Jogging 35 kilometers was no easy thing; a feat comparable to running a marathon. Of course it was far easier for an umamusume to do with their mystical biology, but most would still need to take breaks in the betweens.
As for me?
I was the exact same. My stamina might be my strongest point, but it wasn't infinite. I had to take a few stops here and there to catch my breath.
Thankfully, Dolphin's request wasn't a race, and I could technically take as long as I wanted to complete it. Every time I needed a rest, we'd pull over to the sidewalk and just watch as the rising sun continued to paint its light across the sky. We'd talk for a while, about things both mundane and strange, and then we'd be off again once I felt ready.
And so it was inevitable that I'd eventually finish my newest Mission.
[Mission Complete!]
[Rewards: {Standard Distance ○}, 160 SP]
I felt a small jolt of lightning spark in my chest just as I received my new Skill, and I hummed as I rubbed my chin. {Standard Distance ○} wasn't too impressive of a Skill, but it'd be a nice boost to my Stamina whenever the race I ran happened to be multiples of 400 meters.
"Blossom Star?"
Dolphin's call snapped me out of my thoughts. "Yeah?"
She smiled. "I presume this shall be where we end this little outing then?" She gazed at the ocean, and the sun that now hung low in the sky. "The new day has truly begun, after all."
I nodded slowly. "We probably should." After all, it wasn't as if I'd informed anyone about my run. They'd definitely begin panicking if I didn't start heading back by now.
Dolphin smiled. "Then let us."
I nodded, and after taking a big gulp of air, we returned to the road, jogging along the space specifically designated for umamusume. We didn't really need to follow it—there were hardly any cars around at this time, but better safe than sorry.
Before long, the motel I'd been staying at slowly came into view, and soon we stopped just next to the bench where we first met.
"Well, here we are." I said, turning to her with a smile. "Anything else you want me to ask before you return to the ether?"
Dolphin giggled. "No, no. You have long satisfied my curiosity, Blossom Star." Her expression became somewhat complicated for a moment. "Rather, I have a warning-, nay, a consideration so to say?"
I blinked. "Oh yeah?"
She nodded. "In your journey, you shall encounter many different umamusume, each blessed and burdened with a story of their own." She gently clenched her fist. "It would be a delusion to believe that you could aid every umamusume you would come across, but-"
I held a hand up to stop her. "I get it."
And I did. After the time I'd spent with her, I now understood that Dolphin loved umamusume. Loved us the same way a parent would their child. She was glad of how far umamusume racing has come, but she was a kindred spirit in regards to the dangers that the sport entails.
It would be a herculean effort to try and help everyone I met in the future. An impossibility even, considering many wouldn't dare to change their ways if it meant forgoing the glory they'd built up.
"But I'll try my best." I promised her, grinning slightly.
I was going to be a Hero, after all.
Dolphin smiled gently. "That is all I need to hear." The wind blew gently then, and her hair sparkled like the ocean's glimmer as the morning sunlight fell from the skies. "Then this is farewell for now, Blossom Star."
The wind suddenly picked up, and I had to shield my eyes. But when I next lowered my hand, Dolphin was long gone, as if she'd never been there in the first place.
I stared at the spot she'd been standing on just moments ago, before I sighed. Leave it up to me to have a supernatural encounter not even a week into the summer camp. Then again, I guess it wasn't that surprising. This world was no stranger to the mystical, after all.
Anyway,
With my morning jog out of the way, I returned back to my motel to have some breakfast. Hopefully Oguri hadn't already woken up and cleaned the entire cafeteria.
.
.
.
In the days that followed, Team Kitahara would fully delve into training. From early morning all the way until late evening, the three trainees of one Kitahara Jo would busy themselves with training, using the unique environment of the summer camp to their advantage.
It wasn't rare for any passerbys to see Oguri Cap, Blossom Star, and Belno Light running across the sands for hours on end, or performing some sort of exercise that was made much harder due to the sandy surface. The duration and intensity of their training would leave many worried about their health, but with Kitahara and Musaka constantly looking out for them, that wouldn't be much of an issue.
It wasn't just about running along the ocean's shore however. The summer camp also offered the nearby forest as another unique environment to make use of, and Musaka Ginjirou was more than happy to make use of it.
If Team Kitahara wasn't training on the beach, then they'd definitely be deep into the forest trail. Kitahara's three trainees would run up and down the forested mountain, needing to keep their attention on their surroundings to make sure they didn't trip as they ran. Of course, Kitahara was always there to make sure nothing happened and followed them as best as he could, though he would always be left panting like a dog by the time their training ended.
Regardless, their training would always end once night fell, and the three were free to do whatever they wanted for the rest of the night.
Oguri being Oguri, her favorite way to spend the rest of the night was to feast on anything in her peripheral vision. Whether that meant emptying the cafeteria of her motel or going to the nearby town to burn a hole through Kitahara's wallet, she would always end the day feeling full.
Belno usually spent her night in her own room, using records of previous G1 races both to study and come up with new tactics she could perhaps use in a future race. Though it wasn't rare for her to join Oguri and Kitahara whenever they went out to visit the nearby town for some food.
As for Star, she'd often be found relaxing somewhere. Whether that be chilling on a lounge chair down at the beach, or sitting at the bench in front of her motel with a cup of warm tea. Since Star had never bothered to hide, it didn't take long before many admirers learnt of her usual habits, and some began stalki-, admiring her whenever she spent her time relaxing.
Or at least that was how it was for the first few days.
As many would soon find out, Blossom Star's hearing was quite sharp, and she'd always seemingly known whenever someone was watching her. But instead of simply calling them out, Star would always invite them to sit with her, and those that joined her would find themselves chatting with her for quite a while.
With her openness, combined with her generally welcoming attitude—it didn't take long before 'Counseling with Blossom Star' became a somewhat common thing amongst the umamusume of Tracen Central.
And on one night,
"Star."
I blinked, and turned to see Yaeno Muteki approaching me, dressed in a comfortable sweater to protect her from the cold. "Yo." I waved at her. "Been a while since I last saw you." I smiled slightly. "How've you been?"
She smiled back. "This camp has been more than productive."
"That's good." I said, gesturing at the empty lounge chair just to my left. She nodded as she sat down, taking a small breath as she relaxed. "So, what's up? Got anything you need counseling on?"
She huffed. "So you do know."
I smirked. "Hey, it ain't me. It was just a little awkward that people kept watching me."
"I see." Muteki hummed, utterly unashamed at the fact that she was one of those umamusume who'd stal-, watched Star whenever she was out during the night. "May I make a request?"
"Hmm? Yeah, of course!"
Muteki nodded, and without saying anything else, she handed over a carefully sealed letter. I blinked as I took the letter, and blinked again when Muteki stood up. "Wait, you're going already?"
Muteki smiled subtly. "That is all I have to say." And saying that she bowed and left.
"...huh." I muttered, before I slowly opened the letter. I had a feeling I knew where this was going—I'd seen Muteki do something similar in the manga after all.
And lo and behold,
I challenge you for the third Jewel, Blossom Star.
My lips curled into a smile at the challenge, and my eyes burnt a bright blue as I chuckled. "How bold." I said, though my smile made it clear that I didn't dislike it in the slightest.
I grinned widely as I gazed at the ocean's waves.
"I'll be waiting for it."