Damn it... why isn't this guy replying?
Her composure thoroughly shaken by the other party's single message, Mejiro Ardan frantically tapped the virtual keyboard, sending message after message to [SilentGazer], yet received no response.
Just who the hell is this person?
How do they know about that tiny mole on the Trainer's inner thigh?
Are they human? Or a Uma Musume? Or maybe, just like Trainer Okino said, some kind of ghost?
After firing off several messages in a row and seeing they all remained unread, the blue-haired Uma Musume's agitation cooled slightly.
...Could this be related to Bless the Moment?
Suddenly remembering the transparent screen that had appeared before her eyes, Mejiro Ardan wondered.
"Ardan?"
Admire Vega, walking beside her, watched the blue-haired Uma Musume whose face had cycled through countless expressions in just a few seconds, and asked curiously, "What did he reply?"
"...Admire."
After a moment of heavy silence, Mejiro Ardan turned to look at the brown-haired Uma Musume beside her, her expression serious. "Back when the Trainer was still here, how far did you and she... go?"
It should be... me, right? Wasn't I the one who progressed the fastest with the Trainer?
The once unshakable certainty she held about this matter was now wavering.
"How far?"
Under the blue-haired Uma Musume's gaze, Admire Vega thought for a moment. "...We only ever held hands, I suppose?"
Hah...
Hearing Admire Vega's words, Mejiro Ardan let out a sigh of relief.
So she was overthinking it.
She really was the one among all the Uma Musume the Trainer had trained who had gotten the closest to her.
"Someone is impersonating the Trainer," the blue-haired Uma Musume stated succinctly.
"Who?"
Admire Vega's gaze sharpened.
"Him."
Mejiro Ardan turned her phone screen around, showing the chat history to Admire Vega.
"[SilentGazer], is it?"
Admire Vega stared at the phone screen for a long moment, committing the nickname to memory.
"Shall we go find him now?" Admire Vega was eager, ready for action.
"Not so fast." Mejiro Ardan shook her head. "Let's visit the Trainer first."
"That's true..." The brown-haired Uma Musume nodded, then, as if remembering something, glanced towards the student council building.
"Speaking of which, Maruzensky has been running out a lot lately..." Admire Vega voiced her confusion. "Is there some urgent business with the student council recently?"
"Maybe she's preparing something to bring for the Trainer?" the blue-haired Uma Musume suggested after some thought, offering another possibility. "We'll find out when the time comes."
"That's true." Admire Vega nodded.
--+--
Time flew by.
Admire Vega sat curled into a ball on the slope beside Tracen Academy's main training field, knees drawn up, gazing at the starry sky overhead.
It was a good night for stargazing.
"Good evening," Admire Vega said smoothly, finding her sister's star among the multitude with practiced ease. Her expression softened considerably the moment she spoke. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
She saw the star representing her sister twinkle, as if responding to her words.
'It's getting cold, you shouldn't come anymore?' Heh. Admire Vega chuckled softly, then pulled her clothes tighter around herself. "It's fine. My clothes are thick, I won't catch a cold."
"Besides, if I didn't come to chat with you, wouldn't you be lonely here all by yourself?"
"Luckily, I'm free tonight, so I can keep you company."
After she finished speaking, she saw the star in the sky pause for a few seconds before it began twinkling again.
'The anniversary of the Trainer's death is coming soon, isn't it?' "Yes..." Admire Vega started to speak, but the words caught in her throat.
In two days, it would be the anniversary of the Trainer's death.
They stood outside, while their Trainer, long since reduced to bones, lay inside.
Even though they knew the Trainer, sleeping eternally, couldn't hear their words anymore, they still acted like fools—standing, or crouching—talking to the gravestone bearing her photo as if talking to themselves, dissolving their longing for the Trainer into their words, deluding themselves into thinking she could hear.
But they all knew, deep down. The Trainer had long since passed away.
"...Do you, do you want to go see the Trainer?" After the silence, Admire Vega, snapping back to reality, spoke hurriedly, not wanting her sister to detect her turbulent emotions. "If you do, I'll make another trip tomorrow night, and we can keep the Trainer company together."
"..."
Yet, her sister in the sky didn't answer for a long time.
Puzzled, she looked up at the star, only to notice its light had grown fainter.
What's wrong?
Sensing something amiss, Admire Vega stiffened, the arms wrapped around her legs unconsciously loosening and clenching into fists.
Could it be that her sister...
'Sis, there's something I need to tell you.'
"Go ahead." After an anxious wait, Admire Vega finally relaxed a little upon hearing her sister's response, her tense body slumping.
'Actually... the Trainer is still in this world.'
"...What did you say?!"
Her momentarily eased heart leapt back into her throat. Admire Vega stood up, staring dumbfounded at the star in the sky.
The Trainer is still in this world?
How is that possible?!
Admire Vega's first reaction was disbelief.
She... including herself and many others... had seen the coffin containing the Trainer's body lowered into the ground.
And now you're telling me the Trainer is still in this world?
It's impossible!
'It's true...' Her sister's voice continued in her mind, though this time it carried a hint of guilt.
'The Three Goddesses told me not to tell you, Sis. They said they wanted to give you all a surprise. But I saw how much you missed the Trainer, so I'm telling you directly... Sis, you absolutely mustn't tell anyone else! If the Three Goddesses find out, I'll be punished.'
Thump!
The brown-haired Uma Musume stood frozen in place as if petrified.
Standing alone by the edge of the training field, Admire Vega heard the beat of her own heart gradually quicken.
The Trainer is alive?
Her mind completely occupied by that single, short sentence, Admire Vega's breathing grew heavy.
The Three Goddesses said the Trainer is still in this world?
"Where is she?"
'Huh? Th-that...'
"...You can't say?"
'...Oh, Sis, you're just impossible.' She heard her sister heave a helpless sigh. 'The Trainer has been reincarnated as a white-haired Uma Musume. Her name is Bless the Moment.'
'But! Right now, she's only fourteen years old, Sis. You absolutely must not get any improper ideas about her, okay!'
"Mm." Admire Vega nodded.
Improper ideas?
She just wanted to see the Trainer again. What bad intentions could she possibly have?
Sorry about this... Ardan.
This time, I've taken the lead.
--+--
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.