Although they accidentally angered Air Groove, the goal of persuading Rice Shower was achieved.
However, there were still entry procedures to sign, and after completing all the miscellaneous signatures, it was already evening.
After notifying them that they could go back first, Zero thought for a moment and decided to take Rice Shower out to eat.
"Speaking of which, Rice Shower likes to eat bread, right?"
"Eh? I only like to eat bread in the morning; normally, I eat rice." Rice Shower's big ears twitched.
"Is that so? Then is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"Hmm... something I'd like to eat..." Rice Shower thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"I can't think of anything. Onee-sama, you decide."
" ? " Onee-sama?
"Eh?" Rice Shower's small face instantly flushed as she realized what she had just said.
"No, no, no, no! Rice Shower just... just... uwaah abba abba..." Her eyes turned into spirals as she babbled incoherently.
"Alright, alright, calm down, calm down a bit..."
"Gulp!" Rice Shower was about to say something, then suddenly froze, covering her mouth with teary eyes and squatting down.
Ah, she bit her tongue.
So cute... (*=▽=*)
After taking out a spray-type medicine to treat Rice Shower's injured tongue, Zero decided to take Rice Shower to eat Chinese food.
The owner and staff of that restaurant were authentic Chinese, and the dishes they made were authentic, un-localized flavors. It was a hidden gem of a restaurant.
The key was that the restaurant's location was secluded enough that Oguri Cap wouldn't find it.
It was said that the day after the last entertainment race, Oguri Cap went to the restaurant Bimyo Shisei mentioned. After that, the restaurant closed for a period and then changed from ramen to knife-cut noodles.
Sharing good restaurants with friends is fine, but if the friend is Oguri Cap, then forget it.
Incidentally, Zero later really did take the grey-haired girl and her three companions to the steakhouse she had taken Special Week to before. As for what happened... you can imagine for yourselves.
In any case, the restaurant owner blacklisted Zero too.
Should one say birds of a feather flock together? Oguri Cap's three companions, though not as outrageous as Oguri Cap, were indeed Gluttony.
And Rice Shower too.
This made Zero, whose appetite was only slightly more than that of a normal adult man, feel out of place here.
"Ah, is this the restaurant?" Oguri Cap's voice suddenly came from nearby.
???
"Yes, it is! This restaurant is super delicious!" It was Special Week's voice.
Ah, come to think of it, I did bring Little Special here to eat some time ago.
Oh no, Special Week! You led Oguri Cap here!?
Zero and Rice Shower were in a private room. Due to her hearing, Zero disliked crowded places.
Rice Shower also heard the newcomers and was about to go out to greet them, but Zero stopped her.
" ? "
"Rice Shower, if you want to eat your fill, quickly order more now. Otherwise, the dishes you order might not even come out later."
"Eh?"
In any case, Rice Shower still obediently ordered a few more dishes.
The food at this restaurant was really good, the rice was unlimited, and the prices weren't too high.
Rice Shower planned to come again in the future.
Seeing Rice Shower eating happily, Zero, feeling mostly full herself, put down her chopsticks and watched her eat.
Unlike Oguri Cap, who ate elegantly but incredibly fast, and Special Week, who was a bit of a glutton, Rice Shower ate as daintily as her appearance suggested.
After taking a bite, she would chew slowly and deliberately, her face full of enjoyment and happiness.
Watching someone eat like that, wouldn't the observer's lips curl into an involuntary smile?
At least, Zero's did.
While eating, Rice Shower saw Zero watching her with a smile, and she shyly put down her chopsticks.
"Um… did Xiao Mi eat too much?" Her ears twitched shyly.
"No, you just keep eating," Zero withdrew her gaze and smiled, encouraging her to continue.
"If you don't eat quickly, it'll get cold, and it won't taste as good."
"But aren't you eating anymore, Z-chan?"
"I'd like to, but I'm already full."
After hearing that, Rice Shower continued to eat, but unlike before, she wasn't completely immersed in the food; she would occasionally steal a glance over here before returning her attention to her meal.
But even that was very cute.
"Speaking of which, Xiao Mi."
"?"
"Can you call me 'Onee-sama' again?"
"!!! Cough, cough, cough…"
Seeing Rice Shower choke, Zero quickly picked up a glass of water, went to her side, and helped her drink, while patting her back.
"Mo, Z-chan, you're bullying me!" Rice Shower protested with teary eyes.
"Ah haha, my bad, my bad, but why did it suddenly slip out back then?"
"I… wuwu…" Her small face flushed again, and she stammered, unsure what to say.
"Well, if you want to, you can call me that anytime, you know? I don't mind."
"Really?" A bright smile appeared on her face.
"Of course." Zero naturally wouldn't refuse to be called Onee-sama by a cute Uma Musume.
"Then Xiao Mi will call you Onee-sama from now on, Z-chan?"
"As long as you don't mind, you can always do so."
"Mm, Onee-sama."
She finally said it! Yay!
Her heart swelled with uncontrollable joy.
Ever since they first met, Rice Shower had wanted to call her that, but she had always been too afraid to, worried Zero might be displeased.
For Rice Shower, Zero was the one who saved her from what she perceived as her own misfortune.
Since childhood, she had constantly encountered unfortunate events due to various circumstances, but ever since that day when Zero took her to the Tracen Academy entrance ceremony, those daily misfortunes had vanished.
Although she hadn't become lucky in general, the mere disappearance of misfortune itself held unparalleled significance for her.
Or perhaps... meeting Zero itself was her greatest luck?
Rice Shower really liked Zero, which was also why she joined immediately when Zero invited her.
If possible, she wanted to spend more time by her side, and if... circumstances allowed even more, or rather, if she could achieve it, she wanted to become someone Zero could rely on.
This was her small wish.
After finishing their meal, Zero and Rice Shower quietly slipped out of the restaurant.
Fortunately, Oguri Cap's table was already obscured by a mountain of stacked dishes, otherwise, even with their small figures, it wouldn't have been so easy to sneak out.
However, the situation there could be described as quite dire; the master chef from the back kitchen had called in his apprentices from other restaurants to help.
And Zero also saw the owner of the shop that had turned into a knife-cut noodle restaurant; upon entering and seeing Oguri Cap, he immediately fainted, his legs giving out.
It was also Rice Shower's first time witnessing Oguri Cap's terrifying appetite; as they snuck out, she held her breath, not daring to make a sound, fearing that if she were discovered, Oguri Cap would "nom" her whole.
Once outside, both of them let out a sigh of relief, and seeing each other's relaxed expressions, they couldn't help but laugh.
"There's nothing else to do now, do you want to head back to the dorm?"
"Emmm... I guess I should go back..."
"Then I'll walk you."
"Okay, Onee-sama."
Two petite Uma Musume walked side by side in the twilight, chatting and laughing, making those who saw them remark on the pure bond between sisters.
It had to be said that the two walking down the street really did look like sisters; both had black hair, were of similar height, had similarly large ears, and their eyes were both violet-colored.
It even made Zero curious if she was Rice Shower's long-lost older sister.
But then again, she herself didn't know what her own bloodline was.
Pureblood? Mixed-blood?
[Strictly speaking, your bloodline is on the same level as ours, you know?]
What the heck?
[After all, to bring you over, the four of us each used a drop of our essence blood, so hurry, call me Daddy, or Mommy works too!]
Ghost!
[Wuwuwu, so heartless~]
So my factors are... [That's right, you have the Three Goddesses' factors and your own factors, so for those big families, you are an irresistible existence.]
What do you mean... [Simply put, if this were a slightly darker world, there would be people who would go to great lengths to capture you for breeding?]
I don't expect you to be serious, but can you at least not be so weird?
After dropping off Rice Shower, Zero chatted with the Goddesses in her mind on her way home.
[By the way, if you ever 'Uma Pyoi' with an Uma Musume, it's very easy for them to become addicted to it.]
? Uma Pyoi? The Uma Pyoi legend?
[...Well, it's still too early for you, just think of it that way.] A hint of guilt even appeared in the Three Goddesses' hearts.
Afterwards, Zero, who understood what 'Uma Pyoi' truly meant through the omnipotent internet, once again broke the light screen and ignored the Three Goddesses for an entire week.
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