"Classmate! Really won't reconsider? If you join now, you'll even get a free Gold Ship bicycle!"
"Little Uma this is already the third time you've come to me this week. I should've told you, I don't have any plans to join a team."
Seeing the little Uma standing outside the cafeteria window, Kagura gave a helpless smile, then handed her a small plate of crystal-clear pastry on a disposable dish.
"Eh~ no worries, just treat it like my routine check-in. By the way, isn't it a miracle of fate? Every time I come here at noon, I always bump into you, Kagura! Could this be destiny's arrangement?!"
"What destiny? I'm here cooking every day. Of course you'll find me if you come."
Taking the plate, Gold Ship visibly perked up. She was always like this—scatterbrained on the surface, but her twitching ears betrayed her excitement.
Before picking up her utensils, she pressed her palms together in an exaggerated prayer over the dessert, like some primitive person conducting a mysterious ritual before a meal. From inside the kitchen, Kagura couldn't help watching with amusement.
In all her time working at the cafeteria window, Gold Ship was the only Uma who insisted on eating her food right there. And every time since that first bite won her over, she had performed this bizarre little rite.
"I've been curious for ages, little Uma—what exactly is that you're doing?"
"The great Gold Ship-sama is worshipping the sacred object! Begging it to grant me its blessing!"
"…Ah?"
Kagura didn't quite follow, but guessed it was her way of saying your cooking is divine.
For half a month now, Kagura had been shuttling between dorm–cafeteria–track nonstop, working to design and refine Rudolf's meal plans—tasty, varied, but still within her daily limits.
As for Gold Ship, ever since that first failed burlap sack kidnapping attempt, she had taken to wandering by the cafeteria. After trying Kagura's food once, she became a regular guinea pig, happily volunteering as a taste tester for each new dish.
Kagura still called her a "little Uma," but in truth Gold Ship's height was impressive—tall enough to make Kagura envious, despite their close age.
——Every time I see her, I wonder—how can this girl look so elegant when still, and yet turn into such a scatterbrain the moment she moves?
Letters briefly shimmered across the glass window, then faded—Eclipse's commentary.
Outside, Gold Ship was eating quietly now, utensils in hand like it was fine dining, gracefully cutting the pastry into pieces and savoring each bite. At times like this, Kagura had to admit—she really did look like a noble ojou-sama.
So this is what they call… a "still beauty"?
——What a pity. Such a lovely child—if only she didn't move…
Eclipse's words flickered and vanished. In the past two weeks, even she had been repeatedly stunned by this eccentric Uma. For the first time, she felt like an ancient being who couldn't keep up with the times.
"Good evening, Kagura-chan~"
Just as Gold Ship was locked in combat with Kagura's latest creation, Maruzensky appeared behind her.
These last two weeks, the rush of Uma mobbing Kagura's meals had settled down. It wasn't that they came less often—just that they no longer descended in one overwhelming horde. Each meal, it would just be Rudolf, Nature, and maybe Maruzensky or Akikawa Yayoi. They seemed to have quietly coordinated to stagger their visits, sparing Kagura from drowning in pressure.
Kagura had no idea what kind of secret pact they had made, but for her, it was a blessing.
"Good evening, Maruzensky-san. I just made something new—want to try?"
"That same thing your classmate there's eating?"
She glanced at the Uma sitting with perfect posture, eating with measured grace. At first she didn't recognize her, then blinked in surprise—it was Gold Ship, the irregular visitor.
"Yes. A little dessert experiment—osmanthus jelly with coconut milk."
Carrying out another plate, Kagura handed it to Maruzensky, then drew both her and Gold Ship over to sit down. The translucent jelly gleamed, flecked with golden blossoms, the surface quivering with a tempting bounce.
"Waa… it looks delicious! Say, this is Chinese too, right? You only ever make Chinese dishes, Kagura-chan?"
"Yes. Because I like them. And I can prepare them as ojou-sama's afternoon tea—nutritious, tasty, and within her daily intake."
"Tch… I'm jealous of Rudolf now…"
Maruzensky thought of how Rudolf got to eat like this every day, without waiting her turn. Not only that—Kagura delivered meals personally, even giving massages afterward. And rumor had it Kagura's hands were truly skilled… envy burned stronger.
"Ahh! I want a Support Uma too! Kagura, why don't you come work for onee-san? I'll take good care of you!"
She hugged Kagura tight, burying her nose in her chest, inhaling deeply like it was heaven.
But reality was harsher. Tracen's support staff had been critically short for years—this year, only a few newcomers. None of them matched Kagura's level. After all, Kagura had been trained as a maid in the Symboli household, and knew real support work. The others were only students.
"Haha… Maruzensky-san, you're a bit too enthusiastic. I already have a position—I can't just switch at will."
Patting her head gently until she let go, Kagura noticed Gold Ship still nibbling slowly, so she returned to washing dishes.
It was already past nine. Dinner hour was long over, the cafeteria staff gone. Kagura remained only to test new recipes—she'd already delivered food to Rudolf and Nature. As for Maruzensky and Gold Ship, the only explanation for their late-night presence was lying in wait for her experiments.
"So good! Sweet, but light… Really delicious!"
Unlike Gold Ship, Maruzensky had no utensils and just bit straight in. Watching her blissful expression, Kagura relaxed—her flavoring was fine. This batch was ready for Rudolf tomorrow.
"Thanks for the praise~ Chinese desserts are like that. Guess my balance is right. But Maruzensky-san, be a little more refined, hm? Look how elegantly little Uma eats."
Still fussing in the kitchen, Kagura called out.
Maruzensky ate with the same whirlwind energy as her running. Kagura worried she'd choke one day.
"Too late, it's a habit! Hard to fix. Anyway, Kagura, what's your plan tomorrow?"
"Hm? I've got things to do. Why?"
"I wanted to take you shopping for clothes. But if you're busy, never mind."
"…Thanks for understanding."
The word shopping made Kagura's eye twitch. Luckily she really did have errands tomorrow. She still hadn't forgotten the last time, when Maruzensky had used her as a living dress-up doll for two hours straight.
Finishing the dishes, she tucked everything into the sterilizer, hung up her apron, washed her hands, and shut off the lights before locking the kitchen.
The two Uma had finished their jelly, but their eyes followed her expectantly—More?
"You two! It's dessert. Even if it's not high-calorie, eating too much this late will still make you fat! No more! Off to bed, both of you!"
Kagura puffed her cheeks in mock anger, shooing them toward the door.
"Eh! Really none left? But I can smell more on you, Kagura-chan!"
"Sodayo! Gold Ship-sama can see the sacred mark still on your body!"
"Little Uma, cut down on Age of Empires! That's Rudolf's portion! Yours is already finished!"
Kagura had half a mind to bop them on the forehead, but at her height she couldn't reach either. She sighed and dropped her hand.
She herded the two gluttons out, locked the cafeteria doors—though not tightly. After all, Tracen's cafeteria never locked its outer doors. It wasn't unsafe; nothing worth stealing except food supplies, and the kitchen itself was locked.
By the time they reached the dorms, it was time to part. Maruzensky looked reluctant, but since she didn't live on campus, she couldn't come in.
"…I suddenly want to live in the dorms! Kagura-chan, there's still an empty bed in your room, right?"
"If you apply now, Maruzensky-san, they might send you to Miho Dorm instead… Besides, I do have a roommate. Though I still don't know who she is."
Half a month had passed and Kagura still hadn't met her roommate. But she diligently kept that bed tidy, even if its owner hadn't returned in ages.
"Damn it! Not even Gold Ship-sama has a chance to sneak in and occupy the sacred ground?!"
"Sadly, no chance at all~"