Hum~ Hum~ Hum~
Just a Way leisurely whipped up carrot juice, with a basket of freshly made sandwiches beside her. Kousei, though not competing, was serving as a pacing partner for Urara and Twin Turbo during their parallel training.
Naturally, the task of preparing their training meals fell to Just a Way.
In a moment of carelessness, Just a Way's elbow bumped a water bottle. She didn't notice until it was nearly hitting the ground.
Expecting to see water spill everywhere, she instead found herself crouched down, one hand firmly catching the falling bottle.
"Close one! Close one!"
Just a Way casually set the bottle aside, seemingly unfazed by the near mishap.
"Yo! Way!"
That booming voice could only belong to Gold Ship.
"Listen up, Way! Ship's yakisoba business has hit its peak! The activity room is overflowing with the most popular Osaka-style yakisoba! Let's go sell yakisoba together!"
As Just a Way listened to Gold Ship's nonsensical ramblings, she suspected the mare had once again acted on impulse.
"You're just working part-time for that old man in the Shopping District, right? And where did you get an activity room? If you're using it without permission, Air Groove Senpai will be furious."
"It'll be fine! As long as we clean up properly afterwards, right?"
Just a Way sighed inwardly. So you've already used it, huh?
"What are you doing?" Gold Ship asked, peeking her head in curiously.
"Preparing a training meal for Sirius."
Gold Ship hummed in acknowledgment, then her stomach growled loudly. Just a Way casually handed her a sandwich.
"Here, eat this. I knew this would happen, so I made an extra one."
"Yay! Thanks, Way! Afterward, let's go sell fried noodles together! We'll definitely sell them all before dark!"
There's no way we'll sell them all before dark, Just a Way thought. Besides, the activity room issue hadn't been resolved yet, and she didn't want to get caught by Air Groove later.
"I'll head out first."
Just a Way slung her basket over her shoulder and left the kitchen. Gold Ship, sandwich clamped between her teeth, followed her out, mumbling incoherently.
"Way, please help me! If I don't sell all these fried noodles, I'll be saddled with a huge debt and spend all day moping around, unable to even take a step. I might even die from the stress! It's so tragic—I'm so tragic!"
Gold Ship tried to play the sympathy card, but Just a Way knew her well enough to know that if she didn't agree, she'd be pestered relentlessly.
After weighing her options carefully, Just a Way finally decided to give in to Gold Ship's request. Just as she was about to speak, Gold Ship suddenly stopped talking, her ears perked up, and she began making strange noises.
"Uh-oh! My Gold Ship Radar is tingling! That guy's coming!"
"That guy?" Just a Way thought, but before she could ask, a thunderous roar erupted.
"Gold Ship!"
Just a Way looked up to see Gold Ship already making a hasty escape, while the Empress's furious gaze bore down on the culprit.
"By the way, Umamusume aren't allowed to run at full speed outside the racetrack or designated training grounds," Just a Way murmured weakly, but Gold Ship had already vanished from sight. Air Groove, seething with anger, couldn't give chase.
Witnessing such an awkward scene, Just a Way's gaze darted around, unable to find a place to settle.
Well, I might as well slip away too.
Just a Way quickly scurried away from this trouble spot, clutching her basket. As she passed a classroom building, she had been leisurely admiring the campus scenery when she suddenly caught sight of Kashimoto Riko bent over her desk through an open window.
Just a Way stopped in her tracks. Logically speaking, even if Kashimoto Riko was working, she should be in the Chairman's office, not here.
Just a Way took another glance to confirm it was indeed Kashimoto Riko, not some lookalike or a mistake of her own eyes.
Her eyes were slightly unfocused, and dark circles had accumulated beneath them. It was clear she hadn't rested in a long time. Now that she held the position of Chairman, what could possibly be troubling this great figure?
Lost in thought, Just a Way turned and walked away.
Moments later, Kashimoto Riko heard a knock at the door. Though she was far from fully alert, she forced herself to get up and answer it.
There was no one at the gate, but a can of drink lay on the ground.
"What's this?"
Kashimoto Riko picked up the can and examined it. Her pupils trembled faintly, and she immediately looked around.
"Little! Bitter Glasse!"
She tried calling out to her dedicated Umamusume, but when they didn't appear nearby, she realized they hadn't left it there.
Her expression grew peculiar, but she ultimately closed the gate with the can in hand.
"Trainer! You can't keep doing this!"
After an unknown amount of time, Little Cocon and Bitter Glasse forcefully opened the gate, each holding an identical can of drink to the one they'd found earlier.
They froze at the sight before them. Kashimoto Riko was slumped over the table, asleep. Her face was serene, as if she were having a pleasant dream, and a faint smile played on her lips. Next to her lay a can of drink identical to the ones in their hands.
Tranquilizer, meant for those struggling with anxiety or insomnia.
"Way!" Kousei waved excitedly, calling out to Just a Way.
Just a Way remained unchanged, her gaze utterly incomprehensible, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Today's route was so slow! Turbo's stomach is practically flat from hunger."
"Way, is something wrong?"
Twin Turbo protested, Kousei voiced her concern, while Just a Way offered an enigmatic smile.
"I apologize. I just took a slightly longer route."
Just a short detour, down a path I shouldn't have taken.