"Classmate! Are you really not considering it! Join now and get a Little Gold Ship bicycle!"
"Gold Ship, this is the third time you've approached me this week. I believe I've said that I don't have any intention of joining a team yet."
Looking at the Little Horse Girls appearing outside the Dining Hall window, Kagura smiled helplessly, and then used a disposable paper plate to pass a small dish of translucent pastries from the window to the Little Horse Girls.
"Heh ~ It's fine, just consider it my routine. By the way, every time I come here at noon, I run into Kagura. It's a wonderful coincidence, isn't this fate's arrangement!"
"What fate? I cook here every day, of course I'll be here when you come..."
Having received the small plate Kagura handed out, Gold Ship's motivation visibly increased. Although she usually maintained her scatterbrained demeanor, her ears showed her excitement. Before picking up her cutlery, Gold Ship even exaggeratedly clasped her hands together and bowed to the plate of pastries, looking like a primitive person performing some magical pre-meal ritual, which Kagura, still waiting for ingredients to cook inside, watched with amusement.
In all the days Kagura had worked in the Dining Hall, Gold Ship was the only Uma Musume who would stand at her window to eat. And after her first successful taste, she would perform this peculiar ritual every time she came to freeload food and drinks.
"I've been curious for a long time, Gold Ship, what are you doing?"
"Gold Ship-sama is worshipping a sacred artifact! Requesting the sacred artifact to bestow its power upon me!"
"Eh... huh?"
She received an answer that was hard to understand, but Kagura guessed Gold Ship probably meant that her cooking skills were good.
To provide Rudolph Symbol with delicious food that wouldn't exceed her daily controlled intake, Kagura had spent the past half-month commuting between the dormitory, Dining Hall, and Track. She was trying to create and improve recipes for Rudolph Symbol, aiming to make as many delicious and non-repeating dishes as possible in the short term.
Gold Ship, who had tried to ambush her two weeks ago, would occasionally visit the Dining Hall during these two weeks. The two quickly became familiar. After tasting Kagura's cooking once, Gold Ship became Kagura's taste-tester. Whenever Kagura made something new, she would always experiment on Gold Ship first, and Gold Ship was happy to be the guinea pig.
Although Kagura called this child a Little Horse Girl, Gold Ship's height was actually quite exaggerated. Despite being roughly the same age as her, her height made Kagura envious.
— Every time I see her, I think, how graceful this child is when still, so why does she become so scatterbrained when she moves?
Kagura saw a faint line of text appear on the window glass, then quickly disappear.
Looking at Gold Ship outside, she was quietly eating with her head down, holding her own knife and fork, slowly and elegantly cutting the pastries on the plate and putting them into her mouth as if eating Western food. Her every move exuded an air of elegance; at least at moments like these, Kagura felt this child had a noble quality, like a young lady.
'Perhaps this is what they call... static beauty?'
— What a pity, such a good child, why must she move... Eclipse's handwriting flashed by. These past two weeks, she had been shocked by this lively Uma Musume several times. It was the first time in so long that she, an ancient person, felt she couldn't keep up with the times.
"Little sister ~ Good evening."
While Gold Ship was engrossed in battling Kagura's new creation, Kagura saw Maruzensky walk up behind her.
Over the past two weeks, the situation with Maruzensky and her friends coming to freeload meals had also improved. It wasn't that fewer people came, but rather that a large group no longer surged in all at once. Now, besides cooking for Soshi and Rudolph Symbol, she only had to cook for either Maruzensky or Akikawa Yayoi. They seemed to have arranged to come at different times; sometimes if Akikawa Yayoi came today, Maruzensky would wait until tomorrow, and they were never seen crowding in together.
Although she didn't know the exact situation, Kagura guessed they had probably made some private agreement, not wanting to put too much pressure on her all at once. She didn't intend to delve into the details, as for her, it was a good thing.
"Good evening, Miss Maruzen. I just made something new, would you like to try it?"
"Is it what that student is eating?"
Looking at the Little Horse Girls next to her, who stood upright and ate slowly and elegantly, Maruzensky didn't immediately recognize which student it was. Only after a closer look did she realize it was Gold Ship, who would occasionally come to freeload a meal.
"Yes, I tried making some small snacks. This is coconut milk osmanthus cake."
As she spoke, Kagura walked out of the kitchen and handed another paper plate to Maruzensky, while also pulling her and Gold Ship to find a place to sit and eat. The plate held a translucent, glistening osmanthus cake, with Q-elastic texture and sprinkled with flower petals, looking so appetizing it made one's mouth water.
Wow… that looks delicious! By the way, is this Chinese food too? It feels like the Little Horse Girl is learning all Chinese dishes, doesn't it?
Yes, because I like it, and I can also prepare some for the Young Lady as afternoon tea. It's nutritious and tasty, and a little bit won't exceed the daily limits.
Damn it… I really envy Rudolph…
Maruzensky thought about how Rudolph Symbol could enjoy such delicious food every day without having to queue like her or wait days for it. She also heard that Teacher Kagura would give Rudolph a massage when she delivered her food, and apparently, Teacher Kagura's technique was quite good. Maruzensky felt increasingly envious.
Ah! I really want a Support Musume too… Teacher Kagura, why don't you come work for your big sister! Your big sister can support you!
Saying this, Maruzensky hugged Teacher Kagura and rubbed her chest, taking two deep breaths of the comforting scent.
Although Maruzensky wanted to find her own Support Musume after seeing Teacher Kagura, unfortunately, the Tracen Logistics Department was perennially understaffed. This year, only a few newcomers reported, and the skill level of other Support Musume was not on the same level as Teacher Kagura at all. After all, Teacher Kagura was a maid rigorously trained by the Symboli Family, and she also understood logistics support, while they were just students.
Ahaha… Miss Maruzen is a bit too enthusiastic… I have duties, so I can't just switch jobs.
She patted Maruzensky's head to make her let go, and seeing that Gold Ship was still slowly savoring her food, Teacher Kagura returned to the kitchen to continue washing the dishes she had used.
It was past nine in the evening, well past dinner time. Everyone else had even gone home. Now, only Teacher Kagura was still using the kitchen in the Dining Hall. Teacher Kagura had already delivered Rudolph Symboli and Excellent Quality's meals. She was only still there because she wanted to try making something new. As for why Maruzensky and Gold Ship were still in the Dining Hall so late, Teacher Kagura couldn't think of any reason other than that they had specifically come to try her new creations.
Delicious…! It's a dessert, but it feels a bit bland… but it's still very good!
Unlike Gold Ship, who brought her own utensils, Maruzensky simply picked it up and bit into it. Seeing her happy face, Teacher Kagura knew that her flavor control was likely fine. It seemed this experimental dish could be given to Rudolph Symboli tomorrow.
Thanks for the compliment~ Chinese desserts are like this. It seems my seasoning is fine, Miss Maruzen. Please be a little more graceful; look how elegantly Gold Ship is eating.
Teacher Kagura, who was still rummaging through ingredients in the kitchen, replied without looking up.
Maruzensky ate just like she ran; every movement seemed to carry a gust of wind. Teacher Kagura always worried she might choke eating like that.
It's already a habit, hard to change. By the way, Teacher Kagura, do you have any plans for tomorrow?
Hmm? Yes, I have plans, Miss Maruzen. Is there something you need?
I wanted to take you out to buy clothes, but if you're busy, then never mind.
Th-thank you for understanding…
Hearing that it was about going out to buy clothes, Teacher Kagura felt her eyelid twitch. She was somewhat relieved that she indeed had plans to go out tomorrow. She hadn't forgotten the last time Maruzensky tormented her for two hours, treating her like a changing doll while shopping for clothes.
She quickly washed the dishes and put them in the sterilizer, then took off her apron and hung it up. After washing her hands, she turned off the kitchen lights, came out, and locked the door.
The two Uma Musume outside had also finished their pastries, clearly still wanting more. Seeing Teacher Kagura emerge from the kitchen, they both cast expectant glances, looking as if to ask, 'Is there more?'
Oh, you two! That was dessert. Even if it's not high-calorie food, eating too much late at night will make you gain weight. Don't be greedy! Go back to sleep!
Teacher Kagura put on a pouting face, ready to usher these two foodies out. She needed to turn off the lights and lock the door.
Eh! Is there really no more! Big Sister smells that you still have some on you, Little Horse Girl!
Sodayo! Gold Ship-sama can see the holy relic mark on you!
Gold Ship, play less Age of Empires! That's for Soshi! You two have already finished your shares!
Teacher Kagura originally wanted to tap the foreheads of these two foodies, but when she raised her hand, she realized that she, the poor little shorty, couldn't reach either of them, so she could only put her hand down helplessly.
Dragging the two foodies out, she closed the Dining Hall's main door but didn't lock it tightly, as the Tracen Dining Hall doors are never locked. Although Teacher Kagura was curious about the safety of Tracen's student Dining Hall not being locked, there was nothing to steal in the Dining Hall besides ingredients, and the kitchen door was locked, with nothing valuable outside to lose.
They walked all the way back to the dormitory building. Finally, at the point of parting, Maruzensky still seemed a bit reluctant, but she didn't live at the school, so she couldn't enter the dormitory.
…I suddenly want to live in the dorms! There's still an empty spot in the Little Horse Girl's room, right?
If Miss Maruzen signs up now, she might end up in Miho Dorm… Besides, I have a Roommate, though I still don't know who my Roommate is.
Half a month had passed, and Teacher Kagura still hadn't seen her Roommate, but she had consistently been cleaning and tidying that bed. Even if the owner of that bed hadn't returned in a long time, it remained neat and clean.
Damn it! Gold Ship-sama doesn't even have a chance to sneak in and occupy the holy land!
Unfortunately, no~