"It's... finally over..."
Kitasan Black let out a long, relieved sigh as the last exam ended, her face clearly showing how much lighter she felt.
To prepare for the final exams, Satono Diamond and Bless the Moment had been coming to her house every single week for study sessions.
The white-haired Uma Musume was incredibly thorough, breaking down every problem and spoon-feeding her the answers.
Even though she could solve the questions quickly by following her friend's methods, she still had to endure the devilish whispers from her childhood friend throughout the process.
"A problem like this and you're still stuck? You must've spaced out just now, haven't you, Kita-chan?"
"How did you manage to eliminate three wrong options before finally picking the right one?"
"Sigh... My mistake for giving you problems that are a bit beyond your level. I apologize."
Don't think I can't tell you're calling me stupid in such a roundabout way!
Kitasan Black shot a glance at the white-haired Uma Musume walking beside her, grumbling internally.
"Yeah, it's finally over."
Unaware of Kitasan Black's inner complaints, Bless the Moment chimed in, "...No more having to brave the cold morning wind to go to school."
"...Since when did going to school become such a painful punishment the way you describe it?"
Satono Diamond, walking on the other side of Bless the Moment with Kitasan Black, sighed helplessly. "Speaking of which, Bless, are you really planning to hole up at home and read books the entire winter break?"
"Mm, yes."
Bless the Moment nodded. "After all, I already promised to be your support Uma Musume."
"I see... alright then."
Seeing that Bless the Moment was sticking to her usual reasoning, Satono Diamond sighed and didn't push further.
Fine, fine... There will be other chances. No need to rush it right now.
"Kita-chan, how do you think you did on the exams?"
"Huh? I think it went alright."
Kitasan Black was full of confidence. "I'm definitely passing this time!"
"So sure of yourself, huh..."
Satono Diamond smiled and suggested, "Then, to celebrate Kita-chan passing her finals, let's go sing at a karaoke box!"
"Karaoke? Yeah!"
Kitasan Black cheered.
...Oh well, she's worked hard for over a month. Let her have some fun.
Exchanging a look, Bless the Moment and Satono Diamond, who had fallen behind Kitasan Black, quickly caught up to her.
--+--
"Bless, are you going to sing?"
Satono Diamond, placing snacks and drinks on the table, watched Kitasan Black who was already picking songs, and asked the white-haired Uma Musume who had sat down beside her.
"Me? I'll pass."
Bless the Moment waved a hand. "I can't sing... and I don't sound good anyway."
"It's fine, there's a first time for everything."
Satono Diamond smiled, firmly pressing the microphone into the white-haired Uma Musume's hand. "Since we're already here, just sing any song."
"Don't worry, even if you sound terrible, Kita-chan and I won't laugh at you."
"Oh... alright then, I'll just pick one randomly."
Bless the Moment nodded.
Singing... Is there any song I actually want to sing?
The white-haired Uma Musume lowered her head in thought.
Can't think of any... I'll just pick whichever song looks good when it's my turn.
Bless the Moment gave up thinking.
"Satono! Bless! I've picked my song!"
Kitasan Black, who had been very excited since arriving at the karaoke box, waved at the two sitting not far away. "I'm starting to sing now!"
"Okay~"
Bless the Moment, noticing the intro sounded quite familiar, glanced at the screen.
"Koi wa Derby"... Of course it's this song.
Seeing the song title appear on the screen, an 'I knew it' expression appeared on Bless the Moment's face.
Well... considering she's the number one fan of 'Tokai Teio', it makes sense that the first song she sings at karaoke is hers.
But... Kita-chan wants to become an Uma Musume like Tokai Teio...
As Kitasan Black's singing reached her ears line by line, Bless the Moment's gaze drifted downward, settling on Kitasan Black's legs.
Tokai Teio's legs possessed astonishing flexibility, which was both her greatest strength and her weakness.
She suffered three fractures, but in her final race, the Arima Kinen, she achieved a miraculous comeback through her indomitable will.
For Kita-chan... that kind of situation probably won't happen.
Bless the Moment stared at Kitasan Black's legs for a moment longer, then looked away.
"Bless, is there any song you'd like to sing?"
Satono Diamond's voice chimed in right on cue, asking her.
"Anything is fine."
Bless the Moment replied offhandedly.
"'Anything' won't do."
Satono Diamond said with a smile. "I want to hear you properly sing a whole song, Bless."
Properly sing a whole song, huh...
Bless the Moment pondered.
"...Then, 'Flying Boat'."
"'Flying Boat', right... Found it."
After tapping on the tablet for a moment, Satono Diamond looked up and smiled at the white-haired Uma Musume beside her. "I'm looking forward to hearing you sing, Bless."
"The trumpet of love blows with a bang!"
"Melting away the nerves"
"Determined to seize it"
"Where is it? Right here"
"Step it!"
After singing the last few lines, Kitasan Black put the microphone down on the table and moved closer to Satono Diamond, who was holding the tablet.
"'Flying Boat'... Is that the song Bless is going to sing?"
"Yes."
Satono Diamond took the microphone from Kitasan Black and held it out in front of Bless the Moment. "It's your turn now~ Bless~"
"Alright, alright... I get it."
Bless the Moment relented, reaching out to take the microphone offered by Satono Diamond. Under the expectant gazes of the two, she walked to the front of the screen.
--+--
...What a shame. I couldn't find the reincarnated Trainer before winter break started.
At the edge of the Tracen Academy main training field, Admire Vega leaned against the railing, looking down at the Uma Musume training below.
Starting today, all Tracen Academy students were on winter break, which meant she'd have to search all of Japan like finding a needle in a haystack for the Trainer-turned-Uma Musume who matched the description her sister had given her.
The chances of that were practically zero.
Trainer...
Admire Vega's ears drooped as she kept repeating the word in her heart, folding flat like airplane wings.
Trainer... where are you?
I miss you so much.
Admire Vega's spirits sank.
No... I can't let myself get discouraged like this!
The brown-haired, purple-eyed Uma Musume shook her head vigorously.
The Trainer was reincarnated as a white-haired Uma Musume.
If she could just find her, everything could go back to how it was before.
Seeing the Trainer every day, talking to her, smelling her scent, feeling the warmth from her...
Instead of just talking to a secretly taken photo every single day.
Admire Vega took out her phone and opened the map.
Here, here, and here... I've already searched all these places. Next, I'll try looking somewhere a bit farther away.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.