By the time Fine Motion and Kagura left the Shopping Street, it was already dark.
Kagura still carried a few bags of snacks. Originally, she wanted Fine Motion to eat them, but considering she had a competition tomorrow, she couldn't let her overeat today. Since she couldn't eat them herself right now, she planned to take them back and see if she could find someone destined to be fed.
"Everyone in the Shopping Street is so enthusiastic... I'm so full!"
Fine Motion stretched and yawned. She had originally wanted to eat her fill today, but Kagura had timely stopped her from that idea, which would make her overweight the next day. It wasn't too late to eat after winning the tryouts tomorrow.
"Soshi is truly a lucky child, to have so many people supporting her."
"Well... I used to always think I was quite ordinary... It seems I do have some unique qualities."
"So, have a little confidence in yourself."
Saying this, Kagura leaned in from behind and grabbed Fine Motion's shoulders, patting them twice. She now had to slightly raise her hand to make this motion. Fine Motion's physical development during this period had been extraordinarily fast, making Kagura once again marvel at the unscientific nature of Uma Musume bodies.
"Kagura, you've also worked hard during this time, getting up early and staying up late every day."
Fine Motion walked ahead, grabbed Kagura's patting hand, bent over and pulled her forward, letting Kagura lean against her back. Then she immediately let go and, before Kagura could react, grabbed her thighs, effortlessly carrying her on her back.
"Whoa!! What are you doing suddenly!?"
Kagura's figure was small and light, so Fine Motion carried her effortlessly.
"Just wanted to try what it felt like to carry you. You're really light... Kagura has been training me all this time, so you should be considered my Trainer, right?"
Fine Motion grabbed Kagura's arm, letting her loop it around her own neck from behind, and rubbed her face against Kagura's arm. Kagura could feel her warm breath on her arm.
"I wouldn't dare. I'm just a Support Musume, still far from being a true Trainer."
After adapting to Fine Motion's rhythm of movement, Kagura wasn't in a hurry to get down anymore. She just gently hugged Fine Motion, leaning on her back.
"As long as you're training me, that's fine, hehe... Can I be a little spoiled with Kagura, who trains me, just like those Uma Musume I saw in the Park that day?"
"You do this often anyway..."
Kagura smiled helplessly, lifted one arm that was wrapped around Fine Motion, and stroked Fine Motion's head.
"Not that kind! It's just... if I can get first place tomorrow, can I have a little... reward?"
"Mmm-hmm? A reward? What do you want?"
"Just... I... I want to hear Kagura call me Sister Soshi, is that okay?"
'You're really easy to please...'
Kagura couldn't help but want to laugh. She had originally thought Fine Motion would ask for a meal or something, but she hadn't expected what she wanted to be much simpler than she thought. For an adult with a flexible approach to things, this was hardly a difficult request.
"Okay~"
"Yay!"
Fine Motion, carrying Kagura and walking forward, raised her hands and cheered happily. Kagura didn't know what this child was thinking; she seemed to attach unusual importance to this ordinary title.
After letting Fine Motion carry her for a while, although Fine Motion said she wanted to carry her for fun, considering Fine Motion had already exercised sufficiently today, Kagura, worried about her overexerting herself, quickly got down after about five or six minutes.
The Shopping Street wasn't far from Tracen Academy. At an Uma Musume's pace, in just five or six minutes, the two had already returned to the Tracen Academy gate. However, the gate was a bit lively tonight. Usually, there would be no one at this hour, but today there were two uncles and aunts chatting with Hayakawa Tazuna.
'Is Miss Hayakawa chatting with acquaintances? Perhaps we shouldn't disturb her.'
The red-haired Uma Musume looked somewhat familiar, and Kagura couldn't help but take a second look.
Kagura rarely saw Hayakawa Tazuna chatting with anyone and didn't know much about her social circle, so she planned to ignore the situation. But Fine Motion stopped in her tracks, looking utterly shocked as if she had seen something incredible, her eyes fixed on Hayakawa Tazuna. Kagura pulled her, but she didn't react.
"Oh, Fine Motion, and Kagura, you're back. What a coincidence, we were just talking about you two."
Hayakawa Tazuna quickly noticed the two Little Horse Girls standing not far away out of the corner of her eye and greeted them with a smile.
"Us? Who are these two...?"
"Dad... and Mom!? How—how—how—how are you here!?"
Fine Motion exclaimed in disbelief.
Kagura, who was still wondering if those two were Hayakawa Tazuna's acquaintances, froze completely... "Hello, Uncle and Auntie!"
After realizing these two were Fine Motion's parents, Kagura immediately added her greeting.
"Oh, what a lovely child! Soshi, is this Kagura that you often mention?"
Seeing Fine Motion nod, the tall, red-haired Uma Musume bent down and extended her hand to shake Kagura's:
"Thank you, thank you! Soshi came from our hometown, and I was worried she wouldn't adapt to the environment of Central Tracen. It's truly wonderful that you've been by her side taking care of her all this time!"
"Auntie, there's no need to be so formal... We're friends, it's only right to look out for each other."
"Oh dear, I'm really sorry. Soshi is older than you, yet you always have to look after her. I heard you've also been helping her train for the upcoming selection race, right? You've really gone to a lot of trouble!"
Saying that, Fine Motion's mother took a heavy bag from the man next to her, checked it, and then picked it up, intending to hand it to Kagura.
"These are specialties from our hometown, a small token of our appreciation. We hope Kagura can accept them."
"No, no, no! For me, these are just small favors that don't take much effort! I..."
Kagura quickly waved her hands, trying to decline, then she saw Fine Motion standing beside her father, hands on her hips, pouting, staring at her with an expression that said, "You're not allowed to refuse!"
The tall, red-haired Uma Musume also noticed Kagura looking behind her, guessing that her daughter was winking at Kagura, so she seized the opportunity to slip the item into Kagura's hand. Unable to refuse, Kagura could only thank the two parents first.
'This child...'
Seeing Kagura's carefulness and attention to etiquette, Fine Motion's mother nodded in satisfaction. Her gaze drifted slightly to Kagura's head, noticing the white earring on Kagura's left ear, and her nod became slightly more pronounced.
"Speaking of which, Soshi, why are you two still out so late today? Did you take Kagura out?"
"Y-yes! When I first arrived, everyone on the Shopping Street took great care of me, so I wanted to go back and thank them. Kagura is very familiar with everyone on the Shopping Street, so I asked her to go with me..."
"Did Kagura also grow up on the Shopping Street?"
"No, I just often help out there. Everyone on the Shopping Street takes great care of me; they treat me like a daughter. When I went back yesterday, everyone was so enthusiastic, haha~ I was a little overwhelmed."
"Oh..."
Fine Motion's parents both nodded, looking even happier.
Seeing that her mother seemed to want to ask more questions, Fine Motion, with a bad premonition, quickly tugged at her mother's clothes, pulling her closer.
"Mom, don't ask about Kagura's family situation."
"Huh? Soshi, how did you know what I was thinking? Why not?"
Fine Motion briefly explained Kagura's situation in one sentence, and her mother immediately realized it was inappropriate, quickly dismissing the thought.
'Why do they have to whisper secrets right in front of me?'
Kagura naturally saw Fine Motion's behavior. She felt that after the two finished their whispered conversation, Fine Motion's mother's gaze towards her held a touch more tenderness.
'Soshi didn't say anything strange, did she...'
Although she was a little curious about what Fine Motion said, it didn't seem like anything bad, so Kagura decided not to press the issue.
"By the way, Auntie and Uncle, what are you doing at Tracen today?"
"Of course, we heard our wonderful daughter is competing, so we came specifically to cheer her on!"
The man next to Fine Motion said, energetically raising his hand and giving a thumbs-up. This seemingly sunny and vibrant uncle performing this action had a mysterious comedic effect, like Might Guy.
"Everyone from our street came! But we arrived late today, so everyone is resting at a nearby Hotel. We wanted to come see Soshi first, so here we are."
"Huh? Everyone from our hometown came!?"
Fine Motion's eyes widened in shock, and she asked again, somewhat incredulously.
"Yes! Everyone misses you very much and said they wanted to come cheer you on!"
"Oh..."
Although Fine Motion's face hadn't yet loaded a nervous expression, Kagura could already feel the huge waves stirring in her heart. Her dazed look made Kagura want to laugh a little.
"You two, Fine Motion still has a race tomorrow, and it's getting late. Please let her and Kagura go back to rest as soon as possible. It's not too late to chat after the selection race begins tomorrow."
Seeing that it was getting a bit late, Hayakawa Tazuna, though not wanting to disturb a family reunion, had to remind the two parents as curfew time was approaching.
"Oh, oh, we were too excited to see Soshi and almost forgot! Well, we'll be going now! Soshi and Kagura, you two hurry back to rest~ Good luck tomorrow!"
"Okay~"
Kagura, on behalf of Fine Motion, who was still in a state of shock and hadn't recovered, waved goodbye to the two parents. Only after they had walked a certain distance did Kagura lower her hand and look at Fine Motion.
"Wh-wh-wh-what should I do, Kagura!! Everyone from the hometown Shopping Street actually came!!"
"Ahaha..."
It seemed that after returning tonight, she would have to take some time to help this silly child relieve her stress.
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