"Ah, that's much better."
Using 'I need to use the restroom' as her excuse, Bless the Moment had gone to the rooftop to exchange information with Neo Universe. Thoroughly satisfied, she returned to the classroom and took the empty seat next to Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond. "Kids, I'm back."
"You went with Neo Universe, didn't you, Bless?"
Kitasan Black asked curiously, having noticed the golden-haired Uma Musume enter the classroom only after the white-haired one had sat down.
"How did you know?" Bless the Moment was surprised. "Were you secretly following us?!"
"Cough!"
Kitasan Black choked on her words. "I... I just thought so because you left and came back together!"
"You were watching us?" The expression on the white-haired Uma Musume's face grew even more astonished. "So you have habits like this, Kita-chan?"
"I do not have such strange habits!" Kitasan Black protested vigorously. "Don't make me sound like some kind of weirdo!"
"Hmm, you're right, you're not a strange person." Bless the Moment nodded. "Because you're an Uma Musume."
"And I'm not a strange Uma Musume either!"
"You're absolutely right."
Bless the Moment's brief reply effectively shut down any further retort from the black-haired Uma Musume.
Huh? She's letting me off that easily today? Kitasan Black was puzzled.
"But Kitasan Black is an energetic, sunny Uma Musume who loves festivals," Bless the Moment declared, straightening her posture with a serious expression, as if delivering a campaign speech.
"She helps those in trouble, listens to those with worries, occasionally lets slip a bit of Edo dialect, enjoys running with an innocent smile, sings beautifully, often buys comfits and lanterns..."
"Wait! Bless, hold on a second!"
Feeling the gazes of their surrounding classmates turning towards them, a slightly blushing Kitasan Black reached out to stop Bless the Moment's monologue. "Don't just start rambling like that out of nowhere!"
"Why not?" Bless the Moment seemed genuinely confused. "Don't you like hearing people praise you?"
"Of course I do... but do you have to say such embarrassing things right here, in front of everyone?"
"Why shouldn't I?" the white-haired Uma Musume retorted. "And how else is everyone supposed to learn about your good points?"
...Have I offended Bless somehow recently? Kitasan Black wondered, bewildered.
"Ahem..."
But soon, Bless the Moment's voice reminded her that there was a more urgent matter at hand.
—She had to stop Bless before she said something even more embarrassing!
"Bless, I—" She pushed herself up from the desk, ready to intervene, but she wasn't fast enough.
"Everyone! Look over here!" Bless the Moment raised her hands high and called out loudly, "—I think Kitasan Black is the most perfect Uma Musume in the entire world!"
...It's over.
Feeling the classmates' eyes focus squarely on her, Kitasan Black slumped onto the desk, encircling her flushed face with her arms, continuously hypnotizing herself inwardly.
I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming!
Fortunately, everyone had developed a fair amount of resistance to Bless the Moment's occasional outbursts.
After casting pitying looks at the 'playing dead' Kitasan Black, they returned to their own business.
"...Bless, what about me?" Satono Diamond asked with a smile, waiting until Bless the Moment had sat down.
"You?" Bless the Moment turned to look at Satono Diamond, giving her a thorough once-over.
Satono Diamond sat beside her, her tea-colored long hair hanging straight down to her waist without any adornment, dressed in the school's blue-and-white uniform.
Though the weather wasn't exactly warm yet, she had already switched to wearing a skirt.
Her legs, emerging from the skirt, were clad in white stockings before disappearing into her shoes.
"Quite pretty," Bless the Moment replied.
"And? That's it?" The smile on Satono Diamond's face began to strain.
You praised Kita-chan so extravagantly, can't you praise me a bit more too?!
"How do you want me to praise you?" the white-haired Uma Musume asked her childhood friend bluntly. "Call you beautiful? Praise your strong will? Or mention how you're a young lady but still so down-to-earth?"
—Why don't you say all that in the same way you did for her earlier?
Satono Diamond stared at the white-haired Uma Musume beside her, her gaze gradually turning reproachful.
"Come on! How do you want me to praise you?" Bless the Moment rested her chin on her hands, formed into a small platform, meeting Satono Diamond's gaze.
"As long as you want to hear it, I can praise you in ten thousand different ways without repeating a single one!"
"...No, forget it." After a brief silence, Satono Diamond shook her head, putting an end to the topic.
...What she wanted was for Bless the Moment to say those praising words on her own initiative, not because she'd asked for them.
Bless the Moment is such a tease.
The tea-haired Uma Musume grumbled inwardly.
"What's your training for this afternoon? Running side-by-side?"
"No, it's a race simulation," Satono Diamond shook her head.
"So that means you'll be running against Kita-chan this afternoon?" The white-haired Uma Musume suddenly grew excited.
You said it's a simulated race, right?
Since it's a race... wouldn't it be perfectly reasonable to have a commentator?
"I'd advise you not to get any ideas, Bless," Satono Diamond cautioned, seeing the eager expression on the white-haired Uma Musume's face. "Whatever you do, Coach Mamori will find out."
"..."
Bless the Moment fell silent.
"Darn it! To think I've been restricted to this extent!"
Bless the Moment sat down again.
Struggle? What could I possibly use to struggle?
The moment she did anything at school, Mamori Shota would be on the phone with her mother.
But there were less than six months left until graduation from middle school.
Once I get into Central Tracen, all these restrictions will fall away, and then...
The advantage will be mine!
"..."
Exchanging a look as they saw the triumphant expression return to Bless the Moment's face, Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond wisely chose not to ask.
"Bless, are you coming to watch Kita-chan and me train this afternoon too?"
"You should ask me which time I haven't been there when you two trained." Bless the Moment put away her smug smile, pointing an accusatory finger at Satono Diamond. "...You've even forgotten how many times I've brought water for you!"
"You've changed; you've stopped caring about me!"
"Not at all," Satono Diamond refuted with a smile. "...I just want you to keep watching me run, that's all?"
--+--
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.