It all started on the day after the race. I was at my usual convenience store, buying up all the sports newspapers, when a reporter who had clearly been lying in wait ambushed me. He asked, 'Is King Halo's next race the Japan Cup?!' I answered with a noncommittal 'Hmm, maybe?' and made a mad dash for it, scaling the fence of Tracen Academy to get to my office. Just as I settled into my chair, the news came in.
"Biwa Hayahide, Winning Ticket, and Seiun Sky have developed bowed tendons."
I slurped down my coffee, shook my head, and looked at my phone again.
"Heard that Biwa Hayahide, Winning Ticket, and Seiun Sky have come down with bowed tendons."
The message was unchanged, of course. I wished it were a bad joke, but the colleague who sent it wasn't the type to pull pranks like this. In fact, neither of us liked these kinds of jokes.
So... it's true? No, the message said "heard that," so maybe it's not confirmed... Or maybe the inflammation is bad, but it's not quite a bowed tendon...
"Sigh..."
I leaned back in my chair and sighed. My mind went back to yesterday and the condition of King, whom I had checked after the race.
(King was tired, but there was no inflammation... Her leg joints were warm right after the race, but King hasn't contacted me since she got back to the dorm...)
King is great at managing her own health, and if the heat in her joints hadn't gone down, she would have contacted me. So, King is safe.
(Ugh, Uraraka's race is the day after tomorrow... Hmm...)
I got up and brewed another cup of coffee. I made it a bit too quickly, though, so it was strong and had a lot of off-flavors. Still, it was perfect for waking me up.
Uraraka's race is Wednesday, the day after tomorrow. It's the annual JBC series in early November.
At Uraraka's request, she's running in the JBC Ladies' Classic. The distance is 1800 meters, which is a mile run. Smart Falcon won this race last year.
We could have aimed for a second consecutive win in the JBC Sprint, but Uraraka wanted to compete with Smart Falcon, so we decided to enter the JBC Ladies' Classic.
I thought Smart Falcon might have something to say about it, but she didn't say anything in particular. She didn't declare which race she'd be in, as she had before, nor did she come to declare war.
Well, it's one thing to declare which race you'll be in, but individually declaring war could be seen as collusion, so that's a problem in itself.
It would be fine if it were an internal team matter, but Uraraka and Smart Falcon are rivals. It's fine to declare which race you'll be in at an official event, but it's a problem if others can find fault with it.
However, every time Smart Falcon saw Uraraka, she would radiate a joyous aura as if to say, "The next race will be so fun," and would have a big smile on her face. With that, we had no choice but to accept the challenge, and we decided to take on the JBC Ladies' Classic that Smart Falcon had won last year.
After her defeat in the Teio Sho, Smart Falcon seemed to have lost her sense of despair. Maybe that's why more passersby were stopping to listen to her street performances, which she was holding less often than before.
In fact, the last time I went to see her, a crowd of almost 500 people had gathered, and she was being lectured by a police officer for obstructing pedestrian traffic. I saw Smart Falcon anxiously bowing her head to the pedestrians she had inconvenienced and thought, "The next time we race, she's going to be an even tougher opponent."
When Smart Falcon holds a street performance, her fans in their happi coats get really excited, and passersby stop to watch. Smart Falcon's trainer was even in the front row, performing a sharp glow stick dance.
Smart Falcon, who now had a more natural and beautiful smile than before, was truly shining as an idol. That's why I thought, "What's going to happen next?"
But while some girls seem to be on a good path, others, like Biwa Hayahide, get injured... Life is just full of ups and downs.
Just as I was thinking about this, my phone vibrated with a new message. I wondered what it was, and saw that it was from a junior who didn't have a team yet.
"Senpai, they're announcing something amazing on TV right now."
I frowned at the message. But I wasn't in the mood to work right now, so I turned on the TV in the office. Then, I saw a familiar girl on the screen and leaned forward in my seat.
It was El Condor Pasa, who had taken on an overseas race.
El Condor Pasa's record after going abroad was quite impressive.
In late May, she came in second at the Prix d'Ispahan, a G1 race in France. Then, in early July, she won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, another G1. In early September, she won the Prix Foy, a G2. And finally, she came in second at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, probably the most famous race in the world.
The Arc de Triomphe was held in early October, and El Condor Pasa came in a close second, just a neck behind. She had a winning live performance in a G1 race that even my past self had heard of.
I wondered what would happen if Rice or King took on a race like that. The girl who beat El Condor Pasa and won was a girl named Broye.
She had an interesting hairstyle with blonde hair and blue eyes, and she was a size bigger than El Condor Pasa. Her racing uniform was flashy, like a prince's, and she even wore a cape.
—That girl was on TV now.
"You've announced that you'll be participating in the Japan Cup at the end of November. How confident are you?"
After a brief recap of her career, a reporter introduced her as the girl who beat El Condor Pasa and then interviewed her. I opened my eyes wide at the reporter's question.
(The international runners are coming this year... Seriously?)
For the past few years, no international girls had come to the Japan Cup. So I had expected the same this year, but it seemed I was wrong.
"I wouldn't take on the challenge if I weren't confident. I'm already looking forward to running there. I hear there's a girl named King in Japan... I'm looking forward to beating her."
Broye, with a defiant smile, said this as she was handed the microphone. This must be what my junior meant by "amazing." I checked the TV guide and saw the words, "Broye to participate in the Japan Cup! Exclusive interview!"
It seemed Broye had announced her participation in the Japan Cup yesterday, but I hadn't checked since King had a race. I'll have to treat my junior to a meal sometime.
Well, I don't understand French, so all I can do is read the subtitles. Is she really coming to the Japan Cup to take on King? Or is it just lip service? Foreigners tend to exaggerate things, so maybe the translator just wrote something that sounded right?
(Some girls get injured, while others cross the sea to challenge their rivals...)
With that thought, I turned off the TV and got up from my chair. I wanted to confirm if Biwa Hayahide and the others had really developed bowed tendons.
I went to the trainers' common area, which I hadn't been to much lately. I thought I might hear some rumors if the news about Biwa Hayahide was true.
"Please! Please tell me how you cured Oguri Cap's suspensory ligament desmitis!"
"I know that the cure for suspensory ligament desmitis is different from bowed tendons! But there might be something we can learn from it! So please!"
"That girl isn't the type to end her career here! So please!"
I heard a tense voice. I frowned, and then I saw one of my colleagues who was in the common area put a finger to his lips.
"What's going on?"
I walked up to my colleague and asked in a low voice. I had a good idea, but I thought it would be better to ask someone who was there. In fact, the reason he had told me about Biwa Hayahide's injury was because he had heard the commotion this morning.
"The trainers of Biwa Hayahide and the others are begging Oguri Cap's trainer to reveal the treatment for suspensory ligament desmitis. Oh, don't show your face there. I know you're curious, but you'll see them all on their knees."
"Oh my..."
On their knees? Depending on the person, that could be considered close to blackmail. My seniors must be desperate.
"But! She just ate a lot and soaked in the hot springs, and it just healed on its own!"
That reply made me pause. I thought Oguri Cap's trainer was Rokuhira-san, but the voice was different. Maybe it's a sub-trainer? Rokuhira-san is a veteran among veterans, so maybe my seniors couldn't bring themselves to ask him. Or maybe they thought the sub-trainer would be easier to talk to?
"I understand that the treatment know-how is valuable! But please! For Hayahide's sake, please!"
"But! I didn't do anything more than that!"
Both sides were desperate. The trainer kept insisting that Oguri Cap's suspensory ligament desmitis had healed on its own after she had eaten a lot and soaked in hot springs.
"What do you think of this?"
"No way... If just eating and soaking in hot springs could cure suspensory ligament desmitis, 30% of the girls who retire from injuries would be gone."
I asked my colleague, and he shook his head. Yeah... If it were that easy, trainers, girls, and even specialized veterinarians wouldn't have been struggling for so long.
Suspensory ligament desmitis and bowed tendons are a pain because they can easily recur even after a long period of rest and recuperation. But watching Oguri Cap run in the Mainichi Okan and the Autumn Tenno Sho, it was clear that it hadn't recurred. So, she must have used some kind of method to cure it.
(The seniors' voices don't sound like they're acting, so Biwa Hayahide's injury is confirmed...)
The statement from the man who seemed to be Oguri Cap's sub-trainer was understandable, given how valuable the information on curing suspensory ligament desmitis was. Whether or not to reveal the information was up to the trainer, but no trainer would reveal it in a place where anyone could be eavesdropping.
"What's all this commotion about?"
As I heard the voice of Tadana-san, who seemed to have rushed over after hearing the noise, I dejectedly went back to my office.
That afternoon, after school.
As I was about to start our usual training session, I spoke to Uraraka and the others.
"King, how are you feeling?"
"I'm still a bit tired, but I'm fine. Since Uraraka-san has a race today, should we do a lighter menu?"
"Yeah... Uraraka has a race the day after tomorrow, so let's make it a light menu for King too. Uraraka, how are you feeling?"
"Yep! I'm full of energy!"
King answered as usual, and Uraraka answered energetically. Rice smiled at the sight of the two, but I had a lot on my mind.
"Sorry, but can I check on you for a bit before training?"
As I said that, I lowered the backrest of the sofa to make it into a bed. King narrowed her eyes at my action.
"Is this about what happened to Sky-san and the others?"
"Yeah... King, let me touch your legs first."
"...I always wonder if there's a better way to phrase that."
Still, King took off her shoes and socks and got on the sofa bed, lying on her stomach. I told her to let me know if she felt any pain and then gently touched her legs.
(Her joints are a bit warm, but it's not much different from after previous races... In fact, King has been taking good care of herself, so the inflammation is lighter than it used to be...)
I carefully checked the heat in her ankles and knees.
(Her thigh and calf muscles are a bit tight, but it's within the acceptable range... Her balance isn't off, and there's no inflammation...)
I then moved my arms to check her waist and upper body muscles. It wasn't a full-on massage, but I occasionally pressed down to check her muscle tone and stiffness.
The human body is strange. A slight misalignment in a single muscle or joint can have a negative effect on the entire body.
At first, the effects aren't severe enough to be noticeable. But for example, a person who sits at a desk all day might develop poor posture, which can lead to back, shoulder, and leg pain.
Girls use their legs a lot, and when the balance of their muscles and skeleton is off, it can cause problems all over the place. Rice was like that when I first started training her. If I had left it alone, it could have led to a major injury.
"...Okay... No problems... Phew."
After checking her, I let out a sigh of relief. Even though I thought she was okay, it was still nerve-wracking to check.
There's only so much you can see with your eyes, and a physical examination is more accurate. An X-ray at a hospital is even more accurate, but it's not realistic to get one every day.
I recorded my findings in my notebook. In the meantime, King slowly sat up and let out a sigh that I could almost feel.
"...You were checking me a lot more carefully than usual. Did you care that much?"
"Yeah... Sorry, King. I just couldn't relax..."
I looked at the clock on the wall and realized that more time had passed than I had expected. I had spent more time than I had intended before training.
"It's fine. I'd say you can take as long as you want if it helps you relax, but... Are you okay?"
King looked at me with a worried expression. As I frowned at her question, I felt a weight on my shoulder... Uraraka, who was sitting in a chair, had her arms around me from behind, resting her chin on my right shoulder.
"Uraraka? What's wrong?"
"Hmm... I was wondering if you were okay, trainer. You looked like you were going through a hard time."
She said that as she nuzzled my head with her horse ears, as if to cuddle me... or rather, to comfort me?
I was surprised by her actions... But at the same time, I felt a warmth in my chest.
"I'm fine, Uraraka. I just... I don't know how to put it... It just feels like things aren't going my way..."
I said this as I lifted my right hand and patted Uraraka's head. I don't know if she understood, but I realized that my face must have been dark enough to make Uraraka worry.
As I thought about this and turned around, I saw Rice, who was slowly walking toward me with her arms wide open. When our eyes met, she smiled and spread her arms even wider.
"It's okay, big brother."
"What's okay?"
Huh? What's okay?
"Rice wants to pamper you too... N-no, I want to comfort you!"
Rice said this. It seemed she was also concerned about me. She's always been such a kind girl... But yeah, the Uraraka therapy had already warmed my heart...
"I see... Yeah, you're a good girl too!"
"W-what?! That's not what I was expecting, big brother!?"
I put my hands under her armpits and lifted her up. It's the thought that counts. As I was lifting Rice up and down, Uraraka started begging me to do it for her too, so I did it for her as well.
Hehe, I'm lifting them with all my might, but my whole body is getting tired, not just my arms.
"You're an idiot..."
And King gave me a warm, exasperated comeback.
I was healed by Uraraka and the others, but we still had training to do. I was about to start, but Uraraka tilted her head in confusion.
"Hey, trainer, has the list of entrants for the race yet?"
"Hmm? Oh, sorry... It's here, but I just got it. I was going to check it before training."
It had been a busy morning, and I couldn't focus on work, so it had taken me a while. I had just managed to get the entry list just before school ended.
I sat in my work chair and picked up the entry list from my desk. I quickly opened it and read it... and then there was a loud knock on the door.
I wondered who it was, and then King opened the door... Smart Falcon and Slein? Huh? Why?
"Hey, Uraraka's trainer!? Why isn't Uraraka-chan in the JBC Sprint!? I lost to her in my preferred distance, so I wanted to beat her in her preferred distance, but why isn't she here!?"
"Why aren't you guys in the JBC Classic? I was going to beat you this time, so I worked hard to prepare for it."
Smart Falcon and Slein rushed into the office and said this to me. I looked at the entry list that I had just opened.
Uraraka's name was on the list for the JBC Ladies' Classic, but Smart Falcon's and Slein's names weren't.
After checking it twice, I fell out of my chair.
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