"All right, all right—stop teasing Ruka so much, Ramonu-neesan."
In the end, Ardan, busy helping McQueen into the car, couldn't stand it any longer.
Twilight Song had to leave the house today no matter what, but this wasn't the right way to persuade her.
Ramonu-neesan was still being far too harsh.
"Don't let it bother you, Ruka. But it's true we do have to visit the mall today."
After all, the usually quiet girl had been frightened into actually speaking up, and even now was visibly trembling. How badly had she scared her?
Ardan gently stroked Twilight Song's head, carefully avoiding the soft drooping ears, before taking her hand protectively.
Mejiro Ramonu said nothing more, simply taking her place in the passenger seat.
"What did you mean about having to go out today?"
Twilight Song still hadn't fully recovered, stumbling slightly over her words.
This reaction only heightened Ardan's curiosity further.
She's definitely hiding something important, isn't she?
What sort of secret would be serious enough that Ramonu-neesan's casual words could terrify her like this?
Still, if Ruka wasn't ready to talk about it, then perhaps the time wasn't right yet.
Ardan could be patient. Ruka was young; she could still see a hint of immaturity in the girl's features. If it was really a big deal, she'd learn about it eventually—three years, five years, ten… surely someday.
There was no rush; Ardan was willing to wait.
So, rather than pressing further, Ardan simply answered the question at hand.
"Today, we're going out to get your racing outfit made."
A racing outfit?
Twilight Song blinked, then suddenly understood, her reluctance fading away instantly.
Of course. How could she forget?
A racing outfit—the special clothing an Uma Musume would wear specifically for major G1 races. To put it simply…
It was an Uma Musume's battle regalia, a symbol of pride and glory.
Twilight Song had completely forgotten about this, having just transmigrated. But naturally, as a prestigious family, the Mejiro household would have their own channels and preparations in place.
And today was clearly the day scheduled for her to have her racing outfit custom-made.
She got into the car, with Ardan and the two younger Uma Musume seated in the back. The group didn't speak much, quietly watching as the scenery rolled past the windows.
Still, Twilight Song felt somewhat anxious.
The last time she'd been in this exact scenario, she'd fallen asleep, then suddenly awakened choking on her own blood. Because of that, she had absolutely no intention of dozing off this time.
Ardan didn't seem like the type who would pry deeply or push relentlessly, but…
Ramonu's threat earlier couldn't be dismissed as simple teasing. She must've realized something.
Twilight would need to be more cautious around her…
She closed her eyes, deliberately shifting herself to a spot in the seat where Ramonu wouldn't be able to watch her through the rearview mirror. The only slight embarrassment was that she was now practically leaning against Ardan.
McQueen, seated nearby, simply observed the two curiously.
Nothing else notable happened afterward. Ramonu rested quietly with her eyes closed, and they all reached the mall peacefully, briefly splitting up upon arrival.
As the eldest, Ramonu went ahead to handle other details regarding the racing outfit, while Ardan took charge of watching over the two younger girls.
Thus, three beautiful Uma Musume walked through the mall, drawing occasional curious glances from passersby.
Twilight Song found herself impressed by the public's courtesy. Although Uma Musume were essentially celebrities, and Ardan in particular was widely recognized, no one intruded on their daily lives. Instead, they politely kept their distance, occasionally nodding respectfully or offering silent encouragement.
Clearly, this world wasn't some bizarre alternate universe after all.
"Speaking of which, Ruka, what kind of Uma Musume do you hope to become?"
It was already late December, and Twilight had suddenly made her debut around this specific time. Typically, only one kind of Uma Musume rushed a debut so late in the year.
Someone with their eyes set firmly on the Triple Crown.
Twilight Song glanced at Ardan, then briefly at McQueen, before hesitantly answering.
"I…want to become a legend."
Yes, becoming a legend was something she absolutely had to do…
"Oh? Is that because you refuse to lose to anyone?"
"No. It's just… if I become a legend, then no one will ever forget me, right?"
Her answer was somewhat vague, yet Ardan still nodded encouragingly.
What Ruka meant must've been that she wished to become beloved, to receive support from her fans so she could keep running forward.
As she'd thought, Ruka was actually a lonely child who needed others to be there for her.
Of course, despite having similar motivations, Ramonu's overly forceful approach was completely unacceptable.
Twilight Song didn't elaborate any further, clenching her jaw to maintain her usual silence.
Honestly, she didn't even understand why she'd blurted out something so embarrassing just now—but it truly was what she felt inside.
From there, the conversation shifted focus to McQueen, who was still attending school. Because of this, the trio's first stop wasn't a typical clothing boutique or department store.
Instead…
They ended up visiting a stationery shop inside the mall, oddly located next to a cake store.
However, once inside, Twilight Song requested to look around on her own and quickly gained permission.
Truthfully, large stationery stores were rare in her previous life, and Twilight had never visited one herself, which piqued her curiosity.
Yet, after wandering around for a bit, she found nothing particularly exciting or unusual.
It seemed less of a stationery shop and more focused on art supplies, with just a small stationery section included.
However, what truly caught her attention was the surprising array of notebooks and stationery themed after Uma Musume—something utterly impossible in her past life.
Twilight Song even spotted a notebook prominently featuring Mejiro Ramonu on the cover. The tag below it read:
[Limited Edition: Personally Signed by Legendary Mejiro Family Uma Musume]
Ah, right… Legendary Uma Musume held considerable commercial value as well.
But still, merchandise featuring Mejiro Ramonu…
At that moment, a tiny, mischievous impulse sparked inside Twilight's heart.
If—just hypothetically—she kept a diary for the next year using this notebook, and Mejiro Ramonu eventually found it after her death, what kind of expression would that stern older sister have?
She could hardly contain her anticipation…
Guilt and excitement churned within her, urging her to pick up the notebook, while the rational and kind-hearted side of her strongly protested.
What on earth are you waiting for?