"Hmm, I see. Getting to know your biological sister after so long apart isn't such a bad thing."
Kitahara's exaggerated smile didn't quite reach his eyes, the chip bag in his hand crinkling tightly.
Clearly, even if his words sounded agreeable, his heart wasn't really in it.
"A vacation, huh? I'll allow it."
"Thank you, Trainer. I won't be able to assist you in the coming days. Please take extra care with the training schedules and looking after Oguri."
With permission granted, Nearl didn't hesitate. She knelt down, gently ruffling Oguri Cap's gray, long hair, then stood up, offering a few final reminders before heading out.
"Isn't that what a trainer's supposed to do? Just because I haven't micromanaged your training doesn't mean I'm completely useless, okay?"
Kitahara waved a hand in mock offense, watching Nearl depart until her figure melted completely into the night. Only then did the weary middle-aged man's face reveal a flicker of contemplation.
'Family showing up out of the blue at a time like this? Sounds fishy. But I'll trust Nearl's judgment. If anyone's up to no good, she'll sniff it out.'
"Kitahara, Margaret's going to be gone a long time, isn't she?"
Oguri Cap rose from the floor, rubbing her sore legs. Her slightly disheveled hair showed traces of the earlier affectionate gesture.
"Mhm, but she'll be back. Don't worry. Just focus on the upcoming race. It's your first one since recovering from your injury—can't afford to lose. I'll handle everything else."
"Hmm, but without Margaret, can you really manage, Kitahara? She usually handles the clean clothes and towels, the saline solutions, and all the data analysis..."
"Don't underestimate me! Back in Kasamatsu, didn't we work together just fine?"
"Did we, though? I get clean training clothes from Margaret every day now. Back in Kasamatsu, mine were always dirty."
"Well, what could I do? A grown man washing an Uma Musume's clothes—how would that look?"
Kitahara let out a deep sigh and pulled out his phone.
"Fine then. I'll see if I can find someone to help out."
But before he could dial, the training room door swung open again.
"Hello there! I'm here to see Oguri Cap."
"The tool—uh, I mean, the foreman is here!"
Kitahara's booming shout made Tamamo Cross, who had just opened the door, instinctively snap to attention.
"Yes, sir—huh?"
--+--
The next day, before dawn had even broken, Nearl was already pulling a simple suitcase out the door.
Unlike her classmates, Nearl needed very little: toiletries, a towel, a change of clothes, some cash, her ID, and her phone. All of it together barely lined the bottom of her suitcase.
When she reached the school gate, she was surprised to find a green-clad figure already standing by the entrance.
"Miss Hayakawa, you're on duty this early? There's still an hour before school starts."
"It's nothing. I don't have much to do daily. Consider it a little hobby of mine. The morning scenery has its own charm, you know."
The green-clad beauty shook her head gently, then gestured toward a car parked just outside the gate.
"Well, Miss Nearl, you're off on a trip, aren't you? Don't waste time on a mere staff member like me. I believe that car must be waiting for you."
"Then I must excuse myself. Until we meet again, Miss Hayakawa."
Nearl hurried off. Behind her, Hayakawa Tazuna maintained her usual gentle smile, watching as the car door opened to reveal two figures. Her mind drifted back to yesterday's events.
'The Chairwoman said it's fine… Alright, I'll trust her word this once.'
Meanwhile, Symboli Rudolf, who had just woken up in her dorm, also received documents her family had scrambled to gather overnight.
"Well now. A small family that struck gold—literally—and rose to fortune. Only in its third generation now. Both parents were normal humans, yet they miraculously had two Uma Musume daughters."
"Later, their relationship fell apart—a marriage in name only, each taking lovers?!"
Reading this outrageous information, Rudolf drew a sharp breath. Pressing a hand to her forehead, she felt the vast, strange diversity of the world.
"That explains it, then. Why Nearl was abandoned—the head of that family never wanted an illegitimate daughter."
As she spoke, Rudolf turned the page.
"And then… both husband and wife fell ill and died suddenly? Since they hadn't grown large enough to split the assets, the family was inherited by the two Uma Musume daughters."
"I see. If it's an Uma Musume, they should be trustworthy. A golden empire run by just two of them? Impressive. In terms of capital flow, even the Mejiro family would have to concede defeat."
With a light laugh, she set down the rough report, her worries easing. Now, she truly felt happy for Nearl.
"It seems these two sisters do care for her. Even without inheritance rights, if they can ease her burdens a little, that's a good thing."
--+--
"Little Nearl, want to listen to some music?"
Godolphin pointed to the car's music player, casually handing over a bottle of carrot concentrate juice as well.
"No, the quiet is nice. But, Sister Godolphin, are you sure it's alright not to be driving upfront?"
"No problem at all! Let the car drive itself. It's a mature vehicle now, after all."
"It's not that I doubt you can make it drive itself. I'm just worried if someone happens to look over and sees a car with no one in the driver's seat moving so precisely—they'd be terrified."
"Hmm~~ True enough. Then let's handle it like this. Heave-ho!"
With that, Godolphin produced a plush doll from who-knows-where and securely fastened it into the driver's seat with the seatbelt.
"There, that should do it."
"Um, in what way does that solve anything?"
"Oh, come on, little Nearl. Think about it. At high speed, if someone sees a plush toy in the driver's seat, will their first thought be 'ghost!' or 'must be seeing things'?"
"Uh…"
"Alright, enough teasing. You and your personality… Little Nearl, come here."
Byerley, seated in front, turned and guided Nearl into the driver's seat.
"You just sit here. The car's being powered by our abilities anyway. Just pretend to drive."
"Okay, I understand."
Nearl sat obediently.
"Speaking of which, it's been a whole day of traveling. Aren't you getting restless, little Nearl?"
"Not at all. Honestly, I feel quite relaxed like this."
"Mmm~ You'll be even more relaxed soon. Look to your left—there's Celestial Peak, the black mark from big sister's youth."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.