(Does she really not care about losing to a human? It's very 'Urara' of her, but still…)
I'd rigged the race by making her run past her limit before I jumped in, but even then, winning gave me no joy. Still, I was willing to do whatever it took for her.
"Hah… Okay. Phew. Right… One more set, Urara!"
"Okay! I won't lose this time!"
I ran about ten sets with her that day. But despite her enthusiasm, she just seemed to be having a great time playing. There was no sign of a competitive spark.
Strategy: "Substitute Me" — FAILED.
The next day, I dragged my aching muscles toward the practice track. A dull, heavy pain radiated from my waist down to my ankles. I'd warmed up and cooled down properly, but the muscle soreness was worse than I'd imagined.
Ten 100-meter sprints on a normal track wouldn't have done this, but a full-speed dash on dirt is a different beast entirely.
(I want her to be competitive, but maybe this isn't the kind of thing a trainer should be doing…)
I chuckled painfully at my own condition. Telling Urara to "be competitive" or "win at all costs" didn't feel like it would work. She'd been working harder than ever because she wanted to perform in a Winning Live, but I couldn't say for sure if that would translate to a victory.
I definitely can't run with her today, I thought as I reached the track. I was cutting it close to our start time because of my slow, gingerly steps. I hoped I hadn't kept her waiting. I scanned the area and spotted her in the distance.
"Hm? Who are those girls…?"
Urara was standing with three other Horse Girls. I thought they might be friends, but while Urara was hopping around and waving, the other three looked like they'd just swallowed something bitter. As soon as one of them spotted me, they scurried away as if in a panic.
They were in uniform, so they were definitely Tracen students. I felt like I'd seen them somewhere before. I searched my memory and it clicked.
(Wait, they were in the race with Urara the other day…)
I couldn't remember their names, but I recognized their faces. I wondered what they wanted, but Urara spotted me and ran over with her usual radiant smile.
"Ah! Trainer!"
"Sorry I'm late, I—Gwah?!"
I instinctively caught her as she lunged into me. A bolt of white-hot pain shot through my sore legs like an electric current, but I managed to stay upright. Barely.
"Whoa, U-Urara… my legs… I mean, don't just tackle me out of nowhere… seriously…"
"? What's wrong, Trainer?"
My soreness was part of it, but honestly, it was a bit of a shock to almost be knocked over by someone so much smaller than me. There was a massive weight difference, yet I was constantly reminded of the terrifying physical power Horse Girls possess.
"Ouch… phew. Were those girls your friends? Did they want something?"
I asked, trying to hide the pain. Urara is liked by many because of her bright personality, but the vibe I'd caught from those three didn't feel friendly at all.
Urara laughed cheerfully. "They asked me what it was like running with my Trainer, so I told them it was super fun! I even bragged about how you're really, really fast!"
"..."
I went silent. Was I being paranoid for thinking they were trying to make fun of her? My "Substitute Me" strategy was supposed to spark her drive, but those girls were likely mocking her for losing a race to a human—even if it was at the end of a long run.
The world of Horse Girl racing is one of survival of the fittest. It's a harsh reality where talent clashes and everyone is clawing for the slightest advantage.