*Byer? If I remember correctly... it's Byerley Turk?!*
*Could it be that the Three Goddesses are the Uma Musume versions of the three sire lines of thoroughbreds?*
Wada, having been in the horse racing industry for almost 20 years, still remembered the ancestral sire lines of most thoroughbreds today.
Hell, this was one of the many topics he needed to study when he was still training to be a Jockey in the JRA Horse Racing School.
Thus, when given this nickname by... a woman? A disembodied voice? Wada wasn't sure.
Regardless, when this entity claiming to be one of the Three Goddesses uttered that nickname, he immediately knew who it was referring to.
{{Indeed, that is my true name, young Trainer.}}
*Wait... you can hear my thoughts?!*
*Hold on, am I even speaking right now? Or am I thinking?*
As Wada became incredibly confused over his current body, it elicited a light chuckle from Byer.
{{This is simply a unique quirk of your own Mind World, a 'realm' that has taken form with your subconscious mind as its base, so to speak. Do not worry, you will get used to it.}}
As Wada was 'nodding' at this discovery, he quickly dismissed these thoughts and instead focused on the most important question he had when entering this space.
*The Three Goddesses actually exist? And you all can interact with us to this extent?*
*Are you three actually Goddesses? Do Gods even exist in this world?*
{{Of course we exist, young Trainer. Every reality has its own Gods, but they don't necessarily respond to everyone's voice, and neither do we,}}
Byer responded with a gentle smile.
{{However, we are also different. We guard this world, alongside the beautiful Uma Musume in it.}}
{{They are all our lovely children, and while we may not respond to every Uma Musume's prayer, we are always protecting them.}}
Just then, Wada felt Byer's 'gaze' lock onto him.
{{You, from another world without us, would probably understand this better than anyone else who originated from this world.}}
{{We have granted them bodies similar to your kind, allowing them to communicate, think, coexist, and love like you.}}
{{Moreover, we've made sure that they won't die from things such as injuries and sickness, as well as giving them the same lifespans as you humans.}}
But just as Wada was about to ask another question, Byer immediately resumed speaking.
{{As for why we don't appear more often, and why we don't right the injustices in the world... It's because we have decided to not overly intervene in mortal matters.}}
{{Despite being all powerful, us Three Goddesses are still flawed beings who can make wrong decisions at any moment, which could lead to devastating consequences.}}
{{Thus, we have limited ourselves to only small nudges. Whether the ones who have received our blessings could seize the opportunity given to them or not, depends entirely on them.}}
This last sentence made Wada silently close his 'mouth.'
Truly worthy of being a deity; just these two points alone were enough to resolve most of Wada's previous doubts, alongside him developing the utmost respect towards the Three Goddesses.
But the words of Byer also made Wada react and immediately ask,
*So, our arrival here was a mistake caused by you, the Three Goddesses?*
{{...Rather than a mistake, it was more a small prank from fate, completely unrelated to us.}}
{{We are truly sorry, but even we still don't understand many things. So we do not know the specific reason why or how you three came to this world.}}
{{But I can confirm one thing: the long-cherished wish in your hearts must have played an important factor in connecting the two worlds.}}
{{Just like it has now, allowing me to appear before you after hearing the prayer in your heart.}}
Then, the phantom of Byer slowly 'appeared' before Wada.
Although it was only a vague outline with some facial features, Wada could still tell that she was indeed an Uma Musume.
She seemed to not possess a physical body, nor even any true form.
Wada couldn't even tell if her outline was actually there or not, just that it 'existed.' As if his mind couldn't comprehend Byer's existence at all.
Still, just this 'outline' alone allowed people to feel her beauty and sacredness.
{{Now, let's get back to the main topic, young Trainer.}}
{{I heard the wish in your heart, and your sincerity moved me, which is why I appeared before you to answer your prayers.}}
{{And now, the time has come for you to choose. Are you willing to forever bind your destiny with the Uma Musume you cherish in this world, until your lives in this world also fade away?}}
*...If so, can I help her?*
Wada did not rush to agree immediately. He had not forgotten the original purpose of his prayer.
*If I choose to 'bind my destiny' with T.M. Opera O, will I be qualified to fight alongside her and overcome the obstacles she faces?*
{{We do not know the outcome of the blessings we give. All we can do is bestow a Miracle upon you,}}
Byer replied gently.
{{But if your wish is sincere enough, your voice could maybe reach the person you wish to hear it. Through that, you may possibly overcome all difficulties with them.}}
{{So, what is your choice, young Trainer?}}
*Binding destinies, heh... Sounds really mysterious.*
Wada chuckled softly, as if trying to calm his current nervousness.
But in reality, he was actually very calm, so calm in fact, that it surprised even himself.
*...Perhaps my destiny and hers were already bound together. Maybe I am still not qualified enough to be the one who can help her.*
*But as long as I can help her, even a little, I am willing to do it, even if it's only a chance.*
*I just want... to help her once, and not be so helpless.*
*—I am willing.*
{{Then, speak your name to me, young Trainer.}}
Byer showed a satisfied smile at Wada's answer.
{Wada Ryuji.}
Wada told Byer his name without the slightest hesitation.
{{Understood. Then, the one with whom you have been entangled for two lifetimes, connected by a thread of fate, and whose destiny will from now on be bound with yours—what is her name?}}
Byer asked again.
{—T.M. Opera O.}
Wada continued to answer.
{{Very good. The contract has now been set. Now, you just need to wait for the destined time to descend...}}
"...Ah."
In a daze, Wada suddenly opened his now-present eyes and consequently fell off the bench he was dozing on.
The stardust-like scenery before him had long disappeared, and everything around him became bright again.
He had returned to the real world.
As Wada laid on the rough ground, he thought that there was no way his meeting with one of the Three Goddesses just now could have possibly been an illusion.
Wada sat down on a bench again, trying to close his eyes and call out to the Three Goddesses, but it had no effect whatsoever.
"That couldn't have been a dream... The Three Goddesses really exist, and they even bestowed upon me... a 'Miracle'?"
"Did my destiny get bound with T.M. Opera O? Why do I feel like nothing has changed?"
Still somewhat unconvinced, remembering what Byer said about 'his voice reaching the one he wants to hear it,' Wada tried communicating with T.M. Opera O with his mind, similar to telepathy in movies and TV shows.
However, no matter what he tried, he couldn't hear a response from T.M. Opera O.
"No reaction... Could I really be having an episode? It shouldn't be..."
"...Maybe the time isn't right yet? 'Wait for the destined time to descend...' Just when is that exactly? Do all Gods speak so vaguely?"
Helpless, Wada could not find the answer to this question.
Still, he couldn't possibly treat his recent experience as a mere hallucination.
If a person's hallucination could be so realistic, Wada would suspect that he had developed some sort of mental illness or a brain tumor.
Something must have changed in him, or at least, something should have changed for T.M. Opera O.
But Byer said to wait... So, it must not be time yet, right?
Wada was also a bit unsure. He silently looked up at the statue of the Three Goddesses again, recalling what he experienced.
Suddenly, he remembered that he should also probably inform Ikezoe and Imanami of this.
I mean, he literally found out that God was actually real!
Even if they won't believe him at first, he'll just have to bring them to the Three Goddesses statue as proof.
Though Imanami might not, Ikezoe would definitely have a strong enough wish to summon the Three Goddesses.
But right as this idea came, Wada quickly abandoned this idea.
"I should wait until they need help before coming here... If they're not desperate enough, and they couldn't summon the Three Goddesses, they might send me straight to the mental hospital!"
Muttering to himself, Wada finally sighed and chose to return to the team building.
He was truly exhausted today; the events that transpired today were fantastical enough. He needed to get some good rest now.
'Wait... it was only noon when I arrived, so why is the sun already about to set? How long did I spend in that space?!'
As Wada quickly rushed towards the team building, one of the statues of the Three Goddesses emitted a faint glow, which, though fleeting, was enough to prove that everything that had just happened was by no means false.
{{Wada Ryuji... The destined time has yet to arrive. When you truly wish to fight alongside her, the power of the Miracle will answer your call.}}
{{But a nudge is all we can do. I may have given you this opportunity, but whether you can seize it... is all up to you.}}
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The Three Goddesses: {{Man... how did they even get here?}}
Suspiciously plot device shaped author: Idk.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.