Ding-dong-ding-dong
The end-of-day bell rings, signaling the end of the school day.
Simultaneously, students go about their business as they please.
Amidst this, I—a member of the Go-Home Club—stroll leisurely toward the shoe lockers to change into my shoes.
"Haaah..."
"You look sleepy—as usual."
"That's one comment too many, Nana."
My name is Trueno Sprinter. I'm a third-year junior high student at a certain school in Gunma Prefecture.
The one who just spoke to me is my friend, Takeuchi Nana.
We've been childhood friends since elementary school, always walking to and from school together.
"Hey, Trueno-chan. We're finally third-years, right?"
"Yeah, we are. ...So what about it?"
"What do you mean 'so'? We're third-years now, so we gotta decide where we're going next, right? I was wondering if you'd decided yet, True-chan."
"Well, 'where next'... I don't really have anything specific I want to do. We still have time, so it's fine for now, right?"
"You're just saying that so you can keep putting it off! That won't do! It's no exaggeration to say our whole youth is decided here! Come on, think about it more seriously?"
"You sound like my mom... Wait, if you're pushing it that hard, does that mean you've already decided, Nana?"
"..."
"Huh? Nana?"
Peering at Nana, who hadn't answered, I saw her eyes darting around.
So she brought it up even though she hasn't decided.
"Anyway, are you free this Saturday?"
"What about your school plans?"
"My ultimate goal is to become a Trainer, so it's fine! More importantly, this Saturday!?"
She dodged it.
"Well, I don't really have anything else to do."
"Alright, it's settled!"
Whoa, it seems the conversation jumped ahead a couple steps without me noticing.
"Sorry, what got decided?"
"What do you mean? Our Saturday plans!"
"I didn't hear anything about where we're going. Where are we even going?"
"To Training Center Academy Thanksgiving Festival! It's an annual tradition for me! For us Uma Musume fans, it's a carnival! We absolutely have to go!"
"Yeah. At least for me, this is news."
"Come on, come on, don't say that! Let's go! I mean, come! Will you come!? Yay!"
There it is. Nana's bad habit. Nana seems to be a big Uma Musume fan. That alone would be fine, but when Uma Musume is involved, she gets kind of pushy and doesn't listen to what others say.
"Well, going is fine, but first, can I ask you a few questions?"
"Hm?"
"What do you mean, 'come'?"
"Ah—actually, I have a comrade at the Training Center Academy—"
A comrade?
"So, I told that comrade about you, True-chan."
"Yeah, and?"
"They said they really wanted to meet you, so I told them I'd drag you along to the upcoming Thanksgiving Festival, even if I had to force you."
"So that's why you want me to come?"
"Exactly! But I think it's not a bad idea for you either, True-chan? Tracen Academy has a transfer system, so it could be a good option for your future studies."
"Hmm. So then."
"What?"
"What exactly is Tracen Academy anyway?"
"Gah!"
Nana stumbled backward. Did I say something that weird?
"You don't know about Tracen Academy...? I'm starting to respect your natural airheadedness, True-chan."
"Is it that famous? This Tracen Academy?"
"It's not just famous! Every Uma Musume knows the name!"
"Huh... really..."
Seeing my confused expression, Nana looked troubled too.
"Where do I even start explaining...? Okay? Tracen Academy is basically a training school for Uma Musume. That's where Uma Musume undergo various trainings before racing. Especially the Tracen Academy we go to on Saturdays—its official name is the Japan Uma Musume Training Center Academy—is the top-tier facility in the country."
"Huh."
"Huh, True-chan? You're not telling me you've never even seen a race, are you?"
"Nope. I'm just not really interested."
"Not interested... How is that possible as an Uma Musume?"
"Well, what do you mean? It's not so much that I'm not interested, more like I'm bored with it."
When I said that, Nana gave me a puzzled look and said,
"Bored? What do you mean?"
"Anyway, if I have to race, then that school's out for me."
"Hmm. Well, if that's how you feel, True-chan, I won't push it."
"Yeah. Sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it. Hey! More importantly! Is meeting at the station at 8 PM on Saturday okay?"
"You switch gears fast. Got it, that works."
"Okay! Ah, I can't wait for the day! Ms. Fuji Kiseki, please wait for us!"
With that, the conversation wrapped up. My house came into view, so Nana and I parted ways there.
I tossed my bag onto the bed and sat down at my study desk.
Come to think of it, if we take the train, we'll obviously need to pai the train fee.
"Wonder how much that'll be."
On a whim, I decided to look up the train fare to the station closest to Tracen Academy.
"Huh?!"
Hmm... Looks like I'll need to borrow some allowance in advance.
Doubt Dad will just hand it over that easily, though.