There was no trace of New Year's cheer in the air.
By eight in the morning, the streams of office workers could already be seen rushing to their daily battles, greeting the challenges of a fresh year.
Tracen Academy was also welcoming its new term, with the Uma Musume who'd returned home for the holidays now trickling back onto campus.
On the training field.
Barbatos, still officially "injured," was going through a light jog.
Compared to her initial days, she had mostly adapted to the training regimen she and Seiun Sky had planned together, making noticeable strides in both endurance and guts.
Even her raw speed had seen a slight improvement.
Now, over half a month had passed since her offline meet-up with 'Piao' and the others.
They had flown back to China the very day of the gathering, already starting to complain online about how playing games with Barbatos offered zero enjoyable experience.
As for Barbatos, since that internal match livestream, she hadn't gone live again.
After a full day of high-intensity training, even she had no energy left for streaming, no strength left to dominate and slaughter her way through the Summoner's Rift.
That didn't mean she was giving up her identity as a streamer, though.
When Chinese New Year came around, she still planned to go live, interacting with her Chinese fans for New Year's greetings, and maybe running a giveaway or two.
But for now, her focus had to remain on training, on becoming stronger.
"Time to eat."
Seiun Sky's voice reached her, and Barbatos gradually slowed her pace.
--+--
"Barbatos and Seiun Sky are requesting leave?"
In the Tracen Academy student council room, Symboli Rudolf listened to the voice on the other end of the line.
It was a call from Minamizaka, the trainer of Team Canopus, requesting a long leave of about two months for Barbatos. She wouldn't return to academy studies until April.
"That's right. Barbatos's current condition requires rest and recuperation. This is the best way for her to recover sooner and prepare for the Oka Sho."
"Mhm, I understand."
Symboli Rudolf agreed without further questions.
Tracen Academy wasn't like regular human schools; approving leave was often a simple matter.
While Uma Musume had much to learn—foreign languages, singing, dancing—the true core of their existence was running.
Requesting leave to better prepare for races was a common occurrence at Tracen, especially when recovery from injury was involved.
Compared to the school environment, Japan had plenty of places more conducive to proper rest.
As for why the request went through Symboli Rudolf, it was because the student council president's authority was, for all intents and purposes, limitless. Compared to teachers or even the principal, Rudolf, the absolute champion among Uma Musume, held more power and commanded greater respect.
Of course, even with Rudolf's approval, the academy's written exams still had to be taken. Failing due to absence meant mandatory make-up exams.
Just like the legendary Uma Musume, Hishi Amazon, who not only had to take a make-up exam this time but failed it again, and was now being subjected to forced, cram-style tutoring.
Joining Amazon in this remedial hell was Special Week.
--+--
"B-chan and Sei-chan are on leave?"
During lunch break at Tracen Academy, El Condor Pasa and the others heard the news from Urara, who had come by to visit.
"How is her injury now?"
While there was some concern about Barbatos potentially missing the Oka Sho due to her injury, as her friends, El Condor Pasa, Grass Wonder, and King Halo were more worried about her physical wellbeing.
If she couldn't run the Oka Sho, there was still the Japanese Oaks. But if her career ended outright because of injury… even if they couldn't fully share that feeling, as fellow Uma Musume, they could well imagine the heartbreak.
Even Special Week, who had just finished her forced tutoring session and was now refueling with frantic intensity, turned her attention their way.
"She's fine!"
Urara, full of energy, pulled out her phone and immediately initiated a video call to Barbatos via LINE.
Her LINE profile picture had changed; it was now clearly a photo of Barbatos and Seiun Sky together. Their heads were close, almost like a couple.
No one reacted to the changed picture. The nature of Barbatos and Seiun Sky's relationship was an open secret among those in the know.
The call connected quickly, Barbatos's face appearing on the screen. She seemed to be in the middle of lunch.
"El-chan, Grass-chan, Halo-chan, and Spe-chan, long time no see," the Barbatos on screen greeted.
Taking leave until April, skipping Tracen, had been her idea.
If she were at the academy, her 'injured' status would prevent her from training.
Not just her current high-intensity regimen, but even ordinary practice would be off-limits. She might even need to rely on a motorized wheelchair for a while.
So, staying at Seiun Sky's place to train was the best solution.
Especially since, after she had revealed her relationship with Seiun Sky to her grandfather...
Well, he had left the house looking quite displeased, but when he returned, he seemed to view her in a slightly better light.
After a month of living together, they were getting along relatively peacefully. It was like a trial run for married life, helping to bridge the gap between grandfather and future granddaughter-in-law.
"Hey, B-chan, is your injury really okay?"
"No problem, no problem. Probably be fully healed in another month or so."
"El-chan, you better take part in a few more G1 races while I'm on leave. Otherwise, by the time I'm back, you'll only be taking second place in the Tiara classics."
Barbatos's face held a confident smile.
It was the confidence born from her past race victories, and also from the progress made during this training period.
She could feel the difference from before, from when she only relied on skills to run races. Even facing the self-proclaimed 'serious contender' El Condor Pasa, she still felt utterly assured.
"As long as you're alright. Just don't come crying when you lose the Oka Sho," El Condor Pasa shot back, one hand on her hip, grinning widely.
"You'll be facing the future number one in the world!"
"Number one in the world? You'll have to beat me and become Japan's number one Uma Musume first."
The two contenders for the Oka Sho were already trading barbs two months before the race.
Grass Wonder smiled gently, her eyes narrowing. "B-chan, I'll send you today's class notes tonight. You wouldn't want to risk failing your exams."
"Okay, thank you, Grass-chan," Barbatos replied gratefully.
After a bit more casual chat, the video call ended.
El Condor Pasa suddenly clenched her fist, as if having made a decision. She, too, planned to request leave from the president.
But unlike Barbatos's convalescence, she intended to intensify her training, to bring two hundred percent of her ability to the Oka Sho.
"Say, doesn't anyone think B-chan seems… a bit different somehow?" King Halo remarked, sounding puzzled.
Special Week, who had just shoveled a huge mouthful of food, mumbled, "Different? B-chan looks way more spirited than before, if you ask me."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, 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.