When her friend said, "If you need our help, just let us know," Mejiro Ardan felt a flicker of temptation.
But that flicker quickly vanished as a cascade of potential consequences flooded her mind.
The lectures from her close friends, the disbelieving looks from her sisters, and her grandmother...
Yikes—that would be the end of her life as a Uma Musume!
An involuntary shiver ran down Mejiro Ardan's spine.
…Finding her reincarnated trainer was something she'd have to do alone.
The blue-haired Uma Musume gave up on the idea of asking for outside help.
"Ardan?"
Up ahead, Sakura Chiyono O turned back and called out when she noticed Mejiro Ardan lagging behind.
"Coming."
Mejiro Ardan responded and quickened her pace.
They had already left the clothing store.
Now the two Uma Musume were wandering aimlessly down the street.
The winter sun cast its rays upon the passersby, offering a rare, gentle warmth in the cold season.
—Oh no, where should I take Ardan next?
Sakura Chiyono O, tasked with this sudden responsibility, scanned their surroundings with a growing sense of panic.
She'd been abruptly asked by the Mejiro family to invite Ardan out—something about needing to discuss important matters at home, with all expenses covered by the Mejiro household…
But this was far too sudden!
Couldn't they have at least given her an itinerary?
"Ardan, is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
"No."
The blue-haired Uma Musume smiled and shook her head. "Let's just follow your plan, Chiyo."
—But I don't have a plan either!
Sakura Chiyono O sighed inwardly.
They reached a crosswalk just as the light turned red.
The two came to a stop, watching the countdown numbers slowly decrease as they waited for the green 'walk' signal.
"The light's not green yet, why are you in such a hurry?"
"We don't wait for red lights… come on, hurry up!"
Just as the countdown hit its final twenty-four seconds, Mejiro Ardan—who had been idly observing the flow of pedestrians—suddenly froze, her gaze locking onto a white-haired Uma Musume being tugged along by a chestnut-haired one.
My trainer?
Her eyes followed Bless the Moment as she moved, and her heart leaped with joy.
…'Hundreds and thousands of times, I searched for her in the crowd. Suddenly turning back, there she was, where the lantern lights were growing dim.'
"Ardan? The light's green now."
"We're not going that way."
"Huh?"
Sakura Chiyono O blinked in confusion, then followed the blue-haired Uma Musume's gaze across the street.
By then, Bless the Moment and the two other Uma Musume had already rounded the corner, their figures swallowed by the crowd.
"Ardan, you want to go over there?"
After glancing at the countdown—still over forty seconds—Sakura Chiyono O pointed toward the other side, where the walk signal was now lit. "…Should we cross over there first and wait?"
"No."
Mejiro Ardan's refusal was immediate. "I'm going this way."
"Huh? Oh… okay."
A little taken aback by Mejiro Ardan's sudden firmness, Sakura Chiyono O nodded.
…It's rare to see Ardan so assertive.
When was the last time…?
Sakura Chiyono O drifted into thought.
Hmm… if I recall correctly, it was back when Trainer Nakatsuru Aya was still alive, wasn't it?
The memory felt so distant that the red-haired, blue-eyed Uma Musume hesitated to say for sure.
"The light's green, let's go, Chiyono!"
"Oh… right…"
Snapping back to reality, Sakura Chiyono O hurried to catch up with her friend.
--+--
"…Where exactly are you two trying to take me?"
Bless the Moment, being pulled along by Satono Diamond, wore a thoroughly resigned expression.
Miscalculation.
To think they'd managed to get her out of the house like this.
She sighed as she watched the chestnut-haired and black-haired Uma Musume walking ahead of her.
…When Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond were about to leave, as the host, she had seen them to the door and was ready to return to her room.
But she never expected her mother to appear right at that moment.
'Staying cooped up at home all the time is no good. Why don't you go out and have some fun with Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond? Mom and Ryoko will handle dinner'…
…She'd been completely caught off guard.
"Don't sigh like that… I heard everything from your mom."
Satono Diamond glanced back at her. "She said you're always holed up at home, eating and sleeping, and that if you keep this up, you're going to turn into a chubby girl."
"She really said that?"
When Satono Diamond nodded, Bless the Moment's face twisted into a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Isn't that a bit too harsh? I do help with chores and cooking at home, you know!"
"She's just worried about you."
Kitasan Black chimed in. "After all, Bless, you've been staying indoors every single day since winter break started."
"Sitting around reading all the time isn't good for your eyes, you know."
"..."
Faced with her friends' concern, Bless the Moment was left speechless.
Oh well… might as well treat this as a chance to relax a little.
The white-haired Uma Musume, who had been reviewing her old coursework, resigned herself to the idea.
"So, where are you planning to take me?"
"The arcade."
Satono Diamond replied. "It's warm there, and we can have some fun."
"Oh…"
Bless the Moment looked as if she wanted to say something but held back.
Being dragged out to play video games after studying… doesn't exactly help protect my eyes, does it?
Bless the Moment grumbled internally.
But come to think of it, why have I had this feeling, like someone's been watching me, since a while ago?
Bless the Moment turned her head, but her view was blocked by the endless stream of people.
Just my imagination?
Finding nothing, she dismissed the thought.
"Um… could you let go of me now?"
The white-haired Uma Musume, feeling the grip on her wrist tighten again, quickly added, "I'm not going to run away, I promise!"
"Really?"
"Is my credibility that low in your eyes?"
Bless the Moment sighed in defeat.
"Alright… but you better not run off, Bless!"
Satono Diamond finally released her hold on the white-haired Uma Musume's wrist.
"I already said I wouldn't!"
Bless the Moment didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
…Wait, something's off.
Sakura Chiyono O, following closely behind Bless the Moment's group, keenly sensed something unusual.
Ardan's eyes… haven't left those three Uma Musume up ahead, have they?
What's so special about those three?
The red-haired, blue-eyed Uma Musume's gaze swept over them one by one, but she found nothing out of the ordinary.
Did Ardan choose this route specifically because of these kids?
Wait, does that mean we're tailing them?
Ardan, what exactly is going through your mind?
Sakura Chiyono O turned to look at the blue-haired Uma Musume beside her.
She saw Mejiro Ardan staring intently at the three Uma Musume ahead, as if trying to see right through them.
No… it seems like Ardan's focus is only on the white-haired one at the back?
Ardan, just what are you thinking?!
--+--
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.