"Heh... what time is it now?"
The white-haired Uma Musume emerging from the school auditorium let out a yawn, drowsily rubbing her eyes.
"...Bless, how could you even fall asleep?"
Walking beside her, Kitasan Black asked skeptically, "The microphone was so loud, how did you manage to sleep through it like you didn't hear a thing?"
"Don't you find his voice kinda... hypnotic?"
"Hypnotic...?"
Kitasan Black's expression grew even more bewildered, utterly failing to grasp what Bless the Moment was talking about. "...Is that really a thing?"
"If you ever have trouble sleeping, the principal's speech would make for a pretty decent sleep aid," Bless the Moment stated with conviction.
The biggest lie you'd ever hear at school was when the administration said, 'I'll just make two quick points.'
You'd think they'd wrap it up in a few minutes and step down, but in reality, they could ramble on about those two points for over ten minutes, sometimes even half an hour.
And the worst part? It was always the same empty, meaningless drivel.
Rather than wasting time listening to that nonsense, you might as well pull out your phone and entertain yourself.
"...Bless, are you sure you weren't up late last night?"
Satono Diamond studied her face closely, only speaking up skeptically after confirming there were no dark circles under her eyes. "You're seriously such a heavy sleeper."
"Up late?"
Bless the Moment propped the stool she was carrying against her abdomen. "If I stayed up late, my mom would be the first to come after me. You really think I'd dare?"
"..."
Hearing the white-haired Uma Musume say this so matter-of-factly, both Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black nodded in unison.
She had a point... Given how much her mother doted on Bless the Moment, if she caught her staying up late, she'd definitely give her an earful.
"If you're not staying up late, then you're just a natural at sleeping, Bless," Kitasan Black teased, now convinced. "Nodding off during the opening ceremony, sleeping through classes, and then napping during summer afternoon breaks too..."
"Because it's just so boring..." the white-haired Uma Musume replied.
Boring...
The chestnut-haired and black-haired Uma Musume exchanged a glance.
If the teachers heard that, they'd probably cry, wouldn't they?
"Next up is heading back to the classroom to wait for the textbook distribution, right?" Bless the Moment continued, unaware of what her two friends were thinking. "Ugh... waiting is always the longest and most tedious part."
"So you're planning to just sleep until noon, then head home?" Satono Diamond saw right through her. "Bless, you're far too lazy."
"..."
The white-haired Uma Musume suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at the chestnut-haired girl beside her.
"W-What is it?" Satono Diamond's cheeks flushed slightly under Bless the Moment's intense gaze.
Embarrassed, she turned her head away, using her long hair to block the white-haired Uma Musume's view, her voice unconsciously tinged with shyness.
Is there something on my face? Or is something off about what I'm wearing today?
Satono Diamond felt a little self-conscious.
"Dia, you've gained weight," Bless the Moment blurted out.
"..."
The moment those words left the white-haired Uma Musume's mouth, the myriad emotions in Satono Diamond's heart vanished, instantly replaced by a surge of pure, unadulterated murderous intent toward Bless the Moment.
We're not done with this topic? You were saving it for here?!
"Bless... I believe I've told you that a girl's weight is a private matter, haven't I?" Satono Diamond said with a sweet, smiling tone. "And besides, I thought we'd moved past this already? Why are you bringing it up again now?"
"I'm just stating the facts," the white-haired Uma Musume replied, taking a sidestep to put some distance between them. "Haven't you noticed it yourself, Diamond? Your belly area... mmmph—!"
"Is it this mouth?" Satono Diamond's hand shot out with lightning speed, pinching both of Bless the Moment's cheeks. "Was it this mouth that said those words?"
"Burying your head in the sand won't change anything," the white-haired Uma Musume mumbled, her words distorted as her cheeks were stretched.
"...No matter how much you don't want to admit it, it's the truth."
"..."
Satono Diamond didn't respond, but the smile on her face grew even brighter.
...Sure, she might have indulged a bit too much in high-calorie foods over the winter break without holding back, but her weight couldn't have increased enough to be that noticeable.
So Bless the Moment must have been deliberately exaggerating!
Staring at the white-haired Uma Musume in front of her, Satono Diamond kept smiling as she gradually increased the pressure of her pinch.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Bless the Moment began flailing her hands. "Diamond, you're way too strong!"
"This is your punishment, Bless?" Satono Diamond didn't let go immediately. Instead, she took her time freely kneading the white-haired Uma Musume's soft cheeks, only releasing them once she was satisfied.
...Just as Bless's older sister had said, Bless the Moment's body was soft—the texture even better than a hug pillow.
She wasn't about to pass up a rare chance to pinch her face so openly.
"Yeesh..." Bless the Moment rubbed her reddened, sore cheeks and wiped the tears of discomfort that had welled up in her blue eyes.
This body had a very low tolerance for pain.
Just having her cheeks pulled by Satono Diamond was enough to make her eyes water uncontrollably.
...Way too prone to crying.
Bless the Moment felt a wave of dissatisfaction toward her excessively active tear ducts.
"We're done by noon... Want to grab a meal near the school and look around a bit before heading home?" Satono Diamond glanced at the white-haired Uma Musume, who was still rubbing her cheeks, and made the suggestion to Kitasan Black.
"Sure!"
"No."
Kitasan Black and Bless the Moment answered simultaneously, their responses complete opposites.
Shopping?
What was so fun about that?
Though she was also female, Bless the Moment couldn't understand why they enjoyed wandering around outside so much.
She was the type to head straight home once she bought what she needed, and she found the idea of killing time by roaming the streets utterly baffling.
...Wouldn't it be better to spend that time reading at home? Or even just watching videos to pass the time?
"Bless, you didn't wear gloves to school today—aren't your hands cold?" Satono Diamond looked at the white-haired Uma Musume walking beside her, her gaze pausing briefly on the exposed fingers before she spoke again. "Do you want to get a hot drink?"
"Where to?"
Bless the Moment answered instantly.
Hot drinks? Now you're speaking my language.
She'd forgotten her gloves when she left home this morning.
Even though she'd stuffed her hands into her pockets as soon as she realized, the occasional chilly wind sneaking through the gaps in her sleeves had been bothering her all day.
If she could hold a sweet, warm drink in her hands right now...
She could both drink it and warm her hands—a perfect two-for-one.
With one hand carrying the stool and the other pulling out her phone, Bless the Moment began typing a message to her family.
--+--
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.