The merry night drew to a close amidst the playful scuffles. Once the exhausted Uma Musume had settled down to sleep, Nearl finally found a moment to rest.
"Everyone was so lively, especially Oguri Cap and the other two. They just had such an intense race today, yet they were still bursting with energy tonight."
After adjusting the sleeping postures of the Uma Musume who had dozed off on the carpet, Nearl carefully tucked each of them in.
"Still, I have to hand it to them for thinking of using melted snow to wash up. It felt like we were roughing it in the wilderness."
Smoothing out the edges of the blankets, she looked at the girls all curled up together and smiled warmly.
"So now, what should I do?"
Stretching her arms, Nearl gazed out at the snow still falling thickly outside, appreciating the raw beauty of nature.
But suddenly, a faint, odd rumble echoed from her stomach.
Nearl instinctively glanced back at the sleeping Uma Musume and breathed a quiet sigh of relief seeing them undisturbed.
'I completely forgot. Was I just too busy? I haven't had dinner yet.'
It was almost ten o'clock now.
'That's right, Tamamo-senpai had some leftover grilled meat earlier.'
Not wanting to start a fire just for herself, Nearl remembered the forgotten skewers and decided they would do for a quick meal.
No time like the present. Lifting the wind-blocking door curtain, she quietly slipped out to the nearby grill.
The plate of skewers was still there on the table, safely covered.
'Hmm, it really doesn't taste that great.'
Cutting off the charred bits, Nearl chewed on the cold meat. A little hot or cold didn't bother her health one bit.
'I really should try to avoid eating this kind of thing next time.'
After carefully disposing of the skewer sticks, she turned back toward the shelter. But the moment she stepped inside, she noticed something was off.
'Huh? Why is Tamamo-senpai's blanket messy? And her shoes have been knocked aside.'
She tucked Tamamo Cross back in properly, then went to sit leaning against a support pillar, planning to tough out the night in this awkward position.
Somehow… perhaps it was some stubborn sense of propriety, but Nearl absolutely could not accept the idea of actively climbing into another Uma Musume's futon to sleep together.
If someone else initiated it, that was one thing, but she couldn't be the one taking liberties.
"…"
As Nearl rested like this, a hidden gaze drifted over from Tamamo Cross's direction.
It held a profound complexity, carefully studying Nearl's sleeping face for a moment before silently fading away.
The snow-covered mountaintop fell into complete silence.
--+--
Rewind a few hours earlier, just as Nearl and the others were starting their Christmas party, over at Platinum's place, a small family gathering was also underway.
But compared to Nearl, she had it much easier. Her only task was to keep Special Week company.
"Cheers!"
Raising her glass, the orange-yellow carrot juice inside gave off a sweetness that Uma Musume found irresistible.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp… Ah!"
Downing the carrot juice in one go, Special Week slammed her cup onto the low table with a 'thud'.
"Another round!"
"You only have four cups left for today."
Spe-chan's mother picked up the water jug to refill her cup while smilingly delivering this icy decree.
"Eh?! Why!"
Clearly, Special Week couldn't accept this harsh reality.
"Because your weight has been creeping up again lately. You can't keep drinking such high-sugar beverages."
"But it's Christmas! Can't you make an exception?"
Refusing to give up, Special Week held her right hand up, pinching her thumb and forefinger close together.
"Just a tiny bit more? The tiniest little bit?"
"No way!"
Crossing her arms in front of her in a big 'X', Spe-chan's mother firmly refused.
"Guh-uh!"
As if pierced by an arrow straight through the heart, Special Week slumped weakly onto the table, letting out a mournful wail.
"Hehe~~"
Centaurea snickered beside her, her mischievous side thoroughly satisfied by Special Week's pitiful display.
"Rea, you're laughing at me!"
By now, Special Week had grown comfortable enough with Platinum to shed her initial caution. Their interactions were much more casual these days.
"Sorry, sorry. As an apology, how about you have my drink instead?"
The wailing stopped instantly. Ears perking up alertly, Special Week turned an astonished and hopeful gaze toward her friend.
"Really?!"
"Of course it's a lie! What were you thinking?"
Centaurea ruthlessly teased, taking the opportunity to pat Special Week's head.
"Auntie is right here. How could she allow something like that?"
"Liar!"
Special Week's ears swatted away Platinum's groping hand, and she turned her body away, wanting nothing to do with this trickster.
But although she seemed angry on the surface, her head obediently stayed put, allowing Platinum to continue petting her. She even let out a few soft, contented grunts now and then.
Watching her adopted daughter play so happily with her friend's adopted daughter's younger sister, Spe-chan's mother smiled, as if seeing her own youth reflected back.
'But this child, Centaurea, has a much better temperament than those two had back in the day. She gets along with Spe-chan wonderfully.'
"Oh, that's right, little Rea. It's Christmas today, are you sure it's alright for you to spend it here with us?"
Hearing this, Platinum didn't hesitate.
"It's fine. Matron Komori was actually more eager about me coming than I was. She told me to spend more time with you all. She wanted to come herself, but she's swamped with work at the orphanage."
"She really said that?"
Spe-chan's mother asked in disbelief, the news startling her so much she nearly dropped her chopsticks.
"That tsundere actually said something so straightforward?"
"She certainly meant it. I'm not lying."
Platinum picked up some fried potato pieces from the table as she answered offhandedly.
'That's right, I'm not lying. Komori definitely meant it. After all, you can't just take people's words at face value.'
The actual words Matron Komori Party had said were: "Well, if you want to go, fine. Remember to observe carefully whether that woman's life is a complete mess. She's such a scatterbrain, her house must be a disaster. Take notes and tell me later so I can go laugh at her."
Ending the recollection, Platinum nodded affirmatively.
"That's right. Matron Komori is very concerned about your well-being."
Hearing this, Spe-chan's mother wiped away a touched tear.
"To think little Komori has become so considerate… I'm so happy. It seems she's really changed a lot. It must be the children who gave her the motivation to change."
"Mhmm…"
Platinum hummed noncommittally, now fully focused on braiding Special Week's hair while tacitly allowing Spe-chan to stealthily pilfer her drink.
"Oh, Auntie, you're the one who handles Spe-chan's daily training, right?"
After finishing the new hairstyle to her satisfaction, Platinum gave the reddish-brown head another pat and asked her question.
--+--
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.