After Fujiwara Chiya fitted Orfevre with the iron gear, she started running while wearing the stuff.
The first few days were rough. She was not used to it at all and kept wiping out. After a while, though, things finally started getting better.
To force herself to adapt as quickly as possible, Orfevre spent most of the day moving around in the protective gear. She only took it off after training ended at night.
Back then, when Orfevre had accidentally admitted that she admired Shirayuki, it had clearly come straight from the heart.
She wanted to experience the hardships Shirayuki had once endured with her own body. Only after tasting the same pain Shirayuki had swallowed down could she claim the right to surpass her.
Ever since Orfevre began that hellish training regimen Shirayuki had once gone through, she never badmouthed Shirayuki again.
Every time Fujiwara Chiya finished explaining the training schedule to her, Orfevre would look at him, half doubtful, half horrified, and ask,
"Shirayuki really trained like this back then?"
She could not believe there was an uma musume out there who trained her body like she had no intention of staying alive.
Even Orfevre, who was not afraid of suffering, had been shocked by the sheer intensity of it.
"When we were at the dojo, Shirayuki trained until she passed out," Fujiwara Chiya said. "She tried to cram in more progress at night, then blacked out completely. By the time she woke up, it was already the next morning."
Orfevre listened carefully, her gaze turning complicated.
She had always thought Shirayuki was simply blessed with overwhelming talent. That she had taken the title of "Empress" with effortless ease.
But that was not true.
Shirayuki's talent, when placed against the entire racing world, was not especially outstanding. There were plenty of uma musume more gifted than her.
Her strength had been carved out through nothing but relentless effort.
"Did I… misunderstand Shirayuki?"
In Orfevre's mind, if someone had more talent than others, then naturally they should defeat their opponents. If they had an innate advantage and still lost, there was nothing more humiliating.
But in truth, Shirayuki was not as talented as her.
"I wouldn't really call it a misunderstanding. Even if we can't see them, there are definitely people out there who give even more than Shirayuki did, throwing everything they have into their races."
Fujiwara Chiya sat on the ground.
"Effort, luck, talent. If you want to make a name for yourself on the track, you can't be missing even one of those three."
Orfevre said nothing.
Fujiwara Chiya reached out and patted her head.
"You're the same, Orfevre. You have all three. That's why I believe the future you is going to shine brighter than anyone."
Just as Fujiwara Chiya finished speaking and was about to leave, Orfevre grabbed the hem of his shirt.
"Stay with me a little longer. Why are you going back so quickly?"
"…All right."
Lately, Treve's side had loosened up a little, so Fujiwara Chiya had been hoping to return to the room with Shirayuki and relax for a bit.
But Orfevre had suddenly become ridiculously clingy. If anything, she was even worse than Rice Shower had been at first.
That said, Rice Shower might have been clingy, but she was also obedient. Tell her to do something, and she would do it. Sure, she occasionally turned into a tiny succubus, but most of the time, Rice Shower was a very good girl.
Orfevre was completely different.
Every single time, she would drag Fujiwara Chiya to her side by force. If he did not come over, she would throw a tantrum, sulk, and instantly crash into the worst possible mood.
Fujiwara Chiya had no choice but to coax and sweet-talk her like his life depended on it.
Who could have imagined that one day, Orfevre would forcibly wedge herself between him and Shirayuki?
Dragged back by Orfevre, Fujiwara Chiya sat down beside her again.
"Tell me more about your past, Trainer. I want to hear it."
"Then I'll tell you…"
…
That night, Orfevre returned to the dorm.
As usual, Shirayuki came over to help apply ointment for her. By now, Orfevre's attitude toward Shirayuki had improved quite a lot. She even let Shirayuki sit on the sofa and brought her tea.
"Does this mean my relationship with you has gotten a little better?" Shirayuki asked with a bright smile.
"Don't get all chummy with me. If it weren't for Trainer, I wouldn't even bother with you."
As she said that, Orfevre handed Shirayuki a box of cookies.
It was Shirayuki's favorite kind.
"So it has gotten better."
Orfevre clicked her tongue.
There was no denying that Shirayuki looked much more pleasant to her now.
Before, Orfevre had found Shirayuki's kindness and meddling attitude irritating. But now, after experiencing that kindness herself, she did not find it unpleasant at all.
"Since you might not know, let me tell you something. I now have a certain special relationship with Trainer."
"…Oh, that? I already know."
Wasn't it just Orfevre and Chiya rolling around in bed together?
Never mind Chiya himself, Orfevre had also accidentally let it slip before.
"Hm? You already know?"
Orfevre was a little surprised.
Trainer had told Shirayuki that he was going to marry her?
No way.
He had not even told Orfevre herself yet.
Orfevre understood, of course.
This was an extremely important matter. Trainer would definitely choose a formal occasion. There was no way he would casually blurt it out.
But still.
He told Shirayuki about sleeping together. He even notified Shirayuki first about the marriage.
She really is your precious little sister, huh, Trainer? Everything goes to her first.
On top of that, whenever Fujiwara Chiya talked about his experiences with Shirayuki, his tone was so vivid it was almost like he had lived through them himself.
While Orfevre did come to understand how difficult Shirayuki's path had been, she also felt a little gloomy.
For him to understand Shirayuki to that degree showed just how much he cared about her.
True, they were family.
But soon, Orfevre would become family too.
Shouldn't Trainer take better care of his future wife?
After all, Orfevre had already started taking care of his little sister.
Orfevre pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the cookie crumbs from the corner of Shirayuki's mouth.
Shirayuki's eyes went round.
Then she broke into an adorable smile.
"Hmph. As long as you know. Now hurry back. Go to sleep early."
"Yes. Then I'll be going. See you tomorrow, Orfevre."
After seeing Shirayuki off, the phone rang.
It was her older sister, Dream Journey.
Once Orfevre picked up, that familiar voice came through the receiver. As always, Dream Journey first asked about her condition, then brought up her progress with Trainer.
"We have already confirmed our relationship… Recently, we have not really been doing that sort of thing… Pressure? It can build up? I understand. I… I like Trainer. I can accept everything about him."
The next day, Fujiwara Chiya was revising Orfevre's training schedule.
The pressure from the armor was too heavy a burden on her body. He needed to adjust the program.
Just as Fujiwara Chiya was studying how to change things, Orfevre walked into the room.
"Good morning, Orfevre. Here to put on the gear?"
"Mm."
She walked over to Fujiwara Chiya's side.
"You're changing the plan again?"
"Just adjusting it a little."
"Because I insisted on using Shirayuki's training plan, I've increased your workload, haven't I?"
"No. The plan was always meant to be adjusted in real time. Rules are dead, people are alive."
Looking at Fujiwara Chiya's gentle smile, Orfevre lightly bit her teeth together.
"If Trainer is feeling stressed, I can help you take care of it."
"Oh? Sure, that works."
Fujiwara Chiya figured Orfevre probably wanted to give him a shoulder massage, so he agreed readily.
"Pervert. Degenerate."
"???"
Orfevre said that, then crouched down and reached for his waistband.
"W-wait, Orfevre!?"
"Stop moving. Why are you in such a rush?"
"I'm not the one in a rush, you're—"
"Chiya."
Satake Mei's voice came from outside the door.
She walked into the room and saw Fujiwara Chiya sitting perfectly upright behind his desk.
"W-what is it, Mei?"
"The trainers from Japan are arriving this afternoon. Come with me to pick them up later and help arrange their accommodations. I can't handle it alone."
"Got it. In a bit, I'll… mm…"
Fujiwara Chiya suddenly bent forward, his body trembling.