"Dia! Bless! Hurry up, you two!"
Seeing the gates of Central Tracen Academy appear at the end of the road, an exhilarated Kitasan Black urged her two friends trailing behind to quicken their pace.
"Kita-chan… there's no need to rush."
Watching Kitasan Black lead the way, the brown-haired Uma Musume with a diamond pattern gracing her bangs sighed helplessly. "I know you're eager to see Teio-senpai, but we must consider Bless's condition…"
"It's fine."
The white-haired Uma Musume walking alongside Satono Diamond cut her off. "You worry too much, Dia… cough!"
"Bless, you truly have no self-awareness, do you?"
Satono Diamond sighed, seeing her cover her mouth to cough. "Have you forgotten what happened the first time we met?"
"…Wasn't that all in the past?"
The white-haired girl averted her gaze, a slightly embarrassed expression crossing her face. "I'm much better now."
"Which is exactly why I said you have no self-awareness."
Satono Diamond grasped her friend's cold hand firmly. "You're sticking close to me, understand?"
"Alright, alright."
The white-haired girl nodded with a wry smile. "I'll stick close to you."
"Good."
Satono Diamond nodded, then quickened her pace, leading the white-haired girl to join Kitasan Black, who was waiting for them at the academy's main gate.
"…My, my? We have an extra little one this year."
The brown-haired woman in a green hat spoke warmly, her eyes curving into friendly crescents as she watched the white-haired girl being led forward by Satono Diamond. "Could you tell me your name?"
"Bless the Moment."
The white-haired girl met the woman's smiling gaze and stated her name. "I'm Bless the Moment."
"Bless the Moment…"
Hayakawa Tazuna repeated the name slowly, then nodded.
"Welcome to Central Tracen Academy."
She addressed the three Uma Musume before her and watched as they passed through the school gates.
"The welcoming committee isn't Teio-senpai and the others this year."
Once inside, Kitasan Black wasn't in a hurry to press forward. Instead, she paused just past the gate, scanning their surroundings.
"Well, it's decided by lottery, after all."
Satono Diamond said with a light laugh. "If McQueen-senpai's team were in charge again this year… we'd have to ask Bless to help cleanse that trainer of his awful luck."
"Is that trainer really that unlucky?"
"If Spica were handling the open day duties again this year, it would be his fourth year in a row."
Satono Diamond explained.
So, this Spica trainer had drawn the short straw for welcoming duties three years running?
Bless the Moment stifled a giggle.
Could anyone's luck really be that bad?
No way, right? Surely not?
"Let's head straight to the Spica team lounge."
Unaware of the white-haired girl's inner musings, Satono Diamond turned to Kitasan Black on her left.
"Okay."
Kitasan Black nodded.
--+--
"Kita-chan, what's wrong?"
Bless the Moment looked at the black-haired Uma Musume, whose steps had gradually slowed, a note of confusion in her voice.
"I just feel like… there's something I've forgotten to do."
Kitasan Black snapped out of her thoughts, looking up at Satono Diamond and Bless walking ahead. "But I can't remember what it is."
"If you can't remember, don't force yourself."
Bless the Moment offered comfort.
"..."
Kitasan Black furrowed her brow, thinking for a moment longer, before finally deciding to let it go and speeding up to catch them.
"Are we here?"
The white-haired girl followed Satono Diamond a bit further, finally stopping before an inconspicuous metal door. "This is the place?"
"Yep, this is it."
Kitasan Black nodded and reached for the door handle.
"Teio-senpai! We're he—"
The black-haired girl pulled the door open, her excited voice rapidly fading away.
"Kita-chan?"
Seeing Kitasan Black silently close the team lounge's metal door, Satono Diamond looked puzzled. "What's wrong? Aren't we going in?"
"Well…"
Kitasan Black gave a strained laugh and averted her eyes. "…McQueen-senpai is… a bit busy right now."
"Busy?"
Hearing this, Satono Diamond's spirits seemed to lift.
"Doesn't that mean our timing is perfect?"
"Huh?"
Suddenly filled with motivation from who-knows-where, the brown-haired Uma Musume strode quickly to Kitasan Black's side and reached for the door handle.
"Wait, Dia—"
Kitasan Black tried to stop her, but Satono Diamond was faster. Click! She pressed down the handle.
"McQueen-senpai, we're here!"
The brown-haired Uma Musume stepped into the team lounge, only to be met by an unexpected scene.
She saw the senior she admired most putting their trainer in an armbar, while another tall, grey-haired Uma Musume was crouched on the floor, excitedly slapping the ground with rhythmic pats.
"Ow, ow, ow! My arm! It's going to break!"
In the silent standoff between the two groups of Uma Musume, only the grey-haired one's counting and the trainer's pained cries from the floor could be heard.
"…My apologies, sorry you had to see that."
After the brief, rather undignified interlude, Okino stood up, habitually pulling a lollipop from his breast pocket, unwrapping it, and popping it into his mouth. He looked somewhat awkwardly at the three Uma Musume standing at the door.
…Wait. Three Uma Musume?
"Dia, who's the one behind you?"
Mejiro McQueen asked curiously, looking at the white-haired girl partially hidden behind Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black.
"McQueen-senpai, do you remember that good friend I mentioned once?"
Satono Diamond stepped further into the room, shifting to the side to fully reveal Bless to everyone's view. "This is her!"
"So this is Bless the Moment?"
Seeing Satono Diamond nod, Mejiro McQueen's face flushed slightly with embarrassment. "My apologies. I'm Mejiro McQueen. Sorry you had to witness that earlier."
"Pleased to meet you, McQueen-senpai."
The white-haired girl stared for a few seconds at the Uma Musume with long, light purple hair, retracting her gaze just before the other could notice, and responded with a smile. "I've seen you before, a long time ago."
A long time ago?
Puzzled by this statement, Mejiro McQueen then looked at Satono Diamond, who was standing by the door smiling knowingly, and thought she understood.
Ah, Dia must have shown her our photos together.
Mejiro McQueen didn't dwell on it further.
"Bless! Look out!"
Just after Bless the Moment entered the room, Kitasan Black finally remembered what she had forgotten and quickly called out a warning.
…Look out?
Bless the Moment was utterly bewildered.
Is something about to fall on my head… Eek!
"Ooh! These legs… Hm?"
Having unconsciously circled behind the white-haired Uma Musume, Kousei Oono reached out both hands and grasped her thighs.
He instinctively started to voice his appreciation, but the words cut off abruptly.
Wait, these legs?
Thwack!
In his moment of stunned confusion, another kick connected with his head, sending him tumbling backward to land flat on the floor.
Bless the Moment clutched her skirt, her face flushed bright red, as she scrambled forward a few steps.
…After all this time, how have you still not kicked that awful habit of fondling Uma Musume' legs?!
--+--
T/N: Exact translation was Blessing Moment but with horses like Fame and Glory and Man o' War i thought Bless the Moment sounded better at the time when i first translated. Later nicknames was Bless so it made more sense. Too late to change it.
--+--
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.