Chapter Text
It’d be very appropriate to call Manhattan Cafe a loner.She had a few other Umas she'd consider close,like her roommate,Yukino Bijin. She also found Dantsu flame, a classmate of hers, to be quite pleasant. Despite this however, Cafe only had one friend. One only she could see. A figure always just out of reach, but one that had always been with her. This was her one and only friend. Otherwise she was happy to be alone, to do things her way. Running when it was dark out, and spending her time out of class in an abandoned classroom that was graciously lent to her. It was a solitary life, but that's sorta how Cafe liked it.
That's why it was a shock when she was asked to share her room with one Agnes Tachyon. They had class together, and Tachyon did (unsuccessfully) strike up a conversation with Cafe at least once, but the two were very much strangers. This is mind, Cafe was…reluctant, but she wasn't one to go against orders. Especially orders from the top, the student council president, Symboli Rudolf. Cafe slinked into the old classroom, thinking of tidying up a bit before her new “roommate” arrived. Luckily there wasn't much lying around. She had only bothered to decorate a corner so far.
As she tidied up her corner just a bit the sound of the door sliding open alerted Cafe that her permanent new guest was here. “my, my, isn't this place spacey.” Tachyon said, pulling a clattering wagon of various vials, bottles and devices behind her. Cafe cleared her throat and began to speak. “Hello, t- Tachyo-”
“Ah, Hello Cafe. It's rude just barging in like this isn't it. I apologize.” Tachyon said, already halfway placing down a computer. “Is it alright if I put everything over here for now?”
“That's fine.” Cafe answered. She just awkwardly watched Tachyon make herself at home, not knowing, or particularly willing to speak with her further. Tachyon was strange, anyone could tell you that, but seeing her already so comfortable with her new situation was curious. After watching for at least 10 minutes, Cafe sat on the couch, and started brewing herself a coffee. She met her friend's eyes. She looked, intrigued, by the new presence, but Cafe's friend rarely spoke, so who knows what she was thinking. Meanwhile Tachyon put the last of her supplies in place, and stretched. “There we go. This should be sufficient.” Her eyes then landed back on Cafe in her little corner. “I do hope I'm not taking up too much space.”
Cafe sipped her coffee, and waved her hand. Finally Tachyon walked over, getting as close as possible, and stuck out her arm. Cafe just glanced at the sleeve covered hand, then Tachyon. Tachyon's V-shaped smile turned into a shocked frown. “Cafe, I'm only trying to extend a greeting here.” She said with exaggerated offense. “Oh.. I'm sorry..” Cafe shook Tachyon's hand. With that Tachyon's smile was fixed back into place. “I have to say it's nice that we're well acquainted enough. Otherwise this shared space deal would be horribly awkward don't you think?”
“Are we? Well acquainted I mean.” Cafe said, ears drooping just slightly. Clearly Tachyon has a very different view of their brief interactions to this point.
“Oh? Why so distant,Cafe? I thought by now we were at least familiar with each other.”
“I think you're familiar with me. I'm not so much with you.” Cafe said, bowing apologetically to at least be polite. Tachyon placed her sleeve to her move for a second, her eyes studying Cafe. She then shrugged and laughed a bit. “I suppose so. Doing lengthy research on a classmate will make you quite familiar with them.”
With that, Tachyon returned to the quarters she set up and was instantly hard at work. Again, Cafe watched, bringing the mug to her lips, but barely making an effort to drink from it.They stood up, gesturing for Cafe to follow. Cafe followed them to the door, but her friend stopped right at the doorway. Without a word, she pointed to Tachyon. Cafe tensed. “You want me to bring her along? Why?” Her friend just glanced at Cafe. She tensed further, looking at her friend, then Tachyon, whose ears perked up just a little, even though she seemed dead focused on her computer screen. With one last once over, Cafe sighed. “Tachyon san, would you want to.. accompany me for a quick run?” Cafe asked. Tachyon was already out of her chair. “Of course! Allowing me to experience you run first hand. How…exciting.” Cafe just shot her a sideways glance. “Come on then.”
The two found themselves in a park, a sizable distance from the academy. Cafe got in some stretches, while Tachyon set up her laptop and a watch. “You're not going to run?” Cafe asked. “If it's all the same I'd like to take this opportunity to study you. I see potential in you, shall we say.”
Cafe gave her one last look. Tachyon’s face. Analytical,always observing. Cafe had to wonder just what this girl thought of her. Is she really just a lab rat, to be tested and observed and recorded? She shook her head, and focused on the path ahead of her, and her friend.
Finally she was off. She let her friend rush past, this was routine by now. Despite herself she shot a quick peep behind her. Tachyon still sat at the tree, her eyes seemingly wider than usual. Her lips pursed a bit, but she locked back onto the shadow she's always chased. It wasn't time to show her true prowess quite yet though. That's what the last lap was for. Tachyon's laptop was crowded with readings. Stats of Cafe's entire career laid before her. She narrated Cafe's chase wordlessly, almost as if this was a real race.
She was almost in a trance, until it happened. Cafe's spurt. It was fast. It was quick, powerful, desperate. It was…. beautiful. Tachyon grinned. This was what she wanted to see. The drive all Umamusume had. The single minded rush of hopefully reaching the goal one chases their whole life to reach. By the look on Cafe's face when she reached the end though, she could surmise that goal was still far from being reached. Still this experience was valuable. So, so valuable. “That was excellent, Cafe. Truly excellent.” Tachyon said, clapping as if she had seen the best play of her life. “She was…so close. So close…” Cafe wheezed, fist curls.
Tachyon shot Cafe an almost understanding look.“Now, If I may, I'd like to show you my running. Feel free to keep your pace. Observe me, this time.”
Cafe's ears perked up. “H-huh?” She stood still as a plank. Tachyon reached her hand to her toes, shook her foot a bit, and was off. She blinked twice, then did her best to follow the girl ahead. They were shoulder to shoulder for maybe 3 laps, then Tachyon sped up, and by a considerable amount. She was like a missile. Cafe almost couldn't comprehend it. She was exhausted from just that desperate last spurt, but Tachyon was already putting her everything in at the halfway point, and she was smiling. Her speed was amazing, but watching it felt as if everything was in slow motion around them. At last, Tachyon slowed to a stop. “So Cafe, I do believe you've been familiarized with me now?” “Y-yes.” That's all Cafe could say. Tachyon sighed and nearly folded in on herself. “Ahhh, glad to hear. I must say I'm exhausted now.” Tachyon strained, pushing herself back up, trying to straighten her back. “Well, I look forward to studying you more dear Cafe. Until tomorrow.” She waved. Cafe rubbed her temples. She had much to think about on the way back.