Training must not be interrupted; the passion still burns.
"Everyone, start with a 4,000-meter run to warm up."
Haru Urara raised her hand high. "Trainer, is today's training the same as yesterday's?"
"It's different. This 4,000 meters is just a warm-up to get everyone moving... If you really want to run fast, that's fine too." Lucian swept his gaze over the three of them, revealing a mysterious smile.
"Then never mind..." Lucian's smile made Special Week feel a little scared.
"Suzuka, what about you?"
"I... I'll also take it slow."
Lucian withdrew his gaze.
Good, as long as they're afraid...
Training starts from zero. Those who don't follow the plan will get extra drills.
"Suzuka, later you'll lead the run at the front. Pay attention to your arm movements."
...
4,000 meters is just the beginning for horse girls, but for some, it's already the end.
Lucian held a whistle in his mouth and a stopwatch in his right hand.
Once the three returned from their warm-up, he began assigning tasks.
"Today, we'll run 30 sets of 400 meters. Each set must be completed within 50 seconds, followed by a 100-meter slow jog as recovery. Adjust your pace accordingly, and try to keep the 100-meter recovery within a minute."
After explaining, Lucian looked at the three of them. "Understood?"
It wasn't that he thought they were slow—it's just that his training method was unconventional, completely different from Toujou Hana's or Nishizaki Ryo's.
"Reporting, Trainer! I don't understand!" Urara raised her hand.
"You sound awfully proud of not understanding?"
Special Week also timidly raised her hand. "Trainer, I don't really get it either."
Just as Lucian was about to explain, Silence Suzuka spoke first. "It means running 400 meters as required, then jogging 100 meters as recovery."
"Wow, today you're 'Specially Smart.'"
"Trainer, what about me?" Urara pointed at herself.
"You're 'Specially Clear.'"
When it was Special Week's turn, she asked, "Trainer, what about me?"
"You're Special Week. Did you forget your name?"
Special Week puffed her cheeks and raised her fists. "Trainer, you're just teasing me!"
"Alright, alright, let's begin. Running 400 meters in under 50 seconds should be a breeze for you, right?"
In truth, no matter how intense the training, Lucian would never call it "difficult" in front of them.
Just a little psychological trick.
Whether it was hard or not, they'd find out soon enough.
...
This time, both Silence Suzuka and Special Week ran obediently.
For the first dozen or so sets, the three maintained a neat formation.
Special Week also learned the technique of pace-following during this training.
However, even Silence Suzuka, who was "breaking the wind" at the front, would eventually tire, so Special Week took turns leading with her.
As for Haru Urara... it was better not to let her lead, because if she did, the ones behind her would also end up leading.
By the final few sets, their stamina was clearly running low, and they could only manage times slightly over 50 seconds.
"Urara, hang in there, keep up with Spe-chan! Don't give up!"
"Trainer! I'm so tired!"
"Keep going, you can do it."
What do you do with a lazy horse?
You whip them, of course.
But Lucian didn't have a whip, and no one in the team was slacking off.
He was proud of their perseverance.
If the key to a race truly relied on the immeasurable power of faith and conviction...
Then Lucian believed every step of their effort now was accumulating toward that moment.
In other words, without these seemingly insignificant daily efforts, even if they somehow unlocked abilities like "Zone," they wouldn't be very strong.
...
Soon, the three reached the final set.
Lucian shouted, "Last set! Take a longer break this time, then give it your all and finish under 50 seconds!"
The final 400 meters were crucial for pushing their limits, so Lucian extended their recovery time.
"Start whenever you're ready! Urara, keep up, you can do it!"
By this final 400 meters, their running forms had completely deteriorated, and all they could focus on was breathing.
...
After training, the three collapsed onto the grass without a care for appearances.
Urara lay sprawled out, Silence Suzuka sat on the grass gasping for air, and Special Week knelt on the ground. She was sweating profusely, droplets rolling off her round chin and into the grass.
Of the three, only Silence Suzuka met the requirement in the end, but Urara and Special Week had also done well.
"Trainer, you lied! You said it'd be easy!"
"Did I? Hmm, I don't remember." Lucian tilted his head up, shamelessly playing dumb.
"Spe-chan, how do you feel?" Lucian turned to Special Week.
"Trainer... right now, I'm 'Specially Dirty.'"
He then looked at Silence Suzuka.
Silence Suzuka waved her hand weakly. "'Specially Tired.'"
"Rest for a bit, then head to the training room to change. I've left water there for you too."
...
"Spe-chan, what did you eat to grow so big? Carrots?" In the training room, Urara stared at Special Week, who was still changing, and blurted out something shocking.
"Eh... EH!?" Special Week covered her chest in embarrassment. "Urara-chan, could you not focus on weird things?"
"Weird? I just think I'm too short." Urara tilted her head, her expression completely innocent.
"Oh, you meant height..." Special Week said.
So she had misunderstood...
She thought Urara was talking about... that.
"Of course! What else would it be?"
"Spe-chan, I want to know too. How did you get so big? Was it carrots?"
"Eh!? Suzuka, why are you too—" Special Week's reaction was delayed. Suzuka was about the same height as her. "Suzuka, are you asking about height?"
"I don't know." Silence Suzuka asked seriously, then looked away, leaving Special Week utterly bewildered.
Then, something shiny caught Silence Suzuka's attention.
That was...
The whistle Lucian had used.