"Amazon, one more set of squat jumps. Air Groove, keep moving, another slow lap! Fuji, maintain that posture—"
Toujou Hana, calling out instructions on the training field, checked her watch.
"Brian, you've hit today's training target—" she said, looking toward the track where Narita Brian stood bent over, hands on her knees, breathing heavily.
Just as she had expected, Narita Brian's stamina had dropped sharply.
The training load that usually only made her break a sweat was now enough to drain her completely.
Toujou Hana waved her hand, then spoke to the girl beside her. "Silence, take Brian to rest. Make sure she drinks plenty of water."
"Yes."
Nodding, the girl ran over and supported the gasping Narita Brian.
Her legs trembled uncontrollably, and her body swayed slightly.
She was clearly spent.
"You pushed yourself too hard," the girl said, draping Brian's arm over her shoulder.
"So it seems..." Narita Brian took a deep breath, swallowing repeatedly, trying to calm her racing heart. "I just wanted to know what state my body is really in."
"And the result?"
"Heh." A bitter smile escaped her. "Worse than I imagined..."
She had thought she could handle twenty sets of uphill sprints.
But by the thirteenth set, her legs had given out.
It felt as if a huge hole had been torn open in her body, all her strength draining right through it.
And this was with the girl helping her recover at the hospital.
If she had relied on her own recuperative abilities, she probably wouldn't have made it past the tenth set.
"The average Uma Musume is about at this level. Even if it were Fuji Kiseki or someone else, they might not have managed more than you," the girl comforted her.
The current Narita Brian was no longer the 'monster' who could run shoulder-to-shoulder with Oguri Cap or Maruzensky.
That once formidable, awe-inspiring physique had plummeted in an instant to the level of a 'mortal.'
Surely, Narita Brian couldn't accept that, not right away.
"The average Uma Musume, huh..." Her eyes lowered.
I guess that's all I'm worthy of now.
"Sorry you had to see such an embarrassing side of me..." Narita Brian sighed.
"I don't find it embarrassing at all."
Supporting Narita Brian, the girl began guiding her toward the training field's rest area. "Actually, whether it's you or anyone else, deep down, we're all mortals."
No matter how one transforms their body, they can't break the world's limits.
We can't command the wind and rain.
We can't turn beans into soldiers.
You could say the world has sealed the upper limit of the human body.
"The human body has its limits, but I believe... thought and will can break through those constraints." Golden eyes looked straight ahead.
"I've always revered that intangible existence. Like I've always felt, the body will decay one day."
But will can grow stronger, more complete over time.
"Brian, I see that in you—that will, as precious as gold."
Your hesitation, your resolve.
And that obsession of yours with running.
It's so... admirable and moving.
"So, what if you're an 'average' Uma Musume now?" the girl continued. "As long as you hold onto that resolve, Brian, you are special. And I'll be by your side, helping you achieve that golden dream."
She steadied Narita Brian's arm.
A long pause.
No response came from Narita Brian.
Just as the girl glanced over, Narita Brian turned her face away.
A blush, hard to conceal, spread across her pale cheeks.
"...Silence." Narita Brian's voice was hoarse, strained. "Has anyone ever told you... you have a way of saying incredible things with a completely straight face..."
"What is it?"
"That. Just that."
Her eyes darted about nervously. This was Narita Brian, who remained calm and steady even in major graded races, now feeling so tense she was at a loss.
The arm being supported by the girl had unconsciously tensed, her movements turning stiff and awkward.
"Your words can easily stir up... unrealistic impulses in people. And those impulses could very well end up hurting you..."
"Impulses?" The girl blinked. "Brian, are you feeling impulsive right now?"
"I'm trying desperately to hold back. Honestly, holding back is more exhausting than training. Before I do something out of line, could you please just let me calm down?"
"Oh, okay..."
Seeing Narita Brian's trembling body, the girl quietly closed her mouth.
Inside the rest area, after settling Narita Brian into a seat, the girl fetched her a cup of water.
"The trainer said you need to hydrate."
"Mhm, right, I was thinking the same thing..." Narita Brian lifted the cup and poured the water over her own face.
"Brian!?"
Is that how you drink?
"One cup might not be enough. Could you get me another?"
"Sure, that's fine, but you..."
"Sorry." She shook her head. "I overdid it earlier. My body's heating up again. Need to cool down fast. Another cup, please." She urged.
The girl poured her another.
Splash.
Narita Brian doused her face again.
After rubbing her face a few times, the crimson flush finally receded, returning to her normal complexion.
That was close. She let out a quiet sigh of relief, secretly clenching her fist.
I almost pounced on her just now...
If she had actually done something like that to a trainee on the training field...
Narita Brian thought.
Her career as an Uma Musume would probably be over, even without the trainer terminating their contract.
"How do you feel now?"
"Much better."
"Good..."
Your method of hydrating is certainly... unique.
"In that case, lie down on the bed," the girl said, pointing to a single bed frame supported by metal legs against the wall.
Narita Brian's ears shot straight up.
"Bed!? Why the bed?"
Don't tell me... you're thinking the same thing...
"To massage your legs, of course. Didn't you say your body was heating up again? If fatigue accumulates, it'll affect your next training session. Best to release the day's fatigue on the same day."
"M-massage. Right, of course." Narita Brian stammered in reply.
She lay face down on the bed like a wooden puppet.
Every joint in her limbs felt stiff as a board.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, the girl gently lifted her legs, fingertips brushing past her ankles.
Creeeak—!
A sharp sound suddenly came from the headboard.
"What was that?"
"The bed frame's loose. It's fine..." Narita Brian replied.
"Be careful."
Turning her attention back, the girl focused on those clean, powerful white legs.
Meanwhile, Narita Brian forcefully pried open her own clenched fist.
On the metal panel she had been gripping, a row of clear finger indentations was now visible.
She didn't know how much longer she could suppress this impulse.
But Narita Brian knew this much:
Once this wild, untamed desire was set free...
There would be no turning back for her...
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.