"Cafe…come keep me company while I run an experiment."
"...What are you trying to do this time?"
The dark-haired, golden-eyed Uma Musume eyed Agnes Tachyon, who had just thrown herself in front of her, with a healthy dose of wariness.
Last time, when she was sleep-deprived and unfocused, Tachyon had secretly swapped her coffee for black tea, jolting her wide awake in an instant.
And now she wants me to join her for another experiment… What is she planning this time?
"Don't be so tense. This time, I really just need you to cooperate."
Agnes Tachyon pulled out an exquisitely packaged cake from under the table. "If you're willing to help me with this experiment, this cake is all yours."
"..."
Manhattan Cafe stared silently at the cake now sitting on the table for a long moment, then finally nodded. "…What kind of experiment?"
"I've developed a medicine that can make black tea taste even better."
Agnes Tachyon held a small pill between her thumb and index finger, presenting it to the dark-haired Uma Musume. "All you need to do, Tea, is drink a cup of black tea with this pill dissolved in it."
"Any side effects?"
"Nothing particularly noticeable."
Tachyon replied as she dropped the pill into the cup of tea. "Don't worry. If this experiment fails, I'll drink a cup of coffee brewed by you."
"...Fine. Hand it over."
Manhattan Cafe nodded, reached out to take the 'doctored' tea from Tachyon, and downed it in one go.
"...Well? How is it?"
Agnes Tachyon, who had been closely watching Manhattan Cafe's expression ever since she took the drink, couldn't wait any longer.
The dark-haired Uma Musume didn't answer. Instead, she silently picked up the already-brewed coffee sitting beside her and handed it to the eagerly awaiting Tachyon.
"A failure? Tch."
Meeting the dark-haired Uma Musume's golden eyes, Tachyon clicked her tongue in annoyance and accepted the coffee from Manhattan Cafe.
"Can you describe the taste of the tea with the medicine in more detail?"
Unwilling to accept defeat just like that, Tachyon pressed further. "Did it get worse?"
"The tea tasted exactly the same as all the other cups you've secretly given me before."
Manhattan Cafe replied. "…Also, drink the coffee."
"Ugh…"
Agnes Tachyon, who had been planning to stash the coffee in some inconspicuous corner and dispose of it once Manhattan Cafe forgot about it, closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and threw her head back to chug it all in one go.
"Satisfied?"
She handed the empty cup back to the dark-haired Uma Musume, watching as she placed it in the sink, then pulled a clean cup from the cupboard and started brewing a fresh batch of coffee.
"...Cafe, you still haven't given up?"
Agnes Tachyon suddenly spoke up.
"I don't want to give up."
Even though the brown-haired, red-eyed Uma Musume hadn't specified what she was referring to, Manhattan Cafe responded immediately, before her words had even fully landed. "And I have no reason to give up."
"You… Ah, forget it."
Agnes Tachyon seemed to want to say something more, but after meeting Manhattan Cafe's steady gaze, she just sighed.
"I know I can't talk you out of it, and it's your freedom to do what you want. But after searching for so long, have you found even a trace of your Trainer's spirit?"
"I…"
"I'm not saying what you're doing is wrong."
Agnes Tachyon cut her off. "But you should know the principle that 'no matter what you do, you need to have limits'."
"…But I still don't want to give up."
Manhattan Cafe fell silent for a long moment, her tone firm when she finally spoke. "At the very least, I want to see her one more time."
"Ah, Cafe, you stubborn girl."
Agnes Tachyon sighed. "…You went off to deal with another abnormal incident at the school again yesterday, didn't you? Are you sure you're really okay with this?"
"I'm fine."
Manhattan Cafe stated. "My friend has been helping too."
"Oh…"
Agnes Tachyon's expression cleared in understanding. "…That's true, I suppose."
"?"
Manhattan Cafe looked puzzled, not grasping the meaning behind Tachyon's words.
…With that invisible friend around, if Manhattan Cafe ever pushes herself too hard, she'll probably step in and stop her, right?
Agnes Tachyon thought to herself.
Well, I'll keep an eye on her too.
--+--
Just what is this clock Neo Universe gave me supposed to do?
After the sky outside the window had been stained red by the setting sun, Bless the Moment, who had personally seen Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black out, returned to her room. She took out the clock Neo Universe had given her from her desk drawer and turned it over and over in her hands.
She'd been tinkering with this thing ever since Neo Universe gave it to her, but no matter what she did, it showed no reaction whatsoever, as if it were broken.
…Could it be that Neo Universe deliberately gave me a broken clock?
Bless the Moment wondered.
Although she didn't know what it was for, or what kind of danger she might encounter, she decided she'd still carry this clock with her once the semester started.
The white-haired Uma Musume resolved.
"Bless—!"
Her mother's voice traveled upstairs from below, slipping into the room and reaching Bless the Moment's ears.
"Coming—!"
The white-haired Uma Musume called back, casually placing the clock on the table and skipping lightly out of her room.
"Dinner's almost ready. Help set the table."
After Bless the Moment entered the kitchen, Mrs. Kawasaki, wearing an apron, glanced at her youngest daughter out of the corner of her eye and spoke up.
"Okay—"
Bless the Moment drew out the word. "…What are we having tonight?"
"Curry rice."
Mrs. Kawasaki replied offhandedly. "…I also made some fresh apple juice. Do you want some?"
"I want it all."
"Alright."
Mrs. Kawasaki nodded. Under Bless the Moment's watchful eye, she ladled some curry and poured it over a bed of rice, then picked up a carrot and stuck it upright in the middle of the curry rice.
"What about Dad and Sis? Aren't they coming down to eat?"
"…They haven't come down yet?"
Mrs. Kawasaki's hands stilled for a second, a frown creasing her brow. "Keep an eye on this for me. I'm going upstairs to call for them again."
"Sure~"
Bless the Moment nodded with a grin, watching her mother leave the kitchen.
Dad and Sis are together? They probably got carried away playing games again.
Bless the Moment felt a flicker of pity for the unsuspecting father and daughter duo, but it quickly morphed into sheer schadenfreude.
Hmm… The soup in the pot is already boiling, so I just need to turn it down to low, right?
The white-haired Uma Musume thought to herself, reaching out to turn the flame down to its lowest setting.
Now, let's see how Mom's apple juice is coming along.
"It's all Dad's fault! He said we could play a little longer!"
"Wha— It was clearly you, Ryoko, who said it'd be fine to keep playing!"
Soon, Bless the Moment heard a clamor of arguing voices from upstairs.
"Come downstairs. Now. It's time for dinner."
But instantly, the squabbling excuses from the father and daughter were utterly silenced by their mother's soft, yet firm words, and not another peep was heard.
--+--
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.