"What in the world is this alarm clock even for?"
After Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond had left, Bless the Moment, now alone in the room, took out the alarm clock and stared intently at the hour hand that had moved back one tick.
The moment that cold, hard object touched her body, she heard a faint tick—like the sound of a clock's mechanism.
Then, just as suddenly, the icy sensation on her thigh vanished completely, as if it had never happened at all.
The reversed hour hand… time itself moving backward… and that sudden disappearance of the cold feeling on her skin…
Could this clock actually turn back time? Was it meant to help her avoid danger?
But was there a limit to how many times she could use it?
Bless the Moment tried pushing the hour hand back from where it pointed at 'eleven,' but it refused to budge, as if locked firmly in place.
"So it only triggers when I'm in danger…"
'If only Yuni were here.'
"Bless?"
"Wah—!"
The sudden voice in the quiet room made Bless Moment jolt with surprise.
But the moment she saw the golden-haired, blue-eyed Uma Musume climbing out of her wardrobe, all her surprise melted into sheer exasperation.
…Is this wardrobe some kind of secret tunnel connecting my house to yours?!
"Yuni, what are you doing here?" Bless the Moment asked, watching as the blonde Uma rose to her feet.
"Didn't you just call for me?" Neo Universe tilted her head, looking puzzled.
'Did I actually say that out loud?'
Bless the Moment began to doubt her own memory.
"No, wait! How did you know I was thinking that?!"
"I heard you."
'That's bull!'
Bless the Moment bit back the words.
Heard me? Since when can you read minds?!
Wait—that's not the important part right now!
"What exactly is this thing?" Bless the Moment raised her arm, holding up the clock for emphasis.
"I don't know."
Neo Universe shook her head.
"Then what other functions does it have?"
"I don't know."
"Surely you at least know if there's a usage limit?"
"I don't know."
"You…" Bless the Moment was at a loss for words. After a long pause, she finally managed, "Then how did you get this thing?"
"..."
Neo Universe fell silent.
"...It was given to me by someone from my past."
She took a deep breath, her tone growing heavy.
'Someone from her past…'
Seeing the usually bright Uma suddenly grow somber, Bless the Moment hesitated.
'I'm sorry, Yuni…I'll make it up to you later.'
"Then… where is that person now?"
"She's not in this world."
'Not in this world?'
'Has she passed away?'
"I'm sorry… I just wanted to understand what this thing really is."
"Did you misunderstand something?" Neo Universe looked confused. "I said she's not in this world, not that she's dead."
"Aren't those two the same thing?!" Bless the Moment couldn't help but retort.
"She's not in this world—she's in another world," the golden-haired Uma explained. "But honestly, sometimes I think it might've been better if she had died."
…Before coming to this world, that other Bless the Moment had been exceedingly cautious, yet her former handlers had still managed to uncover her true identity.
Chased down by numerous Uma Musume, she had somehow gotten hold of this clock in her final moments. But by then, the others had already torn down the last barriers, closing in on her as she stood cornered against the wall.
"Take this to the other me!"
In the end, all she could do was entrust this alarm clock—its purpose and functions still a mystery—into Neo Universe's hands, urging her to deliver it to another version of herself in a different world.
But the journey was far from simple.
Before arriving in this world, Neo Universe had traveled through three other parallel timelines, each with its own version of Bless the Moment.
In every one of those worlds, whether she had remained as Nakatsuru Aya or become a white-haired Uma Musume, she had been pinned down—overpowered by other Uma Musume who harbored obsessive feelings for her.
…Even as an Uma Musume, her strength was no match for even one of them, let alone the groups that came for her. Alone, Neo Universe stood no chance against so many.
But through relentless effort, she had finally found a relatively stable timeline.
Though Bless the Moment's physical condition in this timeline wasn't ideal, her former assignees in this world weren't as dangerously unhinged as those in the others.
Sure, a few had already discovered her true identity, but they weren't driven to the same extremes.
Maybe it was the joy of having her back after losing her? Or perhaps they were simply worried her fragile body couldn't handle too much strain?
Whatever their reasons, it was a relief for Neo Universe.
Many Uma Musume still hadn't recognized Bless the Moment as Nakatsuru Aya, which meant that even if things took a turn for the worse in the future, she still had time to prepare.
Countless thoughts flashed through Neo Universe's mind in that instant as she gazed steadily at the petite white-haired Uma, who wore nothing but a single long-sleeved shirt.
"What is it? Why are you staring at me like that all of a sudden?"
"Bless." The blonde Uma's expression turned serious. "I will protect you."
"Uh… thank you?"
Not fully grasping the intent behind those words, Bless the Moment blinked in confusion.
Wait, protect?
"So you know about those 'anomalies' too?"
"Anomalies?" Neo Universe looked puzzled. "What are those? You mean the Dark Current?"
"The what now?" Bless the Moment asked, even more lost.
"Whatever it is you're talking about, compared to that, you should focus more on your own safety."
The golden-haired Uma Musume began climbing back into the wardrobe as she spoke. "Even if they're treating you gently now, who's to say they won't try to tear you apart someday for some reason?"
"Be careful."
"Wait, there's still so much I want to ask you—!"
But Neo Universe had already slipped inside. Bless the Moment rushed to the wardrobe in three quick strides and yanked the door open.
But when she looked inside, all she found were her own clothes hanging neatly. There was no trace of the other Uma.
"Yuni? Neo Universe?"
She called out a few times, but there was no response. After a moment's thought, she decided to imitate Neo Universe, climbing headfirst into the wardrobe and pulling the door shut behind her.
'Nothing? Did I miss some condition?'
After staying inside for a while without anything happening, the white-haired Uma Musume frowned.
'I'll have to ask Yuni how she does it the next time she shows up.'
With that thought, she pushed the wardrobe door open and started to climb out.
But the moment her upper body emerged, she found herself face to face with her mother.
"..."
Silence hung between them. Some things were better left unsaid.
--+--
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.