Early the next morning, Ardan woke up before six, having gone to sleep far too early the previous night. Sitting up, completely awake, she glanced at the clock. Kagura usually woke around 6:30, always precisely on schedule—or earlier, never later—which made Ardan suspect some hidden story behind that habit.
Having woken early, Ardan decided to check on Kagura's situation. When she quietly approached Kagura's room and prepared to knock, she noticed the door was slightly ajar. After a moment of hesitation, Ardan pushed it open and stepped inside to check.
"This is…"
Kagura's bed was a complete mess, occupied by several young Uma Musume sprawled chaotically: Mejiro Bright lay atop Dober, mumbling something incoherent in her sleep; Palmer was peacefully wrapped in the blanket; McQueen lay sprawled horizontally in a completely different direction; and Ryan had even rolled onto the floor.
What on earth did these children do in Kagura's room last night…? And how can they sleep in such bizarre positions…?
Searching the room briefly, Ardan found no trace of Kagura herself. She did, however, discover a blanket tossed onto a small sofa in the corner, as if someone had slept there last night—though that spot, too, was now empty.
How rude! Having a guest over and disturbing her at night, even forcing her onto the sofa while taking her bed!
Ardan frowned at the scene, ready to scold these little troublemakers awake. But just as she was about to put down her phone and wake them, she noticed Kagura had sent her a message around 5:50 AM:
—[The little ones stayed up very late. They're still young, so please let them rest~]
Clearly, Kagura had long since gotten up and had anticipated Ardan coming to check, leaving that thoughtful message in advance. But now, Ardan had no idea where Kagura had gone.
Sighing quietly, Ardan realized her younger sisters had caused trouble for Kagura again. Although it was clear from their chaotic sleeping arrangements that their bond had strengthened, it undoubtedly cost Kagura considerable energy. Thankfully, Kagura had such a good temperament and willingly indulged these little ones; otherwise, Ardan would have struggled with apologies.
Deciding not to disturb the sleeping fillies, Ardan sent Kagura a quick message asking where she was. Getting no reply, Ardan chose to wander around to see if she could find Kagura on her own.
"Oh, Iris-sama...?"
As she approached the corridor's end near the stairs, Ardan spotted Mejiro Iris standing by a window, holding a stopwatch and gazing intently at something far away, her expression serious and thoughtful.
"Ardan? Why are you awake so early?"
Hearing Ardan's voice, Iris-sama merely tilted her head briefly before turning back to the window, beckoning Ardan over.
"What are you looking at?"
"Your friend… She woke up early and is running laps on our grass track."
As she spoke, Iris-sama pointed toward the distant field. A small figure could be seen swiftly dashing across the grassy track.
Ardan instantly realized who Iris-sama had been timing. Clearly, Kagura was running at full speed, and Iris-sama was carefully noting her performance.
"Impressive indeed… That child is no weaker than I was in my youth. Even the younger me would have had to give it my all against her."
Iris-sama remarked with deep emotion, eyes fixed on the stopwatch.
"…Seriously?"
"Did you see her speed just now? She's practically flying across the grass—just like that Symboli Rudolf from her family."
Ardan usually heard Kagura lamenting losses in her school races, and though she knew Kagura was strong, she'd subconsciously thought of her as average. Now, listening to Iris-sama's words, she recalled exactly who Kagura had said she'd lost to…
Symboli Rudolf, Maruzensky-san, Mr. C.B.—all renowned names at Tracen Academy and on the racing circuit. Among them was even this year's Triple Crown winner and next year's hopeful candidate. Kagura hadn't even debuted yet—she wasn't even fully matured. Losing to such opponents was completely understandable.
"Ah, I'm really jealous of that Symboli Speed… Damn it. Is this some kind of retribution? I haven't even done anything wrong..."
"What are you saying…?"
Unable to fully grasp Iris-sama's muttering, Ardan felt as if she could see a dark cloud of resentment swirling around the elderly matriarch.
"Ardan, what do you think Kagura-san's attitude towards you is like?"
Suddenly, Iris-sama turned and asked this pointedly.
Unsure what Iris-sama was getting at, Ardan tilted her head and carefully thought for a moment before replying hesitantly:
"Well… a normal friend, I guess? And maybe… someone who was assigned to look after me? Kagura-san is very kind, and she treats me as gently as she treats anyone else…"
"I see… Have you ever actively invited Kagura-san to do anything?"
"No… She always seems so busy. And since I'm only someone she was asked to look after, I didn't dare…"
"…"
Iris-sama pressed her hand to her forehead and let out a long, mournful sigh, shaking her head.
"So you've just been quietly accepting her care all this time without thinking about how to thank her? Like inviting her out for a meal or something?"
"Kagura-san always says… she'd rather cook herself than go out to eat. Usually, it's Nice Nature-san who invites her out to find tasty food…"
"Who on earth is this 'Nice Nature-san' now…?"
With an even deeper sigh, Iris-sama felt herself growing faint.
Forget finding yourself a good partner—at least try to actively build a closer relationship with someone who cares about you! Thinking back on her own glorious history of snatching trainers away from Speed-sama, Iris-sama simply couldn't understand how such a passive granddaughter had come from her family line.
"What is it… Iris-sama, that expression of yours…"
"You look quite free today, don't you? Take Kagura-san out to town! Go shopping, visit the park, do anything else you can think of! At least show some appreciation! After all the care she's given you, to remain completely passive—putting aside everything else—isn't that simply rude!?"
Iris-sama carefully considered her words, rapidly filtering out anything overly harsh, and grabbed Ardan's shoulders, speaking with forced calmness.
"Ah… Ahahaha…"
Seeing even Iris-sama starting to push her with impatience, Ardan—who had already resolved to do something nice for Kagura—could only laugh awkwardly.
"Remember clearly—Kagura-san is extremely important to you! You must not neglect her like this! Her kindness and lack of expectations in return are her virtues, but observing proper etiquette is our responsibility. Understand?"
"But… I still don't know what Kagura-san actually likes…"
"Then ask her directly! Be proactive! Do you want to end up like that old fool Symboli Speed, who lost her trainer because she never spoke up?!"
Iris-sama now felt genuine concern for her granddaughter. Even setting aside Kagura for the moment, if Ardan stayed this passive when she eventually met someone she truly liked, wouldn't she just end up becoming Symboli Speed 2.0?
That absolutely must not happen!
Sigh… The first move was already a mistake—one wrong step leads to another. We shouldn't have approached that child in such a manner back then… If only Ardan or McQueen could've fostered stronger bonds with Kagura, things would be so much easier. Right now, that child remains cautious towards us, and Symboli Speed completely holds the initiative.
From the looks of it, besides direct rival Symboli Rudolf, Kagura's close friends also included Nice Nature and perhaps even others Ardan didn't know and whom the Mejiro trainers couldn't approach. Recovering Mejiro family's image seemed increasingly difficult.
"Um… Iris-sama, is there anything else? If not, I'll go find Kagura-san now, alright…?"
Seeing Iris-sama's expression becoming increasingly complicated, Ardan sensed that her grandmother might launch another verbal attack and quickly attempted to disengage from the conversation.
"Nothing else, go on… Ah, wait a minute! Come back! Didn't we just discuss doing something for her? Kagura-san just finished her run—aren't you even going to bring her a towel or some water?!"
"Oh… yes, right away!"
---
T/N: LMAOOOO