Astonishing opened her eyes.
It seems she's back into the dream world, but there's something really wrong.
Once a whitespace turned completely dark, but even then she can still see herself. Her clothes has changed once again. Right now, she's wearing her racewear
She looked around, hoping to find her other self, but there's nothing.
"Astonishing...?" she called.
Calling your own name sure feels weird, Astonishing thought so too.
There's no reply.
Suddenly, a soft, localized sound cut through the silence.
Slosh. Slosh.
Astonishing turned toward the sound.
Then, she saw it.
"You called?"
That thing.
"H-how... how are you here? Where is she?!"
"She is where she always is," the thing replied.
It stepped forward, or rather, the darkness poured itself into a shape that mimicked her silhouette. Its face remained a shifting blur, devoid of features except for two dim, flickering points of light where eyes should have been.
Astonishing took a step back. "Just... what are you?"
"I'm your other self, no different from her"
"That's a lie" Astonishing denied.
"Is it?"
She clenched her fists. "She wouldn't leave me here with you. Where is she? What did you do to her?"
The silhouette tilted its head. "Do to her? I didn't do anything," it murmured. "You locked her out, Astonishing. You chose to face me. Your other counterpart? She thrives in the light. She can't live in the darkness you made."
"But don't worry, she isn't dead, yet"
"W-what do you mean, yet?!" Astonishing took a sharp step forward. "What are you doing to her?!"
"I told you, I am doing nothing, this is all your doing. You damn impostor" it said.
"I am not... an impostor,"
The silhouette took another step forward.
Slosh. Slosh.
"You're an anomaly, nothing more than an impersonator. You are not 'her'. You will never be 'her'." The two pinpricks of light that served as its eyes flickered violently. "Don't you see?"
A broken mirror appeared in front of Astonishing, the image it reflects is crooked, she can see it clearly, her old self in the mirror.
"You dare come to this world, claiming her body, and live her life. She had lend that body of hers to you because she believes you could do what she can't. But she was wrong. You are nothing but someone seeking an escape from your own misery by stealing someone else's identity.
You
are
a PHONY"
"So tell me... how much longer are you going to keep playing dress-up? Astonishing?"
The shadow reaches its hand towards her face.
"Wake up"
.
.
.
Astonishing opened her eyes.
The first thing she noticed is the noises inside the room. She looked around and sees that many of the girls tidying up their futon and some already neatly dressed in their swimsuit.
A face suddenly hovered above her, blocking the ceiling.
"Ah, you're finally awake! I just about to wake you up" Top Road said. "Are you feeling alright? You're sweeting"
I'm... fine," Astonishing replied. "Just a strange dream"
She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She doesn't feel fresh at all.
Top Road stared at her for a long second, her perceptive eyes searching Astonishing's face before she offered a smile. "If you say so then. Anyway, you should get ready! Everyone's heading out to have fun! Look."
Top Road's gaze turned towards the other side of the room.
"Beach! Beach! Beach!" Haru Urara was practically vibrating, already pulling a bright yellow inflatable swim ring over her shoulders. "Rice-chan, Aston-chan, Top Road-chan, let's go splash in the water!"
"Ah, Urara-chan, wait for Rice...!" Rice Shower squeaked, frantically trying to tie the strings of her sun hat.
Top Road too, have the same idea. "A little fun in the sun is exactly what we need to build up our morale before the real training begins tomorrow! What about you, Aston-san? Dora-san?"
Dora, who was half awake groaned. She was forced by Hishi Amazon to help with everything for the summer camp which lasted almost the whole day, by the time she returned, she immediately went to sleep.
"Well... looks like Dora-san is completely out of commission," Top Road said with a sympathetic, helpless smile. She gently pulled a light blanket over Dora's snoring form. "She really worked hard yesterday. Let's let her rest up. She's definitely earned a full day of sleep."
"Mmh," Astonishing nodded quietly. She stood up and tidied up her futon before dressing up for the day.
.
.
.
In the first day on the summer camp, which begins the day after they arrived, students are allowed to do as they please. Playing, shopping on the market near the camp, bug hunting, and light training if they really want it.
She looked down at her own attire, standard casual summer shirt and shorts.
"Aston-chan! Aren't you getting changed to your swimsuit?" Urara asked, her big, curious eyes blinking up at her.
"I don't really like swimming" she replied simply.
"Eh?! You don't?" Urara's ears drooped for a fraction of a second. "But the water looks like giant, sparkly blue jelly today, Aston-chan! Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Don't worry about me"
"Then you can be the treasure keeper! Rice-chan and I will find the prettiest seashells and bring them to you!"
Top Road nodded understandingly. "Everyone has their own way of spending their time off, and that's perfectly fine! A rest day isn't a rest day if you're forcing yourself to do something you don't enjoy. Rice-chan, are you all set?"
"U-um... yes! Rice is ready... but Rice thinks she will walk with Aston-san along the shoreline first. The sun is very strong today, so Rice wants to make sure Aston-san has some shade."
Astonishing glanced at the smaller girl, slightly surprised by the gesture. "You don't have to do that, Rice-san. You should go play with Urara."
"Rice wants to," Rice said softly, "Please let Rice walk with you."
Astonishing closed her eyes for a moment and gave a single, resigned nod. "Sure... I guess"
.
.
.
Astonishing's feet sank into the sand everytime she took a step. Then she remembered that she hasn't been running on dirt for a very long time, would running on sand felt the same?
"What's on Aston-san's mind?" Rice Shower's question quickly took her attention.
"Nothing, just feeling the sand. It's really soft, isn't it? I wonder if it feels the same as running on dirt"
"It's... it's a little bit of both," Rice said.
"I see, I guess I'll try it later"
Rice Shower stared at her a little longer. "Is Aston-san worried about the Kikuka Sho?"
"No," Astonishing replied quietly, keeping her gaze fixed on the shifting line where the white foam met the sand. "I'm not worried about the Kikuka Sho... because I am not running in it."
Rice stopped walking. Her ears dropped slightly, blinking up at the taller girl in quiet surprise. "Eh...? You're... skipping it?"
"Yes, Kikuka Sho is just not the right race for me" She explained. "I am simply not built for long-distance endurance."
She took another step forward, watching how the water instantly filled the deep indentation left by her foot.
"I cannot defeat World's End Opening on a track that completely favors her stamina," Astonishing added, "So, I am yielding the final leg of the Triple Crown."
Rice Shower remained still for a long moment. The ocean wind tugged at her sun hat, but she didn't seem to notice.
"Rice understands," Rice murmured softly. "Yielding a race... it takes a different kind of courage. If Aston-san has chosen a different stage... then Rice will be cheering for you there!"
"... Thank you"
.
.
.
Takeda leans back on his chair. Even thought it's a day off for the students, the trainers don't have that luxury. He still needs to arrange training regime for Astonishing.
Right.
He still can't get it off his mind. When Astonishing had quietly told him she wanted to skip the final leg of the Triple Crown, he feels like he had failed as a trainer.
His thought were interrupted by someone slamming the back of his chair.
"Oi, oi! Why's the face? Cheer up a little bit, this is summer camp"
"*Sigh* Okino-senpai, can't you see I'm in a deep thought?"
"What's the matter? Did the heat fried your brain?" Trainer Okino grabbed a lollipop from his pocket and stick in his mouth. "Come on, let's take a walk, the wind is nice today"
Takeda stared at the older trainer for a long moment. He wanted to refuse, but knowing Okino, a refusal would only result in being physically dragged out of the chair anyway.
That if he doesn't call for backup from the white creature.
"Fine," Takeda muttered, letting out a heavy, defeated sigh.
Takeda reluctantly followed him out of the air-conditioned temporary office and down the wooden stairs of the lodge. The moment they stepped outside, the heat hit them hard, but it was immediately accompanied by a continuous gust of wind.
They walked along the edge of the dirt path leading toward the overlook.
"So, you going to spit it out, or do I have to guess?" Okino started the conversation.
"It's just a little problem between trainer and trainee, it's pretty normal"
"Don't give me that corporate speak. Look, it's a closed set out here. Just the wind and the waves, and me of course. Whatever is bothering you, jut spit it out."
Takeda remained silent for a long moment, staring down at the dust by his sneakers.
"We're not entering the Kikuka Sho," Takeda confessed quietly. "My umamusume decided it herself. I don't think I can change her mind"
"She decided it herself, huh?" Okino repeated. "But you didn't even try to persuade her?"
"Even if I want to, putting her in the Kikuka Sho is already a big disadvantage. She's not doing well in long distance races. It's a rational choice"
Okino let out a short, dry laugh, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Rational? Since when has the Triple Crown ever been about being rational? If every umamusume only ran the races they were perfectly 'built' for, we'd never see miracles on the track."
"I know that!" Takeda snapped, the frustration finally bubbling over. He ran a hand through his hair, "But I couldn't find the words to push back. When she looked at me, it felt like... like she had already accepted defeat. If I force her onto that track when her heart isn't in it, I'm just setting her up to break. I feel like I failed to give her the confidence she needs"
Okino remained quiet for a moment. "Maybe she has another reason, something she doesn't want or couldn't tell you?"
"Like what?"
Okino shrugged. "I don't know, she didn't tell me either"
Takeda facepalmed at his respond. "Seriously?"
Okino grinned around his lollipop, entirely unbothered. "Hey, I'm a trainer, not a psychic. But look at it this way, if it's not a matter of logic, it's a matter of the heart. Umamusume are emotional creatures, Takeda. When their legs say one thing but their eyes say another, you gotta look at what they're trying to outrun."
"Stop acting like a spectator in her career," he continued. "If she's running from something, you run alongside her until she's ready to fight it! Our job as trainers is not just as a guide, we're partners, we walk together. We will always have another chance, but an umamusume career is short, you have to make it worth"
"Stop sulking like a kid who lost his lunch money and go talk to your umamusume."
Takeda stared at the older trainer for a long moment. "Yeah..." Takeda muttered, "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Senpai."
Takeda didn't need to be told twice. He turned on around and run as fast as he can down the dirt path that led down to the shore.
'I have to make things right. But first, I have something to confess to her'
.
.
.
Down near the water's edge, the tide was gently sweeping over the sand. Rice Shower had paused to pick up a small seashell, holding it up against the blinding summer sun, while Astonishing stood beside her.
"Aston-san, look... this one looks like a tiny star. Should Rice keep it for you?"
"Umm it does looks like a star, sure you can ke--"
"ASTONISHING!"
Astonishing's horse ears twitched, pivoting toward the sound.
Panting heavily, his shoes sank into the sand and his shirt is messy from the sprint, Takeda came to a skidding halt a few paces away. He rested his hands on his knees, catching his breath, before straightening up. His face was flushed from the heat, but his eyes were completely focused on her.
"Trainer?" The sudden appearance of Takeda surprised her.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but... do you mind giving us a moment?" she said to Rice.
A quiet realization flickered across the girl's face, and she gave a small, respectful nod.
"Rice... Rice will go show Urara-chan the shell," she murmured, turning and trotting off toward the shallow water where Urara was still gleefully splashing.
"Astonishing... Aston, there's something I want to confess"
Astonishing stared at him for a moment, then turned around.
"Then, let's go for a walk"