The training grounds were caked in a layer of fine, yellow dust that stuck to everything.
Yorozuya Eiyuu ran in endless circles around a giant tire, her posture as rigid and unchanging as a machine. Every step, every turn was a perfect replica of the last. The "Bedrock Dragon" serum had remolded her very being. Gone was the clumsy, self-destructive running style; now, there was only cold, calculated efficiency.
But this was no longer a simple test of her limits. It was a grinding process of breaking her down to her very foundation.
She adjusted her breathing, her senses heightened. She could feel every subtle shift in the air, but she couldn't escape the feeling of two dead eyes scanning her every move. Her trainer's observation was like a pair of high-precision calipers, measuring her every flaw. To pass his almost inhumanly strict teaching methods, Eiyuu had learned to be perfect.
Even now, in the space between heartbeats, she could precisely calculate her next move.
At that moment, Hyuuga Sakikawa was leaning against the railing, holding a tablet. A stream of data flowed across the screen, a perfect mirror of Eiyuu's physical state. He zoomed in on her feet.
After she finished her last lap, she came to a halt, panting heavily. He casually swiped the screen with his thumb.
"Stop."
Eiyuu stood at attention, her back ramrod straight, waiting for a new set of hellish orders.
Sakikawa didn't even lift his head. He just kicked at her shoes. "These shoes..." he began, then he grabbed one and tore it apart. The sole came off with a sickening rip, revealing the worn-out padding inside. A small, inconspicuous nail was embedded in the heel.
"Brand? A limited edition from some workshop?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He got up and kicked away the dust, his face expressionless. "Your body is a piece of trash, and your gear is something even a scrap collector wouldn't want."
Eiyuu's ears drooped. "I... it's still usable..." she stammered.
"Usable?" She subconsciously shrank back, her voice a tiny squeak. "This garbage, which you've had for God knows how many months, you call it... usable?"
"The structure of these shoes is a complete mess. Every step you take is like grinding your heel against broken glass," Sakikawa lectured as he dragged her off campus. "Now, with your enhanced body, your training load has more than doubled. Are you trying to perform an art piece called 'Self-Destructive Running' for me?"
"I..." Eiyuu couldn't say a word. Her head was bowed in shame.
"What am I paying you for?" he grumbled.
"B-But... I don't have any money..." she mumbled, on the verge of tears.
"Nonsense. Of course I'm not paying you." Sakikawa didn't even turn his head. "After you win the prize money, you can go to the mines and work off your debt. Now, settle down."
They left the familiar area around the academy and entered a part of town that was bustling with life. Sakikawa led her to a small, unassuming shop with a sign that read "Mejiro Sports."
The store was clean and tidy, but small. It was filled with all kinds of sports equipment and protective gear. A gentle-looking horse girl with glasses was diligently stocking the shelves. When she saw them, her face lit up with a warm smile.
"Welcome. Oh, it's Yorozuya-san! And... Hyuuga-san, her trainer?" The girl was a new face.
"Good afternoon," Eiyuu said, bowing slightly. She was a bit flustered, not used to being recognized.
"Hello! Please, look around." The new girl smiled warmly, then looked at Sakikawa with a curious gaze. "Are you two here to pick out some new equipment?"
Sakikawa briefly explained the situation, and the new girl—Mejiro Ardan—nodded sympathetically. "That's wonderful! I'll go get a new set of our latest gear for you to try! What color do you like? What functions do you need?"
She pulled Eiyuu over to a shoe rack and began to enthusiastically introduce the different models.
"This material... the tech level is quite high. It's not something you'd expect to find in a small shop like this." Sakikawa's voice was low, but Ardan's sharp ears picked it up.
"You can tell?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
He pointed to a simple pair of shoes. "The texture of this sole... it has a slight shimmer of carbon fiber. It's light, but the lines on it are designed for fluid dynamics. It's meant to reduce air resistance. The tech level is quite advanced."
Ardan was stunned. "You... you can tell all that just by looking?"
Sakikawa picked up the shoe, his eyes lighting up with the crazed enthusiasm of a tech geek. "The smooth curve of the heel... the biological structure... this shoe is made with the latest graphene fiber technology, isn't it? The energy conversion rate is probably incredible."
He turned the shoe over, his expression like a master craftsman appraising a work of art. "This isn't just a shoe; it's a masterpiece born from the fusion of biology and mechanics! This is true technological beauty!"
Ardan and Eiyuu stared at him, dumbfounded.
"This man... is he sick in the head?" was the thought that ran through both their minds.
"Ahem... Sir, this is indeed our latest model," Ardan said, regaining her composure. "It's made with the most advanced technology, so the price is..."
"Price is not an issue." Sakikawa cut her off and pushed the shoes into Eiyuu's hands. "Try them on."
Eiyuu looked at the dazzling shoes in her hands, then back at the eager face of Mejiro Ardan. She could only smile weakly and ask for help.
The moment her foot slipped into the shoe, she felt a soft, enveloping sensation. It was a perfect fit, with no pressure points at all. The shoe was so light, she almost forgot she was wearing it.
"The energy consumption ratio of your physical activity is too large. And the wear and tear is completely unscientific..." Sakikawa rambled on, his inner tech-nerd fully unleashed. He grabbed a pile of high-end equipment from the shelves and unceremoniously dumped it on Eiyuu.
He paid for everything, from the training clothes and monitoring wristband to the data-analysis shoes. Ardan's face was a mixture of professional poise and personal shock as she rang up the bill. Finally, with several large bags in hand, they left the store.
Sakikawa stuffed a few of the smaller items into Eiyuu's hands and patted her on the shoulder. "Alright, you're all geared up now." He looked her up and down, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes, but his voice was still laced with his usual lazy tone. "You have to run a few more races to pay me back for this."
"If you don't perform well, it's not a matter of the equipment. It's a matter of your own body not working hard enough. I suggest we add 50 laps to your training," he added.
Eiyuu listened to his familiar, toxic words, but this time, her heart felt warm and full. She clutched the shopping bags, the fresh scent of the new clothes and shoes filling her senses. She looked up at the dark figure walking ahead of her, his silhouette sharp against the setting sun. She opened her mouth, wanting to say thank you.
But the words that came out were different, more resolute.
"I... I will."
Sakikawa's steps faltered for a second, but he didn't turn back.
"Don't get too cocky," his voice drifted back, still lazy, but with a new edge to it. "The horse girls at the Central Academy won't be as easy to deal with as the ones here. Start running."
He was just a specter from her past, but his voice held a strange, undeniable power.
"How do they feel?"
"Very... comfortable." Eiyuu answered honestly. She took a few steps in the new shoes. They were light and bouncy, and every step felt stable and powerful.
"I... I've never worn such good shoes before."
She felt the earth beneath her feet. From a young age, most of her things had been basic, functional necessities. These high-tech shoes, so far removed from her world, felt both strange and wonderful.
"Did your parents not buy them for you?" Sakikawa asked offhandedly, reading through the instruction manual for the shoes. In his mind, a talented horse girl like her should have had the best of everything.
The air, which had been light and cheerful, suddenly grew heavy.
Eiyuu's head drooped. "I don't have parents," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm an orphan."
Sakikawa stopped reading. He slowly lifted his head, a rare look of concern on his face as he looked at Eiyuu. He saw the loneliness in her eyes, a familiar darkness he knew all too well.
Her body, and the loneliness she carried, had a source.
A pang of something he couldn't quite name went through him. For a moment, he saw a reflection of himself.
One second. Two seconds.
Sakikawa suddenly sighed and rubbed his ears. He hated this kind of heavy atmosphere; it was completely pointless. He walked over to her.
"What's that got to do with me? You're not the only orphan in the world," he said, his voice back to its usual lazy drawl. He reached out and... patted her on the head.
The gesture was clumsy, awkward. His hand rested on her head for a second before he pulled it back, as if he'd been burned.
Eiyuu froze, her head still bowed. Then, her face exploded in a blush so deep it reached the tips of her ears. Her heart was pounding.
His tone was as annoying as ever, but his words... and his touch... were surprisingly gentle.
-------
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