Nothing especially unusual happened in the days that followed.
Shirayuki continued training under Byerley, while Trêve also pushed toward the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe under Nase Hideto's arrangements. Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
The only real difference was probably that Trêve began visiting Shirayuki's room more frequently.
Almost every night, she would come over to sleep at Shirayuki's side.
The beds in Paris Tracen's dormitories were large. Two people could sleep on one with room to spare. On top of that, Trêve's room was very close to hers, only three or four steps away. So, in the end, Trêve simply started treating Shirayuki's room as her own home.
Even outside the evenings, whenever she had free time, Trêve would come over and ask Shirayuki to teach her Japanese. For anything she did not understand, they would use the translator.
Thanks to that, Trêve's speaking ability improved visibly day by day.
Shirayuki was quite happy that Trêve was learning Japanese.
That way, it would be more convenient if Trêve ever came to Japan.
The problem was that Trêve was always with her, so Shirayuki had no way to go to Chiya's room.
Every day after training, she was exhausted to death. At times like that, the most comfortable thing for her was to lie on Chiya, nibble his ear a little, or have Chiya massage her body. The fatigue of the whole day would disappear through the interaction between the two of them.
Shirayuki was becoming more and more unable to stay away from Chiya.
More accurately, their two bodies were becoming more and more unable to stay away from each other. Even leaving aside the influence of scent, Shirayuki could not find anyone more compatible with herself than herself.
Only with him could she relax completely.
At Tracen, Akikawa Yayoi kept watch over him, and the student dormitories also had rules forbidding students from staying out overnight.
Shirayuki had endured that.
But here, there were no such rules. The uma musume were more free and open, yet her time with Chiya still did not go smoothly. There were always all sorts of obstacles.
Trêve, Rice Shower, and Gold Ship.
Yes, Gold Ship.
That girl was always holding a camera and appearing beside Chiya from time to time. In name, she was "digging up Fujiwara Chiya's secrets." In reality, she was monitoring him. And she did it so openly, directly shoving the camera up to his face.
Occasionally, she would even run over at night to freeload food and drinks, making Shirayuki, who already had little chance to visit Chiya, lose even more opportunities.
This left Shirayuki feeling extremely gloomy.
When she gradually developed a dependence on Chiya, she discovered that everyone around her had also developed a dependence on her. She had no choice but to take care of everyone else first, constantly pushing her own priority further back.
Putting others before oneself, as they said.
It was precisely that way of thinking that made Shirayuki spend most of her time on other people, leaving very little for herself.
But because of that, Shirayuki cherished the time she spent with herself even more.
When the two of them were together, Shirayuki would trim his nails, comb his hair, knead his palms, and tap his shoulders. Chiya could do all of those things by himself, but only when she did them for him would she feel deeply satisfied.
One could say that these obstacles did not make Shirayuki give up at all.
Instead, they made her even more certain that the feeling she gave herself was something no one else could provide.
Once she had the chance, she would definitely go on a date alone with herself.
"Shirayuki-san, how have things been with Trêve lately?"
Rice Shower came to Shirayuki's room carrying some desserts.
"Pretty good."
"Is that so? I saw that Trêve seems to come here every day. How far have you two progressed?"
Ever since Trêve had settled into Shirayuki's room, Rice Shower's relationship with her had somehow become strangely better. She often brought desserts and invited Shirayuki and Trêve to eat together. She also frequently asked about Shirayuki and Trêve, as if she were extremely concerned about their progress.
Rice Shower, how am I supposed to tell you anything when you act like this…
Shirayuki realised that the hardest person to tell her secret to was not anyone else.
It was Rice Shower, the one closest to her.
She could clearly feel the difference in how Rice Shower treated her and Chiya. In her current state, it was absolutely impossible for Rice Shower to connect Shirayuki and Chiya together.
"We're just… fairly close friends, I guess."
Shirayuki answered while eating Rice Shower's dessert.
The flavour of Rice Shower's sweets had changed. They were no longer made according to Chiya's favourite taste. They had become sweeter.
"Have you kissed?"
"Mm—cough, cough!"
Rice Shower!
Where did your soft, innocent little-girl attribute go? How can you ask a question like that?
How did you start gossiping too?
"I heard Trêve say that she kissed you. Is that true?"
Shirayuki wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth.
"Mm… we kissed."
"Ah! Congratulations!"
Rice Shower clapped her hands.
"I always thought Trêve-san and Shirayuki-san were very well matched. It's really wonderful that you two understand each other's feelings."
"Y-yeah. It's wonderful…"
Shirayuki's cheek twitched a few times.
"Rice Shower will support your romance. If there's anything you need help with, Shirayuki-san, please come to Rice Shower."
Don't do this, Rice Shower.
How am I supposed to tell you the secret after this?
You personally handed your Onii-sama over to someone else!
Shirayuki ate cream puff after cream puff, her eyes practically spinning in circles.
"I'm back, Shirayuki."
Trêve opened the door and walked in.
Very naturally, she placed her school bag on the cabinet near the entrance and took off her shoes. Clearly, she had already begun treating Shirayuki's room as her own home.
"Uyaa? Rice Shower."
Trêve noticed the black-haired girl sitting on the chair.
"You're here. Welcome!"
"Sorry for disturbing you, Trêve-san. Rice Shower made some desserts and wanted to share them with you and Shirayuki-san."
"Desserts? Ah… thank you!"
Trêve sat down beside Shirayuki.
Rice Shower watched the two of them with a bright smile.
Ever since Shirayuki and Trêve had become attached to each other, Shirayuki had stopped going to see Onii-sama. Now, Fujiwara Chiya was completely monopolised by Rice Shower, and Rice Shower was happy every day.
Although whenever Rice Shower got close to him, Fujiwara Chiya would always tell her to stop at the right point, as long as Rice Shower agreed on the surface while doing whatever she wanted in practice, he would still obediently accept it in the end.
After all, her Onii-sama was a big boy.
Even if he said no, his body was still very honest.
Rice Shower had thoroughly enjoyed her two-person world with Onii-sama.
Rice Shower felt that helping Shirayuki and Trêve get together was the most correct decision she had ever made.
Now Trêve was happy, Shirayuki was happy, and Rice Shower was happy too.
Everyone was winning.
It was a complete victory!
Why would anyone reject such a peaceful and harmonious scene?
"Shirayuki, the corner of your mouth…"
Seeing the cream at the corner of Shirayuki's mouth, Trêve leaned over and licked it away.
"Trêve… Rice Shower is here too."
"Sorry, I forgot."
Trêve scratched her head.
Originally, aside from running, Trêve did not have many hobbies. At most, she would go shopping with friends or chat with them. She did not really like playing on her phone or playing games, so aside from training, Trêve had a lot of free time.
Now, she had found her hobby.
Being lovey-dovey with Shirayuki.
Not only did it give her spiritual satisfaction, it also brought her a different kind of happiness.
"It's okay. Seeing Trêve-san and Shirayuki-san so close makes Rice Shower very happy too."
A smile appeared on Rice Shower's little face.
Shirayuki covered her eyes.
Until this part of their memories blurred, there was absolutely no way she could reveal her secret anymore.