"I'm truly sorry for troubling you, Kagura, by asking you to run with McQueen, and then troubling you to personally make her something to eat, too. I really..."
That evening, outside the banquet hall, Old Mejiro gratefully thanked Kagura as she watched Mejiro McQueen, who had regained her energy and was happily eating snacks at the table.
"It's fine. McQueen cheering up is the best outcome. Besides, I didn't have to put in that much effort."
"I've always heard Old Symbol praise your cooking and tell me how good you are at taking care of people. Today, this old woman finally got to see it for herself..."
Old Mejiro couldn't help feeling a little envious of Speed Symbol. She had heard a bit about Kagura's background. Kagura's shrine was roughly the same distance from the Mejiro family and the Symbol family, so how had she happened to collapse right outside the Symbol family's door?
The Mejiro family had been searching for someone suitable to care for their Uma Musume for a long time. Whether it was a Logistics Uma Musume or a trainer, ever since the family's children had enrolled—especially after Ardan, that frail and sickly child, entered school—Old Mejiro and Mejiro Takamine had been looking for someone at Tracen Academy. Yet even now, the Mejiro family still hadn't found anyone they were truly satisfied with.
After all, there were very few Logistics Uma Musume at Tracen Academy, and most of the handful were only at a student's level. Old Mejiro really didn't feel comfortable entrusting her fragile Ardan to those children. After waiting so many years for a reliable Logistics Uma Musume, the Symbol family had beaten them to her.
"Kagura, do you still have time to look after one more Uma Musume?"
Although Old Mejiro didn't hold out much hope that Kagura would agree, she still tried asking.
"What are you planning, Old Mejiro?"
Speed Symbol's ears immediately perked up at those words, and she glared over with narrowed eyes.
"Kagura is already busy enough. She's lost weight over the past few months, and today she ran with your child and personally cooked for her. Do you still want to add another burden to her?"
"I know that... But there really isn't a second Logistics Uma Musume as reliable as her at Tracen Academy. I don't need her to take care of her so meticulously, either. She only needs to keep an eye on her and stop that child from doing anything frightening."
Though she knew she was in the wrong, Old Mejiro still forced herself to say it. Ardan had always wanted to return to school, and Old Mejiro couldn't bear to keep her confined at home forever. But with Ardan so weak, someone had to watch over her at school. Trainers couldn't just run into the dormitories, and if something happened to her while she was alone in her room, even her roommates might not be able to help in time.
Kagura had already guessed whom Old Mejiro wanted her to look after. A mature young lady like Mejiro Takamine certainly didn't need watching, so the only one left who was currently at Tracen Academy was Mejiro Ardan.
"If it's only supervision, why not ask Miss Ardan's roommate to help?"
Hearing how low the requirements were, Kagura tilted her head. This didn't require specially finding a Logistics Uma Musume. Any Uma Musume could handle it.
"I thought of that, too, but Ardan has never told me where her dorm room is, nor who her roommate is. Besides, she hasn't gone to school in a long time and is only preparing to return recently. I heard that because she'd been away for so long, they even changed her dorm assignment. Once she goes back, we may have to trouble someone to move things around... Sigh, just thinking about it gives me a headache."
"That really is..."
It seemed Mejiro Ardan wasn't as docile and obedient as she appeared. In some ways, she even seemed a little rebellious. Kagura guessed that might have been because Old Mejiro always kept her shut up at home and wouldn't let her go out.
"The Mejiro family can hire you. We'll pay your wages on time. Kagura, you also don't need to pay too much attention to our Uma Musume. Just deal with it promptly if anything dangerous happens."
"...Kagura, what do you think?"
Speed Symbol considered it. If that was all that was required, it probably wouldn't create too much extra work. More importantly, though, it depended on Kagura's own wishes. She didn't want Kagura to exhaust herself, but if Kagura was willing, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to stop her.
"If it's just keeping an eye on her, I don't have a problem with it... But when she returns, Miss Ardan will need to contact me. At the very least, I need to know where she lives."
After thinking it over, Kagura nodded and accepted Old Mejiro's request. Seeing her agree, Old Mejiro, who had already given up hope, first looked stunned. Then the tension in her brow completely relaxed.
"Good, good... Thank you, child. I'll go talk to Ardan right away. I'm truly sorry. You're already so busy, yet I'm still asking you to make time for this."
Old Mejiro hurriedly thanked her, then slipped into the banquet hall to find her granddaughter.
"Kagura, are you sure?"
Only after Old Mejiro had gone some distance away did Speed Symbol raise her hand and pat Kagura's little head. Kagura had agreed, just as she expected. She knew Kagura always acted within her means and wouldn't take on anything beyond her capabilities, but she still worried that Kagura might become overwhelmed.
After all, to her, Kagura had long since ceased to be merely a maid or a Logistics Uma Musume. She now treated Kagura like one of her own children.
"It's fine. If it's only taking a quick look now and then, anyone can do it, right? It's not difficult."
"That's what you say... Sigh, I still hope you won't push yourself. Toujou Hana told me that you even personally helped Rudolph prepare strategies for the track, while also taking care of her daily life. Won't you wear yourself out?"
"I'm really fine. If I couldn't handle it, I wouldn't have accepted this request. Don't worry, Head of the Family."
Kagura smiled and waved her hand, signaling Speed Symbol not to worry.
Speed Symbol sighed. Thinking about it carefully, Kagura's work ability had already surpassed that of their own maid. And she was still so young. It was simply unbelievable.
"Kagura-neechan~ What are you doing outside? Come in and eat with us!"
Mejiro McQueen's childish voice came from inside the banquet hall. Kagura immediately turned her head and answered.
"McQueen is calling me, Head of the Family. I'll go in first."
"Go on, go on. Eat more and put the weight you lost back on."
"Okay~"
After answering, Kagura trotted inside.
Speed Symbol stood outside watching Kagura's departing back for a while before letting out a long sigh.
"I'll have to give this child more pocket money when we get back... Sigh, Old Mejiro really never lets anyone rest easy."
### 55. Could She Really Be a Genius?
--So you're working two jobs now?
The next day, after Kagura returned to Tracen Academy, she checked her phone upon waking from her nap and found another sizable deposit in her bank account. The note below it read: We'll be troubling you to look after our child.
"...I really am getting paid two salaries... But why do I feel more and more like a full-time nanny?"
Kagura sighed. She vaguely remembered that her position was supposed to be Rudolph Symbol's Logistics Uma Musume. How had the work kept increasing?
Although Kagura was still on the leave Rudolph Symbol had given her, she had no intention of sitting idle. After solving Rudolph Symbol's food problem for the day, she went to ask Toujou Hana when the next intra-school selection race would be. The answer was next week.
That soon... Should I have Nice Nature skip this one and prepare a little longer?
Kagura had naturally asked because of Nice Nature. Nice Nature hadn't yet undergone her transformation, while her transformation process had already begun. It probably wouldn't be long before Nice Nature completed her growth and could begin professional training, so it would be best to find a trainer for her ahead of time.
Because she regularly sought advice from Toujou Hana and occasionally disguised herself as an ordinary person to sneak into trainer lectures, Kagura had accumulated quite a bit of knowledge about trainers. This time, directing Nice Nature's training would be a trial run. Kagura knew she was less professional than a trainer, but she could at least guide Nice Nature toward finding a good trainer. After that, she wouldn't need to trouble herself with such unprofessional training.
"Kagura, are you planning to participate in this intra-school selection race?"
Toujou Hana happened to pass by the track that afternoon and saw Kagura running around the selection-race course. She couldn't help feeling puzzled. No one had said that children who hadn't undergone transformation were forbidden from participating, but it was generally unheard of.
"I'm not planning to participate. I'm only checking the track conditions and figuring out how to run on it."
"Oh? You seemed to be doing something similar before Rudolph's race. Are you writing a strategy guide for someone?"
Toujou Hana had seen Kagura running alone at the training grounds before. At that time, Kagura had been writing a strategy guide for Rudolph Symbol. Unless there was such a need, Toujou Hana rarely saw Kagura train by herself.
"Yeah. A friend of mine has undergone transformation, and she's preparing to enter the intra-school selection race to find a good trainer. Speaking of which, Miss Toujou, do you have anyone to recommend? Someone gentle, who'd be willing to train a somewhat introverted and insecure child."
"Let me think... I do know a colleague like that. His name is Nanban, but I don't know whether he'll be on the same wavelength as your friend."
"I'll make sure she shows her best condition and leaves the trainers with nothing to criticize."
Kagura understood that she couldn't force another trainer to accept Nice Nature. The only thing she could do was make sure Nice Nature displayed her best form and impressed the other trainers, allowing her to have the right to choose.
"Really... By the way, Kagura, your knowledge of trainers seems pretty good. Don't tell me you really want to become a trainer?"
Toujou Hana felt that Kagura was looking more and more like a trainer, and she couldn't help worrying. If Kagura truly intended to become one, she would have to consider asking Akikawa Yayoi to come and guide her.
"No, I don't have that intention for now. Maybe someday in the future, but not now."
Kagura truly had no plans to become a trainer in the short term. She still wanted to fulfill some promises she had made to Eclipse and personally step onto the track to run. At least until she completed her own career, she had no such plans.
Watching Kagura run up and down the slope, Toujou Hana suddenly remembered something. She and Akikawa Yayoi had previously concluded that Kagura must have sought the help of some expert to complete her strategy guides. Now that she had happened to catch Kagura writing one, could this mean they had a chance to meet that expert?
At that thought, Toujou Hana immediately picked up her phone and sent Akikawa Yayoi a message. Akikawa Yayoi had been curious about this for a long time as well. Coincidentally, all the Uma Musume under Toujou Hana's command were resting today, so she had no training duties. Perhaps they could find some clues this time.
Akikawa Yayoi: Question! Trainer Toujou! Is anyone else with the little girl right now?
Toujou Hana: No. She's figuring things out by herself.
Akikawa Yayoi: Patience! Why don't you move farther away first, or simply stop watching her for now? It's already past the middle of the afternoon. The little girl probably won't finish exploring the track conditions. Then she'll have to cook for Rudolph, and you know she doesn't like stopping halfway through a task. She may come back tonight. That could be when she asks that expert for help.
Akikawa Yayoi's suggestion seemed quite strategic. Although Toujou Hana didn't know whether it would work, Kagura probably couldn't finish the detailed strategy she wanted in only half an afternoon. If Kagura didn't want to wait until tomorrow, she might indeed come tonight.
By nighttime, almost two hours had passed since dinner.
It was a little after eight in the evening. There were already very few Uma Musume active on Tracen Academy's track. In the stands on the outer side of the field, two figures—one large and one small—sat far away.
"Chairwoman, do you think Kagura will really come tonight?"
The two were naturally Toujou Hana and Akikawa Yayoi, who had arrived early to stake out the place. To ensure that their observation plan went smoothly, Toujou Hana had also contacted Rudolph Symbol and Maruzensky to confirm Kagura's whereabouts from several angles.
"Certainty! The little girl believes in finishing today's business today. If she hasn't finished, she'll most likely come back and continue!"
That was the impression she had formed after spending several months around Kagura. Kagura had tremendous execution ability and was fairly organized. If she stopped halfway through a task, then stopping had probably been part of her original plan. If it hadn't, Kagura would work overtime to finish the day's task.
However, the two had been waiting here ever since Kagura left the training grounds to cook for Rudolph Symbol. According to Rudolph Symbol, Kagura had left the student council more than ten minutes ago. And according to Maruzensky, who had been taking a walk in the teaching building's courtyard, Kagura hadn't detoured elsewhere to find a kindred spirit. She had come straight toward the track.
To avoid exposing themselves, the two still tried to shrink down as much as possible, lest Kagura spot them the instant she arrived.
Soon, Kagura's figure appeared near the track. Sensing the movement, Toujou Hana and Akikawa Yayoi both stared intently toward the direction from which Kagura entered, wanting to see whom she had consulted.
"Alone?"
No one else appeared beside Kagura. She returned to the track by herself, though she had changed into a Shrine Maiden Outfit that looked extremely inconvenient for running.
After returning to the track, Kagura didn't make a sound. She simply ran back and forth along the track in silence, testing things, occasionally taking out a small notebook to record something.
If there was anything strange, it was that Kagura corrected her mistakes far too quickly and efficiently. That afternoon, Toujou Hana had still seen places where Kagura's handling of different sections was somewhat inappropriate. But when Kagura ran through those areas again that night, there wasn't the slightest problem.
Clearly, even if an expert had guided her, it would have been impossible to correct the problems without returning to the track. And Kagura had been busy with work the entire time, so she shouldn't have had any opportunity to go out and contact an expert to test and correct things.
Although it seemed unbelievable, given the situation, there appeared to be only one possible conclusion.
"Confusion! Is the little girl a genius in this area, too?!"
### 56. She Finally Has a Roommate! ()
Kagura, who was completely focused on running by herself around the track, didn't think about it that much. She continuously tested various methods that might cause problems. The reason she had run in all sorts of crooked patterns that afternoon was because she had deliberately been making mistakes on the track.
If there was something she couldn't resolve no matter how hard she tried, she would take the initiative to ask Eclipse. The reason she had changed clothes before coming out was precisely so that she could communicate with Eclipse at any time. Of course, this process produced no sound. To outsiders, Kagura merely appeared to be training alone on the track without saying a word.
"That child should be entering the 1,600-meter race. Her stamina should be fine as long as she doesn't charge out recklessly. Organize what I told you. As long as she's willing to work hard, she should be able to get into shape within a week."
Eclipse's airy voice came from beside Kagura's ear. Eclipse seemed to like speaking right next to people's ears. Every time, her breath made Kagura's ears itch.
That's right. I should start dragging her out for training tomorrow while I'm still on leave.
Before Nice Nature found a trainer, Kagura decided to act as a half-baked trainer for a while. As long as Nice Nature achieved good results in the selection race, there would certainly be no shortage of trainers looking for her. Having Toujou Hana recommend Nice Nature to her colleagues would also give her more confidence.
I've almost finished today's work. Tomorrow, I'll find Gold Ship first and have her help me make the illustrated strategy guide.
After estimating that she had nearly handled all the points requiring attention, Kagura prepared to rest and return to the dormitory. She could handle making a simple document herself, but after discovering last time that Gold Ship, despite her young age, was already good at graphic design and document layout, Kagura had decisively decided to delegate the work to Gold Ship. Gold Ship had readily agreed, asking only that Kagura leave her a backup copy of the guide and treat her to a meal in return.
Speaking of which, why are Chairwoman and Trainer Toujou still sitting in the stands so late at night? They haven't moved at all... If they aren't chatting, could they be watching me test things?
As for Toujou Hana and Akikawa Yayoi, who were hiding in the back rows of the stands, Kagura had actually noticed them as soon as she arrived. She simply assumed the two had something to discuss, which was why they were sitting there so late, and didn't want to disturb them.
"Don't worry about them too much. Those adults must have something to discuss, which is why they've been sitting there so long. Forget them. Hurry up and drag your young lady back to sleep, then go wash up and sleep yourself. Once you've slept enough, go grab Little Nature and train her tomorrow!"
That's true. I heard the dormitory reassignment issue for the students kept the young lady terribly busy today. I wonder whether she's finished.
Kagura abandoned the idea of going over to ask and left directly through the entrance she had used to enter the track.
By the time Kagura finished dealing with Rudolph Symbol's affairs and returned to the dormitory, it was almost curfew. The dorm supervisor had grown used to Kagura returning late every night. She merely reminded Kagura to get enough rest before saying nothing more.
When Kagura reached the door of her room, she took out her key and opened it. To her surprise, the light inside was on. She always turned off the lights before leaving, so the dormitory light should never have been on while she was away. Puzzled, she looked inside—
"Uh..."
She saw a blue-haired Uma Musume she had only encountered at the Mejiro family's home a few days before. The other girl was wearing nothing but a bath towel, though Kagura couldn't tell whether she was about to take a bath or had just finished one. The other girl was also looking at her, and then smiled.
Feeling that she might have opened the wrong door, Kagura took two steps back and looked up at the room number. But the number clearly told her that this was indeed her dormitory room.
"Uh... Miss Ardan? Why are you in my room?"
After confirming that she hadn't gone to the wrong place, Kagura finally asked.
"Good evening, Kagura. I'm here because there were originally two people assigned to this dormitory room."
"So you're the roommate who never came back?!"
Kagura froze completely. Thinking of the rather luxurious cake she had received before, as well as how neatly the other bed had been arranged when she first arrived, it did indeed fit Mejiro Ardan's characteristics.
"Yes. The school originally intended to transfer me to Miho Dormitory because I had been away for too long. But after Grandma learned where I lived today, she explained the situation to the school and had them withdraw that decision."
"So the young lady was busy dealing with your matter today..."
"Mm~ That's more or less it. From now on, I look forward to working with you, Kagura."
Before you continue