"Grandpa, I'm heading out now!"
"Okay make sure to be safe out there, Peach Waves."
"Okay!"
Dressed in her sportswear and laced-up shoes, Peach Waves jogged out the back door of the restaurant, her towel slung around her neck. Meanwhile, Longjing sat in the rest area, carefully filling out her registration form and attaching the aptitude test results. He sealed the envelope and sent it off to Central Tracen Academy.
At the academy's student union, Emperor Rudolf sat regally on her throne, overseeing the enrollment process. Across from her, Hishi Amazon—a slim, dark-skinned horse girl with jet-black hair—was slumped over the table, fast asleep.
"Amazon!" Rudolf barked.
"Ah! I wasn't sleeping—I was just tying my shoelaces!"
"You volunteered to help with the admissions and now you're napping? This is supposed to be serious work!"
Hishi Amazon jolted upright, bowing apologetically before grabbing her pen and stamp.
"You must review every form carefully. One mistake could cost a horse girl her future."
Rudolf crossed her arms, her tone icy.
"Ugh, this job is exhausting," muttered the vice president nearby.
"Don't be harsh," Maruzensky said gently, sipping her tea. "Amazon's trying her best."
Hishi Amazon stuck out her tongue playfully, then—without much thought—slid a form into the rejection pile.
And that form just happened to belonged to Peach Waves.
"I take my work seriously! If I mess up, I'll run a hundred laps!"
She thumped her chest with pride, unaware of the mistake she had just made.
Back on the horse girl lane, Peach Waves finished her jog, now accustomed to the curious stares from passersby.
"I need water."
She stopped at a vending machine, inserted a coin, and took a sip from the bottle.
"Bleh… this brand's not great. I need something to eat."
Spotting a nearby barbecue shop, she smiled.
"Perfect."
She wiped her face, adjusted her hair, and stepped inside.
The owner—a cheerful horse girl herself—greeted her warmly.
"Welcome! Oh, are you a racehorse girl?"
Peach Waves chuckled.
"Not yet. I haven't debuted."
"Haha, same here! I'm Tianmi."
She removed her cap, revealing her horse ears.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Peach Waves."
"That's a lovely name! Can we be friends?"
"Sure! But… when's the food coming? I'm starving."
"Already on it. Want to exchange contact info?"
They swapped numbers, and soon the food arrived—three generous portions. They chatted over lunch, and Tianmi even gave her a glass of juice on the house.
On her way home, sipping the juice, Peach Waves spotted a donut shop.
"Juice isn't enough… donuts it is!"
By the time she returned, her stomach was slightly round. She greeted Xiao Ning and Tian Si, then headed upstairs.
Opening the door, she found Longjing sitting solemnly on the sofa. A returned envelope lay on the table.
Peach Waves approached slowly.
"Grandpa, what's wrong? You look constipated."
Longjing sighed and slid the form toward her.
She picked it up and saw the words: "Not Admitted."
No emotion crossed her face. She simply smiled.
"It's okay, Grandpa. I can still run. That's all that matters."
Longjing's eyes widened. Her words echoed his own youthful spirit—the trainer who once chased dreams with reckless passion.
He lowered his gaze, ashamed of his earlier doubts.
"Grandpa, your support means everything to me. I believe in myself—and in you."
Longjing looked up, eyes misty.
"I'll always support you, Peach Waves. My trainer's license is still valid. I'll be your coach. So you can still run freely."
Peach Waves grinned.
"Hehe, I'm going downstairs to help Sister Xiao Ning."
As she left, Okino's words echoed in Longjing's mind:
"Talent is just icing. Her perseverance will make her shine."
Longjing smiled, watching her go.
"For once… I agree with you."
Downstairs, Peach Waves was prepping grilled cold noodles for next month's stall. She asked Xiao Ning to add it to the menu.
"Is it good with your sauce, Peach Waves?"
"Try it and see!"
She handed over a fresh batch. Xiao Ning took a bite and lit up.
"Mmm! So good!"
Tian Si wandered over, curious.
"Let me try!"
Peach Waves puffed her cheeks.
"Hey! Sister Xiao Ning, go greet the guests!"
The bell rang as the door opened.
"Leave this for me! Don't let Tian Si eat it!"
"Okay, okay!"
Xiao Ning dashed off. Tian Si rubbed his hands together.
"Make one for me too?"
"Here you go."
"You're the best, Peach Waves!"
He leaned against the counter, happily munching away.