Finally, when Kazuo came to his senses, he was already on his way back to the dorm.
The sky at dusk was a bit gloomy, and as he walked alone on the way back to the staff dormitory, Kazuo let out a belated sigh.
As it turned out, the entire afternoon he had been a mere tool, on standby to serve tea and water, run errands to deliver documents, and be at everyone's beck and call.
His mentor, Ms. Tojo, sat in the office for half an hour before getting up and heading to the High School Division. She didn't even intend to guide him from beginning to end; he was completely ignored.
In the end, Kazuo, not knowing what to do, could only honestly run errands for everyone until work finished.
"Sigh… if Ms. Tojo keeps making things difficult for me like this, what should I do later?"
According to Senior Todo, after four o'clock is generally team training time, during which Trainers usually go to guide their Uma Musume. As for Kazuo, he would sit alone in the office until closing time, then do the office cleaning before leaving.
How should I put it… I always feel that if it continues like this, that would be the most troublesome.
But currently, Kazuo clearly couldn't think of anything to do.
Because the new students were starting their first day of classes today, the Academy also let the Elementary School Division students leave early. Many Uma Musume also took this opportunity to go out to the nearest shopping center to buy daily necessities.
After all, Tracen Academy is a boarding school. If he remembered correctly, Ms. Hayakawa had mentioned that the student dormitories were divided into two buildings, Ritto Dormitory and Mihoura Dorm.
Walking up the slope, Kazuo felt unusually tired.
"If I remember correctly, Koji seemed to have told me to return to the dorm at seven…?"
Seeing that it was almost time, Kazuo dragged his tired body back to the dorm.
Slowly opening the door, what he saw was—
"Yo! You're back."
Upon entering the room, he saw all sorts of streamers hanging from the ceiling, and canned beer and juice were on the floor of the dorm room.
Koji seemed to still be busy preparing something. Seeing Kazuo return, he smiled, greeted him, and placed the pre-ordered takeout on the table.
"This… What is this?"
Kazuo looked at the room, which was decorated as if a party was being held, and asked foolishly, somewhat slow to react.
"What is this…? Hey, hey, hey, there's a limit to how dense you can be—well, I was planning to surprise you anyway. Junior, this is a welcome party specifically for you."
"Eh?"
"Well… after all, you're a bit special, and it's the busiest time of the school year. I estimate that the department probably didn't have any plans for this, right? Anyway, I'm a free man, so I simply organized a small welcome party for you!"
Koji laughed heartily and patted Kazuo's shoulder, "I've caused you a lot of trouble these past two days, so consider this a thank you!"
An inexpressible emotion filled his heart. As an 18-year-old who had just entered society, he had received many cold stares over the past month, and something like a welcome party was something he wouldn't even dare to dream of… But—
"But I originally told you to come back at seven to surprise you, but since you came back early, why don't you lend a hand and help out!"
"Seriously, how can the person receiving the surprise help prepare it… You really are something, Koji."
"Less talk! I've gone all out today. I'm treating you to hot pot tonight, you see, I've already bought all the ingredients, and I even bought premium Wagyu beef rolls!"
He certainly felt the thoughtfulness… but—
"Uh… how did you bring the ingredients back? I don't seem to see any hot pot or anything in this room… Besides, for cooking…"
The most dreaded silence suddenly filled the air. Koji, holding a bag full of rich ingredients, instantly froze in place.
Kazuo was silent for a moment, then asked tentatively:
"Um… Senior Okino, you wouldn't have… not thought about these things at all, would you?"
"H-how could that be? Just kidding! Haha, how could I not think of these things?"
"Koji… you really are an idiot."
"Shut up! Hey, Junior! How can you talk to a Senior like that!"
"But, it's the truth…"
"Ah… I can't hear you, okay? These things are no match for me, Lord Koji, okay! You wait, I'll get these things right away."
Saying harsh words, he instantly put on his shoes and ran out.
Then, because the door wasn't closed, Kazuo heard everything that was said.
"Ms. Hayakawa, Ms. Hayakawa, are you there? Can you help me out~~"
The sound of a door opening.
"Kouji-kun, what's the matter?"
"I remember you have cooking utensils like a hot pot, right? Can I borrow them—"
.
"In summary! As today's special guest for the welcome party, Miss Hayakawa! A warm welcome!!!"
Koji introduced her, cheering to liven up the atmosphere.
The only audience member was Kazuo.
"Um… I'm sorry to trouble Miss Hayakawa with this."
Seeing Miss Hayakawa arrive with a hot pot and an induction cooker, Kazuo couldn't help but bow his head in thanks.
"It's nothing, in fact, I'm really looking forward to this welcome party. Besides, we're practically neighbors, so if you ever have any issues or difficulties, you can always come to me."
Looking at Miss Hayakawa's sweet smile, Kazuo couldn't help but think to himself.
She's an angel, truly an angel—
.
"Well then, ahem… Today, I thank everyone for coming to this welcome party for Asama Kazuo's entry into the academy. Here, I shall first—"
"Come, Miss Hayakawa, cheers!"
"Oh~! Cheers~!"
"Hey, you two, I haven't finished speaking yet!! Never mind—come on, cheers!!"
Japanese hot pot bubbled with various ingredients, and the three sat around a small square table, enjoying this small but relaxing time in room 412.
"Ah~! Frozen beer really hits the spot! With dried squid, I feel like I could die without regrets."
"Koji, your comment just now sounded like an old man's remark after work, sitting in an izakaya."
"What kind of outdated stereotype is that? Besides, I'm only 26 this year, kid!"
Holding his beer, he pointed at Kazuo mockingly and laughed:
"You're really young, coming to the academy so early! Your induction welcome party, and you're not even twenty yet, still stuck with orange juice instead of alcohol, hahaha—"
As if something had tickled Koji's funny bone, he slapped the table and clutched his stomach, roaring with laughter.
It was an undeniable fact that Kazuo was the youngest of the three.
Compared to the two of them, Miss Hayakawa sat demurely, quietly sipping her beer, watching them playfully with a smile.
More than a welcome party… this felt more like a gathering of friends. Busy with academy matters, the Uma Musume were all holding their own welcome parties… However, he had even forgotten that he, too, had a welcome party of sorts… Looking at the two people sitting beside him, a warmth spread through Kazuo's heart.
Everything at the academy might not be as difficult as he had imagined.
[Today, it's the "adults'" drinking party]
.
[By the way]
Fine Motion: "Excuse me, is this where I can top up my student ID card? Can I pay by card for the top-up (pulls out a black card)?"
Staff: "Eh!? (sweats)"
Fine Motion's commoner experience seems destined to continue for a long time.