Monday had arrived.
After enjoying the brief respite of the weekend, the students returned to school.
The junior high students of Tracen Academy flowed through the school gates like a tide, ready to begin a new week of studies.
"[Neo Universe] has arrived!"
No sooner had Bless the Moment settled into her seat than a voice sounded right beside her.
She turned towards the source and discovered a golden-haired, blue-eyed Uma Musume standing next to her, though she hadn't noticed her approach.
"[New · Ponytail]!"
"[New · Nape of the Neck]!"
With each declaration, she presented the corresponding body part for the white-haired Uma Musume seated before her to inspect: "Neo Universe is currently in a [How About It] state!"
"Yuni is as adorable as ever today."
Seeing Neo Universe place her hands on her hips, striking a pose of immense pride, Bless the Moment smiled and nodded. "Your new look today suits you very well."
"…"
Neo Universe didn't reply verbally, but the way she puffed out her chest a little more showed she was quite pleased with Bless the Moment's response.
"But aren't those sleeves a bit too long for you?"
After a closer look, Bless the Moment's gaze settled on the other girl's excessively long sleeves. "Won't it be difficult to hold things like this?"
"Are you referring to these two holes, Bless?"
Neo Universe gestured for Bless the Moment to raise her hands. Then, under the white-haired girl's puzzled stare, she aligned her own sleeve openings with the offered palms and 'sucked' them into her sleeves.
"These two holes are actually black holes, you see."
Grasping Bless the Moment's hands and meeting her eyes, Neo Universe explained with utter seriousness.
…Hmm, the familiar flavor of things.
With her hands captured, Bless the Moment looked at her classmate now mere inches away and blinked.
In her previous life, during her career as a trainer, she'd lost count of how many times she'd been in close contact with Uma Musume.
A simple handshake was nothing. Why, there was even that one time a Musume had pressed her palm against her own chest to let her feel her heartbeat.
Heh, I'm not that young girl who gets flustered over a mere handshake anymore.
Bless the Moment glanced sideways with the corner of her eye at her own well-developed chest, the corner of her mouth quirking upwards.
"Bless, after school, can you 'accompany' me?"
"'Accompany'? You want to walk home together?"
Bless the Moment paused for a second, then nodded. "I can do that. Is something up?"
"I want to share 'heart' with you."
"Share 'heart'… Did you find something tasty you want to share with me?" the white-haired Musume ventured.
Seeing Neo Universe nod, she thought for a moment. "Is the place far?"
"Not far."
Neo Universe shook her head.
"Alright, then I'll let my family know first."
Having gotten her answer, Bless the Moment nodded, pulling out her phone from her pocket to send a quick message home.
"I really don't know how you manage to understand what Yuni is talking about, Bless."
Eishin Flash, having taken her seat next to Bless the Moment, watched their interaction and couldn't help but speak up. "How on earth do you do it?"
"How? By feeling, I guess." Bless the Moment replied. "Or maybe what Yuni wants to express is simple, so I just understand what she's trying to say?"
…What Neo Universe wants to express is simple?
Eishin Flash opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, the words dying on her lips.
Not even Neo Universe's own father can understand what she's saying one hundred percent of the time!
"Would you like to join us, Flash?"
After getting a nod of permission from Neo Universe, Bless the Moment invited her deskmate.
"No, I have things to do after school."
Eishin Flash shook her head in refusal.
"Is that so… How about we bring you back some snacks?"
"Okay, thank you."
This time, the black-haired, blue-eyed Uma Musume didn't refuse.
"Bless the Moment, did you go to the Central Tracen Academy open campus day last week?"
After Neo Universe had returned to her own seat, Eishin Flash asked, noticing there was still some time before first period started.
"Yeah, I did."
Bless the Moment propped her head on her hand. "Do you want to go too, Flash?"
"…No time."
Eishin Flash was silent for a long moment before nodding with a hint of frustration. "I happened to be busy that day."
"I see… That's a real shame."
Bless the Moment replied offhandedly.
She'd never really understood why things like open campus days even existed in this world.
It was just trading one school for another. Was there really any need for such a thing?
The white-haired Uma Musume just didn't get it.
BRRRRING!
The sharp ring of the bell drowned out the chatter in the classroom.
The students automatically returned to their respective seats, preparing for the first lesson of the day.
"Class begins."
"Good morning, teacher—!"
Bless the Moment's voice, mixed in with the chorus of students, was listless.
…Ugh, time for class again.
Having lived one life as a human and now one as an Uma Musume, Bless the Moment slumped onto her desk after sitting down, not moving a muscle.
"Today we'll continue from where we left off last time. Everyone, please turn your math textbooks to page forty-six…"
Bless the Moment's minor act of rebellion naturally didn't escape the teacher on the podium.
But he merely glanced her way, then looked back, picking up a piece of chalk to write on the blackboard.
There was nothing he could do. This student was beyond his control.
Even though she often spaced out, got distracted, or even slept on her desk during class, her exam results were consistently among the top in her grade level.
Could it be that her casual, indifferent attitude towards school in front of her classmates was just an act, and she actually hit the books hard in secret every day after going home?
--+--
"Bless, hey, Bless!"
The last morning class ended. Eishin Flash looked at the white-haired Uma Musume still sleeping face down on the desk beside her and helplessly reached out to tap on the desk.
Seeing her lift her head groggily, the black-haired Uma Musume sighed. "The lunch bell already rang."
"It's noon already?"
Still not fully awake, Bless the Moment looked up at the clock above the blackboard and confirmed that the final morning lesson was indeed over.
She sat up straight, raised her arms over her head in a long stretch, and then stood up. "…Where's Yuni?"
"Yuni…"
Eishin Flash frowned slightly, pausing. "I think she said the cafeteria has her favorite dish today, so she went on ahead?"
"I see…"
Bless the Moment yawned. "So, Flash, you waiting for me here… does that mean you want to have lunch together?"
"Mm."
"Let's go then."
Bless the Moment smoothed down her skirt. "…So, what's good for lunch today?"
"Nothing particularly special."
Eishin Flash thought for a moment. "…If I had to say, I guess everyone gets a banana today."
--+--
T/N: No words can describe how much i love Neo Universe
--+--
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.