Because she had slept so well the night before, Kagura woke that morning with a sense of ease she had never felt before.
By reflex, she almost sprang out of bed to run to the trainers' office. She had been rushing around like that every day for quite a while now—so much that it had nearly become instinct. But after opening her eyes and staring at the ceiling for a moment, Kagura finally remembered that Rudolf had entered a rest period. There was no need now for her to manage Rudolf's diet with such minute precision every single day. As long as Rudolf ate according to a normal nutritional balance, that would be enough.
Hah... so... does that mean I've got nothing to do today?
Sitting up in bed, still sleepy, Kagura stared blankly at the ceiling for a while, then picked up her phone and opened her game out of habit, only to find that her stamina was still sitting neatly at zero and all her daily missions had already been cleared.
Eclipse-san, you're way too much of a grinder...
——So annoying! Why did I have to go and clear the main story with my own two hands!? It's dead again! And the story cut off right at the most critical part toooooo!!
"Ahaha...!"
——If I ever get my hands on a knife one day, I'm dragging out every one of those cliffhanger-loving bastards, locking them in a basement, putting a blade to their necks, and making them update!
You can't be that violent, Eclipse-san.
Just from the words on the screen, Kagura could feel Eclipse's resentment even without any emoticons. And honestly, she understood. When the story stopped right at the key moment and you had to wait an entire version update for more, it really was torture.
Even though she still did not know what she was supposed to do today, Kagura decided to get up and wash up first.
——Kiddo, you've got a DM. Check it after you wash your face.
While Kagura was standing there with a towel in hand, washing her face, she saw Eclipse's message appear across the mirror in front of her. Thinking about the time, Kagura could not help feeling a little surprised. It was only a little past six in the morning. Who would be messaging her at this hour?
Could it be Wudi-san?
As far as she remembered, the only person who had ever looked for her at such a painfully wholesome hour was Wudi—and even then, only on the day they had a livestream scheduled.
She hurried through the rest of washing up, then picked up her phone to see who had messaged her so early.
[Affirmed]:Hii~ little miss~ free to come out and hang around today?
That's...!
It was a completely unfamiliar name, and it took Kagura a good while to remember. This was the orange-haired Umamusume who had always been beside that giant she-ogre Seattle Slew the last time they met.
Kagura did not have any favorable impression of Seattle, but she felt this polite, refined orange-haired Umamusume was at least acceptable. Still, after an entire month of silence, why had she suddenly messaged her on the very first day she was free?
[Inari Kagura]:You're up early, Miss Affirmed. What's the matter? What made you suddenly think of looking for me?
[Affirmed]:I was planning to send it early so you'd see it whenever you woke up, but I didn't expect you to be up so early too. I heard you were really busy for a while there~ Now that the Japan Cup's over, you should have some free time, right? Think of it as an apology for Seattle's rudeness before—want to come out for a meal? My treat.
A few seconds after that message came through, Affirmed immediately sent another.
[Affirmed]:And of course, I left that idiot Seattle behind at the hotel this time, so she won't be coming.
[Inari Kagura]:I'll think about it...
Kagura set down her phone and thought it over. She really did not have anything to do today, but did she actually want to go meet this American Umamusume?
"What is it? Is there something troubling you, Kagura?"
Mejiro Ardan had just finished washing up and came out to see Kagura looking deep in thought, almost troubled. Curious, she came over and asked.
"No, it's just... someone I'm not all that close to said she wanted to apologize for offending me before and asked me out to lunch. I'm just thinking about whether I should go."
"If you think the other person can be trusted, then going once should be fine, shouldn't it? They're trying to apologize, after all. At the very least, you could give them a chance, no? Who knows—maybe you'll even make another friend."
"That's true..."
Thinking about it carefully, Affirmed really did not seem like there was anything wrong with her. At least, the impression she gave was pretty normal, so Kagura nodded and finally made up her mind.
...
"Now then... which hotel should I pick..."
On the other side, after getting Kagura's positive reply, Affirmed set a time with her to meet at eleven-thirty that morning and go have lunch together.
This time, funding was more than sufficient. Secretariat had given them expense money, so there was no need to worry about running up too large a bill. Affirmed could have simply picked the most expensive place and been done with it. But she had never been the sort of person who did things without thinking. With one brainless idiot like Seattle already at her side, if she started acting brainless too, that would be a serious problem.
I asked that Director before, and she said that little miss likes more ordinary food... but bringing someone out to a workmanlike meal as an apology doesn't seem quite right either...
Earlier, in order to gather information on Kagura, Affirmed had even gone to see Akikawa Yayoi. As a Triple Crown champion, she had successfully gotten an audience with the Director, and along the way had learned a bit about Inari Kagura's everyday preferences. Of course, she had not mentioned Seattle at all. She had only said that she and Secretariat were interested in Kagura and wanted to try inviting her out.
After all, from a bit of probing, Affirmed had discovered that the Director did not seem to know about what Seattle had done before. In other words, Inari Kagura had chosen to keep it secret instead of broadcasting it everywhere. If that was the case, then Affirmed should not go spreading Seattle's embarrassing blunder around either.
Bzz bzz!
Just as Affirmed was lost in thought, her phone suddenly vibrated twice. Someone seemed to have sent her a message.
Assuming it was something from Big Sis Secretariat, Affirmed immediately opened her phone to check.
[Galileo]:Good morning~ Miss Affirmed, are you awake yet?
The European Student Council President? Why would she suddenly come looking for me?
Affirmed had met Galileo before. They were both elite racers in their own countries, so they had exchanged a greeting once or twice and she still remembered the Student Council President of European Tracen. But the last time they had been in contact was ages ago—several years, if she counted it up. Why had Galileo suddenly thought to message her today?
[Affirmed]: I'm awake, Miss Galileo. Is there something you need?
[Galileo]:Nothing much. It's just that when I asked my idol out to lunch today, she told me she already had plans with a foreign friend. I had no idea who that might be, so I just followed my intuition and came to ask.
[Affirmed]:There's really no need to be so roundabout, Miss Galileo. Yes, I'm the one who invited the little miss out. Is something the matter?
[Galileo]: Oh? Then... was this Secretariat's idea?
[Affirmed]:I'm afraid that's not something I can conveniently disclose to you. Please forgive me. In matters like this, there should still be some respect for first come, first served, shouldn't there?
Affirmed declined to answer Galileo's question in a tactful way. She had no intention of sharing that information with the Europeans.
It seemed Galileo had wanted to ask Inari Kagura out to lunch today too, only for Affirmed to beat her to it. All of a sudden, Affirmed felt a little grateful she had gotten up so early today. Otherwise, her plans would have had to be pushed back yet again.
[Galileo]:Fair enough... Sorry to have disturbed you, Miss Affirmed. I hope you have a pleasant day.
After Galileo sent that message, nothing else came from her. Affirmed let out a small sigh of relief.
What on earth is that European Student Council President thinking? I can't make heads or tails of it... Forget it. I'd better hurry up and decide where to eat...
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