Rudolph Symbol watched Speed Symbol chat with Kagura with a benevolent smile, learning about Kagura's recent life and daily routine at school. They seemed able to talk about anything, which gave Rudolph Symbol a strange feeling. She actually sensed an unfamiliar side of Speed Symbol. In her memory, Speed Symbol had always been strict and intimidating. She had never seen her so gentle and kind.
"I rarely see Speed Symbol show that expression either. It seems Kagura really has won her favor."
Mejiro Takamine quietly agreed with Rudolph Symbol. Speed Symbol was completely absorbed in interacting with Kagura, not even finding a moment to speak with the younger people.
"If not for what happened when you were little, I'm sure the old woman would treat you much better."
Sirius Symbol smiled and patted the shoulder of the bewildered Rudolph Symbol. She knew why Speed Symbol had always been so strict with her. After all, Rudolph Symbol's temper as a child had caused plenty of trouble, so it was only natural that Speed Symbol worried about her.
"Uh..."
Rudolph Symbol awkwardly scratched her hair, rendered speechless. When she had still been hot-tempered, she really had caused quite a few incidents. Speed Symbol had always been the one to clean up afterward, so it was no wonder she had constantly lectured Rudolph Symbol. Still, without Speed Symbol's discipline, Rudolph Symbol felt she might never have become the person she was today.
"Standing here isn't ideal, Head of the Family. Let's go into the banquet hall and sit down first. If there's anything else you want to ask, you can ask after we're seated."
Chatting in the corridor wasn't much of an option, so Kagura decided to take everyone into the banquet hall first.
"Good... good. We'll do as you say. Young ones, let's go in and sit down first."
53. Urgent: What Do I Do After Making the Young Lady Cry? Asking Online ()
After the people from the Symbol family took their seats, Old Mejiro entered the banquet hall with the members of the Mejiro family and occupied the other half of the table with Mejiro Ardan and the others.
Kagura also received some news from the two heads of family—after the meal, Old Mejiro hoped Kagura would run a race with Mejiro McQueen, who had arrived in Tokyo two days ago. The race would take place on the Mejiro family's own track.
"Run? McQueen and me?"
"Me and Kagura-neechan are going to race?"
Unlike the puzzled Kagura, Mejiro McQueen lost her earlier gluttonous air the moment she heard about the race. She looked full of fighting spirit.
What exactly is this species of Uma Musume...? Why does a child like McQueen look so fired up whenever she hears about running?!
Kagura had wondered about this for a long time. Whether during ordinary training runs or when she ran with Rudolph Symbol and Maruzensky, they always became fiercely competitive. Even Nice Nature became serious whenever it was time to run.
"Oh? We get to watch a race today?"
Mejiro Ardan also looked curious when she heard the news. Once she learned that the race would be between Mejiro McQueen and Kagura, her curiosity became even more obvious. Invincible and the others from the Symbol family likewise looked ready to rush over and watch the fun.
As the Mejiro family's young lady, Ardan knew why Mejiro McQueen had appeared at the main Mejiro residence in Tokyo. After Kagura's refusal, Old Mejiro had indeed abandoned the plan to adopt Kagura as a substitute runner, and she had accepted that the Mejiro family would be unable to retain the Tenno Sho title for the time being.
Mejiro McQueen was the backup Old Mejiro had found. McQueen was the most talented child among the branch-family descendants, and Old Mejiro was preparing to make her an important trainee. Ardan guessed that today's race had been arranged so Old Mejiro could assess McQueen and Kagura's talents.
Of course, Kagura knew nothing about this. Though she didn't understand where the Uma Musume's fighting spirit came from, she had no intention of opposing Old Mejiro's plan. Speed Symbol also seemed to hope she would agree, so Kagura nodded and accepted the proposal to run with McQueen.
Since the two families were old acquaintances, they quickly began chatting after taking their seats. Aside from Sirius Symbol and Mejiro Takamine staring at Kagura for some reason and making her feel uneasy, the lunch proceeded fairly normally.
"Kagura-neechan, are you a Logistics Uma Musume?"
After lunch, as she walked with Mejiro McQueen toward the Mejiro family's track, McQueen asked about something she had heard during the meal.
"That's right. I'm the Logistics Uma Musume responsible for supporting Miss Rudolph. Why?"
"I heard Logistics Uma Musume usually can't run very well. Is that true?"
"You could say that. It's true to a large extent. Most of the other Logistics Uma Musume at school aren't very fast."
Kagura didn't deny it. She had seen other Logistics Uma Musume before, and they really weren't good at running. Given an Uma Musume's natural love of running, anyone who could run fast would probably have gone into racing already.
"Then... is it inappropriate for Grandma Head of the Family to have me race Kagura-neechan?"
McQueen looked worried, as though she felt the matchup was unfair.
"Oh? Does little McQueen have confidence in winning? You're quite confident."
"I... I'm very fast! None of the other children at home can beat me! Kagura-neechan is only a year older than me, right?"
"That's true~ Maybe your grandmother wants you to experience what a real race feels like."
Kagura didn't know how strong Mejiro McQueen was, nor could she guess Old Mejiro's purpose. She only knew that she would run as hard as she could later. Even if she lost, she couldn't disgrace Speed Symbol.
The two reached the track and began warming up. During that time, Old Symbol and Old Mejiro each brought the younger members of their families to the trackside.
"Kagura, McQueen, don't hold back later. Just run with all your strength."
Old Mejiro reminded them. For some reason, Mejiro McQueen suddenly felt a chill while stretching. She abruptly developed an ominous feeling.
The Mejiro family's trainer stood on the inner side of the track. After watching the two Uma Musume finish warming up and assume their starting positions, he began announcing the conditions:
"Weather: clear. Track condition: poor. Turf, 2,000 meters, counterclockwise..."
"Two thousand meters? McQueen is still so young. Does she have enough stamina?"
Kagura raised her hand with a question. She didn't want this friendly race to cause the child any physical problems.
For a young Uma Musume with slightly above-average stamina talent, 1,600 meters was no problem, but Kagura had rarely heard of one running 2,000. Could McQueen be the type with exceptional endurance?
"It's fine, Kagura. McQueen's stamina is extremely strong. It won't be a problem for her."
Old Mejiro nodded. The Mejiro family had dominated the Tenno Sho for years precisely because of its powerful stamina, and Mejiro McQueen's talent lay in that area. That was why Old Mejiro had chosen a longer distance that suited McQueen while remaining appropriate for a child.
Since Old Mejiro had spoken, Kagura didn't ask any further questions. She bent slightly into position, focusing like an archer drawing a bow, and stared ahead while waiting for the starting signal.
"Bang!!"
After confirming that both runners were ready, the Mejiro trainer fired the starting pistol. Kagura was still a little slow off the mark, though she had improved considerably compared with the beginning.
"Another slow start... Kagura still can't get rid of that old habit."
Rudolph Symbol sighed. Having run alongside Kagura before, she knew Kagura's ability. She wasn't worried about Kagura losing; she was more concerned about whether Kagura could correct her poor starts—and how they would comfort McQueen later.
Though she had started slowly, Kagura immediately made up the difference with her tremendous speed and caught up to Mejiro McQueen. After observing McQueen's pace, she quickly determined that McQueen was running a front-running style.
"Was it really wise for Kagura to catch up so quickly after starting slowly? That must consume a lot of stamina. Or is it some tactic I haven't seen before?"
Mejiro Ardan didn't understand Kagura's decision. Based on her limited practical experience, recovering the lead after falling behind at the start was extremely taxing.
"I don't know either. If it were me, I wouldn't rush back so desperately. There will be plenty of chances on the turns. If you're truly fast enough, there's no need to hurry over a little time."
Invincible, who had already run several races, also didn't understand Kagura's choice. But she had noticed one thing: Kagura was incredibly fast, far beyond the average level of a young Uma Musume her age. She had a strange premonition that if Mejiro McQueen didn't accelerate now, she would soon lose her chance to return to the front.
Kagura knew that 2,000 meters wasn't the limit of her stamina, so she increased her speed rapidly as usual. Mejiro McQueen, running ahead while conserving stamina and planning her pace, was soon left one length behind.
"That speed... Is that child really planning to make a great escape?"
Old Mejiro had heard Speed Symbol say long ago that Kagura was a front-running Uma Musume, but she had never quite believed that a child of this age could run a great escape.
After seeing Kagura's abnormal speed at the start and watching her continue forward at top speed without slowing after passing McQueen, she had no choice but to believe Speed Symbol.
"When have I ever lied to you? I told you that child loves nothing more than a great escape."
"But if she keeps this up, will she have enough stamina...? No, wait. She seems to have run this distance at school before..."
Although Old Mejiro knew Kagura looked very much like a legendary professional runner, she also knew that resemblance was only resemblance.
Kagura passed Mejiro McQueen on the track. She had no intention of easing off or slowing down, continuing at high speed and widening the gap between them.
Mejiro McQueen had initially not been in a hurry to accelerate, but Kagura showed no sign of slowing. The gap had already reached a dangerous five lengths. Though this disrupted McQueen's stamina plan, the distance was too dangerous for her not to speed up.
"How can this be... The distance... I can't catch her?"
Following her experience racing children her age in the family, McQueen increased her speed slightly. But she found that this effective method of pursuit had no effect on Kagura at all. The gap wasn't shrinking—it was growing. She would have to accelerate further to close it.
If I speed up again... will I still have enough stamina?
Mejiro McQueen had barely faced complicated race conditions before and suddenly felt lost. While she hesitated over whether to accelerate again, Kagura had already passed the first turn.
Kagura in front had no time to worry about any of that. She never looked back while running. Having faced professional runners at various distances several times, she understood her own stamina. Her acceleration was decisive and utterly unhesitating.
"That maid... How exciting. Her stride is just like those professional runners I saw overseas—clean and decisive, a stride born for victory."
Sirius Symbol felt eager to try herself. Like Rudolph Symbol, she loved clashing with powerful opponents, and Kagura had thoroughly aroused her interest.
"Hey, Rudolph, do you often train with that maid?"
"Yeah. What, you want to join us? You've never liked training with me."
Rudolph Symbol could tell what her childhood friend was thinking. Their personalities were similar in some ways, and Sirius Symbol had clearly been provoked into competitiveness by Kagura.
"Tch. Can I borrow this maid for two days? If not, I'll train with you for two days."
"No. I'm afraid I'll never get her back if I lend her to you. If you want to run, come to Tracen Academy. Come to think of it, you haven't been back in over half a year."
Naturally, Rudolph Symbol had no intention of lending Kagura to anyone else. She couldn't imagine how chaotic her current life would become without Kagura. Sirius Symbol didn't mind training together, so she agreed to spend a few days at Tracen Academy.
The race was now more than halfway over. Running behind, Mejiro McQueen had realized that something was wrong. Kagura was a Logistics Uma Musume, yet her speed was nothing like that of someone who couldn't run. She was far more threatening than every child her age!
So fast... She's unbelievably fast!? Kagura-neechan's speed is terrifying! Doesn't she get tired?!
McQueen was close to despair. She had already disrupted her plan and accelerated with all her strength, but all she could do was prevent the gap from widening further.
If Mejiro McQueen usually ran very fast when sprinting down the straight, Kagura was practically sprinting for the entire race. To the young McQueen, this was completely incomprehensible.
So when Kagura-neechan said that Logistics Uma Musume generally couldn't run, she meant it was mostly true because she was an exception like this?!
McQueen could no longer estimate how many lengths separated her from Kagura. She only knew that, from the trainer's perspective, the gap already counted as enormous—and the race had only just passed halfway!
To become that Rudolph Symbol's Logistics Uma Musume... do I need this kind of unreasonable strength too?!
Though the gap was immense, McQueen still refused to give up and continued chasing desperately.
"McQueen's talent really is excellent, and her determination not to give up is impressive. But..."
Old Mejiro was already satisfied with McQueen's performance. She had known from the beginning that McQueen couldn't win, but she hadn't expected the gap to be this large. At this rate, McQueen being fifteen lengths behind Kagura at the finish would count as a good result.
"...That child really is a monster... Just like that legendary Uma Musume from long ago."
"Oh? So I'm not the only one who thinks she resembles that legendary Uma Musume. But I remember she had no descendants, right?"
"No. She died young of lung disease, before reaching the age when she could have descendants."
Speed Symbol shook her head. She had also wondered whether Kagura might be descended from that legendary Uma Musume, but that runner had died too young, hundreds of years ago. The possibility was negligible. As for Kagura's appearance, it was probably just a coincidence—perhaps a little joke played by the Three Goddesses.
"Haa... haa... This is... impossible... I can't catch her!"
Following behind Kagura, McQueen's breathing had completely fallen apart. Watching the increasingly blurred figure ahead, she experienced despair more deeply than ever before.
This was clearly a distance she could usually handle with ease, yet today it was agonizing. Kagura had no intention of holding back. McQueen had just entered the final turn when Kagura began her final sprint on the last straight. The terrifying burst of acceleration made the exhausted little McQueen widen her eyes. She knew she had no hope of catching up.
"Takamine, go back and tell the kitchen to prepare honey and cake. Quickly."
The outcome of the contest was no longer in doubt. Old Mejiro had already begun thinking about how to comfort her young Uma Musume. Mejiro Takamine could hardly bear to watch. Upon hearing Old Mejiro's order, she immediately understood and turned to rush off.
The Mejiro trainer stood at the finish line, his face full of disbelief. He wanted to turn his head because he couldn't bear to watch McQueen's pitiful expression as she ran with tears nearly spilling out. But Old Mejiro had ordered him to record the result, so he couldn't look away and could only watch the black shadow flash across the finish line.
Miss McQueen already lost speed on the turn... Kagura completely shattered her rhythm...
That was what the trainer couldn't understand. Kagura was only slightly older than McQueen, yet her physical performance was far beyond what an ordinary child her age could possess.
The trainer waited for a while before Mejiro McQueen desperately crossed the finish line. Beyond it, she braced her hands on her knees and gasped heavily.
Nearly seventeen lengths... Truly terrifying...
Mejiro McQueen had indeed never undergone systematic training, but the size of the gap still shocked the trainer. Perhaps Rudolph Symbol herself could have opened an even larger gap if she had come down from the stands—but Rudolph Symbol was an elite professional racer who had already debuted, while Kagura was only a Logistics Uma Musume.
"Haa... haa... Kagura-neechan... sob... You're too strong..."
"You did well to keep running to the end."
Kagura hadn't forgotten Nice Nature's condition after their last run, so she immediately turned back to find McQueen.
She took out a handkerchief, wiped McQueen's sweat, and then wiped away her tears. Kagura patted McQueen's little head. McQueen's ears had drooped, and she looked utterly dejected.
"Kagura-neechan... You're too unreasonable..."
"Sorry, sorry... But that's how races are. Everyone gives it their all, and no one will go easy on you."
"Sniff..."
Mejiro McQueen knew that, but she had never before felt so powerless before her own lack of strength.
"Still, while I can't go easy on you during the race, I can give you some snacks afterward."
"Huh...?"
McQueen, who had still been dejected, raised her head and looked at Kagura through tear-filled eyes.
"Can I borrow your family's kitchen? I can go make whatever you want to eat right now."
54. Old Mejiro's Commission
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