Horse Girl, Your Friend is Fighting Her Way Out of the Horse Racing Track

"Why would I go out of my way to buy something like this... Can't I just shop online?"

Lingzuan Qibao sighed, put the bag that had made her fingers red from being squeezed on the ground, and looked at the person next to her with some embarrassment.

"Sorry, Duan Tong-chan. We just bumped into each other on the street, and I dragged you into helping me move my things..."

Standing next to her was a racehorse girl with short brown hair and gentle yellow eyes.

Diamond Treasure's current roommate is Fiery Steed.

She was also carrying a bag for Lingzuan Qibao, and upon hearing this, she shook her head shyly.

"It's okay, Miracle-chan."

The fiery steed's voice was soft.

"Anyway, I was just taking a walk, and when I saw others having difficulties, my body would unconsciously start moving."

She glanced at the panting Diamond Treasure, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

"Secretly practicing extra to catch up with the Satsuki Sho champion... How wonderful, Miracle-chan is always so single-minded."

"That's not true at all!"

Lingzuan Qibao waved his hand with a bitter face, glancing around somewhat guiltily.

"I just... don't want to be left too far behind."

"And this absolutely must be kept a secret! I told Xiaojiu I'm preparing for the Spring Imperial Awards and don't have time to play with her..."

It was already embarrassing enough that he had lost the previous few games and then had an emotional breakdown in the face of poetry and wine.

She didn't want Poetry and Wine to see her struggling so desperately again; she wanted to preserve some of her dignity in front of them.

"Let's go, Dumbbell-chan. We can get a taxi as soon as we cross this street."

Diamond Treasure lifted the incredibly heavy bag again and took a deep breath.

"As long as I don't run into anyone I know... especially Xiao Jiu, she's probably sleeping soundly in her dorm right now..."

Fiery Steed nodded and silently helped her support the bottom of the bag.

"Hmm, the probability of encountering it should be very low."

The two turned the street corner, preparing to cross the pedestrian crossing.

"Ugh~ I really want some dessert, but unfortunately I have to wait until the Emperor bestows it upon me, so I need to watch my weight."

Seeing a dessert shop across the street, Lingzuan Qibao sighed helplessly.

however.

Just as we turned the corner.

Less than five meters away from the dessert shop, three familiar figures were walking towards them.

In the middle is Shi Yu Jiu, dressed in black casual clothes with long, flowing hair and delicate features, looking a little prettier than usual.

On the left is Naritaji, who is smiling broadly as he holds the arm of a poet and a wine bottle.

To the right rear is Orihime, who admires him.

The air seemed to freeze, and the hustle and bustle of the commercial street vanished instantly.

Poetry and wine came to a halt, their movements frozen.

Naritaji was still saying, "That parfait looks so delicious—wait, what?"

Eyes facing each other.

Poetry and Wine looked at the diamond-shaped treasure in front of them, who was wearing sportswear and sweating profusely.

The contents of the text message flashed through my mind.

[Because of training, I don't have time.]

'Training...does it mean coming to collect horseshoes?'

The eyes of Poetry and Wine were filled with doubt.

The perspective of Diamond Treasures is even more impactful.

She looked at the poetry and wine before her, who should have been resting in bed, weak and unable to go anywhere.

At this moment, Poetry and Wine are not wearing pajamas; instead, they're dressed as if they're going on a date. Their hair is down, and they're practically glowing.

And... she was wearing the silver meteor hair accessory that I had secretly slipped to her last night.

Dark Meteor: Chapter 205 I Was Here First (Fourth Update)

the most important is--

Narita Road's hand!

That hand was tightly gripping the arm of Poetry and Wine!

Moreover, poetry and wine were not separated!

"...Huh?"

The diamond-cut treasure made a dry sound, and the bag in its hand slammed to the ground with a "thud," making a dull metallic clang.

"Qizi?"

Poetry and wine also voiced their doubts.

"that…"

Lingzuan Qibao's gaze was fixed on the two's intertwined arms, and his usually gentle eyes trembled slightly with shock and grievance.

"A little wine?"

Lingzuan Qibao's voice trembled slightly as she pointed to the glamorous Poetry and Wine, then to her own drab attire, and finally to Chengtian Road standing next to Poetry and Wine.

Weren't you...sleeping?

"And why?"

Her gaze turned somewhat resentful.

It's like a housewife who thought her husband was working overtime, but when she went out to buy groceries, she bumped into him shopping with his male boss.

"Why are the Narita Road alumni association meetings...so close to each other?"

Fiery Steed stood somewhat bewildered to the side, watching the awkward scene, and silently retreated to the side.

Narita blinked his purple-gold eyes, but didn't ask the rude question, "Are you doing manual labor?" like a brainless fool.

She immediately recognized the logo on the canvas bag that Lingzuan Qibao was carrying, which was most likely a training tool.

"Wow! It's Qi Zi! What a coincidence!"

Narita exclaimed in surprise, but his voice was soon tinged with genuine admiration and astonishment.

"That bag looks really heavy. Does that mean they're doing weight training even on their rest days to prepare for the upcoming competition?"

Narita looked at the sweating Lingzuan Qibao with a touched expression.

"Uh...that..."

Lingzuan Qibao's face instantly turned bright red. Even though she was initially indignant about Narita Lu's behavior, she was still somewhat at a loss after Narita Lu's praise.

"N-no, it's nothing... I was just... going that way..."

She stammered as she explained, instinctively hiding her dusty hands behind her back.

On the other side...

"Squad leader, let me go first."

Poetry and wine did not stand still like wooden blocks.

She keenly noticed that Lingzuan Qibao's gaze was fixed on her hair ornament and the arm that was being held by her.

Instead of forcefully shaking him off, she gently patted the back of Naritaji's hand, signaling him to let go.

Narita paused for a moment, and although he was a little reluctant, he obediently let go of the arms that were wrapped around him like an octopus, and smiled a little embarrassedly.

As Lingzuan Qibao watched this scene, her gaze fell again on the silver meteor hair ornament that glittered in the sunlight.

I should have been happy to see Poetry and Wine wearing it, but now...

The hair accessories were glittering, the poetry and wine were as beautiful as a model, and Naritaji was smiling gently.

Meanwhile, I was dressed in sportswear, looking like Cinderella who had just returned from a construction site.

She instinctively took a step back, feeling that her disheveled appearance made her seem so out of place in front of the glamorous trio.

"Hahaha."

Lingzuan Qibao revealed a smile that looked more like a grimace, his voice hoarse.

"So, this is what Xiao Jiu meant by 'quiet recuperation'..."

She glanced at the poetry and wine, then at Narita Road, and finally her gaze swept over Orihime, who had been standing silently behind her.

Today, Aimer Orihime is wearing a loose blue sweater and dark blue slim-fit jeans that accentuate her long legs. She's also wearing white sneakers with laces that perfectly match the color of her top.

Even the most unsociable students looked so fresh and stylish at this moment, perfectly blending into the scene before them.

Only I am superfluous.

"So this is what a vacation is like."

Lingzuan Qibao lowered her head and muttered something under her breath, her tone laced with a sour, resentful smirk.

"I had no idea that Xiao Jiu and A Lu were so close..."

It's not what you think.

Poetry and Wine frowned and stepped forward to explain.

"It was a coincidence that we met at the school gate—"

"Ah, I remember now. We need to take this batch of horseshoes back quickly for rust prevention treatment."

Diamond Treasure suddenly interrupted Poetry and Wine's conversation.

She bent down abruptly and lifted the heavy bag from the ground, a defiant smile on her face.

"Then I won't disturb your shopping."

"Duantong-chan, let's hurry, the taxi is about to get away."

After saying that, she didn't give Poetry and Wine a chance to stop her. She grabbed the Fiery Steed next to her, who looked puzzled, and rushed across the pedestrian crossing as if she were running away.

"Hey, Qi Zi."

Poetry and wine reach out into the air, but only grasp at the air.

Watching the gray figure staggering yet running incredibly fast, Poetry and Wine felt a strange sense of irritation.

"That idiot."

He put down his poetry and wine, his brow furrowed.

"Why are you running so fast? I'm not complaining about you."

Standing behind, Aimu tugged at the collar of her blue sweater, a glint of light flashing in her purple eyes.

She looked in the direction where the diamond treasure had fled, then glanced at the bewildered Naritaji beside her, and finally looked at Shi and Jiu, whose mood had clearly soured.

Sigh~

Ai Mu Shi sighed softly in her heart.

'This is so troublesome…'

But for some reason, she didn't suggest leaving. Instead, she felt that this trip, which she had been forced to take, had become somewhat interesting.

……

"Sorry for the wait—! This is a limited-time 'Spring Strawberry Parfait' for three!"

With the waiter's energetic voice, a huge dessert made of pink cream and bright red strawberries was brought to the table.

The dreamy color scheme and sweet aroma instantly attracted the attention of several girls at the surrounding tables.