December 24th, Christmas Eve.
Since we were having a Christmas party after training, I was busy with the preparations.
I had already contacted the shopping street and reserved a turkey and a cake, and also ordered the ingredients for the carrot hamburgers.
So I worked harder than usual to finish my work, got permission from Tadena-san, and used my free time to go to the shopping street to pick up the turkey and cake, and returned with the carrot hamburger ingredients... Well, that's impossible physically, so I used a car I borrowed from Tracen Academy for the shopping trip.
After that, I'll prepare the carrot hamburger patties in the kitchen for as long as time allows, and I've already washed the rice and set the rice cooker. The plan is to fry the carrot hamburgers and finish up after training, then start the party.
That being said, we're still going to train hard, even if it's a lighter session. I was worried that Urara might be distracted by the Christmas party, but she trained with surprising seriousness.
It seems she's properly separating the Christmas party from the training. I patted her head and told her she was a good girl, and she looked at me with a blank expression. But she must have understood that she was being praised, because her tail was wagging happily.
I feel like the whole Tracen Academy has a festive atmosphere, maybe because it's Christmas Eve. It seems many trainers are either not training at all today or are having a light session to let their Uma Musume rest.
Many Uma Musume were taking a break, too. Some were having their own Christmas parties, some were going out together, planning to play outside until just before curfew, and those in a team were planning to have a Christmas party with their team, just like us.
Of course, there must be some who are still training hard today, but whether the Uma Musume can stay focused during training... well, it probably depends on the Uma Musume.
Rice and King are originally very dedicated to training and are good at switching gears. Urara is running seriously, looking forward to the Christmas party after training. Well, I'd guess Urara thinks that the food will taste better if she exercises and works up an appetite first.
By the way, I wasn't the only one using the kitchen to prepare for a Christmas party. Many other trainers and Uma Musume had the same idea. I guess everyone thinks the same way.
However, they were making cakes or turkeys, and we were the only ones making carrot hamburgers for Christmas.
So, after a light but thorough training session and cool-down exercises, I finished and sent the report I had been working on while Urara and the others were changing. After that, I'll lock up the club room and head to the kitchen with Urara and the others when they're done changing.
"Humming a happy tune."
As we walked to the kitchen, Urara was humming and in a good mood. Her horse ears and tail were moving happily, Rice was similar, and King looked composed, but her tail was swaying back and forth.
When we arrived at the kitchen, many trainers and Uma Musume were in the middle of cooking, and the kitchen was filled with a bright buzz.
"Gold Ship! I told you to get a turkey, so what is this?! This isn't a turkey, is it?!"
"A fighting cock."
"Why?! It's not completely different, but it's a fighting cock! The package says 'fighting cock,' so there's no way you could have mistaken it!"
I heard that voice from next to the counter I was going to use. Mejiro McQueen was scolding Gold Ship, but...
"What's wrong, McQueen? Don't you know? A roasted fighting cock is a great Christmas dish, too, you know?"
"Don't lie! You're trying to fool me again!"
"No, I'm not. Right, little trainer?"
Oops, Gold Ship is trying to get me to join the conversation as I'm about to fry the carrot hamburgers. What a killer pass. No, it's not a killer pass at all.
"If you're making roast chicken, a fighting cock should be fine. It doesn't taste worse than a turkey... or rather, some people say a fighting cock tastes better, depending on your preference."
"I-Is that so... I ended up doubting Gold Ship... No, wouldn't it have been better to just get a turkey from the start?"
"Well, yes..."
I can't deny that. I think a fighting cock is fine, but for Christmas, a turkey fits the image better. Besides, it's going to take a long time to roast it now... Will it be okay? Depending on the size, it could take more than an hour or even two.
I started cooking the rest of the meal while listening to the angry Mejiro McQueen and the teasing Gold Ship.
I used multiple frying pans to cook the hamburger patties I had prepared, and while they were cooking, I made a salad and checked that the rice was done.
Urara and the others helped by getting the plates, cutting the cake I had put in the fridge, and warming up the turkey in the oven.
By the way, the cake is a huge strawberry cake. It's exactly what I'd imagine for Christmas.
Of course, I also prepared three sugar-coated Santas. For me? I don't hate sweets, but it would be tough to eat the sugar-coated ones. I've already got carrot hamburgers and roast chicken... I don't have a second stomach for sweets.
There's a dining area next to the kitchen, so when the food is ready, we'll move there so as not to bother others. There's a four-person table, so Rice sits next to me, and Urara and King sit together.
Urara and the others have a mountain of rice, a gigantic three-tiered carrot hamburger, an expensive and equally huge roast chicken, and a large slice of strawberry cake for dessert... Wow, just looking at it makes me feel full.
"Wow... it's so luxurious!"
"Yeah, it's luxurious... Rice is excited to eat."
"The amount is just right."
I thought it might be a bit too much, but it seems to be the right amount. I had calculated it based on the amount of food Urara and the others have eaten so far, but I still wonder where their bodies can fit all this food. It's a mystery that remains unsolved no matter how many years I spend with Uma Musume.
Now the preparations are complete. All that's left is to eat. Other trainers and Uma Musume were also starting their Christmas parties all around us.
"Alright, let's start the party. Everyone, Merry Christmas."
"Yeah! Merry Christmas, Trainer! Rice-chan! King-chan!"
"Merry Christmas. Big brother, Urara-chan, King-chan."
"Merry Christmas. Trainer, Urara-san, Rice-senpai."
With that greeting as a signal, the Christmas party began.
"Yay! Trainer's carrot hamburger!"
Urara shouted and started eating the carrot hamburger. I thought she might start with the turkey since it's Christmas, but when she's happily eating something I made first, I can't say anything.
The carrot hamburger is a three-tiered patty with a whole carrot stuck in it, but it's disappearing at an incredible rate. Wow, seeing the petite Urara eat kilograms of hamburgers one after another always blows my mind.
Rice is also devouring her carrot hamburger, though not as fast as Urara. King, with elegant knife skills, cuts her hamburger and brings a piece to her mouth with a fork.
Me? My carrot hamburger is only one tier, and it's smaller than my hand. There's no whole carrot stuck in it, just some cut and boiled carrots arranged on the side of the plate.
On top of that, I have the roast chicken I bought from the shopping street, a salad, and rice. There's also a cake for dessert, but I'll give most of it to Urara and the others and just have a little bit myself.
"It's delicious, Trainer! I want another helping!"
"I don't think we can have seconds... Do you want to eat mine instead?"
Honestly, I think I'll be full just from the roast chicken, salad, and rice. I can usually eat more, but seeing Urara and the other two eat so much right in front of me fills me with a sense of satisfaction.
(It's like... as you get older, you get satisfied just by watching young people eat a lot instead of eating yourself... No, my body is still young, but...)
I'm truly satisfied just by seeing Urara and the others enjoying the food. Look, Urara is so engrossed that she has some hamburger sauce on her cheek.
"Oh, Urara-san... Look, you have sauce on your cheek."
Saying that, King wiped Urara's cheek with a paper napkin. Urara let her cheek be wiped obediently, then smiled brightly.
"Thanks, King-chan!"
"You're welcome. Now eat more properly. It's not very ladylike, is it?"
"Hehe... It was so good I rushed to eat it."
"---!"
Watching Urara and King's exchange, Rice seemed to have an idea and stabbed her hamburger with a fork. When she brought it to her mouth, she slightly missed and stained her cheek.
"Oh, oh... I got it dirty... Rice, what a clumsy girl..."
Rice glanced at me while saying that. I couldn't help but smile wryly at her gaze.
"Oh well... Here, Rice."
Sensing what she wanted, I wiped her cheek with a paper napkin. Rice smiled happily, and King, who saw it, had a serious look on her face.
"Rice-senpai... No, if that's what you want, it's fine, but..."
"Wha, what? Rice didn't do it on purpose."
"You're biting your tongue..."
Rice averted her gaze awkwardly... Well, it's Christmas. King, let it slide.
But if I say that, I'll get scolded for spoiling Rice, so I'll change the subject with something else.
I stood up from my chair and grabbed the paper bag I had put in a nearby cabinet beforehand. I returned to Urara and the others and put my hand in the paper bag.
"Ta-da! Christmas presents!"
I said, in the tone of a certain robotic cat, as I took out wrapped packages.
Christmas means presents from Santa Claus, but it's impossible for me to sneak into the Uma Musume dorm and put them by their pillows... It's probably just my imagination that the members of Team Canopus would be able to pull that off.
I think it's not impossible if I get help from the dorm leaders, Hishi Amazon-chan and Fuji Kiseki-chan, but rules are rules, no matter how much I want to deliver Christmas presents. I decided to just give them the presents during the Christmas party.
"Wow! Christmas presents?! What are they?!"
Urara excitedly took her package. Rice took hers with a surprised expression, and King took hers with a wry smile.
"Woah, what, what could it be? Big brother, can I open it?"
"Go ahead."
"I'll be mad if it's something that costs tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of yen."
"Why..."
Rice is happy, but King is giving me a retort with a small smile. Why... why...
"Please consider our age. It's not good to give expensive gifts, no matter how much you want to."
"Eh? King-chan? Is that true for Rice, too?"
"What's wrong with Rice-senpai, who had hamburger on her cheek?"
"I dug my own grave?!"
Rice and King exchanged words. But both of them looked happy and were having fun.
"You two seem to be having fun... Well, it's okay. They're not that expensive."
"I see... It would be tasteless to ask for the price of a gift."
Saying that, King also started to open her package. But she was trying hard to hide it, her horse ears were twitching, and her tail was swaying.
I feel bad for raising her expectations, but it's not an expensive gift at all, and I've chosen something she might not even like... Oh no, should I have chosen a more Christmas-like present?
"This is... an ear cover?"
King let out that voice as she checked the contents.
I decided to give them ear covers, which are consumable items like handkerchiefs. I also thought about horseshoes, but I couldn't choose them because the quality of the horseshoe can lead to injuries.
Urara and King always wear ear covers, so I thought it was a perfect fit. Rice doesn't usually wear them, but her horse ears are bigger than other Uma Musume's, and it would be a hassle if bugs got in, so I thought it was a good opportunity to give her one as a present.
If she doesn't use it, she can just throw it away, or she can even turn it into a small pouch.
I chose a cherry blossom pink one for Urara.
A dark blue one for Rice.
A green one for King.
I chose the colors to match their racing outfits or their favorite colors. The price is... yes, it's fine. It's not hundreds of thousands of yen, so we're safe.
I bought a set of three, as they were meant for Uma Musume gifts. If one wears out, they can just use a new one, and it's easier to wash since there are multiple.
When I explained this, Urara and the others smiled happily. However, only King checked the material and feel of the ear covers and sighed a little. Oh no, she's going to find out the price... but her mouth is smiling happily, so we're safe? Yeah!
"Um... actually, Rice also has a Christmas present for you, big brother, because you've always taken care of her..."
Rice said, handing me a paper bag she took out of her bag. I wondered what it was and checked the contents, and it was a dark blue muffler. And it was handmade.
"Wow... this is amazing."
The length is... about 1.5 meters? It's perfect for the cold season.
"...I also have one. Please accept it."
After Rice, King also offered a package. This one is quite small... A pen or something?
After getting King's permission, I checked the contents, and what came out was a stylish fountain pen.
"You're the trainer of this King. You should use something of a suitable quality."
King said, puffing out her chest... but she kept glancing at me, as if she was concerned about my reaction.
"Thank you, Rice and King. I'll use them right away."
I never thought the two of them would have presents for me. It was a surprise attack, and I was very happy.
And then I looked at Urara, in the same flow. I wondered if Urara also had something for me...
"Hmm?"
Urara had finished her carrot hamburger, rice, roast chicken, and salad, and was now stuffing her face with the strawberry cake.
After the Christmas party and cleaning up, I headed to the club room. I had locked it, but my bag and other things were still there.
Rice and King gave me unexpected presents, and it was a fun Christmas party. The happy voices of other teams and trainers were also spreading around.
As I was reminiscing about the Christmas party, I heard footsteps approaching from behind. They were familiar footsteps, and I turned around and spoke.
"Urara? What's wrong?"
"Whoa! You knew I was behind you! You're amazing, Trainer!"
"Well, we've been together for a long time."
Not just Urara, but I also know the footsteps of Rice and King. I'd like to think we're that close.
I started walking, thinking Urara might have left something in the club room, too. But then, for some reason, Urara grabbed the sleeve of my clothes.
"Urara?"
There was no one else around. It was almost curfew time for the dorms, and trainers were heading home.
When I called out to her with a puzzled expression, Urara let go of my sleeve. Instead, she looked up at me intently.
Hmm... What is it? Urara's demeanor is a little different from usual, and I don't know what she wants.
As I was wondering, Urara looked up at me and spoke.
"Trainer, I also have a Christmas present for you, even though I don't have it now."
A Christmas present, even though she doesn't have it now... Is it a riddle? No, not with Urara. So, she's going to prepare it now?
That's what I thought.
"In the next race, I'll beat Fal-ko-chan, I'll beat Slein-chan, I'll beat everyone else... and I'll give you first place as a present, Trainer."
But at Urara's words, my eyes widened.
"Urara, that's..."
I'm happy with Urara's feelings, but that's not right.
It's good if she works hard for herself, enjoys the race, and works to beat her rivals. But she doesn't have to do it for me.
I was about to say that. But before I could, Urara shook her head.
"I think I know what you want to say, Trainer. But I want to win for you. I want to show everyone how amazing my trainer is. I want to show them that he's the one who raised me from the very beginning..."
Urara spoke with her hand on her chest. In that moment, she looked much more mature than she did when she was getting excited at the Christmas party a little while ago.
"---So, I want you to wait just a little longer."
Saying that, Urara smiled.
When I saw that smile, I wanted to hold my head in my hands, thinking about how wrong I was when I recently thought that Urara hadn't changed at all.
Urara is growing steadily. As an Uma Musume and as a girl, she's growing slowly but surely with every experience she has.
Don't think about things like that, don't push yourself, run for yourself... Those words crossed my mind, but looking at Urara's straightforward eyes, I smiled wryly.
"Just don't get hurt. Okay?"
"Okay!"
Hearing my words, Urara nodded with a big smile.
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