There's Something Wrong With You, Logistics Uma Musume

"So, Kagura, have you already decided what to make for lunch?"

Seeing Kagura walking ahead with her phone, occasionally stopping to check the navigation map, Maruzensky felt that Kagura's shopping was quite purposeful, so she asked casually.

"Yeah, besides lunch, I also want to check out other ingredients... By the way, Miss Maruzensky, do you know where I can buy Chinese sausage?"

"Hmm? Chinese sausage... Hmm... I haven't really heard of that before?"

Maruzensky, who is usually quite casual about her cooking, naturally has no idea where to get these ingredients. When she cooks, she just grabs whatever is left in the nearby supermarket.

"Uh... it's a kind of dried meat sausage, the neighboring country of China often uses it in their dishes."

Kagura didn't know how to explain what she wanted to the Japan Uma Musume, who didn't know anything about Chinese cuisine. Although this ingredient wasn't essential for the dish she wanted to make, it was just her favorite flavor.

"Is it a Chinese specialty? Then you have to go to a specific specialty store to buy it. There aren't any near Tracen."

"I guess so..."

Sighing with some regret, there were no Chinese specialty stores within walking distance in Kagura's available time. Although online shopping was convenient, it couldn't immediately deliver the goods to Kagura.

Although she couldn't find the ingredients she wanted most, fortunately, the cooking utensils she needed were readily available in Tracen's kitchen. Whether it was Western, Japanese, or Chinese cooking utensils, they were all well-prepared there.

"By the way, little girl, what are you going to make with that ingredient?"

"It's a very simple dish, just cooking rice in a clay pot, and then putting all kinds of ingredients in it... You can understand it that way, Miss Maruzensky."

Kagura didn't know how to explain the special dish from neighboring China to the Japanese, so she could only explain the general method. Describing it by name was too abstract, after all, the Japanese wouldn't understand what claypot rice was.

"Eh... so the ribs and black beans you bought just now are for making that?"

"That's right~ You'll definitely love it, Miss Maruzensky~"

Also, in order to let her friends taste different flavors, Kagura bought a lot of extra ingredients. She didn't know how her cooking skills would be received by her friends, but seeing how excited Maruzensky had been all the way, she felt it should be passable.

Collecting ingredients for claypot rice was the main purpose of Kagura's trip today, because she had decided to have it for lunch today. In addition to this main purpose, with the idea of a big project in mind, Kagura also wanted to find ingredients for other famous Chinese dishes that she wanted to make, which were the extremely difficult dishes she had mentioned to Maruzensky before that she wouldn't normally make. However, the result wasn't very satisfactory, because there were many things that couldn't be bought in Japan. She had to find a way to buy Chinese specialties. Although online shopping was a good method, she wasn't very well-off right now, so the idea of this big project had to be postponed.

Coming out of the last supermarket, Kagura checked the ingredients she had bought and calculated that it was almost time, so she started preparing to return.

Maruzensky, as expected, acted as a mobile shelf this time. Kagura was very grateful to this enthusiastic (?) Uma Musume senior. If she had really come out to buy ingredients alone, she might not have been able to buy so freely. After all, her small body had limited carrying capacity, even if the Uma Musume's strength was strong, the space for transporting was still limited.

"Thank you for your help this time too, Miss Maruzensky~ I'm a little embarrassed to trouble you to carry things again~"

"It's okay, just remember to make a portion for me later!"

Holding a large pile of ingredients, Maruzensky smiled and shook her head, indicating that Kagura didn't need to be polite. After all, she couldn't really say that she was working for free, she had been craving Kagura's cooking for a long time.

Of course, when she first agreed to help Kagura buy things, it wasn't just to freeload a meal. She also wanted to figure out what was the source of the attractive aura on Kagura, why she was always unconsciously attracted to Kagura. But she followed her all the way and couldn't find a clue. She felt it was probably because Kagura's personality and temperament were like a mother, naturally attracting people to get close.

'If only I could have such a Logistics Uma Musume...'

Walking behind Kagura, watching her tail swaying, Maruzensky couldn't help but envy Rudolph Symbol.

Just as they were walking with Kagura for a short distance, near Tracen Academy, Maruzensky suddenly noticed a familiar face appearing in her field of vision, walking towards them. Kagura, who was walking in front, also noticed the Uma Musume who was walking towards them. When she looked up, she happened to meet the other person's eyes. She could feel that the other person's gaze was fixed on her.

Out of curiosity, Kagura stopped and looked at the Uma Musume who was slowly walking in her direction. The Uma Musume's tall figure was much taller than her, the little dwarf.

This was a very beautiful Uma Musume - it should be said that none of the Uma Musume Inari Kagura had seen had low looks, but the other person was different. The other person was tall, had a mature temperament, black hair was tied behind her head, and there was a beauty mark at the corner of her eye. The whole person exuded an eerie and seductive aura, which was different from Rudolph Symbol's gentle majesty, and not as full of youthful vitality as Maruzensky. She looked more like a calm noblewoman.

Kagura discovered that this black-haired Uma Musume also had a strand of white hair in front of her forehead, although it was obviously not the same style as Rudolph Symbol's.

"Good morning, I didn't expect to see you here, Kagura-san, and Maruzensky."

"Do we... know each other?"

Hearing the other person call out her name immediately, Inari Kagura subconsciously became vigilant.

"You haven't seen me, but I already know of your existence. When my sister fainted on the playground yesterday, thank you for your timely help."

The other person's voice was calm and mature, sounding with a strange sense of oppression. Before even facing the other person directly, Inari Kagura already felt a pressure.

Kagura also understood the reason why the other person knew her name. The only thing related to her on the playground yesterday was Mejiro Ardan's accident. This Uma Musume called Mejiro Ardan her sister. Obviously, she was also a member of the Mejiro family. Since she was a member of the Mejiro family, it was not a strange thing to know about her.

"Takamine, what are you doing wandering around here?"

Maruzensky recognized the other person and greeted her.

"I still need to understand Ardan's situation. You also know that child is very stubborn, I'm not at ease... What about you? Why are you here? And carrying such a big pile of things?"

"I came out to buy groceries with this kid, preparing lunch."

"I see..."

Mejiro Takamine nodded, her gaze returning to Kagura again.

"Kagura-san, we were presumptuous with the previous matter, please allow me to apologize to you."

"Miss Takamine doesn't need to be so formal, I don't really mind... After all, I was originally planning to refuse you."

It seemed that the Trainer before was the person sent by this Uma Musume, but Kagura didn't take it too seriously, after all, she was originally planning to refuse the other party.

"Is that so... very well."

The answer she received was not unexpected, Mejiro Takamine looked relieved.

"Although it's a bit presumptuous, there is one thing I would like to ask Kagura-san, I wonder if Kagura-san is willing?"

"Please speak, if I can help you, I will consider it."

"My sister is always worrying, in the future, if Kagura-san, you see her doing some dangerous things at school again, please pay more attention and stop her."

Saying this, Mejiro Takamine's usual aura of pressure vanished. She now seemed like nothing more than an older sister, helplessly exasperated by her younger sibling's antics.

"Well, Miss Takamine, I'll be mindful of that without you needing to say so."

"Then thank you very much, Kagura-san. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave. If Kagura-san ever has free time, you're welcome to visit the Mejiro family. The Head of the Family also mentioned wanting to thank you personally."

With that, Mejiro Takamine gave Kagura a slight bow of gratitude and slowly walked away.

29. Cafeteria Immortal (Not Really)

Kagura felt like she had unknowingly transformed into a cafeteria auntie.

After she and Maruzensky bought the ingredients, she naturally plunged straight into the kitchen to get busy. With nothing else to do, Maruzensky simply sat down on the cafeteria side closest to the kitchen, waiting for her meal.

If it were just Maruzensky squatting there, it would have been one thing. But as Kagura carried several clay pots back to the stove, she glanced out the window and noticed another Uma Musume had appeared not far from Maruzensky. This Uma Musume wore sunglasses and a Tracen Academy student uniform, but she didn't look like a young student. Instead, she gave off the vibe of a middle-aged mom out for a casual stroll.

The reason Kagura thought of her as a middle-aged mom was because she recognized her. Even with sunglasses and a mask, the strands of white hair mixed in and the ancestral white streak at her forehead gave her away. But Kagura couldn't figure out why she was here at this hour.

'How did the Head of the Family sneak in!? And how does the Head of the Family even have a school uniform!?'

While Maruzensky didn't recognize her, Kagura couldn't mistake her. Clearly, the person sitting there was Speed Symbol, disguised as a Tracen student. Of course, it was also possible Speed Symbol wasn't disguised at all, and she actually attended school here when she was younger.

Seeing that Speed Symbol didn't seem ready to reveal her identity, Kagura didn't rush out to expose her. Instead, she continued to focus on her work in the kitchen.

Kagura had to admit that even as a child, a Uma Musume's body was much more convenient than her previous one, especially when it came to strenuous tasks like chopping ribs and meat. Now, she could effortlessly chop ribs into small pieces with her own strength, and she wouldn't feel tired even after walking around with a bunch of clay pots.

She started by soaking the rice in water, then cut the pork belly into chunks and fried it in a pan to render the fat. In the meantime, Kagura chopped the ribs into bite-sized pieces and washed the vegetables she would use later. She also took the time to mark one of the clay pots, remembering that Speed Symbol's tastes were slightly different from the others, and she needed to make some adjustments to suit her palate.

Time flew by as she prepared the ingredients. When the clock on the wall passed 11:30, Kagura had just coated the bottom of the pots with lard, put the soaked rice in, and was about to start cooking two pots for Maruzensky and Speed Symbol, who were waiting outside for their meals. Then, she saw a small, orange-and-white figure emerge from the cafeteria entrance.

'Isn't Chairwoman supposed to eat somewhere else!!'

Without even looking closely, she knew that only Akikawa Yayoi in the entire academy had that color scheme. But Kagura had heard from other kitchen staff that the Chairwoman rarely appeared in the cafeteria during mealtimes, so as not to disturb the students.

"Surprise! Little sister is cooking in the cafeteria again today!"

Akikawa Yayoi, who had spotted Kagura working inside the window from afar, skipped over to the window where Kagura was and curiously poked her head in, wanting to see what Kagura was up to.

"Can you save a portion for me too!"

Although she didn't know what Kagura was making, and couldn't tell just by looking, Akikawa Yayoi chose to trust Kagura's cooking skills.

"O-okay, Chairwoman Akikawa can go sit over there first. It'll take a little while to cook."

Kagura quickly pointed to the area where Maruzensky was sitting, and grabbed another clay pot to put the rice in, add water, and cover it.

"Um... Little Kagura, do you need any help?"

Seeing Kagura sweating profusely, the other staff members who had finished serving the dishes and were temporarily free came over to ask if Kagura needed assistance.

"H-help me bring more clay pots over!!"

Kagura knew that these staff members definitely wouldn't be able to cook the dishes she was making. They wouldn't be able to control the heat or the timing of adding ingredients, so she didn't dare ask for more help. She just needed someone to help her transport the cookware.

While adding rice to the newly placed pots and starting the fire, Kagura didn't neglect the pots that had been on the stove earlier and were almost ready. Seeing that the first two pots were already emitting smoke, Kagura immediately grabbed the lids with a cloth, lifted them, and brought over the sesame oil she had bought in the morning. She scooped up a small spoonful, held it to the edge of the clay pot, and drizzled the oil down the side. Then, she spread the ribs and black beans along with the vegetables on top of the rice, covered the pots, and continued to heat them.

"This... is this the legendary Kitchen Immortal..."

Watching Kagura simultaneously handle ingredients, mix sauces, and keep an eye on the several pots on the stove, and then looking at the Chairwoman and Maruzensky sitting outside, the other aunties and uncles couldn't help but feel a sense of awe for this little Uma Musume.

'Luckily, I bought a lot more ingredients today, or else it really wouldn't be enough to eat...'

Kagura, who was running around between four or five stoves, was somewhat relieved that she had bought extra ingredients today. With so many unexpected diners, there was a chance she wouldn't have enough to go around.

At 11:45, Kagura, who had just put the meat and vegetables into the other pots and continued to simmer them, estimated that the first two pots should be done. Seeing that the other pots still needed some time, she put on gloves, grabbed a tray, and carried the two pots out first.

"Maruzensky-san~ Your portion is ready."

"Oh, oh! It smells so good!"

Watching Kagura lift the lid in front of her, Maruzensky couldn't help but start swallowing saliva from the mouthwatering aroma.

Kagura drizzled the prepared sauce over the rice and dishes, then picked up Maruzensky's portion and placed it in front of her:

"Please enjoy~ Don't be surprised if you find some crispy rice crust. The fragrant, crispy rice crust is the soul of this dish~"

"Question! Little sister, did you save a portion for me?"

Akikawa Yayoi, who was sitting next to Maruzensky, had already been unable to resist the smell. However, seeing that the two portions Kagura brought out didn't seem to include one for her, she was curious who the other portion was for.

"The Chairwoman's portion is still cooking. As for this portion..."

Saying that, Kagura carried the tray to where Speed Symbol was sitting, put down the clay pot, and drizzled it with sauce just like before:

"...it's for Speed-san~ Please enjoy, and be careful not to burn your mouth."

"Oh my... no wonder Rudolph said your counter-intelligence awareness is so strong. It turns out I didn't fool you at all."

Knowing that her identity had long been exposed, Speed Symbol simply stopped pretending and took off her sunglasses and mask, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.

"Well, you were too conspicuous~ I was shocked when I first saw the Head of the Family disguised as a student here. With a little dressing up, the Head of the Family is as energetic as a real student!"

"Haha, you're such a sweet talker... I was just a little worried about you living alone at Tracen, so I came to see how you were doing... It seems you're adapting quite well."

Speed Symbol's main purpose for coming today was to see Kagura. Getting a free meal was an unexpected surprise. She had been missing Kagura's cooking at home these past few days, and today she finally got her wish.

"I'm doing okay... Hehe, I'm also grateful to the Head of the Family for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely repay the Head of the Family for your kindness!"

"Well... I've said it before, you living well is the best way to repay me."

Seeing the ghostly expression on Akikawa Yayoi's face not far away, Speed Symbol couldn't help but laugh.

To control the heat, Inari Kagura didn't dare to chat with Speed Symbol for too long and immediately returned to the kitchen. She vaguely heard Akikawa Yayoi making a fuss outside, seemingly complaining that Speed Symbol had sneaked in without a word of warning.

As for Maruzensky, it seemed her appetite was excellent today. She was burying her head and gobbling down the scalding hot rice, as if someone would snatch it away if she didn't hurry.

"Kagura~ So you're here!"

Not long after returning to the kitchen, Inari Kagura saw two small red ears popping up at the window. Just as she was wondering which expert had arrived, the small Nice Nature poked her head in.

"Oh, it's Quality... What's up?"

"It's lunchtime, and I thought I shouldn't always trouble Kagura, so I came to the cafeteria. I didn't expect you'd be busy here today too."

Come to think of it, it was indeed lunchtime. It wasn't strange for Nice Nature to be here. It's just that Inari Kagura had served so many people that she was already sweating. She was very grateful that she had prepared a few extra portions when she started cooking.

"I've prepared your portion too. Go sit at the Chairwoman's table..."

"Eh... Thank you, Kagura~!"

Watching Nice Nature trot over to sit with Akikawa Yayoi, Inari Kagura didn't even have time to breathe a sigh of relief before she saw a familiar chestnut-haired Uma Musume, a student named Rudolph Symbol, walk in from the cafeteria entrance. Inari Kagura couldn't help but feel dizzy, realizing that her work today had just intensified.

'Don't you people usually never come to the cafeteria!!?'

30. How Did It Turn Into Babysitting? ()

"Chairwoman, you are..."

At around one o'clock in the afternoon, Miss Jun River, dressed in a dazzling green outfit, walked in from outside the cafeteria.

As soon as she entered, she saw several Uma Musume sprawled haphazardly near the right side of the cafeteria. Akikawa Yayoi, whom she was looking for, was also leaning back in her chair, hugging her full stomach, looking satisfied.

"Satisfied~! Deciding to come to the cafeteria today was the right choice!"

"Chairwoman Akikawa, what happened to you?"