"Approaching the third corner now!"
"The lead is still held by Silence Suzuka!"
...
"The final straight sprint!"
"Will Silence Suzuka claim victory?"
...
As she ran, the finish line's marker came into Silence Suzuka's view.
No horse girl didn't crave victory. The closer she got to the finish, the more her heart surged with excitement.
But then, she felt her steps grow heavy, as if her strength was failing her, and her speed gradually declined.
"The trailing competitors are catching up!"
"The gap is shrinking further!"
...
"Wooooah!!!"
The race ended, and after a brief silence, the stands erupted with thunderous cheers.
Silence Suzuka stood in a corner, watching the victorious horse girl face the audience and strike her signature winning pose.
"Thump-thump—"
In her world, the surrounding sounds faded, leaving only her own breathing and the growing intensity of her heartbeat.
In her daze, she thought she heard Lucian's voice echoing in her ears.
"...What am I running for...?"
When she looked back at the stands, at the spectators filled with fervor, Silence Suzuka's usually calm expression softened slightly.
She felt she had found her answer.
"Haa..." Silence Suzuka steadied her breathing and quietly made her way toward the exit tunnel.
Even though she had failed again, her heart was filled with unprecedented anticipation for the next race.
...
In the exit tunnel, Lucian had been waiting for some time.
Silence Suzuka's defeat was within his expectations and it aligned perfectly with reality's trajectory.
"Fourth place, one minute forty-seven point eight seconds. Just a little more, and you could've stood on the victory podium."
"Lucian-san..." Hearing his voice, Silence Suzuka quickened her pace toward him like a child.
A smile graced her face, as if she had something joyful to share or perhaps to give him a hug.
But when she actually reached him, she hesitated and slowed to a stop.
Similarly, Lucian very much wanted to pat her head, but his outstretched hand froze mid-air before he gave her a thumbs-up instead.
"Found your path?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"What path?"
An unwelcome voice disrupted the moment. The two turned to see Toujou Hana leading Team Rigil toward them.
"Lucian-kun, care to explain what's going on here?"
Arms crossed, Toujou Hana approached with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Ha-Ha Hana-nee, hello." Lucian forced an awkward chuckle.
"I'm not doing well."
"Trainer, this was my own choice. It has nothing to do with Lucian-san."
Before Lucian could explain, Silence Suzuka had already stepped in front of him.
Toujou Hana studied the two for a long moment before finally sighing in resignation.
"You two... Just don't let it happen again."
Though Silence Suzuka had only placed fourth this time, compared to her previous five losses, this was already a marked improvement.
"Suzuka, gather your things. We're heading back," Toujou Hana said.
"Mm." Silence Suzuka nodded.
Only after Toujou Hana had walked away did she timidly glance at Lucian.
"Lucian-san, will this... cause trouble for you?"
She knew Lucian was still only an assistant trainer, in the middle of his probationary period.
"Don't worry. Hana-nee isn't the type to tattle. Besides... you did great, didn't you?"
"Lucian-san..."
Silence Suzuka felt she was still lacking that she hadn't lived up to Lucian's hopes.
"Suzuka, do you have any plans after this?"
"Not for now." She shook her head.
"Then, would you like to go somewhere with me later?"
"Eh?"
Why is Lucian-san suddenly asking this...?
Could it be... a d-d-d-date!?
A one-on-one date!? B-but... they haven't known each other that long yet.
Her mind racing, Silence Suzuka pressed her lips together, her cheeks flushing deeper, as if painted with a rosy hue.
"Lucian-san, wh-where are we going?"
"Hmm... Let's go to the infirmary for now. Other places might be inconvenient." Lucian thought for a moment.
"Th-th-th-the infirmary!?"
Silence Suzuka clasped her burning cheeks, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, as if they might overflow at any moment.
Lucian's expression shifted from anticipation to confusion, then to calm—before finally turning flustered as he flailed.
"Wh-what are you so surprised about!? I just thought you've been under a lot of pressure before and after the race, so I wanted to help you relax!"
"Pfft."
When Lucian looked back, he found Silence Suzuka covering her mouth as she giggled, like a chime in the wind.
She hadn't expected the usually composed and mature Lucian to have such a flustered, adorable side.
Some unknown attribute within her was awakening.
Lucian, on the other hand, was left feeling awkward. He pursed his lips together.
"Suzuka, are you making fun of me?"
"I-I'm sorry."
Silence Suzuka wiped the corners of her eyes, the faint tear trails making her gaze even clearer.
She hurriedly changed the subject.
"So... why the infirmary?"
"Actually, I wanted to give you a massage. I think it's something a trainer no, it's something I, as a trainer, should do."
When it came to trainer-related duties, Lucian could be called responsible extremely so.
For example, before this race, he had meticulously monitored Silence Suzuka's weight, diet, attire, and even the horseshoes on her shoes... To Lucian, these were all external factors he, as a trainer, had to oversee completely.
Otherwise...
There couldn't be another "otherwise."
"I studied some massage techniques specifically for fatigue relief."
"Lucian-kun, don't tell me you even have a medical masseur license?"
"You knew? How did you know!?"
Silence Suzuka laughed again at his reaction.
"I guessed."
When she first met Lucian, she had assumed he was the cool, handsome type. She never expected him to be this amusing.
"Alright then."
Lucian rubbed his forehead and actually pulled out a certificate from his bag.
"So... is that alright with you? If not, I have other ways to help you relax."
"It's fine."
"Good. Let's catch up with the others before Hana-nee gets mad again."
"Mm."
Lucian had only taken a few steps when Silence Suzuka called out from behind.
"Lucian-san."
"Hm? What is it?"
"I think I've found my answer."
Lucian waited quietly for her next words.
"I want to be the horse girl who carries everyone's dreams... I won't let anyone take this view from me!"