Squeak, squeak, squeak...
The sound of a black marker rubbing against the whiteboard echoed continuously throughout the clubroom.
Ryo Nishizaki watched the rows of text Starlight was writing.
He went from nodding in agreement at the beginning to a state of numb sympathy by the end.
"Alright, that's all. It's actually not much, everyone just needs to pay attention to the timing."
"As for the training details, Inami-chan has already printed out the schedules. Don't forget to take one each after we finish training this afternoon."
As Starlight finished her sentence, Special Week's hand trembled as she slowly raised it.
"Um, Starlight-chan... what if... what if I can't wake up on time?"
"Good question. I will go to your room and wake you up personally... Of course, none of you would lock me out, right?"
Starlight narrowed her eyes and answered Special Week's question with a smile.
Though her tone was as gentle as usual, several Uma Musume could still sense a bone-chilling coldness emanating from her.
Their intuition told them that they absolutely did not want Starlight to wake them up personally, otherwise, things would go very wrong.
"Alright, that's settled. Let's start this afternoon then~"
Clapping her hands together, Starlight seemed to be in a very good mood.
After all, the last time she had trained with so many cute Uma Musume was back last year.
On the dedicated Uma Musume path outside the school, Starlight led the members of Team Spica through a very thorough warm-up session.
This warm-up was a refined version she had created by combining the routines of Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, and her own usual methods. It could be said to be exceptionally effective.
"Now, let's begin..."
As soon as she spoke, Starlight took the lead and dashed forward.
"So... So fast! Wait, is this supposed to be a warm-up?!"
While Daiwa Scarlet was still in shock, Special Week, who had seen this before, had already reacted and chased after her.
"Hehe, don't tell me you're scared?"
After mocking Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka kicked off and followed suit.
"Hey! Who are you talking to? Stop right there! Just watch how I overtake you!"
Behind them followed Tokai Teio and Silence Suzuka, who both shook their heads helplessly.
Gold Ship trailed at the very back— partly because it was easier to slack off there, and partly so she could slip away the moment she didn't want to run anymore.
'It really is fast... does this even count as a warm-up? I'll probably be out of energy by the time we're done...'
Thinking this, Special Week slowly shifted her gaze from Starlight's back down toward her running gait.
Then, she looked at her own.
'It's completely different. Starlight has already taken four steps while I've only taken three, and even the breathing technique is different.'
Using her exquisite learning ability, Special Week quickly synchronized her pace with Starlight's.
To her surprise, she discovered that her entire body felt lighter. Athough it was still exhausting, it was noticeably less agonizing than before.
Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet grit their teeth and persevered as they watched the figures ahead pull further away.
Suddenly, a light and swift figure streaked through the middle.
Using her unique stride, Silence Suzuka rapidly caught up to the space behind Starlight and Special Week.
Although her gait differed from theirs, Suzuka clearly had no trouble keeping up using her own specialized method.
Next to catch up was Tokai Teio.
'Oh, Starlight-senpai's warm-up is different from before! Okay, I have to keep up too!'
Having shared a dormitory with Starlight last year during Summer, Teio had naturally spent those two months training alongside her.
Consequently, she was much better adapted to Starlight's training rhythm.
Ryo Nishizaki sat in the passenger seat of Kiryuu Inami's car as the two trainers followed slowly behind the girls.
"How impressive, Inami-chan, Starlight really lives up to her title as the strongest current middle-distance runner."
"I say, Senpai, when are you going to get your driver's license? Hitching a ride every day is really unseemly."
"Inami-chan, don't be like that. I'll go learn as soon as I have the money to buy a car..."
"Special Week is surprisingly resilient, isn't she? You've really found yourself a good Uma Musume, Senpai."
"Yeah, she's got good talent and potential, and she works hard enough. She's just lacking that little bit of confidence..."
Leaning back in his chair, Ryo Nishizaki grinned as he offered his own praise.
"What are your plans next? There's still a long time before the Derby starts..."
"Well, I've carefully studied the race footage of the Satsuki Sho. There were many factors in that loss, but it boils down to three points."
"First is her weight gain and insufficient physical fitness. That's easy to solve— training with her teammates first and then following up with Starlight should compensate for it."
"Second is her own aura and skills. This is the biggest issue and one she has to overcome herself."
"Finally, there's that uphill stretch at the end of the race... I've already thought of a solution for that."
"As expected of a senior, I'm already starting to look forward to the Derby."
At the school gate.
After the warm-up ended, Starlight looked at the panting Uma Musume and clapped her hands.
"Alright, alright, let's start the formal training. It won't be too exhausting after this, so everyone hang in there."
After speaking, she took the lead by pulling Gold Ship, who was standing nearby, to get started.
As for why Gold Ship was standing there not looking tired at all... well, only she knows the answer to that.
The routine was actually quite simple: Ten sets of 100-meter frog jumps followed by a 100-meter sprint, then a 1-kilometer jog to complete one set.
They just needed to do three of these sets.
And so, Gold Ship, who originally intended to slack off, was forced to begin under the "supervision" of Starlight.
"Starlight-chan... huff, puff... can we rest for a bit? Huff, puff... I can't go on!" Looking utterly soul-crushed, Gold Ship wailed to Starlight, who was also covered in sweat beside her.
"Keep going! Golshi, you can do it. I'm pushing through too. We'll rest as soon as this set is over."
"Can we go eat some Takoyaki first?"
"No way, only after we're finished."
"Starlight-chan, they're selling ice cream over there!"
"We'll go buy some as soon as we're done!"
Starlight was patient, encouraging her over and over again.
Although the training intensity looked high, Starlight had practiced it herself.
Even when completing it under Level 2 Gravity, she only experienced muscle soreness the next day.
After all, her supply of recovery potions and healing medicine was running low, she couldn't afford to train to the point of collapse anymore, or she'd truly break her body.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... That's brutal. Is it going to be the same training tomorrow?"
"If they really keep this up, won't something go wrong?" Ryo Nishizaki asked worriedly, looking at Kiryuu Inami, who was busy taking notes nearby.
"How could it be like this every day? Tomorrow should be relaxation training."
"That's a relief then..."
Slowly, the sun began to set, the crimson afterglow shining upon the Uma Musume lying scattered across the ground, gasping for air.
"Finally... it's finally over. That was too hard—" Gold Ship muttered, resting her arm over her forehead.
"How about... it? You, you're already done for, right, Vodka? Still think you can take me?"
"Are you kidding? I'm clearly the one who finished that last 10-kilometer set before you!"
Also breathing heavily, Starlight wiped the sweat from her face.
Seeing the state everyone was in, she said with a smile: "Everyone, get some rest quickly. We still have a set of stretching exercises tonight, mainly to relax the muscles!"
"Huh? There's more?! Spare me, Starlight-senpai..."
"Don't lose heart, Special Week! Stick with it. If you follow my training, you can have an extra serving of cake every day~"
"Re-Really!?"
"Of course. When we're done tonight, I'll personally go grab it for you."
"Yay!"
The next morning, perhaps because yesterday's training was too exhausting, even Silence Suzuka nearly failed to get out of bed.
She glanced at the alarm clock next to her, breathed a sigh of relief, and slowly stood up.