There's Something Wrong With You, Logistics Uma Musume

Kagura herself didn't mind running a lap with someone else. However, this wasn't something she could decide on her own, so she looked toward Tokai Nature behind her to ask for her opinion. Tokai Nature merely smiled helplessly and nodded, clasping her hands together in a pleading gesture. It seemed she was allowing her daughter's request and hoping Kagura would agree to Tokai Teio's request.

"Sure, little girl. As for the course, how about this path in the park?"

85. Tokai Teio Still Hadn't Realized How Serious the Matter Was

"Little girl, you said no one here dares to run against you anymore. What's that about?"

While watching Tokai Teio warm up, Kagura asked about the question she had just heard and had been wondering about.

"I don't know either... It seems that whenever I run for a while, no one wants to race me anymore."

"Oh... Have you ever lost, little girl?"

"No! How could The Emperor lose?"

Seeing the girl's confident and proud expression, Kagura guessed she wasn't boasting. She more or less understood why no one here dared to run against her. A while ago, Nice Nature had told Kagura about this little genius's existence. It seemed Nice Nature's judgment had indeed been accurate.

--You're running with a child, so remember to hold back. You always lose yourself once you start running. Don't make the same mistake as last time and bring some young lady to tears. Did you bring any snacks?

No. Who brings food when they go out for a run...?

--Then that settles it. There's no kitchen here, so if you make the child cry later, you won't be able to coax her. It's not a race anyway. It's fine to let her win once in a while.

It seemed the incident with Mejiro McQueen last time had given Eclipse some strange sense of caution. She had always refused to hold back, yet now she was taking the initiative to remind Kagura not to overdo it.

Putting away her phone, Kagura saw that Tokai Teio had finished warming up and was pestering her mother to come over and act as the referee. The young-looking mother answered her while sending Kagura an apologetic smile. Kagura returned the smile to show that she didn't mind running with someone else.

"Oh dear... This child really is... Kagura-neechan, are you ready?"

"I'm ready anytime."

"Then... As for the distance, one lap around the park's path should be about 2,000 meters? Is that all right with you, Kagura-neechan?"

"That's fine, as long as Teio is all right."

Kagura nodded. To her, 2,000 meters was an incredibly easy distance. If she didn't have to hold back, she could simply run a full-on escape race here. However, once she started running that way, she found it easy to lose control of her speed, and she didn't know whether that would cause any problems. After all, she was racing a child younger than herself, and Kagura didn't think she would lose.

So Kagura decided to run as a closer this time. According to Gold Ship, running behind someone made it easy to slack off. If she wanted to overtake, she only had to put in some effort; if she didn't want to charge, she could idle and coast behind them. She could advance or retreat as she pleased. It was simply the perfect position.

After settling the details, Tokai Nature walked over and stood on the path. It seemed the young mother intended to run a lap alongside her daughter.

"The finish line will be that bench with the things on it, okay? The course... should be concrete? Distance: 2,000 meters. Weather: clear. Track condition: good... Clockwise or counterclockwise... That doesn't matter. Teio, Kagura-neechan, are you two ready?"

Tokai Nature always spoke in a light, languid manner. Her voice was pleasant and gentle, and Kagura felt as if listening to this mother speak was like listening to someone sing. Judging from her appearance, she was at most twenty-five to thirty years old. She was still very young.

She's so young, yet her child is already this big...

Kagura couldn't help thinking about something unrelated. She didn't know why—perhaps she had spent too long in hospitals and seen all kinds of people—but the first image that leaped into her mind wasn't a harmonious scene of a wife supporting her husband and raising children. Instead, it was a bizarre scene of some unknown person ignoring a young girl's wishes, grabbing her and making her jump for several hours until she lost consciousness, while he still refused to stop.

No, no, no. Why am I thinking about such nonsense...? Don't pry into other people's family affairs. Nature-neechan must just be the type who looks younger than she is! Yes, that's it!

Kagura banished the strange ideas that had appeared from who-knew-where. Just as she came back to herself and prepared to start running, she happened to hear Tokai Nature give the starting command. It was already too late for her to start running, so she naturally got off to another late start.

That child got off late?

Tokai Nature, who had already dashed off alongside Tokai Teio and taken the lead, noticed the sound of Kagura's start coming half a beat late from behind. She had not completely lost the competitive instincts she once possessed, so she naturally understood what that meant.

Kagura, who had planned to run as a closer this time anyway, didn't mind at all. She sped up slightly to catch up with Tokai Teio, maintaining a distance that was neither too long nor too short.

Tokai Teio... Nice Nature was right. Her talent really is impressive. Her legs look so flexible. I feel like she'd be perfect for dance lessons.

Because she was deliberately suppressing her speed, she couldn't devote all her attention to accelerating and watching the road. That gave Kagura enough energy to carefully observe the running styles of the two people ahead. Compared to Tokai Teio, who ran almost entirely on instinct, Tokai Nature beside her clearly used the running style of a professional athlete. It was so standard that she looked as if she were running in an actual race.

Kagura noticed that people were gradually coming over to the edge of the path to watch. She could vaguely hear them discussing Tokai Teio, but everyone wore helpless smiles, making it seem as if this was already a common sight here.

"Oh my, Tokai Teio is looking for someone to race again... Which child is going to suffer this time?"

"Look, it's that Uma Musume behind her, the black-haired maid... Huh, that girl is pretty cute..."

There were not only elderly men and women and children taking walks in the park. Some Uma Musume also noticed the growing crowd by the roadside and came over curiously to watch.

"That Uma Musume named Tokai Teio really is amazing. I'm so much older than her, but when I raced her before, I barely managed to keep up... I wonder which child is going to develop a complex this time?"

"Look! Over there! Is that Logistics Uma Musume Kagura?"

The park was right beside Tracen Academy, and Inari Kagura was not difficult to spot there. In addition, Akikawa Yayoi had singled her out for praise at the academy assembly some time ago, so one of the Uma Musume out for a walk naturally recognized her.

"Seriously? That girl is a genius whom even us debuted Uma Musume have to handle carefully... Why would Logistics Uma Musume Kagura accept a challenge like this?"

"Who knows..."

Voices of discussion came from both sides of the path. Having apparently noticed the commotion, several people who had also been jogging that morning moved aside and stood to the side, watching the race with great interest.

This path was not particularly suitable for racing. Compared to concrete, Kagura preferred grass, but concrete had one advantage: it was especially firm. If she wanted to explode into a burst of speed, it was more convenient than grass.

This child... Is she deliberately slowing down? Is she holding back?

Tokai Nature had remained beside Tokai Teio the entire time. She could tell that Tokai Teio was running seriously according to the pace she had been taught. The Kagura behind them was different. After spending so many years on the track, Tokai Nature could recognize whether an opponent was giving their all. Kagura was concealing it well, but she couldn't fool a professional athlete's eyes.

Tokai Nature couldn't help feeling surprised. After all, Tokai Teio had yet to encounter any real opponent in this park. Previously, only some ordinary professional Uma Musume who had already debuted had narrowly defeated the current Tokai Teio.

Yet Kagura's distance from them had remained at three lengths the entire time, neither widening nor shrinking. That meant Kagura was deliberately controlling it. Tokai Teio was already running at full strength. If this had been a real race, then once they entered the final stretch...

This child isn't a Logistics Uma Musume at all, is she? How could a Logistics Uma Musume possibly have this kind of strength?!

As a former professional Uma Musume, Tokai Nature had great confidence in her daughter's talent. There was no way an ordinary child who had not debuted—or was still a Logistics Uma Musume—could outrun her. She suspected that Kagura only looked young and had actually debuted long ago.

However, Kagura still looked so young. Even if she had debuted, it probably hadn't been long ago. If there were a newly debuted Uma Musume like Kagura, she absolutely wouldn't have remained unknown. Tokai Nature followed all the major races, so it was impossible for her not to know.

I'll ask Chairwoman Akikawa after the run...

Tokai Nature had become interested in this young Uma Musume. She probably couldn't find out much here, but asking Akikawa Yayoi shouldn't be a problem. She and Akikawa Yayoi could be considered acquaintances.

Tokai Teio, running in front, had no such complicated thoughts. She could only focus on running. She controlled her strength and speed. By her understanding, she could normally shake off other Uma Musume with her usual output. Yet she had been running for so long and could still hear Kagura's footsteps behind her with perfect clarity.

Her footsteps haven't changed?! I haven't widened the gap from Kagura-neechan at all!?

Tokai Teio realized that this was what her mother had meant when she said she was being held by Inari Kagura. As a front-running Uma Musume, she needed to find a chance to widen the distance. However, she had never been pursued so relentlessly before and didn't know how to respond.

Her instincts told her to accelerate, but she couldn't control the degree of acceleration. Tokai Nature, who was following beside her, could see that Tokai Teio's increase in speed was clearly too large. This would undoubtedly cause her to expend too much energy.

She still lacks practical experience... Kagura-neechan is much better. She probably hasn't debuted yet, has she? And yet she's so calm and composed...

By comparison, Inari Kagura, who followed behind while maintaining a distance of three lengths the entire time, seemed extremely oppressive. Tokai Nature felt that she understood this child less and less. Tokai Teio couldn't tell that Kagura was holding back, but Tokai Nature could. She knew there was no longer any need for the race to continue.

"That little girl suddenly sped up! Kagura still hasn't closed the distance. Is she really okay?"

"No... Although Kagura hasn't closed the distance, she hasn't been shaken off either. She's controlling the gap..."

The novice Uma Musume who had not debuted and the other students who had only recently debuted had all gathered beside the path. Kagura and Tokai Teio's race had entered its final stage. They were already at the last hundred meters.

"Whoa! The final sprint! She can actually run evenly with Tokai Teio! That girl is incredible!"

"There's only this tiny bit of distance left. The bench is right there. She probably won't be able to catch up, but she's still amazing!"

Kagura heard the voices around her. Tokai Nature and Tokai Teio were still slightly ahead. Thanks to her precise control of the distance, the gap remained at three lengths. Even after Tokai Teio accelerated, she had not managed to widen it.

Although Kagura intended to hold back, she had no intention of simply giving Tokai Teio a victory. As long as the gap didn't become too large, that was enough for her. This hundred-meter stretch was just right.

Kagura veered slightly outward, then suddenly increased her speed. By her reckoning, she should have begun sprinting several hundred meters earlier. Waiting until Tokai Teio had sprinted for so long before exploding into action was not Kagura's style.

"Little girl, excuse me!"

"Huh!?"

Tokai Teio let out a disbelieving cry as Kagura instantly rushed up beside her. When she saw Kagura speed up just now, she had thought Kagura had begun her sprint like she had. Yet Kagura could actually accelerate a second time!

The surrounding spectators immediately cried out in shock. Tokai Teio wanted to accelerate again and keep up, but she was already at her top speed. She could only run with all her strength and try not to let the gap widen too much. Kagura's speed, however, was simply absurd. She couldn't catch up at all!

"You're kidding! Kagura... Kagura had already started sprinting just now, hadn't she!? How can she still accelerate!?"

"That little girl passed Tokai Teio!!"

"So fast! What incredible speed!!"

What terrifying speed... Even at my peak, I might not have been able to withstand this child's final kick. Does becoming that person's Logistics Uma Musume require being as absurdly strong as that person too?

Running behind Tokai Teio, Tokai Nature watched as Kagura approached the bench that marked the finish line. She couldn't help marveling inwardly.

She estimated the distance between Tokai Teio, herself, and Kagura. It wasn't especially large—perhaps only two or three lengths. Yet Kagura had needed less than a hundred meters to accelerate just now. If she hadn't held back and had accelerated earlier, how terrifying would the gap have become?

This child is still so young. She looks only a year or two older than Teio. If she hasn't debuted yet... If she ends up facing Teio... That would be very bad news.

The more Tokai Nature thought about it, the more horrified she felt. Seeing Kagura reach the bench, stop, and begin walking to cool down, she became even more determined to investigate this young Uma Musume.

"Wow! Kagura-neechan, you ran so fast! You shot right in front of me!"

Tokai Teio ran up to Kagura excitedly, hopping around. The tiny difference didn't seem to have discouraged her. Kagura breathed a sigh of relief, then raised her hand and rubbed Tokai Teio's little head.

"Hehe... Little girl, I'm older than you, so it's normal for me to run faster. Besides, you were only a tiny bit behind me, weren't you? You're amazing too!"

"Hehe..."

Tokai Teio narrowed her eyes comfortably, seeming to enjoy Kagura's touch.

Tokai Nature slowly crossed the finish line as well. She didn't rush over, merely staring at Kagura as she interacted with Teio.

Which powerful family does this child come from? I've never heard of a family named Inari... Could she be a genius from an ordinary household?

86. It's Fine, I Run Mother and Daughter at the Same Pace! ()

After the race, Tokai Teio followed Tokai Nature home contentedly to rest. Before leaving, she also followed Kagura's Umastagram account.

After Kagura returned to school, it was past nine in the evening when she received an Umastagram direct message. She picked up her phone and saw that it was from Tokai Teio. For some reason, Kagura felt that Teio's online chatting style differed quite a bit from her style in real life.

Are you free to exercise at the park tomorrow morning?

I am. What's up? Do you want to run another lap with me, Teio-chan?

No, it's nothing like that. There's something I want to ask you about in person... If you don't want to go to the park, we could find a café and sit down somewhere.

That won't be necessary. Let's meet at the park. I usually go there around seven after finishing breakfast. What about you?

Okay, seven o'clock, then. I'll be there on time.

Tokai Nature put down her daughter's phone and gently exhaled.

This young Uma Musume had indeed caught her attention. She wasn't merely curious. She was also considering her daughter's dreams and future. There were some things she needed to understand first.

Picking up her own phone, Tokai Nature sent a message to a number she hadn't contacted in one or two months.

Chairwoman Akikawa, are you there? I have a question about one of your school's students. When would you have some time?

Amazing! Nature, you contacted me first! You've graduated for so long, so what student at Tracen Academy could possibly have caught your attention this much?

Inari Kagura. Do you know this student, Chairwoman?

After sending the message, Tokai Nature felt that Akikawa Yayoi took quite a while to respond. She didn't know whether the connection was bad, Akikawa was typing slowly, or she was considering something.

Indeed! She was the top scorer on the theoretical exam for this year's new students, as well as the recipient of this year's Best Logistics Uma Musume Award. Why are you asking about her?

Could you tell me more about her?

Warning! I can only tell you about the things concerning Kagura that are widely known. I don't know the more private details myself.

That's fine. I don't need to know everything. She looked like a servant of the Symbol family. Is she a child of the Symbol family? Does anyone train her?

Negative! Kagura has no family. I heard that her family died in an accidental fire. Later, the Symbol family took her in as a maid. She isn't a member of the Symbol family, and she doesn't have a trainer either.

"Wha..."

Tokai Nature couldn't help freezing. Kagura had behaved so gently and maturely, and she was extremely polite. That morning, Tokai Nature had always felt that Kagura had received an excellent upbringing. It was impossible to tell that she was an orphan.

Moreover, Kagura's calm and composed decisions while running made it difficult to believe that she was still a child without professional guidance. Could there really be Uma Musume who were born knowing how to win?

I ran a lap with her this morning. She was clearly holding back, but even so, she defeated my daughter and me without the slightest effort. Has she really not debuted?

Indeed! Kagura is eleven years old this year. She hasn't undergone full development yet and isn't old enough to debut. Her talent is frightening. Even I was surprised.

"Gasp..."

Tokai Nature scratched her hair and couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath. Kagura's age really was about what she had estimated. If Kagura delayed her debut for some reason, or if she underwent full development just a little later, she would end up facing Tokai Teio.

Nature, are you asking all this because of your child?

That's right. Teio is only a little younger than her, so Kagura could very well become Teio's future opponent. I just want to learn more in advance. Chairwoman Akikawa, has Kagura ever mentioned when she plans to debut?

Unfortunately! She's never said so officially. However, I once happened to hear Kagura mention to Symboli that she would consider debuting after completing her contract with the Symbol family.