Bamboo Memory truly was good at what she did.
She strode up confidently to the tightly shut kitchen door, knocked politely yet firmly, and spoke in a reassuring tone, "Kita-chan, it's Officer Bamboo Memory. Mind opening up?"
Her voice was calm and steady, carrying a comforting strength.
A moment later, the kitchen door cracked open just slightly, a faint line of light spilling from within.
Kitasan Black herself didn't appear.
After quickly glancing inside, Bamboo Memory subtly flashed an "OK" sign behind her back at Yasui, then smoothly slipped into the kitchen. The door softly clicked shut behind her.
Not long afterward, the kitchen door reopened.
Bamboo Memory stepped out first, a complicated expression wavering between amusement and resignation on her face.
In her hands, she held a plate of rather dubious-looking fried rice.
The rice grains and eggs appeared to have been through a war zone, haphazardly piled together. Some grains were scorched black, randomly mixed among the rest. The egg, which should've been golden and fluffy, instead formed uneven, darkened lumps scattered awkwardly throughout the rice.
Behind her, Kitasan Black followed, her usual bright energy back in full force, though tinged with embarrassment.
She was also carrying a plate—but hers looked worlds better.
A thin, silky omelet perfectly enveloped the rice beneath, glowing enticingly under the kitchen lights. Atop the flawless golden surface, ketchup had been delicately drizzled to form two playful words: "Good Afternoon." The lettering was cute and lively, perfectly suited to a young girl's whimsy.
Kitasan Black carefully placed her plate onto the dining table, gaze briefly darting away in shyness. But quickly, anticipation overcame hesitation, and she looked at Yasui nervously, eyes brimming with excitement.
"T-Trainer…"
She stumbled over her words briefly, then broke into a hopeful smile.
"I've been practicing this recipe the past few days! Please, try it—tell me if it's good!"
Facing Kitasan Black's anxious yet hopeful expression, Yasui hesitated for just a fraction of a second. The earlier awkwardness flashed briefly through his mind, but seeing her earnest face, he quickly pushed it aside.
Forget it. Let's just pretend nothing happened. We can clear things up later…
Attempting a calm smile, Yasui slowly pulled out a chair and sat down, picking up the spoon Kitasan handed him.
Originally, he'd intended only to distract from their earlier embarrassment by tasting the dish. But the moment he scooped a spoonful of the omelet rice into his mouth, his taste buds exploded with flavor.
The egg was delicate and silky, melting instantly on the tongue. The rice beneath was expertly stir-fried, each grain separate and infused with a mouthwatering fragrance. Mixed subtly within were sweet undertones from vegetables and a richly layered sauce that brought everything together in perfect harmony.
No exaggeration—this omelet rice could rival any dish from a high-end restaurant.
Yasui's eyes widened in astonishment, and he turned toward Kitasan Black with genuine amazement.
"This is… incredibly delicious."
He flashed an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"Kita-chan, your cooking is honestly amazing!"
"R-really?!"
Her eyes instantly lit up, shining as if she'd just received the best gift imaginable.
A moment later, embarrassment returned, and she scratched her head shyly, cheeks reddening.
"Actually… this omelet rice is about the only thing I can make properly. I've tried other dishes, but none turned out quite right. To get this one perfect, I had to experiment a lot, so all the failures—"
Just as she began to apologize, she turned her head and abruptly froze.
There was Bamboo Memory, devouring the questionable fried rice like it was the tastiest meal she'd ever had.
Noticing Kitasan's gaze, Bamboo Memory paused, then gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up of her own. Her cheeks bulged from the generous mouthful she'd just shoveled in, muffling her words.
"I totally agree with Yasui-san! Kita-chan, your cooking really is incredible! If even your rejects taste this good, I seriously can't imagine your best dishes!"
The embarrassment in Kitasan Black's eyes hadn't fully faded, but delight quickly bloomed in its place.
"I'm glad you like it… but I still feel kind of bad…"
She exhaled softly, then cautiously suggested:
"Bamboo-senpai, how about I make you another one…?"
"No need, no need!"
Bamboo Memory shook her head rapidly, waving away the offer while continuing to scarf down the food.
"I haven't eaten yet anyway, and this amount's just right for me. If you cook another plate, wouldn't that just be wasteful? Anyway, Kita-chan, is omelet rice really the only dish you know?"
Yasui also looked at Kitasan curiously. Until today, he'd had no idea she was so talented at cooking—or that her omelet rice would be this delicious.
"Yeah, just omelet rice."
Kitasan Black's smile deepened, eyes sparkling happily.
"And I only learned recently. Since I've been resting lately, Crown-chan and the others are still busy training and going to class—even Almond Eye too. I didn't want to bother them, so I usually just helped out during their training, bringing them water or whatever. But one day, when Oguri-senpai was helping Crown-chan with her training, I asked her about cooking."
"Oh, I know about that."
Bamboo Memory chimed in vaguely, mouth still full of rice. "Oguri-senpai did mention she was helping out with training."
"Right, right!" Kitasan nodded eagerly. "I noticed how calm and mature Oguri-senpai was, so I asked her advice about things beyond training and racing too. Because…"
Her voice softened, eyes briefly flickering with gratitude and the faintest hint of shyness as she glanced toward Yasui.
"I wanted to find a way to properly thank you, Trainer."
Until that moment, Yasui had only been focused on Oguri Cap's involvement.
Given his recent experiences, he'd grown accustomed to asking senior Umamusume for training advice. Oguri Cap's talent and racing record were beyond question, so if Satono Crown could successfully enlist her help, surely Kitasan Black could too.
Yet he hadn't expected Kitasan Black to be thinking beyond training—and certainly not to be thinking about how to thank him.
Her words left him momentarily frozen, completely stunned in place.
"To show gratitude…" Kitasan suddenly shifted her tone, adopting Oguri Cap's distinctive style. "Just cook something delicious. Eating good food makes people happy—I've always thought so."
She looked warmly at Yasui, her expression filled with simple, heartfelt sincerity.
"So, if you cook for Yasui-san, he'll definitely be happy."
---
T/N: yes good food mmm im hungry now
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