The rhythmic thud of footsteps echoed on the sloping path.
A girl with short brown hair and white highlights was steadily making her way up the hill.
Reaching the straight section at the top, she paused, panting heavily, and clicked the stopwatch in her hand, jotting down the time on her notepad.
After taking a sip of water to catch her breath, her eyes filled with determination as she trotted back down to start yet another ascent—who knows how many times she'd done this already.
It didn't quite look like a standard training session, since each time she climbed, her posture shifted slightly.
After several more trial runs, the girl sat on a bench, wiping her sweat with a towel while quickly sketching what she'd just practiced.
"What are you doing?"
From beside the slope, a girl with a single ponytail, wearing black sunglasses and a sunhat, a book in her hands, couldn't hold back her curiosity.
"Eek!" Startled, she fumbled and sent her pen flying. Only after spotting the figure lounging in the grass did she relax, patting her chest in relief.
Retrieving her pen, she turned to the girl who seemed to be in deliberate disguise.
"Sorry, did I disturb you?"
"It's fine by me. Reading here was getting boring anyway. Guess a change of scenery doesn't help when the material just won't sink in."
The girl lying in the grass replied casually.
"But Belno Light, what are you up to? You've been running back and forth nonstop. Do training assistants need to train too?"
"I'm testing something…" she began, but then her ears twitched.
"Huh? You just said my name. Have we met before?"
"Ah…" The dark-haired girl seemed to realize she'd slipped up and averted her gaze.
Squinting, Belno Light studied the girl before her. Gradually, the silhouette and hair color overlapped with the person who'd guided her at the station that one time.
"Cafe-san," she realized aloud.
The other girl flinched slightly.
"Long time no see. We haven't really met since that day at the station, right?"
Sitting down beside her, Belno Light hugged her clipboard close. "I've seen you a few times on the training grounds, but it's always been in a rush, so I didn't want to bother you."
"O-oh, that's alright. You all can focus on your work."
The dark-haired girl's voice came out a bit stiff.
"So then, what were you doing just now?"
"Just now…"
Belno Light fell silent.
She wasn't sure if she should share this.
Though they knew each other, they weren't exactly close enough to share everything—more like acquaintances, really.
"I noticed you kept changing your posture each time you ran the slope. Were you testing something?"
The dark-haired girl asked.
She'd been noticed!
Belno Light's heart skipped a beat.
She'd been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't realized someone was lying right by the slope.
And why are you lying around outside during class hours, anyway!
Plus, if you're paying that much attention to my movements while reading, are you even focusing on your book?
Sighing inwardly, Belno Light let out a soft breath.
Since she'd been found out, there was no point hiding it anymore.
She decided to come clean. "That's right. I'm testing climbing techniques."
"Climbing techniques?"
The dark-haired girl's ears perked up.
"There's technique to that? Isn't it just about powering through?"
"For most Uma Musume, yes, but that's not entirely correct."
Belno Light explained, "Actually, whether it's running or climbing slopes, there are specific techniques—like controlling your breathing or adjusting your stride and rhythm."
"Some Uma Musume are suited to long, powerful strides, while others do better with shorter, quicker steps. Different running styles affect stamina differently too."
"Oh… As expected of a training assistant. You really know your stuff."
The dark-haired girl couldn't help but praise her.
"Ahem, this is all just stuff I picked up from Trainer Musaka. I only know a little—far from being an expert."
She coughed lightly, her ears wiggling happily.
"It's the same with slope climbing. The way you swing your arms, the length and speed of your steps—they all affect your pace."
"And different racecourses have slopes of different lengths and gradients. Take the 'Tosen Slope' and 'Yodo Slope,' for example—just a few meters' difference in elevation, and the feel is completely distinct."
As if hitting her stride, Belno Light went on enthusiastically.
"What I want to do is find the best slope-climbing method for Oguri Cap—striking a balance between speed and stamina consumption."
"So you're aiming for the fastest speed while conserving as much energy as possible. Is that it?"
"Yeah, pretty much…"
Belno Light hesitated. Had she said too much to someone who could become Oguri Cap's rival?
If others found out, all her hard work could go to waste!
She hadn't seen anyone else deliberately practicing climbing posture like this.
"But is that really okay? Finding the right method requires a lot of trial runs, right? You've only had a few sips of water in over half an hour."
The dark-haired girl pointed out.
"It's fine! I'm still an Uma Musume, after all. I can handle this much."
Even as she said this, Belno Light's legs trembled unmistakably.
Her main role was to assist the trainer, so she didn't train as intensively as the competitors.
In terms of stamina and endurance, as an Uma Musume, she fell short compared to the racers.
Still, Belno Light stubbornly held her ground.
"I see…"
The dark-haired girl set her book aside and stretched.
"I'll do a few slope runs myself. Keep an eye on me, will you?"
"Huh? Wait a second…"
"Time me for it."
With that, the girl walked to the bottom of the slope and got into a starting stance.
Seeing her like this, Belno Light had no choice but to ready her stopwatch.
The girl placed one foot on the slope, lowered her posture, and began swinging her arms in a controlled rhythm.
Watching her movements, Belno Light froze for a second.
Wasn't that the exact posture she'd been using earlier?
In just over ten seconds, the girl had reached the top.
Dazedly, Belno Light clicked the stopwatch.
Fourteen point three two seconds.
Incredible…
What was incredible wasn't her speed, but how she'd replicated Belno Light's posture almost perfectly during the climb.
Not only that, but after reaching the top, the girl wasn't even winded—as if she'd just done a light warm-up.
"The more exhausted you are, the less accurate your timings become. Belno Light, if you keep this up, your data will get less and less reliable."
The dark-haired girl spoke up.
"If you don't mind, let me be your assistant. I'll help you refine your technique step by step. It'll be much more efficient. What do you say?"
It was true—having her help would speed things up significantly.
Plus, those precise movements could bring Belno Light's ideas to life perfectly.
Looking down at her notepad, which held only a dozen or so data points after all this time, Belno Light thought it over.
Well, the cat's out of the bag anyway. Even if she kept training, the other girl would see everything. Hiding it was pointless.
Might as well accept her help—it'd save time and improve efficiency.
Finally, Belno Light nodded firmly.
"Alright then, I'll take you up on that. Cafe-san, please assist me in testing climbing methods!"
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T/N: Sunday Serenity really be Mahoraga atp...
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 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.