"Shirayuki, what are you wearing?"
"Training gear."
"Made of iron?"
"Probably copper."
"Why are you wearing that?" Gold Ship asked from beside her.
"Because it's weighted training. Also, stop slacking off here with me! Everyone else already left!"
"I'm waiting for you, obviously."
Because Shirayuki was wearing that heavy training outfit, even her warm-up was much slower than everyone else's.
"You don't need to. Hurry up and catch up with the others."
"Don't act like a trainer. When it's time to slack off, we slack off. Training is important, but so is rest. That's what makes it healthy."
"Gold Ship, stop saying weird nonsense over there! After everyone finishes running, you're doing two extra laps!"
Fujiwara Chiya's voice came from the distance. It was loud and clear, as though rising from deep in his stomach.
"Didn't hear it. I didn't hear a thing…"
Gold Ship muttered as she chased after the main group.
After driving Gold Ship away, Shirayuki took a deep breath and began increasing her speed one step at a time.
That said, this protective gear…
Isn't it way too small?
Shirayuki quietly felt the friction from the gear. The two soft mounds on her chest were being squeezed against it.
Her bust was a little larger than what the protective gear had been designed for.
She usually did not pay much attention to it, but Shirayuki now realized that her body had developed quite a bit over the past few months. The chest that had once fit perfectly in one hand had now grown a full size larger.
Wait, it's not going to keep growing forever, right?
Although Shirayuki liked big ones, she definitely did not want herself to become big. Some things were better when they were on someone else's body rather than her own.
Unless she wanted to use this body to entertain herself a little.
It seemed that during this training period, she would have to act like a warrior maiden and wrap her chest with a sarashi. Otherwise, if this kept rubbing, her chest would be completely ruined.
She never expected that a trope she had once enjoyed seeing on TV would actually happen to her. What a surprise.
Unfortunately, Shirayuki had no intention of giving anyone else fan service. Even if she had to give fan service, she would reserve it for herself.
Hm?
Wait a second.
Does that mean I can take lewd pictures of myself too?
Shirayuki felt as though a door to a new world had opened.
Halfway through training, Shirayuki stopped. The places where she wore the protective gear burned with pain. The gear pressed her clothes down and rubbed against her skin. No matter how sturdy an uma musume's body was, it could not withstand that kind of friction forever.
She needed something to pad it, such as towels or bath towels.
Fujiwara Chiya returned to the room to search for something. At the same time, Mejiro Dober came over.
Naturally, she had also noticed the things Shirayuki was wearing.
To Mejiro Dober, the current Shirayuki looked like her past self, desperately training in order to achieve something. However, Shirayuki's purpose in training was not to surpass herself.
Her goal was much farther away.
Strictly speaking, this kind of training would not increase speed that much. The nutrition she took in would be distributed throughout her whole body, slowing the growth of her legs.
But Mejiro Dober knew that what Shirayuki was doing now was not for the next race.
She was making preparations for the far more distant future.
For European races.
For the unreachable Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
She was building the foundation of her body in order to face those high-difficulty races.
Seeing Shirayuki like this, Mejiro Dober felt a trace of urgency rise in her heart. But more than that, she felt proud.
Because she liked Shirayuki.
She liked watching Shirayuki work hard and grow stronger, little by little.
She watched as Shirayuki removed the protective gear, revealing the red, rubbed-raw skin beneath.
"Are you okay?"
"It's fine. Just need to lick it a little."
Mejiro Dober took her hand, then stuck out her tongue and licked it.
"Dober-nee!?"
"Didn't you say licking it would be fine?"
"I did say that, but that's not what I meant…"
"What's the difference?"
Mejiro Dober's soft pink tongue slid across her arm. Shirayuki felt an itch deep in her heart.
"By the way, have you felt lonely sleeping alone, Shirayuki?"
After licking the reddened part of Shirayuki's arm, Mejiro Dober asked.
"I'm fine."
"When I was sleeping yesterday, I couldn't help thinking about how I used to live before. Before Shirayuki came over, how did I spend day after day in the dorm by myself?"
It had been so lonely it was almost frightening. Several times, Mejiro Dober had wanted to hug her pillow and run to Shirayuki's room, but in the end, she had endured it.
Right now was a crucial time for Shirayuki's growth.
Mejiro Dober could feel that.
When it had been her own crucial time, Shirayuki had kept a proper distance from her and given her enough space. So now, when Shirayuki was at her most important moment, Mejiro Dober would also endure and not disturb her.
Holding Shirayuki's hand, Mejiro Dober smiled.
"If you feel lonely, you can come to my room anytime."
"Mm."
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Fujiwara Chiya came running over with a towel.
"Trainer-san, is that for Shirayuki?"
"Yeah."
"I'll help her."
"Sure, I'll leave it to you."
After Mejiro Dober took the towel, she casually straightened Fujiwara Chiya's clothes, which had become messy from running. Her movements were so natural that even Mejiro Dober herself did not notice what she had just done.
After padding the gear with towels and putting it back on, the unbearable rubbing sensation disappeared. Of course, this was only a temporary substitute. Tomorrow, Fujiwara Chiya planned to go to the town at the foot of the mountain to buy some cashmere cotton and properly modify the gear.
Just like that, they finished their training for the day.
By evening, the light in Shirayuki's room began flickering again.
With the experience from last time, she knew who was calling her.
After putting on her protective gear, Shirayuki left her room and went to the training ground.
Today, that person was not running.
She was waiting for her.
Shirayuki came before the black-haired girl. The girl's golden pupils glowed faintly. When she saw the heavy chest protector Shirayuki was wearing, she smiled.
The curve of that smile made Shirayuki shiver.
The other party seemed to know exactly what angle would draw fear out of a person's heart.
She clearly looked just like Cafe, yet there was an indescribable eeriness about her. Even if someone said she had killed people in the past, Shirayuki would probably believe it without hesitation.
"Did Cafe-senpai come too?" Shirayuki asked.
"Only me."
That cool voice entered her ears.
"Why do you keep helping me? Did Cafe-senpai ask you to?"
"Helping you?"
Hearing those words, the girl laughed.
"I am merely searching for worthy opponents. You just happen to be among them."
"Opponent…"
Shirayuki wondered if she had misheard.
An existence like this actually saw her as an opponent? Perhaps Rudolf in her prime might have been able to put up a fight against her.
"You are surprised, aren't you? You think you cannot do it. Heh… foolish."
Her words were merciless.
But Shirayuki understood what she wanted to say.
She had not brought out all of her strength yet.
But based on her own experience as a trainer, as well as her understanding of uma musume, this should already be the limit.
The black-haired girl turned around. Her wide black cloak fluttered in the wind.
She raised two fingers toward Shirayuki and slowly said,
"I will teach you the second lesson of becoming an uma musume."
"Instinct."