"Would it be okay if I don't put my tongue in…?"
"Huh?"
"Well, don't you think a light one would be fine?"
"…Huh!?"
I mean, there are countries where a light kiss is just a greeting, so it should be okay, right? That's what I think.
"Deji-tan, you're cute. That's true. But it's not just that… you're sexy! You are… Deji-tan. I think bottling things up isn't good… it's bad for your mental health, right?"
"…Y-yes!?"
"I'll take that 'yes' as agreement, okay?"
"Y-yes… no! Are you serious!? Did Tachyon-san put something in me again…?"
"I'm fine… At first, I thought I could just watch. That would be enough. But after meeting you, getting close like this, I wanted to spend time with you. And now… I can't stop wanting you."
I still think Deji-tan preciousness should be known by the whole world. But recently—just yesterday or today—I began wanting her… for myself. This instinctive, natural desire, mixed with my long-standing wish to spread Deji-tan charm, coexist in me. They don't cancel out; instead, they combine, filling my heart completely.
I step closer and gently stroke her slightly flushed cheeks, tinged with embarrassment and a hint of excitement.
"Haaah…"
"The fact that you don't move even when I get close… you're not completely against it, are you?"
It's less a contradiction than a paradox. I want her to know the preciousness that belongs only to me… no, my feelings are such a mess I don't even understand them. …Deji-tan cute, so whatever!
"…Ah… Aurora, cha…"
"…Hehe, what's wrong, Deji-taww!!?"
Suddenly, a sharp impact strikes the back of my head, pain radiating. Ouch.
Turning around, there's a familiar gray-haired figure… holding a harisen. Golshi-chan! You really hit me with that, didn't you?
"…It was just the right moment… why stop it?"
"Doing that here is already abnormal. This is a club room, you know? Public space?"
"…I can't help it, Deji-tan too cute!"
"Even so. At least be mindful of the time and place. Someone's already gotten hurt because of you."
Indeed, behind Golshi-chan, Vodka lies collapsed, nose bleeding.
"…To not waste her precious sacrifice, I'll… Hebuwaaa!!"
Ouch. Why is Golshi-chan doing the tsukkomi here? She's supposed to be the funny one. And I'm serious, not joking. And it hurts.
"Do it somewhere else! Seriously, this is unbearable."
"Hehe, Deji-tan too precious. No mad dog could dare touch her… Nugaa!!"
Ouch.
"Enough already. We're the only ones left standing."
Indeed, next to the downed Vodka, Scarlet foams at the mouth, and Deji-tan face is red, groaning occasionally.
"…Ngh… what am I…?"
Ah, speaking of which, Deji-tan revived. She recovers fast, used to dying, after all.
"…Ha!? Yes! Aurora-chan! You've gone mad, haven't you!? That… that… kind of thing… you mustn't do to me! Do it to other Uma Musume! Actually, please, to them instead!!"
"No! Even if you ask, Deji-tan, I can't accept that! I want my first kiss to be with you!"
"Ugh… y-you're heavy!?… Speaking of which! Even with that medicine incident, you apologized to me, right!? That means you know it's wrong yourself! So why now…!?"
"…Yeah. Even now, as a fan, I wouldn't approve of doing such things to my favorite. But Deji-tan… I just want to face you as my real self. The me who took Tachyon-san's medicine… that's the real me. That night, what I tried to do with you came from a genuine desire deep inside me."
"…Deji-tan, you've probably been expecting it somewhere in your heart, right? I remember clearly. The day after the medicine incident, you almost said, 'I don't mind being pushed down, honestly it's fine…'"
I won't forget… Lately, I've mostly just been memorizing Deji-tan expressions.
"…Aah… that's… ugh! No, I really can't! I'm fine just watching!"
Even as she says that, her expression is so twisted it looks like tears of blood are about to flow. It's only a matter of time. Hehe…
"Whoa… both are crazy… hahaha… haa."
At the training ground.
Since joining the team, the trainer told us to focus on basic fitness training. So today's menu was simple running.
Nothing remarkable happened. Light running isn't enough to see Deji-tan serious expression, so I'm eager to do side-by-side training with her.
Well, every situation has its merits. For example…
"Haa… the beautiful sweat of the Uma Musume after training… I'd love to wipe it with my towel, but that's… wah!?!"
"Hm… you're sweating too. Here, I'll wipe it for you."
Seeing Deji-tan so precious while watching Scarlet brush her bangs, I gently wiped her with the towel.
Of course, proper care was taken with the towel. To be clear, I buried my face in it and took a deep breath.
"…S-stop… Aurora-chan! You're definitely doing something! I'll confirm with Tachyon-san!"
She immediately ran outside the track. I considered chasing her but decided to meet her later.
"Breathe in… breathe out… Even without any drugs… sigh… it feels so good…"
Even without Tachyon-san's drugs… or even if she had been drugged, Deji-tan addictiveness is stronger, so the medicine wouldn't matter. Breathe in, breathe out.
"That's scary. Why are you sniffing like it's normal? This is the training ground, there are other people here."
"Relax, Golshi-chan. From afar, it just looks like I'm wiping my face."
"I'm not worried about you. This is bad for my mental health."
Even so, this is like a mental stabilizer for me… and Golshi-chan will be fine. Golshi-chan is always fine. Breathe in, breathe out.
"Don't stare and silently breathe like that… Are you seriously possessed? That'd be better than doing it sober."
"Possessed… by ghosts or something? That's impossible…"
I tried to deny it but the words faltered. …Do ghosts exist in this world? I usually don't believe in such things, but Uma Musume are supernatural, and I was reborn as one.
"Whether it's your fault or not, go to Tachyon and get some sedatives."
"I'm fine… but I'll go join Deji-tan. See you later, Golshi-chan."
The clock shows just before 7 PM.
Summer days feel long, but they pass quickly. Twilight, or "tasokare" time, sometimes called the hour spirits appear.
…Golshi-chan mentioning ghosts got me thinking. But I'm indoors; no need to worry.
Deji-tan went to meet Tachyon, so I searched for her. In his lab, no sign of her.
"Hm… maybe she's in her room…?"
Just as I turn, a sound comes from the lab.
"…Is someone there?"
Walking sounds… maybe Tachyon is here. Digitan's presence isn't felt; maybe she hasn't met him yet. If I wait, she'll come eventually. I'll greet Tachyon and ask to wait.
"Excuse me, Taki…"
I open the door, but he isn't there.
Instead, a long blue-bay-haired Uma Musume sits with her back to me.
"…."
"Uh… hello…"
No reply, not even turning. I can tell who she is by her hair… Manhattan Cafe.
"…Um?"
Manhattan Cafe. Her long, beautiful blue-bay hair gives her an ethereal aura. She sees things others cannot—ghosts, invisible friends. She got a lab after negotiating with the student council; half of an empty classroom became her research space. She's Tachyon's protector too.
…She's sitting there, unreactive.
"…Is she sleeping?"
I cautiously approach and confirm: long bangs, mystical features… Manhattan Cafe. Eyes closed. Sleeping, probably.
But… why is she in Tachyon's lab and not her own space? Sitting upright without a backrest… unusual.
…Anyway. I can't leave her; might catch a cold. Something to cover her…
"Ah, Tachyon-san's lab coat… this'll do."
As I step closer, her eyes snap open.
"Eh… who…!? Floating…!?"
Her mysterious eyes glare, and she floats toward me. My body freezes.
Slowly but steadily, she approaches.
"Ah… ahh…!"
My body shakes violently; I drop the coat. Cold wind seeps through.
Now I realize: she's not Manhattan Cafe. Then who is this Uma Musume approaching so violently, floating?
"…No way… a ghost?"
Her hand reaches my chest, but I don't feel it—just see it sink into my arm.
"Myaa…?! Ghost…!?"
She gets closer until I only see her face. And yet… this face is…
"…H-hey, wake up."
Someone is patting my cheek.
"Hmm?"
"Oh, finally awake, Sleeping Beauty. Why are you lying here wearing my lab coat?"
"…Tachyon-san?"
I seem to have collapsed; Tachyon has been patting me.
"A-Aurora-chan…? Are you okay? You didn't take any of Tachyon-san's medicine, right…?"
Ah, Deji-tan here too. Cute.
"Digital-kun. Even if you had, I would be observing the experiment. I've been with you the whole time—alibi."
"…Then why were you unconscious in this room?"
I recall the strange time before passing out. Realistic yet surreal. Hard to explain.
"Hm… how should I put it…"
Suddenly, a voice from behind:
"I'll explain… I've already heard the story."
"…Huh? Who…!?"
It looks like the ghost earlier, but calmer. Manhattan Cafe, probably.
"Ah, Cafe. You said something happened in the lab… do you know what occurred here?"
"Yes… I heard from a friend. Aurora-san… I have a question. You can see them, right?"
"…I guess so…"
"My friend got a bit too excited… meeting someone who can see them after so long. But when you fainted, they covered you with the coat and came to inform me."
I see… so that's what happened. I never thought I had such talents… maybe rebirth has something to do with it.
"Wait, then why did Aurora-chan faint? Are you scared of ghosts or monsters?"
"No, Deji-tan. I know why."
Why I fainted from the ghost was simple:
"Your friend was… really…!"
"Really?"
"…Really…! Extremely cute!!"
The room falls silent.
"…Such a beautiful girl… coming into my body? No lips contact, but it's like a kiss! My body couldn't handle it!"
Silence dominates, but it's true.
"…Their presence is fading a bit."
Why move away? I want to stay close to cute Uma Musume… a bit sad.
"…Fascinating mental structure. Unprecedented… I want to examine your brain."
"…Keep it up, Aurora-chan…! As long as it's not me…! I can't see your friend, but precious things are still precious."
Tachyon-san says scary things casually, and Deji-tan is still in her usual otaku pose.
"By the way, Deji-tan. Saying 'kiss' makes me want to do it."
"I won't!!"
Refused immediately, but it's clearly embarrassment.
Anyway, today was truly a strange day. Cafe-san's friend… I hope to meet them again someday.