"Yeah... But that child has always been weak, and her condition has worsened recently. I was afraid something might happen to her, so I brought her back first."
As she spoke, the white-haired old Uma Musume sighed, and the ears atop her head drooped slightly.
"Ardan's condition has worsened again? How is she now?"
Speed Symbol immediately pressed Old Mejiro for details after hearing her sigh.
"She's not in any life-threatening danger yet, but that child wants to run... Sigh, I'm afraid it'll be difficult. Even the doctors are helpless."
"Life is unpredictable..."
Kagura rarely joined the conversation, but she listened carefully to the two heads of family. She felt sorry for the child named Ardan. She dreamed of stepping onto the track and bringing glory to her family, yet fate had given her a body as fragile as glass.
Old Mejiro seemed unwilling to discuss such a heavy topic with her friend, so after chatting for a while, she changed the subject. It was clear that Speed Symbol and Old Mejiro were indeed close, and that Speed Symbol cared deeply about her friend's granddaughter.
The rest of the conversation was mostly casual small talk. Kagura noticed that Old Mejiro occasionally glanced at her, but she never mentioned the adoption again. It seemed she had given up on the idea.
Although Old Mejiro kept silent, Kagura wanted to avoid staying there too long in case something else happened. Some time after the meal ended, she hurriedly pushed the food cart away.
By nightfall, the head of the Mejiro family had already left without mentioning the adoption. Kagura breathed a sigh of relief, though she had no idea what Speed Symbol thought about it.
It would be best if Speed Symbol still knew nothing, but Kagura was fairly sure she knew about it. Since it was the Mejiro family's decision, Old Mejiro must have mentioned it when she came by. Kagura simply couldn't read anything from Speed Symbol, who clearly had no intention of bringing it up. She wondered whether Speed Symbol had somehow persuaded Old Mejiro to give up.
It looks like the Head of the Family doesn't plan to mention it. Sigh... If that trainer comes again, I'll just refuse him.
The Mejiro family matter would have to be set aside for now. Aside from that, today was still a very memorable day for Kagura. She had finally gained an official identity in this world, along with her own phone and savings. Her bank account even contained her first month's wages.
After Old Mejiro left that evening, Kagura specifically went to Speed Symbol's room to thank her. Speed Symbol merely smiled lightly and told Kagura not to take it too seriously. Living freely and happily was the greatest reward she could give her. That night, Speed Symbol also confirmed their itinerary for the day after tomorrow. Their destination was Niigata, where they would stay for one or two days, and Kagura would accompany her to take care of her.
"Why are we going to Niigata...?"
Before bed, Kagura sat curled up beneath her covers after taking a bath, staring at her phone and muttering in confusion.
Although she knew almost nothing about Japan's geography, thanks to the phone she had received that day, Kagura had a rough idea of how far Niigata was from Tokyo. It wasn't close—they would have to take the bullet train.
--Don't panic. Just go. Maybe you'll even see something interesting.
A line of text appeared on the phone's screen, then quickly vanished. It was obviously Eclipse's doing. Judging from the messages Eclipse left behind, she seemed quite optimistic, though Kagura had no idea where that optimism came from.
After getting her phone, Kagura's first instinct was naturally to go online and look around. The internet in this world was much like the one she remembered, except the people here seemed far less aggressive. At least, during the time she spent browsing, she hadn't encountered any particularly hostile netizens.
Out of curiosity, Inari Kagura also searched for the term "Eclipse," but apart from finding an entry about the natural phenomenon, she came up empty-handed.
--Stop looking. I've been forgotten for hundreds of years, and the people who still know about me can be counted on one hand. Still, for your own good, it's best not to tell anyone that you're connected to me. If someone really does remember me, you might run into a little trouble.
Eclipse never explained the exact reason, but Kagura had no intention of pressing her for details. She trusted that Eclipse would never harm her.
"So that's how it is... What kind of person were you, Miss Eclipse?"
--In my era, defeating me was considered the greatest honor of all. Unfortunately, no such opponent ever appeared until the very end. It was rather regrettable.
"I feel like I should be impressed, but I don't really understand..."
Eclipse did not write anything else, but Kagura felt a chill wrap around her waist. It coiled around her, then rubbed against the top of her head.
This ghostly embrace was not the first time Kagura had felt it recently. Eclipse wrapped herself around Kagura like this every night before bed. It was a strange experience—slightly cool, but very gentle.
--Go to sleep early. Stop staring at your phone all the time. You have to get up early for work tomorrow.
Only after Eclipse hugged her did Kagura notice the next line of text on the screen.
"Got it... Why do I always feel like you're an old nanny, Miss Eclipse...?"
--I'm not that old! Isn't this perfectly reasonable?!
Eclipse's reply was overflowing with righteous confidence. Kagura could only smile helplessly. She had no real need to stay online, and her child's body truly couldn't handle staying up late. It was only ten-thirty, yet she was already feeling sleepy.
"Good night... Miss Eclipse."
12. Tsk, touching legs is the soul of being a trainer!
Two days later, Inari Kagura rose early as usual. She quickly changed clothes, pulled along the luggage she had packed the night before, and prepared breakfast for Speed Symbol, who had not yet gotten up.
Speed Symbol had woken even earlier than usual. After washing up and coming out, she saw the breakfast already prepared on the table and immediately knew Kagura must have gotten up early to make it. The maids were still resting at this hour, after all.
"Oh my... I've made you work so hard again. I was planning to eat out. Are you sure getting up so early won't be a problem?"
The sky outside had only just begun to brighten, and Speed Symbol was already worried that rising so early might harm Kagura's health.
"It's fine. I went to bed fairly early last night. You said we should leave early, didn't you? So I thought we should eat early and get going..."
"All right... Come sit down and eat too. Don't just stand there."
When Inari Kagura sat down beside her, Speed Symbol suddenly remembered something. Kagura still didn't seem to have a wardrobe of her own. Aside from the shrine maiden outfit she had arrived in, all the other clothes in her closet appeared to be maid uniforms.
Kagura looked good in a maid uniform, but wearing the same clothes all the time was still unsuitable for a girl.
"Come to think of it, I never got around to buying you some clothes. Since we're going out anyway, why don't we find some time to buy you a few things?"
"No, no, no, you don't have to! I can—"
"Don't be stubborn. Children don't understand these things. I'll handle it."
When Kagura tried to refuse, Speed Symbol simply picked up a shrimp dumpling and stuffed it into Inari Kagura's small mouth. Kagura, who had been about to say something else, fell silent. Speed Symbol's meaning was perfectly clear—no refusing.
Kagura bit down and swallowed the shrimp dumpling. Seeing Speed Symbol's expression, she knew the Head of the Family truly had no intention of letting her argue, so she could only nod.
"Then... thank you, Head of the Family..."
"Good girl."
Speed Symbol happily rubbed Kagura's little head. To be honest, after spending so much time together, she had begun to want a granddaughter like Kagura. Rudolph Symbol had been far too hot-tempered as a child, giving her terrible headaches. It was only after meeting a quiet, well-behaved child like Kagura that she discovered raising a child could be so enjoyable.
Kagura did not dodge Speed Symbol's hand. She simply lowered her head and ate breakfast in silence. Only her ears flicked now and then, revealing that their owner was in a good mood.
Tokyo was still some distance from Niigata. Kagura had been curious about how a wealthy family would travel such a long way, only to discover that Speed Symbol had chosen the plain and practical bullet train.
This time, Kagura served as a luggage rack, carrying her own and Speed Symbol's luggage. There wasn't much of it, and for an Uma Musume, such a load was nowhere near enough to cause pressure. Once again, Kagura marveled at the strength and power of Uma Musume.
However, even before boarding, Kagura felt a strange pressure. It did not come from the luggage on her back, but from her surroundings.
"Wow... That little maid over there is so cute..."
"Look, what an adorable little Uma Musume! Is she cosplaying?"
From the station all the way into the carriage, Kagura's maid outfit made her extremely conspicuous. She could feel countless gazes focused on her, and could even hear people taking pictures. Already poor at socializing, she felt as if she were about to melt like Bocchi.
How did I not think of this?! This is no different from taking the bullet train in cosplay!
With her ears already folded flat, Kagura suddenly realized the problem and wailed inwardly.
Speed Symbol, who had come with her, looked much more inconspicuous. Her outfit made her look like an ordinary middle-aged mother going on a trip: sunglasses, a sun hat, and a fresh white tracksuit. With her ears pressed down and her slipping into the crowd, she blended in perfectly.
"Haha, Kagura, you're quite popular."
Seeing Kagura's embarrassed expression, Speed Symbol laughed and patted her shoulder.
"Head of the Family... I feel like I'm about to die of embarrassment..."
"If you want to become an excellent maid, you must remain calm, poised, and graceful at all times."
"Even if you say that..."
Simply maintaining a proper sitting posture was already pushing Kagura to her limit. She clearly understood that she was still far behind the perfectly graceful Head Maid of the Symbol family.
"Excuse me. If I'm not mistaken, are you the one from the Symbol family...?"
Fortunately, the awkward situation did not last long. A woman wearing glasses approached Speed Symbol. Her clothes and demeanor radiated the air of an elite office worker, and she asked in a lowered voice.
Speed Symbol gestured for the woman to keep quiet, removed her sunglasses, and only then leisurely asked, "Shh—don't say it out loud. If I'm not mistaken, that uniform... Miss, you're a trainer from Central Tracen Academy, aren't you?"
"Miss Toujou, good morning! What are you doing here?"
Speed Symbol seemed not to recognize Toujou Hana, but Kagura did. She greeted Toujou Hana and gave Speed Symbol a brief introduction at the same time.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Toujou Hana. Since you're taking the train to Niigata today... You're also going to watch that child's debut race, aren't you? It seems she chose you out of the three."
"You already know about our situation, Your Excellency?"
"Of course. That is my granddaughter, after all... I was also curious what kind of person she would choose as her trainer."
Speed Symbol smiled and had Kagura move over to make room for Toujou Hana.
"Speaking of which, Your Excellency Speed Symbol, this child is your...?"
"Kagura is my personal maid. She's accompanying me to take care of me this time. You saw her a few days ago."
Speed Symbol certainly knew that Rudolph Symbol had taken Inari Kagura to Tracen. Since Kagura knew Toujou Hana, Rudolph Symbol must have brought her to meet her trainer that day.
Perhaps it was only Kagura's imagination, but Speed Symbol's gaze suddenly sharpened. It was like an examiner sizing up a student entering an examination room.
"Trainer Toujou, I remember Rudolph took this child around Tracen the day before yesterday. What do you think of her?"
With the topic suddenly turned to her, Kagura blinked curiously and looked at Toujou Hana beside her.
Toujou Hana had watched Inari Kagura run once at school. Although it could hardly be called a formal test, she had still learned a great deal. There had been some questions she had not asked at the time because they were not yet familiar with each other.
"How old is Kagura this year? Has she reached her full development?"
"She's eleven, I think. What does full development mean?"
"It's a growth phenomenon unique to Uma Musume. Once full development begins, an Uma Musume's physical form changes significantly. It's one of the signs that an Uma Musume is reaching maturity."
"I see... Sorry, I don't know much about that."
Kagura could not determine whether she had experienced full development merely by hearing the concept explained, so she could only honestly shake her head.
"I've examined her. That child hasn't reached full development yet. I can guarantee that."
Speed Symbol offered a reminder from beside her.
"She hasn't reached full development...?"
"Well, Trainer Toujou? Do you have a general understanding of this child now?"
Speed Symbol narrowed her eyes and stared intently at Toujou Hana.
Kagura faintly understood Speed Symbol's intention. She seemed to have turned Kagura into the exam question and was testing this trainer's professional qualities.
"Kagura should be the type with extremely powerful explosive strength. I believe she should perform excellently in short-distance and mile races. To judge her adaptability to other distances, I need more experimental data. As for stamina, I can't determine that based only on my current observations. Based on what I know so far, if I were to formulate a training plan, I would..."
Toujou Hana began speaking at length as though giving a report. Much of it went over Kagura's head. She listed various data and theories and discussed things like running-style adaptability, leaving Kagura somewhat bewildered. Beside her, Speed Symbol kept nodding leisurely, looking very satisfied.
"Excellent, excellent... Trainer Toujou, your professional foundation is remarkably solid. It's clear that you're a well-planned and confident trainer. And judging from what that child said, you're also very responsible. Having a trainer like you is a stroke of luck for any Uma Musume."
"You flatter me. I haven't actually watched Kagura run many races yet. These are only deductions based on experience. If I have the opportunity, I'd still like to feel her legs and take a look... Come to think of it, Kagura asked me what a trainer was before. She doesn't have a trainer yet, does she?"
"That's right. She isn't old enough yet... Trainer Toujou, if you want to examine this child's legs, it won't be a problem once we get off, provided she agrees."
"Hmm..."
For some reason, Kagura felt as though she had been marked. The trainer's gaze held a certain passion, almost like the look her roommate used to give when she rolled an incredible piece of equipment with a god-tier trait in a game.
"Now then, Trainer Toujou, I have one final, somewhat personal question. If it makes you uncomfortable, you may choose not to answer."
"Please, go ahead."
"Suppose the running style your Uma Musume knows best and likes most allows her to unleash tremendous speed, making her invincible against every opponent... but it might damage her body. Would you let her continue using that style, or create a safer style for her—one that wasn't as fast and that she didn't like as much?"
"An Uma Musume's body is a precious yet fragile treasure. As a trainer, protecting my students' safety is my unquestionable duty. I respect my students' wishes, but if something would harm them, I would dissuade them and help them find a better method. No matter what, I could never make a decision that would allow the children under my care to be injured."
Toujou Hana answered immediately, without the slightest hesitation. It was obvious that these were her heartfelt beliefs.
What a good trainer. She really cares about her students.
Toujou Hana had left an excellent impression on Kagura. She was rigorous, serious, and highly responsible—the cool-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside type. She must have been very popular as a trainer at Central Tracen Academy.
"That answer shows admirable resolve, Trainer Toujou. No wonder that child chose you... I look forward to seeing what you accomplish in the future."
13. Giving the Newbie a Little Shock
After being jostled around on the bullet train for quite some time, Kagura and the others finally arrived in Niigata.
Rudolph Symbol had apparently arrived yesterday to make preparations. Kagura finally learned that Rudolph Symbol's debut race was being held here today, which explained why Speed Symbol had traveled all the way here.
Before you continue