Kitasan Black, Almond Eye, and Mikki Rocket were all startled. Mikki Rocket's eyes widened as she stared at Vodka in disbelief:
"Together with Senior T.M. Opera O? So that means Senior will be taking part in the Practice Race afterward too? But she never told me anything about that.
"And besides—"
She bit her lip and lowered her head, spreading open her hands.
"What did all those things Senior said actually mean? Did she ask me to come here just to say that?"
"The Practice Race, huh." Vodka nodded. "I did talk with Senior T.M. Opera O about it on the way here. Senior said she didn't really like being with too many people, so she'd think about it first and decide later."
"I—I think I understand that."
Mikki Rocket raised her head, memories and contemplation flashing through her eyes.
"I remember Senior saying in an interview once that she hadn't really liked playing with other people since she was little. Even at Treisen Academy, she preferred training by herself.
"Senior also exposed some embarrassing things about herself, like secretly sneaking out of the academy in violation of school rules, then getting caught by Ms. Hayakawa and having to write a self-reflection."
Everyone present knew that Mikki Rocket had always admired Senior T.M. Opera O, so it was hardly surprising that she knew such anecdotes about her idol.
What was surprising was that, compared to the flamboyance and majesty Senior T.M. Opera O had displayed just now, those stories sounded a little too mischievous.
"Huh? Senior T.M. Opera O actually did something like that?"
Kitasan Black was the first to cry out.
"Sneaking out of the academy... I thought only Teio-senpai would dare do something like that—"
"Yeah, yeah, and—"
Having heard from Kitasan Black about Tokai Teio sneaking out