The long, gloomy rainy season finally ended, and for the past few days I've been enjoying the clear blue sky for the first time in a while. As late June approaches summer, the temperature rises day by day, making proper heatstroke prevention necessary.
Packing several bottles of sports drinks into my bag to prevent heatstroke, I left the Miho Dormitory.
Actually, yesterday, Mr. Okino asked me to keep today open and come to the training grounds. Normally, Mr. Okino avoids making me do things like that (apparently so it won't look like he's making me train), but since he unusually asked, I agreed immediately—so that's how I ended up here now, leisurely heading to the designated training ground.
The unique scent of lush green grass stretching since the end of the rainy season and the trees planted along the roadside tickled my nose. Along with the rising summer heat and the cumulonimbus clouds visible in the distant sky, it truly felt like summer.
(It's the Dragon's Nest! …Just kidding.)
As I gazed at the cumulonimbus clouds, those words slipped into my mind. Along with things like "Laputa really existed!" Incidentally, this world also has Ghib**. I feel nostalgic, remembering how I once passionately discussed Porco Rosso with a colleague in my past life. Both Ohana-san and Mr. Okino seem to like Ghibli, so I'd love to talk about it with them someday.
With that deeply nostalgic feeling swaying in my heart, I arrived at the training grounds.
Since Mr. Okino was the one who called me, I thought only he would be there. But besides him, Ohana-san, Senior Rudolf, Maruzensky-san, and Katsuragi Ace-san were there. In the distance were Ten Point-san, Green Grass-senpai, and Tosho Boy-senpai as well.
Two men—one wearing a neat suit who looked like a trainer, and another shirtless except for a hoodie—were talking with Mr. Okino and Ohana-san. Were they also involved? They looked somewhat familiar…
Could it be that I'm late? And why are there so many people here? Confused, I checked the wristwatch on my left arm (the reliable G-watch)—it was still five minutes before meeting time. I was even more lost.
"Um… sorry… did I keep you waiting?"
Just in case, I jogged a little toward Mr. Okino and asked. Noticing me, he smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.
"Oh? As expected of you, Nature—exactly five minutes before the meeting time. Very punctual!"
It seemed I hadn't gotten the time wrong. Relieved, I was then immediately filled with another question—why are there so many people?
"In that case, I'm glad… but… are those two over there acquaintances of yours, Mr. Okino?"
Now that I was closer, that sense of familiarity grew stronger. I asked while looking at the two unmistakably "trainer-like" men.
"Yeah. Let me introduce them first. Ohana-san! Let's start with introductions."
"Yes. Let's finish the simple part first. Nature, these two are the trainers who will be helping you. Remember I said I'd reach out to my connections?"
Hearing Ohana-san say that as she came over when called by Mr. Okino, things finally clicked. Well… I had completely forgotten.
"That face says you forgot, doesn't it… Honestly. Well, fine, let's start with introductions."
A little exasperated, Ohana-san said, and I turned back toward the two trainers.
"Um, I'm Nice Nature. I'm sorry for asking such a selfish favor."
"No, no. I was surprised when Ohana-san asked at first, but once I heard the reason, I understood. You might become a future junior, after all. I'd like to help however I can.
I'm Minamisaka, a trainer for Team Canopus. Nice to meet you."
"Frankly, if it weren't Ohana asking, I wouldn't usually do this… I'm Kuronuma. I don't have a team."
A kind-looking young man in a suit with a gentle smile—Minamisaka-san. And a man wearing only a hoodie over his bare torso and dark sunglasses—Kuronuma-san. Yep, anyone can tell. Trainer Minamisaka of Team Canopus from the anime (Nature's team), and Kuronuma—the one who trained Mihono Bourbon through Spartan methods. Thank you very much.
"Minamisaka's team is the only one in Tracen Academy to retire horses with zero injuries—truly aiming for 'safety above all.' It's amazing. He'll be teaching you training methods that reduce injury risk and how to care for injuries, so take it seriously, okay?"
"Conversely, Kuronuma is excellent at improving distance aptitude and running style by imposing relentless Spartan training on horse girls. His training is strict, yes—but that also means he knows exactly how far he can push without causing injury or lasting fatigue. It'll definitely help you in achieving your goals, Nature."
One by one—Minamisaka-san, Kuronuma-san, Mr. Okino, and Ohana-san spoke, and my brain entered 'galaxy cat meme' mode. What is this trainer dream team party? Isn't this weird?
I mean, I'm happy? Meeting anime characters and being able to learn from such amazing trainers is like a double blessing… but still, isn't this odd!?
Also, if Kuronuma-san says "normally we wouldn't do this unless Ohana asked," then clearly the cause is Ohana-san, right? What kind of magic did she use to make these two cooperate?
"Kuronuma owed me, like Okino does—so I made him help. Minamisaka agreed normally, though."
"That's right. I'm the youngest here, after all… juniors are wonderful, aren't they?"
"…Never rack up debts, Nature. Don't borrow money from anyone, ever."
Each trainer answered in their own way, and I couldn't hide my wry smile. I worried if my lips were twitching.
Beside me, Mr. Okino was smiling stiffly too. Could it be he also, like in the anime, owes Ohana-san money? I gave him a suspicious stare. Noticing, he hurriedly waved his hands in denial.
"No way…"
"N-no! Nature!? I didn't borrow anything—really, don't look at me like that!"
"…Really?"
"Really!"
"Nature, that man—just like me—has been putting his drinking tab on Ohana's account."
"What!? Kuronuma, you bastard!"
"Hey, you two useless men."
Kuronuma-san tried to drag Mr. Okino down with him. Mr. Okino panicked, and the words slipped out of me. Well, it couldn't be helped.
Ohana-san and the female group, including Maruzensky-san, burst into laughter at my "useless men" comment. It seemed to hit their funny bone.
Minamisaka-san, meanwhile, smiled awkwardly, troubled. Well, having useless senior trainers must be tough… Future Canopus will suffer too. I should be kind to him at least.
"So then… why was I called here? If it was just introductions, you could've done it in the Spica clubroom, right?"
Watching Mr. Okino still making excuses out on the turf, I asked Ohana-san.
"Well, true. If it were just introductions, we could've done it in Spica's, Rigil's, or even Canopus's clubroom. But that's not the main purpose today."
That's what Ohana-san said in response to my question. Now that I think about it, Mr. Okino did say, "Let's finish the simple things first."
"We're just the bonus here, Nature-san."
Minamisaka-san added, as if supplementing Ohana-san's explanation. No, treating you all as 'bonus' is insane, you know?
My confusion deepened. Since it's at the training grounds, someone must be running, right? But who?
Counting the horse girls here, including me, there are seven—me, Senior Rudolf, Maruzensky-san, Katsuragi Ace-san, Ten Point-san, Green Grass-senpai, and Tosho Boy-senpai.
Ten Point-san and the student council are outside the track, so they won't be running. That leaves Senior Rudolf, Maruzensky-san, Katsuragi Ace-san, and me.
Except for me, the rest are Rigil members—so does that mean the three Rigil members will do parallel training, and I'm here to observe and practice care? Something like that?
"So, the three of Rigil—Senior Rudolf and the others—are doing parallel training, and I'm here to practice caring for them, right?
Um, I didn't bring cooling spray or care supplies, so can I go back to get them?"
As I said this, having convinced myself, everyone—starting with Mr. Okino the tab-ghost, Ohana-san, Kuronuma-san, even Senior Rudolf and Maruzensky-san—looked at me with exasperation. Minamisaka-san looked troubled again.
…Unacceptable.
"It's true that someone's running, but… why did you assume you wouldn't be the one running…"
"Hey, Okino, is she alright?"
"Huh? Isn't this Rigil's training today?"
Even when I protested, saying how absurd that was, no reply came. My words were swallowed by the quiet turf.
"If that were the case, there'd be no reason to tell you to come wearing athletic gear…"
Mr. Okino held his head in his hands as he said it, while my head was full of question marks. Running? Me? With who?
I looked around once more—no one besides the Rigil members. No Ryan, no Air Groove, no Suzuka, not even the other Rigil members…
"The one you're running against is me, Nature."
The one who said that was Senior Rudolf, stepping forward from behind Ohana-san and standing beside her. Me? Against Senior Rudolf?
"Um… so I'm supposed to do parallel training with you, Senior Rudolf?"
"No. Not parallel training."
As she said that, her aura changed. From the slightly Teio-like atmosphere she had a moment ago, it shifted completely into that of the undefeated Triple Crown Emperor I knew well.
An atmosphere that made the turf seem to tremble. A tingling pressure scraped against my body like sandpaper.
"Nature… would you like to race me?"
With a pressuring smile, the emperor lion quietly—but in a voice everyone could hear—roared at me.