"Not yet… I can still get faster!"
Under a cloudy sky, my entire body pelted by relentless rain, I gripped the stopwatch hanging from my neck. The numbers on it hadn't changed much for some time now, despite the ruined training grounds and the turf that had gone beyond "heavy track," becoming more like a pond or swamp.
My wet hair felt heavy. My rain-soaked tracksuit weighed me down. My drenched training shoes clung to the ground, trying to stop each step I took. But… even so, I didn't stop running. I pressed the reset button on the stopwatch—though I'd lost count of how many times I'd done so—wiping away the numbers.
"Once more. One more try."
I turned and walked back to the starting line of the track. Splash, splash… Each step created a large ripple, swallowed up by the downpour.
At the starting line, I took my running stance. The sound of rain drowned out all other noise, and only my ragged breathing echoed faintly through the rain-soaked training grounds.
"Ha!"
The moment I hit the start button, I launched forward. Rain blurred my vision, my wet hair clung unpleasantly to my skin, but I ignored it all and just ran. Yet no matter how much I tried to shake off every stray thought, only the sorrowful face of someone dear to me—my junior—remained stuck in my mind.
(Why didn't I say something to her back then!? What kind of "senior" am I, making her look like that!?)
Her smiling face. Her crying face when she received a present. The way she looked at me, worried…
All those precious expressions appeared and disappeared in my mind. But the one I could not erase—was her sorrowful face during that exhibition race.
"More! Faster!"
I poured strength into my legs. Every time I stepped on the swamp-like turf, water splashed upward like a car plowing through a puddle—but even that wasn't enough to satisfy me.
I focused on a clean inside turn and forced myself close to the inner rail. My heavy legs kept moving forward, and even through my blurred vision and ragged breath, my eyes stayed locked on the finish line.
The final stretch. I unleashed the stamina I had preserved, exploding forward with my legs. The spray of water was even higher than before—almost forming a column as I accelerated.
I leaned forward more than usual, shielding my face from rain and wind while reducing air resistance.
"This isn't enough… like this, I might catch up—but I won't overtake!"
Before I realized it, I had already crossed the finish line. Without thinking, I pressed the stopwatch. The numbers showed almost no improvement.
(Damn it!)
I cursed inwardly at my own inadequacy.
To surpass the explosive finishing sprint of that precious junior—Nice Nature—my current speed was still nowhere near enough.
I crouched down and slammed my clenched fist into the turf. The softened ground didn't hurt me—it simply accepted my hand, swallowing it gently. Only the spray of water flew up pointlessly onto my face.
"I finally found you… Symboli Rudolf."
Through the sound of rain, I heard someone call my name. I turned, and there stood a familiar face, holding out a black umbrella to me.
"Trainer Okino. Do you need something?"
I asked, and Trainer Okino looked at me with exasperation, pointing at his wristwatch as he answered.
"Rudolf, you do realize the team Rigil meeting time passed ages ago, right?"
Ah—right. Today was a team meeting. I'd completely forgotten. I felt a little embarrassed.
"…Apologies. I lost track of time."
"I figured. O-Hana-san was so worried, she came looking for you at my place."
…I'd caused trouble for Miss Hana. I should apologize later.
"Sorry. I'll get changed and head to Rigil right away."
When I said that, Trainer Okino gave me a slightly mischievous grin.
"No need. I already told O-Hana-san. She said to let you rest today."
"W-What!?"
That was… a bit presumptuous—but honestly, I knew I'd pushed myself too hard and lost track of time. Complaining here would be out of line, so I had no choice but to comply quietly.
"Come on. Let's talk somewhere else for a bit."
He said with a smile, and I nodded.
---
We headed to Team Spica's clubroom—the place Nice Nature will belong to next year. I can't say I didn't wish we'd be on the same team… but logically, I know Spica is the better place for her. Still, it's complicated.
After I changed, Trainer Okino brought me here. Nice Nature was out shopping with a few close friends today. I missed her… but at the same time, I was grateful not to see her right now.
"Sorry, but I'm no good at making tea like Nature. So just instant coffee, okay?"
Steam rose from the mug he handed me. I took it and sipped. The bitterness and acidity of instant coffee, combined with the warmth, soothed my rain-soaked, exhausted body.
"…Thank you."
"Make sure you warm up properly, okay? If you catch a cold, O-Hana-san will chew me out."
He joked lightly while pouring himself another cup.
We both fell silent. Only the sound of sipping coffee and the rain outside filled the space between us.
"Rudolf, can I ask you something?"
"Yes, Trainer Okino?"
Once about half the coffee was gone, he suddenly spoke.
"You're pushing yourself that hard… is it for our Nature's sake?"
The moment he said that, I nearly jumped out of my seat.
"I'm not scolding you or anything. I'm just curious."
"…Yes. I don't want to see Nature look sad ever again."
Not in a dramatic flood of words, but quietly, I began to speak.
Maybe because Nature trusts him, I unconsciously felt I could trust him too.
"Her running in the exhibition race was incredible. Hard to believe she's only a first-year."
"Yeah. She was amazing."
"But back then… I couldn't say anything to her. Not even 'congratulations' or 'you did great.' If I had, maybe she wouldn't have made that sad face."
Even now, I can't forget her expression.
If time could turn back, I'd go straight to that moment and force myself to speak to her.
"If someone—anyone—had spoken to her, the atmosphere might have eased just a little. But that's just hindsight. I didn't do it."
"But even if you had, the other girls would've still been afraid of her. A first-year defeating upperclassmen—and soon, they'd have to face her in the Classic races."
Trainer Okino responded. He was right. Even if I'd spoken to her, it wouldn't have changed the fear others felt. I wasn't her peer. I was her senior.
I looked out the rain-covered window, at the heavy, grey sky pressing down… just like my heart.
"Nature now is like I was in elementary school. She's okay for now, but someday her strength will isolate her."
"…Because no one likes losing, huh?"
Yes. Losing isn't fun. And racing without expectations is even more painful.
When I was in elementary school, I had friends at first. But after a year or two, once differences in ability became clear, everyone drifted away.
Because they couldn't win. Because it wasn't fun anymore.
Even when I tried my best and won, nobody praised me. They just watched from afar, whispering. At first it hurt. I wondered—why can't anyone simply say 'congratulations' or 'good job'?
At some point, I stopped feeling joy in winning.
Like Nature would say—my "sparkle" disappeared.
I stopped going to school.
Even after entering Tracen's middle division, no one among my peers could beat me.
But then—I met Maruzensky.
And for the first time, I lost.
I felt the frustration of giving my all and still falling short.
I rediscovered the joy of facing a strong rival.
"Nature is like the old me. Someday, she might lose her sparkle. Racing might become just work—void of fun, regret, everything. And then… her dream will only come true in a twisted form."
"Nature's dream is to become a trainer. She sees racing as a stepping stone."
"Then why is she training so hard? Even as she is now, once she fully blooms, none of her peers will be able to match her. And yet she studies and trains so seriously."
I remembered how she stayed up late, studying, making training plans just to improve her speed. She was completely serious.
"To make someone else happy—you must first be happy yourself."
"…Huh?"
"Nature said that once. In her sleep. She probably doesn't remember."
It was before the exhibition race. I woke up in the middle of the night, and she was smiling in her sleep, mumbling those words.
When I heard it—I felt like I'd been struck.
'To make someone happy, you must first be happy yourself.'
It felt like those words were meant for me.
My dream is the happiness of all horse girls.
So if I'm to make others happy—I must feel happiness myself.
From that day on—I decided to live more honestly.
When someone praised her, I felt joy as if it were my own.
When someone touched her legs without permission, I talked with them.
When someone made fun of her, I got angry in her place.
Strangely, it felt natural. Rather, life felt brighter.
I realized—this must be what happiness is.
"I think Nature—deep down—wants to shine too. Otherwise, she wouldn't push herself so hard, even if it's for her dream."
"So you're saying… she's unconsciously suppressing her instincts with reason?"
"Something like that."
Maruzensky has been inviting Nature to run together lately—probably because she wants Nature to shine. Though she's practically retired now, in the past, she was so strong that she scared off competitors—causing races to be cancelled entirely.
She also couldn't enter the Derby due to various issues with her breeding background.
Maybe because of that—she's sensitive to others' desire to race.
Since she couldn't race joyfully herself—she wants Nature to enjoy racing.
…Though her methods might be questionable.
"At this rate, Nature might end up like Maruzensky. She'll reach the Classics, but races might get cancelled because no one wants to face her."
"So you want to prove you can beat Nature?"
"Not exactly.
I just… want to teach her that racing is fun.
That it isn't just work.
That it's joy—frustration—excitement—shared with rivals.
I want her to lose again and again.
To feel regret—and still aim for victory.
To shine."
"Isn't that what she means when she says she wants to make others shine?
To make others shine—she must shine first."
My thoughts were still jumbled. I couldn't express even half of what I wanted to say.
"I think it's great."
"…Huh?"
Trainer Okino's words caught me off guard.
"You're right—Nature tends to put others first. She barely has any desire for herself.
In that sense… maybe O-Hana-san and I should discuss setting up a mock race between you and Nature."
"But… I'm still not confident I can beat her."
"What do you think is the place where a horse girl grows the most?"
"…?"
"A race.
Running for real—wanting to beat someone, not wanting to lose—that's when they surpass their limits.
If you truly want to defeat Nice Nature—"
"—Then surpass her with willpower."
"Because if it's you, Symboli Rudolf—you can do it."
Trainer Okino—he really is a trainer to his core.
"…Very well. I'll charge forward without hesitation, and show them my racing."
He's truly skilled at firing up horse girls.
I downed the now-cold coffee in one go—and smiled.
At some point, the rain had stopped.
And for the first time in a while—the blue sky peeked through the clouds.