"If I may say so, you all must have some misunderstandings about me."
Sitting in the driver's seat, Golden Sixty proficiently pulled the handbrake. The all-black car shot forward the moment the traffic light turned green.
Platinum shot her a glance, then looked back at Urban Sea and Agnes Digital sitting behind her, and inwardly scoffed.
Platinum was in the passenger seat, while Urban Sea and Agnes Digital sat in the back, watching the buildings flash by.
Everyone else was packed into two other cars. Three identical black sedans drove in a line down the street, with the one personally driven by Golden Sixty taking the lead.
Originally, Platinum had wanted to ride in one of the other cars—something about Golden Sixty just seemed unreliable, giving off this intense, almost predatory vibe.
But Golden Sixty had firmly pressed her shoulders and stuffed her into the front passenger seat. After all, since she was riding in the woman's car, it was hard to refuse.
She hadn't even shoved her own sister in here.
Her old friends Urban Sea and Agnes Digital were in the back, while Platinum was specifically placed up front. Platinum didn't even dare guess what Golden Sixty was plotting.
"How's Little Faith been doing in Japan? Is she alright?"
Golden Sixty asked while gripping the steering wheel.
"She's fine, seems to be doing okay," Platinum said dryly, thinking, How am I supposed to know? She really had nothing else to say.
Mainly, Platinum wasn't very familiar with anyone around her.
Agnes Tachyon was still pressuring her with intense daily training, practically drilling her in her dreams—where would she find the time to have heart-to-hearts with Leap of Faith?
It felt like she was making up for all the schooling she'd missed in her past life.
"That's good." But Golden Sixty's focus didn't seem to be on Leap of Faith anyway.
She glanced at Platinum sitting beside her. "We're biological sisters, but I'm quite a bit older than her."
"You understand, right? An older sister, a few years older, seeing her younger sister—it's like feeling like half a mother."
"I watched her learn to walk step by step, watched her learn to talk, watched her try to rebel and fight me... not that she ever won, of course."
"Although her current situation is still quite disappointing, she is my sister after all. Even if she refuses to call me 'sis,' even if she ran off to Japan all on her own, this relationship won't change."
"She might really hate me, but that doesn't matter to me. I want her to become outstanding, I want her to truly live up to her name, Leap of Faith—like an Uma Musume with boundless courage."
Halfway through, Golden Sixty laughed at herself. "I'm saying all this because you're Faith's friend. Thank you for being willing to be friends with her... It'd be even better if you'd call me 'sis' too."
"Feels like having you as a younger sister would be a lot less trouble."
"Hard pass." Why did everyone want her to call them 'sis' lately? Was there some hidden title above her head?
Come to think of it, had she unintentionally made Leap of Faith look bad? Sure enough, no matter where you go in the world, there's always that saying about "the neighbor's kid."
Urban Sea, who had been silently listening from the back seat, couldn't help but sigh softly. "I didn't realize your relationship had worsened again."
"I still remember a time when you two got along quite well."
"Is a bad relationship so bad? In fact, I'm quite satisfied with it being this way."
Golden Sixty glanced at Urban Sea through the rearview mirror, who was leaning against the window.
"A bad relationship means she has the will to resist me. That's good—it means she's not a pushover. I'd be even more satisfied if she'd slapped me just now."
"And then you'd slap her back?" Urban Sea shook her head repeatedly. "You treat your family like enemies."
"Isn't it interesting, though? In the end, isn't the process of growth all about rebellion? Rebelling against parental authority, gradually gaining the power to reverse the roles."
Golden Sixty shrugged. "Leap of Faith's just up against me, that's all."
"You two are really..." Urban Sea gave up trying to persuade her. "My Sea the Stars is so much cuter."
As soon as the topic changed, Urban Sea visibly perked up. She took out her phone and started flipping through her album. "Have you seen my little sister? She's just so adorable, like a little angel..."
"Sea the Stars? She's been very active on the track lately..." Agnes Digital, hearing about a new young Uma Musume, chimed in.
"Anyone would think you're talking about your newborn daughter," Golden Sixty mocked. "You sis-con."
Completely ignoring Golden Sixty's taunt, Urban Sea passed her phone to Agnes Digital and Platinum, a blissful smile spread across her face. "Look, this is my little sister."
"Oh," Platinum remarked.
"Oh," Agnes Digital remarked.
It wasn't really about Sea the Stars herself—it was more that the photo Urban Sea showed them made them wonder if she'd grabbed the wrong one—a tiny, wrinkly baby wrapped in cloth, lying in someone's arms, wailing its eyes out.
They'd expected a photo of Sea the Stars racing, or maybe from daily life. Leading with the newborn photo... was certainly a bold move.
"Well? She's cute, right?" Urban Sea looked cheerfully at Platinum and Agnes Digital, as if awaiting their praise.
...What was she even supposed to say at a time like this?
Platinum felt her brain couldn't keep up with this group. Urban Sea, you look so proper and serious, but it turns out you're not quite right in the head either!
"She's, uh, quite lovely," Platinum managed stiffly.
Agnes Digital, however, took a deep breath.
This love... this nurturing love, watching over her every step of the way, from childhood till now...
It was the scent of a kindred spirit.
Agnes Digital keenly sensed it... Urban Sea was probably the same type of person as her.
The difference was, she herself was a dedicated fan of all Uma Musume, while Urban Sea was like a reef standing firm against the coastline, enduring the crashing waves over and over, yet remaining unshaken.
Day after day, year after year, in this dazzling, bewildering world, never ceasing her watch...
Her love in this life belonged only to Sea the Stars! Agnes Digital saw that conviction in Urban Sea's eyes and couldn't help but feel a surge of respect.
It was the respect one ultimate dedicated fan held for another.
"Comrade," Agnes Digital said solemnly, extending her hand to Urban Sea.
"...Comrade." After a moment of slight confusion, Urban Sea seemed to understand. With eyes slightly glistening, she grasped Agnes Digital's hand.
The two held each other's hands, their grip so strong it was almost as if they were merging.
It was an epic meeting, the beginning of a great friendship.
It would have been even better if this friendship hadn't been sparked by one sister eagerly sharing baby pictures of the other.
--+--
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.