After that, there wasn't much else to say. Following Oguri Cap's lead, Fujimasa March also came to her senses.
According to her, a white Uma Musume had also guided her out. Unfortunately, Fujimasa March truly had no chance of awakening her Domain.
All in all, it was a joyful gathering. Tamamo Cross seemed quite taken with Fujimasa March's personality, and the two quickly grew closer.
As for Oguri Cap, she was her usual self—focused entirely on eating. Ninety percent of the grilled meat ended up in her stomach.
Tamamo Cross, who dislikes greasy food, stuck to eating plenty of fruit, which made Nearl worry about her digestion.
Amid all the lively chatter, the cheerful dinner came to an end, leaving everyone satisfied.
Fujimasa March got to meet the currently recognized number one in Japan and made a new friend;
Tamamo Cross not only saw the Nearl that Komiyama had spoken of but also deepened her understanding of Domains.
Oguri Cap filled her stomach and, incidentally, gained the beginnings of her own Domain.
Only Nearl was left with a sense of surprise.
She had begun to notice a few clues—about another version of herself.
'No one else should be able to enter my Domain. The only ones capable of that are me… and "me." It seems she's gradually merging into this world. I wonder when we'll finally meet.'
After waking up, Nearl reflected on the previous day's events with a sigh.
She spent half an hour tidying herself up and folding the futon in the living room before preparing to head out.
March was still asleep on the sofa, so Nearl moved quietly, careful not to wake her.
Outside, the sky had yet to brighten, and the streets were nearly empty. A cold wind swept through, shaking loose a few stubborn dead leaves.
Nearl began her run under these conditions—a daily ritual of hers.
'I have the exam today… I wonder if I can score high?'
She quickened her pace, lost in thought.
As she ran, the sky gradually lightened, and the sun began to rise.
"Ah!"
In the midst of her focused running, a pained cry seemed to come from somewhere in the distance.
'Hm? Could someone be hurt?'
In an instant, Nearl altered her route, turning toward the source of the sound.
By now, she had long left the city behind and was running along a road leading up a hill.
This route was seldom traveled, and at this hour, it was especially deserted.
If someone were in trouble now, they'd have no way to call for help.
After cutting through a nearby path, Nearl immediately spotted the person in distress.
Lying on the ground was a Uma Musume dressed in elegant, refined attire, with a noble and gentle demeanor.
But this horse girl seemed to be a patient—a pair of crutches lay scattered beside her, and her upturned skirt revealed bandages wrapped around her right knee.
Nearl noticed the broken bricks nearby and quickly pieced together what must have happened.
'It looks like her crutch got stuck in a cracked paving stone. With her injured leg, she couldn't keep her balance.'
The thought flashed through her mind as she hurried over to help.
"Hello, let me give you a hand."
The horse girl, who had been pushing herself up with her hands, flinched slightly.
She looked up at Nearl, her expression tinged with a hint of despair.
"?" Nearl was puzzled.
--+--
A few hours earlier...
At a beautifully maintained estate, the front gate creaked open quietly. A horse girl with pale blue-and-white hair slipped out unnoticed.
"Alright! Step one complete!"
She turned and gently closed the gate, making as little noise as possible. Then, leaning on her crutches, she began making her way slowly into the distance.
"Sorry, everyone… I just really needed some fresh air today. Please forgive my selfishness."
She murmured an apology under her breath as she moved forward with the aid of her crutches.
"There really aren't many people out. It was worth choosing this time to sneak out. If everyone were awake, they'd never let me go out alone."
Each step was careful and deliberate, relying heavily on her crutches for support.
It was clear she was being extremely cautious with her injured leg, avoiding any unnecessary pressure.
"I wonder when I'll be able to stand on the track again… It's so hard, watching everyone else fight so hard while I can only watch from the sidelines."
"Everyone at home cares for me so much, but that's exactly why I can't let them worry about me any further."
"Today's supposed to be the day the Three Goddess Star shines brightest. I hope I can make it in time. I'll go back right after I see it—and then I'll apologize properly."
Lost in her thoughts, the young lady slowly made her way up the hill.
What was once an easy slope now felt like a challenge.
"This is too slow… If I keep following the main road, I might not make it to the hilltop platform in time."
She wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief from her pocket, feeling a bit disheartened.
"Did I come all this way for nothing?"
After standing still for a moment, torn between frustration and resignation, she was about to turn back when a small side path caught her eye.
"Wait, this trail is meant for pedestrians climbing the hill. It should be much faster than the main road."
Feeling renewed hope, she quickly turned and headed toward the path.
But perhaps because the sky was still dim, she failed to notice that one of the paving stones along the path had cracked.
Unfortunately, her crutch tip slid right into the fissure.
She'd been walking hurriedly, with most of her weight on the crutch. When it failed to pull free, her momentum carried her forward into her next step.
"Ah!"
It was only natural—she lost her balance and fell to the ground.
Instinctively, she protected her injured leg as she fell, but that meant her elbows and palms took the brunt of the impact.
'That hurts!'
She thought as she lay on the ground.
'I have to get up quickly. If I go back with dirt-stained clothes, Grandmother will surely scold me.'
Using her arms for support, she shifted from lying face-down to sitting upright.
'Well, at least it's still early and no one's around… If anyone saw me in such a sorry state, I'd disgrace the Mejiro name.'
Just as she was clinging to that small relief, the sound of footsteps reached her ears—growing closer by the second.
"Oh no!"
She inwardly groaned, praying desperately: 'Don't come over, don't come over…'
But against her hopes, the person eventually arrived behind her. She heard a voice say, "Hello, let me give you a hand."
'It's over… my reputation, the Mejiro family's dignity…'
With those defeated thoughts, she lifted her head—and was met with eyes as warm and bright as the sun.
There was no trace of the curiosity or mockery she had feared—only concern and a sincere desire to help.
The owner of those eyes knelt on one knee and reached out a hand.
"Let me help you up. And… what should I call you?"
'How embarrassing…'
She thought to herself as she reached out.
"Just call me Ardan."
--+--
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.