"Hayakawa! Where did you run off to this morning? You just missed the perfect chance to try Kagura's cooking!"
"Because of yesterday's accident, there were still some things to deal with at the Mejiro family..."
Hayakawa Tazuna saw that, besides Akikawa Yayoi, Maruzensky and Nice Nature, who had only recently enrolled, were also sprawled beside this table. At the table farther away sat Speed Symbol. As the head of the Symbol family, Hayakawa Tazuna naturally knew Speed Symbol as well, but for some reason, Speed Symbol was wearing a Tracen Academy uniform and sitting in the cafeteria today. When Hayakawa Tazuna had been farther away, she had mistaken her for some unfamiliar student.
Looking toward the cafeteria's service window, she saw the ponytailed girl in a maid outfit leaning against the wall beside it, head lowered as she looked at her phone. There was obvious exhaustion on her face. Seeing this group of people who normally never appeared in the cafeteria sprawled across the table after eating their fill, Hayakawa Tazuna could easily guess what Kagura had gone through during the past two hours.
"Kagura, lunch must have been pretty exhausting today, right?"
"Ah... Miss Jun River, it was actually fine. There were just a few more people than usual."
Kagura raised her head and greeted Hayakawa Tazuna. Although the sudden influx of diners had kept her extremely busy, seeing the blissful, satisfied expressions on the faces of those Uma Musume made her feel much better too.
Of course, the biggest reason Kagura was still in a good mood was that she didn't have to wash the pots herself after cooking...
"Miss Jun River, you've been busy all morning too, haven't you? Why don't you sit down and rest for a while? I can give you a massage."
"Oh my~? But Kagura, you're tired too, aren't you? Wouldn't that be a little unfair..."
"It's fine. My stamina isn't that poor."
Putting away her phone, Kagura walked over and gently pushed the still-protesting Hayakawa Tazuna toward Akikawa Yayoi, making her sit down in a chair. Then she placed her hands on Hayakawa Tazuna's shoulders and tentatively kneaded them a few times.
"How does it feel, Miss Jun River?"
"Mmm... Mmm! Kagura, your technique is... surprisingly good!"
"Thank you for the compliment. Then I'll apply a little more pressure."
Seeing Hayakawa Tazuna's eyes narrowed in relaxation, Kagura knew she had judged the pressure just right, so she gradually increased her strength. Hayakawa Tazuna leaned against the back of the chair with an expression of bliss. Her instincts told her that she shouldn't trouble such a small Uma Musume with this and that, but her body completely refused to give up such a comfortable experience.
Kagura's hands gently circled around her neck before slowly pressing down onto her shoulders again. They were simple little movements, yet Hayakawa Tazuna felt an enjoyment far beyond what she usually experienced when she went to a professional masseuse after work. She felt more relaxed and at ease than ever before. That gentle, spring-breeze-like presence warmly enveloped her, causing the fatigue she had accumulated that morning to surge over her all at once.
Seeing that Hayakawa Tazuna had fallen completely into it in no time, Akikawa Yayoi mischievously poked her in the waist and teased her:
"Ohoho~ Hayakawa fell completely for it at once! Come to think of it, Old Symbol really does have a good eye. Such a cute little sister now—she'll definitely grow into a beautiful girl. She's gentle, an excellent cook, and wonderful at housework. Whoever marries her will be incredibly happy~"
"Akikawa, Kagura is only eleven this year. Rein in that old habit of yours..."
Before Hayakawa Tazuna could say anything, Speed Symbol, who was leaning against the back of the chair with her eyes narrowed as she rested, spoke first.
"Objection! What do you mean, 'old habit'? I'm making an objective evaluation! If I had a child like this taking care of me, I'd be over the moon!"
"Yes, yes... Kagura, remember this in the future: stay away from weirdos like her, or you'll be eaten before you know it."
"Protest! Don't slander my innocent image!"
They're so close... They must have been friends for a very long time.
While massaging Hayakawa Tazuna, Kagura watched Akikawa Yayoi and Speed Symbol bicker with great interest. It was obvious that they had an excellent relationship, which made her even more curious about the age of the chairwoman, who looked only about as old as a child like herself.
As for Hayakawa Tazuna, while Kagura had been massaging her, the green-haired big sister who could usually be seen at the school gate regardless of wind or rain had already drifted into a sweet dream. She really did look exhausted. To avoid waking Hayakawa Tazuna by moving too much, Kagura slowed the rhythm of the massage, gradually reduced her movements, and finally stopped.
Kagura quietly gestured toward the sleeping Hayakawa Tazuna. Akikawa Yayoi quickly gestured back, telling her not to wake Hayakawa Tazuna and to let her rest for a while. Kagura therefore left Hayakawa Tazuna alone for the moment and walked over to Nice Nature, who was sprawled across the table in a hazy, half-dreaming state. Looking at Nice Nature's adorable sleeping face, Kagura felt an urge to reach out and poke her soft-looking cheeks.
"Right, Kagura, that little Uma Musume is your friend, isn't she? Do you live in the same building?"
"Yes. Nature lives downstairs from me."
"Then us old folks will rest here for a while. You worked all morning, so you must be tired too, right? Take her back to the dormitory, and get some rest while you're at it. Sleeping sprawled across a cafeteria table isn't good for a child's health. We'll wake Maruzensky later."
"Mmm... That's true. Then I'll take Nature back first. Head of the Family, if you need anything, just call my phone and I'll come over."
After saying that, Kagura crouched down and carefully hoisted Nice Nature onto her back.
Fortunately, Nice Nature had yet to undergo the so-called full maturation, so she wasn't much taller than Kagura. Carrying her was still quite easy. For some reason, while asleep, Nice Nature clung extremely tightly the moment she embraced Kagura, as if afraid Kagura might suddenly run away. Although the pressure made it a little hard for Kagura to breathe, it also perfectly prevented Nice Nature from falling off her back.
Kagura really was starting to feel tired, but before resting, she still had one thing to confirm.
The sun is vicious today... I should check the track first and see whether anything that shouldn't be there has respawned.
Although she knew Mejiro Ardan probably wouldn't be able to come out for a day or two, Kagura still decided to patrol the track. It was better to be safe than sorry. With weather like this, it would be no joke if someone with Mejiro Ardan's frail constitution collapsed.
There really was no one on the track at one or two in the afternoon. At least, Kagura didn't see anyone when she passed by while carrying Nice Nature. It seemed Ardan truly wouldn't have a chance to come out and exercise for the time being, which allowed Kagura to relax a little.
Kagura carefully carried Nice Nature back to her dormitory and used the key on her to open the door. To minimize her movements and avoid waking Nice Nature, she performed every action as slowly and carefully as possible.
After pushing open the door, entering Nice Nature's dormitory, and closing it behind her, Kagura was still trying to figure out how to get Nice Nature off her back and onto the bed without waking her when she lost her balance beside the bed. Nice Nature, who was still dazed and half-asleep in Kagura's arms, lost her balance with her and tumbled onto the bed.
"Ugh..."
Pinned beneath Nice Nature, Kagura tried pushing away the arm pressing against her neck. But since Nice Nature's entire body was on top of her, Kagura couldn't conveniently push her away with much force. In her sleep, Nice Nature rubbed against Kagura twice, like a child cuddling up to a parent.
Although the process had gone rather differently from what Kagura expected, the result was that Nice Nature had indeed made it onto the bed without waking up. Unfortunately, Kagura was stuck beneath her and couldn't get out.
"...Fine, then."
Seeing how tightly Nice Nature clung to her, and already being extremely sleepy herself, Kagura gave up on trying to push her away. Nice Nature wasn't crushing her completely. At worst, Kagura could just take a nap with her. Besides, the dormitory regulations didn't say she couldn't nap in someone else's room.
"Sweet dreams... Nature."
31. Getting Caught in Your Own Gossip
Kagura had never slept for long. Even after working somewhat intensely that morning, she only dozed for a little over ten minutes before waking up.
When she woke, Nice Nature had already released the hold she had on Kagura's neck. Kagura finally had a chance to escape her embrace. After tiptoeing out of bed, Kagura also pulled the blanket over Nice Nature.
Why do I feel like I'm gradually becoming Nature's mother...?
Kagura sighed, took out her phone, and checked the time. It was just past three, so she still had plenty of time to do something on her own.
While she had been busy at noon, she had also filmed a video of herself working. She then spent some time roughly editing it on her phone and uploaded it to a video website called UmaTube. For a first video from a newcomer, the view count was fairly decent, although the comment section currently contained only a sparse handful of bots.
Without drawing attention to herself, Kagura deleted the bot comment saying, "Check my profile, there's something good," and reported it as well. She let out a helpless sigh. Brother Pian really was an indispensable part of the internet.
After quietly leaving Nice Nature's room and closing the door, Kagura decided to check whether Rudolph Symbol and the others were training on the track. She could also see whether she wanted to run a couple of laps herself.
Unlike yesterday, the track was much livelier today. Kagura could already see a large crowd around it from a distance. Besides Toujou Hana's team, quite a few more Uma Musume were training there. Kagura saw the Mejiro family's trainer and Mejiro Takamine running on the track.
Of course, the additional Uma Musume were only a small portion of the crowd. Most of the newcomers around the track were trainers, scattered here and there along its edges. There clearly weren't enough Uma Musume on the track to account for all of them. Kagura guessed that many of the trainers had come without their Uma Musume. She was curious about what had happened, but a line of blue text appeared on her phone and made her stop.
--Don't go over yet, Kagura. So many trainers came without their Uma Musume, and they're sitting so far apart. They obviously aren't here to train or hold a meeting. The Uma Musume on the track clearly already have trainers, and the way those people keep looking around doesn't seem like they're waiting for anyone on the track. Whoever they're waiting for probably hasn't arrived yet.
Eclipse's warning made Kagura stop. She decided to observe the situation first before going over to enjoy the gossip.
Kagura altered her route and circled closer to the track, keeping herself at a distance where she could hear what they were saying with an Uma Musume's extraordinary hearing without exposing her position.
"Is that Uma Musume you mentioned really here? That was fifteen lengths! Are you sure there's actually a terrifying newcomer like that?"
"Absolutely! I was there at the time. I heard Trainer Toujou say it to Rudolph! It's the truth! Unfortunately, I was too far away to see what that Uma Musume looked like. Someone that incredible shouldn't neglect her training, so she'll probably come to the track again today!"
"Is she really as amazing as you say?? Trainer Toujou didn't try to recruit her?"
"I don't know, but I think people need dreams. You can't give up without trying! What if that student really doesn't have a trainer yet?"
Kagura, hiding nearby and eavesdropping, was already sweating profusely. Clearly, she was the subject of these trainers' discussion. She didn't know how she had performed yesterday, but she was certain she had left Nice Nature far behind.
Miss Eclipse, what do you think?
--Fifteen lengths, huh? Not bad, not bad. You have my style.
I'm not asking you to judge the result! What am I supposed to do now?
--Isn't this a good thing? A trainer has taken an interest in you. Isn't that great?
I'm just a logistics Uma Musume!! Why are there so many trainers over there? Besides, I'm not old enough to sign a contract with a trainer yet!
Looking at the large group of trainers standing outside, Kagura began considering whether she should hide in her dormitory instead. Fortunately, no one had seen her clearly from up close yesterday. Otherwise, she probably would have been ganked the moment she approached today.
Among the large group of trainers, Kagura also spotted Nishizaki Ryu, whom she had met not long ago. He looked helpless and was anxiously looking around, as if searching for something.
Suddenly, a chill rose from Kagura's back. Her instincts told her that something was rapidly approaching from behind. Eclipse immediately issued a warning in red on her phone--
--Careful! Someone is approaching you rapidly from behind!!
"Too late...!"
Before Kagura had time to react, she heard footsteps right behind her. She suddenly felt her body move before she had given it any orders, performing an action she had never even imagined. She shifted slightly to the side, dodging a black shadow that flashed past her from behind at an extremely precise angle.
Whoosh!
A burlap sack dropped from above and landed where Kagura had been standing. The white-haired little Uma Musume holding it saw that she had missed and looked at Kagura in surprise.
"Oh, nice moves, classmate! You actually dodged Gold Ship-sama's sack attack!"
"Gold Ship... sama? Huh...?"
When the other girl suddenly complimented her, Kagura reflexively asked in confusion, unable to make head or tail of it. She still maintained a defensive stance and remained on guard. The girl's beautiful long white hair reminded her of the Mejiro family, but from the sound of things, she probably wasn't part of the Mejiro family.
The white-haired Uma Musume casually folded up the sack after her attack missed, then took a step forward and approached Kagura. Raising two fingers, she spoke to Kagura like a con artist selling a pyramid scheme:
"I can tell you're extraordinarily gifted, classmate, with an amazing physique and astonishing bone structure! You're definitely perfect racing material! Want to shine on the racetrack? Come on, for the special friendship price of just two carrots, Gold Ship-sama can introduce you to a wonderful place to train!"
0_o??
Even after living for so long, Kagura had never encountered a situation like this. She froze, and Eclipse seemed to freeze too. No reply from Eclipse appeared on the phone screen for a long time.
"GOLD! SHIP!"
Just as Kagura remained frozen, trying to understand what was happening, an extremely familiar voice came from behind the slightly taller Uma Musume. Nishizaki Ryu, who should still have been in the spectator stands, had somehow appeared behind Gold Ship and was charging over furiously.
Under Kagura's bewildered gaze, Nishizaki Ryu took one large step forward from behind and hoisted the white-haired Uma Musume into the air:
"Sorry, sorry. My trainee is a little strange. She was only trying to recruit new members for the team. Sorry for scaring you, Kagura."
"Uh... so... Gold Ship wasn't actually trying to kidnap me?"
"That's right, that's right. I hope you won't take it personally. That's just how she is... She didn't mean any harm."
"Hey, trainer! You'll never recruit anyone like that!"
The little Uma Musume struggled in Nishizaki Ryu's hands and protested loudly.
"If you'd put that sack over her, Spica really would have been finished!! ...Sorry, sorry. We'll be going now!"
"Class--mate!! If you change your mind, come find us in the little room by the wall outside the classroom building to sign up!!"
"Shut out!"
The little Uma Musume's childish voice and Nishizaki Ryu's exasperated voice echoed through the empty building. Kagura stood there for quite some time before finally recovering, watching Nishizaki Ryu carry the girl away while apologizing nonstop.
--So that was your school's team recruiting members? That girl hasn't even undergone full maturation, has she? Is this how teams recruit people nowadays... Uh... Is it some new trend? Or am I out of touch with the times?
I don't think the problem is you, Miss Eclipse...
It seemed that the bizarre scene had even shaken Eclipse's confidence. Never mind Eclipse, an ancient person from who knew how long ago—Kagura, a modern person, had never seen anything like it either. She felt that this was still a little too advanced for humanity.
"I think I'll skip exercising on the track today..."
After glancing toward the track and deciding that going there might not end well, Kagura chose not to join in the excitement today. She would simply deliver food to Rudolph Symbol and the others after they finished training.
32. Extracurricular Tutoring (For Real)
That evening, after dragging Rudolph Symbol out of the office and back to the dormitory, Kagura returned to her own room, showered, and prepared to rest.
[Kagura, Rudolph and I discussed it tonight. Her next race has been decided. It'll be the Icho Special in three months. Keep a closer eye on her during this period, and don't let her stay up late.]
While drying her hair, Kagura saw a message from Toujou Hana. It informed her of Rudolph Symbol's upcoming race schedule. They had decided to begin officially preparing for the next race tomorrow, and Toujou Hana had also formally assigned Kagura her task. As a logistics Uma Musume, Kagura's job was to ensure Rudolph Symbol's nutritional balance and adjust her physical condition.
--Not bad. It seems they trust you quite a lot. They've actually entrusted you with such important work.
A line of text appeared on the mirror, then quickly faded away.
"That's why I'm feeling the pressure..."
Cooking for an athlete wasn't like casually making whatever came to mind. Kagura also had to start planning a menu. Fortunately, she had a certain foundation in nutrition from before, but it was only theoretical knowledge. This was still her first time applying it to reality.
--It's fine. You're young, after all. Everyone has a first time. Give it a try, and learn whatever you don't know.
"Miss Eclipse, you really sound like an old mother... The first time I interned at a hospital, my mother told me the same thing."
--I really am a veteran! What's wrong with encouraging the younger generation?
Eclipse was as brazenly self-righteous as ever. Kagura could practically picture her puffing out her chest with her hands on her hips.
--Oh, right. Take off your clothes. Right now. Go put on that Shrine Maiden Outfit.
"Miss Eclipse... It's bedtime. And it's the middle of summer..."
--That's exactly why I want you to sleep in the Shrine Maiden Outfit. You'll probably need to use it often from now on, so you need to learn to get used to how it feels.
Before you continue