Lunar lay sprawled on her stomach across the bed, her legs swaying lazily in the air behind her as she held her phone up with both hands, completely absorbed in what was playing on the screen. The soft glow cast gentle light across her face while a vibrant performance unfolded before her—just one of the many Winning Live videos Sakura had sent earlier, which had very quickly turned from a single link into a small flood of recommendations the moment Lunar admitted she didn't really understand after-race performances.
Three figures moved in perfect harmony on her screen—Kitasan Black, Cheval Grand, and Queens Ring—each step precise and deliberate, each expression polished and full of charm, their voices blending seamlessly with the music as colorful stage lights swept across them in rhythm.
Lunar let out a quiet sigh as she watched, her eyes tracing the choreography with a calm, focused attention as she took in every detail, from the timing of their movements to the subtle coordination between them. "…Kitasan and Cheval look really good together…" she murmured under her breath, almost absentmindedly, her voice soft as her thoughts drifted along with the performance.
At first, she didn't notice it—the faint dip of the mattress behind her, the subtle shift of weight that barely registered against her focus. It was only when a presence lingered just a little too close for comfort that something in her instincts finally reacted, prompting her to turn her head slightly—
Only to find someone right there.
"Hk—?!" Lunar jolted, her entire body tensing in surprise as she nearly dropped her phone, scrambling in a flurry of movement to roll onto her back and prop herself up, her heart skipping a beat at the sudden intrusion.
Leaning casually against the side of her bed, as if she had been there the entire time and simply hadn't been noticed, was Hiro-senpai, her golden eyes glinting with curiosity as she leaned just enough to peek at the screen. "…What are you watching?" Hiro asked, a small snort slipping out as she tilted her head slightly, clearly amused by the way Lunar had reacted.
Lunar blinked a few times, still trying to catch up with what had just happened, before she finally managed to steady herself and sit up properly, her phone still clutched in her hands. "I—I'm just watching some Winning Live performances…" she replied, her voice carrying a faint trace of fluster as she tried to regain her composure.
Hiro's eyes lit up instantly—not just a little, but completely, her entire expression brightening as if something had just clicked in her mind.
"Really?!" she exclaimed, her demeanor shifting in a heartbeat as she leaned in closer, her earlier calm replaced with an almost infectious excitement. "Are you into umadol performances too? Are you planning to do one soon? If you are, you have to tell me—I'll definitely come watch!"
The sudden burst of energy hit Lunar like a wave, catching her completely off guard as she instinctively leaned back just a fraction, her thoughts scrambling to keep up with Hiro's rapid-fire enthusiasm.
"U-Um, actually, I—" she started, already feeling herself getting overwhelmed.
"She's not." The interruption came smoothly, cutting through the moment before Lunar could even finish her sentence.
Both of them turned.
Via was seated at her desk, one leg crossed over the other as she held a book in her hand, her posture relaxed and folded, her tone calm as she spoke without even looking up at first. "If anything, she's probably the complete opposite of passionate about it," she said casually, flipping a page as though the conversation barely required her attention. "She's only watching those because they're part of her 'lessons' right now."
That alone was enough to make Hiro pause.
Only then did Via glance up, her expression neutral but observant. "Lunar doesn't really know much about umadol performances," she added. "…and she most definitely has never done one either."
Silence followed immediately. Hiro slowly turned her head back toward Lunar, her expression doing all the talking for her. Is that actually true?
Lunar shrank slightly under that gaze, her shoulders drawing inward as she gave a small, sheepish smile, clearly caught off guard by how directly it had been put. "…Uhm… yeah…" she admitted quietly.
There was a brief pause.
And then—"WHAT?!"
Via didn't even flinch at that, completely expecting the crash out.
She simply lowered her book with a quiet, almost resigned sigh, her expression flattening into calm acceptance as she reached for her juice box instead, slipping the straw between her lips like someone who had already decided to sit back and observe the inevitable chaos. "…Here we go…" she muttered under her breath.
And chaos did, in fact, unfold.
Hiro, still standing right in front of Lunar, looked like she had just been personally offended by reality itself. "Wait—wait, wait, wait," she started, her voice climbing in disbelief as she gestured emphatically. "You're telling me you don't know anything about after-race performances, you've never done one before, and you're… actually real?"
Lunar shrank a little under the intensity. "…Uhm…I mean, I kinda did watch some of it with my mom and enjoyed it… I just don't really understand the full appeal of actually being the one performing on stage…"
Hiro didn't give her the chance to recover. "Fine—fine, then at least tell me this," she pressed, narrowing her eyes slightly as she leaned in just a bit. "You know how to dance, right?"
Lunar hesitated, her expression turning uncertain as she gave a small, awkward shrug. "…I've… never really tried," she admitted.
The answer hit Hiro like a shockwave. She physically recoiled, stumbling a step back as if struck, one hand flying to her chest in exaggerated disbelief. "…Okay," Hiro said slowly, as though trying to steady herself. "Okay, then you must at least know how to sing."
Lunar's uncertainty deepened, her gaze flickering slightly as she fidgeted again. "…I mean… I can sing," she said softly. "I used to… do it a lot with my momma…" Her voice trailed off for just a moment, her gaze drifting before she brought herself back to the present. "…But I wouldn't say I'm anything special at it."
That was the final straw.
Without warning, Hiro stepped forward, grabbed Lunar by the arm, and in one swift motion pulled her right off the bed and onto her feet. "Wha—?!"
Lunar let out a startled yelp as she stumbled forward, barely managing to catch her balance before Hiro steadied her with surprising firmness.
"Then sing," Hiro declared immediately, leaving no room for argument.
Lunar froze, her mind going blank for a split second. "…What?!" she blurted, her eyes widening in alarm as she instinctively tried to pull back. "No way—that's embarrassing!"
Hiro immediately countered, gripping her shoulders now as she leaned in slightly. "You saw me singing this morning, so this makes it fair!"
"That's not fair at all!" Lunar shot back almost instantly, her voice flustered as heat rushed to her face again, her composure slipping under the pressure. "That wasn't intentional, and you can actually sing, Hiro-senpai! I can't—this would be way more embarrassing for me!"
Hiro paused at that, but only for a second.
"…Okay," she said, straightening up as if she had just reached a conclusion she was fully satisfied with. "Then I'll go first. That should make it less embarrassing."
Lunar blinked, caught completely off guard by how quickly that had been resolved. "…Huh—wait—"
But Hiro had already started. (the author recommends listening to Yumehayate while reading this part)
"I see now—
Just how free the wind is!"
The moment the words left her lips, Lunar's eyes widened in immediate recognition. That song—Yumehayate. Mr. C.B.'s song. One of her favorites, one her momma used to play so often that both the melody and lyrics had long since etched themselves into her memory.
Hiro continued without hesitation, her voice strong, clear, and unwavering, carrying a powerful, almost piercing quality that filled the room with surprising ease, each note ringing out with confidence.
"Every bound on the turf makes my heart race,
Those dazzling cheers are always there for me—"
The sound resonated deeply, enough that Lunar felt herself straightening where she stood, her attention completely drawn in despite herself. For a brief moment, a thought flickered through her mind—Is this okay? It was nighttime, after all. Were they being too loud?
Her gaze flickered toward Via, only to find her completely unbothered, now holding up her phone and recording Hiro with a relaxed expression, as if this were just another normal occurrence. That certainly eased Lunar's worry just a little.
And by the time Hiro reached the final line—
"My footsteps will echo on and on!"
She finished with a confident flourish, her presence lingering in the air even after the last note faded. Somehow, at some point during the performance, a brush had appeared in her hand again, seemingly materializing out of nowhere like it always did.
Turning toward Lunar, Hiro's lips curved into a small, triumphant smile as she extended the brush forward, holding it out like a microphone being passed along on stage.
"It's your turn now, Lunar-chan!"
Lunar hesitated for a moment with the brush hovering just inches from her hand, her gaze naturally flicking toward Via in quiet desperation for rescue, only to be met with an utterly unhelpful but very amused "good luck" look, the girl still comfortably seated with her phone raised and recording as if this were the highlight of her evening.
Letting out a soft, resigned sigh, Lunar slowly turned her attention back to Hiro, who stood there practically vibrating with anticipation, golden eyes sparkling as she waited, and in the end, Lunar relented, mumbling under her breath that they had no right to complain if she ended up sounding terrible before finally taking the brush from her.
Drawing in a deep breath, she steadied herself, her fingers tightening slightly around the makeshift microphone as she recalled where the lyrics had left off, and then, softly at first, she began.
"My wish… just a single wish…"
The moment her voice slipped out, it carried a gentleness that immediately stood out, smooth and unexpectedly full in a way that contrasted sharply with her usual light, airy speaking tone. Both Via and Hiro froze on the spot, their expressions shifting into genuine surprise as they processed what they were hearing. There was a softness to it, a clarity that carried effortlessly through the room, and as Lunar continued, her confidence grew alongside it.
"Please, let this rush last for an eternity…
More and more, forevermore…"
As she continued, the hesitation that had clung to her at the start began to melt away, her voice gaining strength and presence with each line, growing more assured as it filled the space with a gentle warmth that felt as though it had always belonged there. Hiro, who had been expecting something clumsy or shy, found herself staring in disbelief as she realized that this was anything but that.
"I'll keep running…
After all, eventually, I too… shall become the wind…!"
By the time she reached the final line, Lunar had completely lost herself in it, her voice no longer held back by self-consciousness or doubt as it rang out clearly, carrying a sincerity that made it feel less like she was singing and more like she was simply… expressing something she didn't quite have the words for otherwise.
Somewhere in the middle of it, she realized something. It felt… lighter.
Like the weight she hadn't even noticed pressing down on her chest had eased just a little, like the act of singing itself was letting something loosen inside her, and as the final note left her lips, she lowered the brush slowly, blinking once as if returning to herself after drifting somewhere else entirely.
"…Oh." The quiet sound slipped out almost unconsciously, her brows knitting slightly as she tried to process the feeling lingering in her chest, something new yet not unpleasant, something warm that seemed to settle gently rather than weigh her down, and for a brief moment she found herself wondering absentmindedly, if this was what people meant when they talked about performances, about why they loved doing them, why they loved watching them.
She didn't fully understand it yet, not in a way she could clearly put into words, but for the first time… she felt like she was beginning to.
Hiro, however, had no intention of letting the moment fade into quiet reflection. Almost like she had been waiting for that exact opening, she stepped forward again, her expression lighting up with renewed energy as she picked up the next line without hesitation, her voice rising smoothly as it carried through the room.
"I entrust myself to life's countless whims…
Those, too, have become my tailwind…
At the twilight hour—"
As she sang, she turned slightly toward Lunar and gave a small, inviting gesture with her hand, a silent cue that was impossible to misunderstand, and Lunar, still caught in the leftover feeling of her own singing, found herself responding without thinking.
"My legs race along, no reason in mind…
For no other purpose,
This stride is mine alone…"
Their voices began to overlap, blending together more naturally than either of them expected, and as the song picked up, Hiro moved with it, her body bursting into motion as she danced with wide, expressive gestures, each step full of energy and life, her movements bold and unrestrained in a way that perfectly matched the spirit of the lyrics.
"Right here is the freest place in the world!
Even the changing seasons can't keep up—
The end of the expansive azure sky,
No matter how far it is, I see it clearly!"
Lunar followed, her voice carrying a quiet but growing enthusiasm, but as she did, something else began to happen, something she didn't consciously decide, something that simply… emerged.
Her body started to move.
Not in the same vivid, outwardly energetic way Hiro's did, but in something softer, something more fluid, subtle shifts of weight, small turns of her shoulders, the gentle sway of her steps aligning themselves with the rhythm as if it were second nature, as if her body understood the flow of motion far better than her mind ever could.
Its… the same feeling she has when running.
Controlled, efficient, responsive, yet free in its own unique way, and though Lunar herself wasn't aware of it, there was a natural grace in those movements that made them just as captivating in their own right.
"It's a straight path under the clear sky,
And while it certainly has no end—
Until I find my answer, as clumsy as I may be,
Little by little, I won't stop searching!"
The energy between them built with every line, Hiro's vibrant, explosive presence meeting Lunar's calm, flowing rhythm somewhere in the middle, creating something that felt unexpectedly… complete.
Then, as the song circled back.
"My wish, just a single wish—"
Hiro stepped forward and extended both of her hands toward Lunar, her palms open and inviting, her expression bright with anticipation as if she already knew what would happen next, and this time Lunar didn't pause, didn't second-guess herself, but simply moved.
Their hands met, fingers interlocking naturally as their palms pressed together, fully locking them in the moment as they continued.
"Please, let this rush last for an eternity…
More and more, forevermore—"
They looked at each other then, both smiling without restraint, something shared passing between them that didn't need words, something that felt alive in the rhythm, in the music, in the simple act of doing this together.
"I'll keep running!"
Lunar felt it again, stronger this time.
That same burning feeling in her chest, the same exhilaration she felt when she ran freely under an open sky, when the world seemed to stretch endlessly in front of her and nothing else mattered except the next step forward, and it surged through her now, carried not by her legs, but by her voice.
For a moment, it felt the exact same.
And then, together, without breaking that rhythm, without letting go.
"After all, eventually, I too—
shall become the wind!"
The final note lingered in the air for just a moment before fading away, leaving behind a silence that felt full rather than empty, following after something genuine had just taken place, as if the room itself needed a second to settle after holding so much sound and emotion at once.
A sudden clap echoed from the doorway, sharp enough to cut cleanly through the lingering silence, and Lunar snapped out of her adrenaline-filled haze almost instantly, her head turning toward the source as if she had just been pulled back into reality.
Standing there was a rather small-framed filly with fiery red hair and a pair of wide, bright brown eyes that seemed to shine with excitement, her entire figure nearly swallowed by the large bags she carried with surprising ease, like their weight meant nothing to her at all.
"Amazing!" she exclaimed without holding back, her hands still coming together in enthusiastic applause.
And just like that, everything came crashing down.
All the warmth, the exhilaration, the fleeting sense of freedom Lunar had just felt dissolved in an instant, replaced entirely by a wave of pure, unfiltered embarrassment that hit her all at once.
Heat rushed straight to her face, spreading so quickly it almost felt tangible, and she stiffened where she stood, suddenly hyper-aware of everything that had just happened, every note she had sung, every movement she had made. "H-Hey…!" she started, her voice already faltering as she scrambled for some way to recover—
"Heyo, Speedy-chan~ welcome back~!" Hiro's voice cut in cheerfully as she waved toward the girl at the door, only for her attention to snap right back to Lunar in the very next second as she lunged forward without warning and practically latched onto her.
"That was AMAZING!" Hiro burst out, her voice overflowing with unrestrained excitement as she grabbed Lunar by the shoulders and gave her a small shake for emphasis. "You said you might not be good at singing, but that was a complete lie! Do you even hear yourself?! That was exceptional—no, it was charmingly clear, like—like—ugh, I'm actually getting jealous here!"
"H-Hiro-senpai—!" Lunar tried to protest, completely overwhelmed as she instinctively tried to shrink into herself, as if that might somehow put out the metaphorical flames currently engulfing her.
"And the way you carried the notes!" Hiro continued without mercy, completely swept up in her own enthusiasm. "The control, the tone, the feeling—don't even get me started on the emotion, you just—gah!"
Via finally lowered her phone with a soft exhale, though the faint smile on her lips made it clear she wasn't disagreeing in the slightest. "Honestly," she added casually, resting her chin against her hand as she glanced at Lunar, "if that's how you sound without any real practice, we might as well just push you onto a stage already and call it a day."
"Please don't," Lunar immediately shot back, mortified as she rubbed her face in an attempt to cool it down. "You're both exaggerating… and I still don't even know how to dance properly."
"…What do you mean?" The new voice came from much closer now. Lunar turned, only to realize the red-haired girl had already made her way over after setting her surprisingly heavy-looking bags down on the simple looking bed with a solid thud, and now stood right in front of them, looking genuinely confused.
"From what I saw just now," she continued, tilting her head slightly, "you looked pretty natural when you were moving."
That made Lunar blink, the comment catching her completely off guard as she hesitated for a second. "…I did?" she asked, her voice soft with uncertainty, as she wasn't entirely sure what she had just done herself.
Before she could dwell on it any further, the girl suddenly straightened and extended her hand toward her with an easy, confident grin. "Nice to meet you, new roomie-senpai," she said brightly. "Name's Speedy Kick, but ya can just call me Speedy."
Lunar quickly recovered, returning the gesture with a small but warm smile as she took her hand in a gentle shake. "Lunar Light," she replied. "You can call me Lunar… or Lunar-senpai, whichever you prefer."
"Gotcha, Lunar-senpai~," Speedy responded without missing a beat, her grin widening just a little, already deciding that she liked the name and the person attached to it.
Hiro pulled back just enough to properly look at Lunar again, though the excitement in her expression quickly shifted into something far more scrutinizing, her golden eyes narrowing slightly as if she were trying to piece something together.
"…Wait a second," she began, folding her arms as she tilted her head, her tone slipping into suspicion. "Don't tell me you also lied about never dancing before."
Lunar blinked again, immediately shaking her head—this time with noticeably more urgency—as she lifted her hands slightly in a defensive gesture. "No, I'm serious," she insisted, her voice earnest as she tried to make it clear she wasn't joking. "I really meant it. I've never danced before."
Hiro didn't look convinced in the slightest.
"But your movements just now," she pressed, pointing toward Lunar as if presenting undeniable evidence, "they were smooth, controlled, and completely in sync with what we were singing—and that's without any backtrack, mind you! That's not something you just… stumble into. That kind of flow comes from experience, from practice, from actually performing, not from someone who claims they've never even tried."
"I'm not lying," Lunar repeated, this time more firmly, though the faint confusion in her voice remained, because if she was being honest, even she didn't fully understand it either.
Via then finally chimed in, she commented thoughtfully as she leaned back slightly against the desk. "It might not be that she's lying," she said, glancing between the two of them. "It could just be that Lunar's naturally talented when it comes to movement."
"…Talented?" Lunar echoed, her voice small and uncertain, clearly struggling to wrap her head around the idea.
Via nodded, pushing herself upright as she began to explain, her gaze shifting toward Hiro first. "Take Hiro-senpai, for example. You're obviously more experienced when it comes to dancing and performing, and it shows in the way you move—you use a wide range of motions, bigger gestures, more expressive techniques… but sometimes, because you get excited, a few of those movements lose a bit of precision."
Hiro paused, then let out a small cough, scratching her cheek with a sheepish look. "…Okay, yeah, that's fair," she admitted. "I do get a little carried away sometimes."
Via gave a small nod before turning her attention back to Lunar. "But with you, it's the complete opposite. You barely moved compared to Hiro-senpai, but every single movement you did make was perfectly aligned with the rhythm, almost like your body instinctively knew where it needed to be."
She folded her arms lightly, her eyes thoughtful as she leaned in a bit, emphasizing her point. "There weren't any flashy techniques, no complex choreography, nothing that suggested formal training… and yet, it didn't feel lacking at all. If anything, it felt… eerily precise, like everything you did had a purpose, even if you didn't consciously realize it yourself."
Lunar stared at her, still trying to process the explanation.
"So basically," Via continued, shrugging just slightly as if the concept were obvious, "you kept it simple because you don't know how to dance formally, but your body's natural sense of rhythm made it look like you did."
"…Oh." That was about the only response Lunar could manage.
Speedy nodded a few times, clearly on board with the explanation. "Yeah, that makes sense," she added casually. "It didn't look like you were doing anything fancy or over-the-top, but somehow it just… worked. It fit perfectly, like it was supposed to."
Hiro, meanwhile, crossed her arms again, though this time the curiosity in her eyes had fully replaced the skepticism. She studied Lunar closely, her golden gaze sharpening as if she had just uncovered something entirely unexpected. "…So you're saying," she muttered slowly, "she's basically winging it… and it still looks like that?"
Via gave a small, knowing smile. "Pretty much."
Lunar could only stand there for a moment, completely dumbfounded as she tried to process everything that had just been said, her mind still catching up to the idea that something she had never even attempted before was now being labeled as "talent," and not casually either. The certainty in Via and Hiro's voices made it impossible to dismiss, like a sudden spotlight illuminating a part of herself she hadn't even realized existed.
Before she could even begin to formulate a response, Hiro cut in sharply, her voice carrying that fierce, unrelenting conviction that always seemed to demand action. She stepped forward, grabbing Lunar by both shoulders with an intensity that made the air between them almost crackle. "Then don't waste it!" she exclaimed, her golden eyes practically gleaming with insistence. "If you've got that kind of natural sense for rhythm and movement, you absolutely have to train it properly. Come with me to the studio this Friday—we're doing dance practice, and I am not taking no for an answer."
Lunar swallowed, a mix of overwhelm and hesitation flooding her at the sheer force of Hiro's enthusiasm. After a brief pause, she nodded slowly, choosing her words carefully. "I… can go," she admitted, "but I already made plans with a friend for that day. She wanted to help me with… performance stuff too."
Hiro paused, eyes brimming with a flicker of curiosity, then shrugged lightly. "Oh? That's fine, I don't mind joining in," she said easily, though her golden eyes narrowed just slightly, sharp and probing. "Who's your friend? Do I know her?"
Lunar hesitated, a small, uncertain frown crossing her face. "…Well… maybe," she murmured. "She said she's pretty popular."
Hiro's eyebrows shot up in interest, her gaze locking onto Lunar's. "And her name is—?"
"Sakura Farrel."
The reaction was instantaneous. In the blink of an eye, Hiro was practically nose-to-nose with Lunar, so close that she had to lean back, startled by the intensity of those wide, almost unhinged golden eyes staring straight into her very soul.
"Sakura Farrel…?" Hiro repeated, her voice dropping, heavy with awe and disbelief. "As in the 'Prickly Cherry Blossom' Sakura Farrel…?"
Lunar gave a small, nervous nod, unsure what to say.
And just like that, Hiro's entire demeanor shifted again, morphing into full-blown, uncontainable excitement. She dropped Lunar's shoulders and instead grabbed her hands, shaking them slightly for emphasis as her barrage of questions erupted like a storm. "You know her?! How? Since when? Are you close? Do you talk often? Have you seen her perform up close? What's she like off-stage? Does she really—"
The questions came so fast, tumbling over each other, that Lunar couldn't even process a single one, let alone form an answer, and all she could do was stand frozen, eyes wide, trying desperately to keep up with the whirlwind that was Hiro.
Off to the side, Via and Speedy watched the chaotic scene between Lunar and Hiro unfold, their expressions calm in stark contrast to the storm of energy in front of them. After a moment of silent observation, they exchanged a glance that spoke volumes without a word.
"…Poor Lunar-senpai," Speedy muttered finally, shaking her head with a small, almost sympathetic smile. "Hiro-senpai's gone full otaku mode."
Via let out a quiet snort, clearly amused, the corner of her lips twitching upward before she turned her attention to Speedy. "Ignoring that for a moment," she said, raising a brow, "why are you back so early? You usually return on Tuesdays, not Mondays."
Speedy blinked, genuinely surprised, her eyes widening slightly. "Eh? Senpai didn't know?"
Via tilted her head, the gesture laced with mild curiosity. "…Know what?"
"Huh… guess the Principal only told me, then," Speedy said, rubbing the back of her head briefly. "Principal Sato asked me to come back early this time."
Via's curiosity sharpened immediately, her gaze narrowing slightly as she leaned forward. "Why?"
Speedy's grin returned, brighter this time, carrying a spark of excitement that didn't go unnoticed. "Because tomorrow," she began, her tone shifting to something conspiratorial, "there's going to be a joint class between Junior A and Junior B."
Via froze mid-thought, her expression caught between surprise and sudden alertness. "…Eh?" she blinked, utterly thrown by the news. "That sudden?"
"I know, right?" Speedy laughed lightly, the sound carrying a hint of amusement. "But that's not even the main part. Principal Sato said I should come back to observe it because it's going to be… special." She let the words hang for a moment, the tiniest glint of mischief—or perhaps anticipation—flashing in her eyes.
"There's gonna be a mock race," she finally said, letting the phrase roll out casually but with deliberate weight. "Between both classes."
That simple statement transformed Via's expression instantly, surprise giving way to a hard focus, her mind already turning over the possibilities. Meanwhile, Hiro was still lost in her relentless interrogation of Lunar, oblivious to the entirely different kind of excitement that had just been introduced into the room.
Via's brows knit together slightly as she processed Speedy's revelation, her gaze sharpening, calculating. "Wait… but why you specifically?" she asked, genuinely puzzled. "Why did the Principal message you to observe it?"
Speedy gave a small shrug as she dropped herself onto her bed, the mattress dipping under her weight while she casually rested her hands behind her. "Not sure," she admitted. "But in the message, he said there'd be something… 'exciting' and 'unnatural' happening during the mock race, something I could learn from."
She paused for a moment, her expression turning just a touch more thoughtful, the edge of intrigue creeping into her features. "And you know how Principal Sato is," she added. "He doesn't exaggerate. Ever. If he says something like that, then it's definitely worth seeing."
Via fell silent, her gaze dropping slightly as she let her thoughts drift, letting the fragments of information start to fall into place in her mind, and unconsciously, her eyes drifted toward Lunar, who was still very much trapped in Hiro's relentless barrage of questions, barely managing to get a word in edgewise.
…Unnatural.
Even though she had only known Lunar for a short time, there were already too many things about her that didn't quite add up, from the way she humbly carried herself, to the way she spoke about her past races with vague, suspicious modesty, she is sure Lunar was deliberately holding something back.
…Could she be the "anomaly" the Principal was referring to?
It wasn't a conclusion yet, not fully, but it was a possibility that Via could not ignore. Her gaze sharpened, eyes narrowing as she weighed the thought carefully. "…Lunar."
Lunar, who had been mid-interrogation, visibly perked up at the call, her head snapping toward Via with what could only be described as relief shining in her eyes. "Yee~?" she responded immediately, slipping out of Hiro's grasp with surprising speed before making her way over, as if escaping a rainstorm.
Hiro froze mid-gesture, her hand still half-raised, a frown of mild frustration crossing her face as she realized she had no choice but to let Lunar retreat.
Via waited until Lunar stood beside her before continuing. "We're having a mock race tomorrow," she said, getting straight to the point. "Junior A and Junior B together."
Lunar blinked, her surprise evident as her voice echoed faintly in the room. "…A mock race?" she repeated, her words almost a whisper of disbelief. "Will everyone be participating?"
Via shook her head. "No. Those of us who already have scheduled races coming up will be exempt," she explained calmly as she gestured lightly toward herself. "So I won't be running."
Then she lifted her hand and pointed directly at Lunar. "But you," she continued, her voice carrying the weight of inevitability, "don't have anything planned yet, which means there's a very high chance you'll be participating."
Lunar stiffened slightly at that, the realization settling in. "…Oh."
Via pushed herself up from her chair and walked until she was standing right in front of Lunar, her expression shifting into something more focused, more serious than before. "In that case," she said, stretching her arms slightly, "there are a few things you need to keep in mind for tomorrow."
Lunar tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her features as her earlier surprise faded into cautious attentiveness. "…That is?" she asked softly, her voice carrying the faint lilt of interest that had begun to surface more frequently in her interactions.
Via drew in a quiet breath, lifting a finger slightly as if to punctuate the importance of what she was about to say, her eyes scanning Lunar with a careful patience.
"Firstly—"
—-
"KRINGGG!!!"
The sudden, shrill ringing of the bell sliced cleanly into her ears, making Lunar jump in response. Her attention snapped forward, her body tensing for just a moment as the world around her seemed to explode in sudden motion. Chairs scraped against the floor, footsteps shuffled, and a chorus of low murmurs and shifting voices filled the room as the students stirred to life. The teacher offered a quick closing remark before exiting, and almost in unison, the class began to rise.
Lunar, caught slightly behind the flow, scrambled to her feet, her movements just a fraction too slow, and then, realizing she was slightly out of sync, sank back into her chair as the classroom dissolved into lively chatter, voices overlapping and energy filled the space again.
Beside her, Sakura let out a quiet chuckle at the delayed reaction."What's wrong?" she asked, turning just enough to glance at Lunar with a small, teasing smile. "You seem a little out of it today."
Lunar scratched her cheek, a faint blush rising to her ears as she avoided eye contact, her voice low and hesitant. "It's nothing," she murmured, trying to sound casual. "I just… stayed up late watching the videos you sent, so I'm still a bit sleepy."
Sakura's lips curved into a soft snort, clearly entertained by the admission. "You stayed up for that?" she teased lightly, her eyes sparkling with playful disbelief. Then, as if softening her stance, she tilted her chair back slightly, creating just enough space to lean forward and tap her lap. "Well… if you're still tired," she said casually, "you can rest your head here."
Lunar froze, the offer catching her completely off guard, and then she shook her head almost immediately, flustered, her voice spilling out in a hurried protest. "N-no, it's fine, Sakura-chan, I'm okay—really!"
Sakura's ears twitched faintly, her lips forming a small pout as mild disappointment flickered across her face, though she remained composed, her gaze softening as she let the moment hang lightly between them.
Before the quiet tension could linger any longer, the classroom door swung open with a sharp, decisive sound, drawing every pair of eyes in the room toward the entrance. A tall, lanky uma musume stepped inside, her posture impeccable and disciplined, brown hair pulled neatly into a tight bun, her uniform pressed flawlessly, not a single wrinkle out of place. "Attention," she called out crisply, her voice carrying over the chaos with commanding clarity. "Haruka-sensei's class today has been cancelled."
A collective groan rippled through the room almost instantly, but then the same voice continued. "In its place, Principal Sato has instructed all Junior A and Junior B students to proceed to the field immediately," she continued without pause. "Both classes will be holding mock races against each other."
The reaction was instantaneous, erupting from every corner of the classroom.
"HELL YEAH!!"
"LET'S DESTROY THEM!"
"IT'S TIME FOR REVENGE!!"
"RUNNING TIMEEEE!!"
The room became a flurry of motion almost instantly. Chairs scraped across the floors, backpacks were grabbed and swung over shoulders, running gears was snatched from cubbies, and the casual chatter of just moments ago dissolved entirely into a crackling, electric energy that seemed to pulse with its own rhythm, like the roar of a battlefield preparing for war.
As abruptly as she had arrived, the girl at the door slid it shut behind her and disappeared, leaving a wake of chaotic excitement. Lunar sat frozen for a moment, her mind still trying to process the sudden eruption of activity. "…W-what was all that?" she muttered, turning toward Sakura, hoping for some explanation.
But the moment her gaze met Sakura's, she stopped dead. The soft, warm pink eyes from earlier—inviting, gentle, had vanished. In their place burned a sharp intensity, a wildfire barely restrained behind her irises, radiating focus and barely controlled ferocity. When Sakura spoke, her voice carried a cold precision that sent a shiver down Lunar's spine, a far cry from the casual warmth she had shown only moments before.
"…Let's talk while we move."
It wasn't a question. It wasn't a suggestion. It was a command.
Before Lunar could even find her words, Sakura had already moved. With a fluid motion, she reached under her desk, swept her training clothes into her arms, and stood, moving toward the door with absolute purpose and unshakable speed.
Lunar blinked, startled, and then scrambled to follow, nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste. "O-oh—wait!" she called, her voice barely carrying over the sudden rush of energy in the room as she raced to keep up.