"...Oh? What a coincidence?"
Seiun Sky, holding a large pile of things, looked at the Blue-haired Horse Girl who was standing in front of her again.
Unable to free her hands, she could only twitch her lips and smile at them: "...How many times have we met today?"
"This is the third time already."
Mejiro Ardan, walking in the middle, also had a subtle expression on her face: "Seiun Sky... are you really not following us?"
"No."
Seiun Sky shook her head: "I told you, didn't I? I wouldn't do anything that would make a beautiful Uma Musume dislike me!"
"So, these three encounters are a rendezvous arranged by the Goddess of Destiny for us~?"
"Destiny, huh..."
Mejiro Ardan repeated a word spoken by the Black-haired Horse Girl, as if remembering something.
"But Seiun Sky, you're getting more and more things in your hands. Do you need my help?"
Mejiro Ardan asked, seeing that half of Seiun Sky's face was already covered.
"Hmm? Is that okay?"
Seiun Sky blinked when she heard Mejiro Ardan say that: "But, um..."
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself."
Seeing Seiun Sky hesitate and look at her, the Blue-haired Horse Girl, remembering that she hadn't told her her name yet, bowed gracefully to her: "My name is Mejiro Ardan."
"Mejiro Ardan?"
Seiun Sky blinked: "Can I call you Ardan directly, like them?"
"Of course."
Mejiro Ardan smiled and nodded.
She didn't know why... but every time she was with this overly friendly young lady, she felt very relaxed.
Not just physically relaxed, but as she walked alongside her, she felt her fragile, glass-like body also lighten up.
...Is it an illusion?
She wondered to herself.
"Then... excuse me."
Mejiro Ardan stepped forward and reached out to take half of the things Seiun Sky was holding.
"Phew... that's a big help."
After Mejiro Ardan helped her with half, Seiun Sky, feeling her vision open up again, let out a sigh of relief.
...She had too many things in her hands, even blocking half of her vision.
This made her somewhat hesitant when walking forward, worried that she might trip or step on something and fall.
Now that someone had helped her with half, that inexplicable pressure also dissipated into thin air.
"Not at all, I merely helped a lovely young lady who needed help."
Mejiro Ardan replied with a smile, imitating Seiun Sky's tone.
"Wow~ that's an unexpected answer."
Because she still had a lot of things in her hands, Seiun Sky could only blink.
"Then... I'll entrust this lovely and beautiful young lady to help me deliver these things to my home!"
The Black-haired Horse Girl in a white dress said with a smile.
...
"Little Fūga? When did you get back?"
Okumiya Takumi, who ran a small shop, looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl walking past his door, his face showing a surprised expression.
"It's Uncle Okumiya."
Seiun Sky, called out to again, nodded to the middle-aged man walking towards her, repeating words she didn't know how many times she had said: "Trainer gave me a day off today, so I want to go home and rest for a day."
"Go home and rest for a day... Little Fūga, you're planning to stay home and play games all day again, aren't you?"
Hearing Seiun Sky's answer, Okumiya Takumi's face became serious: "Staring at the computer all the time isn't good for your eyes."
"Mhm, I won't be playing games all day long~?"
Seiun Sky nodded obediently: "I'll let my eyes rest properly."
"Oh, come on, you said that last time too, and what happened?"
Okumiya Takumi unhesitatingly brought up old grievances: "...That day you played games for an entire day straight!"
"Because... because the game I played that day was just too fun~?"
Seiun Sky defended herself: "That's why I wanted to finish that game in one go."
"So that's why your room light was still on past eleven o'clock that night?"
Okumiya Takumi frowned, his face showing dissatisfaction: "...Did you forget that you were constantly yawning when you greeted me the next day?"
"Oh dear... I know I was wrong."
Seiun Sky whined: "Please forgive me, okay?"
"...You girl."
Looking at the smiling Black-haired Horse Girl in front of him, Okumiya Takumi said grumpily, then shifted his gaze to Mejiro Ardan, who was standing quietly beside her.
"Is she... your classmate?"
"Huh? No."
Seiun Sky shook her head: "She is..."
"My name is Mejiro Ardan, and I am her friend."
Before Seiun Sky could finish, Mejiro Ardan interrupted her: "Nice to meet you."
"Eh? Fri...?"
"Oh, oh! She's Little Fūga's friend!"
Okumiya Takumi, whose attention was completely focused on Mejiro Ardan, immediately became much more enthusiastic when he heard her say that.
Okumiya Takumi, who had originally wanted to shake her hand, put down his already raised hand when he saw that both of her hands were holding things.
"After this child started school, we've always been worried about whether she could make friends at school."
The middle-aged man standing in front of Mejiro Ardan even showed a moved expression: "...This child has been with us since she was little, and she's never met any other Uma Musume."
"We used to worry if this would affect her growth... In short, thank you very much!"
"Uncle Okumiya, what exactly are you...?"
"Children shouldn't interrupt when adults are talking!"
Okumiya Takumi glared at Seiun Sky, who wanted to complain about something.
Then, the Black-haired Horse Girl closed her mouth.
However, thanks to an Uma Musume's excellent physical abilities, Mejiro Ardan faintly heard her muttering things like 'that's too much'.
...This child is indeed loved by the people on this street.
Recalling the more than ten times she had been called out to by people on their way, Mejiro Ardan thought sincerely.
"Oh! That's right! Look at my memory."
After nagging for half a minute, Okumiya Takumi looked at the two Uma Musume holding things in their arms, patted his head, and then turned and left.
Then he dragged a shopping basket from under the counter, carried it to Mejiro Ardan, and then stuffed it into Seiun Sky's hands.
"Um... Uncle Okumiya, I'm already struggling a bit now, you know?"
Seiun Sky, whose load had increased again, looked at the middle-aged man standing in front of her: "Can you let Ardan help me carry it?"
"What are you saying, child? It's a rare occasion to invite a friend to your home, how can you trouble her with everything?"
Okumiya Takumi smiled and patted Seiun Sky's shoulder: "You must treat her well!"
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