"Rudolf!! Rudolf!!"
Amid the thunderous cheers from the crowd, Rudolf stepped off the track.
"Congratulations, Rudolf. You won beautifully today."
Waiting in the passageway, Tojo looked like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders—she must have been extremely tense until just a moment ago.
"When I saw today's race, it scared me. It didn't match the tactics I told you at all. Thank goodness you made the right choice on your own… Sorry. That was my misjudgment before the race—my analysis of the opponents wasn't thorough enough."
"No… to be honest, I didn't anticipate this unexpected situation either… And me being able to decide so calmly wasn't entirely my own doing. Kagura's reminders were very important too… By the way, where are Kagura and Maruzensky-san?"
Rudolf glanced behind her. Kagura—who normally waited here after Rudolf finished racing—was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Maruzensky, who had come with them today.
"Maruzensky went to deal with the reporters for you. Kagura said she had something to take care of and needed to step away for a bit. She'll be back soon."
As she spoke, Tojo handed Rudolf a towel and a cup of warm water.
"This is what Kagura prepared and asked me to give you. Rest here a bit. After that, come with me to meet the press up front. This is your second crown—today's media scrum will be nothing like last time, so steel yourself."
"I understand."
...
[Tokai Teio]:Kagura-oneesan!! There are SO many people out here!! Save meeeeee—
[Tokai Teio]:[Image]
Elsewhere, walking through the back corridors, Kagura took out her phone and happened to see Tokai Teio's desperate message. Under it was a photo—what looked like an impenetrable wall of reporters jammed at the main entrance.
Oh, this kid… She's been camped out here for ages, huh… Good for ojou-sama—having such a devoted little fan who worships her.
From the bottom of her heart, Kagura admired Tokai Teio's determination as a superfan. With a fan like that, she wasn't sure whether she should be happy for Rudolf—or worry Teio might get so caught up in fangirling that she'd neglect her own future.
[Inari_Kagura]:Teio, head to the spot I'm sending you. Wait there for me.
[Inari_Kagura]:[Image]
After sending Tokai Teio the location of another sealed-off corridor, Kagura started threading her way down the side passage.
Before long, she slipped out of the venue. Tokai Teio—spinning in place, anxious enough to pace in circles—saw Kagura emerge, and it was like a traveler who'd gone ten-plus days without food or water spotting the savior who brought water. She lunged forward and rushed right up to Kagura.
"Kagura-oneesan~!! You finally came out!!"
"You're really fast… I thought you'd at least wait until the reporters thinned out a bit before coming."
"Hehe, it's 'cause I wanted to see Rudolf so bad… Ah—no, everyone online calls her 'the Emperor' now!"
"'The Emperor'…? Heh. Those reporters and netizens really are something…"
Hearing the new nickname, Kagura froze for a moment before realizing it was referring to Rudolf. Still, Rudolf in her race outfit really did have a regal air about her.
"Hey, hey! Onee-san, take me inside! I can't wait! I even had my mom get me excused from school to come today! I wanted Mom to come watch too, but she had something going on, so it's just me!"
"You little—"
Kagura helplessly tapped Teio's forehead. Teio only gave a dopey grin, flashing bright white teeth.
Kagura had been wondering how Tokai Teio could get here so early in the middle of class hours. So her parent helped her get excused—well, that explained everything.
Wow… Natural-oneesan is really an open-minded mom. She'd get her daughter a day off just for something like this…
Kagura couldn't help feeling a little envious. Back when she was human, the idea of her parents excusing her from school for her hobbies was something she wouldn't even dare dream about.
Envy aside, since Teio's parent had already helped her out, Kagura didn't have much to say. She turned around with Tokai Teio and headed down the small path that led back into the venue.
"Whoa… Kagura-oneesan, there are so many people ahead…"
"Tch. These paparazzi really do get into every nook and cranny…"
After they'd only gone a little way in, Kagura—who'd been planning to return by this route—saw that even this small path was blocked by reporters. Who knew what crack they'd crawled out of, but judging by the number of them on the other side, Kagura couldn't do much besides marvel at how they truly found their way everywhere.
That meant she couldn't return to Rudolf by her original route. And she couldn't be bothered to squeeze through that crowd. Sure, she could just say she was Rudolf's Support Uma, flash her work badge, and make them clear a path—but with the way the internet was paying attention to Rudolf's support team right now, she didn't want to expose herself that openly.
"Kagura-oneesan, what do we do?"
Tokai Teio tugged on Kagura's sleeve and looked up at her for help.
"…I know a back way. It'll be a little thrilling, though. Teio—want to try it?"
"I do!"
Even though she didn't know what Kagura meant yet, if it got her to Rudolf faster, Tokai Teio didn't care.
Kagura led Teio around the reporters and toward an emergency door at the end of the corridor, then headed up the stairs inside to the next floor.
Hardly anyone used this route normally. Kagura knew about it because she'd used it last time Rudolf raced. Back then, she'd stood in the shadows on the second floor, watching the reporters below. This time, she brought Tokai Teio into the same patch of shadow where she'd stood before.
"Wow… so close! The Emperor is so cool!"
"Keep your voice down, okay? Don't let anyone see us hiding here. If the reporters rush over here too, we'll lose another place to watch from."
Seeing Teio bouncing around in excitement, so lively and adorable, Kagura felt her mood getting soothed too—but she still didn't forget to remind the little one to keep her voice under control.
"Kagura-oneesan, it's just… I want to get closer… I want to meet the Emperor and talk to her. Is there a way?"
"If you're not in a hurry, we can stay here and wait until the press conference ends, then go over. But if you are… I can take you an even more thrilling route—one that lets us slip straight into the backstage area."
Kagura thought of a "wild" route she'd discovered while poking around here out of boredom, and wondered whether she should let Teio have a taste of something exciting. Still, she needed to confirm the situation before deciding exactly what to do.
"Okay! Kagura-oneesan, please take me down there! Afterward I'll treat you to an iced honey drink!"
Without any hesitation, Tokai Teio—who trusted Kagura almost a hundred percent by now—immediately followed her. Kagura guided her a little to the side. Looking down past the railing on the right, you could see a small empty partition. It was a buffer zone between the lounge and the backstage area, piled with things like curtains and backdrops.
"Good—yep, it's still here!"
Following her memory from last time, Kagura quickly found a gap in the railing. She'd noticed it before, and had even tried a few risky stunts—risky for a human, anyway. But she wasn't a fragile human now. She was a strong, powerful Umamusume.
After checking where the soft fabric piles were below, Kagura called Tokai Teio over to her side.
"What is it?"
"In a second, onee-san might have to carry you on my back. Want to play a thrilling game?"
"Huh… ah… sure! Whatever you say!"
After explaining what she was about to do and getting Teio's agreement, Kagura crouched and hoisted Tokai Teio onto her back. Luckily, Teio was small and not very heavy. With an Umamusume's strength, Kagura could carry her easily.
"Hold on tight, Teio."
"Okay!"
Tokai Teio obediently pressed close against Kagura, clinging tightly to her. Kagura checked the distance, took a few steps back, then kicked off hard. After a short run-up, she launched herself straight through the gap in the railing—
"Eek—!?"
Even though Kagura had warned her, Tokai Teio still squeaked in fright, reflexively gripping Kagura tighter as wind roared past her ears.
"Hah!"
Midair, Kagura grabbed a rope that was hanging there—meant for hoisting some kind of equipment—and used it to steady her posture. Then she shifted herself down a little. Seeing that the pile of soft curtains and pads below was close enough, she let go and landed solidly on top of it with Tokai Teio still on her back.
"Whew… Guess messing around and looking cool at the kyudo club wasn't a waste after all… We're backstage now, Teio. How was it—did it scare you?"
"Ah…"
Just now… Kagura-oneesan was so cool!
Tokai Teio blanked for a second. When Kagura called her name, she snapped back to her senses, eyes sparkling as she stared at Kagura.
"Kagura-oneesan! Can you take me for another jump sometime? That was so fun!"
"Hey, you little rascal—one thrill ride isn't enough for you? You still have to go meet your Emperor, you know!"
"Then… after I meet the Emperor, can you take me for one more jump?"
"No. If the Emperor finds out I'm here carrying a kid around and jumping all over the place, she'll flick my forehead."
As she spoke, Kagura reached out and lightly flicked Teio's forehead.
"Aww! That's such a shame…"
"Even if you look at me all pitiful and cute, I'm still not agreeing!"
---
T/N: 4 chaps meeting this weeks quota, i was toooo lazy and slept allllllllll week sorgee
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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