The next morning, while out for her usual walk in the garden, Symboli Speed noticed that the little Uma Musume she had rescued yesterday was already awake.
The girl was seated not far away, on the veranda facing the garden, sitting in a wheelchair and staring blankly at the sky.
Symboli Speed turned and walked toward her. Reaching out, she gently touched the girl's head. She felt the child startle, shivering as her long ears suddenly sprang upright.
"Ah! …Good morning, obaa-san."
"You're up so early? Your injuries aren't light. Shouldn't you be resting a bit more?"
"…It doesn't really affect me that much. I told the young lady who was looking after me that I wanted to come outside for a while, so she lifted me onto the wheelchair and pushed me out here… Yesterday, I really am so grateful for your help, obaa-san."
Because of her injuries and the fact she was in a wheelchair, Inari Kagura could only bow her head slightly to this kindly old lady to show her gratitude.
"No need to mind that, child. What matters is that you are safe. The doctor says your body is strong, you're recovering quickly—you should be healed in just a few days. The one who pushed you out here, where is she?"
"I said I wanted to stop here for a bit, so she went back to fetch me breakfast."
"Good… good."
Seeing the little Uma Musume's condition seemed fine, Symboli Speed exhaled softly, patting her lightly on the shoulder.
"Child, can you remember anything? About your family."
"…Sorry, obaa-san. I really can't remember anything at all."
Kagura shook her head. Without question—she had no family. No matter how she searched her mind, there wasn't the faintest trace of family in her memories. It seemed she really was one of those who appeared from thin air, a black household with no record.
"During the fire, were you alone in the shrine?"
"…Only me. It's been only me all along."
"…Hmm."
Symboli Speed frowned. Inari Kagura didn't seem to be lying. The fire scene had yielded nothing useful—flames too fierce, the shrine burned down to nothing but stone remains. No trace of others. If anyone had still been inside, survival would've been impossible. And such a young child—there was no way she had lived alone in a shrine by herself all this time.
The investigation yesterday had confirmed it: Kagura's face wasn't in any identity registry. Black households weren't rare—some Uma Musume were never registered at birth. Orphanages often had such children. It wasn't unusual. But it made finding her family nearly impossible. With no records, plus amnesia, every clue was severed. Symboli Speed's wish to help locate her kin was already running into a wall.
"…Um, obaa-san, I really am thankful for your help. Once my injuries are healed in a few days, I'll leave on my own… I won't trouble you further."
Seeing Symboli Speed frown, Kagura thought she disliked the trouble, and quickly added that line.
"Leave? Where do you intend to go?"
"…Eh."
Only when asked directly did Kagura realize—she had nowhere to go. Not only was she a black household, but the shrine she'd stayed in had already been reduced to ashes in the fire. A stranger in a strange land… where could she possibly go? An orphanage? She had no desire to take that path.
"…You're young, but very sharp. Sensitive, too. Child, perhaps my expression just now made you misunderstand. I don't think you're a bother. I was only thinking how to help you."
Symboli Speed naturally guessed why she had blurted out those words. It was her old habit—her granddaughter often scared others like that too. Adjusting her expression, she softened her look as much as she could, and once again patted Kagura's head.
"…Help me?"
"Yes. I can see—you don't want to go to an orphanage, do you? Until we find your family, why not stay here?"
"No, no! That would be far too much trouble for you! You've already done so much for me—I can't trouble you further!"
Kagura shook her head furiously, pain stabbing back with the movement, forcing her to stop and hiss through her teeth.
"Don't move so much. Careful, you'll worsen the injury."
Holding Kagura's head still, Symboli Speed finally understood that saying—a child too sensible is also a problem. For the Symboli household, they couldn't save every Uma Musume, not like her ideals dreamed. But to help this one little girl? Not difficult at all.
Why is this child as stubborn as that Old Mejiro…?
As she pondered how to persuade the girl to accept help, footsteps sounded. A maid was approaching from the distance, pushing a meal cart. And just then, an idea struck Symboli Speed.
"Listen, child. It's not about letting you live here doing nothing. As it happens, my household is short on hands. Would you be willing to stay on… as a maid?"
"…Eh? A maid?"
"Yes. With a garden and residence this large, it takes people to maintain it. Do you think the few I have are enough?"
Seeing Kagura suddenly grow still, Symboli Speed knew this plan was working. The child was unwilling to accept kindness for nothing—but with an excuse like this, she might be able to.
What is she so afraid of? That she'll owe me a debt she can't repay? She looks only ten or so. Such a small child, already thinking like that?
Symboli Speed couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She understood the type—like that Old Mejiro. Every time she helped her, Mejiro insisted "no need to repay," only to send a pile of things later. Speed had never considered repayment, but still…
"Out there, no one would dare hire a child like you. But the Symboli household can give you that chance. You'll manage the housework here, and we'll provide your food and lodging. How does that sound?"
Since she had decided, Symboli Speed committed fully, even preparing to speak with the head maid later, telling her to assign Kagura lighter duties.
"…You… really need me to do this work?"
"Of course. How do you feel about it?"
Kagura hesitated a long, long time. By then, the maid with the meal cart had already arrived, bowed, and greeted Symboli Speed. Only then did Speed notice Kagura's faint nod. It seemed she had agreed.
"Good. Once you're healed, the head maid will teach you what to do."
"…Thank you, obaa-san."
Kagura was no fool. She knew Symboli Speed had likely made up this excuse on the spot, just to let her accept help without guilt. But still—she gave her thanks. She hated owing others, especially in matters of kindness. Yet in this situation, she had no choice.
After all, she was alone in an unfamiliar world, without identity, without family. Even if she wanted to work, who would hire a child? To sit idle and be cared for would feel unbearably uneasy. But to accept it as work—that she could accept.
She wasn't worried about being incapable as a maid. That morning she had asked the kindly maid what their duties were—chores, mostly. For someone who had lived independently for so long, none of that was difficult.
…Sigh. There's no way back anyway. One step at a time, then…
Since she had come, she would settle. Inari Kagura knew she had no way of returning to her original world. For now, she had to find a foothold here, in this unfamiliar place.