The student council office at Paris Tracen Academy felt even more romantic than expected.
As they walked toward it, the décor gradually changed around them. The shifting styles, the reflected glimmers of light and shadow, the lamps and glass that looked as though they ought to make a little bling bling sound—everything about it sparkled.
Shinji couldn't help comparing Paris Tracen Academy to Central Tracen back home, and after doing so, he realized that the student council office at Central Tracen—which had once made him a little envious—suddenly seemed merely average.
The office door was already open.
Standing by it was Dorémi, someone he had met a few times during the Japan Cup. Shinji nodded in greeting, and Dorémi responded with a slight bow.
He had heard that Dorémi was also set to run in this year's Coronation Cup. If that news proved true—if that really did become her race—then Offside Trap and Dorémi would once again cross paths on European turf.
"Welcome to Paris Tracen Academy, Mr. Terumi Shinji, and Offside Trap."
Dorémi still carried herself with the same stern bearing she had shown back in Japan. For a moment, Shinji felt that if he wasn't paying close attention, he could almost mistake her for Rudolf Symboli. The seriousness, the discipline—those parts of them were strikingly alike.
He gave his head a small shake.
The fact that he could even think that way probably meant he had, at some point, come to acknowledge Rudolf Symboli after all.
Even if that acknowledgment was rather limited.
"Thank you."
He answered softly and stepped into the office, where two more horse girls were waiting.
He had never met them before, but he knew exactly who they were.
They were both horse girls who had left deep marks on the Twinkle Series and even the Dream Cup League—top-tier figures who had stood at the summit for years. And now they were both looking at him with faint smiles.
They're from Yuumai's era.
His gaze moved first to the vice president standing beside Warrior.
Compared to Dorémi, Bering's expression was much livelier. Especially when Shinji looked her way—her raised brow and the charm in that gesture fit the glittering surroundings all too well, enough to make Offside Trap's face darken beside him.
Bering understood at once.
With that same teasing look, she turned her gaze to Offside Trap. The amusement in her eyes was obvious enough that Offside Trap took a deep breath and looked away.
"Welcome. My name is Warrior," said the horse girl seated in the main chair. "I'm the president of the Paris Tracen student council. And the one beside me is Bering, my vice president."
Even while smiling, Warrior gave off a razor-sharp impression from her seat at the head of the room.
The office carried a faint but unmistakable sense of pressure, and it came from her.
Her voice was low and weighty. Unlike Dorémi's severity and Bering's habit of playful provocation, Warrior truly lived up to her name. There was something martial about her, something almost blood-scented.
And yet it didn't feel oppressive.
Combativeness was written all over her face, but because her smile never left, there was no trace of hostility in it. If anything, it felt almost reassuring.
She was a completely different type of student council president from Rudolf Symboli.
If Rudolf Symboli encountered a problem, she would likely rely on authority and reason to settle it.
Shinji had every reason to believe Warrior would prefer to let the results speak for themselves.
For example, by settling things in a straightforward one-on-one contest.
"Hello. I'm Terumi Shinji, Offside Trap's trainer. We'll be in your care for a while."
Even though the Coronation Cup would not actually be held in France, they had chosen to come here because they were more familiar with some of the horse girls on this side. Before they left Japan, Tazuna had said it would be possible to coordinate between academies and arrange for them to stay at Tracen in Britain instead.
But Shinji believed this place was the better choice.
If they ended up needing training matches, the quality of sparring available here would definitely be better than what they would find in Britain.
Warrior nodded, then flicked a glance toward Bering.
Understanding immediately, Bering reached into her pocket and took out two keycards.
"These are for your rooms at the hotel inside the academy grounds. It's more convenient that way," she said. "I arranged large suites. To avoid any awkwardness, the rooms have separate bedrooms inside, so there's no need to worry."
As she said this, she winked at Offside Trap again.
Offside Trap's face flushed slightly, and whatever hostility had been left from earlier evaporated on the spot.
Fine—she had to admit it.
This vice president was kind of likable.
"If you really find it inconvenient, I can switch you to two separate rooms."
"I... I don't think it's inconvenient at all. Trainer, what about you?"
Almost the instant Bering finished speaking, Offside Trap blurted out her response from behind Shinji.
Her face burned even hotter the moment she realized she'd said it too quickly. She could barely bring herself to look at her trainer now.
"I don't have any problem with it either," Shinji said. "This setup makes things easier if anything comes up or if I need to arrange something."
He had no objection at all. Bering's arrangement made perfect sense, and since Offside Trap clearly liked it, he had even less reason to refuse.
Offside Trap's eyes brightened.
The rough start to the day was completely forgotten now. The thought of staying with Shinji again—and this time just the two of them—filled her heart with joy.
Seeing that Shinji had already taken the keycards, Warrior seemed ready to continue discussing further matters with him. Offside Trap had assumed she would need to stand there for quite a while longer, but then Shinji suddenly handed one of the cards to her.
"You go ahead and get settled first. And take a proper rest," he said. "No training for the next two days. Relax a bit. Tomorrow we're going out."
Offside Trap froze for a moment.
He hadn't told her about this plan before.
Nearby, Shijiaji immediately wore a knowing smile and swayed from side to side.
Looking at Shinji's faintly smiling face, Offside Trap finally nodded. After taking the keycard from his hand, she left with Shijiaji.
Shinji, meanwhile, remained behind. It was obvious the student council president still had more to discuss with him.
As the door closed behind Offside Trap, Paris Tracen's glittering student council office seemed to grow just a little quieter.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
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Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 155)
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TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
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I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter230)
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Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 200
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
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From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/5
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Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 230
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
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Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
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The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 120
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 135
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 110
I Can Copy Unique Skills 100
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My Harem Is Indescribable 90
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Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
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Transmigrated as Sukuna 75
Checking In in Demon Slayer 80
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 85
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 70
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 65
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 70
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 70
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 65
Why did they assign me to Uma 65
MYGO Beauties 65
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 55
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 65
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 45
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 45
The Uma Musume Who Became 40
I'm Definitely Not the King of 45
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
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