Tanagami stood outside the dormitory, adjusting his cap—a black piece of fabric emblazoned with a neon-yellow "K." It had just turned nine o'clock. There was still no sign of Tachyon, and a prickle of anxiety began to settle in his chest. He peered through the glass doors of the Umamusume dormitory, catching glimpses of figures moving deep within the hallway.
He couldn't go in. The rules were absolute: Trainers were forbidden from entering the girls' dorms. He had never quite understood the logic. In this world, it was an objective truth that an Umamusume possessed strength far superior to any human man; if a male trainer tried to force his way in, he'd likely be sent flying before he could make it past the foyer. Then again, the underlying reason wasn't hard to guess. If people were bold enough to engage in "indiscretions" in the health office, there was no telling what they'd do behind the closed doors of a dormitory.
Still, the rule felt like an immovable wall, and Tanagami found himself losing his nerve. He needed to call Tachyon out—they had a schedule to keep—but he hesitated. Just as he was debating his next move, a group of students emerged from the building. Maybe they can help, he thought.
Shifting his heavy duffel bag to one hand, he approached them.
"Excuse me... sorry to bother you."
He'd agonized over how to strike the right tone, but in the end, the line between a concerned professional and a suspicious loiterer was thin. He settled for being as plain as possible.
"Yes?" one of the three girls replied. One of her companions, clearly a stranger to the other two, gave a polite nod and hurried off toward the campus.
"I'm looking for Tachyon. Have you seen her?"
"Tachyon? You mean Agnes Tachyon?"
"Yeah. We're supposed to head out today. I'm worried she's forgotten our plans."
The girl offered a wry, knowing smile. "With her? It's hard to say. I haven't seen her around this morning." She turned to her friend. "Mee-chan, do you know anything?"
The girl called Mee-chan tapped her chin. "Well, I know her roommate, Digital-chan. Actually, didn't I just pass Digital near the restrooms?"
The third girl shook her head with a small laugh. "I wasn't there, so I wouldn't know."
"I'm pretty sure she's still in there," Mee-chan said, turning back to Tanagami. "I can go find Digital-chan and have her check their room, if you'd like?"
Tanagami nodded, a wave of relief washing over him. "That would be a huge help. Thank you!"
The girls shared another amused look. "No problem. We'll go ask Digital-chan to wake her up."
As they disappeared back into the dorm, Tanagami let out a long breath. He wasn't particularly good at talking to strangers—the social friction always drained him—but he'd managed to push through it.
A few minutes later, the girls returned, giggling.
"Digital-chan said she'd go drag her out of bed. She was making the most hilarious 'hyah!' noises when we told her you were waiting."
Tanagami forced a smile, but his heart wasn't in it. Time was slipping away. Their destination was deep in the countryside; the trains grew fewer and farther between as the day progressed. If they missed this window, they'd be stuck at the station for an hour, or worse. Please, he prayed, just get here fast.
Fortunately, five minutes later, Tachyon emerged. She was dragging a suitcase behind her, her eyes heavy with sleep, though she seemed at least semi-conscious.
"My apologies, my apologies," she muttered, rubbing her eyes as she came to a halt in front of him.
"Tachyon, we're cutting it incredibly close," Tanagami said, his voice tight with urgency. "Do you have everything? Changes of clothes? Pajamas? My father's place doesn't have much in the way of entertainment, so I hope you packed a book or two. Is there anything else?"
Tachyon stared blankly at her suitcase for a moment. "Ah," she said airily. "I forgot my undergarments."
"Then go back and get them! Now!" Tanagami barked, his patience snapping. "I'm going to head to the station first. Give me your suitcase—I'll carry it. You just run. To the station! Go!"
"Yes, yes, I hear you," Tachyon replied, though she didn't pick up her pace, strolling back toward the dorm with agonizing leisure. Tanagami wanted to scream at her to hurry, but he realized he was the one who needed to move. He grabbed her suitcase—which was unexpectedly heavy—and broke into a sprint.
By the time Tanagami reached the station, he was gasping for air. A moment later, Tachyon arrived at a light jog, looking perfectly refreshed and wearing a mischievous grin. She was holding a bundle of laundry in her hand. Tanagami scowled but said nothing, ushering her toward the platform.
"You wouldn't believe—" she started, but he cut her off.
"Talk later! The train is leaving!"
There wasn't even time to open the suitcase. Tanagami kept walking, suitcase in hand, trying his best to shield Tachyon's exposed delicates from the public eye with his own body.