Of course, putting aside Bizen Nishiki's affairs for now, Kagura still had her own job to do. Trainer Tojo was busy dragging Rudolf-ojousama through intensive weight-loss training, but Kagura had responsibilities of her own—namely, the usual pre-race scouting.
Previously, when Kagura had visited the Tokyo Racecourse at Fuchu, the guide she'd produced had been warmly praised by Trainer Tojo. So this time as well, she'd decided to walk around the racecourse and gather information first-hand.
"Good afternoon, Kagura-san. Are you heading out somewhere today?"
Standing at the school gate, Tazuna-san spotted Kagura leaving Tracen with a notebook and pen in hand and curiously asked her.
"Yes. The Yayoi Sho is coming soon, so I need to survey the racecourse conditions for Ojousama."
"You really are dedicated, Kagura-san… Speaking of the Yayoi Sho, it's being held at Nakayama Racecourse, isn't it?"
"Yes… hm? Tazuna-san, what's this card you're giving me…?"
Halfway through her sentence, Kagura watched as Tazuna-san pulled a silver card edged in gold from her pocket, embossed with an emblem shaped like a horseshoe.
"If you carry this, it'll make things easier for you when you get to the racecourse."
"Oh…"
Kagura didn't fully understand what this was about, but considering Tracen Academy teams often had special observation areas, she assumed this card was some sort of identification. She gratefully accepted it.
As Kagura slowly walked away, Tazuna-san picked up her phone and made a call.
"Akikawa-san, Kagura-san just said she's heading to Nakayama Racecourse for reconnaissance."
"Excellent! Tazuna, did you give her the identification card?"
"Yes, she has it now. Do you think we should notify them there too?"
"Roger that!"
...
"What kind of luck am I having today… why do I keep running into these two?"
Once she boarded the train, Kagura realized Trainer Narumiya Akimitsu and Bizen Nishiki were also aboard, not far from her. But since Kagura was too short to stand out in the crowd—and had intentionally worn rarely used casual clothes and pulled up her hoodie today to avoid recognition—they hadn't noticed her presence.
——Makes sense, doesn't it? The Yayoi Sho is almost here. It's late February already, less than a month left. It's only reasonable they'd be checking out the racecourse too.
"Hello…"
While Kagura was quietly watching Bizen Nishiki joking around with her trainer, she felt someone gently tap her shoulder. Turning her head, she found herself facing a pair of golden eyes that were practically pressed right up to her face, causing her to recoil slightly in shock.
"H-hello? And you are…?"
Once Kagura settled herself, she realized this girl was someone she'd seen before—the mysterious black-haired Uma Musume she'd encountered at the park near Tracen, the legendary 'ghost' Uma Musume. But today, this small girl wasn't wearing athletic clothes. Instead, she wore somewhat ill-fitting oversized clothing beneath a long black trench coat.
"This scent… as I thought, it's you. That… scary person from the park."
Before Kagura could respond, the black-haired Uma spoke first.
"Scary… me?"
Kagura felt completely baffled.
"But… today… you're not scary. You're gentle…"
"I'm not sure I follow... anyway, let's introduce ourselves properly. My name is Inari Kagura. I'm a Support Uma from Tracen Academy. And you?"
""My name is… Manhattan Cafe. My name… Sunday Silence.""
When the small Uma Musume said this, her voice noticeably distorted, as if mixed with some synthesized echo effect. Kagura clearly heard another voice layered within her speech. At the same moment, another Uma Musume, identical to Manhattan Cafe but slightly older, appeared behind her.
That voice came from the ghost behind her! So, this girl is named Manhattan Cafe, and the ghost is Sunday Silence?
This time Kagura didn't sense Eclipse-san having any intention to frighten the other party. The ghost still watched Kagura with interest, but perhaps remembering her earlier fright from Eclipse, she wasn't bold enough to approach closely this time.
"You… can see my friend. I sense the presence of a 'friend' like mine around you too… But why… can't I see your friend?"
Manhattan Cafe tilted her head slightly, watery golden eyes filled with curiosity, carefully inspecting Kagura's back as if trying to discover something there. But no matter how she stared, she couldn't discern a thing.
"My friend… she's a bit special. Maybe you can't see her right now."
Kagura recalled Eclipse mentioning before that she was currently in a weakened state, invisible under normal circumstances. Even when Kagura wore her miko outfit to enhance her sensitivity, she could only hear Eclipse's voice and feel her touch.
"Oh…"
Manhattan Cafe nodded vaguely, seeming to accept this explanation without further questioning.
Kagura could smell the strong, intense aroma of coffee coming off this girl. Clearly, she'd just recently had some.
"Cafe-san, what are you doing out today?"
"I found a quiet park… I wanted to see it. Gentle-oneesan… what about you?"
It seemed this child not only spoke few words but also preferred quiet places.
"I'm collecting information on the racecourse for the Uma Musume I'm supporting, so I'm visiting Nakayama Racecourse today."
"Support… Uma Musume…? Curious…"
"Well, it's like…"
Seeing Manhattan Cafe's evident curiosity—and even Sunday Silence's apparent interest—Kagura patiently explained the responsibilities and duties of Support Uma, along with a simple overview of her own usual tasks.
"I see…"
After Kagura's explanation, Manhattan Cafe nodded together with Sunday Silence behind her.
At this point, Kagura felt the subtle vibrations underfoot signaling the train's approach to its stop. She heard the announcement for her station. It was about time to get off.
"You… getting off now?"
"Yeah, I assume you're not getting off here, Cafe-san. I'll be going then?"
"Mhm…"
Manhattan Cafe nodded slightly, quietly raising a small hand to wave goodbye. Her expressionless face somehow felt inexplicably cute. Kagura actually had a soft spot for quiet and gentle children like her, especially when she encountered them in places like hospitals.
Just as Kagura turned and stepped off the train, she heard Cafe—no, the voice clearly came from Sunday Silence—speak softly behind her, uttering cryptic words Kagura couldn't quite understand:
"Memory, friend, like."
"Huh?"
Before Kagura could respond or ask anything, the doors slid shut, and the train departed swiftly, taking Manhattan Cafe and her mysterious friend away.
What's with that child's friend… why does she sound so mystical…?