"Bless's legs are so slender and beautiful…"
Satono Diamond gazed with envy at the white-haired Uma Musume lounging on the sofa, her attention completely captured by those pale legs exposed to the air.
"...Why are we suddenly talking about my legs?"
Her toes curling slightly, Bless the Moment bent her legs.
"Because you've been a bit too lazy lately," Satono Diamond replied.
"I don't have winter homework to catch up on, and I don't have to teach anyone else how to do theirs either," Bless the Moment said, puzzled. "Isn't it okay to be a little lazy then?"
"I'm telling you to be more mindful of yourself," Satono Diamond answered, her gaze drifting pointedly toward the white-haired girl's skirt. "...You're being too careless."
"Careless?"
Bless the Moment locked eyes with Satono Diamond for a few seconds before following her line of sight downward.
"You're wearing white today, Bless the Moment."
"...Diamond, what you just said could already be considered harassment, you know."
Bless the Moment sat up, smoothing her skirt down to cover herself.
"This is really your own fault for being so careless," Satono Diamond retorted, clearly disagreeing. "How can you blame me when you're the one who wasn't paying attention?"
"You know, if I tell your mom everything you just said, how will you handle that?" The white-haired girl on the sofa wore a sly smile.
"But if you were to, say, offer me a little incentive… I might just pretend I didn't hear anything and keep quiet."
"And what if I said I don't care?"
"?"
Bless the Moment's face shifted to one of shock.
She's going this far?!
"I'll really tell on you, you know? I mean it!"
"Mmhmm, go ahead, go right ahead," Satono Diamond nodded. "Just make sure to do it when my parents and my sister are all around."
Tch, miscalculation!
Seeing Satono Diamond's confident, unfazed expression, Bless the Moment clicked her tongue in frustration. She never expected her once-foolproof tactic to fail now.
This girl must have done something behind her back to secure her family's support!
Darn it! To think I'd be outsmarted by this little girl!
"What are you muttering about, Bless?" Kitasan Black asked curiously, noticing the white-haired girl's murmuring.
"She's probably just saying something weird again," Satono Diamond chimed in cheerfully, answering for her.
No! I have to say something!
"Hey, Dia, have you put on weight?" Bless the Moment scrutinized her closely before going on the offensive. "Did you let yourself go over the break and eat a bunch of stuff?"
"..."
Satono Diamond fell silent for a moment. "...Is it possible that I've just… developed a bit more?"
"Just making excuses for yourself," Bless the Moment dismissed, unconvinced. "I'm sure you indulged in some high-calorie treats. Your weight must have gone up. You've definitely gained weight."
"...Bless," Satono Diamond said, a smile playing on her lips. "My weight hasn't increased, okay?"
"Uh-huh, sure," the white-haired Uma Musume nodded. "If you say so, then it must be true."
"..."
Satono Diamond narrowed her eyes, then picked up a notebook and marched toward Bless the Moment on the sofa.
—This ought to shut her up!
"Kita-chan, save me—!"
Seeing the notebook rolled into a cylinder in Satono Diamond's hand, Bless the Moment turned to the black-haired Uma Musume for help.
"..."
Kitasan Black pretended not to hear, staring blankly at the homework spread on the desk as if deeply engrossed in solving a problem, though her mind was completely elsewhere.
"Woe is me—I'm done for!"
Trapped with no escape, Bless the Moment watched as Satono Diamond approached and let out a mournful sigh.
"Thump!"
As Satono Diamond brought the book down, Bless the Moment flung herself backward against the sofa, lying perfectly still.
"Honestly… Bless, don't you know that weight is a girl's most guarded secret?" Satono Diamond looked down at the motionless white-haired girl. "You're a girl too, after all."
"..."
The white-haired Uma Musume didn't stir, maintaining her pose as if she'd genuinely been knocked out.
"If you don't move right now, I won't go easy on you, you know?"
"Ahh, my head is spinning… What just happened?" The "unconscious" white-haired girl instantly revived. "...Got any ideas, Dia?"
...Whatever. It's not like this is anything new for her.
Satono Diamond sighed.
"By the way… why did you two insist on holding our study session at my place?" Bless the Moment asked, changing the subject. "We could've just as easily gone to one of your houses, right?"
"Well…" Satono Diamond smiled. "We always end up having our study sessions at your house. If we moved it to one of ours, it just wouldn't feel the same."
"So you're saying you've decided that study sessions have to be at my place from now on?" Bless the Moment summarized.
"Exactly," Satono Diamond nodded. "Unless… are you hiding some kind of secret in your room, Bless? Is that why you don't want us coming over?"
"It's not like you two rarely visit. If I were really hiding something in my room, you'd have found it ages ago," Bless the Moment retorted. She then stood up.
"Mom's cookies should be done baking by now. I'll go grab some from downstairs… Do you want anything to drink? I can bring something up for you."
"No need," Kitasan Black said, pointing to the drink on the table. "I've still got half of this left."
"So nothing needed, right? Wait here for me, then." Bless the Moment nodded and, under the watchful eyes of her two friends, walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind her.
--+--
Seated on the bed, Admire Vega closed her eyes, focusing on the soft sensation beneath her.
Not comfortable enough… Six out of ten.
Opening her eyes, Admire Vega set down the blanket she'd been holding, a slightly disappointed expression on her face.
Not soft enough…
The black-haired Uma Musume touched the sweater she was wearing, then shook her head.
...I miss my trainer.
Admire Vega pulled out her phone, opened her photo album, and found a picture she'd secretly taken when Bless the Moment had visited Tracen Academy.
In the photo, the white-haired Uma Musume was looking up at the sky, the warm winter sunlight spilling over her, making her appear utterly cozy.
If I could hold my trainer in my arms… I bet she'd be soft and warm.
Admire Vega leaned back and fell onto the bed.
...Next time I see my trainer, I'll try to see if I can hold her in my arms and see what it feels like.
Resting her head on the soft pillow, the black-haired Uma Musume thought to herself.
--+--
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.