"A crispy crust paired with just the right amount of sweet and sour jam, and juicy hamburger meat inside the pie—it's like a dream come true!"
In the evening, inside a cozy cafe, Legend and Oguri Cap sat across from each other. Oguri Cap finished a hamburger meat pie and wore a blissful smile.
"I'm glad you like it."
Legend's expression was a bit strained.
This gourmet tour had been going on for three hours already. Perhaps because she didn't usually get the chance to eat out and had a wealthy lady as her wallet, Oguri Cap showed immense enthusiasm, as if trying to make up for everything she had missed.
Tamamo Cross had already triggered her death rattle back at the eighth shop.
"Junior-kun, I'm leaving Oguri to you."
Tamamo Cross, KIA!
However, this gourmet pilgrimage was nearing its end. They were now at the eleventh cafe, the one Oguri Cap had been looking forward to for a long time, serving as the grand finale.
"I'm not full yet. The other things look delicious too. Legend, let's order one of everything on the menu!"
Oguri Cap said excitedly.
"...Waiter, one of everything on the menu, please."
Legend gave the order skillfully with a wooden face.
To be honest, eating with a big eater like Oguri Cap, one would unconsciously worry about starving to death with their own small appetite, so one couldn't help but eat more. Legend had experienced this situation eleven times today.
"Sorry, Tama-senpai, I'm about to reach my limit too."
After another whirlwind of eating, Oguri Cap gently rubbed her belly with a peaceful expression.
Legend was trying hard not to throw up.
She was stuffed.
"Legend, thank you so much for today. The food was delicious, and I had a great time."
Oguri Cap's ears twitched as she spoke happily.
"The pleasure is mine. Thank you for coming with me."
Legend's face was pale, but she wasn't lying.
Even counting her past life, this kind of experience was a first. However, going out to eat and drink with a friend was a rare and elegant pleasure.
Even if the way she looked while stuffed was quite embarrassing.
Take this as a lesson; it will surely be useful next time.
"Hehe, I'm glad to hear that. Today has been a wonderful day. So, Legend, is there something you want to say now?"
Oguri Cap asked suddenly.
"Eh? What?"
Legend was confused.
"I heard from Tama that it's easy to open up after being full. Legend, you have something on your mind, don't you? You looked worried when we first met at noon."
"Ah, well..."
"You helped me a lot today, so I thought I'd take you to do something fun. When I'm unhappy, I go out for a big meal, and it works really well." Oguri Cap said with a smile, then added with a bit of concern, "But it doesn't seem to have worked that well for you. I'm not good at this sort of thing, so I'll just ask directly: is there anything I can help with?"
"..."
Legend was momentarily speechless. She held back her emotions, looked up at the ceiling, and then asked Oguri Cap with some uncertainty: "Oguri, what do you run for?"
Oguri Cap's eyes widened in surprise, which then turned into a gentle smile.
"There's a place I want to go. Can you come with me?"
...The two returned to Tracen. Oguri Cap led Legend to an unfamiliar place.
"How surprising. I didn't know there was a forest like this inside the school..."
Legend marveled. Before her was a dense forest. It was hard to imagine such vegetation within a school; it looked completely undeveloped.
As expected of the wealthy and powerful Central Tresen.
"What do you think? Nice, isn't it? I found it once when I was lost... Mmm~ As I thought, the forest air is the best. This clear feeling helps one calm down."
Oguri Cap looked relaxed.
"I used to love running around in places like this. Then, everyone back home suggested, 'Why don't you try competing in Uma Musume races?'"
"...That was your motivation for competing?"
"Yeah... Everyone was cheering for me. When I first competed in a local race, they made a super cool banner for me... Even though they were so busy with farm work, they'd always gather to treat me to food on the night of a race, win or lose. 'How exciting,' 'I feel energized,' 'Keep running happily from now on'... I've always been surrounded by words like those."
Oguri Cap took on a nostalgic look while Legend listened silently.
"...That's why I love racing. I love making everyone's hearts race during a competition."
"You really value the people from your hometown."
"Of course. Everyone back home says that seeing me run happily on the track makes them happier than anything else. The race with Tama earlier was the same... It was so much fun. Even now, my heart beats faster just thinking about it."
"..."
"Later, after coming to Central, although there were some unpleasant things, I also met many friends. Tama, Super Creek, Inari... and Rudolf. They've always supported me. Everyone's cheers are my strength."
"..."
"So, if you ask me why I run, my answer is one and only: the smiles of everyone who cheers for me are my reason to run!"
Oguri Cap's eyes flashed with determination as she spoke seriously.
"...So dazzling."
Legend narrowed her eyes, as if to keep from being burned.
"What about you, Legend? What do you run for?"
Oguri Cap turned around and looked into Legend's eyes, solemn and serious.
"...I don't know."
Legend turned her face away.
Ever since coming to this world, she had been drifting with the flow. Becoming an Uma Musume and coming to Tracen was just because she happened to have an admission notice. Participating in the mock race was just a chance encounter. Joining the team was only because she knew that Trainer and he had invited her.
She was indifferent to everything because she didn't know what attitude or mindset to use to face this new life—it didn't belong to her, just as she didn't belong to this world.
"...If you don't know, then just keep running."
Oguri Cap grabbed Legend's hand and made her look at her.
"My mother once told me that Uma Musume are spirits born to run. If you're lost, then run with your questions. As long as you don't stop, one day you'll find your answer. Besides, you aren't alone."
Legend looked into Oguri Cap's eyes.
She thought of the people she had met these past few days: the lively Teio, the majestic Rudolf, the unreliable Trainer, the eccentric Gold Family, as well as the gentle Miss Hayakawa and the sharp-tongued Tamamo Cross.
She suddenly realized that even though she had only been in this world for a few days, she had inevitably formed connections with it.
She suddenly felt a sense of reality—the feeling that she was truly alive.
The world had never rejected her.
Unconsciously, tears began to flow.
"What's wrong?"
Oguri Cap was startled, her ears standing straight up as she asked with concern.
"It's nothing. I just realized something."
"?"
"I'm really fine. Come on, we should head back to the dorms. Any later and we'll miss curfew."
Legend moved behind Oguri Cap and pushed her; she didn't want anyone to see her current expression.
Though she couldn't see it herself, she knew it must look terrible... They made it back to the dorm just in time for curfew, and Legend hurried to the bathroom to tidy herself up.
After washing up, Legend sat quietly on her bed, lost in thought.
The world has never rejected me.
In that case, I can try to accept this world too.
Once again, she walked to the window. The scenery under the moonlight remained the same, as if it had never changed.
She suddenly laughed, very happily. The sound of her laughter was so distinct in the nighttime Tracen dorm that many dorm windows were opened, with Uma Musume poking their heads out to find the source.
Legend quickly stopped. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, walked to her desk, and opened the diary she hadn't touched since coming to Tracen. She sat down and, on a new page following the previous entry, wrote down the diary entries she had missed over the past few days.
Moonlight streamed through the window onto her, draping her in a new garment.
She curled her lips into a smile and remained silent, as bits of radiance scattered around her, harmonious and natural.