"This place?" I am Invincible asked, craning her neck as they stopped in front of a wide, polished building tucked neatly between two busy streets. Large windows revealed warm lighting and long tables inside, already occupied by more than a few silhouettes.
Air Groove gave a short nod. "An all-you-can-eat buffet. Balanced menus. Portions designed for high-calorie intake without wrecking recovery."
"…So," More Than Ready blinked, "heaven?"
"For Uma Musumes," Rudolf added mildly.
They stepped inside together, the scent of grilled meat, steamed rice, and fresh bread immediately washing over them. The place was lively but not chaotic—plates clinking, low chatter.
Autumn Sun looked around, impressed. "The owner must be a really big fan of Uma Musume," she said. "I mean… opening a place like this just for us?"
Air Groove and Rudolf slowed—just slightly.
They exchanged a look.
Then, almost in sync, both of them let out a soft, knowing sigh.
That alone made several heads turn.
"…What?" Persian asked, suspicious.
"You'll see," Air Groove replied, tone even but unmistakably loaded.
That did not help.
They moved further inside—and that was when Lunar stopped walking.
Her eyes locked onto something ahead.
It took her a second to process what she was seeing.
A gray figure sat at one of the largest tables near the back, almost completely hidden behind a literal mountain of plates. Bowls stacked atop bowls. Empty platters pushed aside to make room for new ones. Steam rose lazily from freshly served dishes.
Namawa froze. "…Woah."
Invincible Caviar stared. "…No way."
"There's no way," she repeated, incredulous. "She eats more than you."
Namawa whipped around. "HEY—!"
She punctuated the protest by punching Invincible Caviar square in the backside, not hard enough to hurt but definitely hard enough to make a point.
"Ow—! What was that for?!"
"For doubting my potential!"
Black Caviar sighed into her mask at the sight. "Settle down, you two."
Rudolf, meanwhile, rubbed her temple like a woman who had seen this exact scene play out too many times already. She walked forward calmly, stopping beside the table.
"Are you eating alone, Oguri Cap?" she asked.
The name hit like a dropped plate.
The gray figure shifted. Slowly—very slowly—she lifted her head.
Oguri Cap finally came into view.
Slim, well-defined features that didn't quite line up with the sheer volume of food in front of her. Ash-gray hair fell straight down her back, long and unbothered, matching horse ears flicking lazily as she chewed. Her blue eyes were sharp even while unfocused, as if she were always half-thinking about something else. Her expression was calm to the point of unreadable—either hiding a great deal, or genuinely holding nothing at all.
Probably the latter..
"Nah," Oguri said, voice muffled around whatever she was eating. "Ama's in da bafhroom."
She gestured vaguely with her chopsticks toward the hallway, knocking over a stack of empty plates in the process.
They clattered loudly.
Silence followed, and an out of soul scream in the background. Probably from the owner of the place.
Lunar stared.
So did Saiya. Persian. Namawa. Invincible Caviar. Even More Than Ready looked genuinely stunned.
"…That's actually Oguri Cap." Saiya whispered, awe and disbelief tangled together as she took in the infamous name paired with the absurdly mundane sight.
Oguri blinked at the gathered crowd, finally swallowing. She looked around, processing the number of people now standing there.
"Oh," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Did you guys wanna sit too?"
She nudged an entire pile of plates aside to make room.
Somehow, there was still space.
Rudolf smiled—tired, fond, entirely unsurprised.
And just like that, lunch became something no one was going to forget.
-
Tamamo Cross returned a moment later, drying her hands on a napkin as she stepped back into the dining area.
She stopped short.
Her eyes swept over the scene in front of her—the once-quiet table now somehow extended, pushed and rearranged to fit an entire group of unfamiliar faces. Plates and trays had multiplied like they were breeding. Voices overlapped with each other.
Tamamo's ears twitched.
"…Huh?"
Her gaze shifted first to Oguri.
Oguri was, predictably, still eating. Entirely unbothered by the sudden increase in population around her.
Then Tamamo looked to the side—and met Symboli Rudolf's eyes.
Rudolf offered her a small, composed nod, already stepping forward before Tamamo could say anything.
"My apologies for the intrusion," Rudolf said smoothly. "We happened to be visiting for lunch and noticed Oguri sitting by herself. As such, we decided to join her. I hope you don't mind."
Tamamo blinked once.
Then twice.
She glanced back at Oguri, who lifted her chopsticks in a brief, wordless greeting before shoveling another bite into her mouth.
Tamamo exhaled and shrugged, expression relaxing almost immediately. "Nah, s'fine," she said easily. "Long as ya don't try ta steal her food."
Oguri paused mid-bite.
"…I will fight," she said flatly.
Tamamo snorted. "See?"
She turned back to Rudolf, eyes sharp but curious now. "So… who're all these folks?"
Rudolf smiled, clearly pleased to oblige. "Let me introduce them, do take a seat first."
Tamamo crossed her arms, satisfied. "Alright then. Guess lunch just got louder."
She dragged out a chair, dropped into it, and was already reaching for her chopsticks like the matter was settled. And just like that, the table felt complete.
Rudolf's smile lingered, calm and assured, as she adjusted the introductions.
"These are colleagues and newly found friends, they are visitors from Australia." she said, gesturing lightly. "You already know Air Groove, of course."
Air Groove inclined her head toward Tamamo. "It's been a while."
Tamamo's grin turned sharp and familiar. "Heh. Yeah. Didn't think I'd be runnin' into you while you were babysittin', though."
Air Groove didn't even blink. "Circumstances change."
That earned a short, amused laugh from Tamamo. "Ain't that the truth."
Rudolf continued, motioning to the others. "Autumn Sun. Written Tycoon."
Autumn Sun offered a gentle smile, bowing slightly. "It's nice to finally meet you."
Tamamo tilted her head, studying her for a second before nodding. "Got a real calm air 'bout ya. I like that."
Written Tycoon followed with a small, composed nod. "I've heard… quite a lot about you."
Tamamo's ears flicked. "Oh? Long as it ain't all complaints."
"Mixed," Written Tycoon replied evenly as she reached for her plate. "But impressive."
Tamamo hummed, clearly pleased. "I'll take that."
Rudolf gestured next. "More Than Ready."
More Than Ready leaned forward immediately, beaming. "Hi! Wow, it's actually you. I've watched your races—like, a lot. You're amazing."
Tamamo blinked once, then laughed. "Whoa, easy there. Ya're gonna make me blush before I even eat."
She pointed her chopsticks playfully at her. "But hey, thanks. Glad ya enjoyed the show."
Rudolf shifted her hand again. "And I Am Invincible."
I Am Invincible gave Tamamo a respectful nod, eyes bright with recognition. "It's an honor. One of my kids is a huge fan."
She shot a brief, knowing side-eye toward Invincible Caviar.
Tamamo caught it immediately.
"Oh?" Her ears perked up as she leaned forward, grin widening. "Now that's somethin' I like ta hear."
Rudolf's hand paused just slightly before she gestured to the last adult at the table.
"And Black Caviar," she said, a note of knowing in her voice. "I'm sure you know her."
Tamamo's attention snapped fully to Black Caviar then.
Even seated and eating, Black Caviar carried herself with a quiet, unmistakable weight. She met Tamamo's gaze without hesitation.
Tamamo's grin sharpened.
"…Yeah," she said slowly, and for just a second, something electric flared around her—competitive, bright, alive. "I know her."
Oguri paused mid-bite.
Tamamo leaned back slightly, eyes gleaming. "I've always enjoyed your races. Those blue lightning flashes of yours—ain't half bad." Her grin widened. "Been wonderin' how they'd look crashin' head-on with mine."
A faint smirk curved on Black Caviar's face. "Perhaps," Black Caviar replied calmly, "in another time."
Tamamo laughed, satisfied, and finally picked up her chopsticks. "Heh. Figures."
Oguri immediately resumed eating, clearly deciding the moment was over.
Tamamo's eyes drifted then, sharp and curious, toward the fillies clustered further down the table.
Rudolf noticed and was just about to speak when—
"Allow me," Black Caviar said calmly.
"These girls are under my care," she continued, resting a hand briefly on the back of Lunar's chair before moving on. "My kids."
Tamamo's ears twitched.
"…Kids?" she repeated slowly.
Her eyes slid from Black Caviar, down the line of girls—catching snippets of conversation.
"Mommy—can I get more juice?"
"Aunt Autumn, look—"
"Mommy, Saiya stole my skewer."
Tamamo leaned back in her chair, grin spreading wide and sharp, equal parts teasing and delighted.
"Ohooo," she drawled. "So that's how it is."
Black Caviar frowned. "How what is."
Tamamo waved a chopstick lazily. "C'mon, don't play dumb. Different kids, different moms, all sittin' together like it's tha most natural thing in tha world." She smirked. "Looks like a whole harem setup ta me."
Rudolf let out a soft chuckle before she could stop herself. Air Groove turned her head just slightly, shoulders lifting enough to betray a quiet laugh.
Black Caviar sputtered.
"H—That's not—" She coughed, clearing her throat as her ears burned. "That is not what this is."
Tamamo leaned forward just enough to reach her and gave her shoulder a friendly pat—arm stretching noticeably upward due to the height difference.
"Easy, easy," she said with a grin. "Ain't sayin' it's a bad thing." Her tone softened, teasing. "Someone as charismatic as ya? Course people'd stick around."
She paused, eyes drifting sideways.
"…'Sides. I know someone kinda similar."
Her gaze landed squarely on Oguri.
Oguri was still chewing, eyes unfocused, clearly lost in thought.
"…What's a harem?" she asked after a long moment. "Does it taste good?"
Tamamo pinched the bridge of her nose. "See? That one." She sighed. "At least ya aint clueless 'bout it."
Black Caviar couldn't help it. A quiet amusement slipped out before she could stop herself.
Tamamo leaned back in her chair, lacing her fingers behind her head, looking far too pleased with herself. "Alright, alright," she said, grin wide and easy. "Go on then. Introduce 'em proper."
Black Caviar gave her a look—half warning, half resignation—then nodded and started down the table.
"Persian," she said first. "Written Tycoon's."
Persian straightened immediately, posture crisp and practiced without feeling stiff.
"Good afternoon," she said. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Tamamo gave her a slow once-over, ears flicking. "Well-mannered, sharp eyes… yeah, I' can see it. Got that serious vibe."
Oguri, still eating, added without looking up, "She eats really neatly..."
Persian blinked once, clearly unsure how to respond. "…Thank you?"
Black Caviar moved on, wisely.
"Namawa. And Invincible Caviar. Both I Am Invincible's."
Namawa shot her hand up and waved enthusiastically, nearly knocking her elbow into the table.
"Hi! This place is amazing. I love it already. The food smells and tastes so good!"
Invincible Caviar crossed her arms, standing a little straighter as she faced Tamamo. "I know who you are," she said plainly. "Um.. I'm a fan of yours..."
Tamamo's grin sharpened, something proud glinting in her eyes. " Ya've got good eyes, kid."
Black Caviar continued before things spiraled. "Anonym. Autumn Sun's."
Anonym gave a small bow, half-hidden behind Autumn Sun's arm. "Nice to meet you."
Tamamo softened instantly. "Aw. Look at that. Cute and polite. Dangerous combo. Reminds me of ma' own little siblings back home."
Black Caviar shifted, then gestured again. "Saiya is—"
Tamamo snapped her fingers suddenly, eyes lighting up as she pointed down the table.
"These two," she said, indicating Lunar and Saiya sitting side by side—then flicked her finger toward More Than Ready.
"They're her's, right? She's tha only one left—gotta' be hers."
The table went still. Black Caviar paused.
"…No," she said quietly. "Saiya's mother was my late wife Schnitzel." Her voice stayed even, but the words carried weight. "She passed away due to complications during Saiya's birth."
The change was immediate.
Rudolf's expression softened, her usual composure giving way to something gentler. Air Groove straightened, eyes lowering in respect.
"I'm sorry," Rudolf said sincerely.
"…My condolences," Air Groove added, voice low.
Even Oguri stopped chewing. She swallowed, set her chopsticks down, and said simply, "Sorry."
Tamamo—who had been mid-smirk—froze.
"…Oh."
Then, without warning—
Thud.
She was out of her chair and on her knees, palms smacking the floor, head bowing so fast it nearly hit the tiles.
"AH—SORRY—! I DIDN'T KNOW—! THAT WAS WAY OUTTA LINE—! REAL SORRY—LIKE, SUPER SORRY—!"
Every head at the table snapped toward her.
"Tamamo," Rudolf sighed, already rubbing her temple. "Please—"
Black Caviar was on her feet immediately. "It's alright," she said firmly but gently. "Please, get up. We're not offended."
Tamamo didn't budge.
"NO—! THIS AIN'T A LIGHT APOLOGY—! I DONE MESSED UP PROPER—!"
Before Black Caviar could say another word, Saiya slipped out of her chair. She walked around the table, crouched down, and gently wrapped her arms around Tamamo's shoulders.
"Um, It's okay," Saiya said softly. "Really big sis Tamamo. You didn't mean anything bad."
Tamamo froze. Then her ears drooped.
"…Yer too nice," she croaked, voice cracking as tears welled up instantly. "That ain't fair, y'know—bein' that nice—makes this big sis feel even more awful—"
Oguri leaned over the table, peering down at her with quiet concern. "She cries fast."
"I DO NOT—!" Tamamo sniffed loudly, scrubbing at her eyes with her sleeve.
Black Caviar cleared her throat gently, drawing the attention back before Tamamo could spiral any further. She glanced to her side, then rested a hand lightly on Lunar's shoulder.
"And this is Lunar," she said.
Lunar stiffened immediately, shoulders drawing in just a little.
Black Caviar hesitated for the briefest moment—then continued, her voice calm and measured.
"She isn't my daughter by blood. She's the child of a dear friend." Her fingers curled faintly where they rested. "Her mother passed away recently. There were… no other known family members who could take her in."
A quiet pause. "So I did."
The table fell silent again—but this time, it wasn't awkward. It was heavy.
Rudolf's eyes widened slightly, her composed expression softening in a way that rarely showed.
"…I see," she said quietly. "That's… no small responsibility."
Air Groove inclined her head, jaw set, voice low but sincere. "You have my respect. Both of you."
Tamamo stared.
Her ears slowly lifted, then drooped again.
"…Eh?" she said faintly. "Wait. Hold on."
A heartbeat passed.
Then—
"WAAAAAH—!!"
She slammed both hands on the table as tears instantly welled up, voice shooting straight into dramatic despair. "WHY'S EVERYONE GOT TRAGEDY-LVL BACKSTORIES—?! THIS WAS S'POSED TA BE LUNCH—JUST LUNCH—!"
Oguri stopped eating. Her chopsticks unmoved on the table. Her blue eyes shimmered, lower lip trembling just a touch.
"…That's really sad, It makes me want to cry…" she said, tears pooling in her eyes.
Lunar shrank under the sudden focus, cheeks warming as every pair of eyes turned toward her. She lifted her hands quickly, flustered.
"I—I'm really okay," she said, voice soft but steady. "Please don't feel bad." She bowed her head slightly, then looked back up, earnest. "Aunt Nel's been taking really good care of me. Everyone has."
Her gaze drifted around the table—Saiya, Anonym, the others—and she managed a small, shy smile.
"I'm… really lucky."
Tamamo looked at her.
Really looked.
And absolutely lost it.
"DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT—!" she wailed, tears streaming as she half-stood, half-leaned over the table. "QUIT BEIN' SO STRONG—YA LIL' THING—Y'GONNA SHATTER YA BIG SIS'S HEART—!"
Oguri nodded solemnly, eyes still wet. "So strong..."
Rudolf cleared her throat—soft, measured, the kind of sound that gently pulled a room back into balance.
"Alright," she said, her smile warm but composed. "Let's all take a breath. This was meant to be lunch, not an emotional endurance test."
Air Groove nodded once, already reaching for her chopsticks again. "Food first. Processing later."
That did the trick.
Tamamo sniffed loudly one last time, dragging her sleeve across her face with zero grace. "F-fine. But I'm sayin' this ain't fair on my heart."
Oguri had already resumed eating. She chewed steadily, expression neutral, though a few stray tears still slipped down her cheeks and landed on the table.
"…Salty," she murmured, as if evaluating the flavor.
"DON'T REVIEW THE TEARS," Tamamo snapped automatically.
Chopsticks clinked again. Plates slid and rotated. Conversation restarted in smaller, lighter threads—Namawa practically glowing as she discovered the dessert counter ("They have three kinds of pudding?!"), More Than Ready declaring the curry "life-changing" and insisting everyone try a bite, Saiya quietly listening to Black Caviar and Rudolf's conversation while Anonym wordlessly slid half her plate over to Lunar without being asked. Lunar blinked, then accepted it with a small, grateful smile.
Time passed easily after that.
Plates emptied. Stacks shrank. Even Oguri's once-impossible mountain of dishes finally stopped growing—plateauing at something merely unreasonable.
Tamamo leaned back in her chair with a satisfied stretch, tail flicking lazily behind her. "Man… yeah. That hit the spot." She glanced around the table. "So—where y'all headin' next?"
Rudolf wiped her hands neatly with a napkin before answering. "Air Groove and I were planning to take everyone to Tracen Academy for a short visit."
"I wanna come too," Oguri said.
Every head turned.
She looked up, confused by the attention. "I was gonna go to the cafeteria anyway."
Tamamo slammed her palm on the table. "Jeez, knock it off already! How are ya still not full?!"
Oguri tilted her head, utterly sincere. "I'm just not…"
That did it. Laughter broke through the table.
Black Caviar watched the scene with fond eyes, then gave a small nod. "I don't mind."
Rudolf's smile widened just a little. "Then it's settled."
And just like that, the plan expanded
-
The bus engine hummed steadily as it pulled away, the city giving way once more to busy roads.
For a while, Lunar stayed in her seat, hands folded neatly in her lap. She watched the scenery pass, breathing in, breathing out—then, as if she'd finally made up her mind, she stood.
She moved carefully down the aisle, steps quiet, until she stopped beside Oguri's seat.
Oguri looked up.
"…Yeah?" she said.
Lunar clasped her hands together, shoulders drawing in just a little. "Um… I just wanted to say…" She hesitated, then met Oguri's eyes. "I really like you. A lot."
Oguri blinked once.
Lunar swallowed and hurried on, cheeks warming. "When my momma was still alive, she… she bought me Oguri Cap pajamas. I still sleep in them." She smiled, small but earnest. "And I have your plushie still. It's one of my most important things…"
Oguri blinked.
Lunar swallowed, then continued, gold eyes shining. "My mom really admired you. Your final Arima Kinen run." She smiled shyly. "We have it recorded. We watched it over and over."
Oguri straightened a little.
"She said that run was the truest version of Oguri Cap," Lunar went on. "That you ran honestly. Purely. Like you weren't trying to be anything else." Her fingers curled lightly into the fabric of her skirt. "She said that's why people fell in love with it. With you."
"She said… she wanted me to run like that someday. A run that's so true to yourself, it reaches people at their core."
For a moment, Oguri said nothing. Then her eyes widened—just slightly.
"…You know a lot," she said.
Lunar nodded at once. "I remember everything she said. My momma was an amazing Uma Musume!"
Oguri was quiet for another beat.
"I'll wait for that day," she said at last. "When you run like that."
Then, without warning, she leaned forward and wrapped Lunar in a firm, steady hug.
Lunar froze.
Then flushed bright red.
Her ears twitched, heart racing, overwhelmed in the very specific way of a fan realizing she'd just been hugged by her hero.
Oguri pulled back, calm as ever. "I'll be watching."
Lunar nodded rapidly. "Y-Yes!" before stepping away back to her seat.
From beside her, Tamamo squinted at her friend. "Oi. Since when'd ya get all cool like that?"
Oguri turned her gaze back toward the window, sunlight catching in her blue eyes. Her tail flicked again, unmistakably pleased.
"I've always been cool."