There's Something Wrong With You, Logistics Uma Musume

"Speed Symbol Granny also often pets me like that, so I don't mind."

During their conversation, Kagura and Old Mejiro had already passed through the front hall and entered the Mejiro mansion's banquet hall.

It was still early, and the guests hadn't arrived yet, so the many tables inside were still empty. Kagura looked around and saw a few Uma Musume sitting near a table in the corner on the right side.

"Hi~! Kagura-chan~! Over here, over here!"

"Invincible-san? And over there is..."

Kagura saw a brown-haired Uma Musume over there, the enthusiastic waitress Invincible she had met yesterday. She also recognized the Uma Musume with beautiful sky-blue hair next to her—Mejiro Ardan, the eldest daughter of the Mejiro family. Ardan also saw her and waved to her along with Invincible, as if inviting her to come over.

"Haha, it seems you're all acquainted. Go on over, child. Don't worry about status; just treat each other like classmates."

"What about you? Aren't you coming with me?"

"This old woman isn't suited to sit with you young people. I still have to greet your family's Old Symbol when he arrives later... I'll take my leave first."

With that, Old Mejiro smiled kindly and gently pushed Kagura beside her.

Kagura nodded to Old Mejiro to show her respect, then walked into the banquet hall. As she got closer, Kagura noticed that behind the large pile of snacks on Ardan's table, there was a small white-haired Uma Musume hiding. The little Uma Musume didn't seem to see her and was still burying her head in eating pudding with a look of enjoyment.

"Yo! Long time no see, Kagura-chan! That outfit looks great on you, it really suits you!"

"Hello, Invincible-san, and Ardan-san. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Inari Kagura, a maid from the Symbol family. I'm very happy to meet you."

Kagura returned their greetings, gave a brief self-introduction, and then sat down in the seat next to Invincible.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kagura-san. I've heard your name for a long time, and I'm finally meeting you today. Just like Takamine-nee said, you're a very cute girl."

After saying that, Mejiro Ardan smiled and reached out to shake Kagura's hand.

Unlike the little Uma Musume who was busy eating and the enthusiastically familiar Invincible, Mejiro Ardan had the air of a young lady, elegant and composed. You couldn't tell at all that she was the type to sprint outside in the scorching 40-degree heat.

"Alright, alright, McQueen, don't just focus on eating. We have a guest, say hello."

While introducing herself to Kagura, Ardan didn't forget to pat the little Uma Musume next to her who was burying her head in devouring cake, reminding her that someone had arrived.

"!! Mmm... (chew) gulp... (swallow) Hello! I'm Mejiro McQueen!"

The little Uma Musume immediately swallowed the food in her mouth and greeted Kagura.

"Hello there, little sister, I'm Inari Kagura."

Although it seemed a little strange to call her "little sister" with her own physique, after so long, she had finally met a child smaller than her current body, so Kagura finally had the chance to call someone "little sister."

Seeing that the little Uma Musume seemed to like eating, Kagura took out a small box of homemade pastries from her bag and placed the small wooden box in her little hands under the little Uma Musume's curious gaze.

"I brought some pastries as a small gift."

"Eh!? Thank you, Kagura-oneechan!"

The little Uma Musume looked surprised and jumped up, then quickly thanked Kagura.

Ah! Someone finally called me "oneechan"! I'm so touched!!

Hearing that "oneechan," Kagura inexplicably felt a sense of accomplishment.

She also gave a portion of her homemade pastries to Ardan and Invincible, who both thanked her and accepted them. However, neither of them rushed to eat, only the little Uma Musume named McQueen eagerly opened the lid and put a piece into her mouth with a fork—

"!!!!!!"

Mejiro McQueen's eyes widened instantly, she looked at the pastries in the box, and then looked at Kagura.

"Pfft... McQueen, mind your manners. I'm sorry, Kagura-san, McQueen is still young and just arrived here, so she may be lacking in etiquette."

Seeing McQueen's eyes widen, Mejiro Ardan couldn't help but smile and touched the little Uma Musume's head as she spoke.

"Kids will be kids, happiness is the most important thing. It's too uncomfortable to always talk about etiquette~ Little sister, is it good?"

"It's delicious!! Kagura-oneechan, where did you buy it?"

The little Uma Musume looked at Kagura with a hopeful expression and shining eyes. It was clear that she really liked these pastries.

"Haha, I made these myself, you can't buy them outside."

"Eh!! Then... then... Kagura-oneechan, do you have any more?"

"Unfortunately, I didn't make too much, I only brought these."

"Mmm..."

Kagura saw that after receiving her answer, Mejiro McQueen's eating speed clearly slowed down, and even the cutting movements became much smaller, reminding Kagura of when she was a child and finally got a fried chicken leg in the cafeteria. She couldn't bear to eat it all at once and would take small bites. Even after she grew up and didn't have to worry about a chicken leg anymore, she still retained this strange habit.

"Give my portion to McQueen, I'm not in a hurry to eat anyway. But McQueen, you also need to be careful and control yourself, otherwise you'll become a little chubby filly."

Ardan affectionately touched McQueen's little head and gave her own portion of pastries to McQueen.

"Thank you, Ardan-nee! I'll be careful!"

Having received a new portion of pastries, McQueen's motivation visibly increased. She thanked her in a soft, childish voice, and then lowered her head to eat again.

"Ardan-senpai, I'll share half of my portion with you. Don't say you're not in a hurry to eat, I just tasted it, and I guarantee that if senpai doesn't try it, you'll definitely regret it!"

Invincible seemed to like the pastries very much as well, but she didn't forget to leave a portion for Ardan.

Kagura had been smiling and watching the Uma Musume taste her handiwork. For her, nothing made her happier than others acknowledging her skills.

"Then... I'll accept your kind offer."

Ardan picked up a fork, cut a piece from Invincible's serving, and put it in her mouth. She closed her eyes to carefully savor the taste. Soon, Kagura saw Ardan's eyes widen in shock.

"Amazing… it's like… a long-awaited encounter."

Unable to find a more fitting adjective, Ardan could only offer this temporary assessment.

"Haha, I told you, Senpai would definitely regret not trying it! Kagura-chan's skills are really amazing, right! By the way, Kagura-chan, this is a pastry from my hometown, did you study Chinese cuisine? I feel like even the head chef at the hotel back home can't compare to Kagura-chan's skills!"

"Just a little bit, just very interested in Chinese cuisine, so I learned it. I'm so glad you all like it."

Being praised like this already made Kagura feel very satisfied, but she still maintained her usual humility.

"If Kagura-chan likes it, come visit China when you have the chance, I can be your tour guide!"

"If I have the opportunity in the future, I would really like to go. I'll have to trouble Miss Invincible then."

"No problem, leave it to me!"

52. Love Doesn't Disappear, But…

--Speaking of which, I've been curious for a long time, aren't you a doctor? Why are your culinary skills so good?

While Kagura temporarily left the banquet hall to get some fresh air, stealing a moment to browse her phone, Eclipse's comment flashed across Kagura's screen.

'Don't look down on doctors who can cook! Miss Eclipse, don't you also really like eating what I make?'

--I understand the reasoning, but isn't that neglecting your duties?

'Not at all, I just don't want to be tortured all day at the hospital and hold in a bellyful of anger, only to have my stomach suffer when I get home from work.'

--Hey, you little rascal, you really know how to enjoy yourself.

'Thank you for the compliment~'

Kagura also took the opportunity to reply to a message from Rudolph Symbol. According to the message, Rudolph Symbol and the others were almost at the Mejiro family's residence. However, not only Rudolph Symbol was coming today, but Speed Symbol, who doesn't usually go out much, was also coming along for some reason.

"Kagura-neechan~"

"Hmm? What's wrong? McQueen, why are you out here too?"

Seeing McQueen run up to her, Kagura raised her hand and patted her head. McQueen didn't dodge, squinting her eyes as if enjoying it, her ears twitching.

Although McQueen was a little younger than Kagura, she was already almost as tall as her, making Kagura a little worried about her future height.

"Can we exchange contact information?"

"No problem, but, you little glutton, do you want to add me as a friend to ask me for food?"

While operating her phone to add Mejiro McQueen as a friend, Kagura teased her with a smile. McQueen's thoughts were easy to understand, Kagura could guess her intentions without much deduction.

Although Kagura had seen through her little plan, she still happily added Kagura as a friend. Little McQueen touched her face shyly, looking happy.

"If you want, you're welcome to come to Tracen Academy to find me. I'm usually in the cafeteria. If you want to eat something I made, you can come to the cafeteria and see."

"Really?!"

Little McQueen leaned in and looked at Kagura excitedly, her tail wagging. Kagura raised her hand and poked the child's forehead, saying with a smile:

"Of course, look at you, so greedy, be careful Miss Ardan will knock you on the head later. Go back and sit down, I'll be there in a moment."

"Okay~"

Obediently nodding, Mejiro McQueen immediately slipped back into the banquet hall.

'I wonder where this child came from, she probably wasn't originally from the Mejiro main family. She doesn't act like a Mejiro family young lady at all, so cute.'

Kagura also liked this kind of pure, natural child. Although the quiet and well-behaved young ladies of the Mejiro family were also good, this kind of energetic and obedient child was still more likable.

Picking up her phone and looking at the time, Kagura estimated that the Symbol family should be arriving soon, so she prepared to return to the banquet hall to wait.

"Hey, little kid over there."

Just as she walked into the hallway, Kagura heard an unfamiliar voice seemingly calling out to her. She stopped and looked around. Besides the Uma Musume who made the sound, she was the only one in the hallway. It seemed that the target of the call should be her.

"...Hello?"

Kagura stopped and looked at the other person. Familiar chestnut hair, and that familiar ancestral white highlight in front of her forehead. She looked somewhat similar to Rudolph Symbol, but the other person's eyes were red, which ruled out the possibility of Rudolph Symbol wearing some makeup she didn't recognize and sneaking in.

The other person didn't answer immediately, but walked forward while curiously observing Kagura. Kagura subconsciously took a few steps back, then bumped into the wall behind her. The other person took the opportunity to lean in, extending a hand to support herself beside Kagura, blocking Kagura's path of escape.

"Uh… Miss, may I ask, is there something I can help you with? If you do this, I will be very troubled…"

Being pinned against the wall, Kagura looked up at the Uma Musume who was a head taller than her. She didn't know the other person's identity yet, but since she could appear in the Mejiro family's residence, she probably wasn't an ordinary person, so Kagura didn't dare to act rashly for the time being, for fear of causing any trouble.

"You, are you Inari Kagura?"

"I am, um, who are you?"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Sirius Symbol. I heard Rudolph mention you, Inari Kagura… is this the talented child she was talking about? Interesting…"

'Sirius Symbol?'

Although the name was unfamiliar, Kagura was no stranger to the Symbol in the other person's name. Not every Uma Musume could have that surname, and not everyone had that ancestral highlight. That is to say, the other person was also from the Symbol family, and also someone who was not usually seen at home.

'Right, the Head of the Family said that there was more than one child in the family… but the other child has been living abroad. Is she back today?'

Kagura had to admit that the Symbol family seemed to produce handsome Uma Musume. Whether it was the dignified Rudolph Symbol, or Sirius Symbol, who was pinning her against the wall and full of youthful spirit, they all had that beautiful boyish feeling.

"Hello, Miss Sirius, nice to meet you. I'm Inari Kagura, a maid of the Symbol family."

"Alright, alright, Sirius, Kagura is a bit timid and introverted, don't rush at her so suddenly, you'll scare her."

Finally, Speed Symbol's familiar voice came from the other end of the corridor, along with the voices of Rudolph Symbol and Mejiro Takamine. It seemed the Symbol family had arrived as well.

"Rudolph, just like you said, this maid is indeed interesting."

As she said that, Sirius Symbol sniffed at Kagura as if smelling her, and then released her, returning to Rudolph Symbol's side.

"I have no interest in lying to you. Pay attention to your behavior next time. Kagura is still young, don't frighten her."

"It's alright, I don't mind. Good morning, Miss Rudolph, and Head of the Family. Did you just arrive?"

Kagura also lifted her skirt and gave a slight bow to Speed Symbol and Rudolph Symbol. Speed Symbol walked over, reached out, and patted Kagura's head affectionately, then pulled her closer to her side.

"Yes, just got out of the car... It's been a while, you seem to have lost a little weight, Kagura. Has the workload been very heavy lately?"

"It's alright... I don't feel anything anyway."

Although the support work during this period had indeed been quite busy, it hadn't been so busy that Kagura couldn't handle it. After all, compared to real work, this was much easier.

"That's not true, look at how thin your face has become. Before, it was soft and fleshy when I pinched it. Later, I'll have the maids at home send you something to nourish yourself. Your health is the foundation of everything. No matter how busy you are, you can't ruin your body, you know?"

"Head of the Family, I'm really fine, you don't need to worry so much!"

For some reason, Kagura felt like she was at her grandmother's house for the New Year.

"Oh, don't be stubborn, child. I hope you're really alright... You're dressed so beautifully today. Did Rudolph and the others pick out your clothes for you?"

"No, no, I bought them myself later when I went shopping..."

"She can make that kind of face?"