"Don't you all think... Sister Ardan has been acting a bit off lately?"
During the Mejiro family's afternoon tea, Mejiro Dober, holding her teacup, paused and asked the sisters seated around her.
"You've noticed it too?"
"It'd be weird not to notice."
An Uma Musume with brown hair and green eyes retorted, "After all, Sister Ardan's mood swings are way too obvious. Anyone with eyes can see it."
"You don't think... something upset Sister Ardan, do you?"
Mejiro McQueen fretted, even losing her appetite for the sweets laid out on the table.
"Upset? What could possibly upset Ardan?"
A Uma Musume with black hair and dark eyes frowned. "...Do any of you have any ideas?"
"Well…"
The Mejiro Uma Musume at the tea party exchanged glances, falling silent for a moment.
Ideas? What ideas could they possibly have?
If they had any clues, they wouldn't be sitting here tossing around guesses.
"Actually... I know a little something, but I'm not sure if it's useful."
After a long silence, Mejiro Ryan spoke up, drawing everyone's attention. "On the evening Sister Ardan came back from visiting her trainer's grave, I heard her on the phone in her room with someone."
"But I couldn't make out what they were talking about. I only caught her saying something like 'trainer'."
"Trainer?"
Mejiro Ramonu paused. "Was she chatting with the Uma Musume who used to be in Team Venus?"
"I'm not sure, but it didn't sound like it to me."
Mejiro Ryan shook her head. "...Ardan sounded really emotional during that call, and it seemed like she was asking the other person about something repeatedly."
Mentioning Trainer Nakatsuru Aya in the call, not talking to her former teammates, sounding very emotional, and constantly asking the person questions?
The Mejiro Uma Musume fell deep into thought once more.
"...It couldn't be that Trainer Nakatsuru Aya has come back from the dead, could it?" Mejiro Palmer muttered.
"No, that's the least likely possibility," Mejiro McQueen retorted.
"Then how would you connect these dots, McQueen?"
"Uh…" The purple-haired, purple-eyed Uma Musume was at a loss for words.
"Should we just go ask Sister Ardan directly?"
After another stretch of silence, Mejiro Ryan suggested.
"Right now?"
Mejiro Palmer hesitated about her sister's idea. "Ardan's been emotionally unstable lately. Wouldn't it be... a bit much to ask her now?"
"Let's wait until Ardan's mood has settled down a bit more before we bring it up," the eldest sister in the family declared firmly.
Though they didn't know exactly what trouble Ardan had run into... if she was in need, not just her sisters, but the entire Mejiro family would be willing to lend a hand.
"Don't look so glum," Mejiro Ramonu continued. "Grandmother must have noticed Ardan was off ages ago. Probably, this whole thing will be sorted out before we even get a chance to help."
"That's true," the Mejiro Uma Musume nodded.
...They just hoped whatever Sister Ardan was dealing with would be resolved quickly.
"McQueen, have you put on weight again?"
After the topic of Mejiro Ardan concluded, Mejiro Ramonu looked at the purple-haired Uma Musume enjoying her cake and suddenly spoke up. "Even if you're retired, you still need to watch your figure."
"Cough, cough, cough!" Mejiro McQueen choked uncontrollably. "Ra-Ramonu?!"
"What? Did I say something wrong?" The black-haired, dark-eyed Uma Musume pressed on. "...If you go over your weight limit, you'll just have to start dieting all over again."
"…"
Mejiro McQueen stared at the array of sweets on the table, her hand holding the teacup trembling slightly.
Have I gained weight?
She pinched the flesh on her stomach.
I've gained weight!
The purple-haired Uma Musume arrived at this devastating conclusion.
The pastries on the table suddenly seemed like seductive succubi, tempting a Uma Musume to fall from grace, endlessly beckoning Mejiro McQueen to reach out and pop them into her mouth.
Come on, darling, you know you want to~
For a moment, Mejiro McQueen almost lost her resolve.
No, no!
Fortunately, Mejiro McQueen's willpower was fairly strong. She quickly regained her senses and fought hard to resist the succubi's alluring whispers.
I can't eat them! I absolutely must not eat them—!
Mejiro McQueen stared fixedly ahead, inwardly chanting mantras, forcing herself to shift her attention away from the exquisite afternoon tea spread laid out on the table.
This cake smells amazing... Forget it, forget it, forget it, forget it!
Mejiro McQueen was in the throes of suppressing her desires.
--+--
Mejiro Ardan's mood had indeed been off lately.
To be more precise, it started on the evening she returned from visiting the grave, after finishing that phone call with her online friend. Mejiro Ardan's emotions had been in turmoil ever since.
Joy—You're telling me my trainer has been reincarnated as a little white-haired Uma Musume?!
Frustration—Why did I forget to ask for her contact information back then?
Urgency—Where is my trainer now?
Annoyance—The reincarnated trainer actually used her appearance as a white-haired Uma Musume to deceive me.
Just wait until I find my trainer again, I'll... I'll definitely...
She wanted to threaten the little white-haired Uma Musume, but Mejiro Ardan found she couldn't quite bring herself to do it.
Ah... Trainer, what am I going to do with you?
To allow the afternoon tea conversation to proceed smoothly, the blue-haired Uma Musume, who had been tactfully ushered out by the other Mejiro Uma Musume, was now sitting in a clothing store.
"Ardan, how does this outfit look?"
"Hm? It suits you well."
Distracted, Mejiro Ardan answered absently.
"Ardan…"
"It looks very nice... Ouch!"
Before she could finish her sentence, the blue-haired Uma Musume received a light knock on the head.
"Ardan, just what is it that's got you like this?"
Sakura Chiyono O, both dissatisfied with her friend's behavior and deeply concerned, said, "You can't even spare me a proper glance."
"Ardan, are you really alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Mejiro Ardan, snapping back to attention, replied, "I just... ran into something happy recently."
"But you seem so lost in thought, it doesn't look like you've encountered anything good."
Sakura Chiyono O pressed further. "...What exactly happened? Can you tell me about it?"
"Well…"
Mejiro Ardan's expression turned troubled.
She knew they were concerned about her, but how could she even begin to explain this?
My trainer has been reincarnated as a little white-haired Uma Musume? My trainer was right in front of me not long ago?
No matter which one she mentioned, she felt her friends would think she'd let her longing make her delusional. Then they'd comfort her with words like, 'I'm sure Trainer Nakatsuru Aya wouldn't want to see you like this.'
"Really, I'm okay."
In the end, Ardan could only offer a bitter smile and repeat those words.
"Fine, fine. If you don't want to talk about it, I can't force you."
Seeing Mejiro Ardan still being tight-lipped, Sakura Chiyono O sighed. "Just remember, if you need my help, let me know."
"Okay."
Mejiro Ardan nodded.
--+--
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.