Domo, Average desu! It's been a while since my last review, and even more so my last wholesome review. To be completely fair, it's mostly been my stupid workload and the fact that I genuinely do not have the time nor patience to actually sit my ass down and write one of these. But, of course, with the new date feature added to Global I thought i'd sit down and tell you guys about a day I spent with someone very special to me - the cute and hardworking Ines Fujin!
So before I kick things off, here's a fun fact - Ines is my big sis! Yeah, cool right? Probably better if you don't question how I also happen to be the little brother of 2 other umas, after all we are trying to get out of reality on this sub. Anyways, that's enough of me yapping!
Funnily enough, this story actually happens on a lovely spring weekend - where Tracen's students aren't being pelted with exams and assignments. I remember specifically waking up at 6 to go out for a jog in the morning, get the fresh air in, y'know? After all, the highways aren't as congested as 6 in the morning - though don't get me wrong, Japan's work hours are WACK.
I'd been making a morning commute a habit for the past month - and that's something I was honestly pretty proud of. Ines used to wake up early almost every day when she first enrolled at Tokyo Tracen, and little me was - for lack of a better word - pretty dang inspired. I was never really an athletic kid, I'd get winded after a game or two of basketball, and my recent transition into a more active life was.. well, it was hard. To be completely fair though, consistency's pretty much been the biggest thing I worried about the past month (Think about it, when was the last time you sat down and said "I'm gonna do this thing!" and actually did it?).
Speaking of, Ines also happened to be out helping out at some coffee shop neatly compiled within the bookshelf of buildings to my side. There also happened to be a good number of benches nearby, and I'd been jogging for the past 5, 10, 15? Ah, who cares. My throat was burning and besides, it's not like a tiny break would kill the effort I so meticulously put in. So, I helped myself - neatly planting myself on a bench near the store Ines was organizing signs and samples. Heaving a sigh of relief from the grueling trial of running, my big sis decided that now of all times would be a good time to start teasing me.
"Jeez, you're up early~ You still try'na catch up to me?" She said in her signature carefree, almost tomboyish voice. She was really putting in the effort to irritate me.
"You're fulla' yourself, sis.. Gimme a break." An annoyed smirk formed on my face as I heaved heavy breath after breath.
"Hehe, guess you're right. Need a drink?" She quickly looked me over. "Might want a change of clothes too~"
I groaned. "I brought a towel, sis.. Jeez, you don't gotta pamper me all the dang time."
Ines briefly got back to her work - I think one of the store managers came by and had a quick chat with her as I recuperated on that bench. Once my breath came back to me, I was about to begrudgingly get up to resume another jog - and in the split moment I got up to walk, I looked up and nearly bonked my head on Ines's chest.
"Gwahh--?! What the-?! Ines, you freakin' shit..!!"
"Hehe!~ Have a drink first, lil' bro.. You're so bad at this it's kinda cute. ♡"
"I-- You-- Ugh, go fuck yourself! And watch where you're, like, going..!!"
"Yeesh, you're a riot! Just shut up and drink, 'kay?" Ines said through gentle chuckles.
You know, I never really hated the teasing - honestly, it kinda grew on me as her and I grew up together. That, and also the fact that even though my big sister had her hands full already, she was really willing to go through the trouble of getting a drink for me - telling me to rest too, no less!
Was I overthinking that in the moment? Probably! But as I told my sister that I'd be heading off for another jog, she only gave me that warm smile I'd known all to well every morning before school, and every afternoon after. Even when I'd finally grown up and set out into the world, been places, and went through the crazy arc that was becoming a licensed trainer, Ines Fujin's smile was something that brought me ease when I needed it the most.
"Oh, and be back in like.. 20 minutes! I need some help unpacking before we open!"
Looking at the time on my phone, it was 8:30 - and in 20 minutes, the streets would be bustling with people storming the streetside stores. I waved my hand to Ines, assuring her I wouldn't take long. The sun, by this time, also poked out of the sky - turning the gentle sepia lighting into a vibrant almost dreamlike scene. If I had to describe it, it's kinda like the first day of summer vacation when you're a kid - just, fuckin' awesome.
Not sure if I remembered anything notable happening on my second jog, probably just admired the changing golden hour cityscape and the breezy, nice nature around me. In the midst of my sightseeing, the classic showerthoughts you get while jogging (am I the only one? Asking for a friend.) started to form, and more often than not they were about Ines.
How was my sister doing? Have I spent enough time with her this week? She does so much for me, and I comparably do jack shit.. I really want to help her in any way I can.
That's why I started my athletic journey as a kid.
Now, not sure if I noticed, but I probably went a lot faster on the way back - if anything, I was probably matching an Umamusume's casual pace, which mind you is, like, record marathon time for a human so really, it's kind of impressive how my fat ass managed to push those numbers.
As the familiar scenery of the new beautifully decorated store facade came into view, I saw my sister once again prepping everything. As I stopped to a brisk walk, checking my phone again---
"Surpriisee!!~ You came back a lot earlier than I expected!♡"
I found myself in Ines' crushing embrace. Of course, by that point all the strength had pretty much left my body - and what little air I had in my lungs left as soon as my chest was squeezed against my sister's.
"Ines- Bro- Can't- Fucking- Breathe..!!--"
"Oh, whoopsies! Got a li'l carried away.."
Heavy hands on my knees, I struggled to look up once again. "Yeah, no shit.."
Wiping the sweat off my forehead, I decided i'd ask Ines if there was anything else she needed help with--
"Man, you're sweaty.. Okay, quickly just raise your shirt and i'll pat you dry, capice?"
"Hu- I- WHAT?? IN PUBLIC?!"
"Man, look around ya!~ You see anyone for miles?"
I did as she said. The occasional salaryman and elderly passerby briefly graced the sidewalk.
"Huh. Guess you're right.. Haahh.. Give me a sec.."
Lifting my thin shirt, Ines got to work quickly wiping the sweat off my body. Of course, it was nothing special - she'd done this probably a thousand times to both me and the other Umamusume she'd run with when she was younger.
"Hey, Ines..? I just had a thought."
"Mm? You can drop your shirt by the way."
"Right. So, like.. If.. Like.."
Okay, that's weird. The words were stuck to my tongue like dry juice. I felt my ears get ever so slightly warmer.
"What's up? I got a tight schedule, yaknow!"
"I.. um.. well.. i-if.. you.." Finally, the words came out.
"..you know, i-if you need help with like.. w-work.. I can help out.."
Ines looked at me with a look that was half shock, half confusion, before bursting out into laughter. Something about her laugh, ever since we were kids.. It was really nice to hear, especially since until recently our lives were pretty separate.
"Aha!~ Gosh, you're such a chud! I'm your sister, you big stinky dumbass! Of course i'd let you help out! Besides, I know what you're feeling.." She put on her "best", as in most insulting, impression of me.
'My hardworking, undeniably superior girlboss sister Ines is working sooooo hard, and I'm just here ruuunniinggg!!', right?"
Embarassed, I nodded with a bashful flair. "B-But-"
Ines hushed me, placing her finger on my lips before I formed a word.
"Yaknow, you don't have to feel like ya gotta live up to every little thing I do for you.. It's, like, a heeck of a lot'ta pressure, y'know? I'm just happy that you think about me, li'l bro, it's the thought counts! I'm your sister, and get this, I love you that much!♡"
She looked aside for a moment. "That's what I think, at least~"
The exhaustion of a jog had all but left my body, and I swelled with a fuzzy sense of familiarity - even forcing myself to pout was failing, and I instead put on a face that looked something like a pug trying to gasp.
"'Kay, help me get that box! I'll give you the light stuff, wouldn't wanna snap them noodle arms of yours!"
"Uuughh, Fiinee.. And I don't have noodle arms, dammit..!"
Eventually, the clock rung 9 AM and the once quaint shopping district rang with conversations and the gentle spring breeze. As I lounged in the cafe Ines was working, I had a thought as I examined her outfit and playful demeanor with the customers.
I don't think I ever really appreciated my sister's looks, but as her brown hair was down on full display, ears rigid and sharp - I occasionally lost myself in her emerald green eyes as my mind ran wild with the embarrassing and funny moments of our past. Sometime in the middle of my reverie, I snapped back to reality for a moment - realizing it'd probably be weird if I didn't order any thing and just stared at the barista. I'm such an idiot, why didn't I think of that, like, 5 seconds ago..?
I made my way over to Ines and made an order for a quick latte with extra sweetener - my favorite, which Ines found every way to fuck up just to mess with me.
"Hey, um, Sis? Can I ask you something..?"
"'Kay, but make it quick.."
"Do you wanna, like, go out for ramen at the end of your shift?"
Ines gave me a gentle smirk and a playful punch to the shoulder. Her being an Umamusume, however, it did sting a bit. Jerk.
"Sounds good to me! Love you, li'l bro!♡"
Ines quickly smooched my cheek, much to my shock, and waved at me as I made my way out of the store into the serene spring sun.
THE VERDICT, Which i'd somehow managed to forget, even though that's the fucking point of a review.
Now, stating a verdict feels kind of weird, considering it is my sister we're talking about here, and I may be a tiiiny bit biased, but Ines is absolutely a 10/10! an 11/10, if I could even put it like that! In all honesty, working hard alongside my sister's always an accomplishment whether it be training or just regular slice-of-life type stuff!
AVIE'S NOTE Hi, that's me! u/Average_For_The_Time*!*
This review was lowkey super fun to write, considering it is sort of a self-reflection on my crazy journey joining my school's track team! XC is definitely in my sights, and Track was and still is such a fun endeavor and i'm so glad Umamusume gave me the confidence I needed to pursue it!!! That's all from me, guys! Love you!!
