Kitahara had figured it out.
This world was not his possession. He had no reason, and no right, to shoulder responsibility for the so-called world all by himself.
And it was not just him. The same logic applied to the Three Goddesses.
Perhaps they were very powerful. Perhaps they had watched over this world for a very long time. Perhaps they truly had paid a great deal to maintain it.
But just as children would one day grow up...
This world, too, should leave the embrace of its mothers.
Of course, leaving that embrace did not mean turning its back on them completely.
It simply meant that, when children grew up, parents also had to learn to let go, to take the initiative to communicate with their children and listen to their opinions.
He was the same.
"So what do you plan to do?" the old Umamusume asked.
"I plan to ask first."
Kitahara stood up.
"I'll go talk to all of them. Umamusume, humans, or whatever else."
To communicate, to discuss, to put things into practice.
"For example, Granny, what kind of future do you want?"
The old Umamusume thought for a moment, then shrugged.
"I don't care what the future looks like. As long as I get to watch blockheads suffer, I'll be happy."
As she spoke, she gave Kitahara a meaningful look.
Kitahara: "..."
I knew it.
"Then are you leaving?"
"Yeah. I should go back and ask those girls what they think."
And so Kitahara left.
There were a few small incidents along the way, however.
For example, in Kitahara's expectations, Shanish probably would not be able to get out of bed anytime soon, so he entrusted her to the old Umamusume's care.
In the end, though, he had only just stepped out of the shop when Shanish followed him out.
Her legs were still weak, but at the very least, she could keep up.
"...Can't you rest there for now?"
Kitahara looked helpless.
"No."
Shanish refused flatly.
She had finally seized the chance to Uma Pyoi him. If she did not take the opportunity to stake her claim, then wouldn't she have done it all for nothing?
On the way back, they also ran into Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap, who were wandering around outside.
The two had come out to get food. As soon as they saw Kitahara, they immediately came over, and then they caught the scent on the two of them.
That mingled, inseparable scent, faintly carrying the scent of photinia blossoms.
Tamamo Cross froze in place, while Oguri Cap...
"Eclipse-san, why did you dye your hair white?"
Looking at the bleached version of Eclipse before her, doubt surfaced in Oguri Cap's eyes.
How had Eclipse-san still been black when she saw her at the academy just now, only to turn this white in the blink of an eye?
Kitahara sighed.
"She isn't Eclipse. Her name is Shanish."
"Is she Eclipse-san's sister?"
"...In a certain sense, that's not wrong."
Since they had run into each other, and because he had just figured things out, Kitahara also asked the two of them in passing how they viewed the future.
Of course, he did not tell them exactly what had happened. After all, the matter of the Three Goddesses was too consequential. It would not be good if word got out, so he only asked about their thoughts as casual conversation.
"As long as I can eat my fill, that's enough."
That was Oguri Cap's answer.
For some reason, though, when she answered, she stared straight at Kitahara, making his scalp prickle.
Everyone's already started eating? Why didn't they invite me...?
Oguri Cap was a little puzzled, but she did not show it.
Maybe I should ask the others sometime...
"Of course, it's being together with family."
Tamamo Cross said that.
Kitahara was not surprised by her answer. After all, Tamamo could hardly go three sentences without mentioning family.
He just did not know why Tamamo was also staring fixedly at him when she said "family."
If she had looked at him as though he were family, that would have been fine. After all, the two of them were fairly close, and Tamamo often jokingly said he was family.
But that look...
If one ignored her words, rather than looking at family, those eyes looked more like a wife looking at a cheating scumbag.
"Um, Tamamo, did something happen? You don't look too good..."
"I'm fine."
She was indeed fine.
At least, she thought she was fine.
She just did not know why her chest felt so tight, or why her fists had clenched on their own.
And it was at that moment that Shanish suddenly stepped forward.
"I want to talk to her."
Although Kitahara felt that Shanish stepping in so suddenly was a little strange, he did not stop her.
After all, what could possibly happen from just talking?
Then...
"He's your family, right?"
Her pale pink eyes looked straight into Tamamo's, as if they could see through a person's heart.
"Mm, ah, I guess so..."
For some reason, Tamamo felt a little flustered under that gaze.
"What about it...?"
"Then since he's your precious family, it's perfectly normal for you to take care of him and protect him, right?"
Tamamo nodded. "That's true..."
"Then isn't it perfectly normal for you to feel sad and angry when you see him like this? Look, he's a fragile human, and he's surrounded by dangerous Umamusume, all of them eyeing him greedily..."
"He might get hurt. He might be deceived. He might even fall into mortal danger because of it... As his family, isn't it perfectly natural for you to worry?"
It seemed... that was true?
Although Tamamo felt that something was strange, she could not find anything wrong with it.
"But Kitahara..."
"He needs your protection. He needs his 'family' to take care of him."
Shanish leaned close to her ear and whispered softly.
"You know that, don't you? This isn't enough. Not nearly enough. As family, you have to protect him more closely, more personally..."
"For example, staying by his side. For example, living together with him. For example..."
"Becoming true 'family.'"
She drew back, looked straight into Tamamo's eyes, and spoke sincerely.
"We aren't enemies. I can help you achieve that."
"After all, we're 'family,' aren't we?"
It was an argument riddled with holes.
But for certain people, it was already enough.
After all, what they lacked had never been clever, complete logic.
All they needed was a reason to deceive themselves.
The alley fell silent.
Tamamo Cross gave no response.
Only those eyes, originally so clear...
Gradually turned clouded.
...
"What did you say to her?"
"A secret."
Shanish answered with a smile.
Kitahara did not press her.
Although something felt strange, especially the look Tamamo gave him after she came back, it had only been a few words. There shouldn't be any problem, right?
Not to mention Tamamo was the kind of girl who hardly ever gave him trouble. He did not think she would cause him any harm.
And this, too, was within Shanish's expectations.
He had been soaked in a jar of honey for far too long. That had both advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage was that he was extremely sensitive to malice. Even the slightest bit of negative intent would be seen through and crushed by him at a glance.
The disadvantage was that when he encountered positive emotions, especially love...
Even if that love had swelled up like Planetary Devastation...
He would still turn a blind eye to it, even treating it as a natural phenomenon.
But one Tamamo Cross was still not enough. She needed more helpers...
And so, the group of four returned to Tracen Academy.
Then they ran into two people walking toward them.
Tokai Teio, and...
Eclipse.
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