It was the same familiar bar, the same familiar counter.
The members of the Gold Family sat side by side, each with a drink in front of them.
The Manager seemed long accustomed to the scene, calmly wiping glasses.
"Sigh!" x3
"...What are you guys doing?"
Gold Ship looked puzzled at the three unserious individuals on her left, sighing.
"Sigh!" x3
Three more identical sighs.
"Hey, hey, you guys are making me feel out of place."
What does this mean? I often feel out of place because I'm not abnormal enough compared to you? I, Gold Ship, cannot allow such a thing to happen!
There is only one being who can be called an Alien Horse, and that is I, Gold Ship-sama!
"So what's up with you all?" Golshi decided to get to the bottom of it.
"Recently, my roommate has been very strange." The first to speak was Nakayama Festa, sitting next to Golshi.
"Ever since she went to some unknown banquet a few days ago, the way she looks at me has been weird." Festa struck a Commander Ikari pose, her eyes vacant. "First, she inexplicably asked me what I thought of her, then she started talking to herself about things I didn't understand, like 'if you find me interesting, just tell me, I don't mind,' and so on."
Gold Legend silently turned her face away.
"Not only that, she also started taking my lollipops, handfuls of them. I haven't seen her eat them, and I don't know what she's doing with them."
Gold Ship thought for a moment. Teio seemed to be bringing lollipops to the training room to share with everyone recently.
"I'm now wondering if I should give her a whack and send her to our family hospital to check her mental state."
I'm very worried about her, Festa said with concern.
Festa said worriedly.
"Rejected. Although our Gold Family fights, gambles, and beats Trainers, we are not a criminal organization, we can't kidnap people."
Gold Ship sternly rejected Festa's worried idea, then turned her face towards Orfevre.
"Listen to me, Golshi, everyone is so mean." Orfevre's eyes welled up with tears.
"Elaborate." Gold Ship perked up.
"Recently there was a practice race, so I went and ran it."
"Mm-hmm."
"Then for some reason, everyone started giving me nicknames."
"Mm~"
"Originally I was very happy, after all, being given a nickname is proof of their recognition of me."
"Mm."
"But they actually called me Tyrant!"
"Mm!"
"I'm not a Tyrant! I'm a legitimate, pure-bred beautiful girl!"
"Hm?"
"For example, just like McQueen from your team!"
"...Are you serious?"
That McQueen is a legitimate, pure-bred beautiful girl??
Gold Ship suddenly felt this world was so unfamiliar.
"In any case, I will absolutely not acknowledge being called a Tyrant!"
Orfevre indignantly declared that this matter was not over!
"...Whatever makes you happy."
Golshi was speechless, only able to agree half-heartedly.
Then she turned her gaze towards Gold Legend.
"Life, ah, is truly incredible."
Gold Legend elegantly swirled her glass, then drained it in one gulp.
Though it was merely a glass of ordinary carrot juice, she managed to drink it with the illusion of it being a peerless fine wine.
"...Oba-chan, please be normal."
You're scaring me.
Golshi said somewhat timidly.
"Sigh."
Gold Legend sighed, and took out a beautifully packaged box from her pocket.
She opened the box, pulled out a cigarette, and skillfully put it in her mouth.
Both her expression and posture were exactly like an old chain-smoker of several decades.
"Boss, this is a public place, smoking is prohibited." The Manager suddenly spoke.
Although Legend was the Boss here, his pride as the Manager didn't allow him to ignore the scene before him.
"Hmm? Ah, it's fine, this just looks like a cigarette." Gold Legend gently bit off half of the [cigarette]. "It's a cigarette-shaped candy, tastes very good. Manager, would you like one?"
"...No, thank you." The Manager retreated speechlessly.
Gold Legend bit and swallowed the remaining half, then took out another one and continued to strike a pose.
"...Oba-chan, are you okay?" Gold Ship looked at the eccentric Legend, somewhat worried.
She knew very well that this Oba-chan, though a legitimate member of the Gold Family, usually acted prim and proper.
For her to suddenly act eccentric, disregarding her image, could only mean she was truly troubled by something.
"What problem could I have?" Gold Legend turned to look at Gold Ship.
"...I'm now certain you have a problem."
What did I see? Oba-chan actually has panda eyes!
Gold Ship's horrified tone attracted the attention of Festa and Orfevre.
Then they also saw Legend's dark circles.
"…Oba-chan, if there's anything, you can tell us. Don't bottle it up, that's bad for your health," Festa said seriously.
"Sister Legend, are you okay?" Orfevre asked directly, concerned.
"I'm fine, I just experienced some unprecedented situations and felt a bit at a loss," Gold Legend said, looking like she didn't want to elaborate.
"Is that so." Seeing Legend's expression, Orfevre didn't press further.
"Speaking of which, Sister Legend, what did you give McQueen for her birthday yesterday?" Gold Ship thoughtfully changed the subject.
"Nothing much, just a notebook of food recommendations." Legend took the hint and went along.
"Notebook?"
"Yes, the dessert section of the gourmet reviews that Oguri and I recorded from our year of eating everywhere." Gold Legend stated that this was a labor of love.
"Ah, this..." Gold Ship couldn't help but inwardly mourn for McQueen's weight.
"That Mejiro Family representative seems to really like desserts, Oba-chan, you really put thought into it." Festa remarked that it was rare for her Oba-chan to be so considerate.
"Isn't she supposed to participate in the Spring Tenno Sho this month? Won't sending something like this affect her condition?" Orfevre asked, somewhat worried.
"It's fine, I promised her that if she can hold back, I'll accompany her to eat through it all after the race. It'll just be root training anyway." Legend waved her hand.
"When it comes to maliciousness, Oba-chan, you're still the strongest." Gold Ship silently prayed for McQueen.
Hope the horse is okay.
"Speaking of races, Oba-chan, your Satsuki Sho is coming up soon, right? Is your current state okay?" Festa incisively brought the conversation back.
...It's not a big deal.
But sometimes it's better to talk about certain things, you know.
...Alright.
Oba-chan, is the friend you're talking about yourself? We're all family here, you don't have to beat around the bush like that,
...
Legend stood up and walked behind Golshi, gently embracing her.
Huh? Oba-chan, what are you... Uwaaah!
Then she gave her a German Suplex.
Gold Ship, unable to rise again.
Gold Legend calmly sat back in her seat, ignoring Festa and Orfevre who were huddled together trembling, and continued speaking.
I have a friend who was confessed to by two of her good friends the other day.
Hmm?
Gold Ship, revived!
To be honest, my friend never thought about dating, so she was completely unprepared for the confession, which has really bothered her.
Ignoring Gold Ship, who had jumped up and was huddled with Festa and Orfevre, Legend continued to speak to herself.
And my friend's view on relationships has always been very normal; she finds it a bit hard to accept being confessed to by a friend who is also an Uma Musume.
You don't have to be so rigid about these things... Pfftwa!
With a single blow, Gold Ship was once again knocked out, and Gold Legend continued.
My friend is someone who hates surprises, and this sudden, potentially disruptive event is causing her a lot of distress, so she's very hesitant. That's all.
Legend simply finished explaining the situation, then drained the carrot juice the owner had just refilled.
The fallen Gold Ship tremblingly raised her hand, wanting to say something.
Gold Legend expressionlessly delivered another War Stomp.
...I think that for a simple and pure person like your... friend, Oba-chan, the very fact that she's hesitating already says a lot,
Like a stubborn child who locks herself away, refusing to change.
...
Festa also calmly faced Legend.
Festa, you're squeezing me too tight,
...Ha! You're right, she's just a stubborn child afraid of change,
Fear means cherishing, and that's a good thing,
Orfevre finally broke free from Festa's death grip.
Cherishing, huh?
Legend looked up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Well, let's talk about that later. People of the Gold Family live free and unrestrained, so let's just go with the flow on this. Tomorrow is your birthday, Oba-chan, and the day after is Festa's. Have you thought about how you want to celebrate?
To clarify, because their birthdays are very close, they have basically celebrated together since childhood, specifically from the evening of the first day until the early morning of the second.
What else? Just hold a small private gathering,
...Sister Legend, when did you start liking carrot juice?
Hm? Oh, I had some at the Student Council a while ago and thought it was alright. You know I'm a three-minute wonder; once this phase passes, I'll probably go back to carbonated drinks.
I really didn't know that,
Birthday, huh? I personally don't care, but if possible, I hope it can be a bit more exciting,
If you hand over the hosting rights to me, I can guarantee it'll be absolutely thrilling,
...Actually, it doesn't have to be that exciting.
Birthday, huh...
Speaking of which, Festa, do you have any requirements for the birthday party venue?
No, why?
Then how about the Police Station?
Huh?
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