The Ferris Wheel turned slowly, carrying them gradually to its highest point.
Barbatos had never actually planned to tell anyone about her desire to defeat a legendary Uma Musume.
She'd just been trying to change the subject earlier, hoping to keep Seiun Sky from noticing she'd "frozen up."
For some reason, she felt that if she told others, they'd probably laugh at her naivety.
But she didn't think Seiun Sky would.
Or maybe it was her whole circle of friends—none of them would. It was like how Special Week declared she'd become Japan's number one Uma Musume.
Just then, she felt Seiun Sky's hand tug at hers. "Come over here and look."
Seiun Sky took a step forward, tilted her head back slightly, half-closed her eyes, and leaned on the railing, gazing out at the distant sky from the edge of the Ferris wheel.
Still holding hands, Barbatos reluctantly followed with a step of her own. A part of her worried whether the Ferris wheel might tilt to one side because they'd both moved to the edge—a common train of thought for someone with a fear of heights.
It was like standing on a high-rise balcony and worrying it might suddenly collapse.
Even though she trusted modern engineering and knew such a thing was practically impossible, acrophobia doesn't play by the rules of logic.
All she could do was chant inwardly, 'Trust in engineering! Trust in engineering! Engineering is divine!'
Hiss… Wait, something felt off. Wasn't she in Japan?
"The stars are so beautiful tonight."
Barbatos, who'd been mentally reviewing Japan's infrastructure progress, turned at these words toward Seiun Sky.
She saw her leaning one hand on the railing, staring vacantly at the night sky outside.
In the distance, the sky was clear and cloudless, dotted with countless stars, sharply distinct. Seeing the stars from this height felt completely different from viewing them from the ground.
For a moment, Barbatos set aside her analysis of Japanese engineering.
She watched the starlight reflected in those jade-green eyes, and the profile that held a hint of… well, a certain charming roundness. Was Seiun Sky also nervous, even as she held her hand?
Still looking at the stars, Barbatos instinctively tightened her grip on Seiun Sky's hand and softly echoed the sentiment.
"Mhm, the stars are beautiful."
In that moment, the immovable fear of heights in her heart was temporarily replaced by the beauty before her.
The Ferris wheel turned slowly—it might have been a minute, maybe ten—before finally returning to the starting point.
Seiun Sky noticed she hadn't moved. "Want to go again?"
"…No."
"We should head back soon. Tomorrow we still need to bring some Osaka souvenirs for Urara and the others."
"Correction: you're bringing them. This wasn't my debut race, after all."
Seiun Sky replied with a hint of slyness, "If I get a share of the souvenirs, I might consider helping you carry some."
Their friend groups overlapped almost completely: classmates like El Condor Pasa, Grass Wonder, Special Week, and King Halo; and teammates like Urara, Twin Turbo, Nice Nature, Matikanetannhauser, Ikuno Dictus, and their trainer, Minamizaka.
Although Uma Musume possessed strength far beyond that of grown men—even more than most fitness trainers—and wouldn't have trouble carrying heavy loads, being able to carry things and having it be convenient were two different matters.
Having someone to share the load would make things much easier.
"That depends on whether I can manage it. If I can, then your share is gone."
Barbatos put on a tough front, but even though they were both in Osaka, she'd definitely set aside souvenirs for Seiun Sky.
She was just a little worried Seiun Sky might have seen through what she'd said on the Ferris wheel—trying to cover up one thing with another.
Heaven knew, in that moment, she'd genuinely found the starry sky beautiful.
Just as they stepped off the Ferris wheel and prepared to head back to the hotel, a voice called out from nearby.
"Barbatos?!"
Who was it? What acquaintance happened to also be in Osaka?
Barbatos was briefly stunned—after all, none of her friends from Tracen Academy had mentioned coming to Osaka. If they had, and knew she was racing here, they would've definitely contacted her.
Could it be someone her past self knew?
A little bewildered, she turned to look, but saw only an unfamiliar face—a young man with his girlfriend, here to ride the Ferris wheel.
Who… is this?
Neither her inherited memories nor her current circle of friends included this person.
"It really is Barbatos!"
The young man looked delighted as he spoke to his girlfriend, then immediately gave Barbatos a thumbs-up. "A legend right from your debut! And you were amazing, both in the race and in the Winner's Stage!"
His girlfriend, holding his hand, added, "We came to Osaka just to kill time watching a race before riding this Ferris wheel in the evening."
"We never expected to see such an exciting race! Winning by over ten lengths—it's the most thrilling newcomer race we've ever seen!"
Seeing these two strangers smile at her, recognizing her in the dark and calling her by name, praising her performance—Barbatos felt a rush of vanity satisfied.
Compared to her familiar Chinese fans, being recognized and praised here in Japan, so far from her homeland, gave her a sense of accomplishment that might even surpass hitting 10,000 followers during a live stream.
It was like… her fans back home appreciating her both as a "Japanese Uma Musume" and for "loving China."
As an Uma Musume with a Chinese soul, receiving recognition and praise from Japanese audiences felt just as rewarding.
Having plenty of fans already, she wasn't flustered meeting a Japanese fan in person. She smiled and nodded. "Thank you. So, did you two come to Osaka just for the Ferris wheel?"
"Yeah, my girlfriend insisted we come ride this one. You know how it is~"
As he spoke, the young man waved their clasped hands slightly and gave Barbatos a knowing smile as he glanced at her own held hand.
"?"
Barbatos mentally sketched a question mark. Knowing smile, my foot—what am I supposed to know?!
Before she could ask, the young man continued, "They say couples who hold hands at the top of this Ferris wheel in Osaka will stay together for life."
To single people, that sort of belief was "something only grade-schoolers would fall for," but for those in love, it was a must-visit spot.
"Well, we won't keep you. We'll definitely cheer for you in your next race!"
As the young man and his girlfriend walked away, Barbatos's gaze drifted uncertainly for a moment. She let go of the hand she'd still been holding since getting off the Ferris wheel.
"Um, just so you know… I actually only heard about that just now."
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T/N: sure you did
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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 2 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.