My eyes snapped open.
I stared emptily at the ceiling for a good few minutes. Whatever dream I had during my sleep was pretty much forgotten by now, but the sheer feeling of…discomfort was hard to shake off. I didn't really know what I'd seen, but it was probably something that would scar me for life if I could actually remember it.
Well, it didn't matter. I couldn't really remember it anyway.
I turned to the side, and squinted slightly as I saw the sunlight peeking through the window blinds. "It's morning already…?" I whispered, slightly exasperated at the fact that I'd woken up late again. Which didn't really say much, considering I'd been waking up late for almost a month by this point.
But it wasn't my fault, y'know? America was much warmer compared to Japan, so most of my training was done later during the day. My sleep schedule had essentially shifted forward by a few hours. "Do as the Americans do." Or whatever it was that Kitahara liked saying these days.
I gently sat up from the bed, careful not to wake the still-sleeping Oguri who'd slept in the same bed I was in. I stared in slight regret as I pulled myself away from the heavenly mattress I'd been granted, but I pushed away the temptation and stealthily made my way out of the bedroom.
The 'living room' I came out into was massive, even compared to Tracen Central Academy. The whole place was easily bigger than an entire racetrack, and that wasn't even considering the outdoor villa and the front gardens. The walls were masterfully lined with wood, and the whole place looked more like some noble's mansion.
Which wouldn't be wrong really. Because this was a mansion. Specifically Secretariat's mansion in southern Virginia. We didn't really have a place to stay when we first came here, and since I was technically already Secretariat's apprentice, she straight up lent this mansion for us to stay in.
And look, staying in a mansion's cool and all, but-
「Good morning, Lady Blossom.」
My expression turned a little awkward as a pair of maids approached me, their words spoken in perfect unison. Both of them held themselves with utter professionalism, and they held not a shred of discomfort despite the fact that I was both a foreigner and decades younger than them.
I could understand the reason why; Secretariat was America's golden girl, and I was her chosen Apprentice. My foreign origins, my age—none of that mattered compared to that. I had Secretariat's protection, and by proxy, the protection of the rest of the country. No one was willing to even try.
The sheer devotion still made me uncomfortable, though. I didn't know how others could get used to this.
I fixed my usual playful smile onto my lips as I waved back. 「Mornin', you two.」 I said.「Sorry for wakin' up late again.」
One of the maids shook her head.「There is no issue, Lady Blossom.」
「Do you fancy a breakfast to begin your day?」The other maid offered.
I nodded.「That'd be swell, thanks.」I said, before I paused.「Ah, but maybe lighten up on the bacon a lil' bit? I'm not that good with all that fat.」
They both bowed.「As you command, Lady Blossom.」And saying that, the two maids soon excused themselves as they headed off, likely to begin preparing my breakfast. I watched them go for a few seconds before I shook my head, sighing slightly as I rubbed my arm.
Honestly, I knew it was just me being me. Everyone else had pretty much adapted to the new environment, even if they couldn't speak fluent English like I could.
…forget it.
After shaking my head, I decided to go on a morning jog around the gardens to clear my thoughts. I passed by a few more maids as I made my way out, and I made continuous use of the carefree smile I'd cultivated over my entire career. My cheeks did feel quite strained by the time I reached the gardens, but I didn't mind.
Just like the mansion, the gardens were similarly extravagant. There were easily over a dozen different plant species being cultivated, each having grown beautifully as the Spring months slowly arrived. Though I'd probably appreciate it a little more if I knew more about botany.
I did a few quick stretches and began my jog right after.
Thankfully, I was already dressed in a tracksuit. Or rather, I forgot to change into my nightclothes yesterday, having completely exhausted myself after training for hours under Secretariat's intense regime. Though I didn't feel too bad about it, considering Oguri had also gone to sleep in her tracksuit, having similarly suffered like I did.
Though all the suffering I went through was worth it, I'd say.
[Name: Blossom Star
Track Affinity: [Dirt: A] | [Turf: A]
Running Affinity: [End: G] | [Late: G] | [Pace: C] | [Front: A]
Distance Affinity: [Sprint: F] | [Mile: C] | [Medium: A] | [Long: A]
Speed: 1059 (S+; Master)
Stamina: 1169 (SS+; Master)
Power: 1103 (SS; Master)
Guts: 832 (A; Top Class)
Wits: 803 (A; Top Class)
Skills: {Unique: Starlit Crown Lv. 3}, {Competitive Spirit ◎}, {In Body and Mind}, {Front Runner Savvy ◎}, {Leading Charge}, {Standard Distance ○}, {Professor of Curvature}, {Playtime's Over!}, {Mold Breaker}, {Prepared to Die}, {Lion's Roar}, {Tyrant's Advance}
Domain: -
SP: 653]
If these stats came from an uma in the game, I had no doubts that she'd be an S-Rank or something. These were stats that only whales and tryhards could achieve; not something a mere plebian like her could've ever reached.
But it really wasn't all that special. Sure, having three Attributes over S-Rank made me feel pretty hyped at first, but in retrospect, it didn't mean much. Oguri could still outspeed me with her monstrous acceleration, Belno's incomplete Domain still gave her a massive advantage over me,
And most of all, Secretariat outright blitzed past me in every scenario. I'd never managed to beat her, even though Secretariat had never actually ran seriously.
Really, I doubted I'd ever win against her.
"Star?"
I shrieked out loud when I heard someone suddenly whisper into my ear, though I then blinked when I realized it was Oguri. "O-Oguri?" I asked, muscles still tense from the lingering panic. "When did you get here?"
"Just now." She answered simply, tilting her head slightly. "The bed felt cold."
"Aah." I smiled wryly. "Sorry 'bout that. Didn't mean to wake you up."
She shook her head. "It's okay." She looked at my legs for a moment. "And your legs? Does it still hurt?"
I shrugged. "Eh, it's not too bad. Just a little itch, that's all"
And I wasn't lying. Sure, there was this persistent itch in my legs, but other than that, the agonizing pain had gone away. The injuries on my legs were completely healed, and the itch was only because my body was still getting used to me walking again after relying on my crutches for a few months.
I smiled softly. "Well, since you're here, wanna go on a run together?" I asked, jabbing my thumb towards the track just west from the mansion. "Our breakfast ain't ready yet, so might as well do some running, right?"
Oguri's eyes sparkled. "Of course!"
I grinned. Yeah, not a surprise. I mean, mentioning food and running? Oguri would be hooked in a heartbeat.
Anyway, we immediately began heading for the nearby track, eager to enjoy what little time we had left before Secretariat woke up.