"Five stars! Five stars!" Urara cheered, waving her chopsticks. "You guys have got to try these, Grass, Sky, Nishino—they're amazing!"
As the girls gathered around, Chairman Yayoi Akikawa casually picked up her fan, rolled up her newspaper, and stood up with a mischievous grin.
"Well then, I'll leave the bill to you adorable Uma Musume. I've got business to attend to. Heh-heh-heh."
Urara and Condor snapped their heads up in disbelief as Akikawa slipped away.
"Chairman! She ditched the bill!"
The other three Uma Musume looked up, equally stunned.
Just then, Tazuna walked over.
"What's all the fuss?"
"Secretary Tazuna!" Urara wailed, clinging to her arm. "The chairman ate with us and then threw the bill at us!"
"We only tried what she recommended—and then she ran off!" Condor added, arms crossed.
Grass Wonder nodded solemnly.
"This kind of behavior is unbecoming of a chairman. We request justice."
Tazuna sighed, shoulders twitching.
"Fine, fine. I'll cover her tab. You guys don't need to worry."
"Chairman, you skipped out on a 300-yen buffet! Shame!"
The girls grumbled but returned to their seats, finishing their meal.
As the lunch rush died down, Peach Waves began cleaning up. She glanced at the half-filled buffet trays and called out:
"Oguri Cap, these are all yours. No charge."
Oguri Cap, who had just peeled off her gloves and was resting, leapt from her chair.
"Peach, you're an angel!"
"It's nothing. You worked hard washing dishes all morning. Even if it was punishment, I appreciate it."
"I'll go grab rice!"
"Sure."
Watching Oguri Cap eat with such joy made Peach Waves smile warmly.
She changed out of her uniform and headed to the staff dormitory, just a few steps from the cafeteria.
After stretching her joints, she grabbed her towel and shower gel and headed to the bathroom.
"Time for a nice shower, then a nap before afternoon training!"
On the way, she spotted a plastic bag at her door.
"Huh? Bread with yakisoba inside? Who invented this?"
Curious, she took a bite.
"Gah-… Salty… I thought this would be good, but it's just weird."
Still, she finished it—no waste allowed. After a sip of milk, she stepped into the shower.
Wrapped in a white towel, Peach Waves emerged from the bathroom, trailing a soft, lingering fragrance.
"This shower gel really works… subtle but refreshing."
She changed into her blue-and-white training uniform, popped an energy candy, and drank a training potion.
Then she headed out for her afternoon jog.
Meanwhile, Okino leaned back at his desk, patting his stomach.
"Ahh… Peach Waves' cooking is divine."
"Mr. Trainer, time to pay!" Scarlet said, hand outstretched.
"How much?"
"Five hundred yen."
Okino didn't mind—it was worth it. But Silent Suzuka, standing nearby, tilted her head.
"Wasn't it 300 yen for the buffet?"
Her soft voice hit like a thunderclap.
"Scarlet, what about the extra 200?"
"Ahaha… errand fee?"
"Forget it. I'll go to the cafeteria myself next time."
Okino handed over the money, resigned.
Toujou Hana, meanwhile, was speaking to Silent Suzuka.
"Suzuka, you've been with the team a while, but your escape-style running is risky. That challenge match injured your left foot—and it still hasn't healed."
Suzuka lowered her head, ears drooping.
"Today's your return to training. You don't have to race, but no more reckless escapes."
"I understand."
Suzuka had spent the month recovering in her dorm, meals delivered by Fuji Kiseki. She'd heard of Peach Waves, but never met her.
"Go warm up at the venue."
"Yes—"
As Suzuka left, Okino turned to Hana.
"Isn't that a bit harsh? Uma Musume have their own running styles…"
"I know. But Suzuka's method turned her legs to glass. If she keeps pushing, she'll regret it from a hospital bed. I'd rather she run safely for years."
Hana gathered her tablet and headed to Team Rigil's room.
"Wait… I just thought of someone."
"Who?"
"That training monster."
"Peach Waves? What about her?"
"She's been training like crazy for a month—and she's fine. Maybe she has some kind of method?"
"Okino, you've been reading too many fantasy novels. She's just built differently."
Hana rolled her eyes and walked off.
"Mr. Trainer, when do we train?" Scarlet tugged Okino's collar.
"Don't rush. I'm still finalizing your plan."
At the training ground, Peach Waves was jogging when—
Thud!
She was tackled to the ground by a blur of orange hair.
"Ouch… who—?!"
She'd been running smoothly, passing the path from the trainer's office to the field.
"Who knew an orange-haired Uma Musume would come flying out without looking?"
Unable to dodge, Peach Waves had frozen in place, arms out like Tom from a cartoon.