With the new year's first-round planning done, Kuroha closed his laptop and stretched his stiff shoulders.
Then he pulled a small glass vial from the drawer.
Inside was a clear liquid with a faint herbal scent.
Body-Strengthening Drug.
These were concocted by Kuroha himself in the Mejiro family's kindly loaned lab.
No wonder they're in the same class as the Panacea.
Originally, Kuroha could only fight even with someone top-tier like Obey Your Master.
But now? That little golden menace… is no longer a problem.
Pop. He twisted the cap and drank.
"Haa~"
A gentle yet powerful surge spread through his body at once, like warm lightning threading his muscles and fascia.
Two months of steady dosing plus training had transformed his physique from the ground up.
If he had to put a number on it—
two Obey Your Masters at once wouldn't be an issue!
After the dose, Kuroha changed into a light training outfit and headed out.
Today he skipped his usual gym and went straight to the Academy's outdoor track.
Central Tracen during winter break felt a little empty.
Kuroha eased into a jog—light, strong, every footfall crisp and sure.
"No matter how many times I do this, running right after the drug hits is pure bliss…"
He couldn't help but sigh.
It really was the human version of the Three Goddesses' Blessing.
Feeling visible gains every session—no wonder mortals get addicted.
This must be what it feels like for horse girls once they enter True Blooming: the source of their joy in training, running, even racing.
He hadn't gone far when a familiar figure appeared ahead.
A tall, cool-aura girl, striding in the same direction as him.
Central uniform, a dossier in hand, an unmatched authority radiating from her.
Rudolf.
Kuroha showed no surprise.
As student council president, Rudolf was swamped even during break—almost no time off.
Kuroha, meanwhile, was one of the few trainers still staying in the Central dorms over the New Year.
They ran into each other far more often than you'd think.
"Luna, that's a thick stack."
Kuroha slowed and tossed out an easy greeting.
Rudolf turned at the voice, and when she saw him a soft smile rose to her lips. She shook the file in her hand.
"Can't be helped. Break's ending—these proposals need a final pass, so nothing explodes when term starts."
"Proposals?"
Kuroha glanced at the title:
On Adding Items to the Central Trainer License Examination.
"Central's license exam is getting harder?"
Rudolf chuckled. "Harder isn't the right word.
Strictly speaking, it's—filling gaps."
"Remember the trainee on your team?"
"Aoi? She's great," Kuroha nodded. "She'll be an excellent trainer."
Rudolf seemed satisfied and fell into step with him along the lane.
"Right. And the Kiryuin family had thoughts too.
They've been a big name at Central for ages—their voice carries."
"Over the break, they decided Aoi's technical base has already met or exceeded standard Central level. Then they looked around and felt… the majority of current Central trainers are behind."
"So they proposed re-testing most trainers without results on the board—and adding items to the Central license exam."
She paused, then added, "That's what a Kiryuin trainer friend told me."
Kuroha: "…"
So the fuse for this proposal… was his own assistant?
But honestly, it was more that Aoi learns at a ridiculous pace—
and Central's average trainer baseline isn't that high—so her rapid progress stands out.
Kuroha skimmed the core additions:
Nutrition, physiology, injury prevention, and emergency care—areas the exam had never covered.
"Solid proposal," Kuroha said.
"Right?" Rudolf smiled, passed him the file for a closer look, and gave her back a long stretch—her silhouette tracing a graceful arc.
"Normally, with approvals and confirmations, we wouldn't implement until next year.
But the Association's fed up with Central's stagnation—they want it this year."
Kuroha laughed. "Rough for our dear prez, huh?"
"Exactly," Rudolf sighed.
Over the break, the two of them had chatted off and on—and even gone out for drives.
They were good friends by now.
You could tell from what Kuroha called the Emperor:
He used to say "Rudolf," but these days it was "Luna."
No need for the stiff, imposing act in front of Kuroha.
"You still training this morning?" Rudolf asked abruptly.
"Yeah. Want to join?"
"Let's. Been a while since I ran."
The crescent-bang girl tucked the file under her arm and broke into a run.
Da-da-da—
Two silhouettes cut through the still, cold campus roads.
"Got your plan for the new year?" Rudolf turned to ask.
"A plan, huh…" Kuroha put on a show of pondering, then grinned. "Rule Central—does that count?"
"Hmph. Braggart."
Rudolf rolled her eyes, pretending not to care.
But in truth, she knew exactly what Chasing Light, the team Kuroha founded, really was.
Strong.
Ridiculously strong.
March and Inari—two engines of war, each capable of matching, even surpassing Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross.
Chiyono O—the classic Derby darling.
Ardan—heir to Central's finest blood.
Obey Your Master—who in the Japan Cup stood toe-to-toe and defeated multiple Central elites outright.
And beyond that—
each one of them carried the power to define an era.
The first time she visited Kuroha's training grounds and saw those streams of prismatic light, her brain blanked for a few seconds.
That shock still felt carved into stone.
How could this be a normal team?
They were a procession of eras walking around in human form.
"Anyway…" Rudolf angled her head. "Since you're going to 'rule Central,' I'll be watching the Twinkle Series this year. Closely."
"Don't let me down, Kuroha."
Meeting her gaze, Kuroha's smile was calm and sure.
"Relax. Just don't let your jaw hit the floor when we're done."
They shared a look and, without a word, picked up the pace—the breeze ahead tinged with winter's electric bite.
After another stretch running shoulder to shoulder, duty called: Rudolf parted with a quick goodbye and hurried off to work.
Kuroha finished his session, returned to the dorm, and began prepping for the new term.
(End of Chapter)
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