After training ended the next day, Rice Shower was planning to go find Fujiwara Chiya again.
This period had been like a dream for Rice Shower. First, she had enjoyed plenty of time with him, and afterward, she had been able to act spoiled beside Fujiwara Chiya every day, letting him pat her head and pinch her cheeks.
Since sleeping together was not always possible, Rice Shower could only satisfy herself this way.
People online said that men's bodies had a strange scent, but after Rice Shower personally experienced it, she found that this was completely wrong.
Her Onii-sama's scent was wonderful.
After tasting it once, Rice Shower could never forget it.
She wanted to experience it again, but unfortunately, there had not been many chances. In recent nights, Fujiwara Chiya had always gathered Gold Ship and the others to play games. And the game they played was the very card game she had given him.
Originally, Rice Shower had only used that game as an excuse to start a conversation.
She had not expected him to actually become interested in it.
Was this what people called bringing trouble on oneself…?
Rice Shower had now understood how tempting games could be for boys.
So she had to become even more tempting than games!
Aside from dressing herself up beautifully and becoming even cuter, Rice Shower had also started learning cooking, laundry, cleaning, and tidying rooms.
She was not only capable of acting spoiled!
Rice Shower was determined to become a capable girl.
Onii-sama's limitless tolerance was not something she should use only for selfishness. She wanted to use that tolerance to show him her charm.
For example, tonight, she wanted Fujiwara Chiya to taste the soup she had made herself, filled with plenty of love.
She would be a bad girl.
But she would also be a good girl.
Only then would she be complete.
Just as Rice Shower was about to chase after Fujiwara Chiya, a white figure stopped in front of her.
"Rice, do you want to have dinner together?"
Looking at that beautiful face, Rice Shower's ears flicked.
"Shirayuki-san."
She glanced at Fujiwara Chiya walking away, then looked at Shirayuki. After hesitating for a moment, Rice Shower showed a slightly forced smile.
"Mm. Let's go together."
When they arrived at the cafeteria, many students greeted Shirayuki.
They were Treve's friends, and they often trained alongside Treve.
In order to understand Treve's strength, Shirayuki had begun working through her classmates. Every day, she made desserts for them, went out with them, and accompanied them shopping. Gradually, those girls opened their hearts to Shirayuki and became close to her.
When Shirayuki asked them about Treve, the girls looked at one another, showed subtle smiles, and quietly asked:
"Could it be that you're interested in our little Princess Treve?"
Shirayuki nodded.
Treve was her greatest opponent, and the final gate standing between her and the world.
Seeing Shirayuki admit it, the girls immediately became excited.
They told Shirayuki what colour clothes Treve liked to wear, what foods she enjoyed, and even advised her earnestly that Treve was the most beautiful flower in Paris Tracen. If Shirayuki wanted to pluck that flower, it would take a lot of effort. Many people had tried before, and all had failed.
Treve looked as though she could get along with anyone, but in reality, very few people could enter her heart.
That was true whether they were men or women.
Shirayuki checked the translation app several times to make sure there had been no mistake.
They really were saying that.
She had wanted to ask about Treve's strength, but these people had told her about Treve's favourite colours and hobbies instead.
Uma musume really were adolescent girls in the middle of youth.
Aside from racing, they loved gossip.
Seeing them, Shirayuki could not help remembering the misunderstanding from before.
She waved to the others, then found a seat and left some space on her lap, waiting for Rice Shower to sit there.
However, Rice Shower sat opposite her.
Hm?
Ah…
Right.
Mejiro Dober, Seiun Sky, Agnes Tachyon, and Hayakawa Tazuna all knew his secret. Because of that, their attitude toward Chiya and Shirayuki was basically the same.
But Rice Shower was different.
She only knew Chiya.
She did not know Shirayuki.
Not only that, she was not even as close to Shirayuki as Grass Wonder and the others were.
Among everyone, Rice Shower had the biggest difference in attitude. She stuck close to Fujiwara Chiya almost every day, hugging him, clinging to him, and acting spoiled. But toward Shirayuki, Rice Shower had not even held hands.
The two had always maintained a distance that was neither close nor far.
Usually, they were not in the same circle, so it had not been obvious. But once they were alone, that distance became clear.
Looking at Rice Shower sitting across from her, Shirayuki felt complicated.
Chiya's side had to keep some distance because one careless moment could lead to things getting out of control.
But Shirayuki's side would not.
When helping Rice Shower ease her attachment, she could use her female body to stay beside Rice Shower. That would satisfy her desire to care for Rice Shower while also preventing Rice Shower from feeling too lonely.
But Rice Shower did not seem to want to get too close to her.
Those lively eyes kept darting between Shirayuki and the tabletop.
"Is there anything you want to eat, Rice? I can get it for you."
"There's no need to trouble you, Shirayuki-san. Rice can do it herself."
She refused.
The two of them casually picked out some food.
"Um… why did Shirayuki-san suddenly want to invite Rice?" Rice Shower asked, sensing the awkwardness in the air.
"I just felt that I've never really eaten together with Rice before. We're friends on the same team, but it feels like we've been too distant."
"I see…"
Rice Shower's ears swayed helplessly.
To her, Shirayuki was the person who had secretly gone into Onii-sama's room.
She was a rival.
A rival in feelings.
Even if Rice Shower was not angry about what Shirayuki had done, that did not mean she could be expected to become close with her.
The two of them ate in silence.
The atmosphere was unusually quiet.
For Fujiwara Chiya, this felt extremely unfamiliar.
This was the first time he had seen Rice Shower's mood this low.
Even when Rice Shower occasionally felt down, the moment she saw him, her face would brighten with sunshine, as if nothing unhappy could exist as long as he was beside her.
It is "me."
I still haven't told Rice.
Actually, Shirayuki also felt that she should tell Rice Shower soon.
After all, Chiya and Rice Shower's relationship had already progressed this far. If she still kept this matter hidden as a secret, it might cause problems in the future.
But telling Rice Shower so suddenly did not mean she would be able to accept it.
More likely, she would become confused on the spot. In more serious cases, she might even shut herself away.
Everyone Shirayuki had revealed the secret to before had sensed something more or less beforehand. Rice Shower, however, knew nothing at all.
She was not prepared.
Shirayuki could not force the truth onto someone who was not ready for it.
She wanted to first build a better relationship with Rice Shower, then slowly tell her once Rice Shower had gradually accepted her.
This feeling was really strange.
They had already hugged. They had already kissed. Yet now, using Shirayuki's body, she had to get along with Rice Shower all over again.
It was almost like resetting affection back to zero and starting from the beginning.
But she knew everything about Rice Shower.
What Rice Shower liked.
What she disliked.
So even if she had to clear this route again, it should not be too difficult.
After making up her mind, Shirayuki decided she would gradually reveal her identity to Rice Shower in a natural way.