"I've mastered the secret technique, you two lose!"
Bless the Moment, having just finished crossing the 'single-plank bridge' with her arms spread wide, jumped down and addressed the two Uma Musume following behind her.
"Bless, you're so childish."
Kitasan Black, who was walking on the sidewalk with Satono Diamond, retorted, "...Aren't these the kinds of games we only played when we were little?"
"I call this keeping my youthful spirit alive."
Bless the Moment corrected her: "And childish? When we were kids playing games like this, we could go at it all day. It's only after growing up that we developed a sense of shame, started caring about how people look at us and about our image. That's why it seems childish now."
"That's the price of growing up, Kita-chan."
Bless the Moment shook her head, seeming to feel sorry for Kitasan Black.
"I've just grown up, that's all."
"Yes, you've grown up." Bless the Moment circled the black-haired Uma Musume. "You've gotten taller, your body's developing, you wear bigger clothes, your hair is longer than before—but what was the cost?"
"You're not that carefree little filly anymore."
The white-haired Uma Musume's expression was solemn, as if mourning the Kitasan Black of the past.
"You've started worrying about the weight you've gained, you fret over whether you can successfully complete your debut race, you're anxious about whether you can run on the track like the idol you look up to."
"What caused you to become like this?"
Bless the Moment raised her hand and pointed at the black-haired Uma Musume before her. "It was you, Kita-chan."
"..."
Kitasan Black reached down and touched the flesh on her stomach.
I've gotten fat?
I'm worried about my debut race?
I'm concerned about whether I can run like Teio-senpai?
"Does growing up necessarily mean you have to lose something? I don't think it's that simple."
Just as the black-haired Uma Musume was doubting herself, Bless the Moment shifted her tone and pointed at herself. "I am a prime example."
"...So you said all that earlier just to lead into this line?"
Kitasan Black, her train of thought broken, said irritably, "I actually thought I'd gotten fat."
"You believed it? You actually believed it!"
Bless the Moment giggled, making Kitasan Black feel her fists tightening.
"But I think the last two things I said weren't wrong."
Bless the Moment's expression suddenly turned serious. "...Kita-chan, didn't you really feel how impatient you were during that mock race?"
"Especially right after entering the final stretch, your desire to accelerate was way too obvious."
"If you could have kept your cool back then, waited just a moment longer before bursting out, no one could have stopped you."
"..."
Kitasan Black fell silent.
Bless the Moment was right.
If she hadn't been so impatient, if she had stayed calm, she definitely could have seized that chance to break free from the pack and be the first across the finish line.
It's just...
The black-haired Uma Musume pressed her lips together.
"—But since the mock race is already over, just take my words as something to think about."
After a brief silence, Bless the Moment spoke again.
"When you get down to it, mock races are just to help you see your own shortcomings and give you a direction to work towards. Besides, one loss doesn't mean anything. Just try harder next time."
"As your support Uma Musume, I'll also do my absolute best to back you up."
The white-haired Uma Musume gently patted Kitasan Black's shoulder in comfort. "Haste makes waste. Whatever you want to do, you have to take it step by step."
"Alright, enough of this. Where do you want to go next?"
Under the gaze of the other two, Bless the Moment started walking ahead again. "The arcade? Or karaoke?"
"Let's go to the arcade."
Kitasan Black, watching the white-haired Uma Musume walk ahead, exchanged a smile with Satono Diamond standing beside her. Then they stepped forward and caught up to Bless the Moment.
"Oh? Want to play a tense, thrilling fighting game with me?"
"Why can't it be a two-player co-op zombie shooter instead?"
Kitasan Black declared fighting games a no-go.
...Even in a game, I don't want to experience being pinned in a corner and beaten up!
"Sigh... Why is no one ever willing to play just one fighting game with me?"
Bless the Moment sighed, but the two walking beside her pretended not to hear.
You won't even go easy on us! Who would want to play fighting games with you!
--+--
Ahh—Nothing beats the bed. It's truly humanity's ultimate destination.
The white-haired Uma Musume, having finished her bath and changed into pajamas, sat down on the edge of the bed.
Feeling the softness beneath her, Bless the Moment leaned back and flopped onto the bed.
Mom even took the comforter out to sun for the whole afternoon today... I can't even imagine how wonderfully I'll sleep wrapped in this tonight.
The white-haired Uma Musume plugged her powered-off phone into the charger and placed it on the nightstand.
Slippers off, light off, covers on—all in one smooth motion.
Goodnight, world.
With just her head peeking out, Bless the Moment peacefully closed her eyes. Her breathing soon became steady.
...Huh?
Bless the Moment opened her eyes again and stared blankly at the vast whiteness surrounding her.
Where is this? Wasn't I just sleeping in my bed?
It's not another anomaly, is it?
Thinking this, Bless the Moment reached for her pocket, but only remembered she was wearing pajamas when her fingers touched the fabric.
Oh, right. I put the alarm clock in the drawer after school.
"Bless the Moment... Bless the Moment..."
"Halt! Who goes there? Identify yourself!"
Bless the Moment thrust out her right hand as if gripping something, shouting sharply in the direction she guessed the voice was coming from. "I do not strike down nameless fools!"
"I am... a god..."
"Which god are you?"
Bless the Moment shot back: "Slifer the Sky Dragon? Obelisk the Tormentor? The Winged Dragon of Ra?"
"..."
The mysterious voice did not continue. Only occasional static 'bzzt' sounds came through, drilling into her ears.
"Hey? Hey, hey, hey?"
Bless the Moment took a few steps forward. "I can't hear what you're saying. Is your signal bad?"
"Bzzz—!"
Another burst of static, this one particularly harsh.
But it came and went quickly. After it faded, no further sounds came from around the white-haired Uma Musume.
Then, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and Bless the Moment's vision went dark.
When her sight refocused, Bless the Moment saw the familiar ceiling.
...Was it a dream?
Bless the Moment thought for a moment, then got up and retrieved the alarm clock from the drawer.
What a strange dream... Better keep this close just in case.
Placing the alarm clock beside her pillow, Bless the Moment laid her head back on the soft pillow and closed her eyes again.
Darn it, I can't fall asleep!
After tossing and turning several times, Bless the Moment opened her eyes, stared at the ceiling above, and started counting sheep.
--+--
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.