Two Uma Musume Delivering Takeout

"Huh? Who's here...? And Trainer's phone..."

Hokubu Genkoma asked in surprise.

Yasui Makoto glanced at the caller ID on his phone.

"I ordered takeout.

"I got you the Uma Musume bestseller, the Sauce Carrot Steak Set.

"Will that suit your taste?"

When Hokubu Genkoma nodded absently, looking a little embarrassed and anxious, Yasui Makoto immediately understood that she felt bad about him paying for her meal. He shook his head.

"If that's all, go answer the door. Don't keep them waiting."

"Uh... all right."

After Hokubu Genkoma reluctantly went to answer the door, Yasui Makoto turned back to the footage and computer, ready to continue analyzing the data. Then he suddenly heard a cry of surprise from the doorway.

"Ehh—? Senior Oguri Cap?! And Senior Aotake Omoide?!"

At the sound of those two names, Yasui Makoto instinctively looked toward the door.

The door stood open. On the inside, Hokubu Genkoma's tail had shot straight up in surprise. Outside were two Uma Musume who seemed to have been startled by her.

One Uma Musume had silver-gray hair and pale blue eyes. She wore a restaurant delivery uniform with "Gray Stable" printed on it and held 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 its center.

The brown-haired Uma Musume wore a uniform too, though hers was a police uniform. She held her police cap against her chest and had a document folder tucked under her arm.

"Good evening. I'm Yasui Makoto. May I ask what brings you here...?" Yasui Makoto walked toward the door.

Although he addressed both of them, his attention was mainly on Aotake Omoide, who was wearing a police uniform.

"See, Senior Oguri? I told you there was no way I'd get the directions wrong."

After smiling at the silver-haired Uma Musume beside her, Aotake Omoide faced Yasui Makoto and saluted.

"Good evening, Trainer Yasui. I'm Inspector Aotake, responsible for this area. Here's my ID."

After showing him her police ID, she continued:

"At the request of the student council president, Tokai Teio, I've brought the settlement application for the driver involved in the earlier traffic accident. I hope you'll look it over.

"As for this one..."

She gestured to the silver-haired Uma Musume beside her.

"I imagine you've heard of my senior, Trainer Yasui. She... well, how should I put it..."

With an amused expression, she hesitated.

The silver-haired Uma Musume spoke with a cool expression.

"I'm sorry. I've studied here for many years, but I still have trouble finding my way around."

"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 delayed because I couldn't find my way. I'm very sorry."

She bowed deeply.

Aotake Omoide nodded with an amused, helpless look and spread her hands.

"Mm, that's how it is.

"So would you mind letting her wait inside for a little while too? I still need to help her find her way afterward.

"Don't worry, Trainer Yasui. We won't take long. We'll leave as soon as you've looked over the settlement agreement."

At that, Yasui Makoto couldn't help finding it a little amusing too.

He knew both Uma Musume quite well, especially the silver-haired one dressed like a delivery worker.

Twenty-two wins in thirty-two races, Uma Musume of the Year, an inductee into the Hall of Fame, the "Gray Monster"—Oguri Cap.

Besides that, she was one of the investors in the chain restaurant Gray Stable. He often saw her at the branch near the academy, and she also appeared on many food programs.

You could say she delivered takeout on a whim, but because she'd grown up in the countryside and didn't go out much after transferring to Central Treisen Academy, she still didn't seem used to a big city like Tokyo. As a result, she often got lost while making deliveries.

She'd delivered here a few times before, and she was late every time. She was simply that bad with directions. There was no doubt that she'd managed to arrive on time today thanks to Aotake Omoide, who was accompanying her.

Aotake Omoide was also an outstanding Uma Musume. Unlike Oguri Cap, who excelled at distances from the mile to the middle-distance range, she specialized in sprinting. In the professional courses required for her evaluations, she'd been called the "First Generation King of the Sprint Front."

"It's no trouble. Please, come in."

Yasui Makoto stepped back from the entryway and welcomed them into the living room. As he moved aside, he asked:

"Would you two like some tea, or another drink, like milk?"

"No need to trouble yourself, Trainer Yasui. We'll be leaving soon."

Smiling as she waved off the offer, Aotake Omoide pulled out the stack of papers tucked under her arm.

She glanced around, then quickly fixed her gaze on the television playing race footage.

"Huh? Is that...?"

"Daily Crown."

Oguri Cap opened the takeout box and set two meals on the coffee table, then glanced at the television.

"It should be the sixty-fourth."

"The sixty-fourth? Then the winner was..."

Watching the eleven Uma Musume racing across the screen, Aotake Omoide soon focused on a short-haired figure in black. She and Oguri Cap said the same name at once.

"Eishin Flash."

Then Aotake Omoide glanced at Hokubu Genkoma, who looked excited, before turning to Yasui Makoto and handing him the documents with a smile.

"Looks like you're coaching this...?"

"Ah! Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself!"

Hokubu Genkoma bowed quickly.

"My name is Hokubu Genkoma. Please take good care of me, Seniors!"

"Hokubu Genkoma... A new student who enrolled this year? You're working so hard even after school. I've got high hopes for you, Hokubu Genkoma."

As Hokubu Genkoma nodded repeatedly, Aotake Omoide looked around the room.

"However, the school rules don't allow students to stay overnight off campus, let alone in a trainer's single room.

"Please keep that in mind, Hokubu Genkoma."

As she spoke, she flashed a breezy smile.

"You probably already know that, Hokubu Genkoma. Sorry—I was on the Disciplinary Committee when I was at the academy, so I tend to be a little particular about these things."

"That's all right, Senior Aotake! And I'll be going home after I eat here!"

Hokubu Genkoma hurried to explain.

"Good."

Aotake Omoide nodded with a smile and looked toward Yasui Makoto.

Yasui Makoto had already read the settlement agreement and didn't see any problems with it. He signed it, then handed it to Aotake Omoide when he noticed her looking his way.

"That should take care of it, right?"

Taking the agreement, Aotake Omoide read it carefully, then bowed.

"Everything looks fine. 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 lifted her gaze from the computer and a few sheets of paper covered in data on the coffee table, then looked coolly at Hokubu Genkoma.

"You haven't scheduled your Debut Race yet?"

"Y-yes, Senior Oguri Cap!"

A little nervous, Hokubu Genkoma nodded repeatedly.

"Mm. Good luck."

With a slight smile, Oguri Cap headed for the entryway with Aotake Omoide and waved to Hokubu Genkoma.

"Not being able to control your strength very well isn't a big problem. I was like that in my first few races too.

"And your trainer seems quite capable. With his help, you'll do very well in your Debut Race.

"Good luck."