While I was deep in thought, Aritomo was seething.
“Well, that’s awfully crafty of you.”
“Now, now. No need for such provocative words. You outsiders really do lack class, don’t you?”
The girl looked at each of us. A strange, sour expression eclipsed her face. I wondered why.
It’s not important. Don’t let them get a rise out of you, Aritomo.
“And what’s the problem with outside students?! Aha! I know. Is it because compared with all of you who’ve spent your whole lives here, we’re still better friends with Ui-Ui and Oboro?”
Why did she feel the need to pelt them with incendiary words?
“You all need to calm down!”
One of them was lunging toward us, her hand outstretched.
Just as those fingers were about to make contact with my shoulder, a beautiful hand intercepted them.
“And what exactly do you all think you’re doing?”
“...Huh? Ah, Chouko.”
Her cold voice resounded throughout the tiny clubroom, the note of blame in her voice loud and clear. Everyone’s faces visibly drained of color at the sound of her voice.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
I had been so rude to her the other day and said I didn’t like her. I hadn’t seen her since then, even though I’d been tempted to. Seeing her like this, though, gave me an odd sense of relief.
She flashed me a knowing smile, as if she understood how I felt.
“Ui told me to knock off the foolishness and get to practice,” she said to us, then turned to the upperclassmen camped out in the clubroom. “And as for your claims about this space, do you mean I cannot use this room, either?”
The faces of the club members, led by Hattori, began to crack, as if something imperceptible had begun to shift within them. I had never in my life seen a situation that so perfectly fit the phrase “the tension was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.”
“...No, Tsukuyomi...we would never...”
“I’m not a member of your team, either. And yet for some reason, I’m allowed in here?”
Hattori’s lackeys were panicking and attempting to appease Lady Chouko, but she merely spat, “You’re hypocrites.”
I had been told that here at St. Delia’s, Chouko Tsukuyomi was on par with the Mochizuki family, which included the school’s chairman. These girls were in no place to argue with her. They merely stood silent, hanging their heads.
“If you have no problems, then we’ll be making use of this space. And if you all aren’t using it for actual equestrian business, would you kindly leave?”
Lady Chouko’s words were like the tug of a string. The other girls quickly left the room in a rush.
The last to go were Hattori and her two lackeys. Their faces were contorted in obvious frustration. And yet, they did not argue any further, merely taking their time to make their way out the door.
“Yeah, Tsukuyomi, you tell ’em!” Aritomo shouted playfully, but Lady Chouko merely brushed her off, as if this were business as usual.
“All right, I’m leaving, so hurry up and change. We’re running out of time for practice.”
“Oh? Chouko, you’re not changing?”
“No, I haven’t brought a change of clothes with me.”
Then what was she doing here?
“Then why are you here today if you don’t have a change of clothes?”
Ah, of course Aritomo asked.
“I came to select a horse.”
Well, that is important.
“And I came to see what was going on with the clubroom. But...it seems it’s going to be a bit of a problem.”
A problem? It looked like a normal room to me.
“Let’s just use private rooms for getting changed and storing our gear. Naturally, each of you will receive a key to your own room. I’ll have the rooms set up next to this one by tomorrow afternoon.”
She sounded as if she was proposing something similar to what Mochizuki had done during the piano contest.
I guess it really was true what they say about birds of a feather flocking together. They’re exactly alike.
The next afternoon, just as Lady Chouko promised, there was a little hut next to the clubroom. The outside didn’t look much different from the clubroom, but the inside was incredible. Inside were three separate, lockable rooms, each fully stocked. In another similar space were a magnificent table and chairs with a tea set. There was also a kitchenette.
Of course, Lady Chouko intended this space for just the three of us. I wasn’t sure if it was full-on abuse of power, or only a misuse of privilege.
“Leave your belongings in your room and make sure you lock up. We each have a key, as well as Ui, to the space as a whole, but I’ve given away all the keys, so don’t lose yours,” she explained, handing over keys with intricate designs that prevented anyone from easily copying them.
“This feels a bit...like a waste of money.”
It was interesting how Aritomo could say that to Lady Chouko when she had bought both of us new gear, claiming it was a necessity.
We finished changing and made our way outside, where Lady Chouko was already evaluating a horse in the riding ring.
She didn’t seem to be hated by the horse in the way Mikazuki had described. I approached and saw that there was indeed some anxiety. From the horse, mind you.
It was less as if he hated her and more as if he was afraid of her.
“His name is Mondaiser. He’s the only one who will listen to me, so he’s the only option.”
Mondaiser was a palomino, but with a coat lighter than chestnut, more closely resembling blond. His breed was normally a calmer one, but around Lady Chouko, his eyes darted about anxiously. He did not seem to be calm at all.
“Chouko, please don’t order him. Just ask him.”
“What?”
“Try asking if you can pet him.”
A bit baffled by my words, she turned to Mondaiser and asked his permission.
“Now, pet him gently. Slowly,” I instructed.
“All right...”
As she gently stroked his neck with the palm of her hand, his eyes seemed to glaze over. Somehow, he was calming down.
“He’s a smart horse who will do what you ask.”
“Yes. He’s a very good horse.”
After Mondaiser heard Lady Chouko’s tone of voice, his anxiety abated, and he neighed.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever touched a horse this calm.”
Gently, ever so gently, her lovely fingers began to scratch the nape of his neck. Mondaiser stretched his muzzle in pleasure.
“Humans and people are the same. First, you should call them by name. Always start there,” I said, flashing Lady Chouko a smile. She looked a bit surprised but then responded with a smile of her own.
“I can never seem to win against you, Urara. You always have something new to teach me,” she said, her words catching me off guard.
“I-I...could never win against you, Lady Chouko! I haven’t really taught you anything, you know?”
Mikazuki had judged the piano contest on his preferences, not skill, and anyway, she was the one who crushed me in the exam-score challenge.
And sure, I trained her for the cooking contest, but I didn’t compete.
However, Lady Chouko stared straight into my eyes as I was about to correct her in a panic.
“You have. You are right now. So please...stay by my side. Always. Teach me what I lack. And I’ll give it my all.”
My heart throbbed and I swore I could hear it in my ears. This was the first time Lady Chouko had ever been so forthcoming with her feelings like this.
Normally, she might listen to what I had to say, but she would keep her own feelings hidden...but the look in her eyes as we exchanged glances was almost as if she was begging.
Her eyes looked so very sad.
“...I will always be here. By your side.”
“Urara...”
I could tell my cheeks were getting a little red. But there was nothing I could do to stop it. Lady Chouko was so precious to me. I reached out my right hand, but as I did, I hit something wet.
“Galileo?”
“Sorry, Urara. Galileo was in a hurry to get going.”
Galileo, who had been led over by Aritomo, was licking my hand and nuzzling me.
“I’m sorry, did I keep you waiting? Thank you so much,” I said, first to Galileo, then to Aritomo. She handed him over and then returned to Roselila.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Chouko. Galileo here is the horse I’ve been riding.”
“...Yes, I’ve heard. N-Nice to meet you, Galileo.”
Her face twitching with anxiety, Lady Chouko nevertheless stepped forward to greet him.
Aw, she actually listened to my advice. I’m so happy, I thought. Likely picking up on my excitement, Galileo flared his nostrils as well.