"Are you warming up?" Chiya asked.
"I'm running properly, Trainer Chiya," Seiun Sky replied lazily.
"Running? You're barely moving. I could go faster than that."
"Oh? Want to test that?" she said, her half-lidded eyes suddenly carrying a hint of challenge.
Chiya narrowed his eyes. "Seiun Sky, I don't care what you do normally, but during training you need to take this seriously. During joint training, I'm your Trainer too."
She tilted her head, then beckoned him closer. "Come here for a second."
"…What?" Chiya leaned in.
"In that case," she whispered, "I guess I should tell Trainer Aoi about what you did to me the other day."
"…W-what? That was an accident. You were the one squeezing so tight—"
"You know," she murmured near his ear, "people who take advantage of a Uma Musume and then claim innocence usually have a word for them."
"…And that word is?"
"Pervert~"
Chiya froze. His legs nearly gave out. "N-no way. I conduct myself with dignity. You're slandering me…"
"Trainer Aoi!"
"Wait!" He clamped a hand over her mouth. "Ten minutes. You get ten minutes to slack off and reset."
"Twenty."
"Fifteen. Final offer."
"…Fine. Discount for today."
"You're trying to make this a long-term arrangement!?"
"Relax, I'm joking. I just slept wrong last night. My neck hurts a bit."
"…Seriously?"
"Things happen."
Chiya stepped back and returned to Aoi Kiryuin.
"I think I just heard Seiun Sky calling me," Aoi said.
"She's got a stiff neck. Asked for a break."
"I see… By the way, Chiya, you seem pretty familiar with her."
"I used to run into her a lot when I was checking on Doto. We just got used to each other. Didn't expect she'd end up on your team though. Guess that's just how things go."
They shifted their attention to the track. Six Uma Musume were in the middle of a practice run: Special Week and Rice Shower in the lead, Matikanefukukitaru and Happy Meek in the middle, with Meisho Doto and Mejiro Dober trailing behind.
"What kind of runner is Meek?" Chiya asked. "From the way she moves, is she more of a late charger?"
"I suggested she run that style," Aoi replied. "She has strong acceleration and great timing."
"Interesting… How did you end up signing her?"
"I saw her in a dirt simulation race. She got boxed in on the inside and couldn't break through. She finished third, but I could tell she had potential."
"…Dirt?" Chiya paused. "Wait, she's a dirt runner?"
"Yes."
"…But this is turf."
"She adapts well. She says it feels the same."
"That's impossible. Dirt and turf are completely different. Even with good adaptability, you wouldn't get full performance."
"I thought so too, but that's what she insists."
"…Could she have dual-surface aptitude?"
Chiya clicked his tongue quietly. That kind of adaptability was rare. Extremely rare. The kind of talent people would call a prodigy. For a moment, a dangerous thought crossed his mind. I want her. Then he shut it down immediately. She was Aoi's Uma Musume. Poaching her would ruin everything.
"Onī-sama~"
A soft voice broke his thoughts. Rice Shower had already crossed the finish line and was running toward him without slowing down.
"Onī-sama, there's something I want to ask…" she said between breaths.
"What is it?" Chiya crouched slightly to listen.
"If I pass the exam… can you grant me one request?"
"A request?"
"It won't be anything unreasonable. There's just something I want you to do."
Normally, Chiya wouldn't agree so easily. Rewards needed to be handled carefully, or they'd lose meaning. And giving one Uma Musume special treatment wasn't fair to the rest. But he remembered the compatibility test from the other day. Maybe he had upset her somehow.
"…Alright. But keep this between us."
"Yes! This is a secret between me and Onī-sama!" she beamed, then ran back to training.
Aoi watched her go. "Is she your little sister?"
"…No, my actual sister is—"
"Rice Shower is Onī-sama's little sister!" Rice suddenly turned back and declared. "Rice Shower is Onī-sama's little sister… Rice Shower has to keep training now!"
She ran off again, leaving the two Trainers staring at each other.
Meanwhile, Shirayuki's training was nearing its end. She watched the two figures ahead of her grow more distant, her breathing becoming heavier with every step. The gap was overwhelming. Against experienced runners, the difference felt like heaven and earth. After just over a thousand meters, they were still composed, while she was already fading.
Her stamina limit was around 1600 to 1800 meters. The exam distance was 1800.
She clenched her teeth and stared at the finish line.
If I go all out… how far can I push? Four hundred meters? Five hundred? Six hundred?
Her eyes locked onto the markers along the track.
Then it clicked.
If she was going to run, she would commit completely. No hesitation, no half-measures. Hold back early, then unleash everything at the end. It didn't matter whether it was a straight or a curve, whether the pace was fast or slow. There was only one thing she needed to do.
Run her own race.
Lowering her body, Shirayuki poured every remaining ounce of strength into her legs. In an instant, she surged forward like a streak of white light, chasing the two ahead of her.
By the time she reached the finish line, she collapsed against the railing, gasping for air.
"…Senpai…"
She looked at the two who had arrived three seconds earlier.
"I think… I get it now."