The memory faded, leaving Silence Suzuka alone. She clutched the front of her blouse, her thoughts a tangled mess.
"I really don't want to give up. I need to talk to Ms. Toujou again."
"Talk about what?"
A voice that struck her as distinctly frivolous sounded right by her ear. Suzuka, always sensitive, startled so hard her ears pinned back flat. Instinctively, her leg shot out.
Thud!
"Gwah!!"
The dull, meaty thump of a dress shoe connecting with flesh was followed by a man's strangled cry of pain.
It sounded ripped from the depths of his throat, forced out with a whoosh of air. Just hearing it made Suzuka wince in phantom sympathy.
A kick from an Uma Musume was no ordinary thing. While it had never happened in a fight, legally, an Uma Musume in a brawl with a human was considered to be armed.
Panic surged through Silence Suzuka. Her hand flew to her phone, instinctively pulling up her trainer's number.
"Oh no, what do I do? Is he seriously hurt? I need to call a doctor…"
"I'm fine."
"Eek!"
Before she could even dial, the man who'd been sprawled on the ground suddenly jackknifed upright, his movements unnervingly fluid. The bizarre sight startled Suzuka all over again.
And so, what greeted his newly opened eyes was another fast-approaching black object.
Thwack!
The phone hit him square in the face. This time, Okino couldn't tough it out. Darkness swallowed his vision, the last thing he heard was a soft, worried cry.
--+--
"Agh… my nose. Feels like the bridge is shattered."
He didn't know how much time had passed before the heavy fog shrouding his mind began to recede. Cautiously, testing the waters of consciousness, Okino opened his eyes.
"An unfamiliar sky… and something soft under my head."
"Heh, the sky looks the same no matter where you are. How could it possibly be different? Are you feeling better now, Trainer Okino?"
A familiar voice came from beside him. Okino turned his head toward it.
"Ah, all that blinding gold… it's Nearl. What are you doing here?"
He blinked a few times, propped himself up on his elbows, and looked around.
"A bench near the academic building… And this cushion under my head is… a folded-up tracksuit jacket?"
"Yes. I thought lying directly on the wooden slats might be uncomfortable, so I used my jacket as a pillow. Don't worry, Suzuka found me before I'd started my training. It's clean."
"Well, I won't comment, though I'm sure some people would prefer one that's been worn during a workout."
"Trainer Okino, please conduct yourself with integrity."
Nearl's heavy, disapproving look instantly wiped the smirk off Okino's face. He hurriedly nodded in apology.
"Sorry, sorry. Thank you for saving me, Lady Nearl."
"It wasn't that dramatic. Your physical resilience is far beyond ordinary, Trainer Okino. I just applied some ointment and let you rest. I didn't do much."
As she spoke, Nearl took a deliberate step to the side, revealing a certain 'carrot enthusiast' who had been hiding directly behind her, pressed so close Okino hadn't noticed her at first.
"Suzuka. We agreed, didn't we? Now, please gather your courage."
"Mm."
Her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her shirt. It was clear Silence Suzuka was quite introverted by nature. But, encouraged by Nearl, she had indeed steeled herself.
"I'm so sorry! The violence I inflicted on you was my fault. Please accept my apology!"
She bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, her long, sleek hair cascading down with gravity, obscuring her view.
Nearl nodded in satisfaction from the sidelines.
Watching this scene, Okino scratched his head, then fished another lollipop out of his pants pocket and popped it into his mouth.
'Can't let a kid's determination go to waste,' he thought. "I understand. I accept your apology."
"Thank you."
Suzuka let out a quiet sigh of relief. Okino hadn't brushed it off or made light of it. He'd responded to her apology directly and seriously, which greatly improved her opinion of him.
"Well, I'll be going now."
With the matter settled, Suzuka prepared to take her leave. She still had to go back and convince Trainer Toujou to let her race.
"Wait, Suzuka. There's something else I want to say."
The words from behind stopped her. She turned around, her emerald green eyes filled with confusion.
"Ahem, I'll get straight to the point," Okino said.
"It must be hard to fully satisfy your desire to run under Hana's system, right? Have you ever considered transferring teams?"
"My team can't compare to Hana's in scale, but I can promise you one thing: I'll support each and every Uma Musume's dreams with everything I've got."
"Ah, that…"
Suzuka instinctively took a step back. She'd never been so bluntly poached before, and her first impulse was to reflexively refuse.
"Suzuka," Nearl interjected gently, cutting off her automatic rejection. "It would be better to give this serious thought before you answer."
"Even someone as obtuse as I am can see that you're lost right now. Please consider this invitation carefully. This might very well be a crossroads in your life."
'Obtuse? Hardly…' Both Suzuka and Okino thought the same thing in that moment.
"But asking to switch teams… it feels like a betrayal of Ms. Toujou," Suzuka murmured.
She remembered the help from her seniors in the team, and how Trainer Toujou's plans, while strict, were always filled with meticulous care.
"I just… I can't…"
"Ha, well, you don't need to worry about that part."
Okino, the person who stood to gain the most from her transfer, seemed completely unconcerned.
"Haven't you noticed? Your trainer, Toujou Hana, and I get along famously. The idea of you transferring has already been discussed between us."
"R-really?"
"Of course. Even if you ask her, you'll get the same answer. The biggest hurdle you imagined doesn't exist. All that's left to consider is what you truly want, deep down."
"So, will you come to my team? The conditions might be humble, but I swear I'll support your dream with everything I have."
"This…"
Suzuka was deeply conflicted. The future seemed too vast, something she'd never properly contemplated. Instinctively, she sought out the most reliable presence nearby.
"Follow the feelings in your own heart. This is something no one else can decide for you."
That was what Nearl said. Suzuka felt a pang of disappointment, but she nodded.
"However, while only you can decide this future, there is one thing I want to tell you."
"For me, Nearl?"
"Silence Suzuka. I'll be waiting for you, far ahead on the track. Do you still wish to run by my side?"
"!"
To an outsider, the exchange would seem abrupt, incomprehensible.
But for Suzuka, who had already raced against Nearl once, the words struck like a bullet through her thoughts. Their weight was immeasurable.
"...Yes. You're right, Nearl. I want to keep chasing your silhouette. And then… I want to claim that empty space ahead, all for myself."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.