"Bless, can I ask a favor?"
"Hm? Sure, I understand."
After a brief moment of confusion, Bless the Moment realized what Maruzensky was asking of her and nodded with a smile.
"Turf course, middle distance, two thousand four hundred meters, left-handed."
She glanced up at the sun almost directly overhead, thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Alright~"
Maruzensky nodded and walked over to Admire Vega, who was already waiting at the starting line.
"Vega, it's been a while since we last ran together, hasn't it?"
"Yeah."
The dark-haired Uma Musume nodded. "We haven't run together since our trainer passed away."
"So it's really been that long…"
Maruzensky fell silent for a long moment, then shook her head. "...Bless was right. I've truly grown lazy."
"Are you sure you'll be alright, Maruzensky-senpai? It's been so long since you ran."
"I should be fine."
Maruzensky rotated her ankle. "Don't go easy on me, Vega-chan~"
"...If I win, will you stop calling me that, Maruzensky-senpai?"
"My, someone's feeling confident."
The brown-haired Uma Musume replied with a playful grin. "But there's a big difference between 'haven't run together' and 'I haven't run at all,' you know?"
"I know."
Admire Vega nodded firmly. "But for our trainer's sake, I won't lose."
...Admire Vega, you're not treating this like an actual race, are you?
Hearing the conversation between the two Uma Musume on the field, Bless the Moment felt a wave of helplessness.
I just asked you to run with Maruzensky, no need to take it so seriously.
"Trainer, when are you planning to tell Maruzensky-senpai?"
Mejiro Ardan, standing by the edge of the training field, wasn't watching the two warming up. Instead, her gaze was fixed on the small white-haired Uma Musume beside her.
"I'll tell her when she notices something's wrong and comes to ask me herself."
Bless the Moment leaned her chest against the railing, found it uncomfortable, and shifted back slightly.
"...Poor Maruzensky-senpai."
Mejiro Ardan suddenly felt a pang of pity for Maruzensky. "Being toyed with in the palm of your hand, Trainer."
"Don't make me sound like some heartless villain who plays with girls' feelings."
Bless the Moment retorted.
"Aren't you, though?"
Mejiro Ardan shot back. "You played with our emotions, left us without warning, and then reappeared before us after we'd all accepted that you were gone."
"Trainer, don't you think you're a bit of a bad woman?"
"So what you're saying, little Dumdan, is that you like me?"
"What if I said yes?"
Mejiro Ardan didn't shy away, instead meeting the little white-haired Uma Musume's gaze directly. "If my answer was 'I like you,' what would you say, Trainer?"
...Being able to see the trainer standing before her again was a miracle that could never be replicated.
She couldn't be content with just physical closeness like before.
She had to let the trainer know how she truly felt.
"I see. I understand."
Under Mejiro Ardan's nervous gaze, Bless the Moment nodded. "So little Dumdan wants to be lovers, right?"
"No."
The blue-haired Uma Musume shook her head. "I want a relationship even closer than 'lovers.'"
"Like that... I completely understand."
The white-haired Uma Musume nodded again. "Little Dumdan, you want to do the kinds of things married couples do, right?"
This... was the trainer always this blunt?
A faint blush spread across Mejiro Ardan's cheeks.
"Y... yes."
But having come this far, Mejiro Ardan gathered her courage and pressed on. "I... want to do those things with you, Trainer."
"I see."
Bless the Moment nodded sagely. "Little Dumdan, you want to be a lolicon."
"?"
Mejiro Ardan stared blankly, but quickly understood.
That's right. The person standing before her now was their reincarnated trainer.
In this life, she was only fourteen, still a long way from adulthood.
Mejiro Ardan felt her face burning as if on fire.
"Little Dumdan... if we really did that, would it be lolicon? Or would it be a child driving a big car?"
"Trainer—!"
A flustered and embarrassed Mejiro Ardan dragged out the syllable, her beautiful purple eyes glaring at the white-haired Uma Musume beside her.
What in the world are you saying?!
"You're blushing?"
How could I not be blushing!
Mejiro Ardan narrowed her eyes.
If the trainer planned to continue this topic, she wouldn't hold back.
"Hahaha— let's watch the race, watch the race."
Bless the Moment knew when to quit.
If she really upset little Dumdan, things wouldn't end as simply as this.
"Hmph..."
Mejiro Ardan let out a soft humph and turned her attention to the two Uma Musume running on the field.
Maruzensky was leading, with Admire Vega clinging close behind.
Even though they'd both been retired for some time, both Admire Vega and Maruzensky gave off the feeling that they'd lost none of their former prowess.
"'I may be aged, but my arrows still fly true.'"
Bless the Moment suddenly spoke. "That saying fits you all perfectly, doesn't it."
"...Please don't talk about us as if we're old grannies."
Mejiro Ardan sighed in exasperation. "We're still quite young among Uma Musume."
"In that case, Miss Mejiro Ardan, who just publicly declared her lolicon intentions, could you tell me what exactly is going through your head... Ow!"
Bless the Moment clutched the spot on her head where she'd been sharply knuckled, crying out in pain.
"Trainer, if you keep saying such strange things, I won't be polite anymore, okay?"
Mejiro Ardan's smile was full of threatening charm.
"Fine, fine."
Bless the Moment pouted.
Ah...
Looking at the little white-haired Uma Musume beside her, Mejiro Ardan felt like she was back in the days when she was looking after her younger sisters.
They were mischievous little things, always causing headaches for her and her older sister, Ramonu.
And after reuniting with their reincarnated trainer, that familiar feeling had returned.
The trainer really hadn't changed a bit.
Mejiro Ardan wasn't sure whether to feel happy or headache.
"Miss Maruzensky! Miss Vega! Do your best!"
Bless the Moment, her attention fully focused on the two on the field, cheered for them as they ran past.
Maruzensky-senpai...
Hearing Bless the Moment's address for Maruzensky, Mejiro Ardan felt her headache intensify.
...Wait, why am I the one getting the headache?
Shouldn't the one most bothered by this be the trainer herself?
Watching the carefree expression on the little white-haired Uma Musume's face, Mejiro Ardan couldn't hold back a sigh.
--+--
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.