By the time Kazuomi returned to his senses, he was already walking toward the dormitory.
The evening sky looked heavy and overcast.
Walking alone along the path to the staff residence, Kazuomi released a belated sigh.
He had spent the entire afternoon as an all-purpose servant.
He made tea, delivered water, carried documents, and ran errands whenever anyone called.
As his supervisor, Ms.
Tojo had remained in the office for barely half an hour before leaving for the senior division.
From beginning to end, she had shown no intention of instructing him.
She had completely ignored him.
With no idea what else to do, Kazuomi had obediently continued performing errands until the end of the workday.
“If Ms.
Tojo keeps making things difficult like this, what am I supposed to do?”
According to Senior Todo, everything after four o’clock was generally reserved for team training.
At that time, the trainers went to guide their Uma Musume.
Kazuomi, meanwhile, had sat alone in the office until the end of the day.
Before leaving, he had even cleaned the entire room.
If things continued like this, the situation would become more troublesome than any direct punishment.
Unfortunately, Kazuomi could not think of anything he could do.
Because it was their first day, the academy had dismissed the junior-division students early.
Many Uma Musume were using the opportunity to visit the nearest shopping center and purchase daily necessities.
Tracen Academy was a boarding school.
If Kazuomi remembered Ms.
Hayakawa’s explanation correctly, the students lived in two dormitories: Ritto and Miho.
Walking up the slope, Kazuomi felt unusually exhausted.
“Koji told me to return to the room at seven, didn’t he?”
The time was nearly right.
Dragging his tired body behind him, Kazuomi slowly returned to the dormitory.
He opened the door.
“Yo!
Welcome back.”
Colorful ribbons hung across the ceiling.
Cans of beer and bottles of juice covered the floor.
Koji appeared to be preparing something.
When he saw Kazuomi, he greeted him cheerfully and placed several containers of delivered food upon the table.
“What is all this?”
Kazuomi stared blankly at the room, which had been decorated for a party.
“What do you mean, what is it?
There’s a limit to how oblivious one person can be.”
Koji grinned.
“Though I suppose it was meant to be a surprise.”
“Newbie, this is a welcome party held especially for you.”
“What?”
“Your situation is a little unusual, and the beginning of the school year is the busiest period.”
Koji scratched his head.
“I figured the department probably wasn’t planning to arrange anything.”
“I’m idle anyway, so I decided to organize a small welcome party myself.”
He laughed and slapped Kazuomi’s shoulder.
“I caused you plenty of trouble over the last couple of days.
Consider this my apology.”
An indescribable warmth filled Kazuomi’s heart.
As an eighteen-year-old entering the workforce, he had endured more than a few contemptuous looks over the previous month.
He had never imagined anyone would hold a welcome party for him.
However—
“I told you to return at seven so I could surprise you, but since you came back early, you might as well help me finish preparing.”
Kazuomi stared at him.
He sighed.
“That really is exactly like you, Koji.”
“Quit complaining.
I spent a fortune tonight.”
Koji displayed the ingredients proudly.
“We’re having hot pot.
Look, I even bought premium wagyu slices.”
Kazuomi could certainly feel the sincerity behind the gesture.
There was merely one problem.
“You brought all the ingredients, but I don’t remember seeing a cooking pot in this room.”
“Or anything else we can use to cook them.”
The room became painfully silent.
Koji froze while holding a bag filled with expensive ingredients.
Kazuomi remained quiet for a moment.
Then he asked carefully:
“Senior Okino, you didn’t think about that part at all, did you?”
“O-of course I did!”
Koji laughed nervously.
“Don’t be ridiculous.
How could I possibly forget something like that?”
“Koji, you’re an idiot.”
“Shut up!
What kind of junior speaks to his senior like that?”
“It’s still the truth.”
“I can’t hear you!”
Koji hurriedly put on his shoes.
“A trivial problem like this is no match for the great Koji Okino.
Wait here.
I’ll obtain everything immediately.”
He rushed outside without even closing the door.
As a result, Kazuomi heard the entire conversation in the corridor.
“Ms.
Hayakawa!
Ms.
Hayakawa, are you there?
Could you help me with something?”
A door opened.
“What is it, Koji?”
“I remember that you own a cooking pot and other kitchen equipment.
Could I borrow them?”
A short time later, Koji raised both hands dramatically.
“And that is the situation!”
“As our welcome party’s special guest, please offer a warm reception to Ms.
Hayakawa!”
He cheered enthusiastically.
Kazuomi was the only audience member.
“I’m sorry for troubling you, Ms.
Hayakawa.”
Looking at Tazuna Hayakawa, who had arrived carrying a cooking pot and an induction plate, Kazuomi lowered his head gratefully.
“It is no trouble.”
She smiled sweetly.
“Besides, we are neighbors.
Whenever you encounter difficulties, you are always welcome to ask me for help.”
Looking at her smile, Kazuomi could think only one thing.
An angel.
She really is an angel.
Soon, the three of them gathered around a small square table.
The Japanese hot pot bubbled steadily, filled with an assortment of ingredients.
“Ahem.
Thank you all for attending today’s celebration to welcome Asama Kazuomi into the academy.”
Kazuomi raised his glass.
“First, allow me to—”
“Cheers, Ms.
Hayakawa!”
“Cheers!”
“Hey!
I wasn’t finished!”
Kazuomi gave up.
“Fine.
Cheers!”
They clinked their drinks together.
“Ahhh!
Nothing beats an ice-cold beer!”
Koji took a long drink.
“Beer with shredded squid is enough to make a man die without regrets.”
“Senior Koji, you sound like a forty-year-old salaryman drinking at an izakaya after work.”
“What kind of outdated television stereotype is that?”
Koji pointed his beer can at Kazuomi mockingly.
“I’m only twenty-six, brat!”
He laughed.
“You really are young.
You joined the academy before you were even old enough to drink.”
“You’re attending your own workplace welcome party with orange juice instead of alcohol!”
Something about the situation struck Koji as hilarious.
He slapped the table and held his stomach while laughing.
There was nothing Kazuomi could do about it.
Among the three of them, he was unquestionably the youngest.
Unlike the two men, Ms.
Hayakawa sat gracefully and sipped her beer in silence, smiling as she watched them bicker.
Rather than an official welcome party—
This felt more like a gathering of friends.
The academy had been busy preparing for the new school year.
The Uma Musume were holding welcoming parties of their own.
Kazuomi had almost forgotten that someone might welcome him as well.
Looking at the two people beside him, warmth spread through his heart.
Perhaps life at the academy would not be as difficult as he had imagined.
Today was a drinking party for the grown-ups.
Meanwhile—
“Excuse me.
Is this where I can add money to my academy card?”
Fine Motion produced her black card.
“Can I pay by card?”
The employee began sweating.
“Pardon?”
Fine Motion’s experiences with ordinary life were apparently destined to continue for quite some time.