During dinner time, Mejiro Dober had just gotten her food and was looking for a place to sit. Normally, she would sit in the far corner, where the lighting was dim and she wouldn't attract attention. For some reason, the cafeteria was especially crowded tonight, and that corner had already been taken.
After walking around a few times, Dober realized there were no single seats left. The only option now was to share a table. After hesitating for a moment, she decided to wait until someone finished eating.
"Senpai."
A clear voice sounded beside her as a white figure approached.
"Shirayuki."
"What's wrong, senpai? Aren't you going to eat? Why are you just standing here?"
"I'm still looking… huh?"
Dober blinked in confusion. She noticed the change on Shirayuki's head. The soft, feather-like white ears had somehow become fluffy cat ears, so soft-looking that she almost reached out to touch them.
"Th-that is!"
"I thought senpai might like it, so I wore it. What do you think?"
"Oh…"
Dober's eyes lit up.
So cute.
Is this… a cat?
She instinctively reached out, but the moment she met Shirayuki's sky-blue eyes, she pulled her hand back.
What am I doing? Was I really about to touch her head?
That's way too embarrassing.
She shook her head and forced herself to stay composed. "It suits you very well. I think it's good."
Hmm? That reaction is calmer than I expected.
Shirayuki felt a bit puzzled. Did McQueen lie about Dober liking cute things? Whatever. Time to start working.
She had been watching earlier. Dober circled the cafeteria twice, even though there were seats available. She just couldn't bring herself to approach anyone.
This is literally me in middle school.
Shirayuki could relate. She wasn't this bad, but she understood the feeling. Back then, she could at least talk to people. Later, after getting into racing, she gradually became more outgoing. Now, she had completely overcome that fear.
"Senpai, let's go over there."
Shirayuki pointed to a table piled high with food. It was a four-person table, but one person's food had taken up all the space.
"That seat is taken… maybe we should wait."
"It's fine. She won't mind."
Shirayuki took her hand and led her over. Moving past the pile of food, she found the gray-haired figure behind it.
"Oguri Cap senpai."
Oguri Cap looked up, a grain of rice still on her cheek.
"Fujihara."
After swallowing, she added, "I thought you already left. And this is?"
Shirayuki signaled with her eyes.
"Mejiro Dober." Dober took a breath to steady herself. "Nice to meet you, Oguri Cap senpai."
Oguri Cap nodded and went back to eating, spoon after spoon.
"Senpai, let's sit here."
"Is that really okay? Won't we disturb her?"
Oguri Cap was one of Tracen's biggest stars, rivaling even Symboli Rudolf in popularity. Sitting with her would attract attention.
Dober hesitated.
"Don't be afraid. This is when you have to step forward. Let me show you."
Shirayuki patted her chest, then suddenly dropped to one knee beside Oguri Cap and extended her hand.
"Oguri Cap senpai, would you dine with me?"
The sudden move drew everyone's attention.
"What's going on!?"
"A proposal?"
"Did she just say dine together…?"
Oguri Cap tilted her head.
Then she took Shirayuki's hand.
"Okay."
"Ahhh!"
Excited squeals erupted around them.
"See, senpai?" Shirayuki stood up. "As long as you're sincere, people will accept your request."
She turned back.
"Senpai?"
She was gone.
In the brief moment Shirayuki knelt, Dober had disappeared. Just as Shirayuki was about to search, Oguri Cap grabbed her hand.
"Aren't we eating together?"
…
"Senpai, why did you run all the way here?"
Behind the school building, Shirayuki finally found Dober sitting alone on a bench, quietly eating.
"Shirayuki!?"
Startled, Dober almost ran again, but stopped when she saw who it was.
"How did you find me…"
"The quietest place after school is here. I figured you might be around."
Shirayuki sat beside her.
"Did you eat?"
"To save time, I finished Oguri Cap senpai's portion."
"…She didn't get mad?"
"She told me to get my own next time."
"I see."
"Why did you run? She already agreed."
"I didn't mean to…"
But that was way too much!
Couldn't you just ask normally? Did you really have to do that?
In a packed cafeteria, kneeling in front of the most famous Uma Musume and saying something like that.
It was way too attention-grabbing.
What happened to taking things step by step? That skipped straight to the final stage.
By the time she realized it, she had already run out with her tray, people staring at her the whole way, until she ended up here.
"Yeah… that was probably too much for you, senpai. So I've adjusted my approach."
Shirayuki continued,
"Let's start with something simpler. Like me."
"Shirayuki?"
"Yeah."
Dober glanced at the cat ears and looked away.
"Then… I'll be in your care."
Got her.
Shirayuki smiled inwardly. Give her an impossible task first, then a much easier one. People are far more likely to accept the second.
Over time, Mejiro Dober would gradually change.