"Ahh... finally back. I was suffocating in that car."
At five in the afternoon, Mr. C.B., returning from visiting the graves, stepped out of the vehicle. She raised her hands over her head, straightened her back, and stretched with a relieved sigh.
Because it was winter, the heater in the car had been running, making the interior unbearably stuffy. Her clothes clung unpleasantly to her skin from sweat, leaving her feeling utterly uncomfortable.
But none of that really mattered now. Having finally returned to Central Tracen Academy, she needed to check in on Rudolf and the others at the student council.
"Aren't you heading back yet, Senpai?"
Mejiro Ardan, standing by the roadside, noticed Mr. C.B. striding purposefully into the academy grounds and called out to her.
"You all go on ahead. I'm going to see Rudolf and the crew at the student council," Mr. C.B. replied without turning back, one foot already through the academy gates. "Let's catch up properly another time!"
"Alright... I should get going too," Gold City responded, then quickly added, "I still have some work left to finish, need to hurry back."
"But it's already four in the afternoon now, will you have enough time?" Mejiro Ardan glanced at the time.
"I worked overtime yesterday to get a head start so today's plans wouldn't be affected. I just need to wrap up the little bit that's left when I get back."
"Need any help?" Maruzensky chirped, sidling up to Gold City with a grin. "If I give you a lift, you'll be there in under ten minutes, you know?"
"No need, someone's coming to pick me up shortly," Gold City declined politely.
You giving me a ride? I'll pass. She shuddered inwardly. I have no desire to relive the misery of carsickness.
"What a shame..." Maruzensky said, though her smile didn't fade one bit.
"How about you, Ardan? Need a ride home?"
"Um... I think I'll pass too," Mejiro Ardan replied, her expression stiffening as if recalling some unpleasant memory. "...A driver will be coming for me shortly. I wouldn't want to trouble you, Maruzensky Senpai."
"Aww... fine, fine," Maruzensky sighed, her hopes of finding a lucky companion for a speedy joyride dashed. ...Oh well. I'll just go find Ms. Tazuna for a drive instead.
Maruzensky followed Mr. C.B. into the school, though she headed in the opposite direction.
"I should be going now too," Admire Vega finally spoke up, addressing the blue-haired Uma Musume now that most of their companions had dispersed.
"Okay," Mejiro Ardan nodded. "Goodbye, Admire."
"Mhm, see you tomorrow," the brown-haired Uma Musume replied with a nod, then turned and walked towards the student dormitories under Mejiro Ardan's gaze.
...Judging by how they all acted today at the trainer's graveside, it seems they still don't know that Bless the Moment is our trainer.
The thought crossed Admire Vega's mind as she walked away, her back to Mejiro Ardan.
If no one among them is trying to deceive me... then right now, I'm undoubtedly the Uma Musume with the most crucial information. In racing terms, I'd be the front-runner in this contest.
With that thought, Admire Vega quickened her pace.
Name, distinguishing features, approximate age—she knew them all. Now, finding the reborn trainer was down to the final step.
—Which school does she attend? Where does she live?
Winter break was still some time away.
As long as she could find the answer to just one of these questions before then, she could rush over immediately and see with her own eyes what their resurrected trainer looked like.
Just you wait for me, Trainer!
--+--
"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"
Bless the Moment, having just sat down at her desk, was wracked by a series of forceful sneezes.
Three sneezes? Who's talking about me?
The white-haired Uma Musume shot a glance at the window, confirmed it was shut tight, and rubbed her nose.
Could it be Okino? she wondered.
The thought prompted her to pull out her phone and open her chat log with him.
Hmm... Once I'm enrolled at Central Tracen with Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond, I should find a chance to invite both Okino and Hana together and come clean to them.
Her mind made up, Bless the Moment redirected her focus to the book lying open before her.
"...How is it that all this stuff in the book is practically the same as what I read in my previous life?"
She flipped a few more pages, her brow furrowing in confusion as she muttered to herself. The content was virtually identical to the materials she'd studied before.
I've already bought these books. Don't tell me now, of all times, that this 'Support Uma Musume' role is basically the same as being a 'Trainer'?
Remembering the money she'd spent on these books, a pained expression crossed Bless the Moment's face.
Dammit! Was I scammed?!
Grumbling under her breath, she snapped the book shut.
So pointless... and here I thought I could at least use these to kill time.
Bless the Moment leaned back and let herself fall onto the bed, landing with a soft thump. She stared blankly at the familiar ceiling above.
"Bless—! Dinner's ready!"
Her mother's voice suddenly slipped through the crack under the door and reached the white-haired Uma Musume's ears.
"Coming!"
Having just realized she'd wasted a good sum of money, the white-haired Uma Musume called back. She got up and headed for the door.
"You're back so late today. What kept you?" her mother, a middle-aged woman, asked as her daughter took a seat beside her.
"I promised Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond I'd be their Support Uma Musume, remember?" Bless the Moment explained. "So I went to the bookstore and bought a few books on the subject. Thought I'd get a head start on reading them."
"I was wondering at home why you were so late today," her mother said, her questions solved. "Next time you have something going on, remember to give us a call."
"Okay, I will."
"Your winter break is starting soon, right?" her mother continued. "Any plans for how you'll spend it?"
"Plans? Spending it at home."
"You're planning to coop yourself up at home again this break?" The middle-aged woman frowned, displeased with her younger daughter's answer.
"Won't you go out and about with Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond?"
"If I spend the whole holiday running around outside, you and Dad will just start worrying again about whether my health can take it," Bless the Moment countered. "Might as well just stay home once break starts..."
"We're just concerned about you, that's all," her mother said, putting down her chopsticks. "It's true your health is much better than before. As long as you avoid strenuous exercise, you should be fine."
"Besides, you've always holed up inside since you were little. Now that you're doing better, shouldn't you take the chance to get out more?"
"We'll see when the time comes," the white-haired Uma Musume mumbled through a mouthful of rice, her reply noncommittal.
It's freezing outside. Only a fool would willingly go out there. She thought to herself. Is home not warm enough? Are video games not fun enough?
...Sigh.
The middle-aged woman sitting beside her looked at her determined daughter and couldn't hold back a sigh.
It must have been because of her poor health as a child that this girl developed the habit of being a homebody.
This just won't do.
She needed to find a way to correct this habit her younger daughter had formed.
--+--
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.