Chapter 57: The Cafeteria Showdown

The end of the year was fast approaching, and the academy was starting to descend into chaos.
From autumn through winter, the schedule was packed with GⅠ races. Trainers, horse girls, and even the academy staff were all rushing around, busier than ever.

Meanwhile, the entertainment facilities were practically deserted. The cafeteria was no exception.

So, given that, there’s really only one thing to do, right?

Which is why I was currently…

"Hmm, yeah, the cafeteria coffee really is good. The beans are high quality, sure, but I think it’s also thanks to whoever’s brewing it—they’ve got real skill."

I sat there, leisurely sipping my coffee and nibbling on a slice of cake.

"Ooh, this chocolate cake has walnuts inside! I love this kind. Total mood booster."

Before me stretched rows of desserts—parfaits, cakes, cream puffs, Mont Blanc. The quality was seriously impressive.
I could afford to relax like this since I didn’t have any races coming up for a while.

Ahh, it’s just so good. Ever since I became a horse girl, I feel like my sweet tooth’s only gotten stronger. Maybe it’s because my sense of taste got sharper too.

At first, I thought I’d ordered too much—but before I knew it, most of it had already disappeared into my stomach.

…Still not enough.

"Guess I’ll order something else… huh?"

At the far end of the cafeteria, one horse girl stood fidgeting awkwardly, looking troubled.

Those big rabbit-like ears, the way one eye’s hidden… isn’t that Rice Shower!?

"Uh, did something happen? I can help if you’d like."

"F-fweh!? Ah, um, i-it’s okay, really…"

"Doesn’t look okay to me…"

Looks like she’d dropped her wallet and scattered the contents everywhere.

Well, I can’t just ignore that. Let’s help her out.

I gathered up the coins that had rolled under the vending machine and into hard-to-see corners, then handed them to Rice Shower.

"That should be everything, I think?"

"Y-yeth! Thank you sho much!"

"Easy now, calm down. So, have you ordered anything yet?"

"Um, actually… not yet…"

"Then how about we pick something together? I can show you the popular ones."

I took Rice Shower’s hand and guided her toward the counter, showing her the cafeteria’s go-to menu items.

Hmm, just looking at this menu is making me hungry again…
But if I order everything that looks good, that’s gonna be way too much, right?

…Wait a sec. Rice Shower’s supposed to be a big eater, isn’t she? I’ve got an idea.

"If you’d like, how about we order a bunch and share them? I don’t think I could finish it all myself anyway."

"I–is that okay…?"

"Of course! Food always tastes better when you share it!"

"Rice is a little hungry, so… maybe a bit more is fine…"

"Then let’s go wild with it. This, and this, and this… Oh! Do you like apple pie?"

"It looks delicious…"

"Then let’s add it! And this one too, and—"

With a noble excuse to indulge, I kept piling on order after order of sweets and light meals. Naturally, Rice Shower didn’t stop me. One dish after another arrived, until I suddenly realized…

…Okay, maybe I went a bit overboard.

"F-fwehhh…"

"Ahaha…"

The result: so many plates that one table couldn’t even hold them. We had to take over the next one too. The cafeteria staff were staring at us with wide eyes. Sorry, folks—it’s a slow day anyway, forgive us!

Still, staring at them won’t make them disappear.
Time to dig in, starting with the parfait.

"Mmm! The cafeteria’s seasonal parfaits are really popular—they’re hard to get, you know?"

"I-it looks so good…"

"Here, try some. Say ahh."

I held out a spoonful, and Rice Shower hesitantly leaned forward to take a bite.
She licked the cream, rolled the fruit around in her mouth, and her face lit up. So cute. Rice Shower was just so adorable—it made you want to protect her.

Hard to believe this same girl looks downright terrifying when she’s racing.

"So, what’s your name? I’m Mithialx—middle school division, Classic Class sprinter. Nice to meet you!"

I said that while drizzling maple syrup over my French toast.
We’d somehow gotten this far without even introducing ourselves.

"Hyih! I-I’m Rice Shower…"

"Rice Shower—what a lovely name. Oh, are you in middle school or high school?"

"Rice is in high school…"

"Then that makes you my senior! Rice-senpai!"

"S-senpai…?"

"Well, you’re older than me, so that’s how it works, right?"

"U-uhm… yeah…"

She might look like a middle schooler, but she’s actually in high school. Honestly, that fries my brain a little.

She’s 145 cm, and I’m 149 cm, so I’m technically taller—but still…

While we chatted and introduced ourselves, the mountain of sweets steadily shrank.
Rice Shower really could eat a ton! Where does it all even go in that tiny body!?

Not that I’m one to talk, but still—that’s seriously next level.

"Rice-senpai, can I try a bit of that?"

"U-um, sure…?"

"Thanks. The cinnamon in this goes so well with coffee, doesn’t it?"

The two of us kept sampling each other’s food, working our way through plate after plate.

"Now for this French toast… whoa, it’s so fluffy! Just one bite—mmm! The maple syrup’s homemade, isn’t it? So rich!"

"Can I have a bite of that too…?"

"Of course! Here, you can have half."

I cut the French toast in two and placed half in front of Rice Shower. Then, just as I looked away for a second—

"Huh…?"

The French toast was gone.

Wait—what? I definitely just put it there, right?
I looked down at my own plate. Sure enough, my half was still there.

Uh… what?

"What’s wrong?"

"Um, I—I just gave you the other half of the French toast, right…?"

"Yeah. It was really delicious."

"You… ate it already?"

"…? Of course."

So I wasn’t imagining it after all.

I knew Rice Shower was a big eater in theory—but I didn’t realize it was to this level.
Looking closer, there was already a small mountain of empty plates stacked next to her.

You’ve gotta be kidding me… she’s eaten all that already?

Well, not that I mind. With this much food, it’s better if she keeps that kind of pace.

I reached for the apple pie next, cutting off a piece and bringing it to my mouth.

"Ahh… the cream just melts on your tongue. The tartness of the apple gives it perfect balance. It’s amazing. Apparently, they do a seasonal pear pie too—I’ll have to try that when it’s less crowded."

Seriously, the cafeteria’s sweets were divine.
And cheap, too—no wonder everyone flocked here when they could. I took another bite of pie and a sip of coffee. Pure bliss.

"By the way, Rice Shower-senpai, you’re in the Junior Class, right? I’m pretty sure I saw you in a race video recently."

"Y-yeah! Rice made her debut this year. Ehehe… it makes me really happy that someone like you knows who I am, Mithialx-san."

No, no, I’m the one who should be thrilled to be sitting across from the Rice Shower.

Still… to think Rice and Teio are from the same generation. When Teio’s leg finally started healing, it was like fate itself had summoned Rice Shower to challenge her. Feels cursed, honestly.

Rice Shower’s career really was a tragic one. Considering her story didn’t end with retirement but with injury, she might be the most afflicted of any horse girl I’ve met.

Then again, since that injury happens at the Takarazuka Kinen, maybe there’s a chance… that nothing bad happens while I’m still active? Maybe? …Yeah, probably not.

"I’ve got a junior I look after named Tokai Teio. She’s a mid- to long-distance type, so you might end up racing against her someday, Rice-senpai."

Honestly, if anyone’s going to threaten Teio’s Triple Crown, it’ll be Rice Shower. I’m sure of it.

"Tokai Teio-san, huh… She’s so bright and radiant… nothing like Rice…"

"Hey, come on. Your running was great too, Rice-senpai. You should have more confidence."

"B-but…"

Rice Shower really was shy.
That stemmed from her “unlucky nature”—bad things just tended to happen around her.

Even in the app’s story, she was constantly hit with misfortune… though, to be fair, she’s been pretty normal today. Well, aside from spilling her change earlier.

"Look, chin up! I didn’t even win my debut race, you know? I had to go through a maiden race afterward. The fact that you won on your first try is seriously impressive!"

"U-uh… th-thank you…?"

"Hey, none of that questioning tone! When someone praises you, you’ve gotta own it! Be bold about it!"

"T-thank you very much! …Auh, I bit my tongue…"

The cuteness was criminal.

Honestly, I really don’t want to see this girl crying because of some cruel words from the crowd—or breaking down and never being able to race again.

Ahh, geez. It can’t be helped. Meeting her like this has to be some kind of fate. I guess I’ll just have to keep an eye on Rice Shower from now on.

"Bit by bit, you just have to build up your confidence. I didn’t have any when I first started either."

"Really...? Maybe I kind of misunderstood you, Lux-san."

Yeah, I guess at the start I was pretty crushed—barely even able to make it to debut.

"People call me things like 'The Star of the Sprinters' or 'Mihono Bourbon’s Rival' now, but back then I was a total mess. Everyone’s like that at first. There’s no such thing as someone who’s confident from the beginning."

"Yeah... Thanks, Lux-san. I’ll try a little harder!"

"That’s the spirit! You’ll be fine, Rice-san—I’m sure of it!"

Before I knew it, most of the food that had been on our plates had vanished between the two of us.

I’d eaten a fair amount myself, but... wasn’t like eighty percent of that in Rice’s stomach? Just my imagination...?

"You sure eat a lot, Rice-san."

"Do I? I thought today was kind of on the light side."

"This is... light?"

"Yeah. I mean, it’s all snacks and stuff."

"Uhhh..."

Right. Let’s not think too hard about that.

Well, I do eat like an idiot too, I guess. Still, not on the same level as Oguri Cap or Special Week.

Those two apparently got banned from several restaurants around the academy. That’s... honestly terrifying.

"Oh, looks like it’s all gone."

And at last, she finished the final plate.

Phew. That was a lot of food.

"Hmm... I wonder if that’ll be enough..."

"Wait—Rice-senpai, you’re still planning to eat more? Is your stomach... okay?"

"At this rate I’ll get hungry again before dinner. Maybe I’ll go order a bit more."

"You’re still ordering!?"

There’d already been so much food. This was genuinely terrifying.

"Lux-san, you’re not ordering anything else? Then Rice will just go get hers, okay?"

With that, Rice Shower trotted off, her small steps surprisingly quick.

Even after eating all that, she’s still going? I watched, frozen in awe, as she returned carrying what could only be described as a mountain of snacks.

That’s... not “a bit,” Rice-san.

"Thanks for the food~!"

"You really do eat like a monster, Rice-senpai. It’s kind of terrifying to watch."

In the other world, they used to say, ‘A demon dwells in a body honed to its limits.’
But in her case, maybe it’s more like... a demon of appetite has taken residence.

Watching Rice pop one fry after another into her mouth, I couldn’t help but think that.

＝ Tracen Times
Top | News | Columns | Event Schedule | Academy Notices

Notice from the Academy — Regarding Cafeteria Usage

November △×, 17:12

We would like to inform all students that new regulations have been implemented for cafeteria use.
Each student may now order up to five items per transaction.
If you wish to purchase additional items, please do so in multiple rounds.

Additionally, due to popular demand, Cafeteria Original Blend Coffee Beans will soon be available for sale.
Details will be announced on the cafeteria bulletin board, so please check there for further information.

We apologize for the sudden notice and appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation.

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