"Confusion! What are you two doing here?!"
Akikawa Yayoi finished her day's work and came to the Dining Hall to see if she could luckily run into Kagura still cooking in the kitchen to freeload a meal. As soon as she entered, she immediately noticed two "students" in the corner on the right side of the Dining Hall, where she usually sat, along with Fine Motion and Mejiro Al Dan, who had recently returned.
Although with so many people there, it was basically confirmed that Kagura was cooking, so many people meant Kagura would be overworked again today, and it might also mean she wouldn't get to freeload a meal today!
"I was worried about my child, so I came to check. We didn't want to disturb you students, so don't worry, we're not here to steal your food."
Old Mejiro lightly tapped Akikawa Yayoi's head and explained the situation with a hint of helplessness.
"I'm also worried about my Kagura, so I came to check. I remember this child was supposed to be resting today, wasn't she? Why is she busy again?"
Speed Symbol had given Kagura a week off to let her rest properly, but Kagura had gotten busy again on her own, leaving Speed Symbol a bit puzzled.
Akikawa Yayoi had approved Kagura to be exempt from theoretical classes. Normally, Kagura didn't need to attend classes like other students, so she had relatively more free time. Her original intention was for Kagura to have more time to herself or to rest, but it seemed this child always looked for things to do.
Fine Motion sat nearby, listening to the important figures discuss Kagura's work schedule. She heard about many work details Kagura hadn't told her before. Seeing the atmosphere like a court hearing determining responsibility, she didn't know if she should speak up. She was afraid that if she accidentally said something wrong, she would be packed up and thrown into Tokyo Bay.
"Ardan, weren't you with Kagura all day today? What was she doing?"
"Uh… Kagura seems to be preparing for the selection race."
After a moment of hesitation, Ardan still chose to answer truthfully.
"In-school selection race? Hasn't Kagura not started her full-scale training yet? What is she busy with?"
When Speed Symbol heard Ardan say Kagura was busy with the selection race, her first reaction was whether Kagura was looking for a Trainer and if she should personally follow up. Then, after a careful thought, Kagura hadn't even started full-scale training yet, so there was no need for her to run in the selection race.
"It's… it's me who's participating in the selection race…"
Feeling that it would eventually come to her, Fine Motion spoke first. Instantly, Akikawa Yayoi and the two Old Uma Musume's gazes focused on Fine Motion.
Fine Motion immediately felt immense pressure. After careful consideration, she still told the Old Uma Musume about Kagura's activities today.
"This is simply absurd…"
Speed Symbol felt a deep sense of powerlessness after listening. This indeed sounded like something Kagura would do. Moreover, according to Trainer Tojo Hana's tracking feedback over the past few months, Kagura was very intelligent and studious. She had a very firm grasp of Trainer knowledge.
Furthermore, Kagura could always test her theories in practice. The practical training start-up issues that usually troubled novice Trainers basically didn't exist for her. If there were any problems, she could test them out with her own body.
"Trainer Tojo said that child is already fully capable of acting as a rookie Trainer. It seems to be true."
"How about, after the selection race, we let the Little Horse Girl return to the Symboli Family for a while? I don't think she can rest properly staying at school."
Akikawa Yayoi also understood Kagura's personality. If she stayed at school, she definitely wouldn't stop. The best solution would probably be to send her back to the Symboli Family. Although that would mean she wouldn't get to freeload meals for a while, it should be worth it.
Fine Motion paused slightly when she heard this suggestion. She indeed hoped Kagura could get some good rest, but if she went straight back to the Symboli Family, wouldn't she not see Kagura for a while?
"Ardan, aren't you living with Kagura? Is there a way to ask her out to play? Or do you know what Kagura likes? Can we use that as a lead to find an opportunity to take Kagura out to relax?"
Old Mejiro, just listening, couldn't help but frown. If her own child was working herself that hard, she would definitely bring the child home to personally look after her for a while.
"Kagura's hobbies… I don't know. She feels very elusive."
Ardan shook her head. She had only been here for a day, and Kagura didn't often show her hobbies, so she naturally had no way of knowing.
"H-how about I do it then? I… I think I know what Kagura likes…"
Seeing that everyone seemed to be out of ideas, Fine Motion hesitantly raised her hand.
Although Fine Motion couldn't guarantee she definitely knew what Kagura liked, she had only heard Kagura say that eating was one of her major hobbies. She liked to eat all kinds of delicious food and even more enjoyed recreating the delicious food she had tasted. And finding all sorts of tasty snacks was Fine Motion's strong suit—provided she was adequately prepared. Otherwise, if she acted suddenly like before when she went out with Kagura, she would freeze on the spot.
"You have a way? Good… If you, her friend, pull her, she'll probably agree more easily."
Speed Symbol nodded. Compared to them, the elders, it would definitely be more effective for a child like Fine Motion to pull Kagura.
"What's wrong? Why are you all huddled here? Having a meeting piled up like this?"
Kagura came out of the kitchen pushing a small dining cart. Seeing the group of Uma Musume crowded together at the table, talking about something, she asked as she took plates off the cart.
"N-n-n-no! We were just chatting about everyday topics!!"
Startled by Kagura's sudden appearance, the already nervous Fine Motion suddenly couldn't speak clearly.
"Really? Then why are you so nervous, Soshi?"
"It's all your fault, Kagura, for suddenly coming from behind and startling me!"
"That can scare you? Soshi is unexpectedly timid~"
Teacher Kagura teased Excellent Quality, and casually placed a few plates on the table.
Because the Old Mejiro Uma Musume arrived so suddenly today, she didn't bring enough ingredients.
The Tracen kitchen also happened to be low on ingredients today, so besides the portions for Excellent Quality and Rudolph Symbol, which she made according to balanced nutrition standards, she only made fried rice for everyone else.
"There's nothing I can do.
I didn't know you, the Family Head, would be coming, and there are no ingredients left today, so I could only make fried rice.
If you're hungry, just make do with this."
"I don't have any problems… Actually, you don't even need to prepare anything for me, Teacher Kagura, aren't you tired?"
Speed Symbol didn't really care what she ate.
She already knew from her time at home that Teacher Kagura was an excellent cook, and even plain fried rice could be made delicious.
She was just afraid that Teacher Kagura would overwork herself.
"I'm fine… I don't feel tired at all.
Speaking of which, Soshi, you had a lot of exercise today.
I need to give you a massage.
Is your Roommate in the dorm?"
"Are you talking about Fine Motion? She's usually there, but why do you ask?"
"I want to go to your dorm to help you with a massage.
I'm afraid of disturbing people or causing misunderstandings."
Although Eclipse had explained the reason for Uma Musume's sensitive legs, Teacher Kagura still couldn't accept it, especially when she massaged Excellent Quality, whose cries were just too prone to misinterpretation.
Teacher Kagura was even afraid that the Disciplinary Committee would show up one day and take her away.
"How about, Fine Motion comes to our dorm? I don't mind, anyway."
Mejiro Al Dan paused her fried rice to offer a suggestion.
She was also quite curious about Teacher Kagura's massage process.
"As long as Miss Al Dan doesn't mind, I have no problem."
Teacher Kagura was mainly afraid that Al Dan didn't like noise, which is why she asked if they should go out.
After all, she wasn't a Trainer and didn't have her own training room.
At this hour, it wasn't convenient to ask Tojo Hana to borrow a training room, so she could only go back to the dorm.
Since Al Dan agreed, doing it in their dorm was also fine.
While Teacher Kagura was speaking, the Old Mejiro next to her had already silently finished her fried rice, occasionally glancing at Speed Symbol.
Speed Symbol also knew that her old friend had come over without eating lunch today, so she simply gave her own portion to Old Mejiro.
"How was it? I told you her cooking was excellent, didn't I?"
"Don't say another word.
I'm afraid I'll hit you…"
Old Mejiro ate with her head down, not wanting to deal with the smug Speed Symbol beside her.
She had never so profoundly experienced what it felt like to be taunted by a seal.
"Tch, how stingy.
When you snatched my Trainer back then, I didn't give you any dirty looks."
"Don't falsely accuse me! I earned his choice with my own abilities! How can you call that snatching?!"
"I believe the nonsense you, you despicable woman, are spouting.
I knew it, those who snatch things will always face retribution."
"Tsk, why couldn't the retribution come a little later…"
Old Mejiro, eating with her head down in frustration, looked like a pouting girl.
Coupled with her school uniform, Speed Symbol couldn't help but recall her school days when she ran races, feeling a sense of nostalgia.
"Are you planning to let her race under your family's name in the future?"
"If she's willing, then yes, but if not, I don't intend to force her.
I think it's better not to tie her to the Symboli Family and let her fly on her own."
Speed Symbol had considered letting Teacher Kagura compete under the Symboli name for a while, but she no longer had that thought.
If Teacher Kagura volunteered, she wouldn't mind.
"Alas, so many years have passed, and you're still that good-natured person."
"Of course.
If I were like you, would you have even had a chance with the Trainer back then?"
"Can we not talk about the Trainer anymore?"
"I picked up Teacher Kagura a few months ago."
"You…!"
Feeling her blood pressure surge, Old Mejiro raised her hand as if to pound the table, then, as if afraid of startling the other Uma Musume present, she lowered it again, finally only able to helplessly poke the forehead of the grinning Speed Symbol with her finger.
"Haha, Old Mejiro, you're still as cute when you get angry as you were back then."
"Shut up, none of your business…"
Old Mejiro lowered her head again to finish her meal.
Seeing Old Mejiro embarrassed, Speed Symbol stopped teasing her, then noticed Akikawa Yayoi next to them had been smiling and watching their bickering with a look of enjoying gossip.
Teacher Kagura and the Little Horse Girls had also quietly started watching them at some point.
"Excellent! Why did you stop?"
Akikawa Yayoi had a "I want more" expression, and the Little Horse Girls were all watching with curious faces.
"…Eat, eat! What are you looking at?!"
"Request! A little more, please!"
"Stop messing around! Concentrate on eating!"
...Although it was a pity not to hear more gossip, Teacher Kagura felt that the dinner she made tonight was truly worth it.
Being able to hear so many interesting rumors, she felt that making this meal wasn't tiring at all.
Of course, Teacher Kagura, having had her fill of gossip, didn't forget to give Excellent Quality a massage and returned to her dorm with Excellent Quality.
"Lie down, face down."
"Yes~"
Excellent Quality obediently took off her shoes and socks and lay down on Teacher Kagura's bed.
Teacher Kagura also climbed up and sat beside her, choosing a position that was suitable for applying force.
This was the second time Excellent Quality had been to Teacher Kagura's dorm in so long.
There was a comforting scent on Teacher Kagura's bed.
As soon as she lay down, she was enveloped by that scent, and sleepiness immediately washed over her.
Mejiro Al Dan sat on the opposite bed, watching with interest how Teacher Kagura was handling Excellent Quality.
She was very curious about what other amazing skills Teacher Kagura possessed.
After finding the right position, Teacher Kagura reached out, pulled up Excellent Quality's shorts, gently grasped Excellent Quality's fair and tender thigh, and then began to apply force carefully—
"Mm!~ Ah…"
Excellent Quality, who had been a little drowsy, immediately woke up and quickly covered her mouth with her arm.
She hadn't expected Teacher Kagura to adjust the force so well this time; it was almost the optimal force right from the start.
Even with her mouth covered, Excellent Quality found it hard to avoid occasionally letting out a little comfortable sound, which made Mejiro Al Dan next to her stare in a daze.
Excellent Quality's ears would perk up sharply and then soften with Teacher Kagura's movements, showing that Excellent Quality was quite enjoying herself now.
The occasional gasps that escaped made Al Dan feel a little restless.
Although Teacher Kagura always wanted to ask if it was really that comfortable, as someone who had experienced it firsthand, she knew that Uma Musume did indeed feel that comfortable when massaged.
Excellent Quality's reaction was completely normal; it was just hard to understand this biological structural difference from a human perspective.
'Suddenly, I want to try it out and see what it's like…'
Mejiro Al Dan suddenly developed an interest.
She really wanted to experience this feeling, but seeing that it was getting late, it wasn't suitable to continue bothering Teacher Kagura, so she could only suppress that impulse for now.
'Teacher Kagura's technique is truly amazing… so comfortable…'
Excellent Quality, lying face down, tried hard to bite her lip to prevent any sounds from escaping.
This feeling made her a little addicted.
Feeling Teacher Kagura's palm gently caress, knead, and massage her skin, she immersed herself in that warm and peaceful aura.
Her consciousness was a bit blurry, like a small boat on the sea being tossed back and forth by waves, losing its direction, in a state between drowsiness and wakefulness.
She suddenly understood what it felt like when Teacher Kagura was massaged by her before.
In a daze, Excellent Quality didn't know how much time had passed.
When she came to her senses and the comfortable feeling slowly faded, she felt her face being poked twice:
"Soshi, wake up, it's time to go back and shower."
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