"We should be safe now that we've made it this far."
"Whew... that was scary. You're carrying me, so could you at least slow down a bit?"
"Sorry, sorry. I was just going all out too."
Digital-san doesn't seem to be chasing us anymore. Looks like we managed to get away.
Anyone would run if they got that close on first sight. I'd run too. Actually, I did run.
"But seriously, that was amazing. True-chan and the other Uma Musume are running at that speed, huh? What an experience."
"I don't think it's that great."
"No, it was incredible! I could understand the speed Uma Musume run at not with words, but with my heart! Thanks, True-chan."
"Well, you're welcome?"
Saying that, I checked my watch. 11:30 AM. Time for lunch.
"Hey, Nana, shouldn't we grab lunch soon? I've been running since morning and I'm starving."
"Yeah, you're right. True-chan has a race at 1 PM. Hey! How about we go to the school cafeteria?"
"Sure, sounds good. Let's go then."
We arrived at the cafeteria and looked at the menu. Wow. It's got everything, Japanese and Western styles mixed together.
But... what exactly is a carrot hamburger? Is the carrot chopped up like onions?
"True-chan! The carrot hamburger is recommended! Try it once! It's delicious!"
"Huh, okay then, that carrot hamburger for me too! ...Two, please."
While waiting for our order, I glanced around... I wish I hadn't. The first thing that caught my eye was the Umamusume girls shoveling down insane amounts of food without a second thought.
For a second, I thought I'd walked into a competitive eating school. Ordering that much means they eat that much normally?
Just watching them made me feel full, so I looked away... That carrot hamburger isn't what I thought it was, right? From the looks of it, it's just a hamburger with a carrot stuck in it.
I refuse to believe that's a carrot hamburger. It must have ended up like that as a topping.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, here's your carrot hamburger."
"Haaah..."
My words caught in my throat. So that thing I saw earlier was the carrot hamburger? Literally, it's correct, but my rational mind refuses to accept it.
Nana, help me.
"Oh, here it is! Looks delicious!"
"Y-yeah... I guess..."
Right, Nana was on that side too. Giving up on everything, I sat down at the empty seat.
"Let's eat!"
"I'll eat too..."
How do you even eat this? I'll just watch how Nana eats it first.
"Mmm! Delicious!"
Is that how you eat carrots? I never thought you'd eat them like cucumbers.
...Ah, what the heck! When in Rome, do as the Romans do! Let's eat!
"Huh, it's surprisingly tasty."
"Right? Right! The first bite is a shock because of how it looks, but once you try it, the carrots are easy to eat and the hamburger patty goes great with them!"
Her explanation made it sound like the carrots were the main thing... but I didn't dwell on it and kept eating.
"We're done eating."
"True-chan. It's getting late, shouldn't we head to the field soon?"
Hearing that, I checked my watch. 12:30 PM. Yeah, we really should go soon.
"Yeah, but can I go change first?"
"Sure. I'll head to the field and wait for you."
"Okay. I'll be right there."
"Oh crap."
This is the biggest crisis of the year. I shouldn't have told Nana to go ahead.
To be perfectly honest, I'm hopelessly lost. The problem is that the scenery here all looks the same.
Well, time is running out faster than I thought, so I'll call Nana for help.
T-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-
Well then... I'll ask one of the Uma Musume wearing the school uniform here for help.
"Excuse me—"
"Sorry! I just got a distress signal from Gorgor Star! See you later!"
And with that, she was gone. ...Guess there really are only weirdos here? She was talking about Gorgor Star and stuff. As I sighed so loudly it was almost comical, a voice called out from behind me.
"What's up with you, sighing like that? Got a problem?"
Hope appeared. The first normal-looking Uma Musume I'd seen at this academy was right in front of me.
"Yeah. I was trying to get to the field, but I got lost."
"Oh? So you're here for the practice race, huh?"
"Yeah. But I'm running out of time."
"Well then, I'll show you the way. What time does it start?"
I grabbed onto hope. It felt like Kanda-ta grabbing a spider's thread in hell.
"Thank you so much! I heard the race starts at 1 PM."
"Then we'd better run or we'll be late. You better keep up!"
"Y-yeah, sure~!"
How many times would I have to run today? At least one more time... I just hoped it wouldn't mess up my deliveries.
"Are you keeping up!? YOU!"
"Yes!"
...Huh. I was just running to show her the way at first, but she's got some stamina. Alright, let's pick up the pace a bit.
She's not falling behind. Well, not many can keep up with my legs anyway. Whoops, gotta turn here.
After this turn, I'll ease up a little. It'd be cruel to keep pushing her like this... What!?
"Huh...!"
Not only is he not falling behind, she's closing the gap!? Who the hell is this guy?!
Fine! If that's how it is, I'll test her to the limit! We've still got distance to the field!
"Slow."
Even if you're changing clothes, isn't this taking too long? Only five minutes left until start time!
"All participants in the Rigil mock race, gather here!"
Oh no, oh no! Roll call has started! Hurry up and get here! ...Did you get lost or something?
No, if that happened, you'd have contacted me. But why haven't you contacted me? ...You didn't put your phone on silent, did you?
Of course you did! I had a missed call from True-chan. Why didn't I answer, you idiot me!
"Trueno Sprinter, Trueno Sprinter? Are you here?"
They're calling Trueno's name. Oh no, please hurry up and get here!
"Haa... Haa... Sorry for making you wait, Nana!"
"T... True-chaaan!"
She finally made it. But it was cutting it super close!
"Roll call's already started, hurry! It's over there!"
"Okay, got it! Um, thanks for the directions!"
Saying that, True-chan headed down into the venue.
"Gasp... gasp... gasp... You... you're friends with her?"
"Ta... Tamamo Cross-san!? Y-yes, I suppose so."
I never expected to meet Tamamo Cross-san here! But why is she so exhausted?
"Well then, I've got a question, wheez... Where does that guy go to race training!?"
Tamamo Cross-san pressed me with intense pressure as she asked.
"No, ...True-chan is my classmate and doesn't do race training."
"Then which racing school is she going to!?"
This time she grabbed my shoulders and shook me while asking. What on earth is she so worked up about?
"She shouldn't be going anywhere... Is something wrong with True-chan?"
"...Oh, I see. Sorry for being so rough."
When I answered like that, Tamamo Cross seemed to calm down, let go of my shoulders, and apologized.
"No, no, don't worry about it! More importantly, did you do something, True-chan?"
"No... I didn't do anything."
"Is that... so..."
After saying that, Tamamo cross-san froze, staring fixedly at the field.
...That look on Tamamo cross-san's face... What on earth happened?