That's right: Wit.
Two attributes remained capped. One was Power, the other was this Wit that had troubled Dream Weaver for so long.
Power wasn't too bad. As before, by fueling herself with an indomitable will to win, burning her spirit to reach her absolute limit, there was always a chance to break through.
But Wit... Dream Weaver truly couldn't figure out how to break that limit.
Following the patterns of other attributes, did she have to push her brain to the absolute limit in the library, studying until her mind was utterly spent?
Forget whether that would even work; Dream Weaver genuinely couldn't imagine anyone studying that hard.
So, facing this seemingly professional astrologer Uma Musume behind the curtain, the question Dream Weaver wanted to ask was naturally...
"Um..."
Although she'd decided on the question, just as she was about to speak, Dream Weaver was suddenly overcome by an indescribable sense of shame.
Only she knew about breaking limits. Wouldn't asking someone else about this out of the blue just be admitting she was an idiot?
She swallowed. But she was already here, the words were on the tip of her tongue. It seemed awkward not to say them.
Thinking it's fine, we're separated by a curtain, they probably don't know who I am, Dream Weaver closed her eyes, steeled herself, and blurted it out.
"Please divine how I can increase my Wit!"
The Uma Musume behind the curtain fell silent for a long time.
Just as Dream Weaver thought she was about to be laughed at, an all-too-familiar voice, one she knew painfully well, unexpectedly came through.
"I see, I see! So, Miss Dream Weaver is troubled about her academic performance, is she?"
"But, you know, Miss Dream Weaver, no matter how troubled you are, you can't pin your hopes on fortune-telling! Astrology is even less reliable than the mystery shots at the infirmary or Miss Tachyon's potions!"
With that, Sakura Bakushin O leaped out from behind the curtain, patting Dream Weaver's shoulder with an extremely bright smile.
"But it's okay! As your class representative, I will answer the call of any classmate in need!"
"Miss Dream Weaver! From now on! We! Shall! Study! Together!"
She punctuated each word with a firm pat on Dream Weaver's shoulder.
Dream Weaver, being patted like this, offered no resistance at all. Her face was ashen, her eyes vacant, staring straight ahead as if her spirit had completely left this world.
In front of the very last person she wanted to admit inferior intelligence to, she had asked how to become smarter. Dream Weaver felt she must be dreaming.
The impact of this might be even greater than finding out someone had a crush on her.
She lowered her head, her bangs falling to hide her eyes and the expression on her face.
Just as Sakura Bakushin O was thumping her chest, loudly proclaiming how smart she, the class rep, was and how she'd definitely help Dream Weaver improve her grades, Dream Weaver suddenly grabbed the other girl's shoulders and spoke in a hollow tone.
"Class Rep... it's just you and me in this classroom right now, right?"
"Yeah? What's up, Miss Dream Weaver?"
Seeing that Sakura Bakushin O was completely unaware of the impending danger, Dream Weaver slowly revealed a dangerous smile.
"Good..."
"Because... I am going to completely erase this piece of history from your mind! HYAARGH!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.