"Ughhh…"
Bless the Moment slumped listlessly over her desk after arriving at school, occasionally letting out strange little noises.
"What's wrong with Bless?"
Kitasan Black, who'd entered the classroom with Satono Diamond, spotted the white-haired Uma Musume draped across her desk immediately and grew concerned. "...She's not feeling unwell again, is she?"
"I don't think it's that," Satono Diamond replied, seeing right through it. "It's probably because her older sister is back."
"Bless's sister?" Kitasan Black understood now. "How did you know, Dia?"
"Because I happened to run into her during my morning training," Satono Diamond answered.
"Oh... I see," Kitasan Black nodded. "...No wonder Bless is acting like this."
"Mmm... I can't take it!" Just as Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond were chatting and walking to their own seats, Bless the Moment suddenly sat bolt upright.
"To think I've been toyed with so mercilessly by this face-hugging pest!"
"? " x2
The two girls exchanged bewildered looks upon hearing the white-haired Musume's outburst.
Face-hugging pest? What in the world is she talking about?
"Toyed with?" Kitasan Black's recently settled worries resurfaced. "What happened?"
"That face-hugger held me in her arms like I was a plushie!" Bless the Moment's ears drooped flat against her head, pinned back in what could only be described as airplane ears, a mix of grief and indignation on her face. "She even tried to nuzzle my cheek!"
The 'face-hugging pest' she referred to was undoubtedly her older sister.
Satono Diamond's expression turned rather peculiar.
Even though Bless the Moment complained about her sister constantly, she never put up any real resistance whenever Kawasaki Ryoko got close, always letting herself be held half-protesting, half-acquiescing.
...Isn't that basically you going along with it willingly?
"Ahem... Bless," Satono Diamond cut in quickly, seeing Kitasan Black about to respond, eager to change the subject.
"Kita-chan and I are planning to go out and have some fun together during the winter break. Do you want to come along?"
"Winter break? Go out?" Distracted by the question, Bless the Moment turned to glance out the window, a look of surprise on her face.
"You're still planning to go out in weather this cold? Is the heating at home not comfortable enough? Or are the kotatsu not appealing?"
"You plan to just hole up at home the entire winter break?"
"Of course," Bless the Moment nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "There's nothing outside that could lure me out. If I'm not staying home, should I be going out every day to catch a cold wind instead?"
Well... she kind of had a point.
Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black exchanged a glance.
"You two go ahead and have fun. Enjoy yourselves. Don't worry about me." Seeing the silence from the two beside her, the white-haired Musume waved a hand dismissively.
She wasn't that socially unaware, for heaven's sake.
She still remembered what Dia had said that one time.
It was pretty clear Dia wanted to go out alone with Kita-chan to spend some quality time together. Inviting her was just a polite gesture among friends.
Dia must be quite pleased with this outcome, right?
With just over ten minutes left before first period, Bless the Moment slumped back onto her desk, closing her eyes for a quick nap.
Soon, she heard two distinct sounds of chair legs scraping against the floor amidst the chatter of her classmates—likely Kita-chan and Dia settling into their respective seats.
Winter break hadn't even started, and her sister was already back home from her own break.
Just thinking about having to deal with her sister's pestering every day after school left Bless the Moment feeling utterly drained.
...She was looking forward to the winter break less and less.
Bless the Moment let out a long, soft sigh.
Bzzzt—!
Her phone, tucked inside her desk, suddenly vibrated, alerting her to an unread message.
With her cheek still pressed against the desk, Bless the Moment reached an arm down, retrieved the phone, and opened it in front of her face.
[Red Supercar: Any plans for the winter break, Bless-chan?]
...What now? You want to ask me out during the break too?
Raising an eyebrow at the message on her screen, Bless the Moment typed a reply.
[SilentGazer: Not really. What's up, Maruzensky-senpai?]
The white-haired Musume, holding her phone with one hand, tapped rapidly on the screen with her slender fingers before hitting send.
[Red Supercar: I was thinking of asking you to hang out during the break! Would you be willing to give this big sister a chance?]
[Red Supercar: I can even come pick you up right from your house, you know.]
Come pick me up from home?
Bless the Moment blinked.
Have... have my current self and Maruzensky gotten that close?
[SilentGazer: Sorry, Senpai.]
[SilentGazer: I need to stay home and preview the next term's lessons. I don't really plan on going out.]
[Red Supercar: Being diligent is good, but aren't breaks meant for students to relax and recharge before the next semester?]
[Red Supercar: It's fine to take it easy once in a while. Don't push yourself too hard.]
[Red Supercar: So, how about coming out to play with me? Big sister will take you for a drive, let you experience what it feels like to be chased by the wind.]
No, that's quite alright.
A shiver ran down Bless the Moment's spine as the text brought back some rather unpleasant memories.
Riding in Maruzensky's car was an experience you only needed once. There was absolutely no need for a second time.
Because riding with her once was enough to physically knock any thought of a repeat performance right out of your head.
[SilentGazer: No, thank you, Senpai.]
[SilentGazer: By the way, don't you have anything else you need to do during the break, Senpai?]
[Red Supercar: Not really~ I've already graduated from Tracen Academy, after all. The prize money I won from races is enough to last me a lifetime.]
[SilentGazer: ...How slothful of you, Maruzensky-senpai.]
[Red Supercar: Slothful? Hahaha!]
Maruzensky smiled as she typed and sent that reply.
Slothful, huh?
Compared to her former self, who trained diligently, she certainly had become rather slothful, hadn't she?
[Red Supercar: Alright, alright. If you don't want to come out, we'll just leave it at that.]
[Red Supercar: But remember to balance work and rest, okay? 'Haste makes waste,' as they say.]
[SilentGazer: Mm, thank you for your concern, Senpai.]
[SilentGazer: Class is about to start here, I'll talk to you later.]
After sending that final message, Bless the Moment put her phone away.
"Well? Could you see clearly? Who was Bless chatting with?" Satono Diamond whispered, leaning towards her friend.
"Mmm... I couldn't see properly," Kitasan Black squinted, trying hard for a moment longer before giving up with a sigh. "But why are you suddenly so interested in this, Dia?"
"Haven't you considered, Kita-chan, that the person Bless was chatting with might have already asked her out before we could?" Satono Diamond's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Maybe she had to turn us down politely because she already has plans... Aren't you curious about who that person could be, Kita-chan?"
...Even if I said I wasn't curious, you'd probably go investigate on your own anyway, wouldn't you?
Kitasan Black thought to herself, watching her friend whose curiosity was now thoroughly piqued.
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T/N: Gacha x Multiverse Fic Up!
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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.