The early morning sun hadn’t completely dispelled the night’s chill when Kitano was woken by a faint rustling sound.
He was a light sleeper, and the sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet morning.
He groggily opened his eyes, and by the faint light filtering through the window, he clearly saw a figure standing motionless at his room door.
Kitano’s sleepiness vanished instantly, his heart nearly leaping into his throat.
He focused his gaze and realized it was Oguri Cap, clutching her rice ball plushie.
She was wearing pajamas, her eyes a little hazy, looking not entirely awake.
“Cap?” Kitano called out tentatively.
Oguri Cap didn’t answer.
Instead, she slowly, as if sleepwalking, walked straight to his mini-fridge, skillfully opened it, pulled out a box of pudding, tore open the lid, and stood there, eating it in small bites.
Kitano: “…”
He watched, dumbfounded.
After she finished the pudding, he couldn’t help but ask in a hushed voice, “Hey!
Cap!
What on earth are you doing?
Sleepwalking?”
It was then that Oguri Cap seemed to fully awaken.
She turned her head, looking at Kitano with her clear blue eyes in the morning light, her tone as calm as if stating a fact.
“Mhm, I ate something, so now I can’t sleep anymore.”
Kitano nearly choked.
“No…
When did you develop this sleepwalking habit?
I’ve known you for so many years, how did I not know?!
And if you can’t sleep, you just come into my room and eat my pudding?!”
Oguri Cap tilted her head, seemingly puzzled by Kitano’s agitation.
“Pudding, very delicious.
None in my room.”
“But you can’t just…” Kitano rubbed his forehead, feeling his temples throb.
“Trying to reason with this girl is like talking to a brick wall!”
He waved his hand weakly.
“Alright, alright, out, out!
I need to get dressed and make breakfast!
If you sleepwalk in again next time, I’ll tie you to a chair!”
Oguri Cap said “Oh,” hugged her plushie, and obediently turned to leave, even closing the door behind her.
Kitano resignedly got up and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
He cooked rice porridge, fried eggs and bacon, and even made a bowl of loofah soup.
“Here, eat,” he said, setting the generous breakfast on the table.
Oguri Cap quietly began to eat, her speed as efficient as ever.
However, the bowl of loofah soup on the table seemed to be intentionally ignored, untouched.
Kitano noticed this and asked somewhat strangely, “What’s wrong?
Don’t you like loofah?”
Oguri Cap paused her chewing, looked up, and suddenly said, “Loofah soup, delicious, very fresh.” Though she hadn’t even taken a sip yet.
Kitano, hearing her praise his cooking, even though she hadn’t tasted it, still proudly raised his hand.
“Right, the secret to delicious loofah is to add a lot of MSG.
Because only with enough MSG does this loofah soup taste fresh enough.”
Surprise attack!
Oguri Cap put down her chopsticks, her blue eyes looking at him seriously, and with that classic, undeniable logic, she said, “Kitano-kun, you’re wrong.
Mother said to add sesame oil and MSG.”
“Wait…
the direction of this conversation…
why is it so familiar?!
It’s a causal loop, isn’t it?!”
He opened his mouth, trying to retort, “No…
I…
your logic isn’t right!” Didn’t you just say it was delicious?
Even though you didn’t even drink it!
Major surprise attack!
Oguri Cap had already picked up her chopsticks again, precisely snatching the last piece of bacon from the plate, while delivering the final blow in a factual tone.
“Kitano-kun, you speak too hastily.
Mother says you’re too heated, so you should drink more loofah soup.” She then slowly pushed the untouched bowl of loofah soup toward him.
Kitano: “…” He wondered if Oguri Cap didn’t want to drink it.
Could even a glutton have things she didn’t like to eat?
He looked at the bowl of green loofah soup in front of him, then at Oguri Cap across from him, who had a look that said, “I’m doing this for your own good.”
The two stared at each other, but Oguri Cap’s expression didn’t change at all; she even gave him a thumbs-up to encourage him.
He gave a wry smile, and finally, with a huff, scooped a large mouthful of loofah soup into his mouth, gritting his teeth as he said, “Fine!
I’ll drink it!
I’ll calm down!
Thank you very much!”
Oguri Cap gave a satisfied “Mhm,” and continued to focus on her breakfast, as if what had just transpired was nothing more than a perfectly normal, caring conversation.
After eating, she put down her chopsticks, looked at Kitano, and proposed the day’s itinerary: “Today, to the shrine.”
Kitano was clearing the dishes, and without looking up, he grumbled, “To the shrine again?
I’m telling you, Cap, what era is this?
Every end of holiday, it’s the same routine.
Can’t we do something new?
An amusement park, a movie theater, even just staring at the river would be fine!”
He waited for a long time without a response.
When he looked up, he saw Oguri Cap staring at him unblinkingly, her face expressionless, but her blue eyes watched him quietly, with an undeniable persistence.
“…Alright, alright,” Kitano, under her silent, stubborn gaze, once again predictably gave in, raising his hands in surrender, “Go, go, go, we’ll go now.
I must owe you from a past life.”
The two took the train to Meiji Jingu, a popular shrine in Tokyo.
A giant torii gate stood at the entrance, and lush trees lined the path, shielding them from the city’s noise, making the atmosphere solemn and sacred.
However, even in such an ancient and holy place, the unique characteristics of this world were deeply imprinted.
After purifying their hands and mouths at the temizuya, they walked toward the main hall.
Kitano noticed that Uma Musume elements were visible everywhere on the signboards and ema.
There was even a special prayer area specifically for Uma Musume and their fans, with a specialized prayer process:
Two bows, two claps: the same as a normal visit, bow twice.
Carrot coin: instead of traditional five-yen coins, throw in an Uma Musume-themed carrot-shaped coin or use the offering box with an Uma Musume design.
Three claps with a pause: after clapping twice, the third clap has a distinct pause in the air, symbolizing an Uma Musume’s final burst of energy before a sprint, then a deep bow.
Split-Time Omamori: the omamori sold at the shrine also kept up with the times, with one called Split-Time omamori, said to bless Uma Musume to achieve optimal speed at every stage of a race.
Looking at this omnipresent Uma Musume culture, Kitano felt nothing, and even wanted to laugh.
“Indeed, in this world, even the gods have to make way for Uma Musume.”
Oguri Cap, however, naturally followed this special process.
She carefully purified her hands, tossed in a carrot-patterned coin, then stood before the main hall, clasped her hands, closed her eyes, and began to pray.
Her expression was as calm and focused as ever, as if performing a very important task.
Kitano stood beside her, watching the devout people around them, most of whom were praying for a certain Uma Musume to achieve good results.
“Prayer…” He closed his eyes, and the first thought that flashed through his mind was also his truest desire.
“I hope that my future days can be as calm and uneventful as they are now.
Let me quietly listen to my music, play my games, fish, even though I always come back empty-handed, and please, no more getting involved in any trouble!”
He opened his eyes and glanced at Oguri Cap, who was still praying earnestly beside him, thinking that she was probably wishing to win races and enter the central circuit.
As if sensing his gaze, Oguri Cap also finished her prayer and opened her eyes.
“What did you wish for?” Kitano asked casually, purely to make conversation.
Oguri Cap turned to him and answered very directly and honestly: “To win the upcoming races, and enter the central circuit.
Then, I can often come to Kitano-kun’s place to play, and…
eat.”
Kitano: “…”
“Sure enough…
that last part was the main point, wasn’t it!” He couldn’t help but grumble, “Hey!
You’ve got something really strange mixed into your wish!
Also, why do coming to play and eat with me need special prayers to the gods?!”
“Because it’s very important,” Oguri Cap replied matter-of-factly.
After the visit, the two walked slowly through the shrine grounds, where ancient trees reached for the sky and the environment was serene.
Perhaps influenced by the tranquil atmosphere, they occasionally chatted about childhood anecdotes.
For example, Kitano’s first attempt at cooking, which resulted in a burnt pan, or Oguri Cap accidentally stepping into a mud pit while running in the fields…
those ordinary memories, unrelated to Uma Musume or fanaticism, that belonged only to the two of them.
Time passed quickly, and by the afternoon, it was finally time to see Oguri Cap off at the station.
Standing at the bustling station entrance, the relaxed holiday atmosphere gradually gave way to the emotions of departure.
Kitano handed her the packed clothes she had changed out of, her plushie, and several snack boxes he had prepared earlier.
“Alright, be careful on your way.
Remember to let me know when you arrive,” Kitano instructed.
“Mhm,” Oguri Cap took the items and hugged them.
“When you have your race,” Kitano looked at her, his tone a bit more serious, “I’ll be there, with your mother, cheering for you from the stands.”
Oguri Cap looked up, her blue eyes meeting his, and was silent for a few seconds.
The surrounding crowd and announcements were noisy, but her gaze was very focused.
She nodded gently, her voice soft but clear and firm:
“I will win.”
No grand pronouncements, no stirring declarations, just this calm statement, yet it carried an undeniable determination.
As if stating something that was bound to happen.
Then, she paused, and added a sentence, her tone carrying her unique persistence for important things:
“And then, I’ll come back to eat Kitano-kun’s cooking.”
Kitano looked at her like this and couldn’t help but smile, reaching out and this time successfully ruffling her hair.
She seemed not to dodge, perhaps due to the imminent departure.
“Good, when you win, I’ll make you a big feast.
Hurry in now, don’t miss your train.”
Oguri Cap gave him one last look, nodded, then, hugging her belongings, turned and merged into the station crowd.
Her yellow headpiece and silver-white long hair quickly disappeared from sight.
Kitano stood in place until her figure was completely out of sight, then let out a soft sigh.
The apartment, lively for several days, would now return to its quiet state.
However, thinking of her last words, “I will win,” a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.
“This girl…
sometimes, she’s truly reliable to the point of leaving people speechless.”
The last day of the holiday drew to a close amidst the shrine’s atmosphere, childhood memories, and a simple yet firm promise.
It really helps the fic grow!