2:56 AM.
"As expected... I ended up here," Garden Gale murmured with a soft sigh.
Before her eyes was the silent darkness of the training track.
Once again, she'd consciously dragged herself to the training grounds deep into the night. She'd slowly begun to enjoy these late-night sessions—partly because no one would disturb her, and partly because her progress was crystal clear, positive feedback laid bare through the status panel.
So really, what excuse could she possibly have left not to train?
No more fooling herself.
She set her thoughts firmly—and right now, Garden Gale's singular focus was the Umamusume called Admire Vega.
That, and reaching 500 in both Speed and Stamina.
Without hesitation, she began warming up, carefully stretching her joints and muscles. She replayed in her mind every subtle sensation she'd felt when using [Color Change (Road to Glory · Iron Will)] earlier today. She'd said it repeatedly, but that ultimate Color Change wasn't the same as her usual imitation. Back then, she'd truly become Narita Top Road, right down to her very foundations. And now, Gale was desperate to recapture that same sensation.
For that—she had to work harder. Train seriously.
"One, two, three, four—one, two, three, four."
Quietly humming the rhythm to herself—and then repeating the count again.
...
"So," a girl in athletic wear turned her head slightly, the sleek ponytail behind her swishing gracefully with the motion. Simple yet stylish, her monochrome outfit radiated a confident charm. "You're telling me that the only time we can catch this super talented Umamusume is around this hour?"
"Haah..." Air Shakur yawned lazily beside her.
She was genuinely questioning her sanity. It was three in the morning, and instead of sleeping, she was out helping her trainer catch some absurdly talented Umamusume. It almost felt like they were hunting down a legendary Pokémon—one that appeared only under specific times, locations, and absurd conditions: the elusive mythical beast, Garden Gale.
That mental image almost made Air Shakur laugh aloud, instantly brightening her mood.
"Yep," she answered curtly.
Allow Air Shakur to formally introduce the girl next to her—the official trainer of Team LOCK.
Her real name: Kanzaki Sakura.
A remarkably cool-sounding name.
Anywhere else, she'd be a protagonist—or at least a main heroine.
"This really is bizarre," Kanzaki Sakura muttered under her breath, puzzling over the scenario. Why would a prodigious Umamusume choose to secretly train at Team LOCK's track in the dead of night? There was simply no logical explanation—just a prodigy's eccentricities, perhaps.
Yet as they approached, the distant lights illuminating the track told Sakura the truth clearly enough.
She's actually here…
According to Air Shakur, this girl was at least Classic Triple Crown caliber—potentially even a challenger for 5G1 or 7G1 titles. Such an extraordinary Umamusume might even ascend to legend during her lifetime. Just the thought made Sakura's blood surge with excitement.
She'd always longed for an exceptional Umamusume to train, to unleash everything she'd ever learned.
Fine Motion was good—excellent, even—but not quite at the very top. Another member of the team was hopelessly unreliable. The strongest was unquestionably Air Shakur, just one step away from elite status, but she had a uniquely stubborn personality—which gave Sakura constant headaches.
A textbook example of insubordination—someone who listened to nothing but her own data.
Tsk.
Sakura marched directly toward Garden Gale.
...
Garden Gale had been fully immersed in her training—when she once again noticed Air Shakur strolling casually toward her.
Seriously, again?!
Isn't this becoming ridiculous?!
Every time she trained, she somehow ran into Air Shakur, as if triggering a fixed NPC event that forced Shakur to approach and interact. This wasn't the first time—it wasn't even the fifth or sixth, but rather something like the tenth or more. However, tonight something was different. Beside Air Shakur was a girl dressed entirely in white athletic wear, practically glowing even amidst the night.
Is she one of Air Shakur's Umamusume friends?
Garden Gale puzzled over that thought—until suddenly noticing something vital:
The girl didn't have the characteristic horse ears or tail ornaments of an Umamusume. Those traits were unmistakable, impossible to hide.
She's... not an Umamusume?
Reluctantly, Garden Gale allowed them to approach. Running away outright wasn't exactly an option, after all. Still, a complete stranger appearing out of nowhere immediately triggered her anxiety. She nervously rubbed her palms together.
Stay calm. She's a friend of a friend… Don't panic!
"Hello."
As the girl approached, she warmly extended a hand in greeting, clearly trying to close the distance. It was a perfectly friendly gesture—but Garden Gale simply froze, staring at that open hand.
She wanted to shake it, wanted to respond to the friendly gesture, didn't want to disappoint. Yet she hesitated. But if she refused, wouldn't that label her once again as an arrogant "prodigy"?
Was midnight training a mistake after all? Why did even her late-night sessions involve social anxiety torture?!
Confused, the girl tilted her head slightly in puzzlement.
Like nearly everyone else, Kanzaki Sakura immediately thought, Is she seriously this arrogant? Too proud even for a handshake?
Air Shakur offered a brief glance that clearly said, You'll get used to it.
Sakura sighed inwardly. Fine, she could accept it—at least for the sake of such an incredibly promising talent. Perhaps this was just what people called the pride of a prodigy. Sakura withdrew her hand awkwardly and prepared to move on, breaking the silence with a quick introduction:
"My name is Kanzaki Sakura—um—"
She stopped abruptly.
The awkward pause was because just as Sakura withdrew her hand, Garden Gale finally reached out for the handshake, completely out of sync.
One reached forward, the other pulled back.
The silence hung thick for a brief second.
Garden Gale silently rejoiced, though feeling slightly guilty, thinking she'd dodged a bullet. But before she could fully relax, Sakura once again stretched out her hand, firmly offering it to her again.
Are you messing with me right now?!
Garden Gale's brain short-circuited instantly.
It had taken every ounce of courage for her to reach out the first time—fine, she'd shake hands, she couldn't exactly be eaten alive for it. But now this awkward dance was too much. Someone, anyone, do something useful! But at this point, Garden Gale's courage was totally spent.
One effort she could manage, two was draining—but three times? Absolutely impossible.
Air Shakur, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"…Smooth," she drawled sarcastically, clearly enjoying every moment.
"Forget it," Sakura said with a resigned shrug. "Let me properly introduce myself again—I'm the official trainer for Team LOCK, and also Air Shakur's personal trainer."
A sudden, terrible premonition rose sharply in Garden Gale's heart.
Don't tell me she's planning to recruit me?
No way, no thanks! I absolutely do not want a trainer barging into my life!
Her anxiety skyrocketed, and she found herself staring helplessly at Sakura's lips, desperately waiting for the next words to emerge.
---
T/N: HEHEHEH YESS TRAINER!! TRAIN OUR GARDEN GALE!! shes an oc btw