“Rudolf, why is it so loud out there?” Just as Kaisoku was negotiating for her life, the other umamusume inside the council room picked up on the commotion at the door and came to investigate.
“Oh—is this the Toujou Kaisoku you were telling us about?”
Kaisoku looked up and saw a black-haired umamusume with a white strip of medical tape across the bridge of her nose.
The newcomer’s fame was on par with Rudolf’s own—another legendary Triple Crown winner.
Only five had ever pulled it off: former president Shinzan, Saint Lite, Mr.
C.B., Rudolf, and—
“Oh, Brian, your timing is perfect.
You remember where we slotted her dorm, right?
I can’t really step away just now—would you mind showing her over?” Rudolf brightened.
“Thanks for this.
When I’m done with the work on my desk, how about I treat you to parfait?”
“Parfait.
Mm…
I suppose I could.” Narita Brian gave a small nod.
“Miss Toujou Kaisoku, if you’d come with me for a moment.”
“Nar…
Narita Brian.” Kaisoku’s brain had now officially seized up.
The two umamusume standing in front of her were arguably the two biggest legends in the entire Japanese umamusume scene.
Drop in Mr.
C.B.
and you’d have the full Triple Crown trio debuting on the spot.
“Is every single member of the student council a monster?”
“Speaking of monsters, the one who drove you to Tōdai—Maruzensky—is probably a better fit for the word.
She’s never lost a race.” Rudolf offered.
“Race format limits her entries, but her ability really is top-tier.”
“True.
By comparison, I’m a Triple Crown winner, but my later races didn’t go well because of my injuries.” Narita Brian explained.
“All title and no substance—I think that’s probably the phrase that fits me best.
People like to say, ‘what if you hadn’t gotten hurt,’ but even if I hadn’t been hurt, the umamusume who came up after me were formidable.
I doubt I would have been able to beat them.”
“You’re doing it again.
Humility has limits, you know.” Rudolf patted her on the shoulder.
“Alongside Brian, the student council also has our third Triple Crown winner, Mr.
C.B.—or you can just call her Chiaki Representative, she doesn’t mind.
She doesn’t come around the council room much though, so I won’t bother introducing her.”
“The student council’s admission criteria, I see…” Kaisoku had very clearly registered exactly what class of monsters were stacked inside this room, and took a pale half-step back.
“Understood.
So this is the intimidation round.”
“Intimidation round?” Brian tilted her head.
“Speaking of, should we introduce Air Groove to her first?
She’s not here right now, but she should be back soon.”
“…Eh, maybe not necessary.
She’s bound to cross paths with Air Groove sooner or later.
That one has quite the personality.” Rudolf quietly turned her head away.
“If anything, Air Groove might leave an even deeper impression on her than she did on Gold Ship.”
“This child has that much potential?” Narita Brian’s expression turned to solemn respect.
“Truly a Tōdai girl.”
“Um…
you two…” Kaisoku could feel the misread deepening by the second.
“I feel I have to clear something up.
While I’m very pleased to be joining Tracen Academy—maybe—and pleased to be its exchange student, I should state upfront that I plan to focus primarily on my studies.
I’ll put my best into the track as well, but please don’t place too many expectations on me…”
“…Mm…
there it is…”
“Right?
This kid’s disposition is going to get a lecture—several lectures—from Air Groove.”
The two shared a knowing sigh, and Narita Brian in particular laid a weighty hand on Kaisoku’s shoulder.
“Saying that to us is fine.
But if you say it to Miss Air Groove, not even Rudolf can save you.”
“…Just who is this Miss Air Groove…” Kaisoku had crammed the basics of umamusume knowledge, but she really only knew a handful of Triple Crown winners and a few notable names like Oguri Cap.
Air Groove and Maruzensky weren’t among the names she’d covered.
She asked quietly.
“Is she a scary person?”
“Hmm, how to put this…
scary isn’t wrong exactly, but really she’s more of a deeply responsible person…” Rudolf explained.
“Anyway, let Brian take you to the dorm first—that way you can start moving your luggage over.
The new dormitory is still under renovation, so for the moment we’re putting you up in an apartment.
Don’t worry, water and electricity are covered, internet is already connected, and there are a few other students already living there.
You shouldn’t get lonely.”
“Understood.
I personally have no issues with that.” Kaisoku didn’t particularly care about living conditions. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
In her previous life, she’d survived a rental where the upstairs neighbors were enthusiastic late-night lovemakers, the hallway tenant was a rock-music fanatic, and the basement was a mahjong parlor—plus, outside the window, a chorus of horny alley cats and dogs.
You could have chanted the Great Compassion Mantra into her ear all night and she would have slept like a log.
A person only really discovers how tough they are by being pushed to find out.
Narita Brian walked Kaisoku out of the student council room, off campus, and about ten minutes up the road to a sizable apartment building.
Calling it an “apartment” was generous—it was only two stories.
The yard was full of flowers and herbs, the environment quiet, the school nearby.
The whole place looked a bit worn, but not unpleasantly so.
Kaisoku’s first impression was actually decent.
“Excuse the intrusion—” Narita Brian pushed the front door open.
Past the door was a roomy entryway, already home to two or three pairs of shoes.
Brian took a moment to note the arrangement of the shoes and quietly let out a relieved breath.
“Good, she’s out.”
“Who?” Kaisoku asked cautiously.
If the person in question was someone even a Triple Crown winner struggled with, there was no way in hell she was going to manage.
“Nothing…
you’ll meet her eventually.
Also lives here.” Brian’s non-answer stacked fresh anxiety on top of the old.
“The first floor has the kitchen and living room.
The fridge is usually stocked with plenty of food, and you’re free to help yourself—it’s all free.
If there’s something you’d like, you can write it on that whiteboard, and the manager will pick it up for you when she sees it.
Though—try not to write anything too expensive or too hard to find.
Our manager is surprisingly resourceful.
She’s just a little light on common sense.”
“Is the manager also an incredibly strong umamusume?” Kaisoku asked curiously.
“Since this is an all-umamusume residence.”
“She is.
Maybe you’ve heard of her.
Her name is Sakura Star O.” Brian nodded.
“Very responsible, loves taking care of kids, so I think the two of you will get along well.
You’re exactly the type she loves to look after.”
“…Oh.” Kaisoku nodded.
“Anyone I can have a normal conversation with is fine by me.”
“Exception—if the fridge ever contains something that strikes you as unbelievable, don’t be surprised.”
“…Why would you drop a chilling sentence like that out of nowhere…” Kaisoku snapped her head around.
“Don’t just casually make me start worrying—”
“It’s not that.
I’m purely informing you of something that might happen.” Brian sighed.
“Wish yourself luck.”
“At least tell me how I’m supposed to respond…” Kaisoku said, half-defeated.
“Pretend nothing happened?”
“Yes, pretend nothing happened.” Brian answered.
“At Umamusume Manor, that’s the way to survive.”
“I’m getting more anxious by the second…” Kaisoku shuddered.
“Well, it’s only temporary, so whatever.”
“And here—this side door leads to the courtyard.
The plants in there are all grown by Miss Star O and the other residents.
Some of them are pretty rare varieties, so if you don’t recognize one, it’s best not to touch it.” Brian opened the side door to reveal a small greenhouse.
“Take those carnivorous plants, for instance.
And those coffee plants…”
“Hold on a second—why are those things being grown in here.” Kaisoku was getting less calm by the minute.
“Who exactly are the residents here…”
“Some of them are for research.
Oh, and the plants on your left are highly poisonous, so don’t go touching them.”
“You could’ve led with that!” Kaisoku scrambled away from the lethal specimen and silently chanted her Ice Heart Sutra to steady her nerves.
When she and Narita Brian came to the corridor, Brian pointed at one specific door.
“This is the room you absolutely should not enter.
No matter what.
Even if it explodes in there, stay out.”
“…Explodes?”
“Yes.
Explodes.”
“Why would there be—”
“Right, let’s head upstairs…”
“Don’t just brush it off and keep walking up the stairs!” Kaisoku was starting to think her social anxiety was being actively cured by sheer necessity.
Of everything on this planet, the one thing she hated most was someone cutting off a sentence right when—
“This is the second floor—the main living area.
Your room is the second on the left.
There’s a bathroom on each floor, with a bathtub for soaking.
Internet is already set up.” Brian opened the door and showed Kaisoku in.
“Miss Star O has been cleaning this room once a day ever since we knew you were coming, so it should be spotless.”
“…Phew.
“By the way—who’s my neighbor?”
“…”
“Why did you go quiet?” Kaisoku could all but see a crimson DANGER flag sprouting over her head.
“Brian-sempai!
Say something!”
“Well, that side is Miss Manhattan Cafe’s room.
She’s an outstanding upperclassman who loves coffee.
Not particularly talkative—she likes to space out.
I think you two will find some common ground.” Brian explained.
“Just—if you happen to hear any strange noises from next door, please don’t pay them any mind.”
“…What exactly is going to happen?”
“You’ll know when the time comes.”
“Please tell me RIGHT NOW!”
“And this side—also a neighbor, also your upperclassman.
A science genius so exceptional she defies description.
Before you showed up, she was the top academic performer among us umamusume.
Her name is Agnes Tachyon.
The one in the white lab coat—that’s her.
Everything captures her curiosity, and capability-wise she’s on another level entirely.” Brian ignored Kaisoku’s distress and kept going.
“That room downstairs I told you not to enter?
That’s her lab.
Aside from Manhattan Cafe, my recommendation is that nobody else go in there—”
“…Oh, so it’s just a lab.
That actually makes sense—you wouldn’t want outsiders wandering into a lab.
The way Brian-sempai said it earlier, I thought—”
“…Sure, go ahead and think that.”
“What the hell is actually being researched in that lab?!
Banned substances?!”
“Who knows…” Brian deflected yet again.
“Aside from them, there are a few more umamusume already in residence.
Your yearmates.
I hope you get along with them.”
“…I’ll try my best.” Kaisoku was starting to dread what her future life here was going to look like.
“At minimum—tell me their names?”
“Gold Ship.
Next to her is her bloodline sibling, Orfevre.
In the innermost room is Miss Agnes Digital.” Brian wrapped up, then added, “They all have distinct personalities.
But they have no ill will toward anyone—you can relax.”
“Nothing you’ve said so far is letting me relax at all…” Kaisoku had been wrung completely into the straight-man role by Brian.
“Since it’s temporary, fine, I’ll deal.
Let me go grab my luggage.
And I’ll introduce myself to the manager—Sakura Star O-sempai, correct?”
“Correct.
Good luck out there.” Brian smiled and gave her a small wave.
“Until next time.”
“Yes, until next time, mean-spirited Brian-sempai.” Kaisoku waved her off and immediately dialed Satono Diamond.
The moment Diamond’s worried voice came through the receiver, the heart that had been lodged in Kaisoku’s throat finally settled back into place.
“Dia…
I miss you already…”
“Same here…” Satono Diamond asked.
“How is it?
Which dorm are you in?
Maybe we’ll end up in the same one after all.
I’m at Pudong Dorm, by the way.”
“…Me, I’m at Umamusume Manor.” Kaisoku paused.
“The living conditions themselves are fine, but some other aspects are…
giving me pause.
If it’s not too much trouble, I’m going to come grab my luggage now.
These last few days crashing at your place—really, thank you so much.”
“Honestly, you could stay longer and it wouldn’t be a problem—” Diamond answered instantly.
“Though school’s back, so yeah, it’d be a bit of a commute.
Okay—I’ll wait for you at home.”
“Mm.
I’ll head right over—” Kaisoku was about to head downstairs when she heard a soft thud from the floorboards.
She turned her head and looked toward the unlit end of the corridor, dimmed in shade—and saw nothing.
“What’s up?
Little Toujou?”
“…Nothing.
Probably just hearing things.” Kaisoku shook her head and trotted down the stairs.
And in that same instant, in the empty air of the corridor, a small ball bounced once more against the floor—accompanied by a young girl’s unsettling little giggle.
Tee hee…