"This is hell."
Jones grinned as he sauntered forward, walking past the gates of Tracen Central like he owned the place. "Come on, that's a little mean isn't it, Roppei-san?" He tugged his cap down, subtly shielding the terrified-looking Kitahara who was walking just behind him. "Can't you say something nice to your nephew for once?"
"I would if he had anything good to show." Musaka easily said, before his eyes twitched. "And it's Musaka, you fool!"
Jones grinned fondly. "Hah, even the words are the same…" He said.
Light giggled. "Well, he is Musaka-san, after all."
Jones nodded solemnly, as if processing some great truth. Musaka's eyes twitched with growing annoyance, and by sheer instincts, he whipped his cane forward. But with skill honed over months, Jones deftly sidestepped the sudden strike, letting the cane miss him by mere inches. "Gotta try harder than that, Roppei-san."
Nerves bulged on his neck. "It's Musaka, you fool!"
Belno couldn't help but stare slightly as she saw Jones begin bickering with Musaka. There wasn't a trace of discomfort on his face, despite them both technically never having met before. "So that's what your Kitahara is like…" She whispered, her eyes moving between Kitahara and Jones.
Light smiled. "They're rather similar, right? He's perhaps a little more confident, but everything else remains." She jabbed a thumb to her chest. "In his own words; he'd simply killed the part of himself that cringes. Aside from that, he's still the very same Kitahara you know by heart."
"Amazement! This Kitahara is a true veteran trainer!" Director Akikawa praised, holding up a fan with 'Amazing!' written across it in ink. "And you said that he entered Tracen Central at the same time you did?" She asked. Light nodded, and her eyes shone with awe. "Admiration! I am pleased to see that such a talent could blossom so beautifully!"
"I wouldn't call myself 'talented' or anything-, woah!" Jones said as he quickly dove beneath a sweeping attack. "I'm still an idiot. Just a lil' more privileged than others, that's all-!"
Light sighed fondly. "He's joking." She said, her smile wry. "He's the top-scoring trainer of his generation. Even our Director Akikawa thinks that he'll become a great trainer once he graduates from being an Apprentice."
"Agreement! I am glad to see that the me from your world shares my view!"
Hayakawa Tazuna giggled as Jones did a little curtsy as he avoided another strike from Musaka, before she cleared her throat. "Ah, please calm down, Musaka-san." She then turned her gaze towards Jones. "And please do not goad Musaka-san so much, Jones-san."
Jones quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry, sorry~"
Musaka clicked his tongue as he tapped his cane onto the ground. "As if you're sorry."
Jones just shrugged and grinned. Musaka scowled in annoyance, but he refrained from doing anything else. Despite how much he wanted to bash in that annoying face of his, he had things he wanted to ask. "So," he turned to Kitahara. "Have you found Blossom Star?"
And at that, Kitahara's eyes fell. "Ah, she's…"
"She's passed away." Jones finished, his smile now gone. The atmosphere suddenly turned cold, and Jones solemnly closed his eyes. "She passed away a couple months back."
Belno gasped, having never expected that her innocent request could turn out so terribly. Musaka's grip on his cane tightened, and he grit his teeth as he silently tipped his hat down. Director Akikawa's previously jubilant expression turned into one of sorrow, and even the usually composed Tazuna looked heartbroken.
Light nodded, seemingly having expected that answer. "I see."
Jones nodded back. It was clear both of them had known about it even before they appeared in this world.
And Belno just felt-, sad. Not just because the Star of this world had passed away when she was so young, but also because she could almost imagine what she could've been like from all the stories Light had shared about her. She could've almost imagined the way they would've been friends, even though their stories had diverged so much.
Now that had become impossible. Blossom Star was gone, and the world suddenly felt like it'd lost some of its color.
…
And then,
"Ah, as expected, hearin' someone talk about you being dead isn't a nice feeling."
Belno blinked in confusion, but her eyes then widened as she saw the three new figures that'd just passed the gates of Tracen Central. There were two Oguris; one of them was the Oguri she knew, while the other seemed like an older Oguri. But it was the other umamusume that truly shocked her.
Because–
"Star!?" Jones' jaw fell, and Star grinned as she playfully waved at him. "You're here too–!?" He then paused, and his eyes narrowed as he stared at her and the other Oguri for a little longer. "Wait, you're…"
Tazuna frowned. "Is something wrong, Jones-san?"
Star's grin widened. "As expected, you sussed me out immediately." She swept her hand to the right, letting her blue cape flutter behind her. "I am indeed not the Blossom Star you are familiar with. I and Oguri have come from a different fabric of space and time, and we have arrived as guides that shall ferry you back home!" She said, her voice grandiose and theatrical.
Luna nodded. "Nn. We're bringing you home, Kitahara, Belno."
"Ah…" Light nodded slowly, her brows furrowed. "And how exactly?"
"With this, my dear General!" Star cheerfully said as she pulled out a four-pointed star, made from the purest of silver. And the moment she brought it out, the star began glowing like the moon as it slowly rose into the air, pulsing with an energy that seemed to warp the space around it.
Jones' jaws fell wide open. "What the fuck." He whispered, staring at the glimmering star of silver that was floating in the air.
Star grinned playfully as she snapped her fingers. "Many things will change in the future—that's pretty much all I'll say. No spoilers, y'know?"
Jones' mouth opened and closed for the next few seconds, before he threw his hands up. "You know what? Sure, whatever."
"I'm glad you understand, oh King of Demons." Seeing his understanding, Star brought her hand forward, and the star slowly floated back down to her hand. "In regards to your return, simply inform me, and I shall shatter this star. The moment I do so, a pathway will open for you, and it shall lead you back home to Secretariat's mansion."
Jones nodded slowly, before he smiled. "So, you're basically saying you're from the future, right?"
"Indeed, much has happened since our first venture to America." Her smile was fond as she gazed at him.
He nodded. "Oh yeah? And how long has it been?" He grinned with pride as he waved at her hand. "Since, y'know, you got that around your finger."
"Huh?" Belno asked aloud, and her confusion only deepened when she saw the regret that flashed in Oguri's eyes.
But when she followed where Jones was gesturing towards, she couldn't help but gasp. Light followed not long after, and she stared with wide eyes.
"Oh my…" Tazuna whispered, before she smiled. "How wonderful!"
Director Akikawa laughed heartily as she pulled out a fan with 'Congratulations!' written across it.
Kitahara's jaw fell to the floor as he finally saw what it was Jones was pointing at, and even Musaka's sunglasses slipped slightly.
Because around Star's ring finger was a silver ring, adorned with a crown of beautifully carved diamond. And it wasn't just Star; another copy of that same ring was worn around Oguri's ring finger.
No other words were needed;
Star chuckled. "It's been a long time." She said, smiling softly.