"Come to think of it, everything's felt a bit off lately."
Inside Agnes Tachyon's laboratory, Platinum sat in a chair before the experiment table, hands tightly clasped together, her expression grave.
"You've certainly been a mess, just don't drag me into it," Agnes Tachyon replied, smoothing down a stray lock of hair and wiping a trace of drool from the corner of her mouth.
If Platinum felt tired during the day, Agnes Tachyon was naturally exhausted too.
At least Platinum was still running on something resembling a human sleep schedule—Agnes Tachyon's rhythm was more like Jupiter-time, sleeping whenever the whim took her. And now, with Agnes Tachyon overseeing multiple training regimens for Platinum, she snatched sleep whenever she had a spare moment.
Having already skipped her morning classes, Agnes Tachyon had been looking forward to a nice, long nap in the lab, waiting until the afternoon to resume her… training of Platinum.
She hadn't expected Platinum to beat her to it, showing up early and disturbing her rest.
"No, I'm being serious," Platinum squirmed uneasily in her seat.
"It's about that Uma Musume called Neo Universe."
"Tch." At Platinum's words, Agnes Tachyon couldn't help but click her tongue in annoyance, a look that clearly said 'here we go again' spreading across her face.
"What's that look for! I'm genuinely troubled here!" Platinum smacked the table.
"I'm listening," Agnes Tachyon said, pulling out a wooden comb to tidy her messy hair.
"I… I have no memory of her at all before," Platinum rubbed her forehead. "But then… when I went to class today, she was sitting right next to me… and she even came to collect my homework…"
"So you're saying you didn't do your homework?" Agnes Tachyon finished combing her hair and gave it a pat.
"That's not the point! The point is, in my memory, my neighbor was never Neo Universe." Platinum tugged at her own hair in frustration.
"But I can't remember who was sitting next to me…"
Agnes Tachyon let out a short laugh, took off her lab coat, got up to retrieve her spring uniform from the wardrobe, and sat back down. Lifting her head, she found Platinum staring intently at her.
"I'm listening. I understand your situation. You'd be fine if you just stopped staying up so late."
"It's not that simple, it's just…"
"Platinum, let me ask you, when did Nelson Mandela die?"
Platinum was taken aback. "Around the 80s or 90s of the last century, I think… Why do you ask?"
"But in reality, Mandela died in 2013. He lived a full thirty years longer than what you just said."
Agnes Tachyon placed two teacups on the table, picked up the teapot, and poured herself a steaming cup of black tea. "Let me ask you another one, what are Mickey Mouse's classic clothes?"
"Those black and white overalls, right…"
"Wrong. He only wears a pair of shorts. His upper body has always been bare."
Agnes Tachyon waggled her index finger. "That's the Mandela Effect. It's that feeling you get when your fuzzy memories clash with reality."
"It's really just an illusion. You've been living your life just fine, and she's always been your deskmate."
"As far as I know, Neo Universe has always been in the same year as you. And she's plenty strong—a formidable rival for you aiming for the Triple Crown."
"Now, be a good girl and go back to class," Agnes Tachyon said, her tone coaxing. "If Symboli Rudolf finds out you skipped class just to come see me, she'll murder me."
"…" Platinum skeptically touched the bridge of her nose. With Agnes Tachyon putting it like that, she was starting to doubt herself.
"Tachyon, we're coming in." A knock sounded at the lab door, and immediately after, Daiwa Scarlet and Leap of Faith walked in together. "Oh, Platinum's here too."
"Your class is over?"
Daiwa Scarlet was carrying a tote bag filled with various biscuits and canned goods.
"Manhattan Cafe sent me. She said your food stash should be running low by now, so I'm here to restock it. Wouldn't want you to actually starve."
"Ah, you're a lifesaver."
Meanwhile, Leap of Faith scampered over to Platinum and immediately tried to throw her arms around her neck.
"So long, so very, very long since I've seen you! I missed you to death! Come here, my precious Platinum, give me hugs and kisses!"
Platinum rolled her eyes and ducked her head, evading Leap of Faith's grasp. "Use your words. Keep your hands to yourself."
"And besides, since when has it been 'so long'? We saw each other just yesterday!"
Undaunted, Leap of Faith continued reaching for Platinum, her hands poised eagerly.
"I just need to familiarize myself with your body… How else am I supposed to fulfill my duties as a support Uma Musume?"
Yes, Leap of Faith had become a support Uma Musume.
Truth be told, being a support Uma Musume wasn't an easy job. While she no longer had to train herself, there was far more she needed to learn.
Understanding the various ailments and issues of Uma Musume, learning massage techniques, formulating nutritional supplements… she even had to provide psychological counseling. Many of the things Agnes Tachyon had been doing actually fell under the purview of a support Uma Musume.
It was precisely for this reason that Leap of Faith had been spending more and more time with Agnes Tachyon lately.
Although Leap of Faith was still a novice support and hadn't been assigned to anyone specific yet, when Fuji Kyoji learned about her sudden career change, she had flown into a rage.
"Just go on and orbit around her then! Forget being a proper Uma Musume, forget everything else, just go be her little support lackey!"
For some reason, her words had carried a distinctly sour note.
Platinum's eyes darted around. "Do you guys know Neo Universe?"
Daiwa Scarlet: "Yeah, she's in your year, right? Aren't you two in the same class?"
Leap of Faith: "Her recent race results have been really good. Is Platinum feeling a bit threatened?"
Platinum fell silent, stroking her chin in thought.
Hearing everyone say that… maybe she really had been too sleep-deprived?
"Alright… If there's nothing else, go get some lunch. Don't forget your afternoon training," Agnes Tachyon shooed Platinum away with a wave of her hand, as if swatting a fly, once Platinum had finished questioning the other two.
Seeing everyone around her in agreement, Platinum could only wonder if she really ought to start going to bed earlier. Lost in thought, she stood up and walked out of the laboratory, pausing to look out the window.
Spring was in full bloom, with lush green shades everywhere. While Tokyo's winters were never particularly harsh, the arrival of spring, accompanied by fine, drizzling rain soft as ox hair, brought an immediate, warm comfort to the body.
"Whatever, if I can't figure it out, I'll stop trying." Platinum decided to stop torturing her overclocked brain and headed towards the cafeteria.
Tap, tap, tap.
After Platinum left, the sound of footsteps echoed through the empty corridor.
Neo Universe, her golden hair shining, descended the staircase and gazed in the direction Platinum had gone.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 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.