"Thank you for your purchase～"
Carrying a big pile of groceries out of the store, Inari Kagura glanced at the receipt in her hand. After confirming the total and making sure all the food matched, she tucked the slip safely into the pocket of her maid uniform.
She had already been here for nearly two months. After adjusting to her new work, she realized that even at full intensity, this job was easier than her old one. Compared to sitting in an office all day seeing patients or staring at a research paper until nightfall, wandering around outside felt far more comfortable.
As she grew familiar with her duties, her range of activity had expanded from just the Symboli estate to the shops in town. Grocery runs were now formally entrusted to her. Luckily, the head maid had good relations with the uncles and aunties of the shopping street. After a few rounds being introduced as the newcomer, the shopkeepers all remembered her, and she began moving about the street alone.
Her outings also let her learn more about this world. She even made a friend—a fellow Uma Musume. A brown-haired girl in the shopping street, not very confident, who often helped shopkeepers carry goods. When Kagura came to buy things, she would sometimes guide her around. After they grew closer, Kagura learned her name: Tokai Teio.
"Are you planning to buy more, Kagura? You look pretty loaded already. Want me to help you carry some back?"
The two had happened to meet in the shop today. Now, as they came out together, Teio looked at the heavy bags Kagura held, worry written on her face.
From the street folk, Teio had heard that Kagura was even a year younger than her, and, having lost her family, had no one to rely on but work. That made her especially protective of her friend.
"No need～ My body's in great shape, carrying this much is nothing. But if you don't head home soon, Teio, everyone in the shopping street will start worrying about you."
Kagura poked Teio's forehead—just a little higher than hers—and urged her to head back quickly.
For some reason, Teio seemed to want her to call her "Teio-neesan" or just "big sister." But in Kagura's mind, the girl was still a kid. Her body was only ten years old, yes—but Teio was only eleven. And for Kagura, who was pushing twenty in her past life, calling a ten-year-old "big sister" felt too weird. So she just kept it at "Teio."
Truthfully, Inari Kagura often wanted to complain about Uma Musume names. Hers was fine, Symboli Speed's was… alright, but Tokai Teio? Inari Kagura at least sounded like a proper person's name, but "Tokai Teio" felt full of punchlines. Yet everyone around her seemed perfectly used to it. She couldn't help doubting—was she the one with the problem?
"Mm… I guess it is getting late. Kagura, be careful walking alone! If you run into that kind of creep again—the one who wanted to touch your legs—you make sure to kick him good!"
"Ahaha… I know, I'll be careful."
After giving her warning, Teio ran off in a hurry. Kagura double-checked her grocery list, confirmed she hadn't forgotten anything, and started heading back to the Symboli estate.
These past weeks, she had truly felt the difference in an Uma Musume's body. In her old one, lugging fifty kilos of groceries a kilometer would've killed her. Now? She could jog back three, four kilometers at full load, even throw in some acrobatics, and still not feel tired.
As a former doctor, she had tried analyzing her body with medical knowledge, hoping to learn more about Uma Musume physiology. She gave up quickly. Leaving aside the impossibility of dissecting herself—this species simply did not fit any biology she had studied. Maybe this was what her best friend used to say: "Don't think too hard about two-dimensional stuff." She realized if she had questions, it was faster to ask Eclipse directly.
Should've listened and actually watched Uma Musume back then…
Looking at the sky turning black, Kagura sighed. She wanted to speed up, but the city streets capped out at 40 km/h. Any faster and the police would drag her off for "tea."
Not long ago, she had tried running at high speed on the streets. She'd hit nearly 70 km/h. It had drawn gawking crowds, almost gotten her hauled off by police, and—worst of all—a man with a lollipop, reeking of frivolous air, had walked right up and asked if he could touch her legs.
Introverted as she was, Kagura had felt needles up her spine. She politely refused and then bolted in panic. After that day, she never dared to openly sprint in the streets again.
At a crosswalk, groceries weighing her down, Kagura came to a halt before the red light. Annoyed at the delay, she muttered,
"…Even Uma Musume have to wait for red lights, huh."
"Ahh, little sister. Could you be that Uma Musume the trainer was talking about? The one who sprinted through the streets a few days back?"
Still staring at the red light, Kagura heard voices behind her. She turned—and saw two taller Uma Musume walking up.
They wore matching blue uniforms, like school outfits. One, a chestnut-haired girl with a white streak in her bangs, radiated a peculiar sense of authority—reminding Kagura of Symboli Speed. The other, also chestnut-haired, was different: mature, alluring, with the air of someone not quite a student.
"…Sorry, I don't know what trainer you're talking about."
"The guy with a lollipop. About this tall."
The stern-looking girl gestured at a height. Kagura instantly recalled who she meant.
"…Ah, the lollipop creep. Yes, that happened. He helped me shake the police, then asked if he could touch my legs. Um… you two are…?"
Kagura instinctively took a step back. She'd already been scolded by police, but who knew if there were other authorities here? If so, she might have to run.
"No, no. Look at our uniforms. We're students from Tracen, not police."
The mature one smiled and leaned down, resting hands on her knees to peer at Kagura.
"…What a cute child～! I'm Maruzensky. The scary-looking one here is Symboli Rudolf. We're Tracen Academy high schoolers. And you are?"
"…Inari Kagura. Just a passing-through maid."
Faced with strangers, Kagura hesitated before carefully giving her name. Not yet used to Uma Musume naming conventions, she didn't notice anything odd.
"…Maid? Not cosplay, but a real maid? Whose maid are you?"
"…The Symboli family's. Ah—green light already! Sorry, I need to hurry back to cook dinner. Goodbye!"
Hearing the crosswalk chime turn green mid-answer, Kagura quickly bowed to the two and dashed away.
"…Wow. So fast! I didn't even get to hug her. I can't believe such a small Uma Musume already has that kind of speed. Guess Trainer Okino wasn't lying—she really is a child with potential."
Maruzensky watched, a little regretful, as Kagura vanished almost instantly down the street. She berated herself for missing the chance to hold her.
Turning, she saw her friend. Rudolf, normally severe-faced, was still gazing down the street—but now with clear interest.
"Rudolf. That's your household's maid, right? You've met her before?"
"No. But she's wearing our servant's uniform. Must be the new recruit that Speed-obasan hired recently. Heh. Whether she had the eye for it or just luck—those are truly a fine pair of legs."
"…With that look on your face, you're not chasing her? Surely you wouldn't lose to a child who hasn't even gone through formalization yet?"
Maruzensky knew well her friend's love of talent. She had seen Rudolf scour distant countryside villages just to find promising runners. And now—when she clearly burned with interest—she was restraining herself?
"…Don't be so sure. That child's speed isn't low. And she's so young, with all the years ahead to grow stronger. Truly full of potential. But since she's my family's maid, I don't have to worry about finding her again."
"Ohh~ You've gotten more composed, haven't you."
"…People have to grow. Still—Maruzen, do I really look that frightening?"
"Not at all. I think you're quite nice."
"…Then why tell that little one I look scary? Do you know none of my classmates even dare come near me anymore?"
Rudolf smiled kindly as she placed her hand on Maruzensky's shoulder. Yet Maruzensky felt a heavy pressure.
"…Well, your serious face is a bit much for children…"
"Then all the more reason not to reinforce that image! Try fixing it instead!"
Pinching Maruzensky's cheeks, Rudolf gave them a tug before sighing. The light had already cycled red to green again.
"…Seems I should visit home soon. Been too long since I saw that Speed-obasan."
"Take me along! That child was so cute—I want to go to your house and hug her!"
"…At least pretend to hide your desires."
…
…
——Kagura, didn't you notice something unusual about the two you met on your way back tonight?
That evening, after cooking dinner, Kagura's work was done. Fresh from a bath, changing clothes in her room, she saw new words appear on her mirror.
"Mm? You mean Maruzensky and Symboli Rudolf? What about them? Weren't they just two normal high schoolers? Uma Musume aren't exactly rare here, are they?"
——Don't you think "Symboli Rudolf" sounds familiar?
The words faded, replaced by another line.
"…Symboli Rudolf… Rudolf… Symboli… Ah!!"
With Eclipse's reminder, Kagura finally realized what was wrong with that name. She had never seen her before, but she knew Symboli Speed had a granddaughter—just busy with school and never home.
A student. A Symboli. And that identical streak of white in the bangs…
"I forgot! They're Symboli family! That was the Speed-sama's granddaughter, wasn't it!?"
Kagura's voice was full of disbelief.
——Finally realized, huh. Weren't you always curious what Symboli Speed's child looked like? Today you saw her. So, what do you think?
"…Mm. Feels like the handsome-ikemen type. A very cool Uma Musume."
Kagura recalled the girl she'd met that evening. Honestly, she hadn't found her scary. She had dealt with far more difficult personalities back when she worked. Compared to those, Symboli Rudolf was gentle.
Moreover, Rudolf gave her a strong sense of reliability and safety. Strict, dignified, yet with a decent temperament. Kagura actually liked that type—it made life simple, and communication easy.
"…Mm! As expected of the Speed-sama's granddaughter!"
——That's it? No other thoughts?
"…What else am I supposed to think?"
——Tch. Guess there's no problem. Forget it, we'll talk another time. You've worked all day—get some rest.
Not thinking further, Kagura finished dressing, lay down in bed, stretched in comfort, then curled beneath her blanket. As sleep came, she felt the bed sink slightly. A chill slid in with her. Something pressed against her back.
"Good night, Miss Eclipse."
She was used to it by now—Eclipse clinging to her every night. It didn't feel strong. Just a faint, floating presence.
As if to answer, she felt a light stroke across her hair. And then Eclipse stilled.