"My story with Eclipse?"
As soon as Kitahara Sota uttered those words, not just Agnes Digital but every Uma Musu in the room stopped what they were doing, ears perked high in anticipation.
Seeing their reaction, Kitahara gave a helpless, wry smile.
"Is there really anything interesting about that? Besides, hasn't Eclipse already told you?"
Indeed, Eclipse had previously shared bits about their relationship in the Uma Musu-only LINE chat. Whenever asked, she'd openly confird they had known each other for a long ti.
But the problem was, Eclipse barely spoke. Even though she'd created the group chat herself, she was its quietest mber, mostly lurking and rarely speaking unless directly addressed. And when she did, her replies were brief, vague, or essentially told nothing at all.
As for the other girls, conversations ranged from mundane food discussions—mostly dominated by Special Week and Oguri Cap—to Tokai Teio's occasional training-related posts, Symboli Rudolf fangirling, or bantering with Agnes Tachyon. Tachyon herself casually shared odd scientific experints or playfully argued back. Grass Wonder, conscious of her outsider status, rarely spoke, while Agnes Digital hadn't even joined the group.
Despite all the conversations in the group, the topic that always stirred their curiosity the most was still the mysterious relationship between Kitahara Sota and Eclipse. For so unknown reason, it had been coming up increasingly frequently lately.
Even Grass Wonder, who prided herself as the perfect Yamato Nadeshiko, couldn't help but grow curious whenever the topic was raised, secretly checking ssages to follow along.
Facing their eager gazes, Kitahara scratched his head, glanced briefly at Eclipse—who didn't object—and shrugged.
"It's nothing I can't talk about, and it doesn't matter if it spreads, but honestly, it's kind of boring... You sure you want to hear it?"
"Absolutely!"
So, Kitahara began his story.
...
As he'd said, his and Eclipse's story wasn't really anything special.
Just an ordinary orphan boy, wandering around to survive, who happened to stumble upon a mysterious Uma Musu out in the wilderness.
Though he said he'd found her, in reality, Eclipse had been doing quite well on her own back then—so much so that he was the one in trouble, desperately in need of her charity just to survive. Afterward, she'd even looked after him more often than not.
But over ti, as his own talents erged, he began wandering around foraging food, trying desperately to satisfy Eclipse's seemingly bottomless appetite.
Together, they drifted through life, gradually growing up as they traveled, until eventually arriving where they were today.
It was a simple tale, omitting a few troubleso details.
For example, during their initial wandering, it wasn't just about filling Eclipse's stomach. Kitahara had actually wanted to find sowhere stable to settle down. Even if resources couldn't sustain them permanently, a stable ho would've been good.
But Eclipse had insisted on finding soone—a trainer whose na, face, or even whereabouts she didn't know. She'd been fiercely persistent about it.
Unable to persuade her otherwise, Kitahara had followed her across the country. Yet, after several years, Eclipse suddenly stopped searching. When he asked why, she refused to answer and would beco uncharacteristically irritated if pressed too much.
Around that ti, Kitahara's abnormal talent as a trainer began to surface. After Eclipse stopped searching, she subtly hinted that he should beco a trainer himself.
But Kitahara always refused.
Occasionally assisting others was fine, but becoming a trainer full-ti? He didn't fancy an early life in soone's basent.
Despite his constant resistance, he'd eventually ended up at Tracen Academy anyway—but not because Eclipse insisted. Their relationship was built on mutual respect; neither would ever force the other to do sothing unpleasant. Though Eclipse clearly wanted him to beco a trainer, she'd never push if he didn't wish it himself.
His real motivation to join Tracen ca from elsewhere entirely:
Taking a job at a restaurant? Closed down the next day.
Setting up a stall at a night market? Shut down within a night.
Foraging goods in the mountains to sell? A wildfire would destroy his collection spots the next day.
Yet, when it ca to dealing with Uma Musu-related matters, his disastrous luck flipped completely. In these situations, he was always unnaturally fortunate—so fortunate it bordered on absurdity.
Such luck couldn't be explained by re coincidence.
But rather than behaving like so novel's protagonist—declaring things like "My fate is my own!"—Kitahara simply gave up.
He was neither overly proud nor ambitious. If dealing with Uma Musu matters brought him luck, he'd deal with Uma Musu matters. If life gave him a comfortable path, why stubbornly fight it?
Thus, though outwardly his reason for joining Tracen was financial, his true motivation was Eclipse.
He could personally live comfortably without inco—after all, shalessness suited him—but what about Eclipse?
He wouldn't mind sleeping under bridges and shalessly begging, but Eclipse?
He could endure sleeping in cold, damp corners without complaint—even letting himself rot away—but Eclipse?
He knew she'd stay with him no matter what, even if it ant rotting in a corner beside him. But he couldn't accept that. He could neglect himself, but never her.
So, he needed money—lots of it—and thus chose to join Tracen Academy.
Even forming this team had been entirely for her sake.
Ever since they'd arrived at Tracen, he'd witnessed Eclipse actively approaching and befriending others for the first ti.
From Tokai Teio to Oguri Cap, Special Week, and Agnes Tachyon—if he carefully recalled how each girl joined, he'd always found excuses to refuse, only for Eclipse to step in at crucial monts, reversing his rejection every single ti.
Kitahara always stuck to his word—especially when it ca to slacking off. But if Eclipse beca involved, well…that was different.
As for Grass Wonder and Agnes Digital, they'd joined only in na; they didn't actually belong to the team.
People passing by the training grounds frequently speculated that Eclipse was the real trainer, and while technically incorrect, it wasn't completely wrong either.
After all, she'd essentially built the entire team herself. Kitahara was more like her assistant.
Regarding their relationship—especially Eclipse's feelings toward him—Kitahara honestly couldn't understand her at all.
But he was absolutely certain her feelings weren't romantic.
Once, shortly after turning eighteen, he'd jokingly ntioned finally being old enough to visit certain adult establishnts. Instead of getting shy or angry, Eclipse calmly thought for a mont, then asked quite seriously if she could fill that role herself, to save money during their tight financial situation.
Or, if he didn't find her suitable or didn't want to do that with her, could she at least follow along to observe and learn—or perhaps even join in as a third party? She said she wouldn't mind.
Similar conversations occurred not once or twice, but nurous tis.
Kitahara couldn't understand her mindset or emotions toward him at all.
But after these repeated conversations, he understood one crucial fact:
Eclipse genuinely wouldn't mind if he "jumped" her at any mont.
She even seed entirely unconcerned, openly declaring it wouldn't change their relationship at all. She even ntioned multiple tis she wouldn't mind if he found other Uma Musu, and could even assist him if needed. The problem was that Kitahara himself couldn't possibly act as if nothing happened afterward.
And this was exactly why, despite Eclipse frequently suggesting he "jump" her, Kitahara still found her perfectly safe.
Because Eclipse didn't possess even the slightest bit of possessiveness—in fact, Kitahara suspected she'd maxed out her "sharing" trait instead.
The supposed "safe" option now seed ironically too safe—so much so that it had beco dangerous.
And thus, amid such complicated feelings, he finished telling the others his and Eclipse's story.
As for their relationship itself, he agreed with Eclipse's prior statents, clearly affirming that they weren't lovers, nor were there even signs of romantic affection between them.
But as he finished speaking, for so unknown reason, the room suddenly filled with the soft fluttering sound of multiple tails wagging happily.
However, the sound vanished quickly enough that Kitahara paid it no mind.
Then...
"Such…such pure feelings! A pure bond between a human and an Uma Musu! Truly subli!"
"Subli" was Agnes Digital's favorite word when witnessing sothing she found beautiful. If you didn't understand, it was basically synonymous with "blissful."
After uttering these words, Digital's eyes sparkled, blood trickling from her nose as she collapsed straight backward in excitent.
Had Kitahara not caught her quickly, she'd have crashed headfirst onto the floor.
"So…what now?"
Everyone exchanged glances awkwardly. Eventually, Kitahara broke the silence, sighing deeply.
"For now, let's just get her to the infirmary."
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