During that time, Almond Eye also dropped by often.
Whenever she came, she would share funny little things that had happened lately, or talk about the progress she was making in her studies and how her exam preparation was going.
And through those back-and-forth conversations, Yasui Makoto became more and more aware that compared to Kitasan Black, Almond Eye's competitive streak might actually be even stronger than her senpai's.
It was not just in studying and training. Even when it came to games, she would quietly try to outdo Kitasan Black, and from the way she talked, she was the same with her friends and classmates too.
For example, if a new game had just come out—or she had only just started one—and nobody around her was playing it, then she would not care.
But the moment someone she knew was playing that game, she would reach the same level as fast as possible, then push further still. She absolutely had to surpass them.
Take the last two days, for instance. After finding out that Kitasan Black had been playing a game called Monster Hunter, Almond Eye had looked utterly lost when she first heard about it the day before. Yet when they played together today, she had already nearly caught up to Kitasan Black's progress and level.
...
That morning, in the living room of Yasui Makoto's rented apartment—
He stumbled out of his room, rubbing sleepy eyes, then stopped dead in astonishment.
It was not because the sofa had been shoved off to one side.
Nor because there was now a bed set up in the middle of the room.
And not because bright red lanterns were hanging from both sides of the living-room ceiling.
The bed and the shifted sofa were there because Kitasan Black had been taking care of Yasui Makoto these past few days. Wanting her to be able to sleep more comfortably, he had simply ordered a bed and had the delivery workers move the sofa aside while they brought it in.
The lanterns, meanwhile, were Kitasan Black's habit.
She had said her bedroom at home and her dorm room were both like that, and that without lanterns, something just felt off when she slept.
At that, Yasui Makoto had only gone speechless inside for a moment, silently offered Satono Diamond a bit of sympathy as Kitasan Black's roommate, and accepted it soon enough.
After all, they were not hanging in his bedroom. It did not affect him much.
What actually left him dumbstruck was that it was only a little after six, and Kitasan Black and Almond Eye—who had stayed over the night before—were... playing games.
And judging by the look of them... they had been at it for quite a while.
The two of them were staring intently at the television screen, hands moving rapidly over their controllers, eyes full of concentration, little excited cries slipping from their mouths now and then.
Kitasan Black's cheeks were slightly flushed from how focused she was, and the loose hair by her forehead had fallen a little out of place.
Almond Eye, meanwhile, had her brows knit tightly, giving the monster in the game her full attention. Fine beads of sweat had even formed on her forehead.
"Hey, you two..."
Yasui Makoto felt a headache coming on, along with a note of concern.
"Don't tell me you were up playing all night. Because if that's the case, I really am going to be mad."
At the sound of his voice, both of them seemed to snap awake and turned their heads at the same time.
Kitasan Black gave him a slightly awkward smile first, though there was still a trace of excitement in her eyes.
"Uh, Trainer, we didn't stay up all night... we just got up really early... but not that early, just after five..."
Then her voice got smaller and smaller.
"Did we wake you up, Trainer? Sorry..."
Almond Eye looked embarrassed too. She bit her lip and said quietly,
"Um... Trainer, I'm the one who dragged Kita-senpai into it. I'm only a little over ten levels away from catching up to senpai now..."
Yasui Makoto glanced at the screen in front of them and felt even more surprised.
They were playing Monster Hunter, a game he had played together with Kitasan Black before.
From what he remembered, the character Kitasan Black had made was already over level 160, while Almond Eye had only started two or three days ago.
And yet on her screen now, Almond Eye's character was already over level 140. She really was only a little more than ten levels behind Kitasan Black.
"...Seriously, Almond Eye. I know you hate losing, but don't turn this into one of those weird things you refuse to lose at..."
Pressing a hand to his forehead, Yasui Makoto let out a helpless sigh.
"And you too, Kita. You're the senpai here. You should know better about moderation.
"I'm not against you two playing games, but you still need to balance work and rest."
"If gaming starts affecting your training or your studies, then just like I said—I really will be angry."
Kitasan Black nodded at once.
"Got it, Trainer. We won't do it again."
As she spoke, she stole a glance at Almond Eye and added in a small voice,
"Trainer's right. This is on me too. I should've tried to stop you. I shouldn't have gotten that carried away..."
"Senpai, don't say that..."
Almond Eye lowered her voice too, cheeks warm with embarrassment. "I told you, I was the one who kept dragging senpai into it..."
Seeing the two of them like that, Yasui Makoto sighed again, then smiled.
"All right, enough apologizing to each other. As long as you know to keep it under control, that's enough."
"Stop playing, go wash up, and get ready for breakfast."
"Oh—right, we'll go make breakfast right now..."
Both Umamusume hurriedly got to their feet together, turned off the screen, and ran into the kitchen.
During breakfast, the two of them were quiet at first, like they were silently reflecting on what they had done. But when they saw that Yasui Makoto did not actually look upset, they soon started talking in low voices about the game again.
Kitasan Black enthusiastically shared various gameplay tips, while Almond Eye listened intently, asking questions now and then, her eyes shining with curiosity and excitement.
Seeing that, Yasui Makoto—knowing neither of them was the sort to lose themselves in play and neglect what mattered, and remembering it was winter break right now—did not stop them, only occasionally chiming in with a comment or two.
After breakfast, Yasui Makoto stood up and was just about to say something when his phone suddenly rang.
He pulled it out, looked at the screen, and froze for a second.
Seeing that, Kitasan Black asked curiously as she cleared away the dishes, "What is it, Trainer? Is the driver calling to say they're here to pick us up?"
It was only a few days after the New Year, and today's plan was to go to Asakusa together for a shrine visit. That was why Almond Eye had stayed over.
"Not exactly, it's just..."
Yasui Makoto answered quickly, then cast a strange, worried glance toward the window. He was just about to continue when someone knocked at the door.
"I'll get it! Trainer, you just rest!"
Before Yasui Makoto could move, Kitasan Black had already called that out and hurried to the entrance. She pulled the door open with a bright smile.
"Hello, this is the Yasui residence. May I ask—?"
She stopped halfway through.
Standing outside was a tall, slender Umamusume.
She looked to be around thirty. Perhaps because she had spent a long time working outdoors, her skin had a healthy wheat-colored tan.
Her black hair was tucked beneath a thick knitted cap, one that looked handmade. A few loose strands drifted lightly beside her cheeks.
Her features were soft, and beneath her high nose bridge, faint dimples could just be seen at the corners of her mouth, where a gentle smile rested.
Looking at that smile, Kitasan Black had the odd feeling that it was somehow familiar.
Before she could figure out why, the Umamusume outside looked her up and down for a moment, then craned her head slightly to peer into the room.
The gentle smile turned thoughtful, carrying a deeper, more suggestive meaning.
Then she spoke slowly.
"From the look of it... it seems you and that Yasui-san inside have already started living together?"
---
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