"What the fuck was that?"
My breaths were shallow as I laid on the track, staring at the clouds for who knows how long. My heart was thumping loudly in my chest, and all the blood rushing into my head was making me feel faint. But I doubted I'd fall back asleep after that, especially after witnessing what I'd just seen.
My life being adapted into a story, Xīnxīng, ████'s appearance, my System acting strange—it was a lot to think through.
Suddenly, I heard Oguri groan, and her ears flicked as her eyes slowly opened. "Star…?" She whispered, her voice slightly muffled by my shirt.
I smiled softly as I patted her head. "Sorry, did I wake you up?"
She blinked, and then her eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?" I opened my mouth to try and say that I was fine, but Oguri beat me to the punch. "Your heartbeat's faster than normal, and you look pale." She reached forward, placing a palm on my forehead as she leaned close. "Are you okay? Are you sick?"
I sighed as I pushed her back, my cheeks slightly red. "I'm fine~" I said, ears flapping. "Just had a bad dream, that's all." I winked. "Don't worry about it. I'll probably forget about it on the way home."
She stared at me for a moment, before she nodded. And the moment she did, she drooped back onto my chest, curling into me like a housecat. I huffed as I gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her up so that our faces were only inches apart. "Stop sleeping on my chest." I said, faking a wince. "Feels like I'm about to get an indent in my ribcage because of you."
"But it's comfortable." She said, though she didn't try moving back. Instead, her tail wrapped around one of my legs. "Am I heavy?"
"More like you're too light." I said, smiling wryly. "Like, seriously, where the hell does everything you eat go?"
And I was being serious. Despite the tremendous amount of food she consumes on a daily basis, Oguri's body weight was surprisingly light. I mean, she was lighter than me for the Goddesses' sake, and I eat only a fraction of what eats!
Of course, the reason was Oguri's abnormally active metabolism, but still. Even knowing the actual scientific reason for her insane appetite, it still felt like there was a black hole in her stomach that just made all the food she ate go poof.
"I run fast." She answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. And the worst part was that she was partially right.
"Right, right~" I stared at her for a moment, and after gathering some courage, I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. My cheeks were burning red as I pulled back, but I forced a lazy grin on my lips as I patted her head. "There. A little reward for my little Grey Monster."
She smiled. "Thank you." She said, before she then returned a kiss of her own.
I squirmed slightly as the kiss lingered. This one felt warmer, more intimate. And when our lips pulled apart, a thin string of saliva connected us. My eyes were slightly glazed as I stared into her bright blue eyes.
"More?" Oguri asked in a breathy whisper.
I nodded weakly. "M-More."
We kissed again. My head began feeling faint from how hot I was feeling, and the cool air of Autumn provided me little comfort. But with our hands locked together, I was effectively held in place as I felt myself melting into a puddle.
But I was still holding on, even if barely. This wasn't the first time we kissed, and I'd slowly gotten better at handling the overwhelming sensations I felt whenever we got a little more intimate than normal.
And then I felt our tongues mingle.
Suffice to say, all those thoughts I was harboring immediately melted away after that.
…
When I next returned to lucidity, it was to find myself back in my dorm room in Tracen Central Academy. The room was dark, with only scant lighting coming from the streaks of moonlight slipping past the window blinds. I was lying in my bed, the sheets haphazardly thrown to the side. Oguri was laying next to me, murmuring incoherently as she snuggled into her pillow.
I blinked, and blinked, and then went still when I finally recalled what'd happened in the last few hours. I chuckled weakly as I scratched the back of my neck, my face bright red.
Our kissing session ended a little earlier than usual, mostly because we were still in the middle of the abandoned track, with filthy clothes and our bodies caked in dust and dirt. Obviously, getting interrupted in the middle was unsatisfying to both of us, but it wasn't as if we could continue as we were.
Which was why we then retreated to a local home we bought, just a few minutes away from the abandoned track. Just like the track, we'd also bought the house, just in case we weren't able to return back to Tokyo for whatever reason. We hadn't ever used the house for anything, but our first 'stay' there ended up being a little different than I first planned.
Simply put, after we cleaned ourselves in the shower, Oguri got a little handsy, and I was helpless as she pulled me to the bed.
But at least I didn't fall unconscious midway this time around.
…nice.
That aside, once evening came, we took a Shinkansen back to Tokyo. And once we'd landed, we immediately headed to Tracen Central, made our way to my dorm room, and both of us proceeded to collapse onto the bed and fell asleep.
I groaned softly as I finished recalling all the things I'd forgotten in that haze. I couldn't help but place my face into my hands, if only to hide how red my cheeks had gotten.
The only thing I was thankful for was the fact that Oguri had restrained herself until we were both done showering. Because if Oguri had gotten started while we were both still in the showers–
Nope! Nope. Enough of that. Get your mind out of the gutter, Blossom Star.
I took a deep breath to clear my thoughts, and then took another just for good measure. My head fell back onto the pillow as I let out a soft sigh, staring emptily at the ceiling of my dorm room.
Now that my head was a little clearer, I found myself inevitably thinking about that little transmigration I experienced. I mean, I still didn't know whether that world I visited really was my old one. But regardless of the truth, I never expected I'd ever return to a world without umamusume.
Honestly, I'd forgotten what such a 'normal' world looked like. It'd been so long since I thought about my past life, and by this point, most of my memories had become indistinct blurs. I could occasionally dig up a few things here and there, but most of my memories had all clumped together.
Not that it really mattered anymore. Even if the Three Goddesses would grant me the ability to go back, I doubted I'd ever do so.
"Because I'm happy now." I whispered, smiling fondly as I thought of that sunny smile I'd so lovingly cherished in my previous life, back when every waking moment was filled with agony. "You don't need to worry anymore, ████." I said, my lips somehow capable of saying her name despite my mind incapable of understanding it.
And though no answer returned, I couldn't help but feel like my words had somehow been heard.
I smiled as I let my eyes close, and I relaxed as I let myself slowly be lulled into sleep by the sound of Oguri's gentle breathing.
Soon enough, I fell asleep once more.
.
.
.
AN: There might only be one chapter today. It's been a busy day, and it's only going to get busier. I might be able to scrounge up some time later on, so there might be another chapter. But if there isn't, then don't be surprised.