A few days passed, and with it the tension that once lingered between Junior A and Junior B had too begun to dissolve into something far more comfortable and easier to exist within.
Students now greeted each other without any boundaries, ensuring that the cafeteria no longer felt like divided territory, but simply a shared space for everyone to enjoy.
For Lunar, it meant even more than that.
There were more people to talk to now, more smiles exchanged in passing. Conversations came easier, and with them, connections she hadn't expected to form so quickly.
And somewhere along the way, her small Umagram account had quietly changed too.
What once held less than ten followers—nine of them being her family and one being Sakura—had now grown to eighty-two, a number that made her blink the first time she properly saw it, her thumb hovering over the screen as she double-checked just to be sure she wasn't imagining things.
"…It doubled…" she murmured to herself, a disbelieving expression forming on her face. Forty-one following to eighty-two followers.
It wasn't some massive, world-shaking number. But to her, It felt big. Because every number there meant something.
A name.
A face.
A conversation she had shared.
And that alone made her feel… satisfied.
Her mother's words drifted back to her then. "Smile more, okay? Talk to people. A simple smile can make someone's day… and one day, it might come back and brighten yours too."
Lunar found herself smiling at the memory, her gaze softening as she looked down at her screen. "…I think I'm doing okay, Momma…"
Beyond the growing list of names and faces, something else had begun to take shape as well. She had started her training here not just for herself, but with others.
Speedy had been the first to approach her again, bright-eyed and determined, still carrying that same admiration from before, and this time, Lunar didn't wait to say yes.
And somehow, that "just the two of them" quickly turned into something else entirely.
Via joined.
Then Rickey.
Then Sakura.
And before she knew it, what was supposed to be a simple session had turned into a small, close knit group.
Their first proper training session together, however—
Was…
"…surprising," to say the least.
Though, for Lunar and the others, the meaning of that surprise wasn't quite the same.
"We have to run how many laps?!?!?"
Rickey's voice practically exploded across the field, her disbelief so loud that it echoed faintly across the open space as she stared at Lunar like she had just suggested something completely unreasonable.
Lunar appeared puzzled at the uncalled outburst. "…Twenty-five?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly as if trying to understand where the issue was. "Or… um… is that too little for you guys?"
She paused, thinking for a second, and then added. "I'm used to doing forty, but I figured I should ease you guys into it first—"
"Wait, wait—hold on—" Rickey immediately cut in, her hands flying in an attempt to physically stop the conversation from continuing. "Did you just say forty like that's normal?!"
Beside her, Speedy slowly raised her hand, her ears twitching slightly as she spoke, her voice much more careful. "U-umm… Lunar-senpai…?" she began hesitantly. "You said this was… a warm-up, right?"
Lunar nodded without a second thought. "Yeah," she replied. "Just something quick and easy before we start!"
There was a long pause at that.
Sakura, who had been silently observing up until this point, finally spoke. "Lunar-chan," she said flatly, her tone carrying that familiar, dry edge that she never really uses when talking to Lunar. "Do you realize that twenty-five laps for a warm-up is absurd?"
Lunar blinked, completely dumbfounded. "…Ah, is that so…?" A faint hint of embarrassment crept onto her face as she scratched lightly at her cheek, clearly caught off guard by their reactions.
Because to her—
It really wasn't strange.
If anything, it was normal.
From as far back as she could remember, that had always been the baseline.
"At least thirty laps before anything else," Momma Nel had said. "Build your endurance first. Build your stamina. Because a real race will never care if you're tired, or hurt, or already exhausted—it will demand everything from you anyway."
And so she followed it.
All of them did—Namawa, Anonym, Persian, big sis Invi. Every time, without exception.
Thirty laps had always been the minimum. And as she grew…even that had started to feel like it wasn't quite enough.
"…Thirty always felt a bit easy," she admitted quietly, glancing away for a moment as if realizing just how strange that might sound to the others. "I couldn't really feel the strain properly unless I pushed it to forty…"
Via pinched the bridge of her nose. "…You're insane," she muttered under her breath.
Lunar shifted slightly where she stood, her fingers fidgeting together as she glanced between the four of them, clearly realizing just a little too late that what she considered "normal" might not translate quite as well for everyone else.
"…Then… urmm… uhhh…" she started, her voice trailing off as she tried to recalibrate on the spot, her brows knitting together in genuine uncertainty. "…I guess we should… lower it…?"
The problem was—
She had absolutely no idea by how much.
Ten?
Fifteen?
Twenty still felt like nothing to her, but judging from their reactions, even twenty-five had already crossed the line of "normal".
She opened her mouth to try again, but before she could suggest a new number—
Sakura moved.
Without a word, she turned and started jogging away, her pace picking up as she headed toward the track, and by the time she reached it, that jog had already transformed seamlessly into a run.
Everyone else just stared at the running figure.
"…Huh?" Rickey blinked, completely thrown off by the suddenness of it.
"…Sakura-senpai?" Speedy echoed, equally confused—
—and then, just as quickly—
"W-Wait for me, Sakura senpaiiiiiiiiiiiii—!!"
Speedy bolted after her. Her acceleration kicked in explosively, her voice trailing off into the distance as she rapidly closed the gap, leaving behind nothing but a faint echo and a small gust of wind in her wake.
Lunar watched the two of them go, her head turning slightly as her eyes followed their figures as they merged into the track's rhythm.
Then, she looked back at Via and Rickey. The pair of deskmates exchanged a long glance at each other before sighing together in resignation.
Via lifted a hand to brush her sky blue hair back slightly, tying it into her usual training ponytail look as her expression turned mellow, though the faint curve of her lips suggested she wasn't entirely against this.
"Well," she said lightly, her tone carrying that familiar teasing edge, "we are the ones who said we wanted to follow Lunar's training…"
Rickey groaned softly beside her, already knowing where this was going. "…so I guess we just have to thoroughly follow it till the end~"
"…I hate how right you sound," Rickey muttered, though she was already moving, her feet dragging just slightly as she began heading toward the track.
Via followed right after.
And just like that, they were gone too.
Lunar remained where she was for a brief moment longer, watching their backs grow smaller in the distance, a faint, apologetic look crossing her face. "…Uhm…" A small pause. "…Sorry…?"
There was no one left to hear it.
So instead, she exhaled softly and ran after them.
—
By the time the "warm-up" ended—or at least, what everyone else considered the end—the difference between someone who was used to it and those who weren't had become painfully obvious.
Rickey was sprawled flat on her back, one arm thrown over her eyes as her chest rose and fell in heavy, uneven breaths. "…I'm… dead…" she croaked weakly, her voice barely holding together.
Beside her, Speedy wasn't faring much better. She lay there as well, staring blankly up at the sky, her earlier boundless energy completely drained as she struggled to steady her breathing. "I… can't feel my legs…" she murmured, sounding both amazed and exhausted at the same time.
Sakura stood bent with her hands resting lightly on her thighs, her breathing still manageable but noticeably heavier than usual, while Via sat nearby, one hand on her chest as she exhaled slowly, her composure mostly intact—but only just.
Sakura's gaze drifted back toward the track, her eyes narrowing faintly as she followed the lone figure still moving. "…What lap is that…?" she asked quietly.
Via didn't even bother looking.
"…Thirty-four," she answered between breaths.
Sakura let out a long, slow exhale. "…You're joking."
"I wish I was."
Because out there, still running, was Lunar.
Her pace hadn't faltered in the slightest, and neither had her form. Each stride remained smooth and consistent, just as it had been from the very beginning, as if the thirty-plus laps she had already completed meant absolutely nothing to her.
If anything…
She looked completely in her element.
Sakura's eyes lingered on her, a quiet disbelief settling in as the gap between them became impossible to ignore. They had just finished twenty-five laps—and even that had pushed them to their limits.
Rickey had practically crawled through the final stretch, her form falling apart somewhere between lap twenty and twenty-five. Speedy's earlier explosiveness had burned out into pure survival mode, and even Via and Sakura themselves had shown clear signs of fatigue by the end.
And yet Lunar was still going strong.
"…She's born to run," Rickey muttered from the ground.
No one disagreed.
Eventually, Lunar slowed. Her fortieth lap came to a close as naturally as her first, her stride easing into a light jog before she came to a complete stop near the group, appearing much more relaxed after completing something that would have destroyed the others.
Four pairs of eyes turned toward her.
Rickey, still sprawled on the ground, lifted her arm just enough to peek at Lunar through half-lidded eyes, her voice barely holding together as she forced the words out between breaths. "…So… what's next…?"
Lunar looked over all of them properly this time, her gaze scanning just a little longer as she took in their conditions—the exhaustion in their expression, the heaviness in their breathing, the way their bodies practically radiated soreness.
A small laugh slipped from her. "…Well," she began lightly, touching her chin as she thought, "usually I'd go straight into short, rapid sprint drills by now…"
Her eyes drifted toward the middle of the field, where the cones she had set earlier marked out a clear starting and finishing line.
Then she looked back at them.
"…But…" She paused, taking them in once more before her expression softened just slightly. "…Considering how you guys look right now, I think it'd be better to do something a bit easier instead."
Rickey let out a long, relieved breath before completely surrendering to the ground again with a soft thump, her limbs going limp. "…Thank you…" she whispered weakly, as if she had just been spared something truly horrific.
Via, meanwhile, sat upwards slightly, though her expression still carried a hint of curiosity as she raised her arms and stretched them out. "…And what exactly is this 'something easier' you have in mind?" she asked.
Lunar turned her head towards her slightly. "…I'll be helping you guys fix your running form."
"Speedy," Lunar called gently, turning toward her.
"Yes, Lunar-senpai!"
Despite her earlier exhaustion, Speedy pushed herself back up again, her energy returning almost instantly as she hurried over, stopping right beside Lunar with an eager expression.
"Do you want me to run and show you?" she asked, already half-prepared to take off again.
Lunar shook her head. "It's okay," she replied softly. "You can take it easy. I already know what your form looks like, and what needs to be fixed."
Speedy blinked. "…Eh?" Her small ears twitched slightly in confusion. "But how do you know, Lunar-senpai?"
Lunar tilted her head again, as if the answer was obvious. "I've been watching all of you run during those twenty-five laps," she said simply. "Of course I'd notice what's wrong."
Via's thoughts spoke what everyone else was silently thinking. "She's saying that like it's completely normal…"
Lunar, completely unaware of the internal disbelief she was causing, turned back to Speedy. "Instead of running," she continued, "can you just show me your starting form?"
Speedy nodded immediately. "Okay!"
She stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Lunar. Her body lowered naturally into place, settling into a clean starting stance, her torso angled forward at about forty-five degrees, perfectly set to start a run.
Lunar observed her closely. "…Mm."
Then, gently, she pointed. "The form you have right now is perfect for an explosive start," she said, her tone calm and precise. "It really shows with how fast your launch is."
Speedy's ears perked slightly at that, her tail giving a small, pleased sway.
Lunar's expression shifted just a little. "…But what's wrong is that you use this same form for the entire run."
Speedy froze.
Lunar stepped slightly to the side, gesturing to Speedy's posture as she explained.
"Leaning like this for too long is incredibly exhausting," she said. "It puts too much strain on your leg muscles, your lower back… and even your neck and shoulders."
Speedy's eyes widened in revelation. "…W-wait…" Her hand moved to her neck. "…Now that you mention it… I do feel sore around here after running sometimes…" she admitted, her voice dawned with understanding. "I always wondered why…"
Lunar nodded. "Yeah. That's because you're forcing your body to maintain this starting form for far longer than it's meant to."
She paused for a moment, then continued.
"If you want to keep your speed without punishing your body, you need to adjust your form as you run," she explained. "After the first fifty meters or so, instead of leaning from your waist like this…"
She lightly demonstrated with her own body. "…you should shift the lean to come from your ankles instead."
Speedy leaned forward slightly, trying to mirror what Lunar had just shown her. "…From my ankles…?" she repeated, uncertainty slipping into her voice.
Lunar hummed in approval. "That way, you still get the forward momentum from gravity, but you're not relying entirely on muscle strength to hold yourself there," she continued. "It also helps keep your center of mass slightly ahead, so if you overstride, you reduce the braking force instead of fighting against it."
Speedy stayed in place for a moment, her brows slightly furrowed as she replayed Lunar's explanation in her head, her body making small, instinctive adjustments as she tested the idea without moving too far, shifting her weight, altering her lean just a little, trying to feel the difference rather than just understand it.
The others watched in silence.
Suddenly, she launched off.
Her start was just as explosive as before, her legs kicking off the ground with that same strong burst of acceleration that defined her running style, her body shooting forward with impressive speed.
For a moment, it looked no different.
But then—
Something changed.
Instead of holding that deep, aggressive forward lean, her posture gradually lifted, the angle softening into something more natural as she transitioned into her stride, her body adjusting in a way that felt…unfamiliar, yet right.
Her eyes widened mid-run. …Woah. The difference it made was crystal clear.
The strain she had grown used to—the tension in her neck, the tight pull in her shoulders, the subtle discomfort she had always pushed through without question, It wasn't there.
This feels much lighter…
She didn't have to force herself through it, and she didn't have to grit her teeth and endure it like she normally would. Instead, she felt like she could just run as fast as she wanted.
Speedy slowed to a stop, her momentum easing as she turned around, her expression lighting up almost instantly as realization fully set in. "It worked!!!" she shouted, practically bouncing where she stood as she threw both hands into the air. "Thank you, Lunar-senpai!!"
Lunar was stunned at the sudden burst of energy, then smiled, lifting her hand in a small thumbs-up, a faint hint of embarrassment slipping into her expression. "You're welcome…"
Speedy didn't stay in place for long.
With another burst of excitement, she took off again, sprinting back toward them with renewed enthusiasm, clearly eager to test it more, to feel it again, her earlier exhaustion seemingly forgotten in the face of this small but meaningful breakthrough.
Lunar watched her return, her gaze softening slightly, something fond and proud resting deeply in her chest as she followed the younger girl's movement.
She then turned back to the others. "…Sakura-chan, Rickey-chan," she called gently.
Sakura responded first, her lips curving into a sweet smile as she raised a hand casually. "Aye aye, Lunar-chan~"
Before Rickey could even move herself, Sakura reached down, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her up.
"W-wait—HEY—?!" Rickey yelped, her body jolting as she was unceremoniously dragged off the ground, her legs barely cooperating as she stumbled forward. "I just died and came back to life! Let me rest—!!"
"Nope," Sakura replied simply, completely unfazed as she continued pulling her along. "My onee-san always said, that you are never old enough to stop learning, and that goes for those who are dead."
Rickey made a noise of pure betrayal as she was hauled all the way over to Lunar, her expression somewhere between exhausted and offended. "…Why both of us at the same time…?" she complained weakly, still catching her breath.
Lunar tilted her head slightly. "Because you both have something the other needs," she answered.
That made them look at each other in confusion.
Lunar then gestured toward Rickey. "Rickey-chan," she began, "your biggest issue right now is your breathing."
Rickey pointed at herself . "…My breathing?"
Lunar nodded. "When we were running side by side, I could hear it clearly," she continued. "You were breathing too fast, and mostly through your mouth."
Rickey's expression turned serious as she listened to Lunar's explanation.
"That causes your stamina to drain faster, and it makes your heart rate spike more than it should," Lunar added, explaining it gently but precisely. "That's why you run out of energy so quickly and slow down near the end."
Lunar shifted her attention smoothly from Rickey to Sakura, her expression thoughtful yet gentle as she sorted through everything she had observed over the past laps, replaying each detail in her mind before putting it into words.
"And Sakura-chan…" she began, "your main issue is that your strides are a little too inconsistent. I noticed that they shift from short to long and then back to short again within just a few seconds, and that kind of fluctuation ends up disrupting your cadence, which in turn lowers your overall efficiency and slowly bleeds away your speed without you really noticing it."
Sakura stilled at that, her brows knitting together ever so slightly as she processed the explanation, clearly running through her own movements in her head to confirm it, before her gaze slid sideways—fully judgemental—as it landed directly on Rickey.
"…Then what does she do better than I do?" she asked flatly, her tone carrying just enough edge to make the intent painfully obvious.
"Hey—!" Rickey immediately shot back, offended at the blatant call-out, though she hadn't even had the chance to defend herself yet.
Lunar couldn't help the small chuckle that slipped past her lips at the exchange, the tension between them feeling oddly light despite the words being thrown around, and she raised a hand slightly as if to mediate before things spiraled.
"Well… Rickey-chan actually does something really well that you could learn from," she said, turning back toward Sakura while gesturing lightly in Rickey's direction. "As a front-runner, she naturally uses shorter strides, but more importantly, they're very consistent and rhythmic, which helps her maintain a stable speed throughout the race and hold her position in the lead without unnecessary energy loss."
Rickey's entire demeanor flipped in an instant.
The offense vanished like it had never been there, replaced by a proud, almost smug grin as she straightened up and puffed out her chest, shooting Sakura a look that practically screamed see? without needing to say a word.
Sakura responded exactly as expected—by rolling her eyes in clear annoyance, unimpressed by Rickey's sudden ego boost.
But Lunar wasn't finished. "…But," she added. "that advantage gets canceled out by your breathing, Rickey-chan."
Rickey's expression froze. "C-cancelled..?"
"When we were running side by side, I could hear you breathing really quickly, and mostly through your mouth," Lunar continued, her gaze soft but observant. "That kind of breathing makes your stamina drop faster and raises your heart rate more than necessary, which is probably why you struggle to maintain acceleration toward the end."
Rickey's proud expression cracked instantly. "…I see," she muttered, her shoulders slumping slightly as the realization hit.
"And Sakura-chan," Lunar continued, turning back to her with a small, encouraging smile, "your breathing is actually really good. You inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, and you naturally sync it with your steps, which helps you regulate your stamina much better."
This time, it was Sakura's turn.
Her posture straightened just a little, her expression shifting into something subtly proud, and she cast a smug, side-glancing look back at Rickey that mirrored the exact same energy Rickey had just thrown at her moments ago.
Rickey clicked her tongue in mild annoyance. "Tch…"
Lunar giggled softly at the back-and-forth before clapping her hands together lightly, drawing their attention back to her.
"So… why don't you two try running together?" she suggested. "Rickey-chan can focus on adjusting her breathing, and Sakura-chan can try matching Rickey's stride rhythm. If you both pay attention to what the other is doing well, it should help balance things out."
Rickey's face scrunched up at the suggestion. "Ehhh…?" she groaned, her entire body sagging in protest as she dragged out the sound dramatically. "I thought we were taking it easy, Lunar-chan~ I'm still tired…"
Before she could continue her complaint, however—her arm was suddenly grabbed.
Rickey flinched. "…Whaa?"
She turned her head slowly, only to be met with Sakura's expression—calm… and just a little too cold, paired with a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Let's go," Sakura said.
And without waiting for a response, she started running.
"W-WAIT—!" Rickey yelped as she was immediately dragged along, stumbling for a step before being forced into a run to keep up. "Okay, okay, I'll run! Just—release my arm first—it hurts!!"
But Sakura didn't let go, not until they entered the track at least.
And just like that, the two of them were off again, their figures quickly blending back into the rhythm of the track, Rickey's protests slowly fading into the distance.
Lunar watched them go, her smile softening into something amused and fond, clearly entertained by the unique dynamic between the two.
Beside her, a familiar burst of energy popped up.
"Lunar-senpai!" Speedy called out. "Can I go too? I want to try running more with the new form!"
Lunar turned toward her, nodding once before sending her off with an easy smile. "Of course, Speedy-chan. Go ahead."
"Yesss!" Speedy cheered, her fluffy tail swishing happily behind her before she spun on her heel and took off without another second of hesitation, accelerating smoothly as she chased after the other two.
With her disappearance, that left only Via and Lunar together on the sidelines.
Lunar watched the three of them disappear onto the track, her lips curling into a small, satisfied smile as Speedy quickly caught up to Sakura and Rickey, her newly adjusted form already looking smoother, the strain that once clung to her movements had been peeled away. It was like watching a puzzle piece finally fall into place after being forced the wrong way for far too long.
Via remained where she was, arms loosely propelled beside her as her gaze followed the others. She was… quiet. Not tense, not upset—just quiet in a way that is deliberate, as if she was thinking through something.
Lunar walked a little towards the sitting girl, glancing at her from the side. "…Via-chan?" she called gently.
Via hummed in response, eyes still fixed on the track. "Tell me Lunar, what's wrong with mine?"
Lunar paused for a brief second, her eyes scanning Via from head to toe. "…You're too careful," she said.
Via gave Lunar a questioning look. "…That's it?" she asked flatly.
"You run like you're constantly thinking five steps ahead," Lunar continued. "Every single one of your movements is extremely controlled. You don't waste it on anything, which is good—but…"
She hesitated slightly, searching for the right words. "…it feels like you're holding yourself back."
"…Holding back?" Via repeated, unsure of what to reply.
"Mhm," Lunar hummed. "It's like… you don't trust your body to keep up unless you're controlling everything it does," she explained, her hands moving slightly as if trying to shape the idea in the air. "So you think through every step, every breath, every change…"
She looked upwards. "But running isn't something you can fully control like that."
Via's maroon eyes drifted away again, back toward the track where Sakura and the others continued their laps, though this time, her focus didn't seem to be on them.
" But if I don't control it," she said after a moment, her voice quieter than usual, "then I'll make mistakes."
Lunar didn't interrupt.
"…And if I make mistakes, I'll fall behind," Via continued, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. "And if I fall behind…"
She stopped there, because she didn't need to finish it.
Lunar already understood after all.
So instead of countering it directly, she took a small step forward, closing the distance between them just slightly before bending down and raising her hand—
—and gently poking Via's forehead.
"Ah—" Via flinched, her eyes snapping back to Lunar in mild surprise. "What was that for?"
Lunar smiled. "…You're thinking too much,"
Via stared at her. "…That's rich, coming from someone who talks about 'listening to the ground,'" she mocked, though there was no real resistance behind it this time.
Lunar giggled at that, her hand falling back to her side. "Maybe," she admitted, tilting her head playfully. "But I'm serious, stop thinking that you'll fail or lose."
She glanced toward the track briefly before looking back at Via. "…You already know what to do," she said. "You've read it, studied it, practiced it… more than anyone else I've seen."
Her voice softened just a little. "But knowing and doing aren't the same thing, especially if you don't trust yourself."
Via's breath caught in her throat.
Lunar noticed—but she didn't point it out. Instead, she stepped back slightly and gestured toward the track, giving her space rather than pressure.
"Go run," she said lightly. "And this time… don't think about doing it perfectly."
Via frowned faintly. "…Then what am I supposed to do?"
Lunar's smile widened just a touch. "…Just run, run and believe that nothing can catch you."
Via remained where she stood for a moment longer, her hesitation still lingering in the slight tension of her shoulder, unsure whether to step forward or turn back. For a moment, it looked like she might choose the latter.
She exhaled softly. "…Fine," she murmured under her breath before taking a few steps toward the track.
Just as she was about to break into a run, she stopped, her movement halting mid-transition as something crossed her mind. Slowly, she turned her head and glanced back over her shoulder, her gaze landing on Lunar, who was still standing at the sidelines watching her.
"…You're not just going to stand there, right?" Via said, her tone carrying a faint challenge, though it was too soft to be called one. "You told me all that, so come on… run with me."
Lunar found herself appalled before she finally lit up.
"Okay!" she replied brightly, her voice carrying a natural eagerness as she pushed off the ground and made her way over to Via without a second thought.
There was no need for anything else after that.
Side by side, they stepped onto the track—
And then they ran.
At first, Via moved the way she always did. Her form was precise, her steps measured, her breathing controlled, every motion carefully calculated as she tried—tried—not to fall back into that familiar cycle of overthinking.
Don't think. Just run.
It sounded simple.
But for her, it wasn't.
The thoughts still hovered at the edges of her mind, whispering corrections, adjustments, warnings. They pressed in from all sides, urging her to fix, to refine, to perfect—but she pushed against them, forcing her focus forward even as the urge to analyze every movement clawed at her instincts.
Unconsciously, her gaze flicked sideways.
Lunar was right there beside her.
There was no stiffness in her shoulders, no error in her stride, no visible calculation behind her movements. Every step flowed into the next, her entire form carrying a kind of ease that didn't look forced or practiced—it just was.
Via found herself staring and studying. Breaking it down piece by piece in her mind, trying to understand it, to recreate it, to grasp it—
"Via-chan."
Her thoughts snapped.
Via blinked, her focus jolting back as she realized Lunar was looking at her now instead of straight ahead. "H-huh?" she responded instinctively, caught mid-analysis.
Lunar's face greets her. "The answer's not on me," she said gently, her voice steady even as her pace remained unchanged. "It's in front of you."
Via frowned slightly, confusion flickering across her face—but she followed the direction of Lunar's gaze anyway.
A sudden gust of wind rushed straight against her face, stronger than before, brushing past her ears, pushing against her body, threading through her hair in a way that felt… alive.
Her eyes widened.
She hadn't noticed it before.
Or maybe—
She just hadn't been paying attention.
"You feel the wind, right?" Lunar's voice came again.
"…Yeah," Via replied, quieter now, her focus shifting entirely to the sensation. "I do…"
"Then flow with it," Lunar continued, voice rising now. "You don't need to think about it… just feel it, and let your body respond."
Via hesitated—
But only for a moment.
Then, slowly…
She let go.
She stopped forcing every movement, stopped correcting every step before it even happened, stopped trying to stay one step ahead of herself—and instead, she allowed her body to move on its own, reacting naturally to the wind, the ground, and the rhythm forming beneath her feet.
And little by little—
Something changed.
The tension in her shoulders eased, her stride began to smooth out, and her breathing settled into a rhythm that felt far more natural than before. The constant noise in her mind, once filled with calculations and corrections, began to quiet, fading into the background until all that remained was the simple act of moving forward.
"That's it," Lunar said, her voice brightening as she noticed the shift.
Via didn't respond.
She couldn't.
Because for the first time—
She could feel it.
"Pick up the pace!" Lunar called out, her tone rising as she leaned forward and began to accelerate, her form lowering slightly as her speed increased.
Via followed without hesitation.
And then—
Her eyes widened again.
Woah…
She was faster.
I'm… fast?
The thought slipped through her mind, almost disbelieving, as she ran just behind Lunar, her steps carrying her forward with a momentum that didn't feel forced or dragged out of her.
It felt given.
As if the wind itself had taken her by the hand—
And was pulling her forward.
"…This is… amazing…" she breathed out, the words barely audible even to herself as a smile began to form without her realizing it.
Ahead of her, Lunar turned her head slightly, her voice ringing out over the wind with ringing excitement. "Can you feel it now?!"
"Yeah!" she shouted back, her voice clear. "I can feel it!"
Her smile widened. "It's incredible!"
They continued on from there.
The minutes slipped into hours as Lunar guided them through one drill after another. She had them working through muscle drills that isolated specific movements, correcting inefficiencies they hadn't even realized were there, followed by stretching sessions that forced out the tightness building in their legs and lower backs, and then into arm-swing mechanics where even the smallest motion of their upper body was adjusted and refined.
At some point, time simply stopped mattering. All that remained was the result of their effort.
So when it finally ended—It ended all at once.
Four figures collapsed in unison onto the grass beside the track, the impact soft but final as they sprawled out without a care for posture or dignity, the sky stretching wide above them as groans of pure exhaustion filled the air.
"Mommy… remember me… " Rickey wheezed, one arm thrown dramatically across her forehead as if she were on the brink of passing on.
"…Worth it…" Speedy muttered from beside her, though her voice was just as drained, her chest rising and falling heavily as she stared blankly upward.
Sakura didn't say anything at all, but the fact that she was lying flat on her back, completely unmoving, was more than enough proof of how far she had been pushed.
Even Via, who usually held herself together better than most, had surrendered to the ground, one arm draped over her eyes as she exhaled slowly, her breathing uneven but gradually calming.
Standing above them, Lunar looked down at the scene she had created. "…You all did really well," she said gently, her voice carrying a quiet sincerity as she clasped her hands behind her back. "I think we'll end it here for today."
"YESS—!" Rickey shot up halfway before flopping back down again, clearly lacking the strength to fully commit to the movement, though her excitement was infectious.
"Thank you, Lunar-senpai!" Speedy added, her voice still bright despite her exhaustion, her tail giving a weak but enthusiastic wag against the grass.
Lunar smiled at that. "…Do you still want to train with me again?" she asked.
Speedy pushed herself up just enough to nod firmly, her eyes shining despite the fatigue weighing her down. "Yes!" she answered immediately. "It's really exhausting, but… I can feel myself getting better, and I like that a lot!"
She beamed. "Lunar-senpai would make an amazing trainer!"
That caught Lunar off guard. "…Eh?" she let out softly, her hand rising to rub the back of her head in a slightly embarrassed manner as she let out a small, sheepish laugh. "I-I don't know about that…"
Right as she said that, a low sound broke through the moment.
Grrrlll…
Everyone froze.
Slowly, their gazes followed the sound—-
—and landed on Sakura, who looked completely and utterly stripped of composure.
Her face flushed in its entirety, the most vibrant shade of red dusting across her cheeks as she stiffened under the collective attention, clearly wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
"…I think that's our cue," Lunar spoke out, saving Sakura from the awkwardness of the moment. "Everyone must be hungry, right? It's the perfect time to go eat."
Rickey sprang back to life. "Food?!" she exclaimed, bolting upright in one swift motion, her earlier exhaustion seemingly forgotten as her eyes lit up with renewed energy. "Why didn't you say so earlier?! Let's go, let's go—!"
She took a step forward, and immediately wobbled.
"…Okay—maybe not that fast," she corrected, her legs visibly shaking beneath her as she struggled to keep herself upright.
The sight was enough to draw big laughter from the others as they watched her stubbornly try to move despite her clearly betrayed muscles.
One by one, they began to rise as well.
"…Ouch…" Speedy winced as she pushed herself up, stretching her legs with a small groan.
Sakura muttered under her breath, flexing her fingers slightly as if testing whether they still responded properly. "…My arms feel like they're not mine anymore…"
The adrenaline from their constant training had faded, leaving the soreness to truly set in.
"…Urgh…" Rickey groaned again, rolling her shoulders as she tried to walk it off, only to wince at the lingering strain.
As they slowly began making their way off the field, Lunar stayed a step behind the others, her eyes drifting thoughtfully from one of her friends to another as she quietly reflected on everything that had just happened.
…Maybe that was a bit too much, she admitted to herself, her lips pressing together in a small, sheepish line.
She made a mental note then and there to tone things down for the next session—make it lighter, more enjoyable, something that still helped them improve without pushing them all the way to the brink of collapse. After all, she wanted them to like training with her, not dread it.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her eyes landed on Via.
While the others were already up and moving, albeit slowly and with plenty of complaints, Via was still on the ground, propped up slightly but clearly struggling to get her legs to cooperate. There was a faint tension in her expression that hadn't been there before, and it was enough to make Lunar's concern spike instantly.
"Via-chan?" Lunar called softly as she approached, her steps quickening. "Are you okay?"
Via glanced up at her, offering a small, reassuring smile despite the situation. "Yeah… I'm fine," she replied, though her hand moved to rub at her leg. "…It's just… um… I think my legs cramped a little."
Lunar froze. "…They what?"
The next second, she was kneeling right in front of Via, her earlier calm replaced with visible alarm as her eyes widened. "Why didn't you say anything?!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with worry. "I'm so sorry, I must've pushed you too hard—you overexerted yourself…"
Via shook her head quickly, cutting her off. "No, no, it's not like that," she insisted, her tone still steady despite the slight strain. "Training is training. I'm the one who went overboard… I got a bit too excited with how much I was improving, so I probably overcommitted during some of the drills."
By now, the others had noticed and gathered around them. "Via-chan, are you okay?" Rickey asked, crouching down beside Via with a concerned look.
Via responded by lifting a hand and giving a small thumbs-up. "I'm fine, really," she reassured. "It doesn't hurt that much… I just… can't really feel or move my legs properly right now."
Rickey's expression immediately shifted from concern to scolding.
"…You're unbelievable," she huffed, crossing her arms as she shot Via an exasperated look. "You went way too hard back there, you know that? Especially when you've got a race tomorrow evening!"
Via winced slightly at that, her confidence faltering just a bit. "…Sorry…"
Lunar, however, was already focused on something else. "…Via-chan," she said gently, her tone softening as she looked up at her, "is it okay if I touch your legs for a bit?"
"Yeah… go ahead."
With careful movements, Lunar reached forward, helping remove Via's shoes before gently pulling her pants up just enough to expose her calf. Smooth, fair skin greeted her touch, the muscle beneath slightly tense especially in its current state.
"Where does it feel the tightest?" Lunar asked.
Via pointed. "Here… my calf."
"Okay…" Lunar murmured.
Then, without wasting any time, she began.
Her fingers pressed gently at first, feeling for the tension before applying more pressure, her thumbs working in slow, controlled motions as she traced upward along the muscle. She pressed into specific points—small, tight knots hidden beneath the surface—and began easing them out one by one with practiced precision.
"Ah—!" Via let out a small yelp, her body flinching slightly despite the numbness. "W-wait, that spot—!"
"Sorry, sorry…" Lunar said quickly, though her hands didn't stop, only adjusting slightly as she continued working through the tension.
The others watched in silence.
There was something oddly focused about the way Lunar moved, her expression completely attentive, every press and motion intentional, indicating that she knew exactly what she was doing.
A minute passed.
Then another.
And gradually—
Via's expression began to change.
"…Oh," she murmured softly, her brows lifting in surprise. "I… I can feel it again…"
She flexed her foot slightly, then again, testing it, before her calf followed suit, the stiffness easing as sensation returned.
"It's moving…" she added, a little bit amazed, rotating her ankle before pressing her foot lightly against the ground. "It feels so much better now."
Lunar let out a quiet breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, her shoulders relaxing slightly as relief washed over her. "…Okay," she said softly, offering a small smile as she sat back. "The cramp should be gone now."
Via looked at her, something unreadable flickering briefly in her eyes before it softened. "…Thanks, Lunar."
Lunar shook her head lightly. "It's okay… but later tonight, I'll give you a proper full-body massage," she added, her tone gentle but firm. "It'll help reduce the soreness more and make sure your muscles are fully relaxed."
"You have a race tomorrow, after all, so we need to make sure you're in the best condition possible."
Rickey puffed her cheeks slightly as she crossed her arms, glancing between Lunar and Via with a dramatic sigh. "Ehh… that's so unfair. Only Via gets a personal massage from Lunar?"
Lunar blinked at that before letting out a small, apologetic laugh, rubbing the back of her head as she looked at the others. "Ah—sorry… I'd love to help everyone, but… if I do it thoroughly, it'll probably take close to an hour just for Via alone. I want to make sure she's in the best state for tomorrow…"
Rickey paused, then hummed thoughtfully.
"Mmm… yeah, okay, that makes sense…" she said, waving a hand as if brushing it off. "I was just joking anyway—"
(She absolutely wasn't.)
Before the moment could pass, Sakura leaned in slightly from the side, her sweet and melodic voice dropping into a dangerous territory as it brushed against Lunar's ear. "…Next time, I want one too."
Lunar froze for half a second before her shoulders tensed, a faint shiver running down her spine as she instinctively covered her ear. "O-oh—okay… yeah, sure…"
Her voice came out just a little unsteady, which only made Sakura's lips curl ever so slightly.
Thankfully—
"I'm starving!!!" Speedy suddenly blurted out, clutching her stomach dramatically. "Let's go to the cafeteria already!"
"Yeah… food sounds good…" Rickey muttered, still half-dead on her feet.
Via carefully started pushing herself up "Okay, let's go—"
"Via-chan."
She paused.
Lunar had already turned around and crouched slightly, her back facing her. "…Hop on."
Via's eyes widened instantly. "W-what? No, I'm fine, I can walk—"
"It's part of the treatment," Lunar replied gently, glancing back over her shoulder. "You shouldn't strain your legs any more than necessary."
"…But—"
"Please?" There was a firmness in her voice this time that Via couldn't brush off.
Via hesitated… then let out a small sigh. "…You're really stubborn…"
She shifted carefully, leaning forward just enough to wrap her arms around Lunar's shoulders, and before she could second-guess herself, Lunar had already lifted her with ease, her forearms settling securely beneath Via's thighs
"See?" Lunar smiled, adjusting her hold slightly. "Much better."
Sakura stepped forward almost immediately, her brows knitting together as her gaze lingered on the two of them. "…I can carry her instead, you know."
Lunar shook her head lightly. "It's okay. I'm the least tired one here, so it's only natural."
"…Tch." Sakura clicked her tongue under her breath, clearly dissatisfied, though she didn't press the matter any further.
From behind, Via shifted slightly, her voice quieter now. "…I feel bad…"
"Hm?" Lunar tilted her head a little.
"…For making you do this…"
A soft laugh slipped from Lunar's lips, warm and easy. "If you really feel bad," she said, "then just rest properly tonight… and win tomorrow for me, okay?"
Lunar's words left Via speechless, before she finally gathered herself back as her grip tightened slightly, a determined expression broke through. "…Yeah. I will."
"OHHHH~" Rickey suddenly jumped in, her usual grin returning as she pointed at them. "Look at that! Doesn't this totally look like a princess carrying her handmaiden?"
"Wha—?!" Via's face flushed a deep red in an instant as she buried it against Lunar's shoulder. "Shut up!!"
Speedy snickered from the side, clearly enjoying the moment. "If Via's the handmaiden… then that makes you the jester, Rickey-senpai."
Rickey's eye twitched.
"…You little—"
She tried to step forward with force, ready to retaliate—but her legs betrayed her immediately, wobbling beneath her as she nearly collapsed on the spot.
"Ugh—! Just wait until my legs work again!!"
"Scary~" Speedy shot back with a grin, entirely unbothered.
As they continued walking, Lunar adjusted her hold slightly to keep Via comfortable, and after a moment, she glanced back over her shoulder at the girl on her back, noticing how unusually quiet Via had become.
"…Via-chan?"
"…Mm."
Lunar tilted her head slightly, a soft smile forming.
"I don't think you're a handmaiden, you know."
Via let out a small, awkward huff, her voice muffled slightly where she rested against Lunar.
"…Compared to you?" she muttered. "It's… kind of accurate…"
Lunar laughed quietly at that, shaking her head.
"No, no… then let's change it."
"Hm…?"
Lunar looked ahead for a moment, as if genuinely considering it, before her expression brightened just a little. "Let's say you're a princess instead… and I'll be the knight in shining armor carrying you to safety."
The words didn't seem to register at first.
Then they did.
All at once.
Via's face burned a deeper shade of red, the heat rushing straight to her ears as she stiffened slightly in Lunar's arms, completely caught off guard by the image. "…U-urhm…"
She tried to look away, but there was nowhere to go—especially not from this close. "…O-okay…" she mumbled, doing her best to keep her voice from breaking. "…sure, sir knight."
Lunar's smile softened, her voice warm and light as she answered like a true knight responding to her princess.
"…At your command, princess."