Pushing open the door, the familiar sense of quiet isolated him from the outside world’s clamor.
Kitano locked the door behind him, leaned against the door panel, and let out a long, silent sigh.
The series of events today had been more exhausting than working overtime for a week in his previous life.
“So what is this?
A turning point of destiny?
Or just a streak of bad luck?”
He rubbed his temples, feeling a deep sense of helplessness.
In the years since he transmigrated, although he knew Uma Musume were the mainstream of this world, he had always cleverly stayed on the periphery, living a relatively peaceful life.
Why did it seem like some strange switch had been flipped recently, causing him to repeatedly encounter these kinds of things?
“I hope no one saw it at the time…
especially someone with authority on Vice President Air Groove’s level…” he thought, feeling a bit guilty.
If it were discovered that he had incited three Uma Musume to engage in an unsanctioned race on a deserted street, and even won, then the trouble would be immense.
His thoughts couldn’t help but drift to the Uma Musume industry in this world.
The pervasive fanaticism, the phenomenon of elevating a group of running girls to god-like status, he still couldn’t understand, and even instinctively felt a slight aversion to it.
“Actually…
going with the flow, pretending to be a fervent fan, might really have no impact on my life, and could even make it easier to integrate here.”
This thought had crossed his mind more than once.
Agreeing with his classmates’ discussions, cheering at races on TV—doing so would avoid a lot of trouble.
But…
he walked to the window, watching the countless lights gradually illuminating outside, and his gaze slowly became firm.
“But if I did that, what would be the difference between me now and the me from my previous life, who constantly compromised and wore a mask for the sake of living?”
He scoffed, as if mocking his momentary wavering.
What if he didn’t fit in?
What if he couldn’t understand?
These were his truest feelings.
He didn’t want to distort his true self for the sake of fitting in.
Whether ordinary or distant, this was Kitano.
“Forget it, I won’t think about it anymore.” He shook his head vigorously, as if trying to shake off all these chaotic thoughts.
“Anyway, tomorrow starts a long weekend.
It’s a good chance to relax, play some games, read some books, or just sleep for days.”
The reason he chose to resolve the problem in that way today was largely to cut through the mess quickly and secure a peaceful holiday for himself.
If he had known it would be so troublesome later, he would have prostrated himself and apologized at the convenience store entrance then and there.
“In any case, since things have come to this, let’s eat first.”
Ultimately, all the entanglement and emotion transformed into the most unadorned necessities of life.
He turned and walked to the kitchen, deciding to comfort his battered mind and body with a hearty dinner.
Tomorrow’s worries could be left to his tomorrow self.
The morning sun, peeking through the curtain gaps, cast warm splotches of light on the floor.
Kitano, for once, slept until he woke naturally, with no alarm clock, no Uma Musume, just the occasional birdsong from outside and the faint, distant hum of the city.
He stretched widely, his joints giving off soft pops, and a long-lost, holiday-like sense of relaxation permeated his entire body. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Excellent, the correct way to start a holiday.”
He didn’t plan to stay cooped up at home all day.
While staying in was a pleasure, he occasionally needed to go out for some fresh air, and more importantly, he had some shopping desires to fulfill.
After carefully washing up and changing into comfortable casual clothes, he tucked his wallet into his pocket—containing assets left by his parents in this life, enough for him to splurge for a long time, for which he was always grateful—and left the house in high spirits.
He deliberately avoided the main roads that might be plastered with large Uma Musume posters, choosing instead to walk through the more lived-in alleys and commercial streets.
His goals were clear: a record store known for its wide selection and the owner’s unique taste, and a high-end shop he frequented, specializing in various musical instruments and accessories.
Walking along, he couldn’t help but think again of the parents he only vaguely remembered, yet who had given him a second stable life, and the mysterious older sister, whose memory was even more unfamiliar.
Each year when he visited their graves, he was always exceptionally earnest and solemn.
“When you eat someone’s food, you are beholden to them,” he often thought.
“Besides trying my best not to waste this body and its abilities, and living a decent life, that’s probably the greatest repayment I can give you.”
This gratitude was one of the cornerstones supporting his inner peace in this unfamiliar world.
As for that older sister?
She always sent strange things and a truly massive amount of money, but Kitano maintained basic respect for this unfamiliar sister, keeping all the items stored and the money untouched.
His thoughts drifted again to his Uma Musume friends from yesterday, whom he had shaken off, but who had ultimately sent him warning messages out of concern.
Oguri Cap, Rice Shower, Nice Nature, Hishi Akebono…
when Vice President Air Groove questioned them, they unanimously chose to protect him, and afterwards secretly sent messages reminding him to be careful and that the Vice President seemed very concerned.
He kept this friendship in his heart.
“Hmm…
I should pick out some things for them too, as a thank you,” he mused.
After all, maintaining friendships required effort.
The first stop was the familiar record store.
Pushing open the heavy glass door, it felt like entering a sanctuary isolated from the outside world’s clamor.
The air was filled with the unique scent of old paper, plastic record sleeves, and dust.
CDs and vinyl records, arranged neatly by genre and era, lined the shelves from floor to ceiling.
Kitano’s eyes lit up, like a fish entering water.
He expertly headed straight for a few specific sections.
In the R&B/Soul section, his fingers glided over rows of album covers, finally stopping at an old album featuring a Black female singer in a wide-brimmed hat on the cover.
Aretha Franklin’s I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You.
He gently took it out, feeling the weight and texture of the vinyl record, a look of satisfaction on his face.
“The Queen of Soul, I have to listen to this even after transmigration.”
In the Funk/Disco section, he pulled out another album, Earth, Wind & Fire’s That’s the Way of the World.
“It’s a holiday, after all; I need something that makes people want to sway to the rhythm.”
And in the movie soundtrack section, he precisely found the official vinyl soundtrack for Blade Runner; the futuristic and lonely electronic music was his great love.
“Vangelis’s masterpiece; every time I listen, it empties my mind.”
As for the game section, he didn’t forget his other great hobby, picking out several highly acclaimed indie game soundtrack CDs, as well as a vinyl reissue of Chrono Trigger. Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
“Yasunori Mitsuda’s composition, a timeless classic that transcends time.”
Clutching this stack of spiritual sustenance, he then moved on to the instrument store.
This time his goal was clearer—a set of top-tier Elixir Nanoweb coated strings, for maintaining his prized Fender Stratocaster electric guitar.
“Good stuff, it keeps the tone bright and the feel smoother.”
After purchasing his beloved items, he found a quiet coffee shop and sat down.
While enjoying the rich aroma of coffee, he began to seriously consider what thank-you gifts to choose for his friends.
He recalled the little moments they shared, and after careful consideration, he began to act.
Oguri Cap: This childhood friend was the simplest and most straightforward.
Kitano hardly hesitated before deciding to buy her a gift box, multiple servings, of Special Golden Yam Manju, a limited-edition item from a high-end Japanese confectionery shop.
That shop was famous for using top-grade ingredients and a sweet-but-not-cloying taste, and the portions were substantial, definitely enough to satisfy her.
He could even imagine her eyes lighting up and her mouth watering when she received it.
Rice Shower: This introverted and easily anxious friend needed something that would bring a sense of security and tranquility.
Kitano remembered that she seemed to like quiet atmospheres and natural things.
He made a special detour to a boutique and selected a handmade music box with built-in soothing white noise, stream and light rain sounds, and a night light function.
The music box’s mechanism played Debussy’s Clair de Lune.
“I hope this little trinket can offer her a bit of comfort when she’s stressed or can’t sleep.”
He remembered that Rice Shower’s eyes always looked particularly fragile when her training wasn’t going well.
Nice Nature: When it came to her, Kitano felt that he absolutely couldn’t choose carelessly.
He remembered that she was always serious, yet always had words like “please don’t expect too much from me” on her lips.
Beneath that shy, slightly endearing side, she seemed like someone who often carried things alone.
After thinking it over, Kitano chose a leather-bound five-year diary and a comfortable pen.
On the card, he wrote only one sentence:
“Use it to record each day’s ‘completion.'”
Hishi Akebono: This gamer friend was even simpler.
Kitano directly placed an online order for a newly released, popular party game cartridge that supported multiplayer, as well as a limited-edition mug printed with the avatar of her favorite game character.
“Next time we team up, we’ll have something new to play; she’ll definitely like it.”
Carefully wrapping these gifts and arranging the delivery times—he certainly didn’t plan to deliver them to the school himself, which would be akin to walking into a trap—Kitano felt like he had accomplished a major task.
He carried his treasures, walking home, his shadow stretched long by the setting sun.
Ignoring the Uma Musume imagery still present on the streets and alleys, his heart was full and peaceful at this moment.
Focusing on his own interests, maintaining cherished friendships, and living life at his own pace.
This was Kitano’s way of surviving in this fervent world.
“The holiday has just begun,” he thought.
“Next, it’s time to fully enjoy my music, games, and lazy time.”
As for Uma Musume, the Vice President, and all those troubles…
he’d put them out of his mind for now.
Today, he belonged only to himself.
It really helps the fic grow!