At the cafeteria.
Lately, talking with Dejitan about our favorite characters had become routine for me, and now I was sharing with her the Wooska tidbit I had picked up the other day.
"Fuu… The way plain rice tastes when eaten with top-quality preciousness as a side… it's so delicious… I can't… I love it… my vocabulary is disappearing…!"
Ah, how beautiful Dejitan's mouth looked, soft and relaxed, as she absorbed the preciousness.
"Acting tough but really innocent… pretending to be a model student but secretly more stubborn than anyone else… and the moment these two show their true selves to each other… it's just wonderful, isn't it…!"
"Yes, yes…! Seriously…! What an amazing tidbit you've brought me…!"
Saying that, Dejitan choked back tears. The sparkle in her eyes elevated her already cute self to an even higher level.
I want to protect this smile. For that, I'd do anything.
Just then, I heard a quarreling voice from somewhere nearby.
"…Ah, speak of the devil. Seems like those two have arrived."
"Wha—!? Those two, they're… aren't they… exactly as cute as I heard? No way~!"
"Hey! What are you copying me for!"
"It's just coincidence that we got the same menu, right? And unlike you, I actually eat yogurt! Don't copy me!"
Vodka and Scarlet.
They were arguing just because their meals overlapped.
…How can two people fight for such a cute reason?
"Whoa!? What is that!? Even though they said all that, they're sitting at the same table… this month's Most Precious Award is already decided, isn't it?"
Dejitan essentially said almost everything I wanted to say, except my main point. Truly a model otaku.
"A relationship built on mutual trust deep in the heart… and Dejitan watching it with that cute face… the world is beautiful, isn't it…"
"Yes, I completely agree with everything except the second sentence…! Seriously, it's so sacred I don't know if my eyes can even behold it…! Ah… it's beautiful…!"
"Good thing I built up an immunity… otherwise I might've passed out…"
"I might not make it… if anything happens, you don't need to bother picking up my bones…"
Dejitan seemed to be reaching her limit.
…Really, it was good I built up an immunity. Right now, unless there's a sudden unexpected attack, I can handle it. I won't make the same mistake. In fact, I'd rather carry Dejitan if she collapses.
"Enough, Scarlet!"
"Wha—! Don't—ahhh!!"
"Ah!?"
Oops. Vodka stood up and, in the process, sent her yogurt flying. The container spun through the air toward Scarlet's head, and the white, thick contents… splashed onto her…
"Hey, stop…! No way, it's inside too…!"
Two successive sounds of snort echoed. First Dejitan, then me, nosebleeds. Then, muffled groans followed.
"Ugh…! No, Dejitan… even though my heart is impure, you can't go any further…!"
"It's fine, probably my heart's dirtier anyway…!"
This was bad. Seeing Scarlet covered in yogurt made Dejitan so excited she got a nosebleed. Imagining that circulating inside her body and now dripping from her neat nose… it was just…!
"That's a bit… too much of a surprise…!"
Immunity, huh… that was too arrogant of me. I should have known ages ago that Dejitan's preciousness is infinite! This is why I can't quit being an otaku…!
…Lunch had a strong metallic taste, but even so, it was among the best meals I'd had at Tracen Academy.
◆
After leaving the cafeteria, Dejitan said immediately,
"Let's accumulate virtue."
"Earlier, we committed a great sin. A sin so great that even Christ would need a running start to hit…! Thinking like that about real Uma Musume is out! Infinitely close to being dead-out! Even among Uma Musume themselves, that's… not okay!"
"I… got a nosebleed from getting excited by Dejitan's nosebleed, but is that also out?"
"Eh…? W-what? Why are your eyes sparkling even though you're saying such outrageous things!?"
"That's because I'm looking at the light that is Dejitan."
"…I've said many times I'm not a sacred existence like the other Uma Musume! You can't be obsessed with me! Anyway! To wipe away our sins, we must accumulate virtue!"
Even existing, Dejitan is virtue incarnate.
Still… virtue, huh…
"…Accumulating virtue, specifically, what do you mean?"
"Obviously, by doing as many good deeds for the world as possible! And for our favorite characters, supporting them, buying for them, supporting them, buying for them, and so on!"
She really wants to spoil her favorites.
But… I want to see it. Dejitan buying merchandise and getting excited. That would be absolutely cute.
"So… how about next holiday… we go shopping together?"
"Ehh…? With me…?"
"Yes. I want to look at Uma Musume goods and buy tools for watching winning live performances. As comrades!…Is that okay?"
"Comrades…! I like the sound of that! Of course! No reason to refuse! Actually, please let's do it!"
And so, it was decided we could go out together on the holiday.
…Effectively, it's a date, isn't it?
A shopping date with Dejitan. This is amazing.
◆
The long-awaited holiday morning.
Outside, birds were singing, and warm spring sunlight poured through the open window.
Today was going to be a good day.
"One poet said, 'If you love, it means infinity.'"
"Why suddenly?"
"Love, Golshi-chan. With love, you can surpass limits. And anyone has the right to love. That's why I will love Uma Musume and continue to love them."
"I see…"
No one could judge anyone for loving Uma Musume. This world is full of love.
"And Dejitan, who loves and is loved by Uma Musume, is love itself!"
"Yeah, that's right."
She, a manifestation of love in the world, is essentially a goddess.
"By the way, Golshi-chan. Your responses have been a bit half-hearted, haven't they?"
"Oh hoho… Not at all. I shall now go visit the team, so farewell! Take care!"
And she jumped out of the window. Was she in such a hurry?
"…I should go too."
I couldn't be late for meeting Dejitan. Though we live under the same roof, so "meeting" is a bit misleading.
But words set the tone. Even if we just meet at the dorm entrance, calling it a "meeting" makes it feel right.
Ready, let's go. Of course, out the door.
…Ah, I can't wait.
Wanting to see her as soon as possible, I walked quickly down the dorm hallway, light footsteps echoing.
◆
Arriving at the entrance, she wasn't there yet.
Looking around, shoes clacking on the floor, I saw Uma Musume in tracksuits scattered about.
Even on a holiday like today, the flame of determination burned brightly in their eyes.
Training on a holiday… I love training too, but lately the balance between training and spending time with Dejitan has tipped heavily toward the latter. It might take two years to even it out.
…An image of tiny Dejitan standing on one side of a tilting scale, wobbling to keep balance, popped into my mind. Cute.
While I thought nonsense, some tied shoelaces seriously, some shouted "Yes!" with determination, and others watched the others panting… that's…
"…Sorry for the wait, Aurora-chan…! I'd like to admire this scene a bit more, but time waits for no one! Let's go!"
As expected, it was Dejitan…
"…Yes… okay… let's go…"
Could this be a crime? Aurora wondered.
…She was wearing casual clothes. Clothes I had seen many times in my past life.
Pink and light blue with cute patterns, rainbow decorations, and "UMA" written on them, giving a very childlike impression.
Dejitan is 143 cm tall, roughly the height of a fifth-grade girl.
This is indeed a crime, Aurora decided.
…Well, if I were a lecherous old man. But now I'm also an Uma Musume. At least on the outside.
So it's not a crime. I'm glad to be born an Uma Musume.
My casual outfit is simple: navy jeans, a white plain shirt, and a light brown cardigan. Subtle, spring-like, not standing out. It's important not to overshadow Dejitan.
…Though with her in that little-girl outfit, the mission is already accomplished.
"Have you used the restroom? Offered thanks to God? Prepared your heart to tremble with excitement in front of lined-up Uma Musume goods? Then, let's go!"
Clenching her fists, Dejitan spoke. What a little girl… ridiculously cute.
I walked alongside her, steps light, reflecting my inner feelings.
"So… where first?"
"Of course… the convenience store!"
A slightly unusual choice.
"There's a limited edition Uma Musume collaboration chocolate on sale! We must collect all of them! Let's head to the convenience store in the nearest station!"
"All of them… isn't that a lot? Can't we buy them on the way back?"
"No way! Today, our virtue will be tested… Especially for Uma Musume goods like PakaPuchi, we need virtue points. Buying chocolate first accumulates virtue and also saves on lunch—a double win!"
…Never mind the virtue. Lunch savings? Is Dejitan planning to eat only chocolate for lunch?
"Wait, you're not going to have proper lunch, are you?"
"Ah! I spoke like that because I was thinking solo about my favorite characters. Aurora-chan, you eat whatever you like! I'll just watch and eat chocolate!"
…No, no, no…!
"No, absolutely not!! You must eat properly! And since we came together, let's go somewhere for lunch! If saving money is the issue, I'll pay! So we'll buy chocolate later!"
My favorite is about to have an incredibly unhealthy lunch… not on my watch!
Anyway, Dejitan is weak to persuasion. I'd make sure she eats properly.
"No, no! I couldn't let you pay…! Besides, I'm such a hopeless otaku, even unsure whether to debut… so health doesn't really matter—"
"…I just want you to eat properly, Dejitan, not because of races. Think of it as doing this for me, okay? Making me happy also counts as virtue! Please!"
"Got it! For Aurora-chan! With pleasure! Of course, I'll pay!"
Victory. The key was framing it as "for me." Dejitan is weak to Uma Musume arguments; very effective.
…By the way, she said something I couldn't ignore.
"…Dejitan, you said you're unsure whether to debut?"
"Huh…? Uh… isn't your face a bit scary…?"
"…I won't ask for details now. We'll talk during lunch."
"Ah! Y-Yes, understood."
"Good. Then, let's head to the station while accumulating virtue."
"Yes… accumulating virtue."
Thus began our holiday, after learning more about Dejitan's quirks.
◆
On the way to the station.
"Ah…! An elderly lady carrying a heavy load…!"
"…Let's help her!"
Of course, accompanying her to her destination took some time.
At the convenience store in the station.
"My change was exactly 100 yen, so I donated it!"
"Oh! I don't really get it, but that's nice!"
At the station map.
"Is that a foreigner? They seem troubled… wait? Aurora-chan? Where are you going…?"
"Hello, sir. Do you need any help?"
After guiding them, we were several trains behind schedule.
At the platform.
"I think we accumulated a good amount of virtue. Also time."
"Yes… but that person… are they okay? They look unsteady…"
"…Dash!"
"Aurora-chan!? That person jumped onto the tracks… and you caught them!?"
"…What the hell… let go… I don't want to be saved—"
"Shut up! I don't care about your situation! If I have time, I should support Uma Musume… no, I just wanted to save you! That's all! Now, time's pressing, so I'll go!"
…That's how we spent the morning helping others.
◆
"…Phew, I'm tired."
"You ran all over, Aurora-chan."
Around 12:30 PM, we found a nice café and were eating pasta.
"Today was intense. More than accumulating virtue, there was a lot we couldn't overlook."
"There was that person trying to jump…"
Helping the elderly, guiding a foreigner, stopping someone from jumping… why am I training power, intelligence, and speed on a holiday?
"Doing good doesn't expect return, but after this much, I feel something good will happen."
"There's a saying: kindness is never wasted, and something will surely come someday."
Dejitan smiled at me like an angel. Ah, that must be the reward. Something far exceeding the effort.
"Now, the main topic…"
"N-no! But this food is delicious! The carrots are so sweet…"
"You're trying to distract me. But I never forget things… I need to hear it properly."
She's unsure about debuting.
…In my past life, I'd heard similar lines. The trainer would rush to get her into races despite her doubts.
I want to support her forever. I'm an otaku for Dejitan, and I want to see her run.
"Ugh… at first, I joined Tracen Academy to watch Uma Musume from the best seat, to run alongside them. But now, everywhere I look, there are so many precious ones. Seeing them makes me wonder if someone like me, with impure motives, should be here… Even without racing, I'm satisfied just supporting them…"
"…?"
Regardless of motives, her skills allowed her to enter Tracen Academy. And… I have another reason for wanting her to race.
"…Dejitan. I like you to the level of worship. How do you feel about me?"
"Huh!? Well… Aurora-chan is a cute and cool Uma Musume I can't help but support… but, though it's presumptuous, we share the same vocation! That's what I think."
…Hearing that from her is embarrassing. But basically:
"We like each other. We go out together… what would you call this kind of relationship?"
"…Generally… friends… I guess."
"…Yes. Let's be clear. We are friends… right?"
"…Yes, of course… that's correct."
We're both unused to this, so words faltered.
…To tell my top favorite she's a friend… never expected that.
Yet the few days we've met are far more fun than the long months of supporting her in my past life.
"I want to see you run. Doesn't being friends give me a reason to ask?"
"I don't mind running. So… I'll try at least debuting. That means I'll train harder too!"
Her eyes now shone brighter than before.
"Yay…! When will you debut?"
"Well… I need to decide on a team, whether to run on turf or dirt… wait until my body matures… maybe next year or later…"
"Ah…! I'll look forward to it!"
Dejitan had decided to debut. Maybe this was my job as her trainer, but I couldn't wait, so it's fine.
"So… next holiday, shall we go out again as friends… haha…"
"Yes… sounds good."
I felt our bond had deepened slightly.
…Her embarrassed laughter was extremely precious.
◆
Finishing the pasta.
"By the way, having a friend as your top favorite… maybe not a good idea. Perhaps change favorites…"
"I'm Dejitan's top favorite. That won't change. Absolutely non-negotiable."
"Fuu… I see… fine… though I don't fully accept it!"
"…Cute…"
Naturally! Her slight blush and sulk were incredibly precious.