"You're here."
Bless the Moment, seated at her desk, looked up at the class representative who had approached her.
"I'm here."
The chestnut-haired Uma Musume nodded, a stack of assignments in her hands.
"You shouldn't have come."
"Why couldn't I come?"
The chestnut-haired Uma Musume reached out a hand toward Bless the Moment. "Give me your homework."
"If you want it, you'll have to take it yourself."
Bless the Moment stood up. "You know the rules by now."
"How many times have you come to collect homework from me?"
'Do you remember how many pieces of bread you've eaten in your life?'
The class representative glanced past her. "...Let's stop this, Bless-san. It's time to hand in your assignments."
"Hayashi-san, are you content just being the class representative?"
Bless the Moment spoke with grave sincerity. "A true man is born between heaven and earth—how can he tolerate lingering in submission beneath others for long?"
"Wouldn't it be wonderful if you and I joined forces, seized his position?"
"Ahem!"
The class representative coughed. "Bless-san, you really shouldn't say such things."
"Won't you consider it, Hayashi-san?"
Bless the Moment continued, "With us sisters fighting together, who could possibly stand against us for even a single round?"
"Bless-san, have you thought about what will happen if the teacher hears you saying these things?"
"Ha!"
Bless the Moment scoffed. "The homeroom teacher is my uncle!"
The class representative didn't reply further. Instead, her face stiff, she stepped around Bless the Moment and headed for the student seated behind her.
"Bless."
A familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind. "...I believe I told you not to cause trouble for the other students, didn't I?"
"Uncle? When did you get here?!"
"I arrived while you were still chatting with Hayashi... And call me 'older brother'!"
"Hayashi! You set me up—!"
Bless the Moment's wail filled the entire classroom, but the students inside were already completely used to it and simply went about their own business.
"Your winter break homework? Don't tell me you didn't do it?"
The Tracen teacher's gaze sharpened. "Hand over your winter break assignments!"
"Today! I may die, but I shall still be—!"
"Give it here!"
The Tracen teacher yanked the winter break homework from Bless the Moment's bag, turned, and held it out before the chestnut-haired Uma Musume.
"Sorry about Bless. She's been a nuisance, hasn't she?"
"It's fine, really... If anything, it livens things up."
The chestnut-haired Uma Musume accepted the homework, shaking her head with a smile. "That's just Bless-san for you."
That's just Bless-san for you...
Hearing the chestnut-haired Uma Musume's assessment, the Tracen teacher's face formed a wry smile.
He wondered what the Kawasaki family would think if they heard their daughter being described that way by her classmates.
"Teacher, all the assignments are collected. Should I bring them to the office for you?"
"No need, just leave them on the lectern. I'll take them to the office myself later."
The Tracen teacher waved a hand dismissively.
"All of them? That can't be right!"
Bless the Moment stared at the stack of assignments held by the class representative, counting them from top to bottom.
After confirming the number indeed matched the class count, a look of shock spread across her face. "...No one failed to submit them? No one said they forgot theirs at home?!"
"Uma Musume are good kids. I don't think anyone would do that."
He curled a finger and gently rapped the white-haired Uma Musume on the head. Miyamori Jun'ta commented, "...In your mind, someone must always fail to turn in their homework on the first day of school, is that it?"
"Didn't you ever experience that when you were young, Teacher?"
The white-haired Uma Musume blinked. "After a long break, returning to school to start a new semester, there's always someone who, when homework is collected, uses excuses like 'I left it at home,' or 'I accidentally lost my assignments'?"
"..."
Miyamori Jun'ta didn't reply, only staring at her in silence.
'How could I not have encountered that... Wasn't that person me?!'
When he was young, he'd always forgotten all about his holiday homework because he was too busy having fun, only remembering when the break was almost over.
Realizing it was too late to finish it properly, he'd either scribble furiously, tear out some pages he'd written, or just tell the person collecting that he'd forgotten to bring it...
'Gah—Just how many of my stupid childhood stories did that Kawasaki guy tell Bless the Moment?!'
"Uncle? What's wrong?"
"Call me brother!"
Though he had no proof, he couldn't shake the feeling the white-haired filly had aimed that last comment directly at him. Miyamori Jun'ta's eyes darted around, trying to change the subject. "I've told you so many times, why can't you remember?"
"If I called you 'brother,' wouldn't that mess up the family hierarchy?"
Bless the Moment shook her head. "You and my father are brothers. If I called you 'brother,' wouldn't that inexplicably drop you down a generation?"
"If you're fine with that, then I can call you 'brother' from now on, no problem."
"..."
Miyamori Jun'ta fell silent.
It was true... but he felt he was still relatively young, not even married yet, so he really didn't qualify as an 'uncle.'
But if he agreed... he'd be placing himself a generation below Kawasaki...
The young teacher was caught in a dilemma.
"Teacher, it's time. You need to go up now."
During Miyamori Jun'ta's silence, Bless the Moment spoke up to remind him, raising a hand to point towards the lectern.
"Huh? Oh."
The young teacher looked up blankly, only remembering his unfinished task upon seeing the time was about right.
"...It's the first day of school. Don't cause any trouble today."
"Don't worry, Teacher."
The white-haired Uma Musume puffed out her chest. "You know me, don't you?"
'It's precisely because I know you that I can't rest easy!'
Miyamori Jun'ta grumbled internally.
Still uneasy, he issued one more warning to the little white-haired filly before finally walking up to the lectern.
"Alright, alright, settle down."
Standing at the lectern, Miyamori Jun'ta clapped his hands lightly, waiting until the classroom was completely quiet before continuing. "The opening ceremony will begin soon. When you take your chairs out to line up, please be careful not to bump into anyone."
"This year is your final semester at this school. I hope everyone can put in a bit more effort this last semester, persevere just a little longer."
After saying this, the young teacher paused. "Of course, I also hope you can all get along harmoniously this last semester, and not argue over trivial matters."
"Even though you'll graduate from this school after this semester, you'll still have chances to see your classmates again in the future."
Miyamori Jun'ta glanced up at the clock hanging above the blackboard, then addressed the students in the classroom. "Everyone, take your chairs and get ready to head out. Let's go line up outside."
--+--
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.