I had hoped Belno wouldn't freak out too much when I finally told her about our decision to back out from the [Autumn Tenno Sho].
Alas, my hope didn't come true.
"Y-You're not running?" Belno asked, her eyes misty as she begged. "But everyone else will be running too! A-And it's the [Autumn Tenno Sho], you know!?"
I sighed softly. "We're not budging." I said simply as I relaxed into the couch. "We're pooling all our focus to prepare for the [Japan Cup]. And besides, we're still going to race in America next year. We can afford to skip a few races here and there."
Oguri nodded. "Nn. It's just one race." Oguri said. She was lying on my lap as she spoke, idly running her hand across my tail.
"B-but-!"
Kitahara chuckled. "Just drop it, Belno. They've made their decision." He grinned. "And besides, now that Star isn't running with you, you don't need to spend hours screaming your head off while trying to think of how to best use your Domain."
Belno's stammered. "I-I don't do that!"
"She totally does." Kitahara said in a mock whisper.
"She does." I agreed with a solemn nod.
"I've heard it." Oguri said simply.
By this point, Belno's cheeks had puffed up like a pufferfish as she watched the three of us gang up on her. "You guys suck." She said with a defeated huff as she sat down on the other couch. "I hate you all."
"She loves us." Kitahara mock-whispered again, and then he grinned as he ducked his head just in time to avoid the notebook that'd been flung at his head. He stuck his tongue out, and then began cackling as he began avoiding the other projectiles Belno began lobbing at him.
I just smiled wryly as I watched the two thrash the room. Not just because of the absurdity of what I was watching, but also because I knew that Musaka would blow up like a volcano if ever returned to this room.
Thankfully, that was highly unlikely, considering the man had softly retired ever since they returned to Japan. Sure, he was technically still Team Kitahara's main trainer, but he'd basically placed most of the responsibility on Kitahara's shoulders by this point. The veteran was likely enjoying his well-deserved vacation by this point.
I shivered as I felt Oguri's finger brush a little too deep into my tail. I frowned slightly as I forced my tail to move away, and I saw Oguri's face fall slightly as she saw my tail move away from her. "Got a little too tingly." I explained to her.
"Sorry." Oguri softly apologized.
I huffed. "Just be careful, 'kay?" And after I saw her nod, I let my tail relax once more, and Oguri began gently running her hand across it again.
I smiled softly as I ran a hand through my hair.
A few days had gone by since I revealed my decision to not run in the [Autumn Tenno Sho]. Right now, we were all taking some time to lounge in our clubroom. Belno had finished training her Domain for today, Oguri had done her usual exercises, Kitahara was done with his classes, and I was lounging around like usual.
In other words, all of us were done with our respective tasks for the day.
I closed my eyes.
Even now, I couldn't help but wonder how closely the story in that other world was following me at this moment. Was it detailing every moment of our lives? Was it only covering the broad strokes? Had the perspective maybe shifted to someone else, since it wasn't like we were doing anything major to the 'plot'?
And more than anything, I wondered if I'd ever return to that world. I now knew that my System was definitely capable of bringing me to other dimensions, but I didn't know if that was something I could get my System to do consciously. After all, I still had no idea who this 'Progenitor' was. Hell, I didn't even know who this Hero System belonged to before it attached itself to me.
Well, it didn't matter all that much. I'd leave it up to chance.
My ears perked up slightly when I noticed the sudden chance in noise. Or rather, the lack of any noise. I opened my eyes to see what was going on, and I smirked when I saw Kitahara pinned to the wall, his clothes pierced by an assortment of pens and rulers that'd been thrown hard enough to pierce halfway through the wall. "How're you hanging?"
Kitahara snorted, completely unphased by his situation. "I'm fine." He raised an eyebrow as he turned to Belno. "Finally got it out of your system?"
Belno huffed as she stopped herself from throwing the kitchen knife she'd scavenged from somewhere. "Hmph. Not my fault." She narrowed her eyes. "Besides, you're the one who's been weird lately."
I blinked, and then tilted my head slightly as I stared at him. "...I guess you have, huh? You've been a bit more cheeky than usual." I raised an eyebrow. "Something good happened recently?"
"Maybe~"
Hmm. Since this this Kitahara we were talking about here–
Ah, his relationship with White Narubi probably took a monumental step forward recently. I knew those two were smitten with one another when we last visited Kasamatsu, so I wouldn't be surprised if they'd finally decided to officially start dating.
And if that was really the case, then hopefully he'd be able to convince White Narubi to join them when they left for America.
I'd feel pretty bad if those two ended up separated.
"Uh, by the way, mind getting me down?" Kitahara smiled wryly as he tried wiggling his arms. But he could only manage a slight fidget—all the projectiles had pinned Kitahara to the wall with such precision that he could barely move. "My hand's feeling a little cramped."
"No." Belno said as she began expertly spinning the kitchen knife between her fingers.
Kitahara then turned to me, but I just closed my eyes as I pretended to sleep. Not that I was being convincing in the slightest—I occasionally twitched whenever Oguri's hand brushed over a sensitive spot on my tail.
Kitahara shook his head in disappointment. "What disobedient Generals I have…"
Belno just responded by sticking out her tongue at him.
…
I smiled faintly as I kept my eyes closed.
I had to admit that this team of ours was a little strange. Oguri was a monster that brought fear and awe wherever she went, I was a transmigrator who played Hero to try and fight Fate itself, Belno was an 'ordinary support umamusume' who became a pioneer in the realm of Domains, and Kitahara was a lazy trainer who'd somehow turned into a menace to society in just two years.
But I was happy. This team was my second Family, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
And so, listening to Kitahara and Belno's banter, and with Oguri's warmth on my lap, I was eventually lulled into a deep sleep.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, the rest of Tracen Central was erupting in chaos once the news about me and Oguri withdrawing from the [Autumn Tenno Sho] became public.