"Even so, this is far too sudden..."
Suddenly bringing a 'friend' to meet one's parents? It was a lot to take in.
Manhattan Cafe, of course, understood what Agnes Tachyon meant.
Her background was so unique that from the moment she enrolled, people had looked at her with a special kind of attention.
Here at Tracen Academy, there were plenty of exceptional individuals, no shortage of young ladies from distinguished families.
And Agnes Tachyon was one of them, a particularly conspicuous presence among them.
Her grandmother was a champion of the Japanese Oaks, her mother an undefeated winner of the Oka Sho—as an Uma Musume, her pedigree alone was enough to secure her footing at Tracen.
If not for her eccentric words and deeds, Agnes Tachyon would undoubtedly be someone revered at Tracen, a figure combining both formidable ability and prestigious lineage.
Yet it was this very maverick who proposed the idea of taking her 'friend' home!
She'd never spoken to anyone about her family situation before.
Didn't this approach clash a bit with her usual behavior?
"Well now, Cafe, truth be told, I didn't want to make things so complicated either," Tachyon said, a playful lilt in her voice.
"But who could have guessed the 'friend's' identity would be so... peculiar? For her to enter Tracen through proper, legitimate channels, we'll need to fabricate the necessary documentation."
But for Agnes Tachyon, this sort of thing stretched far beyond her own capabilities.
Only by relying on her mother's connections would it be possible to pull it off.
And the prerequisite for that was the 'friend' having enough value to warrant her mother's intervention.
That's why, before formally making the request to her mother, Tachyon wanted the two to meet first.
"Hmm..."
The logic made sense.
But Manhattan Cafe still felt a tug of resistance deep inside.
Agnes Tachyon leading 'friend' to meet her parents... No matter how you looked at it, it carried a certain... special significance.
And would ordinary folks like them, upon meeting such a person, manage to avoid any breaches of etiquette that might cause offense?
Cafe had heard the manners in prestigious families were exceedingly strict.
Well, not that Agnes Tachyon herself had done anything to uphold that impression, of course.
Seemingly reading Cafe's reluctance, Tachyon continued, "It's not absolutely mandatory. But if you want 'Miss Friend' to stay at Tracen, the proper paperwork is essential."
"Otherwise, even dressed in that outfit, she'd still be considered an outsider. She can't be discovered by anyone within Tracen. What difference would there be, then, from her usual state of being?"
Only the final step remained.
To let 'Friend' live on at Tracen in human form.
After a long moment of silence, Manhattan Cafe finally nodded.
Her own reservations paled in comparison to the matter of 'Friend'.
"Then... let me go with you."
"What are you talking about, Cafe?" Agnes Tachyon's eyes curved into crescents. "You're coming along too."
"..."
Huh?
--+--
Chuo Ward, Tokyo. Towering buildings stood in the heart of the city. After stepping out of the car, the trio looked up at the skyscrapers blotting out the sky.
They were really here...
Though Chuo Ward wasn't terribly far from Tracen, it was on the same level as the Minato Ward where the URA headquarters was located—the most bustling district in all of Japan, the nation's economic and commercial center.
The Agnes residence was not far from the station, near the outer edges of the city center, within a walled-off estate.
After a few minutes' walk, they arrived before an ornate Western-style wrought-iron gate.
Tachyon pressed a button on the wall.
A few seconds later, a woman's voice came from within.
"Miss Tachyon!? Understood, opening the gate now."
With the hum of machinery, the iron gate slowly swung open, revealing a brick-paved path leading into the inner courtyard.
"I've almost forgotten how long it's been since I last came back..."
"Didn't you come home during breaks?"
"Too much trouble. And all my research materials are at the academy. I certainly don't have the energy to set up another lab here at home."
As they talked, the group made their way inside.
So nervous... Even more nervous than before a race.
Cafe's heart was pounding, thump-thump-thump, beating rapidly.
Especially knowing the other party was Tachyon's mother—it only heightened the tension.
Cafe thought silently, her gaze drifting sideways towards 'Friend' beside her.
She was wearing that same long-sleeved shirt and trousers, draped in the white overcoat.
Unlike herself, 'Friend' didn't seem particularly nervous, her expression as unreadable as ever.
Or was it that the mask hid her true face?
"What is it, Cafe?"
Sensing her stare, the girl asked.
She was capable of normal shifts in expression; the mask fit her features perfectly.
"It's nothing..." Cafe shook her head, her eyes stiffly shifting away from 'Friend'.
Her appearance alone was striking enough to catch anyone's eye. The thought that the person inside was 'Friend' made Cafe's heart practically ache.
Couldn't Tachyon have crafted a more... ordinary face?
Not that there was anything wrong with the current one.
On the contrary, it was too good, bordering on excessive! So much so that Cafe had to forcibly maintain her usual composure.
Placing a hand over her chest, Cafe took a deep breath, gradually calming herself.
Compared to 'Friend,' meeting Flora—Tachyon's mother—didn't seem quite as nerve-wracking anymore.
"She happens to be off duty today. A perfect opportunity for us. Miss this chance, and who knows when we'll see her next."
After all, Tachyon's mother also had her own busy schedule, with rarely a moment to spare.
They reached the mansion's front entrance. The door was already open, and a Uma Musume dressed in blue-gray attire stood at the threshold, nodding respectfully to Tachyon.
"A maid...?"
"Just hired help."
A house this big was a nightmare to clean. Temporary workers weren't reliable. An Uma Musume, adept at cleaning, meticulous, and physically strong, was the perfect fit.
With a wave of her hand, Tachyon strode without pause toward the second floor.
They stopped before a large door carved with intricate patterns.
This was her mother, Flora's, office.
Unless business matters required her to go out, she spent the rest of her time here.
Like right now.
Knock knock knock—
After rapping on the door and waiting for a response from within, Tachyon turned the handle.
The room's layout resembled the student council chamber. A coffee table for receiving guests stood in the middle, with a substantial desk placed centrally.
And the room's occupant sat in a chair, her back to the window.
Delicate features, a dignified demeanor, skin as smooth and fair as snow, and those intelligent crimson eyes so strikingly similar to Tachyon's own.
She looks so young...
So young it made one doubt she could be Tachyon's mother. Cafe would have believed it completely if someone said she was Tachyon's older sister.
"Tachyon?" Upon seeing who entered, the woman's eyes widened slightly.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.