Chapter Text
The Tango Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse was supposed to start an hour ago.
Instead, the fog sat stubbornly on the track like an overprotective blanket, and the loudspeakers kept repeating:
“Please wait until visibility improves.”
Curren Chan had no problem with that.
More time to sip her peach bubble tea in the competitor’s lounge. More time to peek at the line-up list and make her a cute analysis.
She held the sheet like it was a treasure map.
Tango Stakes – 1400m, Dirt Course
- 1. Classic Comedy – Knows everything about TV, not much about winning races. But that’s okay! She can make everyone laugh at the afterparty.
- 2. Daitaku Helios – Hard to tell what she would do—she’s been overseas all winter. But ohhh, those little beads around her neck are adorbs. Why such short shorts, though? Don’t catch a cold!
- 3. Yamanin Zephyr – Still figuring out her career. Might be a great sprinter if she commits. Fingers crossed!
- 4. Curren Chan – That’s me! Middle gate this time. I’ve got a plan!
- 5. Daiichi Ruby – A proper lady, soothing voice, and a fantastic dancer. Hope she makes the top three to sing at the concert!
- 6. Nishino Flower – My cute friend with her own fan club. Can’t underestimate her!
- 7. Aston Machan – She dreams of being a world-traveling mascot. So cute! 💕Must hug before the race!
- 8. Biko Pegasus – Akebono - chan's roommate and a superhero fan! She collects the merch too—CARROT RANGER IS JUSTICE!
- 9. Weiss Grimoire – New transfer from overseas. Haven’t talked to her yet. Her name sounds gloomy. I’ll fix that. For now, she’s Weiss-chan.
- 10. Copano Rickey – A copycat of Taiki-chan, but the real one’s at Keio Hai. I wonder how far behind she is?
- 11. Bamboo Memory – She learned rattan weaving, which is super cute, but why is she in a sprint race? Another mystery!
- 12. K.S. Miracle – A survivor with style. Can’t call her Miracle-chan, that’s for my bestie, but she likes being called Koneki-chan. She’s dangerous up close!
Curren tapped the name at number nine.
Only one racer here whose cuteness level she didn’t know yet—and that wouldn’t stand.
But before any missions of friendship could be carried out—
“Machan~!” Curren launched herself across the lounge, scooping Aston Machan into a big, pre-race mascot hug. 🫂
The pre-race Umastagram post of the two of them snuggled on a puff chair was already going viral, but Curren didn’t care.
Hug quota: complete. Now it’s time to find a number nine.
🦄🦄🦄
She spotted her near the coffee counter. Tall, long cardigan, modest checkered skirt, definitely old school, and a tail was in the color of polished obsidian. She looked like the cool, composed girl who’d vanish into the crowd—so Curren didn’t walk.
She snuck up, covered Weiss’s eyes from behind, and sang, “Guess who? Hint: She’s suuuper cute.”
Weiss didn’t even flinch.“I heard about you from Air Groove,” she said smoothly. “You’re the one who refuses to use full names. Curren Chan, is it?”
Curren gasped, releasing her grip. “My reputation precedes me! Cute Curren Chan, at your service. First time in Kyoto, right? I heard you’re still getting used to Japan.”
Weiss reached for her coffee. “You heard right. And yes, my first time here. I didn’t plan to enter the Twinkle Series just yet, but no one wanted the open slot for this dirt race and I thought—why not measure the competition up close?”
“Wise move—” Curren grinned “—or should I say Weiss move?” She plopped into the chair next to her. “Maybe you can tell me about your homeland. Some of us dream about traveling far—me and Machan, for example!” 🚢
Weiss sipped. “The hills of Bavaria are vast and some of them are barren, but they make for excellent endurance training. I grew up in a rather secluded town around livestock—mostly sheep. I’d probably be a shepherd by now if not for my racing career.”
“Oooh, so you're into hiking? You’d get along great with Café-chan! She’s mysterious too. Look—” Curren whipped out her phone and pulled up Manhattan Café’s Umastagram profile. 📱
Weiss studied it briefly. “I’ll take your word for it. Is this your way of calming race-day nerves? I don't like fickle weather either.”
“I’m not nervous,” Curren beamed. “I’m making sure you get a proper welcome. You don’t seem like the type to start a chat, so I’m doing it for you. Because I’m nice—like Nature-chan!” 💕
Somewhere back at the academy, Nice Nature sneezed.
“This country really is different,” Weiss mused. “Or maybe racing isn’t your main priority, like the pink-haired student who still looks like a pony.”
“Haru-chan!” Curren grinned. “She’s unique, but she’s got tons of hidden talents. Plus, she’s super lucky—you wouldn’t believe how many raffles she’s won.” 🎲
“I’ll take your word for that too,” Weiss said, her shoulders easing ever so slightly.
Curren smiled. She’d get Weiss-chan to do something cute eventually—no rush. From what she could tell, Weiss-chan was a good listener. For now, there was still time before the fog cleared, and plenty of funny school stories to share.
“So let me tell you about a little scandal between Agnes-chan T and Agnes-chan D. Some of their experiments were… let’s just say, unsuccessful. Cute mishaps, mostly. Like their hormones going overdrive for a few days. Groove-chan and Fujii-chan had to pry them apart!”
Personally I’d let them ‘do it.’ But the morals committee had another idea.
Time passed. Curren managed to make the highlander laugh and even learned a bit about her early career. Not that she knew much about racing overseas, but if Weiss-chan was sharing anything at all, that was a win. From what she could gather, Weiss-chan was a late-surger—liked hanging back, watching the pack.
Shepherd instincts, maybe? Sheep are cute. 🐑 Maybe I should try take a photo in a wool onesie?
An announcement broke Curren out of her daydream:
“Attention! All challengers, please come to the paddock in fifteen minutes! There’s a green light for the race to begin!”
Curren’s tail flicked. “Alright, Weiss-chan—let’s give Kyoto the cutest show they’ve ever seen!”
The two stood up. Weiss lazily headed to the exit.
Socializing has to wait. It's showtime 💞
End of Part 1