"Huh? Who's here...? And the trainer's phone..."
Kitasan Black said in surprise.
Anjing Zhen glanced at the incoming call notification on his phone.
"It's the takeout I ordered.
"A racehorse favorite: the Sauce Carrot Steak Set.
"Do you like it?"
Kitasan Black nodded blankly, but looked a little embarrassed and anxious. Anjing Zhen immediately realized she felt bad about him paying for her meal, and shook his head.
"If you don't mind, go answer the door. Don't keep them waiting."
"Th-then... all right."
As Kitasan Black went to open the door reluctantly, Anjing Zhen turned back to the footage and computer, ready to continue analyzing the data. Suddenly, he heard a startled cry from the entrance.
"Huh—? Senior Oguri Cap?! And Senior Aoba Recall?!"
Hearing those two names, Anjing Zhen instinctively looked toward the door.
The front door stood open. On the inside, Kitasan Black's tail had shot straight up in surprise. Outside were two racehorses who seemed to have been startled by her.
One was a racehorse with silver-gray hair and pale blue eyes, dressed in a restaurant delivery uniform bearing the words "Gray Hut." She carried a takeout box in her hand.
The other had short brown hair and blue eyes. A white headband was tied around her head, with the traditional character for "Dream" written in the center.
The brown-haired racehorse also wore a uniform, but hers was a police uniform. She held her police cap in her arms, with a folder tucked under one arm.
"Good evening, you two. I'm Anjing Zhen. May I ask what brings you here...?" Anjing Zhen walked toward the entrance.
Though he addressed both of them, his gaze was mostly fixed on Aoba Recall, who was wearing the police uniform.
"See, Senior Oguri? I told you we wouldn't take a wrong turn."
After smiling at the silver-haired racehorse beside her, Aoba Recall turned to Anjing Zhen and saluted.
"Good evening, Trainer Yasui. I'm Assistant Police Inspector Aoba, responsible for this area. Here's my identification."
After showing him her police ID, she continued:
"President Tokai Teio asked me to bring you a settlement agreement concerning the driver involved in the earlier accident. We hope you'll look it over.
"As for this person..."
She gestured to the silver-haired racehorse beside her.
"I imagine you've heard of my senior, Trainer Yasui. She... how should I put it..."
Aoba Recall hesitated, looking amused.
The silver-haired racehorse spoke with a cool expression.
"Sorry. I've studied here for many years, but I still get lost sometimes."
"We've had a lot of delivery orders today, and I happened to be at the restaurant, so I helped deliver some of them.
"But I got lost and was delayed. I'm very sorry."
She bowed deeply.
Aoba Recall nodded with an amused, helpless look and spread her hands.
"Yes, that's what happened.
"So, would it be all right if she waited inside for a little while? I'll need to give her directions again in a bit.
"Please don't worry, Trainer Yasui. We won't be long. We'll leave as soon as you've looked over the settlement agreement."
At that, Anjing Zhen couldn't help feeling a little amused himself.
He knew both racehorses quite well—especially the silver-haired one dressed like a delivery worker.
In her career, she had won 22 of 32 races, been named Racehorse of the Year, and entered the Hall of Fame. She was Oguri Cap, the "Ashen Monster."
She was also one of the investors in the Gray Hut restaurant chain. Anjing Zhen often saw her at the branch near the Academy, and she appeared on plenty of food shows, too.
For someone of her standing to deliver takeout was probably just a matter of personal interest. But she had grown up in the countryside, and since transferring to Central Treisen Academy she hadn't gone out much. Even now, she still seemed unaccustomed to a big city like Tokyo, and often got lost while making deliveries.
She'd delivered to this place a few times before, and had been late every time. She was simply too directionally challenged. There was no doubt that the reason she'd arrived on time today was her companion, Aoba Recall.
Aoba Recall was an exceptionally talented racehorse as well. Unlike Oguri Cap, who excelled at mile and middle-distance races, she specialized in sprinting. In the specialized classes required for her evaluation, she'd been praised as "the first queen of the sprinting circuit."
"No problem. Please, come in."
Anjing Zhen stepped back from the entrance toward the living room and turned sideways to welcome them in.
"Would you like some tea, or another drink? Milk, perhaps?"
"No need to trouble yourself, Trainer Yasui. We'll be leaving soon."
Smiling, Aoba Recall waved off the offer and took out the stack of papers tucked under her arm.
She glanced around, then quickly fixed her gaze on the television, where race footage was playing.
"Oh? Is that...?"
"The Daily Crown."
Oguri Cap opened the takeout box and set the two meals on the coffee table, then glanced at the television.
"It should be the 64th."
"The 64th? Then the winner was..."
Aoba Recall watched the eleven racehorses sprinting across the screen. Her eyes quickly settled on a short-haired figure in black, and she and Oguri Cap said the same name at once.
"Eishin Flash."
Afterward, Aoba Recall looked at Kitasan Black, who was standing nearby with an excited expression, then turned to Anjing Zhen and smiled as she handed him the documents.
"It looks like you're coaching this student...?"
"Ah! Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself!"
Kitasan Black bowed quickly.
"My name is Kitasan Black. It's an honor to meet you both, seniors!"
"Kitasan Black... A first-year who just enrolled this year? You're working so hard even after school. I'm rooting for you, Kitasan Black."
Kitasan Black nodded repeatedly. Aoba Recall, however, looked around the room.
"But the school rules don't allow students to spend the night outside the dorms, let alone in a trainer's single room.
"Please keep that in mind, Kitasan Black."
As she spoke, she smiled brightly.
"I'm sure you know that, Kitasan Black. Sorry—I was on the Academy's Disciplinary Committee back in my day, so I tend to be a little particular about these things."
"It's all right, Senior Aoba! Besides, I'll go back after I've eaten here!"
Kitasan Black hurriedly explained.
"Good."
Aoba Recall smiled and nodded, then looked at Anjing Zhen.
Anjing Zhen had finished reading the settlement agreement. It seemed fine, so he signed it. When he saw Aoba Recall looking his way, he handed it over.
"That should take care of everything, right?"
Aoba Recall accepted the agreement and read it carefully before bowing.
"Everything looks good. Thank you for your cooperation, Trainer Yasui. We'll be on our way."
She turned to Oguri Cap.
"Senior Oguri, let's go... What are you looking at?"
"Nothing."
Oguri Cap shifted her gaze from the computer and several sheets of paper covered in data on the coffee table, then looked coolly at Kitasan Black.
"You haven't scheduled your Debut Race yet?"
"Y-yes! That's right, Senior Oguri Cap!"
Kitasan Black nodded again and again, looking a little nervous.
"Mm. Good luck."
With a faint smile, Oguri Cap headed toward the entrance with Aoba Recall and waved to Kitasan Black.
"Not being able to control your strength very well isn't a huge problem. I was the same in my first few races after my debut.
"And your trainer seems very capable. With his help, you'll do well in your Debut Race.
"Good luck."
(I used a cover from Gray Cinderella: Oguri Cap versus Aoba Recall in the 6th Mile Championship. If you're interested, readers, check out the manga and the race footage. They're both great.)
Before you continue