Uma Musume: Your Uma Has A Problem! [66]

“Huff… Huff…”

Mejiro McQueen leaned against the tree, doubled over, gasping heavily as she tried to catch her breath.

Her determination to lose weight had kept McQueen here after finishing Kagura’s snacks, accompanying Kagura through an unexpectedly intense exercise session. At first, McQueen believed her stamina was decent enough to handle whatever Kagura proposed, but the routine Kagura had learned from who-knows-where turned out to be incredibly exhausting. After nearly two hours, even McQueen was struggling.

“Here, drink some water. Take small sips, don’t gulp it down too fast or you’ll choke.”

“Kagura-oneesan… how are you so full of energy? You barely broke a sweat after that routine!”

“Well, it’s because I sometimes do this exercise myself. This was your first time, McQueen, and you’re unfamiliar with the movements, so naturally, it would drain your energy more.”

Kagura gently patted McQueen’s back to help her catch her breath, handing her a bottle of water and reminding her again not to drink too quickly.

She honestly hadn’t expected the ten-year-old McQueen to endure the entire set, yet McQueen’s endurance and willpower surprised her. Even though she was exhausted now, she had genuinely persisted until the end.

“…It feels like…after doing this exercise with you, Kagura-oneesan, everything I ate today was for nothing… I’m so hungry again!”

“Hmm-hmm~ I’d say you could come back with me to the Symboli Estate for dinner, but if my instincts aren’t wrong—Trainer-san, why don’t you stop hiding behind the tree? You’ve been lurking there a while already, aren’t you tired?”

Mejiro McQueen followed Kagura’s gaze toward a tree some distance away. After Kagura spoke, a young man in standard business attire slowly stepped out from behind the tree.

“Ah! You’re Ramonu-oneesama’s trainer…”

McQueen still had some vague memories of familiar people who frequently visited the Mejiro household.

“To be precise, he’s the Mejiro family’s dedicated trainer. Little McQueen, you haven’t seen him much since you just arrived, right?”

“That’s correct. Good evening, Kagura-san… McQueen-ojousama only recently moved to Tokyo, so she’s unfamiliar. But Kagura-san and I have met several times already.”

This trainer was someone Kagura knew fairly well now. Although their first encounter hadn’t left the best impression on her, after frequent interactions through the Mejiro family, Kagura realized he was just an ordinary working person and no longer minded their first meeting.

“Are you here to take McQueen back home, Trainer-san?”

“Yes. It’s already evening, and the family head was worried about McQueen-ojousama wandering outside, so she sent me to find her. Thank you very much for accompanying her even during your vacation, Kagura-san.”

“It’s nothing. If McQueen hadn’t come along, I probably would’ve just wasted time napping. Having something to do was nice. McQueen, what about you? Heading home now?”

“I want to go back to Symboli Estate with Kagura-oneesan…”

McQueen tugged at Kagura’s sleeve gently, staring up at her with big, pleading eyes before glancing anxiously at the trainer.

Kagura smiled helplessly, gently stroking McQueen’s head before turning toward the trainer.

“Trainer-san, your ojousama says she wants to come home with me, you know?”

“McQueen-ojousama, this…isn’t very appropriate. Kagura-san lives at the Symboli Estate. Visiting unannounced might inconvenience them. Besides, the family head is very worried about you and would prefer that you come home with me.”

“Mm…”

Mejiro McQueen’s expression twisted into visible distress, her gaze shifting uncertainly between Kagura and her trainer.

Kagura-san’s charm really is astonishing… I’ve never seen McQueen-ojousama this close with anyone at home. Just how did Kagura-san manage to make Ojousama drop her guard completely?

Having watched them interact all afternoon, the trainer was deeply intrigued by Kagura. Normally, McQueen maintained perfect manners in front of strangers, never causing embarrassment to the Mejiro family. Yet, around Kagura, McQueen behaved like an ordinary child—spoiled, relaxed, carefree—even though they hadn’t known each other long.

He also found Kagura herself mysterious. Clearly a child, appearing straightforward, yet he always felt Kagura knew far more than her age suggested. Her vigilance was exceptional too; he’d never once successfully followed her unnoticed. Now recalling their first encounter, when Kagura had abruptly stopped in front of the noticeboard, she definitely wasn’t reading it—she must’ve used its reflection to spot him. Even now, despite his careful hiding, she had effortlessly noticed him again.

“Alright…I’ll go home with Trainer-san then. Kagura-oneesan, will you still be resting in a few days? Can I visit you at Symboli Estate?”

“Hehe~ You can, as long as your family doesn’t mind. But my vacation isn’t long; I’m returning to school the day after tomorrow.”

“Eh?! That soon?! But I won’t have free time that quickly…”

“It can’t be helped. I still need to return to school eventually, after all.”

“Okay…”

McQueen nodded reluctantly, staring deeply at Kagura as if resolving something in her heart.

“Trainer-san, let’s head back.”

“Yes, Ojousama. The car is waiting nearby, just over there… Kagura-san, would you like to come visit the Mejiro estate sometime?”

“Not this time. If I return late, Speed-sama will definitely nag me.”

Kagura waved gently to the pair, watching as McQueen and the trainer departed together and got into the car.

She glanced at the sky. The sun had already set, and it was growing late. Any later and Speed-sama would certainly scold her again. Kagura dismissed the idea of stopping by the market to buy ingredients, quickly gathered up the bento box she’d brought, and prepared to return to Symboli Estate.

…

——Kagura, careful! I sense the same presence as last time! It’s a spiritual entity!

Just as Kagura reached the edge of the park, feeling oddly chilly despite the warm summer night, those words flashed urgently on her phone. Eclipse-san sounded unusually alarmed, immediately putting Kagura on high alert. She listened intently to her surroundings.

Eclipse-san, are you referring to that ‘ghost Uma Musume’ mentioned in the school’s urban legend?

——Unless there are other ghost stories here, it’s probably the same ghost your classmates talked about. Be cautious—I feel its presence approaching. It’s been following you.

Huh? Following me? Why would it target me?

Kagura felt her head aching. Being followed was bad enough, but being followed by a ghost was infinitely worse.

——You’re exceptionally suitable as a host. If a spiritual entity wants to possess someone, you’d be among the top choices.

I thought you were joking when you said I attract ghosts… I haven’t really seen any other spirits before, right?

——What nonsense. So you treat me as air now, huh?

Then why haven’t you driven this ghost away?

——Spirits show emotions clearly. This one doesn’t seem hostile, just curious, so I left it alone.

Knowing nothing about ghosts herself, Kagura could only trust Eclipse-san’s judgment. If the spirit truly had no hostility as Eclipse-san said, perhaps there was no need to panic.

Kagura paused briefly, listening carefully behind her. Although she hadn’t expected to hear anything, she was surprised to detect clear footsteps nearby. She knew nobody else was around—she hadn’t seen another soul since entering the park. Could the ghost be making these footsteps?

“…You’re over there, aren’t you? Why not come out and talk?”

Since she had Eclipse-san’s protection anyway, Kagura boldly turned toward the source of the footsteps. Within the shadow, faint amber eyes glowed softly, and soon a dark figure emerged.

Then Kagura realized—it wasn’t a ghost, just an Uma Musume in sportswear, covered in sweat, clearly still exercising. Her hair was black enough to swallow any hint of reflected light in the darkness. The footsteps she’d heard were just her running shoes.

“You are…?”

“…You. Can you see…her?”

As she spoke, the black-haired Uma Musume pointed behind her. Kagura saw another Uma Musume standing there, almost identical but older, her softly glowing eyes fixed on Kagura.

“I sensed it. You have another’s presence within you, just like me. But I can’t see the one behind you.”

“Really? But I can clearly see the one behind you.”

“You mean…you can see my ‘friend’? You’re…interesting.”

It was evident the “friend” mentioned was the spectral Uma Musume behind her. Apparently, this girl also had a constitution prone to attracting spirits, but like Eclipse-san, her spirit seemed calm and unobtrusive. The term “friend” implied they’d already established a bond.

The black-haired Uma Musume approached Kagura closely, examining her with intense curiosity. The spirit behind her tried moving closer too but seemed suddenly frightened, stopping nervously at a distance.

“As I thought… You and I are the same kind.”

After quietly muttering her observation, the girl stepped back several paces.

“Hello…?”

“We will meet again someday.”

Without giving Kagura a chance to ask any questions, the mysterious Uma Musume silently turned, stepping away from the streetlamp’s glow and vanishing into the darkness.

Only after she left did Kagura release the breath she’d unknowingly been holding.

What an odd girl… I have absolutely no idea what she wants…

—

T/N: m,anahataan cafee

This is a fan translation of 你这后勤马娘有问题啊 by 惰性大发 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!