You Really Do Have a Problem, Logistics Uma Musume

Nice Nature usually wasn't that careless with herself, but whenever she ate with Kagura, she tended to end up like this. Kagura couldn't tell whether it was because the food was delicious or because Nice Nature didn't pay much attention in front of someone familiar.

"If you like it, I can write down the recipe and make it for you after we get back to school?"

"Really? Come to think of it, restaurant owners usually don't give out their ramen recipes, do they?"

"Don't worry about that. I'll know how to make it after tasting it. As long as you want me to."

"You can learn it just by tasting it? Is that really a thing you can do?"

Nice Nature's face was full of disbelief. She knew Kagura was an excellent cook, but learning to make a dish after just a couple of tastes sounded absurd. Even the uncles and aunties in Tracen Academy's cafeteria would have been sweating bullets if they heard that.

"Of course. As long as I have the ingredients, I can make it."

"Then if I find something delicious in the future, can I ask Kagura to come taste it and make it for me afterward?"

"Mhm~ But that depends on whether what you find is healthy. Eating is fine, but I can't let you get sick from stuffing your face, or I won't be able to answer to your parents."

As she spoke, Kagura reached out and gently pressed a finger against Nice Nature's forehead, pushing her back slightly. Nice Nature smiled awkwardly, lowered her head, and continued battling the noodles in her bowl.

This girl is so adorably innocent. It's impossible not to worry about her...

48. The Park Really Is Tracen's Blessed Land (Praise)

After filling their stomachs, Kagura left the restaurant with a satisfied-looking Nice Nature and began considering where they should go for a walk.

Kagura had also taken the opportunity to ask the waitress named Invincible for her contact information and add her as a friend. Invincible had recommended a park near Tracen Academy, saying that if Kagura wanted to go out with a friend, she could take a look there. She had also recommended a newly released honey specialty drink from one of the park's street stalls.

--Nice Nature really is adorably spacey. She reminds me of my trainer. He was just as nervous the first time he asked his girlfriend out. Even now, whenever she mentions it to me, she can't help laughing. It was hilarious.

Don't laugh at her! Nice Nature is still young. Besides, she didn't have many friends before, so of course she'd be nervous about inviting one out for the first time!

--Mhm~ She is your friend, after all... Let's just say that's the reason for now. It's understandable.

Eclipse left behind a hint that seemed meaningful yet somehow incomprehensible, then fell silent. Kagura didn't pay it much attention.

Kagura had also heard about the park near Tracen Academy many times from her classmates after school started. Since the Logistics Uma Musume usually attended classes with the other Uma Musume, she often heard all sorts of strange stories and incidents between classmates. Listening to those bizarre campus legends made her feel as though she were hearing ghost stories.

"Come to think of it, Kagura, did you hear that rumor a while ago too? Apparently, a small black Uma Musume ghost comes out in the park at night. Some people have even seen her. She walks without making a sound, and you can't even see her shadow on the ground..."

Hearing that they were going to the park reminded Nice Nature of the rumor that had recently become popular in class.

"It's true, I've heard that rumor too... Uh... Nice Nature, don't be nervous. It's broad daylight, so surely the ghost won't come out! Besides, I'm here. If there really is a ghost, I'll protect you."

Kagura wanted to say that she didn't believe in ghosts or spirits, but then she remembered that a ghost had been following her around all this time and could even possess her. Suddenly, she felt that the rumor might not be entirely unreliable.

After wandering around with Nice Nature for a while, they eventually made their way into the park. There weren't many people there in the afternoon, though here and there, they could see trainers taking walks with their Uma Musume.

Kagura also saw some Uma Musume trying to "attack" their trainers. However, those trainers "looked" completely unmoved, as stiff as logs and seemingly running on negative EQ. In an anime, it would definitely be the kind of scene that made the audience die of impatience. But Kagura had attended a trainer's lecture for a while before, and she knew that these trainers probably weren't actually dense. Rather, they were employing the self-protection measures discussed at the lecture...

Such dedicated trainers. Thanks for all your hard work...

Kagura silently saluted those "log" trainers in her heart, filled with respect. These were the people who truly upheld professional ethics and their bottom lines, refusing to cause their students any trouble or affect their careers.

"Kagura, what are those Uma Musume doing?"

Nice Nature had naturally noticed them too, but she was still too young to understand what was going on.

"I don't know. They must be acting spoiled with their trainers."

Kagura, not wanting to corrupt a child, gave a vague answer and glossed over it.

"Acting spoiled with their trainers..."

"Speaking of which, Nice Nature, you've grown so fast lately. Have you entered your blossoming phase?"

After learning about the concept of blossoming, this was the first time Kagura had witnessed it firsthand. Nice Nature's body had developed by leaps and bounds recently. In such a short time, Kagura already had to rise slightly onto her toes just to touch Nice Nature's head.

"Probably. I thought Kagura had gotten shorter! So this is what blossoming is."

"That's right. After blossoming, you can participate in Tracen's campus trials. That'll help you find a good trainer as soon as possible. Train for a few years, and you'll be able to debut."

"Huh?! So that's how it works?"

"Yeah... Come to think of it, if that's the case, I'll have to drag you to the track to practice with Miss and the others lately. Getting a good result in the trials and finding a good trainer is very important!"

Kagura had come up with a plan. She intended to run on the campus trial course first to get a feel for its condition, then offer Nice Nature some advice or write her a guide to help her achieve a good result.

"Huh? N-No, I can't trouble you that much! I..."

"Listen, Nice Nature. This concerns your future and the rest of your life. It doesn't matter if I tire myself out. At worst, I'll sleep for a few days after I'm done. What matters is your future. You won't have many chances like this in your life, so don't leave yourself with regrets over something like this, all right?"

As she spoke, Kagura stopped and turned around. She gently placed a finger against Nice Nature's lips and looked at her with an extremely serious expression, leaving Nice Nature unable to say another word.

Nice Nature had wanted to refuse politely, but Kagura hadn't given her the chance to finish. Looking at Kagura, who was even shorter than her, Nice Nature felt that sensation growing stronger. Compared to a friend, Kagura was more like an easygoing parent or senior.

She had only ever heard words like that from her parents. Since coming to Tokyo and living alone, Kagura was the only person who had cared about her this much and worried so much for her. Nice Nature felt a warm glow in her heart.

"I understand. Then... sorry for the trouble, Kagura, and thank you! Really, thank you so much!"

Nice Nature bowed deeply to Kagura as if she were facing one of her former teachers.

"Pfft... Why are you being so formal? We're friends, aren't we? Helping you is only natural."

Kagura smiled and quickly reached out to help Nice Nature up. To her, the best reward would be for Nice Nature to walk safely along her path in life. Besides, this was hardly troublesome, and Nice Nature didn't need to thank her so formally.

Ah... Kagura is always like this... She gives her kindness without holding anything back to everyone in her care...

Nice Nature didn't immediately stand straight. Instead, she followed Kagura's support and leaned against her shoulder, rubbing her cheek against Kagura's face. Only today did she discover that being this close to Kagura made her feel incredibly relaxed.

Kagura cares about me so much. I can't let her down... I'll give it a try! I'm not really that bad, am I? Sometimes, I can do things too, right?

Looking at Kagura's smile, the usually self-conscious Nice Nature felt that she had found a reason worth striving for.

"Nice Nature, you can hug me as long as you want after we get back to school. We're still in the park, so watch your image."

"Okay! Right! Kagura, my roommate said there's a really delicious honey specialty drink around here. Want to go look for it together?"

"Sure. That waitress recommended it to me too, but I don't know the way. You'll have to lead me there."

Nice Nature pulled Kagura from the middle of the park toward a small food cart off to the side.

After the two had gone some distance, a small black-haired Uma Musume poked her head out from behind a tree on the lawn. She watched the two departing figures from afar—or, more accurately, she stared intently at Kagura.

"...You said that Uma Musume and I are the same type of person?"

49. Listening to the Rain

"Ah... It was perfectly sunny this afternoon! How did it suddenly start raining at dusk?"

Nice Nature clutched her head and hurried into the Ritto Dormitory, shaking the water from her drenched hair and tail. Kagura, who hadn't brought an umbrella either, followed close behind, also clutching her head as she ran inside and shook out her wet hair and tail.

"Miss Kagura, Miss Nice Nature, are you two all right?"

The Head Maid hurried over with towels to check on them. Fortunately, they were only wet and hadn't suffered any other injuries.

"We're fine... We just didn't expect the rain to come so suddenly, so we didn't bring umbrellas."

"That's good. Go upstairs, take a bath, and drink something hot. It wouldn't be good if you caught a cold."

The Head Maid wiped the two Uma Musume's heads with a towel, then urged them to go upstairs and rest.

Since the Head Maid of the Ritto Dormitory, Fuji Kiseki, often had to drag Rudolph Symbol out of her office after curfew, she and Kagura had become fairly familiar with each other.

Fuji Kiseki was a strikingly handsome Uma Musume with the same air of a cross-dressed beauty as Rudolph Symbol. She was also gentle and caring toward the students, like a dashing bishonen. Kagura had heard that the dorm head was quite popular in the Ritto Dormitory, and she occasionally brought Fuji Kiseki some of the food she made.

"Okay, thank you, Head Maid!"

"It's my duty. Besides, Miss Kagura, you've looked after me quite a bit too. No need to be so polite. You need to take care of yourself as well. Don't work yourself to exhaustion."

"Okay~!"

Kagura and Nice Nature hurried upstairs and ran back to their dorm rooms to shower and change.

To be honest, if there was one distinctive thing about Japan that Kagura rather liked, it was the bathtubs found everywhere. After being drenched by cold rain, soaking in a hot bath was truly delightful.

"Phew~"

After taking off her clothes and lowering herself into the hot water, Kagura let out a comfortable sigh.

--Back in the park, I sensed other spirits moving around nearby.

A line of text appeared on the surface of the water over Kagura's chest, then quickly turned into ripples and vanished.

"Other spirits? Could there really be a ghost?"

Remembering the rumors she'd heard recently, as well as the example of Eclipse beside her, Kagura did believe there could be a ghost in that place.

--That possibility cannot be ruled out. Alternatively, there may be another Uma Musume with a constitution similar to yours, one that allows spirits to possess her indefinitely.

"That sounds interesting... I wish I could meet her."

Kagura was quite curious about what other spirits looked like. She didn't know whether she could see them, but she remembered that her Shrine Maiden Outfit seemed to have some special functions. If she went out wearing it, would she be able to see that spirit?

--I don't recommend trying that. The Shrine Maiden Outfit was originally meant to strengthen your spiritual constitution and make it easier for you to communicate with me. In that state, the other spirit might come over and possess you.

"Huh? It can do that?"

--I never said I was the only one who could possess people. But you don't need to worry. If that thing dares set its sights on you, I'll beat it back.

Looking at the line of text Eclipse had left behind, Kagura suddenly felt especially safe.

The rain outside still hadn't stopped. In fact, it seemed to be getting heavier, and low rumbles of thunder could be heard every so often. Kagura was glad she'd run quickly and made it back before the rain intensified.

After her bath, Kagura looked at the weather and figured she wouldn't be able to go out. She decided to eat an apple that night just to fill her stomach.

She returned to her room, put on a camisole and panties, and was just about to change into her uniform when she thought about it. Since she couldn't go out anyway, she might as well test what Eclipse had said. She turned around and changed into the Shrine Maiden Outfit instead.

"Ho ho~ What put you in the mood for this tonight? Do you miss hearing my voice?"

After changing, Kagura could clearly feel Eclipse embracing her from behind. Perhaps because of the enhancement, her sensitivity to Eclipse's movements had increased considerably, and she could even hear a little of Eclipse's voice.

"Miss Eclipse, even though I can hear your voice now, I still can't see you."

"That's normal. If you want to see me, you'll have to wait until I've recovered a bit more. If you can give me some publicity, I might recover faster."

"Publicity?"

"You don't need to think about it for now. Once you start competing, this will be accomplished as well. The time isn't right yet, so there's no need to hurry."

Eclipse didn't sound eager to make Kagura do anything for her. She seemed like a very laid-back parent raising a child.

"By the way, I sense a familiar presence standing outside the door. It's been there for quite a while. It should be your friend from downstairs, but for some reason, she hasn't knocked."

"Huh?"

Eclipse had to be talking about Nice Nature. Kagura suddenly remembered that she hadn't turned on the light because she had wanted to conduct an experiment. Nice Nature had probably seen that the room was dark, assumed no one was inside, and therefore hadn't dared knock.

Kagura hurried to the door and opened it. Nice Nature was indeed standing outside, but she was wearing pajamas and holding a pillow, leaving Kagura completely baffled as to what she wanted.

"Nice Nature? What's with the..."

"Ehehe... Well... There was thunder today, and my roommate happened to be out... I'm a little scared. Can I come sleep in your dorm room with you?"

"...Huh?"

Kagura blinked. She didn't remember Nice Nature ever being afraid of thunder, but the girl looked so pitiful that Kagura couldn't bear to leave her alone in the dorm during such a fierce storm. So she let her in.

"Why were you in your room just now but didn't turn on the light?"

After entering and closing the door behind her, Nice Nature looked around at the pitch-black room, puzzled.

"I just like sitting in the dark and listening to the rain when it rains. Without artificial light, it's like becoming part of nature. It's quiet and peaceful."

"Oh... Kagura has a hobby like that?"

Kagura hadn't actually been doing that just now, but she did indeed have such a hobby. That was also why she liked rainy days.

Kagura turned on the room light. Nice Nature took a moment to adjust to the sudden brightness before looking at her. Only then did she notice that Kagura was wearing an elaborate outfit completely different from her usual maid uniform and school uniform.

Kagura usually gave off a gentle, approachable feeling, but today, Nice Nature sensed a sacred, untouchable solemnity from her. She looked just like a proper shrine maiden, and even the slightest impolite thought felt like an offense against a divine messenger.

"Wow... Kagura, that outfit looks so pretty! Are you a shrine maiden?"

Nice Nature examined Kagura with envy and curiosity. To be honest, she also wanted an outfit like that—something beautiful and ornate that belonged uniquely to her and had its own distinctive style.

"Sort of... Ah, didn't the Head Maid tell you? I came from a shrine."

"No, this is the first time I've seen you like this. Hehe... Kagura is already cute normally, but now you're even prettier!"

As she spoke, Nice Nature reached out, gently wrapped her arms around Kagura's neck, and rubbed against her. Kagura had just taken a bath, and a pleasant fragrance rose from her body.

"Thanks for the compliment, but Nice Nature, don't press my face against your chest next time. I might suffocate..."

Kagura hurriedly broke free of Nice Nature's embrace. She realized that the girl had grown quite a lot without her noticing, enough that she could no longer breathe when pressed against her.