...
Gold Legend thought quietly.
What did Oguri mean? She said she loved me, right? Could I have misheard?
"It must have been my illusion, right? Yes, that's it... No way!"
She wasn't some idiotic protagonist from a novel; at least in this regard, she wouldn't lie to herself.
But if this was true, then another problem arose.
What did she want? She was currently an Uma Musume, and while Uma Musume'sticking together' was a popular thing, it felt a bit problematic when it came to her.
She was straight... Oh, now she was a straight woman.
Her values absolutely could not accept homosexuality!
However, if it was Oguri Cap, it wasn't entirely unacceptable... Gold Legend fell into a dilemma.
And then the last question: how should I respond?
Whether she agreed or refused, it seemed difficult to face her... Gold Legend hated this kind of passive relationship change!
...In short, let's avoid it for a while!
Gold Legend decided on her next move with a clap of her hands.
Avoidance is shameful, but it works!
Before confirming her feelings and thoughts, she shouldn't make rash decisions. Some things still needed careful consideration.
Gold Legend found reasons for her avoidance.
Moreover, Legend knew, more or less, that Oguri Cap's confession this time couldn't be brushed off with a perfunctory response.
This woman was somewhat self-aware after all.
Although it was a preconceived prejudice and an instinctive attempt to muddle through.
But now that Oguri Cap had made it clear, the previous situation was also very clear.
"Hiss, looking at it this way, have I been cornered?"
Legend murmured to herself.
"Cornered by what?"
A gentle, ethereal voice sounded, and a blue figure came to Legend's side.
It was Mejiro Ardan.
"Nothing, just recalling some things." Legend waved her hand, and incidentally activated her domain's work mode, allowing herself to escape unnecessary thoughts.
Although everyone might still remember, I'll explain it anyway.
This was a byproduct of her domain development: using the domain to enhance her five senses, gaining perception far beyond ordinary people, and greatly increasing her focus.
She was now using this to stop herself from thinking about Oguri Cap.
It was rude to think about other things while talking to someone.
"I need to thank you." Ardan smiled gently.
"Thank me for what?" Legend didn't quite understand.
"The exhibition race you arranged, thank you for giving us this opportunity to make up for our regrets." Ardan turned to look at Legend, her eyes holding a special emotion.
"It was just going with the flow. It's great if you all had fun." Legend maintained her state, not noticing anything.
"Perhaps it was just a small favor for you, but it's very important to me." Ardan's smile became even brighter, "After all, this might be our last race together."
Ardan's tone when she said this was very complex, mixed with many inexplicable emotions.
...
There was a moment of silence between the two.
"Oh, by the way, Ardan, thank you for your help this time." Legend suddenly spoke.
"Eh? What are you suddenly saying?" Ardan didn't react.
"For Oguri Cap's birthday this time, if it weren't for your strategic planning and excellent coordination, we wouldn't know what would have happened if we relied solely on ourselves."
The successful hosting of Oguri Cap's birthday fan meeting was all thanks to Ardan's arrangements.
Look at Oguri Cap's friends; who among them could handle such a task?
Emperor Rudolf was busy with Student Council matters, and Belno Light only understood logistics.
Tamamo Cross and Super Creek weren't good at such things.
As for the rest... Dido Shooter, Chiyono O, Inari One, and so on... Gold Legend was thrown into networking and backdoor dealings after just proposing an idea.
It could be said that the entire fan meeting succeeded thanks to Ardan's arrangements; otherwise, who knows how it would have turned out.
"Oh, that. It's for helping Oguri Cap, so it's fine." Ardan smiled, indicating it was no big deal, "And everyone will definitely remember this birthday party, which is the best reward for me."
...Are you an angel? Gold Legend felt like she saw an angel.
"It's not that exaggerated." Ardan chuckled playfully, "There's no angel like me who wants to steal a friend's things."
"What do you want to steal?" Legend felt like she heard something that didn't fit the image of a young lady.
"Guess?"
"I can't guess." Gold Legend seemed to have noticed something, but in work mode, she temporarily ignored it.
"Hee hee, then take your time thinking. I won't tell you~" Ardan was mischievous for once.
"Speaking of which, when is your birthday, Ardan?" Legend, sensing something was off, instinctively changed the subject.
"Eh? Why so sudden?"
"Look, only Oguri Cap's birthday is celebrated so grandly; it's not fair to everyone else, so I want to ask you..." Legend spoke evasively.
"No, there's no need for such trouble. My family has already prepared a birthday banquet, and for a prestigious family, such dates cannot be arranged by oneself." Ardan said with some annoyance.
"However, if Legend-san wants to come, I can give you a special invitation."
Saying that, Ardan smiled and took out an exquisitely packaged invitation from her bag, fully displaying an air of high society.
"Big families are so troublesome... Then I'll unceremoniously accept this invitation." Legend, without being polite, took the invitation, "Can I open it and take a look?"
Legend was still very curious about such things; no other meaning, just wanted to broaden her horizons.
"Please do~" Ardan's smile remained.
"By the way, when exactly is your birthday?" Legend casually asked while opening the invitation.
"Tomorrow~" Ardan smiled radiantly.
"Eh?" Legend froze. She looked at Ardan's smile, then at the invitation in her hand.
"Huh???!!!" Gold Legend was so startled that she exited work mode.
"Hehe, consider it a punishment for Legend-san. I'll be looking forward to your gift~" Ardan chuckled lightly and left gracefully.
...
Truth be told, Gold Legend was indeed cornered... Early the next morning, Gold Legend rushed to block Mejiro Ryan's door.
"So, you don't know what Mejiro Ardan likes, so you came to me for advice on choosing a gift?"
Ryan asked Legend, who was beside her, while changing clothes.
"Exactly!"
"Then why don't you go find McQueen?" Ryan asked curiously.
By all accounts, it didn't seem like it was her turn.
"It's McQueen's birthday in a few days too, right? Might as well!" Legend stated, calling it efficiency.
...You'll get hit for that.
A gift from one's beloved chosen casually along with another's, it felt strange no matter how you looked at it.
"Why? There's nothing wrong with that." Legend didn't understand.
Legend was puzzled.
...Never mind, unfortunately, I have something to do today and can't accompany you." Ryan said with some regret.
"Eh!"
"But it's alright, I found someone else to accompany you. That child will probably suit your requirements even better." Ryan smiled mysteriously.
"Ryan? Why did you call me?" A cold beauty with long black hair entered Ryan's room.
"You've come at the right time, Dober. Your task today is to accompany Legend-san to choose a satisfactory birthday gift for him. That's all. I have things to do, see you tonight."
Ryan stepped forward, pushed Dober in front of Legend, then picked up her own things and left without a word.
...
Legend and Dober exchanged glances.
"Um, hello, Dober." Legend tried to greet her.
...Hello. Dober took half a step back.
...Well, anyway, please take care of me today.
"Mm."
Someone save me!
What's wrong? She wasn't this stiff last time we met. Did I do something rude?
Legend-san started doubting her life.
"You don't have to mind me. It's just... I'm not used to this." As if sensing Legend-san's dilemma, Dober spoke.
"Ah, this..." Legend-san was speechless for a moment.
"Let's go. The banquet is tonight, so it's better to finish early." Dober said calmly, walking out of the room first.
"Eh, wait for me." Legend-san reacted, hastily followed, and closed the door... "What kind of gift would make Ardan happy?"
The two arrived at the mall. Legend-san chatted with Dober casually while browsing.
"Actually, I'm not very sure. Mejiro Ardan hasn't explicitly said what kind of gifts she likes." Dober shook her head. "However, no matter what Legend-san gives her, Mejiro Ardan will be very happy."
"What are you planning to give this year, Dober?" Legend-san continued to ask.
"This year, it's clothes. Beautiful clothes that suit Mejiro Ardan's temperament," Dober said faintly.
"Oh~ that's exciting," Legend-san echoed.
"Right? After all, Mejiro Ardan is so cute." Perhaps the conversation was working, and Dober relaxed quite a bit.
"Dober is cute too," Legend-san blurted out without thinking.
"...You're making it awkward. I know I'm not cute at all." Dober's face immediately darkened.
"...Did I say something wrong?" Legend-san was bewildered.
"No, nothing." Dober shook her head. "But, Legend-san, you're really putting a lot of thought into choosing a gift."
"After all, it's for Ardan." I've received a lot of care from her.
"No, I'm just doubting your character." Dober's tone carried an inexplicable sharpness. "You already have McQueen, yet you're still preparing such an elaborate gift for someone else. How awful."
"Huh? What does this have to do with McQueen?" Legend-san asked, genuinely puzzled and unaware of any issue.
"...You..." Dober looked at Legend-san's confused expression and began, "You really don't understand?"
"...If you don't tell me, how would I understand?" Legend-san was baffled.
"...Alright, never mind." Dober opened her mouth, sighed, but said nothing.
Can you please not be a Riddler?
Legend-san was helpless.
"I didn't expect you to be such a person? You really are an interesting individual." Dober, having figured things out, abandoned her already negligible hostility and decided to observe naturally.
"Thank you for the compliment?"
"I wasn't complimenting you! By the way, where did you get the snacks in your hand?" Dober turned her head for a moment and was startled to see Legend-san holding a bag of snacks.
"The snack shop around the corner just now. Want one?" Legend-san offered Dober a snack.
"I'm very picky about snack flavors..." Dober took it, took a bite, "...Delicious!"
"How is it? My taste isn't bad, right? Ah, the wagashi here is good too." Legend-san pointed to another snack shop.
"Take me there quickly!"
..."How about it? The Kuzumochi here is great, isn't it?"
"Mm-hmm, it really is good."
..."Legend-san, come and try this."
..."Dober, that shop also has..."
...Unconsciously, it turned into a dessert tour.
"Hmm, Legend-san is amazing. All the things you recommend are great," Dober said excitedly, eating a small cookie in her hand.
"Dober is the amazing one," Legend-san said with a smile. "Oh, it's really great that I could ask Dober to help."
"Eh?"
"Dober and I have similar preferences. It's really nice to have fun together," Legend-san genuinely sighed.
"What!" Dober's face instantly turned red. "How can you say something like that so unconsciously!"
"Huh? Is there a problem?" Legend-san was bewildered.
"...Anyway, let's go. We haven't picked out the gift yet!" Dober hastily got up and walked forward.
"Eh? Wait for me!" Legend-san tilted her head in confusion, then hurried to catch up... Ugh! I feel like I said something I shouldn't have... Mejiro Dober walked ahead on her own.
Why am I able to chat with her so calmly? I'm not even that familiar with her.
While pondering, Dober arrived in front of a clothing store.
"Ah, this dress..."
The dress displayed in the clothing store's window caught Dober's attention.
The white dress lay quietly there.
Something cute.
Something exquisite.
Something beautiful.
—Something not suitable for me.
"It looks very suitable for Dober."
"Eh?!"
Dober turned around and saw Legend-san smiling lightly.
"...It's not suitable at all!" Dober turned her face away.
"Does Dober really like this dress?" Legend-san, now in a mischievous mood, pressed on.
"Of course not!"
"...Tsundere isn't in fashion anymore, you know." That's the taste!
"I'm not a tsundere!" Dober bristled.
"Yes, yes, yes~ But it really suits Dober," Legend-san said with a smile.
"Whatever, Legend-san, you don't need to care about my feelings. I know I'm not suited for such things."
"No, Dober would definitely look cute wearing it, really!"
"...Legend-san doesn't need to say polite words..." Dober's tone became very faint.
"Who's saying polite words! You're really cute!" Legend-san subconsciously pressed her advantage.
"I told you to shut up!" She bounced back from rock bottom.
"?!"
What a frivolous person! She must think all girls like to hear compliments!'
She must say such sweet words to Mejiro Ardan and McQueen too... I'm not happy at all!
"By the way, your gift, have you chosen it?" Dober changed the subject.
"Huh? Oh, this." Legend-san didn't think too much and pulled out a red ribbon.
"What's this?" It looks pretty good, it's the kind I like.
"This is really good, even if it's just something I like," Legend-san said with a smile, looking at the ribbon.
"...Hmph, since you've chosen, I'll be going now." Dober turned her head with a full tsundere huff and walked towards the exit.
"Eh? So fast?" Legend-san indicated she could play for a while longer.
"Mejiro Ardan's birthday banquet is tonight, so of course, I need to prepare early!" Dober walked forward without looking back.
"Oh, see you tonight." Legend-san smiled and said goodbye, then suddenly thought of something, cupping her hands like a megaphone, "I wasn't lying! Dober really is cute!"
Dober stumbled and quickened her pace.
---------------------------------
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