The Mejiro Family is indeed a prominent family on par with the Symboli Family. This grand mansion looks very impressive, but Kagura, having grown accustomed to the Symboli Family, was no longer surprised by such sights.
"Young Miss, and Miss Kagura, we have arrived."
As Kagura felt the slight tremor of the car braking, the old chauffeur also spoke up, reminding them that they had reached their destination.
"Kagura, please, you first."
Mejiro Takamine always exuded a subtle sense of pressure, even if it was unintentional, which made Kagura feel a little uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Kagura had grown accustomed to interacting with such important figures during this time. She was not affected by Mejiro Takamine's aura and followed her into the Mejiro Family courtyard after getting out of the car.
"We have been waiting... Kagura, welcome to the Mejiro Family."
Kagura had been guessing who she would meet first upon entering. She had initially thought it might be one of the young misses who liked to peek by the door, but to her surprise, Old Mejiro herself came out to greet her.
"Hello, Head of the Family. I didn't expect you to personally come out to greet me... I am deeply honored!"
Kagura immediately lifted her skirt and curtsied to Old Mejiro. Now that she was out and about, even if she was just a maid, she could not let her behavior disgrace the Symboli Family.
"Haha, you are a distinguished guest who helped our child. Naturally, we cannot be impolite, and you don't need to be so reserved... Takamine, the Symboli Family will arrive soon. Please stay here and wait for a moment. I will take Kagura inside first."
"Understood."
Mejiro Takamine nodded, glanced at Kagura, then turned and remained by the door.
Hearing that people from the Symboli Family were coming, Kagura was about to tell Old Mejiro that she wanted to stay by the door to receive them, but Old Mejiro stopped her:
"Child, you are a guest. It would be highly improper for a guest to stand by the door and wait. Don't worry, Takamine will receive Old Symboli and her group well. Please come in first."
"...Yes, Head of the Family."
Since the other party had said so much, Kagura found it difficult to refuse and could only nod in agreement.
Although Old Mejiro looked very old, her steps were vigorous, and her posture was upright. She was a very spirited old Uma Musume and was much easier to talk to than Kagura had imagined.
"Takamine told me about you, child. Regarding Al Dan, I am truly grateful."
"It was merely a helping hand, Head of the Family. You really don't need to be so formal..."
"Al Dan and Takamine are my most beloved children. But unlike Takamine, Al Dan is naturally frail yet unwilling to remain idle. She always does things that make one's heart pound, like running out to train under the scorching sun that day... *Sigh*, our whole family truly worries ourselves sick over her. If only that child could be half as obedient and well-behaved as you."
Old Mejiro sighed, appearing quite helpless when it came to Al Dan.
Kagura could understand Old Mejiro and also Mejiro Al Dan's thoughts. According to Maruzensky and Rudolph Symbol, Mejiro Al Dan is an Uma Musume full of dreams and perseverance. She is unwilling to fall into eternal idleness at such a young age and always wants to do something to test her limits. This is also her rebellion against fate, which is quite understandable for a young person.
Mejiro Al Dan's actions might not seem like much to her, but to Old Mejiro and the rest of the family, who deeply care for and cherish her, her actions are not acts of rebellion but pure fright. Old Mejiro recounted many of Mejiro Al Dan's "glorious deeds" along the way, and Kagura felt a bead of sweat forming on her brow just listening. She couldn't imagine how many times her heart would stop if she were a servant of the Mejiro Family, dealing with this little ancestor.
"...Fortunately, this child has good luck in some strange ways. For instance, when she went to China, she met a very kind junior. Child, did you also meet that junior a few days ago? The child named Muteki. When Al Dan was still in China, that child took care of Al Dan, saving us a lot of worry and making Al Dan much brighter and more cheerful. I always have a feeling that there's some wonderful connection between her and Al Dan. More than friends, they are more like family, like sisters."
"I see. No wonder Miss Wudi said she came here with Miss Al Dan. Was it to take good care of Miss Al Dan?"
"Yes, that child said she wasn't at ease letting Al Dan travel alone, so she personally escorted Al Dan all the way back to our home. You know, Al Dan's body is too fragile. She really caused a lot of trouble for Muteki."
Muteki looked only thirteen or fourteen, and Kagura hadn't expected her to be the one who had been taking care of Al Dan all this time. She was truly accomplished at a young age.
Old Mejiro's casual conversation almost never strayed from Mejiro Al Dan. Although Kagura didn't mind chatting with the elder, the impression the Mejiro Family gave Kagura, to be honest, wasn't entirely normal. She always felt they had some ulterior motive. She had a question that had lingered, and she felt this might be an opportunity to ask Old Mejiro.
"Speaking of which, Head of the Family, I previously had contact with the Mejiro Family's Trainer... He came to me for Miss Al Dan, didn't he?"
"...You are very clever, child. That Trainer said you are far more mature than children your age. It seems to be true."
Old Mejiro did not directly answer the question but indirectly admitted it. Kagura's previous guess was confirmed: the reason the Mejiro Family wanted to adopt her was to have her replace Mejiro Al Dan on the Racecourse.
"If our abrupt approach displeased you, I apologize, child. In the future, the Mejiro Family will no longer bother you with such strange reasons."
"Head of the Family, there's no need to be so polite. I can understand your thoughts, but I want to know, why me?"
"Because you are truly very talented. In you... I seem to see the shadow of another person..."
As Old Mejiro spoke, she raised her hand and gently brushed aside Kagura's bangs, touching Kagura's cheek.
Kagura did not dodge. She met Old Mejiro's gaze, feeling that Old Mejiro seemed to be looking through her at someone else. She knew the person Old Mejiro was looking at was Eclipse, but Kagura had no intention of revealing anything about Eclipse.
"So similar... truly too similar..."
Old Mejiro's voice was very, very soft, barely a movement of her lips. It seemed she didn't want Kagura to hear these murmurs, but Kagura's hearing was excellent, and she still roughly pieced together what Old Mejiro wanted to say.
"Head of the Family?"
Kagura feigned confusion, tilting her head and looking at Old Mejiro with a puzzled expression.
"My apologies, I was just recalling some things and feeling a bit emotional. I hope you don't mind an old woman's curiosity."
"Speed Symbol Grandma often strokes me like that; I don't mind such things."
As they talked, Kagura and Old Mejiro had already passed through the foyer and entered the Mejiro Family's banquet hall.
It was still very early, and the guests had not yet arrived. So many tables inside were still empty. Kagura looked in and then saw several Uma Musume sitting at a table in the right-hand corner.
"Hi~! Little Kagura~! Over here, over here!"
"Miss Wudi? And over here is..."
Kagura saw a brown-haired Uma Musume there; it was Muteki, the enthusiastic server she had met yesterday. She also recognized the Uma Musume with beautiful sky-blue hair next to her—the eldest daughter of the Mejiro Family, Mejiro Al Dan. Al Dan also saw her and was waving along with Muteki, seemingly calling her over.
"Haha, it seems you've all gotten acquainted. Go on over, child. Don't worry about status; just treat each other like classmates."
"What about you? Aren't you coming with us?"
"It's not suitable for an old woman like me to sit with you young people. When your family's Old Symboli arrives, I still need to greet her... I'll take my leave first."
Saying that, Old Mejiro smiled kindly and gently nudged Kagura beside her.
Kagura nodded to show respect to Old Mejiro, then walked into the banquet hall. As she got closer, Kagura noticed that behind the large pile of snacks on Al Dan's table, a white-haired Little Horse Girls was hidden. That Little Horse Girls didn't seem to see her and was still burying her head, enjoying a pudding.
"Yo! We meet again, Little Kagura! Your outfit is so pretty, it suits you well!"
"Hello, Miss Wudi, and Miss Al Dan. Nice to meet you for the first time. I am Inari Kagura, a maid from the Symboli Family. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Kagura returned their greetings, gave a brief self-introduction, and then sat down in the seat next to Muteki.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kagura. I've heard your name for a long time, and today I finally get to meet you. Just as Sister Takamine said, you're a very cute girl."
After speaking, Mejiro Al Dan smiled and extended her hand to shake Kagura's.
Unlike the Little Horse Girls who was still busy eating and the enthusiastic, familiar Muteki, Mejiro Al Dan had the demeanor of a young lady, elegant and composed. It was impossible to tell that she was the kind of person who would run wildly outside in 40-degree heat.
"Alright, alright, McQueen, don't just focus on eating. The guest is here, say hello."
While introducing herself to Kagura, Al Dan didn't forget to pat the Little Horse Girls next to her, who was still burying her head and devouring cake, reminding her that someone had arrived.
"!! Mmm mmm... (chew) Gulp... (swallow) Hello! I am Mejiro McQueen!"
The reminded Little Horse Girls immediately swallowed what was in her mouth and greeted Kagura.
"Hello there, little sister, I am Inari Kagura."
Although it felt a bit strange for her, with her current physique, to call the other party 'little sister,' Kagura was finally able to meet a child smaller than her current body after such a long time, and she finally had the chance to call someone 'little sister.'
Seeing that this Little Horse Girls seemed to love eating, Kagura rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small box of pastries she had made. Under the Little Horse Girls' curious gaze, she placed the small wooden box into her small hand.
"I brought some snacks. Consider it a welcome gift."
"Eh!? Thank you, Sister Kagura!"
The Little Horse Girls sprang up in surprise and quickly thanked Kagura.
'Ah! Someone finally called me 'sister'! How touching!'
Hearing that 'sister,' Kagura inexplicably felt a sense of accomplishment.
She also shared a portion of her homemade pastries with Al Dan and Muteki, and both of them thanked her and accepted them. However, they weren't in a hurry to eat. Only the Little Horse Girls named McQueen, upon receiving it, eagerly opened the lid and used a fork to pick a piece and put it into her mouth—
"!!!!"
Mejiro McQueen's eyes instantly widened. She looked at the pastries in the box, then at Kagura.
"Pfft... McQueen, mind your manners. I apologize, Kagura. McQueen is still young and new here, so she might be a bit lacking in etiquette."
Seeing McQueen's eyes wide open, Mejiro Al Dan couldn't help but smile, stroking the Little Horse Girls' head as she spoke.
"Children, being happy is the most important thing. Always talking about etiquette is too stifling~ Little sister, is it delicious?"
"Delicious!! Sister Kagura, where did you buy this?"
The Little Horse Girls looked at Kagura with eager eyes, full of anticipation. It was clear that she really loved the pastry.
"Haha, I made this myself, you can't buy it outside."
"Eh!! Then... then... Sister Kagura, do you have any more?"
"Unfortunately, I didn't make too much, I only brought these."
"Mmm mmm..."
Kagura noticed that after receiving her answer, Mejiro McQueen's eating speed significantly slowed down, and her cutting motions became much smaller. This reminded Kagura of when she was a child and finally managed to get a fried chicken leg in the Dining Hall. She couldn't bear to eat it quickly and would take tiny bites. Later, when she grew up and no longer had to worry about a chicken leg, she still retained this peculiar habit.
"Give my share to McQueen. I'm not in a hurry to eat anyway. But McQueen, you also need to be careful, otherwise you'll become a little chubby foal."
Al Dan dotingly stroked McQueen's little head and gave her own share of pastries to McQueen.
"Thank you, Al Dan! I'll be careful!"
Upon receiving a new pastry, McQueen's enthusiasm visibly increased. She thanked them in the soft, sweet voice characteristic of a child, then lowered her head to eat again.
"Al Dan, let me share half of mine with you. Don't say you're not in a hurry to eat, I just took a bite, and I guarantee you'll regret it if you don't try some!"
Muteki also seemed to really like the snack, but she didn't forget to save a portion for Al Dan.
Kagura had been smilingly watching the Uma Musume taste her cooking. For her, nothing made her happier than having her culinary skills recognized by others.
"Then... I shall respectfully accept."
Al Dan picked up a fork, cut a piece from Muteki's portion, and put it into her mouth. She closed her eyes and carefully tasted the flavor. Soon, Kagura saw Al Dan's eyes widen as well, looking shocked.
"Wonderful... It's like... a feeling of regretting not meeting it sooner."
Unable to find a particularly apt adjective immediately, Al Dan could only offer this temporary evaluation.
"Haha, I told you, you'd definitely regret it if you didn't try a bite! Little Kagura's cooking is really great, isn't it! By the way, Little Kagura, these are pastries from my hometown. Have you studied Chinese cuisine? I feel like the head chef at the Hotel back home can't even compare to Little Kagura's skill!"
"Just a little, just a little. I'm just very interested in Chinese cuisine, so I learned it. It's really great that you all like it."
Being praised like this, Kagura already felt very satisfied, but she still maintained her usual humility.
"If Little Kagura likes it, you should come visit China sometime! I can be your tour guide!"
"If I have the chance in the future, I do want to go. I'll trouble Miss Wudi then."
"No problem, leave it to me!"
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