Because Komata cut in, Hayakawa's little "luring" plan ultimately ended in failure.
Even so, Hayakawa wasn't angry. She knew perfectly well that even without Komata's interference, those eyes in the shadows weren't going to let her succeed easily.
And if Hayakawa could sense those hidden gazes, then of course Kitahara had noticed them too.
But even though he'd picked up on them, Kitahara simply assumed they were a protective measure his own Umamusume had taken on their own initiative, given how often Trainers had been going missing lately. He didn't pay them much mind, and he had no intention of calling them out.
Under those circumstances, over the next few days, those gazes—overt and covert—each made their own moves.
Some made excuses, trying to take him home to meet the parents. Some wanted to quietly monopolize him on New Year's Eve. Some tried other kinds of plays. But with all sides checking and balancing each other, not a single one succeeded.
Still, even if none of those attempts worked, after being bombarded round after round, Kitahara finally realized that this year's New Year wasn't like the others, and he began seriously thinking about how he was going to spend it.
Spend it at work like previous years?
No. There was no need. He couldn't say he was rich now, but at least he didn't have to worry about food, clothing, and a roof over his head like he used to. It was time to relax a little and take a normal holiday.
Take Eclipse out for a bit?
No, that wouldn't work either. Setting aside what Eclipse wanted, Kitahara had a strong feeling that being alone with her at this particular time would be courting death—let alone the intermittent matchmaking meetings…
After thinking for a long time, Kitahara decided it would be best to spend New Year at Tracen with Eclipse. If possible, it would be even better to have a few other people around, so things would be safer.
But even though he wanted to invite a few others to spend New Year together, Kitahara didn't hold much hope.
It was New Year's, after all. Not everyone was like him and Eclipse, with nowhere to go. If they could help it, who would want to spend New Year stuck at the academy?
With that in mind, Kitahara casually asked the people around him—without expecting much—whether they weren't going home for New Year and would be willing to spend it with him, and then—
"Huh? None of these people are going home for New Year?"
Staring at the neat rows of affirmative replies on his phone screen, Kitahara fell silent.
He knew Hayakawa was used to staying at work and not going home, so it wasn't surprising she agreed. Komata said she didn't dare go back, afraid her lie would be exposed—that was reasonable. And Grass's hometown was in the US, so saying the trip was too far and she didn't feel like going back was also understandable.
But why were kids like Special Week, Tamamo Cross, and Oguri Cap—whose hometowns weren't even far, and who were obviously earnest, well‑behaved girls—not going home either? And they wouldn't give a reason—if he asked, they just brushed him off…
At first, seeing them act so unusually, Kitahara worried something had happened to them.
He went over personally to check on them, confirmed they were physically fine, and then asked around in the Trainers' shared group chat. Only after getting a definite response did he finally relax.
Even so, after asking other Trainers about it, Kitahara inexplicably felt like the atmosphere in the chat had shifted a little. Some people even sent him private tips about preventing and caring for a Basin Fracture…
"What is all this supposed to mean…?"
Not really understanding, Kitahara closed his phone and didn't pay those messages much attention, assuming someone had forwarded them to the wrong person. Then he started preparing for New Year.
...
Time flew by in a blur of busy preparation.
With the year‑end approaching, Tracen Academy was unprecedentedly quiet. The main road that used to be full of foot traffic now saw only the occasional lonely figure, and the once‑lively grab‑your‑bucket‑and‑run group was growing quieter by the day.
Who knew if that quiet meant they'd successfully escaped and no longer needed to talk—or if they'd all been caught and no one could speak anymore.
But even as the academy grew colder and emptier with the year‑end looming, Kitahara's dorm only got livelier.
Not only did the comings and goings fail to decrease—they increased. Even people from outside the academy, like Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black, took advantage of how quiet Tracen was to sneak in now and then to see Kitahara.
As for the exact New Year arrangements, since Kitahara hadn't celebrated a proper New Year since crossing over—and didn't understand all the ins and outs of a Japanese New Year—he mainly handled stocking up supplies, then did some simple decorating based on his pre‑isekai habits, leaving the rest for everyone else to improvise.
Cleaning the room, putting up the kadomatsu, and the classic soba…
Those standard Japanese New Year preparations needed no explanation, but what surprised everyone was that during setup, Eclipse actually offered an opinion for once.
"We should prepare more alcohol and meat."
Hearing Eclipse's request, the others didn't quite understand.
Meat was one thing—Special Week, Oguri Cap, and Eclipse were all here, after all.
But alcohol was a problem. Japanese law clearly set the legal drinking age at twenty, and in this environment, if too many people got drunk, nine times out of ten something would happen that was… not good. Maybe even serious.
So even though there were Umamusume willing to secretly drink a little with Kitahara, in this setting… that really wasn't okay.
"No need to drink it. Just keep it in the cupboard," Eclipse replied.
Most of the Umamusume were still confused, but a few who knew foreign customs let their eyes linger on Eclipse, thoughtful.
Once everything was ready, there wasn't much left to say about the remaining time.
Most of the people present had their own little agendas, but precisely because of that, under everyone else's eyes, they couldn't do anything—forget "making a move," they couldn't even manage small gestures.
After a round of private attempts that all ended in failure, everyone finally behaved themselves. Those who ate, ate; those who chatted, chatted. The atmosphere gradually relaxed and softened.
"Ah, right."
As they talked, Agnes Digital—still barely holding herself together and not passing out—suddenly remembered something. She turned toward Kitahara and Eclipse, who were sitting together.
"Trainer Kitahara, Eclipse‑san, about tomorrow's New Year shrine visit—should we all go together—"
"We're not going."
Before Agnes Digital could finish, Eclipse stated her position outright.
"…Huh?"
Agnes Digital froze for a moment, then asked cautiously.
"Then are you planning to go with Trainer Kitahara, just the two of you?"
"No. I'm not going to the New Year shrine visit. If you want to go, you can go. You don't need to worry about me."
Eclipse's tone was firm, and in her eyes—very rarely—there was a clear trace of resistance.
And at the exact moment that resistance surfaced in Eclipse's eyes, the three voices only she could hear by her ear sounded downright delighted.
Go, go, little Eclipse! It's no big deal!
This is a great chance, you know. We can have someone set up a soundproof private room for you—then you can "pay respects" inside for as long as you want…
Those two idiots have nothing to do with me. But little Eclipse, I also suggest you go. I can arrange for you to have the identity of a shrine maiden or a nun—maybe this blockhead will fall for that…
While Eclipse ignored the three shameless voices chattering at her ear, Kitahara gave his own answer.
"New Year shrine visit… I won't be going either."
After thinking for a moment, Kitahara refused Agnes Digital's suggestion as well.
Unlike Eclipse's reluctance, Kitahara didn't want to go to a shrine because his instincts were screaming at him.
He knew exactly what he knew. He already avoided the Three Goddesses whenever he could—how could he possibly march onto their turf and court death on purpose?
What he didn't know was that after he gave that answer, the Umamusume beside him all had their ears twitch at once, and a few previously wandering gazes slid onto him.
"Hm? Trainer Kitahara and Eclipse aren't going on the New Year shrine visit?"
Hayakawa looked at the two of them, mildly puzzled.
"Do you have something planned tomorrow?"
"No. It's just that there are some things I need to take care of…"
Dong, dong, dong—
The lingering peal of bells cut off Kitahara's words.
It was the toll marking the end of the year—and the bell signaling the beginning of the New Year.
A new year had arrived.
"It's New Year already…"
Maybe his focus had been too tight and the bell startled him, or maybe something else was at play.
Either way, the sudden ringing drew the Umamusume's attention. Almost at the same time, they all turned their heads toward the window, toward where the sound had come from, their focus slipping off Kitahara for a split second.
The bell startled Kitahara too, and he reflexively looked that way—but before he could even lift his head, he felt something take his hand, and then a dragonfly‑light touch brushed his lips.
"Happy New Year, Kitahara."
The voice was soft.
Kitahara froze. He turned to Eclipse, who had already released his hand, her expression as calm as ever—like nothing had happened at all—and then looked at the many Umamusume beside them, who had already come back to themselves.
After a few seconds of silence, the corner of his eye twitched, and he spoke quietly.
"Happy New Year, everyone."
"Happy New Year, Trainer Kitahara. I'll be in your care again this year…"
"Happy New Year, Sota‑san. New Year's money, New Year's money…"
"Happy New Year, Kitahara‑san. I hope this year…"
Amid the chorus of blessings, the old year came to a close.
Then, after enduring New Year's Eve, Kitahara didn't linger. He quickly urged the girls under him to go to sleep, leaving only a few behind to help clean up.
"Trainer Kitahara, you look like you're in a very good mood?"
As one of the adults, Hayakawa stayed as well, chatting with him as they cleaned.
"Of course. It's New Year, and there are so many people. Eclipse and I have never had an experience like this before…"
Kitahara answered honestly, his smile obvious, and casually reminisced about the times he and Eclipse had wandered from place to place before.
What he didn't know was that the moment he said that, several Umamusume in the room paused in their movements to varying degrees.
At this hour, the ones who stayed to help were mostly the type who liked taking care of others. Combine that with his answer—and the satisfied look on his face right now…
Screee—
A towel dragged hard across the tabletop, leaving a long streak. Any harder, and the table might have come apart.
Even so, Kitahara still didn't realize how serious things were.
It wasn't that he hadn't heard the noise. It was that at the exact moment it happened, another sound rang out and seized his attention.
His phone had received a message.
Probably someone sending him New Year's wishes, he thought, pulling out his phone to read and reply.
But the instant his eyes fell on the screen—before he even unlocked it, with just a cursory glance—Kitahara's satisfied smile vanished.
"…What is it, Trainer Kitahara?"
The Umamusume around him sensed something was wrong and asked softly.
Kitahara was silent for a moment. He took a few deep breaths, then tucked his phone against his chest and shook his head.
"A small matter."
"Sorry. I'll leave the cleanup to you. I need some time alone."
---
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