"Can we take a picture?"
"I want a hug!"
When walking on campus during break time, Zero should have expected to inevitably encounter a situation like this.
She was, after all, strong, gentle, cute yet petite, which unfortunately made her the iconic mascot of Central Tracen Academy.
"Hmm, yes, you can." This was her reply to those requests because, of course, she didn't dislike it. After all, with everyone being a cute Uma Musume, who wouldn't want to cuddle?
However, speaking of cuddling, she still holds a grudge against the Three Goddesses for a certain incident.
Back when she was still training alone deep in the mountains, some daily tasks would be issued to her. Tasks such as: [Cuddle with an Uma Musume] were issued to her and what was more outrageous was that those missions offered the highest reward for the day, but where was she supposed to find an Uma Musume?!
Later, after she moved to the city, she thought that she could finally cuddle with an Uma Musume and complete that mission. But suddenly, it stopped being issued.
Yes, this daily task had in fact disappeared. The Three Goddesses had deliberately teased her with it.
[Zero-chan, can you please make a face?]
Just as she thought of that incident, she conveniently puffed out her cheeks and glared at the other party, who, in turn, took a picture with an 'awe~' expression on their faces .
Fortunately, the Uma Musume were all good children and knew that she trained frequently, so after a brief moment of satisfaction, they left. Some even spontaneously maintained order.
However, that being said, she spotted a familiar large hair bow in the nearby bushes.
"Hoo~ Eh~~~, this pure feeling~ Ugh!"
A pink-haired Uma Musume was squatting in the bushes, her face looking like she was about to ascend to heaven all the while frantically jotting down her inspirations on paper.
For those who didn't know her, they would probably keep their distance from the person who appeared to be on the verge of ecstasy.. But to Zero, it didn't bother her at all. In fact, she quite liked her, because the individual in question was quite interesting.
If the geniuses in the Uma Musume world all have their own unique quirks to some extent, then this one was the epitome of that.
She was quite a celebrity who had joined Tracen Academy because "she wanted to see other Uma Musume's pairings and how they cuddled," and then went into the race track because "she wanted to see up close the beautiful friendship of Uma Musume competing and understanding each other on the racecourse." What was more insane was that she could run on any terrain and in the worst of conditions no matter what all to see that wondrous and glorious sight up close.
Speaking of which, this fact actually made Agnes Digital Zero's predecessor as an all-rounder Uma Musume.
Her greatest achievement was defeating T.M. Opera O in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and causing Meisho Doto to lose her second-place position.
Zero had actually watched that race. Agnes Digital had an ecstatic expression the whole race, intensely staring at T.M. Opera O and Meisho Doto who fiercely competed behind until Agnes Digital crossed the finish line first in the last spurt.
It was also that race that made everyone realize that she may have not shown just how powerful she actually was in previous races.
So her trainer had deliberately arranged several races with Uma Musume who had strong "CP vibes." In those races, Agnes Digital, living up to expectations, would surge ahead just to admire the Uma Musume in front and then securing first place from said runner at the front.
Later, with time, Agnes Digital started writing novels, and eventually her pen name could be found in everything from lighthearted romance to bizarre fanfics. After her retirement, she expanded her business, venturing into the manga industry, but despite all of this, she never drew adult type of content.
She had declared at that time: "It's already an honor for me to draw the bodies of those majestic girls, but If I go any further, I'll die!" This left countless gentlemen distraught, as they knew that if it were Agnes Digital, it would probably really come true.
However, despite all that, in an actual conversation, she was a rather cute girl who would stutter just talking to an Uma Musume.
Especially with the first time Zero caught her, cause due to the height difference, she hugged her waist, and Agnes Digital immediately "died of bliss" on the spot, startling Zero. Later, their relationship had surprisingly became very good, perhaps due to their shared nature as "DDs" (die-hard fans)?
For example, right now…
"Digital, look over there, it's the Emperor and Mr. CB!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh! Where! Where?!" The other party immediately looked up, scanning her surroundings, and then her face fell when she found nothing.
"Mo~ My best friend! Why do you deceive my feelings like this?!"
"Because I find your reaction quite amusing." Zero also chuckled softly.
"So mean! But Zero-chan's little devil face looks also super awesome~" Ages Digital started jotting something down in her notebook again.
"Alright, I have something serious to talk to you about." Zero also had a sudden idea.
"Eh? What?" The large bow on the top of her head twitched, as if it was a part of Digital's body.
"You see, I recently bought a very large house outside, equipped with everything from living quarters to training facilities. So, the training location for my team has been set there."
"So?"
"I ask you, Agnes Digital, do you want to see some cute juniors sweating and striving for their dreams?"
"I do! Of course I do! But the school's training ground is too open. If I observe them nearby, it might affect them…" Agnes Digital, who had been speaking passionately, suddenly deflated.
Although she was the leader of the DDs, she was also a DD with principles. She would never affect the daily lives or training of the Uma Musume. It was precisely because of this that she often hid in strange places, leading to some strange campus ghost stories.
"So, didn't I say? My new house has 'training facilities,' you know?"
"Could… Could it be?!"
"That's right. For safety, some of the public areas have surveillance, including the track has cameras to replicate the race scene." Her lips curled slightly; the bait has been set and the reel has been cast.
"Please, I must go, my best friend!".
"Of course, that's why I told you, because I wanted you to come." Baiting the big fish that was Agnes Digital, as of it took no effort at all.
"As expected of my soulmate!"
"Okay so, Digital, if someone unauthorized were to enter the house…"
"What?! Someone wants to destroy such a beautiful holy place! I will not allow it!"
And so, a security guard who will be monitoring the surveillance system: acquired.
Of course, Zero is still going to pay her. Initially she wanted to just hire a random, but professional human employee to do that work but they were no match for Uma Musume employees. Besides, they're more pleasing to the eye.
That aside, after telling Digital the address of the house, the two parted ways. Zero still had one place to go.
The cafeteria.
There's a saying circulating in Tracen: If you want to find Oguri Cap but can't find her anywhere, go to the cafeteria. If you need to ask her for a favor, treat her to a meal first.
So, this time, she was naturally going to find Oguri Cap's side piece, Tamamo Cross.
"Hey! You just said that out loud! I'll bite you!" Tamamo Cross, with a vein throbbing on her forehead, glared at Zero, who was acting like a narrator and saying all her thoughts aloud.
"Well, even so, Senior Tama is often by Senior Oguri Cap's side, no?"
"Ha?! How could I possibly…"
"From the dorm to school, then to eating, to training, and back to the dorm."
"…." Tamamo Cross fell silent.
"Mmm (chew), so Zero-chan, are you looking for Tamamo for something?" Oguri Cap asked, still head deep in her uper-sized portion of food in front of her.
"Ah, strictly speaking, I'm looking for both of you, but Senior Tama is more troublesome."
"Indeed, little Tama often causes a lot of trouble." Oguri Cap nodded seriously.
"I don't want to hear that from you?! And what exactly are you here for?! To pick a fight?!" Tamamo Cross was super fierce.
"Ah, it's nothing much, mainly I hope you two can 'use your full power' and run against with me."
"Hmm? Don't we run together often?"
"While activating your domains."
"Oh~? now isnt that interesting~ are you perhaps interested?" A look of interest instantly appeared on Tama's face. Although Oguri Cap was still eating, the same expression appeared on her face.
"Yes, so I can reallyunderstand what a domain truly is."
"But I don't feel like running right now~"
As expected, Senior Tama, when sensing a opportunity started to play coy…
"But Tama, aren't we going to compete with each other later? It wouldn't hurt to bring her along, would it?"
"Can you just shut up?!!!" I finally had a chance to see this disrespectful girl get flustered!" Though the girl in question wouldn't.
"But if I shut up, I can't eat."
"So why are you eating in the cafeteria at ten in the morning?!"
"Then… next time I'll come at nine?"
"That's not what I meant!!!"
The daily interactions of the two seniors were as amusing as ever, a tsundere and a dense person together.
Zero rested her chin on her hand, watching the two interact with a motherly smile, completely ignoring the "died of bliss!" cry from around a certain corner.
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I'm a newbie translator and wanted to add more uma fics for more people to read. if there are any errors, multiple of the same text or sentence, let me know.
The credits and orginal story is: 传奇马娘想好好谈恋爱 and belongs to: 起始之