Air Groove doesn't take care of herself.
Anyone who has had even slight contact with Air Groove understands this.
And Manchester Cafe, who has recently had to keep pace with Air Groove, understands this best.
As for why it became like this...
The story has to start a few days ago.
Looking at the rejected classroom application in her hand, Manchester Cafe was silent for a few seconds.
The reason for the rejection of the empty classroom application was that coffee-related items alone were not enough to warrant the use of an empty classroom.
Therefore, under such circumstances, it was only natural for Manchester Cafe's application to be rejected.
Then she saw Air Groove, who had also failed her application again.
Air Groove's reason for continuing to apply was that she needed something to cover up her basement laboratory.
And compared to that matter, for Air Groove, she was more focused on her soon-to-be-completed underground laboratory.
Thinking about this, Air Groove was silent for a few seconds.
Clearly, after the underground laboratory was built, Air Groove would need another way to cover up what she was doing.
Then, she saw Manchester Cafe, who had also failed to apply for a classroom.
After that, the two of them began their fateful connection.
Although Manchester Cafe wished to describe this relationship as a 'bad karma', considering that the other party had indeed found a highly feasible method for her, she decided not to say anything more.
Then, after a few days of synchronized actions...
The two of them finally completed the application for the empty classroom and its subsequent arrangement.
Although moving things was not a strenuous task for an Uma Musume.
However, many of the items Air Groove needed to move were precision instruments, making the handling quite difficult.
It was precisely because of this that the allocation of space in the empty classroom also took a lot of effort.
Then, after taking care of the other person for a few days, Manchester Cafe finally raised a question:
"I want to know..."
A slight sound attracted Air Groove's attention. She looked at Manchester Cafe, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.
"How did you survive?"
The overly blunt question made Air Groove pause for a second, then she spoke: "Occasionally someone takes care of me, but sometimes I also go out to eat."
"Oh."
Without much response, Manchester Cafe walked to the other side and began to tinker with coffee.
And watching Manchester Cafe with her back to her, Air Groove just pinched her chin: "I need a guinea pig for an experiment, Cafe, won't you try?"
"Refuse."
The overly direct invitation was met with an equally direct refusal.
And hearing such a refusal, Air Groove just narrowed her eyes slightly.
She was not a docile person; after all, compared to herself, who still needed to continue her research, it would be more suitable for someone else to be the guinea pig.
So, when the other party refused, Air Groove had already begun to consider the possibility of secretly drugging her.
However... since it was a companion who helped apply for the classroom, she would just prepare some prank-like potions.
Thinking this, Air Groove turned around, "You shouldn't need help anymore, right?"
"No need."
Hearing this, Air Groove didn't say much, simply leaving the newly arranged empty classroom directly.
Ignoring what Manchester Cafe planned to do in that empty classroom next, Air Groove now only wanted to find a place to eat.
After all, Air Groove, with her limited ability to live independently, simply couldn't cook, even if Air Digital, who shared her dorm, could manage it.
But occasionally, Air Groove didn't really want to go back.
And the last point.
As an Uma Musume who had to retire in her classic year, compared to Air Digital or other Uma Musume, Air Groove's meal times were not fixed every day.
In other words, many times, she might miss meal times.
So, under such circumstances, Air Groove's options were not that many.
Therefore, at a completely inappropriate time, Air Groove left Tracen Academy and came to the nearby Shopping Street.
As someone who had been resting at Tracen Academy for some time, Air Groove could basically figure out which restaurants nearby were good.
So, familiar with the route, she just walked along the street, finally arriving at the entrance of the best-reviewed restaurant on the Shopping Street.
Pushing open the restaurant door.
There weren't many people in the restaurant.
This was probably because Air Groove arrived at a slightly off time.
However, fewer people was actually a good thing for Air Groove.
After all, every time she got there, she was already starving.
"Manager, the usual."
Sitting at the counter, Air Groove simply ordered a dish from Tokai.
And seeing Air Groove say this, Tokai just turned her head to look at her: "Did you do another experiment and lose track of time?"
"This time it was setting up the laboratory. The application for the previous laboratory was rejected, so..."
At this point, Air Groove waved her hand: "But this time the application was successful, so rearranging it took some time."
Saying this, Air Groove looked at Tokai: "Manager, aren't you going to be my guinea pig either?"
Air Groove brought this up mainly because one time when she came here, she saw Tokai taking medicine.
And then... Air Groove slowly started to 'bother' Tokai.
Facing Air Groove's question, Tokai just shook her head: "My body is slowly getting better, I don't need to be your guinea pig."
Saying this, Tokai first served a small side dish to the other party: "Have this to tide you over for now."
Looking at the side dish Tokai placed in front of her, Air Groove didn't think much, just pulled out a pair of disposable chopsticks from the chopstick holder, and then said: "Manager, are you really not worried?"
"Can't you just eat your side dish properly?"
After a casual reply, Tokai continued: "Oh, by the way, there's a new dessert. Want to try it?"
"Sure, order one."
After responding, Air Groove continued, sounding almost like a complaint: "But now there's someone monitoring the lab, so it'll be more troublesome to do anything."
"Isn't this good? It prevents you from catching guinea pigs or doing anything dangerous."
"Is that what Shopkeeper Yayoi is worried about?"
"No, I just think you might get arrested for doing that."
After speaking, Tokai placed a belated lunch in front of Air Groove: "Your lunch."
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