While the rest of the world was in an absolute frenzy over the news of Dream Weaver's return, the architect of the storm herself was calmly sipping tea in the office of the Tracen Academy Chairwoman.
"Give this a try. It's Gyokuro from Uji—widely recognized as the finest green tea in all of Japan."
The Chairwoman, Northern Taste, handed a freshly brewed cup to Dream Weaver.
Uji tea hails from Kyoto and stands alongside Shizuoka and Sayama tea as one of the country's three great varieties.
Among them, Uji's Gyokuro is consistently ranked as the gold standard by industry experts.
This "Jade Dew" is the pinnacle of Japanese tea; the leaves are shaded from sunlight for twenty days before harvest to boost their natural sweetness.
The result is a mellow, savory brew with almost no bitterness—a crystal-clear liquor carrying a unique, lingering aroma.
Had a true connoisseur been sitting across from the Chairwoman, they would have paused everything, offering Northern Taste a subtle, knowing smile to signal their readiness.
They would have accepted the cup with both hands, cradling the base, and performed the essential ritual of observing the color and inhaling the fragrance before even letting a drop touch their tongue.
Only through this "sight before scent" process can one truly appreciate the essence of a top-tier tea—the legendary "scent of the heavens" that precedes the taste of nectar.
Dream Weaver took the cup, and under Northern Taste's expectant gaze, she knocked it back in one gulp.
"Not bad," she remarked.
She didn't know the first thing about tea. To Dream Weaver, this prestigious Uji Gyokuro tasted exactly like the green tea they kept in the cafeteria to wash down lunch.
In fact, this scalding brew wasn't nearly as refreshing as a cup of the cafeteria stuff poured over a bucket of ice.
Seeing her down the rare vintage like a shot of cheap spirits, Northern Taste felt the elegance of her brewing ritual vanish into thin air.
"Did Starlight never teach you any tea etiquette...?"
"Why on earth would you think my mother would teach me something like that?" Dream Weaver shot back.
She wondered for a moment if her memories of Northern Starlight were corrupted, or if this script world was simply different from reality.
Was her mother supposed to be some refined lady from the prestigious Northern family, rather than a rebellious Uma Musume with terrible grades who skipped class and stayed away from home for over a decade?
Faced with the counter-question, Northern Taste found herself at a loss for words. A brief flash of Northern Starlight's image crossed her mind, and she immediately decided to change the subject.
"Your announcement was far too rushed... Something this monumental deserves a proper press conference. Just dropping a line on social media is a bit too casual, don't you think?"
"It doesn't matter. The news of my comeback has already circled the globe. I'd rather spend my time training than wasting it on a press conference."
As they spoke, Northern Taste refilled Dream Weaver's cup. Dream Weaver didn't hesitate; as soon as the tea was poured, she drained it again.
"So, why did you call me here? It can't just be to drown me in tea."
"Nothing specific, I just wanted to chat... And for goodness' sake, stop drinking so fast! This tea is precious!"
Dream Weaver's hand froze mid-air, and she silently lowered the cup she had been bringing to her lips.
"I thought drinking it as soon as it's poured was a sign of respect..."
"That kind of 'respect' only exists in dive bars and izakayas!" Northern Taste sighed, her heart aching for her wasted treasure.
Unbeknownst to the Chairwoman, she had hit the nail right on the head. That particular "etiquette" was exactly what Agnes Tachyon and Sugar Lights had taught Dream Weaver during their nights out at the local pubs.
Shaking her head at the unintentional truth, Northern Taste took a slow sip of her own tea before continuing.
"It's not that I didn't expect you to come back."
"Truth be told, I knew this day would come. I just didn't expect it to take this long."
"Do you remember the day I gave you the files for Liberty Island and the others?"
Dream Weaver nodded. Back then, she had viewed Northern Taste as nothing more than a guide character—the kind who shows up once at the start of a journey to point the way.
But as she gathered data on other Uma Musume, their paths had crossed multiple times, and that initial impression had long since been discarded.
"At the time, I didn't actually think you'd become a competent Trainer. I just saw how depressed you were after your defeat at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and wanted to find a way to distract you."
"Two problem students and two problem teachers... and yet, you actually managed to lead them to the Triple Tiara and the Kikuka-sho."
Dream Weaver tilted her head in confusion.
She understood why Agnes Tachyon and Sugar Lights—who were obsessed with their research—were "problem teachers," and she wholeheartedly agreed that Hishi Miracle had been a "problem student."
But why was Liberty Island on that list? Hadn't she been perfectly well-behaved?
Seeing the look on her face, Northern Taste guessed her thoughts and explained.
"Before you became a Trainer, Liberty Island had rejected every single offer she received. Honestly, if you hadn't taken the job, I don't know how she would have ever competed. She didn't exactly look like the type who was looking for a Trainer back then."
So that was the story. It made sense. Dream Weaver nodded, then added, "So you just decided to throw a bunch of us 'problems' together?"
"I just wanted to see if there would be any chemistry. I never imagined you all would make it this far."
Northern Taste opened her folding fan, concealing the lower half of her face and leaving only her eyes visible.
"When you were an Uma Musume, you could control the turf with your own two legs. But as a Trainer, you have to place all your hopes and expectations onto your charge."
"I thought you'd grow frustrated with that shift and return to the track almost immediately, leaving the training duties to Sugar Lights or Agnes Tachyon."
"I didn't expect this 'vacation' of yours to last so long, nor did I expect you to become a qualified... no, an exceptionally talented Trainer."
"I had almost convinced myself that you'd given up on the track entirely—that you were content to live out your dreams through your students."
"And yet, you've chosen to shoulder that curse once again. You're heading back to the Arc."
Northern Taste continued to speak while Dream Weaver listened in silence. It wasn't until the Chairwoman lowered her fan and spoke her final words that Dream Weaver finally reacted.
"It's been so long... Why go back now?"
"Isn't life as a Trainer good enough?"
Dream Weaver looked down, staring at her own blurred reflection in the tea. She spoke softly.
"Maybe... because I just don't want to lose."
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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.