Knock knock.
Lively knocking.
Opening the door, three distinctive voices burst into the room.
"Surprise!!! x3"
It was Golshi, Orfevre, and Festa.
"...Aren't you all going home?"
Tomorrow is New Year's Day, you know!
Gold Legend's gaze swept over the three family members, noticing they each carried a plastic bag. She suddenly understood, stepped aside, and let the three Uma Musume into the dorm.
"Look at you, Oba-chan, you didn't go back either, did you?"
Gold Ship casually placed her plastic bag aside, then sat in Legend's gaming chair.
"Exactly!" Festa nodded.
"So, the truth?"
"If we go back now, Big Sister Lütu will definitely make us work. Those old guys will definitely slack off and dump the work on the family head. We'd be exhausted if we went back now!" Festa confessed readily.
"You really don't feel sorry for Sister Lütu at all," Gold Legend said helplessly.
"We feel very sorry for her, so we won't go back and add to her burden. Besides, Oba-chan, you didn't go back either, did you?" Orfevre hit the nail on the head.
"But I sent Sister Lütu a red envelope," Gold Legend said proudly, "and I also wrote a thousand-word letter of regret to express my sorrow and apology."
"...There's such a move?" Gold Ship was shocked.
"I think, given Big Sister Lütu's personality, she probably won't read a single word of that letter of regret," Orfevre grumbled.
"It's fine, it's just to show an attitude. Whether she reads it or not isn't important."
What's important is that it exists.
"Is this the adult world?" Festa nodded, indicating she had learned something.
"But you came at just the right time, I was about to eat hot pot!"
Gold Legend smiled. She had just been thinking that eating hot pot alone on New Year's Eve might be a bit lonely, but then company arrived.
"Putting aside why you're eating hot pot alone on New Year's Eve, Sister Legend, how did you manage to equip so many things in your dorm?" Watching Gold Legend skillfully pull out a small table, induction cooker, and pot from various nooks and crannies, and then take out vegetables and meat from the small refrigerator, Nakayama Festa couldn't suppress the burning urge to complain within her.
"You wouldn't understand, eating hot pot in the dorm is a sentiment!" Gold Legend smiled. "Besides, it's New Year's Eve, everyone who should go home has gone home, and those who aren't going home have gone out. There's hardly anyone in the dorm."
"As long as you don't get caught, it's not a crime, I get it, Oba-chan!" Gold Ship nodded in admiration.
"...Is that really okay?" Orfevre hesitated slightly.
"Well, since we're already here." Festa simply sat next to Legend and started helping with the preparations.
"Indeed." Orfevre gave up thinking.
"But I didn't expect you to come. There's enough main course, but the staple food might be a bit..."
The stored food had almost been annihilated by Oguri Cap.
"No problem, I brought instant noodles!"
Gold Ship took out several packs of instant noodles from her bag.
"...What kind of mindset do you have, bringing instant noodles to visit someone on New Year's Eve?" Festa said with dead fish eyes.
"Isn't it pretty good?" Orfevre said with a smile, "I just bought drinks."
Orfevre took out a whole stack of canned drinks from her bag.
The three of them looked at Festa.
"...I brought fried chicken and popcorn and stuff."
"Very good, very good." Gold Legend nodded. "One must eat proper meals and junk food to be considered healthy!"
Then the few Uma Musume busied themselves for several tens of minutes, finally putting together a 'beggar's version' of a Manchu Han Imperial Feast.
"Open the drinks, open the drinks!" Gold Ship impatiently grabbed a drink from Orfevre's bag, then remembered something. "Is the Kohaku Uta Gassen about to start? Where's the remote? I've been wanting to watch something on Oba-chan's big screen for ages!"
"You still watch that stuff?" Gold Legend said in surprise, taking the remote from the table and handing it to Gold Ship.
"Oba-chan, the content isn't important, the atmosphere is! How can New Year's Eve be without the Kohaku Uta Gassen!" Gold Ship said earnestly.
The four Uma Musume sat on the floor around the small table, uniformly pulling open their drink tabs, raising them high, and clinking them together to celebrate the New Year.
"Everyone, let's work hard next year too," Orfevre pulled down her mask, revealing a sincere smile.
"Of course, just wait, Gold Ship's era is coming soon!" Gold Ship said loudly, then picked up her chopsticks and snatched a piece of beef from Gold Legend.
"You should save your dreams for when you're actually dreaming," Festa said, taking a sip of her drink.
"Well, having dreams is a good thing." Gold Legend smiled and gave Gold Ship a 'fatal blow' with her foot under the table, then snatched back her beef.
"Speaking of which, Sister Legend, your plan for next year is the classic three crowns, right?" Ignoring Gold Ship, who was clutching her shin and wailing, Orfevre said to Legend.
"Of course. Rather, if there's a chance, no Uma Musume would miss out on that."
"Then I'll congratulate Sister Legend in advance for a triumphant start," Orfevre raised her glass.
"That's right, Oba-chan, you must work hard," Festa also joined in.
"I will work hard. Even I now have a reason not to lose!" Gold Legend said with a smile.
"Don't leave me out!" Gold Ship scrambled up and raised her glass.
The four Uma Musume talked over one another, happily whiling away the time.
A national singer's voice drifted from the television; outside, the night deepened, yet the city's lights never dimmed.
Everyone—love or hate, meeting or parting—lives under this same sky.
'What's wrong, Oguri? Day-dreaming during dinner isn't like you.' Her mother's gentle voice brought Oguri Cap back.
'Nothing. I was just thinking about Legend—wondering what she's doing right now.' Oguri Cap shook her head.
'Legend? The girl you keep mentioning lately? Bring her home sometime so Mama can meet her.'
'If the chance comes, I will!'
'Haha, my little girl's all grown up.' Mama Oguri smiled and heaped more food onto Oguri Cap's plate.
'A rare sight—McQueen ignoring sweets.' In the Mejiro mansion, Dober stared at the motionless cake in front of McQueen.
'Well, well, you have to understand the curious heart of a girl in love.' Light's grin carried a hint of mischief.
'Palmer really is stubborn.' Lene glanced at the empty seat, helpless.
'That child has her own ideas. We just cheer her on.' Ardan's smile was as graceful as ever.
'True.'
'Speaking of which, any progress with Wind God lately?' Ardan's sudden question cornered Lene.
'What relationship? We're only roommates.' Lene flustered, drawing stares from Dober and Light.
McQueen kept gazing at the cake.
Another ordinary day at the Mejiro estate.
Symboli Rudolf was the last to leave the Student Council Room. She checked the day's files, switched off the lights, stepped outside—and spotted a familiar ponytail.
'President, are you off now?' That distinctive voice asked the long-awaited question.
'Ah—sorry for the wait.' Rudolf gave a wry smile, and the two left the building together.
Agnes Tachyon and Manhattan Cafe sat opposite each other in the familiar classroom, a cup of black tea and a cup of coffee in hand.
'This is rare—your keeping me company for tea.'
'Just a whim. Besides, I'm drinking coffee.'
'A whim? That's nice—hahaha!'
Gold City stood at the apartment window, the glass reflecting her graceful figure wrapped in a warm blanket. She held the honey special drink someone had treated her to and gazed out at the vibrant city.
Nice Nature, wearing an apron, was cooking. Idly she opened her phone and saw several new greetings; a sigh—or something like it—escaped her lips.
Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka sat on their respective beds, turning pages.
'You actually didn't go home?' Vodka said casually.
'If I left, what would you do?' Daiwa Scarlet answered without thinking.
'…'
'…You're making all the decisions for me, huh!'
The two tussled together.
Same old bar. The Trainer stared at his whisky, face twisted in conflict.
'This is historic—you're actually paying.' Tojo Hana was delighted; getting this guy to treat was once-in-a-blue-moon.
'Come on, Hana, even I understand courtesy demands reciprocity.'
'So? What embarrassing favor can't you spit out?' Hana knew him too well.
'…' The Trainer opened his mouth, said nothing, and downed the whisky in one gulp.
The bartender refilled his glass.
The Trainer looked at the owner in puzzlement.
'It's her request.'
The owner answered without batting an eye.
Understanding dawned; the Trainer closed his eyes, looking ready to meet his doom.
Then, resolved, he spoke.
Miss Black Tiger sat on the hospital bed, ignoring her clownish Trainer's antics, eyes fixed on the wall-mounted TV.
Her phone chimed softly.
A familiar avatar from an unfamiliar account sent a message: [Happy New Year!]
'…How did she get my ID?' Miss Black Tiger turned to Trainer A Fu.
'Ehe~!'
'…'
She opened the message, intending to delete it—yet for some reason paused.
After a moment she decided not to erase the account.
Slowly she typed: [Happy New Year!]
Years never return.
Yesterday's dreams, today's sighs—nothing halts tomorrow's footsteps.
Yet walking with those we trust lets us carry on, even when our spirits falter.
Because tomorrow's sun will shine brighter, the breeze gentler, the world more brilliant.
So we believe.
★ I came, I saw, I conquered! ★
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