Those eyes were full of conflict and pain, like a lost traveler lingering at dusk, unsure whether to chase the light like Kuafu pursuing the sun or give up and wait for darkness to embrace her.
The girl stood at a crossroads. She had the right to choose, but not the courage.
"Calm down a little. Take a deep breath and relax."
Zhou Yuang reached out and rubbed Agnes Digital's little head. Then he bent down and placed both hands on her shoulders.
Agnes Digital stood barely 140 centimeters tall, so tiny that he wanted to scoop her into his arms.
She was lost right now. Holding her would probably comfort her better, but there was still some distance between them.
Then this was the moment to close that distance in one go and make this Little Uma Musume truly one of his own.
"Everyone has something they strive for. It might be a wish born in a single moment, something they admired as a child, or a path they wandered onto without realizing it. And there's nothing wrong with working hard for someone else. That's why my Uma Musume chose to help me: they're afraid I'll run into trouble. And you can help those Uma Musume too, because you can't bear to watch them search frantically for me."
"R-really?"
Agnes Digital stared at Zhou Yuang's face, so close to hers, and went a little blank.
The body Zhou Yuang had built up through training multiple Uma Musume constantly gave off a steadying presence to Uma Musume, sweet and soothing.
Agnes Digital's nose twitched as she savored that scent in little breaths.
It did not leave her dazed, but it did ease the anxiety in her heart.
All that remained in her mind were Zhou Yuang's words and the choice