"What a shame, but I won."
Maruzensky, the first to cross the finish line, glanced back at the dark-haired Uma Musume. "You were just a little short, Vega-chan."
"Such a pity."
Admire Vega, unable to close the gap in the end, felt a tinge of regret.
If only she had been in her prime... perhaps she could have narrowed the distance significantly on the final stretch, maybe even run neck and neck with Maruzensky.
Ah... what a shame.
"So, little one, how did big sis do?"
"You ran beautifully."
Bless the Moment nodded as Maruzensky trotted up to her, then bent down to pick up two bottles of water. "Here, Miss Ardan bought these."
"Thanks."
Taking the bottle from Bless the Moment, Maruzensky thanked the blue-haired Uma Musume standing behind her.
She twisted the cap off and tilted her head back, gulping the water down straight from the bottle.
"Miss Vega, this is for you."
"Thank you."
The dark-haired Uma Musume took it but wasn't in a hurry to drink. "How long did we just run?"
"Well..."
Bless the Moment patted her pockets under their gaze and pulled out her phone. "I didn't start the timer, sorry."
"Is that so... It's fine."
Admire Vega shook her head and unscrewed her own bottle.
The cold, slightly sweet water slid down her throat, washing away the heat from the intense exercise.
"Bless, it's almost noon. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
After finishing the water in one go, Admire Vega looked at the white-haired Uma Musume and asked.
"I want ramen!"
The white-haired Uma Musume replied.
"Ramen?"
Maruzensky stood still for a moment, thinking, then looked up at Mejiro Ardan and Admire Vega standing nearby. "...Is that ramen shop our Trainer used to frequent still open?"
"That ramen shop... I think it moved to a different location."
"Moved somewhere else? That's too bad."
Maruzensky was a little disappointed.
When their Trainer was still around, she'd been a regular at that shop.
On their Trainer's recommendation, all of them had visited it a few times too.
The noodles were chewy, the broth was rich and flavorful—in short, it was a fantastic ramen shop.
And now this fantastic ramen shop had moved?
Ah... what a shame.
"They relocated to a spot closer to Central Tracen Academy."
Just as Maruzensky was lamenting, Admire Vega suddenly delivered the twist. "...I think it's in the shopping district now."
"The shopping district?"
Maruzensky was taken aback. "But that's so close, isn't it?"
"Very close."
Mejiro Ardan checked her phone. "...Shall we go?"
"Well, since Bless-chan here said she wants ramen, let's go there."
Maruzensky nodded. "Shall we all take my car?"
"Please don't trouble yourself, Maruzensky-senpai."
Hearing this, the three Uma Musume present stiffened almost in unison. "...We can find our own way there."
"I see... alright then."
Maruzensky nodded and started walking toward the school gate. "...I'll head over first then. Don't be slow, okay?"
"Okay."
Watching her walk away until her figure disappeared from sight, Bless the Moment and the other two unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
...Riding in Maruzensky's car was far too demanding on one's heart.
Hailing a taxi was preferable to taking her up on the 'convenience' of a ride.
"Trainer?"
"Don't look at me. I'm just a fourteen-year-old minor now."
Seeing Mejiro Ardan and Admire Vega look her way, Bless the Moment shrugged. "You aren't expecting me to drive you, are you?"
"If it's close, we could always walk."
"Walking from here would take at least half an hour."
Admire Vega shook her head. "What if we ride bikes?"
"Let's go by bike then."
Bless the Moment made the decision. "We can consider it exercise."
"Okay."
Mejiro Ardan and Admire Vega had no objections and nodded in agreement.
--+--
"...Miss Tazuna?"
The three Uma Musume, chatting and laughing as they walked, reached the school gate and spotted a figure dressed all in green standing there.
Mejiro Ardan, meeting her gaze, looked surprised. "Why are you stationed here today? Isn't it winter break?"
"Just felt like taking a walk outside," Hayakawa Tazuna explained with a smile. Her gaze then swept past Mejiro Ardan and Admire Vega, settling on the white-haired Uma Musume walking between them. "This is..."
"Trainer Nakatsuru Aya?"
"...?"
Bless the Moment, about to respond, froze for a second, then raised a hand to touch her own face.
How was she recognized instantly? Is the phrase 'I am Nakatsuru Aya' carved on my forehead?
"Miss Tazuna... how did you recognize me?"
"She gives me the exact same feeling I got from Trainer Nakatsuru Aya when she was still with us."
Hayakawa Tazuna paused. "So it really is you, Trainer Nakatsuru Aya?"
"It's me."
Bless the Moment took a step forward, positioning herself in front of Mejiro Ardan and the other. "Long time no see, Miss Tazuna."
"Welcome back."
As if greeting an old friend returned after a long separation, Hayakawa Tazuna replied with a warm smile. "It's wonderful to see you again, Miss Nakatsuru Aya."
"Where are you all headed?"
"We were planning to go get some ramen together. Would you care to join us, Miss Tazuna?"
"Is that alright? Then I'll gladly accept."
Seeing the white-haired Uma Musume nod, Hayakawa Tazuna agreed, stepping closer to the three and matching her pace to theirs as they walked out.
"I never thought I'd have the chance to go out for ramen with you again, Trainer Aya."
Hayakawa Tazuna mused, a note of wonder in her voice. "...I truly thought I'd never see you again."
"Going by common sense, we really shouldn't have been able to meet again after that day."
Bless the Moment replied. "But who could have guessed I'd be brought back, and even turned into a white-haired Uma Musume?"
"Was it the work of the Three Goddesses?"
"I don't know."
Bless the Moment shook her head. "It was like I just fell asleep, and when I opened my eyes again, I found I'd become a baby."
"I see..."
Hayakawa Tazuna was silent for a moment, pondering. "Well, never mind that. It's just good to have you back, Miss Aya."
"Would you like to go out for drinks later?"
"Miss Tazuna, you probably shouldn't say that to a fourteen-year-old, should you?"
"My apologies, that was an oversight."
Staring at Bless the Moment's face for a few seconds, Hayakawa Tazuna let out a soft laugh. "...We can discuss that another time."
"You'll need my family's permission for that, you know?"
Bless the Moment continued, a playful smile on her lips.
--+--
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.