The training ground was deep in the silence of midnight.
A figure was racing across it.
It was rare to see such an intense presence.
"I never imagined you'd become a trainee under Narita Brian's trainer."
At the edge of the training field, where the lights didn't reach, a girl stood alongside Cafe, quietly watching the track.
The one running on the field was none other than Narita Brian herself.
"Yeah, I didn't expect it either. What a coincidence."
The girl replied.
"She hasn't noticed, has she?"
"No. Though she's been suspicious, she couldn't figure it out."
"That's good…"
Cafe let out a sigh of relief.
For Narita Brian to be suspicious of 'friend' in this state… her intuition was truly frightening, almost like instinct.
"I was hoping you'd be assigned to my side, to my trainer…"
That way, whether studying or training, day or night, the two of them could have been together openly.
But things just don't go as one wishes. Her 'friend' had been placed in another trainer's team.
"There's no helping it."
Getting her in here was already the limit of Agnes Flora's ability. To expect her to be placed under a specific trainer's care would have been pushing their luck.
"I know… It's just a bit disappointing."
Cafe sighed.
Just a little more, and the last barrier for her 'friend' could have vanished.
If she could have had her assisting alongside the trainer, Cafe believed she could have given a hundred and twenty percent, both in heart and body.
But Cafe wasn't unreasonable.
She was also grateful to Agnes Tachyon.
Though she didn't know why the other had so readily agreed to such a difficult request from her 'friend,' having come this far, mere words couldn't express her thanks.
She couldn't bring herself to complain. She could only blame bad luck.
"My training schedule is quite close to Narita Brian's. If you have time, remember to come see me."
"I'll come observe your training."
"Mhm, I'll be waiting."
With that, Manhattan Cafe turned around. "Well, I'll head off first. You probably still have things to say to Narita Brian, right?"
"Yes. I'm going to help lift her spirits."
"You won't say anything strange, will you?"
"I won't… What counts as strange?"
Cafe paused.
"Never mind. I'm heading back…"
She shook her head and ran back faster than she had come. Once the black figure vanished into the night, the girl stepped out from the shadows and onto the training field.
Huff… huff… huff…
Even from a distance, Narita Brian's breathing was audible.
Thinking about it, nights used to be lively here too.
But now, as the weather turned cooler, few came out at night anymore.
Under the cold, clear night sky, Narita Brian still wore that thin training outfit.
As if hearing the girl's footsteps, her pace slowed until she finally came to a stop.
"…It's you." Looking at the girl under the lights, Narita Brian spoke. "What are you doing out so late?"
"To see you."
"Cut it out. There's no way you could have known I was here."
Narita Brian crossed her arms.
"Night is a good time to clear your mind. Standing under the starry sky, it feels like the whole world has faded away, leaving only yourself. No need to think about anything, no need to ponder."
The girl looked at her, golden eyes gleaming. "So I thought, to adjust your state, you'd probably come here at night. Brian, you're a clever person."
"I didn't come here to clear my mind… Well, whatever."
She sighed, deciding the other had just run into her by chance.
"Are you doing independent training?" the girl asked.
"No. Like you said, just getting some air."
"I see. You seemed distracted during training. Something bothering you?"
"Just trivial stuff."
"Trivial stuff as important as a race?"
"You talk a lot…" Narita Brian made a face.
If it were her trainer, Narita Brian would have snapped back already.
Considering the other was a newcomer, she didn't want to say anything too crushing.
"Can you tell me?"
"You?" Narita Brian glanced sideways, walking slowly toward the water bottle she had tossed on the ground not far away.
"It's none of your business," she said to the girl following behind.
"Is that really the right thing to say to the trainee responsible for your training?"
"Even a trainer wouldn't meddle in an Uma Musume's personal life. It has nothing to do with training, and nothing to do with being a trainee."
After gulping down some water and wiping the sweat from her brow, Narita Brian said:
"And even if I told you, it wouldn't solve anything. No need to trouble yourself over it. You just need to handle the work from the trainer."
"True, telling me might not solve the problem. But… if this continues, you'll lose, Narita Brian."
Lose…?
Hearing that word, Narita Brian's ears twitched.
"Are you saying I'll lose the [Kikuka-sho]?"
"Not the [Kikuka-sho]." The girl shook her head.
"You'll lose to yourself. Lose to the race."
"Don't talk in such cryptic terms. If we're talking about losing, I've already lost more races than I can count."
The race against the black ghost, against Maruzensky, against Silence Suzuka…
Even as an active dual-crown Uma Musume, Narita Brian had lost too many times. She was hardly an Uma Musume worthy of the title 'strong'—the name didn't match the reality.
"I don't know much about training Uma Musume, but one thing I understand very clearly."
The girl looked at her.
"Your thirst for battle surpasses your thirst for running itself."
Narita Brian, you focus too much on your rivals.
A simple sentence, yet it made Narita Brian's heart beat uncontrollably fast.
"What are you even saying… What do you know about me…"
Her voice was more agitated than ever before.
Gone! That rival Narita Brian had been longing for was nowhere to be found.
Her soul could no longer resonate with that person. Her intuition told her that one had left Tracen Academy forever!
That rival who kept her moving forward, who pushed her to break her own limits, had vanished completely from Narita Brian's world.
What could be lonelier than a battlefield of one!?
What meaning was there in a race without a rival?
The girl watched her.
"Narita Brian, a rival isn't your whetstone. A true strong one, even when left entirely alone, will choose to keep running, to keep breaking through."
Faster, even faster…
When your speed surpasses everyone else's, you are inevitably left with only yourself.
At that point, can there truly be anyone left who can be called a rival?
At that point, would you simply stop moving forward?
See clearly, Brian. Beside the strong, there is no one.
All the Uma Musume running at the forefront of a race are always alone.
"Do you expect that when you surpass every other Uma Musume, someone will still be standing beside you?"
Don't be childish, Narita Brian.
Look clearly. What lies at the end of a race?
There… exists nothing that can be called a 'rival.'
"Narita Brian, you are a clever person."
And also, a strong one.
The girl took off her white overcoat and draped it over Narita Brian's shoulders.
"It's quite cold. You still have races ahead. Take care of yourself."
After saying this, the girl waved goodbye and left the training field.
Standing there, Narita Brian lifted her head, gazing at the brilliant starry sky.
"What's this all about…" she murmured.
Are the strong inevitably lonely?
What a convenient excuse.
But…
A self-mocking smile appeared on her face.
I can't find any words to refute her.
Pulling the white coat tighter, its warmth enveloped her cool skin, driving away the chill of her body.
She turned silently toward the direction of the dormitories.
Tomorrow… I should thank her, just a little.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.