Ding-dong~
After pressing the doorbell, Bless the Moment stood waiting, listening as the sounds from inside grew clearer, until finally the front door swung open.
"Oh, Bless, it's you?"
The woman who appeared at the doorway looked at the white-haired Uma Musume standing outside, a gentle smile gracing her face.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Bless the Moment greeted her politely before stepping into the genkan.
"I brought a little something for you and Uncle."
After changing her shoes, the white-haired Uma Musume handed a plastic bag to the woman. "This bag has some things good for soothing the throat. You could use them to make tea for Uncle. The other bag has some skincare products for you, Auntie. You should try them, they're really good."
"Alright, thank you, Bless."
The smiling woman accepted the bags. "Diamond and Kita are both upstairs waiting for you. You should head on up."
"Okay, thanks, Auntie."
Bless the Moment nodded and climbed the stairs, stopping before a familiar door.
"Bless, you're so slow!"
Hearing the doorknob turn, Satono Diamond, seated directly across from the door, looked up and called out to her tardy friend. "What took you so long?"
"Got held up by my parents, it delayed me a bit."
The white-haired Uma Musume took a seat next to Satono Diamond and glanced across at Kitasan Black, who was currently scratching her head over a test paper. "How's she doing?"
"...If the finals were next Monday, I'm afraid it might be a bit difficult for our little 'Kita-chan' to avoid taking a make-up exam or two."
Satono Diamond thought for a moment, then phrased the rather cruel reality in the most tactful way she could.
"I see... Mind if I take a look?"
After getting a nod from the flustered Kitasan Black, Bless the Moment picked up the test paper, her eyes scanning over the answered questions one by one.
"Wasn't this question covered in class? How did you still get it wrong?"
"Look, options A and B are obviously incorrect, and D is clearly wrong, so it has to be C!"
"And this one... why did you only write 'Solution:' here?"
"Uh... well..."
Bombarded by Bless the Moment's rapid-fire questions, Kitasan Black stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.
"Seems that bad, huh?" Satono Diamond asked.
"Well, it's not quite a lost cause yet," Bless the Moment said, handing the unfinished paper back. "I just didn't realize things were quite this... dire."
"Oof...!"
The words felt like a sharp blade piercing right through Kitasan Black's chest.
Wh-What nonsense! Of course I'm not this hopeless!
She shot a sideways glance at the chestnut-haired Uma Musume beside her, grumbling internally.
She'd just been a bit distracted earlier by what Diamond had said, unconsciously following her lead, and only snapped out of it when Bless had walked in.
"Just finish the paper first, Kita-chan. After you're done, I'll check it and then go over the problems you got wrong with you."
"Okay."
Kitasan Black nodded, lowering her head to resume her battle with the test.
"Bless, what about your weekend homework? Aren't you going to bring it over and do it with us?"
As if just noticing Bless the Moment had arrived empty-handed, Satono Diamond inquired.
"Weekend homework? I finished it all yesterday afternoon after I got home."
The white-haired Uma Musume, who was just here to hang out today, rested her chin on her hand. "Way too easy. No challenge at all."
"..."
Satono Diamond was momentarily speechless.
There were a few problems in the weekend assignment that had taken her quite a while to solve, and here Bless was calling them 'way too easy'?
It's really true—comparing yourself to others, especially other Uma Musume, is just asking for frustration.
Sigh...
Seeing both of them now occupied with their work, a bored Bless the Moment pulled out her phone and started browsing the web.
The Uma Musume Racing Association announcing a new policy?
Well, the reorganized Association is certainly more palatable without all those old fogies from before.
Since she wasn't a trainer anymore anyway, Bless the Moment didn't even feel like clicking on it and scrolled right past.
Symboli Rudolf's Untold Past?
Probably just garbage fabricated by some sleazy media outlet. Pass.
Trainer Nakatsuru Aya Suspected to Be 'Unable to Rest in Peace'? What kind of nonsense is this... Huh?
Just who in the hell is saying I can't rest in peace?!
Bless the Moment clicked on the news article.
...'It was discovered that Trainer Nakatsuru Aya's social media account appears to have been accessed recently. While some suspect this could be a hoax, this reporter believes it is the work of her restless spirit, unable to find peace in death.'
Heh... Hehehe.
What a brilliant piece of journalism, 'unable to rest in peace.'
Bless the Moment exited the page, then navigated back to the website.
Just as expected, the page had already been deleted.
Just because I've been dead for years doesn't mean you can go spreading lies about me, you rotten reporter.
A faint, eerie smile played on Bless the Moment's lips.
Go apologize to the Uma Musume Racing Association and the girls I trained, you fool who dares to say I can't rest in peace.
"Whoa... Bless, that smile on your face is kinda terrifying..."
Kitasan Black happened to look up and see the unsettling expression on the white-haired Uma Musume's face. She instinctively shrank back a little, muttering under her breath.
"Hmm? Finished your test, Kita-chan?"
Hearing the sound, the white-haired Uma Musume turned her gaze to Kitasan Black.
"Almost, almost! Right away!"
Kitasan Black immediately ducked her head back down.
Knock knock.
Just as the room settled back into silence, a soft rapping sound suddenly came from the door.
After Kitasan Black called out "Come in!", the woman from before entered, carrying a few drinks, her face still wearing that gentle smile.
"Thank you, Auntie."
Putting her phone away, Bless the Moment reached out to take the offered drink and expressed her thanks before placing the cup on the table.
"You're welcome."
The middle-aged woman's eyes swept over the desks of the three Uma Musume in the room. "Bless, you didn't bring any homework with you?"
"I finished all of it yesterday."
"Finished it all yesterday?" The woman looked surprised. "But I heard Kita-chan complaining last night after she got home that this week's assignment was huge!"
"I did some of it at school and finished the rest after I got home."
Bless the Moment explained.
"I see."
Understanding dawned on the woman's face. "I happened to buy some fresh carrots this morning. Would you like some later?"
"Yes, thank you, Auntie."
Bless the Moment nodded. She watched the woman leave the room, then turned her head to look at Kitasan Black.
Sure enough... upon hearing there would be carrots later, the speed at which Kitasan Black was scribbling on her test paper noticeably increased.
That comment was definitely intentional, aimed right at her.
Seeing the other girl writing furiously, Bless the Moment smiled to herself.
Well... but I suppose that's just fine.
--+--
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.