As Kagura temporarily stepped out of the banquet hall to get some fresh air and sneak a peek at her phone, Eclipse's sentiment flashed across Kagura's phone screen.
'Don't look down on doctors who can cook! Miss Eclipse, don't you also love to eat what I make?'
— I understand the logic, but isn't this neglecting your proper duties?
'That's not it. It's just that I don't want to be tormented all day at the hospital, bottling up a belly full of anger, and then come home after work only to suffer from hunger.'
— Hey, you little rascal, you certainly know how to enjoy yourself.
'Thank you for the compliment~'
Kagura also replied to a message from Rudolph Symbol. According to the message, Rudolph Symbol and her group were almost at the Mejiro Family's residence. However, it wasn't just Rudolph Symbol coming today; Speed Symbol, who usually didn't go out much, had also come along for some reason.
"Sister Kagura~"
"Hmm? What's wrong? McQueen, why are you out here too?"
Seeing McQueen run up to her, Kagura raised her hand and stroked her head. McQueen didn't shy away, her eyes narrowed in apparent enjoyment, and her two ears twitched.
Although McQueen was a little younger than Kagura, her height was already about the same as hers, making Kagura somewhat concerned about her own future height.
"Can we exchange contact information?"
"No problem, but, you little glutton, are you trying to add me as a friend to ask for food?"
While operating her phone to add Mejiro McQueen as a friend, Kagura smiled and teased her. McQueen's thoughts were very easy to understand; Kagura didn't even need to infer much to guess what she was thinking.
Although her little secret was exposed by Kagura, Little McQueen still managed to add Kagura as a friend as she wished. She shyly touched her face, looking very happy.
"If you want, you're welcome to find me at Tracen. I'm usually in the Dining Hall. If you want to eat something I've made, you can come to the Dining Hall and look."
"Really?!"
Little McQueen leaned in, looking at Kagura excitedly, her tail wagging. Kagura raised her hand and poked the child's forehead, smiling as she said:
"Of course. Look at how greedy you are; Miss Al Dan might tap your head later. Go back and sit down, I'll be there shortly."
"Okay~"
Nodding obediently, Mejiro McQueen immediately scurried back into the banquet hall.
'This child, I wonder where she came from. She probably wasn't originally from the main Mejiro Family. She doesn't act like a young lady of the Mejiro Family at all, so cute.'
Kagura also quite liked this kind of natural, unspoiled child. While the quiet young ladies of the Mejiro Family were also very nice, a child who was full of vitality, obedient, and knew her boundaries was even more endearing.
Picking up her phone and checking the time, Kagura estimated that the Symboli Family should be arriving, so she prepared to return to the banquet hall to wait.
"Hey, little one over there."
Just as she entered the corridor, Kagura heard an unfamiliar voice seemingly calling her. She stopped and looked around. Besides the Uma Musume across from her who had spoken, she was the only one in the corridor. It seemed the target of the call was her.
"...Hello?"
Kagura stopped and looked at the other party: familiar chestnut hair and the familiar ancestral white highlight on her forehead. She looked somewhat similar to Rudolph Symbol, but the other party's eyes were red, which ruled out the possibility of Rudolph Symbol having put on some makeup Kagura didn't recognize and sneaking in.
The other party didn't answer immediately, but walked forward while curiously observing Kagura. Kagura subconsciously retreated a few steps, then hit the wall behind her. The other party then pressed in, extending a hand to brace herself beside Kagura, blocking Kagura's path of escape.
"Uh... Miss, may I ask if there's anything? If this continues, I'll be very troubled..."
Pushed against the wall, Kagura looked up at the Uma Musume, who was a head taller than her. She didn't know the other party's identity yet, but since she could appear in the Mejiro Family's mansion, she probably wasn't an ordinary person. So Kagura didn't dare to act rashly for the time being, fearing she might cause trouble.
"You, are Inari Kagura?"
"That's me. Um, and you are?"
"Nice to meet you. I am Sirius Symboli. I've heard Rudolf mention you, Inari Kagura... Is this the gifted child she spoke of? Interesting..."
'Sirius Symboli?'
Although the name was unfamiliar, Kagura was certainly not unfamiliar with the 'Symboli' in her name. Not every Uma Musume could have that surname, and not everyone had that ancestral highlight. This meant that the other party was also from the Symboli Family, and someone she usually didn't see much at home.
'Right, the family head said there was more than just the young lady among the children... It's just that the other child has been living abroad. Is she back today?'
Kagura had to admit that the Symboli Family seemed to produce these handsome Uma Musume. Whether it was the dignified Rudolph Symbol or the Sirius Symboli in front of her, who was currently cornering her against the wall and exuded a youthful charm, both had that 'beautiful young man' feeling.
"Hello, Miss Sirius, nice to meet you. I am Inari Kagura, a maid of the Symboli Family."
"Alright, alright, Sirius, Kagura is rather shy and introverted. Don't rush her like that, you might scare her."
Finally, Speed Symbol's familiar voice came from the other end of the corridor. Rudolph Symbol and Mejiro Takamine's voices also appeared, indicating that the Symboli Family had arrived.
"Rudolf, just as you said, this maid is indeed very interesting."
Saying that, Sirius Symboli sniffed in front of Kagura as if smelling something, then released her hand and let go of Kagura, returning to Rudolph Symbol's side.
"I have no interest in lying to you. Next time, watch your behavior. Kagura is still young, don't scare her."
"It's alright, I don't mind. Good morning, Miss Rudolf, and Family Head. Did you just arrive?"
Kagura also lifted her skirt and curtsied slightly to Speed Symbol and Rudolph Symbol. Speed Symbol walked up, extended her hand, and dotingly stroked Kagura's head, then gently pulled her closer.
"Yes, just got out of the car... You seem to have lost a bit of weight, Kagura, since I last saw you. Have you been working a lot lately?"
"It's alright... I don't really feel anything."
Although the support work had indeed been quite busy recently, it wasn't to an extent that Kagura couldn't handle. After all, compared to real work, this was much easier.
"That's not true. Look, your face has gotten thinner. Before, it was soft and plump when I pinched it. Later, I'll have the maids at home send you some supplements. Your body is the foundation of everything; no matter how busy you are, you can't neglect your health, understood?"
"Family Head, I'm really fine, you don't need to worry so much!"
For some reason, Kagura always felt like she was visiting her grandmother's house during the New Year.
"Oh, child, don't be so stubborn. I hope you really are fine... You look so pretty today. Is this the dress Rudolf and the others picked out for you before?"
"No, no, I bought it myself later when I went shopping..."
..."Can she make that kind of expression too?"
Rudolph Symboli watched Speed Symboli chat with Kagura, a gentle smile on her face, inquiring about Kagura's daily school life and seemingly able to talk about anything. This gave Rudolph Symboli a subtle feeling; she actually sensed a strangeness from Speed Symboli. In her memory, Speed Symboli had always been quite strict and intimidating. She had never seen Speed Symboli look so gentle and kind.
"Indeed, it's rare to see Speed Symboli-sama show such an expression. It seems Kagura is quite fond of her."
Mejiro Takamine also whispered her agreement with Rudolph Symboli's opinion. Speed Symboli was completely engrossed in interacting with Kagura, not even taking a moment to speak with the younger generation.
"If it weren't for that incident when you were a child, I believe the old woman would have been much kinder to you."
Sirius Symboli smiled and patted Rudolph Symboli, who was full of question marks, on the shoulder. She knew why Speed Symboli had always been so strict with Rudolph Symboli; after all, Rudolph Symboli's fiery temper when she was little had indeed caused a lot of trouble, so it was natural for Speed Symboli to be worried.
"Ah, this…"
Rubbing her hair awkwardly, Rudolph Symboli was speechless. When her personality was more volatile in the past, she had indeed caused a lot of trouble, and Speed Symboli always had to clean up her messes. It was no wonder Speed Symboli used to scold her constantly. However, without Speed Symboli's lessons, Rudolph Symboli felt she wouldn't have developed her current personality.
"It's not good to stand here and chat. Madam Head, let's go into the banquet hall and sit down first. If you have any more questions, you can ask them once we're seated inside."
Chatting in the corridor forever wasn't ideal, so Kagura decided to lead everyone into the banquet hall first.
"Alright… alright, I'll listen to you. Young ones, let's go in and sit down first."
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