Although she had no idea what Eclipse wanted to do, Kagura chose to follow her instructions anyway. She found the slightly troublesome Shrine Maiden Outfit in her wardrobe and changed into it. Only then did she return to the mirror to see whether Eclipse had any further instructions.
—Turn off the lights and go to sleep!
Eclipse erased every line she wrote immediately, but this line remained in place without changing at all. That meant it must be Eclipse's next instruction.
Completely baffled, Kagura tilted her head in confusion. Even so, she obediently went to turn off the lights, then lay down on the bed in her Shrine Maiden Outfit and pulled the covers over herself.
As on every other night, soon after she fell asleep, Kagura felt a chill slip beneath the covers with her and coil around her waist. She knew that was Eclipse. But for some reason, tonight was different. Usually, she only felt a faint chill enveloping her. Today, however, she could clearly feel what seemed like fingers brushing over her abdomen and waist, as though Eclipse were embracing her from behind.
"Miss Eclipse... that tickles..."
The moment she spoke, she felt that sensation move. It no longer felt like she was being tickled.
If this had happened two months ago, Kagura, who was afraid of ghosts, would probably have been scared unconscious by now. After being toyed with like this by Eclipse every night for two months, though, she had developed some resistance.
Closing her eyes, Kagura relaxed her body and soon let her consciousness sink into darkness.
Kagura felt a slightly chilly breeze brush across her face, and she couldn't help shivering.
Thinking she had kicked off her blankets again, she opened her eyes on instinct, intending to pull them back over herself.
"..."
The moment she opened her eyes, she found herself staring straight into a pair of dark-red eyes. She instantly woke up in fright.
"Mi... Miss Eclipse!?"
"It's me~"
The black-haired Uma Musume smiled at Kagura, who was still lying down. Only then did Kagura realize that she was lying on Eclipse's lap.
This was the second time Kagura had met Eclipse like this in person. Tonight's Eclipse was different from the mature, elegant woman Kagura had seen before. This time, she looked like nothing more than a girl just slightly older than Kagura.
Having already experienced this once, Kagura knew she was currently inside her own dream. This was also the only way Eclipse could presently appear before her in her true form. Moreover, Eclipse apparently couldn't use this method of communication often. Most of the time, when she had something to say, she had to wait until Kagura woke up before writing and gesturing to tell her.
Kagura understood why Eclipse had told her to wear the Shrine Maiden Outfit tonight. Both times she had met Eclipse, she had been wearing it. It seemed this outfit really did possess some special function.
"I mainly came to find you tonight so you could get used to this feeling. While I'm at it, I also need to teach you a few things. It's best if you ask everything at once, since I don't have many chances to communicate with you like this. If you have any questions about Uma Musume, ask me now. I can demonstrate with my own body while explaining."
It looked like Eclipse had come to give Kagura some private tutoring now that she was about to start working. Kagura happened to have quite a few questions about Uma Musume as well. Communicating through writing and gestures really was inefficient. Speaking face-to-face and demonstrating things directly was much better.
After thinking about what she wanted to ask, Kagura remained silent for a moment before finally speaking:
"Um... I'll probably have to massage Young Miss's legs pretty often in the future. Are there any taboos or things I should pay attention to?"
"You mean that? Not many. As long as you don't dig in with your fingernails, you'll be fine. If you want to ask how to massage someone so it feels better, that varies from person to person. The best way is to do it a few times and learn by experience. Still, there are some similarities between people, and there are a few places that are generally safe to massage. If you're uncertain, you can start by pressing those spots and testing the waters."
As she spoke, Eclipse lifted the skirt of her Shrine Maiden Outfit, revealing her thigh. She pointed out several places on it for Kagura, then had Kagura touch and press them herself a few times. Kagura nodded and committed those spots to memory.
"Next..."
Eclipse's little class was undeniably far more effective than Kagura's usual studying. Whenever there was a physical question, Eclipse could demonstrate directly with her own body, and many of Kagura's questions were answered that night.
It didn't take long for Kagura to finish asking everything that had come to mind recently. She had covered most of the basics concerning Uma Musume and racing. If any additional questions came up later, she could ask about them then.
"You have surprisingly few questions. I thought it would take at least half an hour to explain everything to you."
Seeing that Kagura had nothing more to ask so soon, Eclipse rubbed her hands together. Kagura sensed that she had something else in mind.
"I've tested quite a few things on myself, so I solved many of those questions on my own... Come to think of it, Miss Eclipse, is there anything else I need to pay attention to?"
"Of course. But it isn't related to your work. Now that we've finished dealing with your professional questions, it's time for the next segment."
"Huh?"
Eclipse pointed at the ground beneath them. Kagura looked in the direction she indicated, puzzled, but all she saw was an ordinary racetrack.
"Doesn't it look familiar?"
"Um... sorry, Miss Eclipse. I don't understand..."
"Oh my... Kagura, this won't do. As the Uma Musume you support, can't you even remember the information about the racecourses she has run on? That's one of the things you should collect before a race begins."
Only after Eclipse reminded her did Kagura remember. No wonder the place looked familiar. This was the racetrack where Rudolph Symbol's debut race had been held.
"Never mind. As long as you understand that this is part of your job, don't forget it in the future. Anyway, right here, use the running style you're best at and run a race modeled after Rudolph Symbol's one-thousand-meter race."
"What?!"
"Don't look so shocked! Get into the starting gate!"
Half pushed and half dragged along, Kagura was still in a daze when Eclipse shoved her into the gate that had originally belonged to Rudolph Symbol.
"Miss Eclipse... I'm here to train, right!?"
"Of course. What did you think? Did you think I went to all the trouble of dragging you into a dream tonight just to talk about bodily functions?"
"Then... then why did you get into the gate too!?"
Seeing Eclipse enter the gate to her right, Kagura felt herself break into a cold sweat even in the dream.
"Track condition: poor. Weather..."
Eclipse raised her head and glanced at the pitch-black night sky above them. After a brief pause, she continued:
"...weather: cloudy. Turf: 1,000 meters, counterclockwise."
"Um... Miss Eclipse..."
"You have to remember this, Kagura: there's nothing that lets you understand the condition of the ground beneath your feet better than running on it yourself. This also needs to be done before a race. If possible, go walk around the actual track. If that isn't possible, find a similar track and try running on it. It's essential for both you and the girl you support."
Eclipse bent slightly and assumed a starting stance, waiting for the gate in front of her to open.
Kagura also focused and stared at the gate before her, not daring to get distracted again. She knew she had a habit of getting poor starts. It was obvious that Eclipse wanted to run a race against her personally, and Kagura had no idea what would happen if she failed to run well.
"Clack!!"
With the crisp sound of the gates opening, Eclipse made a beautiful start. Kagura, fully focused, still reacted slightly late. It wasn't as terrible as before, but in the instant after leaving the gate, Eclipse had already opened up a one-length lead!
No... I have to catch up...
The race was only 1,000 meters long. There was no doubt she wouldn't reach her physical limit, so she didn't need to worry about stamina. After falling behind at the start, she immediately accelerated with all her strength.
But Eclipse clearly wasn't the kind of Uma Musume Kagura could catch simply by accelerating mindlessly. No matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't close the distance. In fact, the gap continued widening at an unbelievable rate.
Miss Eclipse... she's even more terrifying than Young Miss!! So much more terrifying!!
Watching the distance grow rapidly, Kagura couldn't help crying out in despair inwardly.
Even when running alongside Rudolph Symbol, Kagura had never felt such hopelessness. She had squeezed every last bit of strength from her body. Given her current condition—and the fact that this was her first time running on completely unfamiliar poor ground—she had also needed some time to adjust fully to the rhythm of running on it. That had kept her from accelerating at full force during the early part of the race.
A thousand meters wasn't a long distance. Those five or six seconds she had spent adapting had already cost her a considerable portion of the course, and the gap between her and Eclipse had widened to the point where catching up was impossible!
Is 1,000 meters... really such a difficult distance to run...?
It wasn't even long enough to count as a warm-up, yet this time Kagura found the race agonizing. It wasn't physical pain, but mental anguish. No matter what she did, she couldn't catch Eclipse ahead of her. Eclipse moved as fast as a flickering shadow, showing no intention of going easy on her.
"I... can't catch her..."
Kagura already understood the insurmountable difference between herself and Eclipse. Even so, she had no intention of giving up. No matter how desperate and impossible the gap was to overcome, she still intended to finish the race.
As Eclipse had said before the start, even as a loser, Kagura could experience what it felt like for an Uma Musume to run on this track. That would also help her in her support work.
A few seconds after Eclipse crossed the finish line, Kagura finally chased after her and crossed it as well.
"Sixteen lengths. Not bad... You kept running until the end. Your willpower passes."
Eclipse nodded in satisfaction as she watched Kagura approach while adjusting her breathing.
"Miss Eclipse... you're so fast! You really didn't hold back at all!"
"Nope~ Of course I gave it my all. Once you're on the track, do you really expect your opponent to kindly go easy on you? You wouldn't have such thoughts yourself, would you?"
Eclipse smiled as she asked the question in return.
Of course, she hadn't told Kagura everything just now. She had indeed used her full strength under normal conditions, but it was only her full strength under normal conditions. Kagura had yet to reach a higher realm, so Eclipse had no intention of using greater power against her.
I think I understand what Miss Eclipse said before now...
One horse takes the lead, and all others fade into insignificance.
Once Eclipse runs, who could possibly contend with her?
Kagura understood where the ancient people's evaluation of Eclipse had come from. She also understood why Eclipse had said that, even until the end, she had never encountered an opponent who could stand against her. She was simply too strong—strong enough to reach a height that other Uma Musume could never attain in their entire lives.
"Well... I only left you sixteen lengths behind, so that's pretty good~ Keep working hard. Once you grow up, you might have a chance of catching up to me."
"I... can I really do that?"
"Oh my! You silly girl, why can't you have a little more confidence?"
As she spoke, Eclipse leaned over. Looking helpless, she reached out, pinched Kagura's cheeks, and rubbed them a few times. Kagura couldn't feel any pain at all in the dream. Being conscious that she was dreaming while still being able to move freely was a rather strange feeling.
"All right, all right. Today's guidance ends here. You can summarize your insights and gains after you wake up tomorrow~ Don't stay here too long. Make sure you get proper rest, or you won't be able to get up tomorrow, and your Young Miss will have nothing to eat."
Eclipse released Kagura's cheeks and snapped her fingers. Kagura's vision began to darken, and the entire racetrack around them slowly vanished, transforming back into a black void.
"Good night, child. Have sweet dreams."
Late-Night Cafeteria
"Classmate! Really, you're not going to reconsider? We'll even give you a Gold Ship bicycle if you join now!"
"Ship, this is already the third time you've come to ask me this week. I'm pretty sure I told you I'm not planning to join a team yet."
Looking at the little Uma Musume who had appeared outside the cafeteria window, Kagura smiled helplessly. She also used a disposable paper plate to pass a small dish of translucent pastries through the window to her.
"Eh~ It's fine. Just think of it as my routine visit. Come to think of it, it's such a wonderful coincidence that I run into Kagura here every time I come over at noon. Could this be fate's arrangement?"
"What fate? I cook here every day. Of course I'll be here if you come..."
After receiving the small plate from Kagura, Gold Ship's visible enthusiasm rose sharply. She was always scatterbrained, but even so, her ears revealed how excited she was.
Before picking up her utensils, Gold Ship dramatically pressed her palms together and bowed toward the plate of pastries. She looked like a primitive person performing some mysterious pre-meal ritual, and Kagura, who was still waiting for the ingredients inside to finish cooking, watched with great interest.
In all the days Kagura had worked in the cafeteria, Gold Ship was the only Uma Musume who would stand at her window and eat there. After receiving a positive response the first time she tried Kagura's food, she began performing this bizarre ritual every time she came to freeload a meal.
"I've been curious for a long time. Ship, what are you doing?"
"Gold Ship-sama is worshiping a sacred artifact! I beseech the sacred artifact to bless me with its power!"
"Er... what?"
Kagura didn't really understand the answer, but she guessed Gold Ship was trying to say that her cooking was good.
To provide Rudolph Symbol with food that was both delicious and within her daily calorie limit, Kagura had spent the past half month essentially shuttling between her dormitory, the cafeteria, and the training field. She was experimenting with and improving recipes for Rudolph Symbol, trying to make food that would be delicious while avoiding repetition over short periods.
Gold Ship, who had tried to put a sack over Kagura's head two weeks ago, had occasionally visited the cafeteria during those two weeks. The two of them had quickly become familiar with each other. After trying Kagura's cooking once, Gold Ship became her taste tester. Whenever Kagura made something new, she would always use Gold Ship as her first guinea pig, and Gold Ship was happy to come over and volunteer.
Although Kagura called her a little Uma Musume, Gold Ship was actually astonishingly tall. She was only about as old as Kagura, yet she was tall enough to make Kagura envious.
Every time I see her, I think about how elegant this girl looks when she's still. Why does she become so scatterbrained the moment she starts moving?
Kagura saw a line of faint writing appear on the cafeteria window. It vanished almost immediately.
She glanced at Gold Ship outside. Gold Ship had lowered her head and was quietly eating. Holding the knife and fork she had brought herself, she slowly and elegantly cut the pastries on the plate and put them into her mouth as though she were eating Western food. Every movement exuded an air of elegance. At least at times like this, Kagura felt that the girl had the bearing of nobility, like a young lady.
Could this be what they call... a beauty in repose?
—What a shame. Such a lovely girl. Why does she have to move?
Eclipse's writing flashed past. She had also been shocked several times by this lively Uma Musume over the past two weeks. It was the first time in a long while that she had felt like an ancient person unable to keep up with the times.
"Good evening, little sister~"
Just as Gold Ship was burying her head in battle against Kagura's new creation, Kagura saw Maruzensky approach from behind her.
Over the past two weeks, Maruzensky and the others had gotten better about coming to freeload meals. Not that they came less often; they simply no longer flooded in all at once. Besides cooking for Little Talent and Rudolph Symbol at each meal, Kagura now only had either Maruzensky or Akikawa Yayoi as an extra guest. They seemed to have arranged their visits among themselves and staggered their schedules. If Akikawa Yayoi came one day, Maruzensky would wait until the next. Kagura no longer saw them crowding in together.
Although she didn't know what was going on, Kagura guessed they had made some private agreement so they wouldn't put too much pressure on her in a single meal. She had no intention of investigating further. As far as she was concerned, it was a good thing.
"Good evening, Miss Maruzensky. I just made something new. Would you like to try it?"
"The thing that classmate is eating?"
Maruzensky glanced at the little Uma Musume beside them, who was standing upright and eating with slow, elegant movements. She didn't recognize her at first, but after looking carefully, she realized it was Gold Ship, who occasionally came to freeload a meal.
"Yeah. I tried making some little pastries. They're Coconut Osmanthus Cake."
As she spoke, Kagura came out of the kitchen, handed another paper plate to Maruzensky, and led her and Gold Ship to find a place nearby to sit and eat. On the plate was a translucent, glowing piece of osmanthus cake. The springy pastry was dotted with tiny flower petals, and merely looking at it made one swallow involuntarily.
Before you continue