Finally, at her wit's end with this dapple-gray Uma Musume, Nearl had no choice but to bring her along for the shopping trip—though "shopping" might be too generous a term for such a whirlwind of efficiency. In just forty minutes, most items were already checked off.
"Three sets of sportswear should be more than enough. That just leaves shoes and horseshoes…" Nearl muttered to herself, consulting the list in her hand. Pressed against her side, Everlamp clung to her left arm, beaming.
"Big sis Nearl, want my recommendations? I know some really well-regarded shops!"
Hearing this, Nearl turned to look at the eager dapple-gray pest still tugging at her sleeve. After a moment's thought, she finally agreed.
"Alright, let's go take a look at the shops you recommend, Little Lamp."
"Yay! This way, big sis Nearl!"
Once Nearl agreed, Everlamp lit up with excitement, darting ahead and waving for Nearl to follow, her tail swishing cheerfully behind her.
"Don't run so fast—there are plenty of pedestrians here. Be careful, Little Lamp," Nearl called out from behind before breaking into a light jog to catch up.
Everlamp then led Nearl on a zigzagging route through the streets, finally stopping after a few minutes in front of an old but well-frequented store.
"So, what do you think, big sis Nearl? This place has been open for almost a hundred years! It's the oldest Uma Musume gear shop in Kasamatsu, and now they've got tons of branches!"
Nearl studied the old storefront, a look of recognition dawning on her face. "You're right—this shop has quite a history. You can tell just from the exterior."
The outer walls were built of stacked bricks, with various scratches and discolorations bearing witness to the passage of time. The windows still used old-fashioned wooden sliding frames, painted a warm red that gave off a cozy feel.
The entrance consisted of two sliding doors that seemed newly installed, standing out somewhat awkwardly. Above the door hung the shop's sign.
"Quit staring—come on, let's go!"
Before Nearl could take a closer look, Everlamp impatiently tugged her inside, pulling her straight into the shop.
Noticing the impulsive young horse girl, the other customers chuckled softly and made way.
The interior wasn't all that different from other stores. Several shelves along the walls displayed athletic shoes of every style imaginable, from cute and playful to sleek and minimalist.
The central counter housed a wide array of horseshoes in various sizes, some even adorned with intricate patterns.
Seeing Nearl's eyes linger on the horseshoe section, Everlamp pointed to herself eagerly.
"Big sis Nearl, want me to explain them to you?"
"No need. I know a thing or two about horseshoes and shoes—I can pick out what I need myself."
Shaking her head gently, Nearl declined Everlamp's offer. She'd learned about the uses of different horseshoes as a child and felt confident making her own selection.
"Aw~" Everlamp dragged out the sound in disappointment before reluctantly wandering off to the athletic shoe section, leaving Nearl alone to examine the horseshoes.
'Not this one—the size is too small. It'd pinch during a run.'
Nearl picked up one horseshoe, carefully noting its curvature and size, then shook her head and returned it to its place before picking up another to examine.
'This one's too big. It wouldn't stay on properly.'
After a moment's consideration, she shook her head again and set it down.
After searching through the entire selection, Nearl finally found a horseshoe in the right size. She hefted it in her hand and frowned.
'So light, yet the hardness is high. Must be a model designed for races. This type doesn't last long.'
She stood there for a moment, deep in thought, then took the horseshoe over to the shop attendant.
"Excuse me, do you have other models in this size?"
The middle-aged man behind the counter took one glance at the horseshoe in Nearl's hand and nodded understandingly.
"What will you be using it for?"
"I need something durable for daily training. This type wears down too easily—it's not built to last."
Nearl stated her requirements clearly. Weight wasn't an issue for her, but durability was paramount given her intense training regimen.
"Alright, just a moment."
The attendant immediately bent down, rummaged under the counter for a bit, and pulled out a box filled to the brim with horseshoes.
"Here—these are all the same size, but they vary in material and weight. Take your pick."
"Thank you." Grateful, Nearl began carefully searching for the type she needed. It took her a while before she selected one.
'This is the one—new alloy, resistant to deformation, durable and hard-wearing. The only downside is the weight, but that's not an issue for me.'
After a thorough inspection, she settled on this model.
"Hello, I'd like this one. Do you have anything heavier?" she asked cheerfully, holding up her chosen horseshoe with a satisfied expression.
"Heavier?" The attendant looked Nearl up and down, puzzled. "If you want something heavier, it'd have to be custom-made, and it wouldn't be cheap."
"I see…"
Nearl fell silent, mentally calculating her expenses before finally shaking her head regretfully.
"Never mind, then. I'll take this model. Please give me twenty identical pairs."
After handing the sample to the attendant, Nearl turned and walked toward the athletic shoe section, where Everlamp was carefully examining a pair of shoes.
As Nearl approached, she noticed Everlamp scrutinizing a pair of pink-based sneakers adorned with purple ribbons and sprinkled with glitter, giving off a distinctly girly vibe.
"What's this, Little Lamp? Do you like this style?" Nearl asked curiously, standing behind her.
"Big sis Nearl, you're here!" Everlamp turned around with a bright smile before lifting the shoes reverently with both hands. "Actually, I picked these out for you!"
"..."
Nearl stared silently at the excessively youthful shoes, feeling goosebumps rise on her arms.
Just the mental image of herself wearing these on the track made a chill shoot from her soles straight to the crown of her head, and she shuddered.
"Ah, heh… that really won't be necessary. This style doesn't quite suit me," Nearl said with an awkward smile, trying to gently decline Everlamp's well-intentioned gesture. She truly struggled with such flashy attire.
But almost immediately, Nearl watched as the dapple-gray cutie's eyes began welling up with tears. Her lips pressed tightly together, and she sniffled a few times.
At that moment, Nearl knew—there was no way out.
--+--
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.