Kagura followed Ardan outside the gallery, walking together onto a small wooded path nearby.
The artwork Ardan had mentioned seemed to be located here. Kagura peered into the woods and saw a painting standing in a clearing. Its image was now blurred, as if it had been exposed to the elements for far too long, making its original content unrecognizable.
Is this supposed to be some kind of... modern art?
Honestly, Kagura thought it could barely qualify as art—more like abstract postmodernism. At first glance, she couldn't make out anything from it.
"Is this… the piece you came specifically to see, Ardan-ojousama? It looks like it's been left outside for a long time."
"Yes… When the artist left it here, the instruction was that it must only be displayed outdoors…"
Ardan nodded gently, her eyes fixed quietly on the painting.
Kagura guessed Ardan must have seen something significant in it, beyond just a rain-damaged artwork. Curious, she stopped as well and examined it more closely. Although now battered by rain and wind, the colors remained vibrant, suggesting that before being weathered down to its current state, it had once been bright and splendid.
It was once brilliant, wasn't it...? A painting deliberately placed outside, knowing full well it would be ruined…
Thinking about Ardan's current condition, Kagura gradually understood why she was so fascinated by this piece.
——Hehe, what's with you suddenly being so insightful, kiddo? Is your intuition running wild today?
Eclipse-san, who had considered giving Kagura a hint, was surprised to see her already grasping the concept and left an amused remark on the screen.
It's obvious enough. Isn't restoring a rain-damaged painting exactly what everyone—me, Iris-sama, and Ardan's trainer—has been hoping for?
After looking after Ardan for these past few months, Kagura felt confident she understood her fairly well. Ardan would sometimes talk about her dreams and the admiration she held for her older sister. Kagura knew clearly what Ardan desired most: to burn brightly on the racetrack, to achieve at least one glorious, perfect moment—just like this painting.
"That painting must have been very beautiful once."
After a long silence, Kagura finally spoke softly.
Ardan, still gazing at the painting, paused in surprise and turned toward Kagura. She'd only wanted to visit the painting out of personal interest and hadn't expected Kagura to immediately grasp the deeper meaning behind her attention to it.
"Even knowing it would be torn apart by wind and rain in the end, it bravely stepped outside the gallery to challenge the elements with all it had… That must have been the feeling the artist carried when creating it, right?"
Kagura didn't explicitly say she was referring to Ardan herself, but every word resonated deeply within her. Ardan was certainly not so dense as to miss the meaning, but given Kagura's young age—just twelve years old—she wasn't entirely sure if Kagura was genuinely perceptive or if she was reading too deeply into it.
"Kagura-san…"
"I'm not your trainer, Ardan-ojousama, but I've accepted the request from Iris-sama. I'll support your trainer and help you return to the track. I'll do my best to restore your painting to its former brilliance, allowing you to step boldly into the storm."
Ardan's ultimate goal—to stand on the G1 stage and win at least once—was something she'd mentioned to Kagura before.
It was now just a matter of time until Ardan joined the School Selection Race. Mejiro's trainers had long been preparing for this. Kagura couldn't intervene much in Ardan's training, as she wasn't that familiar with Mejiro's trainers. Her role was limited to taking care of Ardan's nutrition and health, and occasionally offering suggestions—that had been her main duty for the past months.
"Kagura-san…"
Although this was Kagura's usual work, hearing her say it today deeply moved Ardan. Overwhelmed by emotion, Ardan crouched down and hugged the little Uma Musume tightly in her arms.
"…Thank you."
Her voice trembled slightly, revealing just how emotional she felt. Kagura gently patted Ardan's back with one hand, while her other arm wrapped around her head, comforting her softly by stroking her beautiful aqua-blue hair, letting Ardan rest her head gently against her chest.
"But… Ardan-ojousama, although I promised to support you, please remember the agreement you made with me and your trainer. Only once… Do you understand? I don't want you to burn yourself out entirely, leaving nothing behind, like this painting."
"I understand… I already promised Trainer-san… and you, Kagura-san, that once I reach my goal… I'll retire immediately."
"Then it's a promise. No going back, okay?"
Seeing Ardan nod earnestly in her embrace, Kagura smiled warmly and gently patted Ardan's head.
"Alright now, we're still outside, Ardan-ojousama. If you have more to say to me, it might look strange holding this position too long, you know."
...
After viewing the last artwork Ardan wanted to see, they left the gallery. Kagura initially strongly refused Ardan's suggestion to eat out but ended up dragged along to a café anyway. Ardan, knowing Kagura loved durian cake, bought one for her despite Kagura's protests.
Fruit prices in Japan were extremely high, and the cost of this cake was enough to buy several bowls of ramen. Kagura's heart hurt a little just setting it down on the kotatsu back in their dorm.
Ardan, having just washed her face, came back and sat down next to Kagura, slipping her legs comfortably under the kotatsu. Even though it was already March, the weather remained chilly, and relaxing under the kotatsu felt exceptionally good. Kagura was convinced that this kotatsu was definitely the most practical piece of furniture in their dorm.
"Kagura-san, you can eat it now. What are you waiting for?"
"I just think that I was merely doing my job. After all, I'm already receiving pay from Speed-sama. You really didn't have to get me something this expensive… mmph?!"
Before Kagura finished her sentence, Ardan raised a finger and gently pressed it against Kagura's lips, feigning a serious expression with furrowed brows:
"If you don't eat it, does that mean Kagura-san doesn't want to give me face?"
Ardan had realized—if she straightforwardly expressed gratitude, Kagura would refuse. But applying just a bit of pressure made Kagura obediently accept.
"N-no… That's not what I meant…"
Exactly as Ardan expected, Kagura immediately shook her head, flustered and eager to clarify. Ardan seized the moment and pressed further before Kagura could say more:
"Then accept it without guilt!"
Only after Kagura nodded and promised she would find time to eat it did Ardan smile happily and rub Kagura's head affectionately.
Though the cake wasn't particularly big, Kagura felt embarrassed eating alone, so she insisted Ardan share it. The two Uma Musume quickly finished it off. Kagura admitted it tasted wonderful, completely worth its price—yet she still felt a bit uncomfortable. Her long-held habits from years of work made her dislike receiving expensive favors, even when it was meant as thanks.
"On chilly days like this, nothing beats lazing under a kotatsu~"
After enjoying the cake, Ardan sighed contentedly and slipped deeper into the kotatsu.
"If you lie down right after eating, you'll gain weight…"
Kagura joked lightly as she returned from throwing out the trash, also slipping into the kotatsu across from Ardan.
"Doing it once in a while won't hurt~ Besides, aren't you lying down too, Kagura-san?"
Ardan laughed gently, reaching out to pinch Kagura's soft cheek as they lay facing each other under the kotatsu.
Honestly, ever since that strange dream, Ardan had felt awkward whenever she faced Kagura this closely. But after what they experienced today at the gallery, that awkwardness seemed to have faded significantly.
"Hmm? Ardan-ojousama, you keep raising and lowering your hand—do you want to hug me again?"
"Ah… Kagura-san, your perception is as sharp as always…"
Seeing her hesitant movements noticed, Ardan decided to just openly admit it.
"Sigh… I still don't understand what's so comfortable about hugging me."
Though saying that, Kagura moved a bit closer to make it easier for Ardan to hug her.
This time, Ardan didn't hesitate—she embraced Kagura, wrapping her arms gently around her:
"Uwaaah?! Ardan-ojousama!! Hug me normally—don't slip your hands under my clothes! Your hands are freezing!"
"Ahh! Sorry, sorry! My hand accidentally lifted your clothes while reaching around…"
Quickly removing her hand at Kagura's protest, Ardan blushed. The unexpected accident had briefly let her fingertips touch Kagura's soft, delicate skin, bringing back memories of her dream vividly.
A slightly inappropriate thought flashed across Ardan's mind—she wanted to slide her hands under Kagura's clothes again and savor the feel of every inch of her skin. But she quickly suppressed it, knowing that such an impulse was absolutely unacceptable for a proper young lady of the Mejiro family.
Ardan… You're a daughter of the Mejiro Family! Kagura-san hasn't even reached honkaku yet! You mustn't act so disgracefully!!
"Ardan-ojousama? Why did you suddenly freeze up?"
"…N-no reason. I just suddenly remembered something… wondering if I'd finished it or not."
"Eh…?"
---
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