I woke up early; it was just past six in the morning. Haru was deep in sleep with a big smile on her face, and I felt a little confused. Luckily for me, my body wasn't in pain.
(Good morning, sleepyhead) The system Window appeared in front of me (Rise and shine! Your daily quest for today is here)
(Run 5 laps before breakfast, you will earn 5 speed points and 15 uma coins)
After reading the notification, I sighed. I still don't believe that doing exercise is the best thing in the world, but I decided yesterday to give this new life a try. So, after reuniting all my mental might, I stood up and put on my shoes; the track was my aim.
'What are those coins anyway?' I wondered while I was fastening my shoelaces, then I noticed that the shoes are kind of heavy, they have horseshoes on the soles of the shoes. I was about to question myself, but then just shrugged and went on with it.
(The uma coins are a currency for the system store, but it will be open after your first race.)
The dorms were silent as I tiptoed out, the cool morning air brushing my skin. The track loomed ahead, a quiet expanse under the pale sky, but as I approached, I froze. Other Uma Musume were already training, such as Oguri Cap, she was powering through sprints with relentless energy, and Flashy Step, her chestnut ponytail bouncing as she glided effortlessly. My heart skipped, but no competition loomed today, just me and the open path. I chose to try on the dirt track this time.
'Okay, I can do this, I can do this!'
As I started my first lap, my shoes hit the dirt track with tentative steps. Without the mock race's pressure, my body felt light,
I started my first lap, my boots hitting the dirt with tentative steps. Without the mock race's pressure, my body felt light; it was amazing. The muscle memory from yesterday kicked in, and I realized something startling: I could have had a chance yesterday if I'd just tried. The thought hit like a revelation, my strong frame hadn't failed me; my scattered mind had. Each stride grew smoother, my tail flicking with newfound confidence, my ears attuned to the rhythm of my breath.
'I knew the system had told me already, but damn, learning the truth about myself, it's so disappointing...' But it's okay, I just need to build the resolution to keep improving.
Halfway through my third lap, a familiar figure jogged alongside me. "Morning, Meek!" Flashy called, her voice bright, her purple eyes sparkling with surprise. "Didn't expect to see you out here so early!"
"Nnn, morning," I panted, managing a grin. "I have to put some effort into training too."
She matched my pace effortlessly, her light training a stark contrast to my labored effort, the first time I'd truly pushed myself. "That's great!" she exclaimed, her chestnut ears perking up. "Let's run together. Keep your breathing steady... inhale, exhale."
Under other circumstances, I would feel annoyed by someone telling me to breathe, but her help was very much appreciated, so focusing on her advice, my legs were burning, but I held on. For Flashy, this was a warm-up; for me, it was a battle against my own limits. By the fifth lap, sweat beaded on my brow, but a strange exhilaration took root.
(Congratulations, the rewards have been added.) The system notified me as soon as I finished the exercise.
As we slowed to a walk, Flashy patted my shoulder. "You've got potential, Meek," she said warmly. "You just have to keep going one step at a time."
I wiped my face, catching my breath. "I... I can't let you have all the fun, can I?" I tried to sound cool, but of course, being so tired made me sound like a cocky brat instead.
She smiled, her expression encouraging. "That's the spirit. Let's clean up—classes start at 8 AM, and I'm starving."
We headed to the showers, the warm water washing away the sweat and stiffness. My muscles ached, but the sensation felt earned, a badge of effort. Dressed and refreshed, we made our way to the cafeteria, the aroma of fresh bread and rice drawing us in. Oguri Cap sat at a table, her mountain of food a familiar sight, while other Uma Musume chattered around us. Flashy grabbed a tray, piling it high, and nudged me.
"Eat more this time," she urged with a laugh. "Your body needs it."
And of course, she is right, last night I had a small amount of food and suffered all night, it's just a miracle that this morning I wasn't dying of hunger... still I hesitated, then nodded, loading my plate with rice, fish, and fruit. As we ate, the clatter of trays and lively voices filled the air, a stark contrast to my quiet morning run, the academy suddenly felt so alive.
We sat down near a window and began to eat as we talked about silly stuff. It seems Flashy Step was into Umagram, she followed Curren Chan, and she talked a lot about her while we ate. Surprisingly, the big amount I served myself seemed like just OK for breakfast, if I had eaten this some days ago as a human, I would probably have been forced to skip lunch. But then again...
'I can't believe they can eat so much...'
Both Oguri Cap and Special Week had mountains of food with them, even if they were on different tables, they were kindred spirits, it seems. For a moment, I was really grateful that the food here is free.
As we were resting and reviewing our school program for today, a very sleepy but happy Haru Urara entered the room while humming a tune. I waved with my hand, and she responded in kind. Honestly, I can't say I'm very happy having to go back to classes, but it's part of the deal of being reborn, I guess. After lunch, we have a meeting with Aoi to decide on our training.
"Let's do this, Flashy," I said, "Let's aim for the top."