"This is bad. Oguri Cap's head is about to explode."
He muttered the words under his breath.
"In a moment, when Eiyuu is crying her eyes out, don't just stand there gawking. You'll be in charge of comforting her." The corner of his mouth twitched, a rare hint of a smile.
Night fell.
In the training room, under the harsh lights, a lone figure was running on a treadmill. His tablet was open, and on the screen, a red arrow pointed at a fresh set of data points.
The second day.
Sakikawa leaned against the railing, his eyes emotionless, his usual deadpan expression fixed in place. His gaze was locked on the living machine running on the treadmill—Yorozuya Eiyuu.
"Faster," he said, his voice cold. "Control your heart rate. Can you not even walk, you little brat?"
He leaned over and injected a "stress agent" into her arm. The needle pierced her skin, and Eiyuu's stamina, which had been on the verge of collapse, was instantly replenished. She was now a perpetual motion machine, running on a combination of willpower and chemical fuel.
"Yes!" her voice was a clear, ringing bell.
The next second, the silver-haired figure on the treadmill stumbled and fell. The special running belt did not have an emergency stop, and the machine continued to churn, its motor whining.
"Is that it?" Sakikawa's brow furrowed. He sneered. "Faster, faster! Are you eating rice? No, you're eating medicine. Your consumption is too high!"
"Yes!"
Eiyuu gritted her teeth, her leg muscles bulging as she forced herself to stand, her feet barely touching the ground before they were moving again.
Screech—! A piercing sound echoed through the room. The treadmill's overload protection finally kicked in, and the machine ground to a halt with a cloud of smoke. Eiyuu collapsed, her body a crumpled heap on the floor.
The surrounding trainers stared at the scene, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. Sakikawa just kicked the smoking treadmill, then walked over to the puddle of a girl on the floor, a thunderous expression on his face.
"The treadmill is broken again," he growled. "Yes, trainer, I'll pay for it..."
Sakikawa's expression was grim. "Don't think I'm joking. The training fees for this month will be deducted from your next race earnings. And next month, you'd better not think about seeing a single leaf from my carrot patch!"
He grabbed her by the collar and hauled her to her feet, his voice a low growl. "Get up. Go to the weight training area! I want to see just how far this body of yours can go!"
Half an hour later.
Creaaak— The sound of groaning metal filled the air. Yorozuya Eiyuu was holding a U-shaped steel bar, her expression a mask of pain and terror.
But... she was just warming up.
Sakikawa stood beside her, his arms crossed, the sun casting a long shadow behind him. The steel plates on the machine had been warped into a twisted mess from her raw, uncontrolled power. The entire weight area was a scrap heap, a testament to Eiyuu's monstrous strength.
"I'm breaking..." she gasped, her voice weak.
He didn't even glance at her. "Today, you can rest. But tomorrow, you will see something even more interesting."
The next day, the training continued.
Eiyuu ran like a wild beast, a hurricane of motion. She sat in the rest area, panting heavily, the muscles in her body trembling slightly. The combination of strength and stamina training was taking its toll. It felt good to push her body to its limits, but she was also a little scared. Her trainer's methods... she was starting to think he really might be a monster.
She was just starting to collect herself when Sakikawa stopped in front of her.
"Just this much? Pitiful." His shadow fell over her.
Eiyuu stiffened, her body tensing. She lowered her head, her bangs hiding her eyes.
"Your control over your own power is so poor. You're like a wild horse from the countryside, stronger than a dragon but dumber than a pig. The money for the repairs will be deducted from your earnings."
He grumbled under his breath, then thrust a bottle into her hands. It was the familiar, ice-cold "neurotrophic supplement."
She looked up at him, her eyes red.
He had already turned his back to her, looking out at the setting sun, a lonely and imposing figure.
His voice was still as harsh as ever, but his actions... were not.
Yorozuya Eiyuu held the cold bottle, her heart a confusing mix of grievance and a strange, subtle warmth. She looked at her trainer's back, at his hands stuffed in his pockets in that familiar, lazy posture. His shoulders were slumped, but his back was straight. He was always like this. His words were always the harshest, but his actions always showed that he cared about her.
She was starting to get a headache.
Just as she was lost in thought, Sakikawa turned around. He walked over and casually took a dry towel, his movements rough as he began to scrub at her face.
"Your sweat is dripping like rain. It's disgusting. Stay away from me." His brow was furrowed, his expression one of pure annoyance.
But his touch was gentle. The rough towel felt surprisingly soft against her skin.
Eiyuu was completely stunned. She could smell the faint scent of smoke on him, and she could feel the gentle friction of his fingertips through the towel.
Thump— Her heart hammered against her ribs, her face turning a deep shade of red.
"I... I can do it myself..." she stammered, reaching for the towel.
Sakikawa's hand paused for a second. The atmosphere in the room was suddenly tense. He snatched his hand back as if he'd been electrocuted, tossed the towel at her head, and quickly turned away, taking two large steps back.
"Tsk, annoying." He pulled his tablet from his pocket, his head bowed as he tapped at the screen, a futile attempt to hide his own discomfort.
"You still have the face to drink my bubble tea?"
Eiyuu held the towel over her face, her whole body feeling like it was on fire. She couldn't bring herself to look up and see his expression.
Just then, in a small corner of the training grounds, three uninvited guests swaggered in.
The one in the lead was a red-haired horse girl with a single ponytail. Her school uniform was adorned with a frilly cravat, and her skirt was daringly short. She had a sophisticated air about her, and she was chewing on a piece of bubble gum, a bored expression on her face. Her name was Vincennes Eishin Flash.
Behind her was a small, petite girl with fluffy, light brown hair. Her name was Mejiro McQueen.
The third was a tall girl with long, golden hair and a cool, aloof expression. Her name was Gold Ship.
The arrival of the trio instantly shattered the simple, peaceful atmosphere of the training grounds. It was as if a scene from a high-fashion magazine had been dropped into a rustic countryside painting.
"Hey, did you hear?" Eishin Flash said, blowing a large pink bubble. She casually pointed a perfectly manicured finger. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear. "I heard they threw ten horse girls into the ring. Is this true? That's too much."
McQueen just smiled, her eyes scanning the room with a challenging gaze.
Gold Ship didn't say a word, but her sharp, analytical eyes swept over every horse girl in the room, from head to toe, her gaze finally landing on the silver-haired girl who was still holding a towel over her face, her blood-red ears peeking out from under it.
"Found you," she whispered, a cold smile touching her lips. "So... that's the newcomer, huh?"
-------
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