"Thank you, Kaicho."
I sipped the tea that was already on the reception table when I arrived, yet it was still the perfect temperature. Hot, but not scalding. A quiet hum of calculation started in the back of my mind. Had she timed my arrival? From the moment the announcement echoed through the academy, factoring in the distance from my classroom, my average walking speed… had she timed the delivery of this tea so it would be perfect the moment I sat down? No. I was probably just overthinking it.
The summons had been unexpectedly expected. I had been preparing to watch other Make Debuts on Umatube during the recess when the PA system crackled to life, calling my name specifically to the Student Council office. The meaning was immediately clear.
This office, though, was impressive. I liked the way she decorated it. The placement of equipment, furniture, and decorations was designed with efficiency and ease of movement in mind, yet it still projected an undeniable aura of prestige and eminence.
"You're welcome. Do you like my office?" she asked, her voice pulling me from my analysis. She sat down on the sofa opposite mine, with her fluid and graceful movements.
"Affirm- I mean, yes, I do," I replied, setting the cup down. "Various equipment within arm's reach, purposeful space to move around that makes the office feel spacious, and the decorations aren't too opulent, so the atmosphere doesn't feel suffocating. I can see myself working well in this environment." Were my glances that conspicuous?
"I agree. It looks like our tastes aren't that different," she smiled, a small, satisfied nod accompanying her words.
I nodded in return and took another sip. She just sat there, looking at me. In return, I looked back, meeting her eyes directly. This was the first time I had ever seen an Umamusume with eyes so deep. They were like polished purple amethyst, and for a moment, I felt as if my own consciousness was being drawn into them. Was I being scrutinized? I didn't feel any ill will, maybe just a profound, quiet observation?
"You truly are interesting, Copenhagen," she said, her gaze unwavering.
"I don't think I am, Kaicho," I replied shortly.
"First, let me congratulate you on winning your Make Debut. Welcome to the Twinkle Series."
"Thank you, Kaicho. It is an honor to have you congratulate me directly," I said, my tone formal by reflex.
"As Tracen Academy's student council president, it's reassuring to me to have you here. And as a racer, I feel at ease when talented new runners prosper in the new generation," she smiled.
"I'm also grateful to be able to enroll here," I replied, offering a small, polite smile of my own.
"I see," she said, that satisfied look returning to her eyes. She then continued, "So, Copenhagen. You might be wondering why I suddenly called you here."
I just nodded.
"I just want to know what your goal is," she said, her tone direct and clear.
"My goal?"
"Yes, your goal. Whether as a racer, an Umamusume, or a student here. It might be prudent of me to ask such a question, but I couldn't help but be curious."
"It's fine. I don't mind," I said. It was a straightforward question deserving of a straightforward answer. "So far, I have a promise with King Halo to become her greatest rival. I also have a shared goal with my trainer to win the Grand Prix. And my younger sister and siblings at home wants to see me on TV a lot." Those three were the pillars of my current campaign. One for myself, one for the person I was indebted to, and one for my family. The list might change in the future, but for now, I was content with them.
"I heard you aim to be the best in the world? Was I mishearing things back then in the canteen?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
I felt my cheeks warm. "Ugh. You didn't mishear it, but... you could say I was pressured to say so. I'm not really aiming for that. It's too farfetched for me," I said, cringing at the memory of Tamamo-san's enthusiastic mental building coaching.
"Well, with a body like yours, I don't think it's entirely out of the question," she said, gesturing to the familiar document she had spread on the table between us. My full-body assessment report.
"Among many things, Superior VO2 Max, high bone mineral density, and a robust constitution," she read off the key points. "You could give two of those away and you would still have a body many Umamusume would envy."
"Unfortunately, even with this body, I still have a major drawback," I stated, a simple fact I had come to accept.
"Your abysmal top speed, is that it?" she countered immediately. "But from what I saw yesterday, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore."
"Unfortunately, that's still very much the case," I answered with a weak smile, one that didn't quite reach my eyes. "That kind of speed I showed on the homestretch is actually still slower than most competitive runners at my level. My definition of 'fast' operates on fundamentally different principles than others' 'fast.' Believe it or not, my natural top speed without any specialized techniques is merely 60 kilometers per hour."
She was correct, but her observation was incomplete. My problem wasn't solved, it was merely being managed..
"Your Make Debut final furlong time was 10.75 seconds," Kaichou said sceptically, "That's genuinely impressive for a debut-level Umamusume, especially one claiming severe speed limitations. So I have to ask, are you absolutely certain about that 60 kilometer per hour figure?"
"Well, as I tried to explain, my 'fast' operates differently than the conventional model," I said, searching for the right way to articulate the biomechanical distinction. "As far as I understand from observing other runners and studying race data, many Umamusume can generate explosive bursts that push them beyond 70 kilometers per hour at peak velocity. But then they inevitably slow down because they cannot sustain that extreme speed, whether due to fatigue or other physiological constraints."
"That's accurate," Kaichou confirmed with a nod. She leaned forward slightly, her interest clearly engaged now. "The typical speed trajectory during a closing kick resembles a pyramid structure: a rapid acceleration phase to reach peak speed, a brief maintenance period where you hold that maximum velocity as long as your body allows, and then a gradual decline as you fight to preserve whatever momentum remains from that initial explosive effort."
She paused, then added, "So what makes your 'fast' fundamentally different from this pattern?"
I considered how to explain it clearly, "If you conceptualize the common speed trajectory as a pyramid shape," I said, using my hand to trace the rising and falling pattern in the air between us, "then you could describe my speed trajectory as more like a plateau." I traced a different shape: rising, then flat and sustained.
"To reach my natural top speed of 60 kilometers per hour, my acceleration does follow that typical pyramid pattern initially. But as you witnessed in my race, my running form is what transforms the trajectory after that point. That specific biomechanical approach is—"
"Biomechanically catastrophic and borderline impossible to execute safely," Kaichou cut me off, her tone matter-of-fact rather than critical. "Any other Umamusume attempting that form, along with any trainer possessing basic anatomical knowledge, would recognize that the technique virtually guarantees serious injury. The stress loads, the impact forces, the joint angles involved.. it shouldn't be sustainable."
"That assessment is entirely correct," I acknowledged without defensiveness. "But thanks to my rather unique constitutional makeup, I can overcome those normal physiological limitations and reduce the injury risk to an acceptable safe level."
I met her gaze steadily. "And it's precisely that running form which makes it possible for me to exceed my natural speed ceiling. My base long strides are cycled at a high turnover rate. As a result, my sustained speed using this technique reaches 67 kilometers per hour."
"67 kilometers per hour..." Kaicho repeated thoughtfully, resting her chin on her interlaced hands as she processed the implications. Her eyes had taken on that silence that suggested she was running through mathematics in her head. "But that still doesn't add up with your Make Debut split times.. or wait."
Her eyes widened slightly with realization. "You're not saying what I think you're saying, are you?"
"Yes, exactly as you've deduced," I confirmed. "As I mentioned, my 'fast' operates differently because once I engage this running form, which I've been calling 'Ideal Strides', and reach that 67 kilometer per hour threshold, I don't experience the normal speed decay until I cross the finish line. That's why I used the plateau analogy earlier. The speed remains constant rather than declining."
I paused, then added, "Though I should note that for any deeper technical analysis, you should probably consult Trainer Kitahara directly. He understands the physiological mechanisms far better than I do. I just execute what we've developed together."
Yeah, I was still objectively slow when measured by raw peak velocity numbers. But I was fast in my own way. That had to count for something.
"I can see why... you and your trainer are quite the greedy ones, aren't you?" A small, knowing smile played on her lips. "And I assume this 'Ideal Strides' is your best way to solve your problem?"
Greedy. She was right. Attempting to gain the best of both worlds from the power of long strides and the high turnover of pitch running style was indeed greedy. But so far, it had paid off.
"We deem so, yes," I replied.
"But I'm curious," she said, leaning forward slightly with her deep eyes. "If you're able to cycle your stride that fast, why don't you just use a balanced cadence? Shorter, quicker steps. It's less risky, more logical, and you could sustain a higher average speed that way. Don't you think so?"
Maybe this was it. This was the question at the heart of her interest in me. Very well. I would satisfy her curiosity.
"It's my musculature," I began, choosing my words carefully. "It's too heavy and springy to sustain smaller, faster steps. You could say my muscles shackle my legs, preventing them from moving with short-range flexibility, while also pushing them to take longer strides naturally. That's why my trainer focuses on improving my flexibility, even though that flexibility is only used for a crucial, short period. He also decided to keep my long strides because shortening them would only restrain my muscles. That would make running more exhausting, as it costs more energy to consciously restrain them than to unleash them naturally."
"I see," she murmured, her gaze intense. "Can you please stand up?"
"Sure," I said, rising from the sofa.
Still sitting, her eyes were seriously observing the line of my legs, at least from what was visible when I was wearing my uniform. She nodded to herself, as if confirming a theory.
"It might sound weird to praise you like this, but you really do have well-shaped thighs and calves," she said, her tone completely clinical.
"Thank you, Kaicho." Agreed, Kaicho. It really was weird if you didn't understand the context.
"So, this running form really is the best way," she sighed, more to herself than to me.
I just nodded. What was she up to?
"Honestly," she began, her expression turning serious, "I was shocked when I saw your last spurt yesterday. I thought you were being suicidal. For us Umamusume, our legs are our life. For you to run on long strides at such a high turnover rate is like asking your legs to snap. I also remembered your selection races; I'd never seen you run like that. It made me think you were so desperate to win that you were risking your career... no, not only your own, but the careers of others. If you were to fall at that speed, the runners behind you would likely be harmed as well."
The words hung in the air.
"So, the legend of the Kaicho never forgetting a face is true?" I murmured, the thought slipping out before I could stop it. I quickly pressed my lips together. "Ah, apologies."
"It's fine," she said, a small, unreadable smile touching her lips, neither confirming nor denying my murmur. So the legend was true.
"After that race, Tazuna-san explained your conditions to me. I'm also grateful that Trainer Kitahara allowed me to see your physical assessment results. These two combined with the way you show your confidence in your body earlier, I am finally able to breathe more easily," she continued. "I don't want to see a budding runner's career end just as it has begun."
"Thank you for looking after us," I said, offering a slight bow.
"I'm the student council president, after all. It's part of my responsibility," she smiled.
"But it's also about your goal, isn't it?" I asked, looking her directly in the eyes. I saw a flicker of surprise in them, a brief crack in her perfect composure.
"'A world where every Umamusume can live in bliss,'" I quoted, the words feeling heavy on my tongue. "A difficult goal. I don't even know where one would start. But... I sincerely hope you can achieve your goal," I said, a small, genuine smile forming on my face. A world where parents didn't abandon a young Umamusume like Just-chan, a world where we could all run happily, a world where every Umamusume could grow strong... I wanted to see that world, too.
"Thank you," she smiled back at me, with the warmth in her eyes that I could somehow feel. She then gestured towards the wall. "Have you heard of Tracen Academy's motto?"
"Eclipse first, the rest nowhere," I said, my eyes finding the large, ornate panel where the same phrase was engraved.
"And do you know the meaning of it?"
"The strongest Umamusume to ever step on the turf," I recited from memory. "This saying came from her trainer when she won her four-mile debut race with a 220-meter gap from second place."
"You're right. Here in this academy, we strive to be like her. The strongest, the fastest, so dominant that our opponents cannot even catch our shadow. So, I hope your declaration at the canteen back then can come true. Be the best in the world, Copenhagen," she said, her voice carrying a quiet, profound weight.
"Be like Eclipse..." I felt something stir deep inside me at that name, a faint, resonant chord I couldn't identify. "I won't promise anything, Kaicho. I still think it's too big for my little hands."
"For now, that is," she smiled. "So even with your body, it's impossible to sustain this running form from start to finish, huh? Well, in the first place, trying to run like that is unthinkable enough for other Umamusume. We don't want our careers to be cut short by injuring ourselves. Besides," she paused, a sly smirk appearing on her face, "it's just not worth it in the long run."
Wait. A long run, as in a long-distance race? A long run, as in the long-term health of a career? Or a long run, as in the mechanics of a long stride?
"Ugh..." I groaned, massaging my temples as my brain tried to untangle the deliberate ambiguity of her pun.
"You got it? Hehe,"
Please stop that smug face of yours, Kaicho.
In the end, she let me go just as the recess bell rang. As I was leaving, she handed me a small, embossed card. A ticket for a session with an URA-licensed and Symboli-approved masseuse. "Massage can also improve your flexibility," she'd said. Hearing that, of course I received it with open arms.
"I think I can get along with this Emperor," I murmured to myself as I walked back to class.
---
"Yo, little monster, wanna go training?"
I was walking along the hallway, the familiar end-of-class buzz filling the air, when a quiet voice echoed from behind me. The voice was familiar, and the lazy drawl felt like it was directed toward me, but… little monster? Had she mistaken me for someone else?
I turned back and saw a familiar figure walking leisurely against the flow of Umamusume traffic from the opposite end of the hallway. She waved a hand weakly in my direction.
"After-school stroll, Taishin-san?" I asked as she closed the distance between us.
"Yeah, looks like it," she replied, falling into step beside me. "But have you seen Ticket or Biwa anywhere?"
"That's odd," I observed. "Did something happen?"
"We're playing hide-and-seek," she explained with a shrug. "It's my turn to seek."
"I see. Unfortunately, I haven't seen them yet. Maybe they're in another building?" I proposed, a logical first step. You wanted to be as far as possible to hide.
"Nah, we set the boundary to just this building."
"But still, finding two people in a vast four-story building like this is bound to be tedious," I pointed out.
"That's why I'm taking it easy," she said, a hint of a smirk on her lips. "In the end, they'll show up by themselves."
"Encirclement tactic with time?" I deduced. "It's almost time for afternoon training. So it's either you find them first, or they'll be forced to come to you to end the game soon."
"You can say that," she nodded. Her gaze shifted to me, her expression turning more serious. "Anyway, your first win, huh? Quite an impressive one at that. Even the Kaicho summoned you."
"It's also thanks to you, Taishin-san," I said, stopping in my tracks and giving her a deep, formal bow. "Your advice really helped me a lot."
After our first conversation that night, we'd fallen into a comfortable routine. We'd sometimes meet unexpectedly like this and end up talking about racing. She would always insert a piece of advice or a sharp observation into our conversation, small gifts of experience that were invaluable to me. I truly couldn't be grateful enough. Plus, it seemed she and her friends also liked my cornbread, so I'd made a habit of baking some for them in my free time. That was the least I could do.
"Come on, you're still all stiff," she said, stopping and tugging at the collar of her uniform as if it were suddenly too tight. She walked past me without another word.
"Fine..." I said, catching up to her. "Still, I'm really grateful to you."
"Alright, alright," she conceded. "How was it with the Kaicho? Did she suggest you stop running the way you do, or give you an outright reprimand?"
"She was actually willing to understand," I answered.
"I see. Great for you. Keep going then," she said, a genuine curiosity in her eyes. "I'm really curious to see how fast you can actually go. But again, a race isn't only the final homestretch. You have to focus from start to finish."
"Yeah," I nodded, recalling her words. "You once said, no matter how fast I am in the last spurt, one mistake during the early or mid-race can cost me first place."
"That's what being an End Closer is all about," she shrugged.
Just then, my eyes caught a flash of white up ahead. A girl with long and incredibly voluminous white hair was walking towards us. Of course, I knew who she was. "Taishin-san, twelve o'clock," I said quietly.
She looked up in the direction I'd indicated and nodded. "See?"
The incoming figure was Biwa Hayahide, the 'B' of the BNW generation. She approached us with a serious, purposeful stride. "I have training after this," she stated as she arrived. "Let's find Ticket and finish this quickly."
"Okay," Taishin-san agreed. "Let's check the Sirius' teamroom. If she's not willing to give up, she must have gone there to clock in with her trainer and try to stretch our game out as long as possible."
"Alright, let's change clothes first. We might as well go there when we're ready," Biwa-san said, her gaze shifting to me.
"We're already on our way to do just that," Taishin-san added, nudging me with her elbow.
"Great work, Copenhagen," Biwa-san said, her default serious expression somehow conveying a genuine welcome. "And welcome to the Twinkle Series."
"Thank you, Biwa-san," I replied. "Also, your hairspray recommendation back then was really helpful. My hair stayed in place throughout the entire race."
"Your hair is on the smoother end," she stated, a simple observation. "If you race without wearing any, it would be a mess." her sharp eyes seemed to size me up, "Next time, I'll recommend one that has a stronger hold. To be brave enough running like that, you really are something, Copenhagen."
"Right? She's interesting, this little monster," Taishin-san added.
This thing again, what did she mean by that?
"But, what's this 'little monster' thing?" I finally asked.
"It's you," Taishin-san said. "Anyway, don't mind it. It's just the press. They need a sensation once in a while."
I just shrugged at their words, and we continued our walk to the locker room to change into our tracksuits.
On the way, we passed Bakushin O-san. She had an uncharacteristically panic expression on her face and was asking everyone she passed if they had seen her lucky charm, a 'Lance' shogi piece. I quickly remembered the piece I had seen this morning. I told her that her lucky charm was with Hishiama-san. She thanked me profusely before Bakushin off. I sent a silent prayer after her, hoping she could survive whatever she was about to face unscathed.