"Rest for 15 minutes. We'll continue after." Hayato glanced up from his notes. "And I'm saying this again because it's important. What matters most for you right now is the cornering technique. That's all we're focusing on today."
After the race, Seiun Sky's pride finally cracked.
She walked over to Hayato with her ears drooping in an exaggerated way, putting on her best "poor pitiful me" act. Her voice came out with just a hint of theatrical sadness. "Trainer..." She paused for dramatic effect, one hand pressed to her chest. "Are there any secrets for mile races? Please, teach me something. Anything. Halo-chan's getting way too full of herself, and I can't take it anymore."
The performance was obvious. Seiun Sky wasn't actually upset, she was just being playful about the whole thing, though there was definitely some real competitive fire underneath all that drama.
"Oho-hohoho..."
Right on cue, King Halo's laugh rang out mid-stride. She flipped her hair back with that signature graceful motion, confidence radiating from every pore. Not a crack in that perfect facade.
Truth was, King Halo had tried chasing down Silence Suzuka during those mile races. Got close enough to almost touch her tail, even. But the moment she thought she was catching up, Suzuka just... pulled away. Like there was some invisible barrier that wouldn't let anyone through, no matter how hard they pushed.
That escape skill was something else entirely.
Not yet. But someday I'll catch you.
"There is, but we're sticking to corner training today." Hayato kept his tone neutral and professional. "You're smart enough to figure it out on your own. Just keep practicing and pay attention to what your body's telling you."
"Figure it out?" Seiun Sky's brow furrowed, her ears twitching with confusion.
What's there to figure out? I just need to run faster, don't I?
She didn't get what he meant, but asking more questions felt like losing twice in one day. Her pride wouldn't allow it.
"There are techniques for cornering. What have you noticed so far?" Hayato's pen tapped against his clipboard. "You'll understand faster through practice."
His expression softened just a bit. "Next up, we're moving to 2000-meter training. That's where you'll have the advantage over her. Go break that comfortable pace of hers and drag her back to reality."
Seiun Sky's ears shot straight up. She turned toward King Halo with a smile that was all teeth and no warmth. Sharp. Dangerous.
"Alright then. That shouldn't be a problem at all."
"...Heh... you..." King Halo's laugh caught in her throat, but her pride wouldn't let her back down. Not even a little. "Even at 2000 meters, I won't lose to you."
The gates exploded open with a loud bang. Three bodies launched forward onto the turf.
Silence Suzuka shot to the front immediately. No hesitation, no warm-up, just pure acceleration from the first stride. That signature escape style kicked in like clockwork, making it look effortless. The gap opened fast. Three lengths became five, then six, then eight.
King Halo settled into second place, her hooves pounding the grass with steady, powerful strides. The pace felt good. Really good, actually.
I can do this. I can hold this.
Seiun Sky hung back in third, and for the first time all day, everything felt right. Like a puzzle piece clicking into place.
This is my distance. This is where I belong.
The first corner came up at 400 meters. Seiun Sky took the turn behind King Halo, her own technique still rough around the edges. She could feel the wasted energy, that slight awkwardness in her stride through the curve. But her mind was elsewhere, focused on the bigger picture.
Just wait. Be patient. Let her burn out.
They hit 600 meters, then 800, then crossed the 1000-meter mark. King Halo's breathing stayed steady and controlled. Her legs felt strong beneath her. Up ahead, Silence Suzuka maintained that eight-length lead like it was nothing, running smooth as silk.
Behind King, Seiun Sky kept her distance. No rush. No panic. Just watching, analyzing, waiting for the moment she knew had to come eventually.
Just a little longer, Halo-chan. Just a little longer and you'll start to crack.
At 1200 meters on the backstretch, King Halo was still going strong in second. Her form looked solid. She felt good. But somewhere deep in her muscles, something was starting to shift. A subtle warning she didn't quite register yet.
Another corner at 1400 meters. She took it cleanly enough, her technique holding up. But each turn was draining a little bit from her stamina tank. Small inefficiencies are adding up with every curve, slowly bleeding her reserves away.
1600 meters. Still holding on. King Halo kept her rhythm, maintained her pace. But the first real hints of fatigue were creeping in now, impossible to ignore.
No... I'm fine. I can keep going. I have to.
Then 1800 meters hit, and the wall came down on her like a sledgehammer.
King Halo's breathing suddenly got heavy, ragged. Her chest started heaving. Her legs began screaming at her, the strength just draining out with each stride like someone had yanked the plug.
No... not yet... I can't fall apart now...
Behind her, Seiun Sky felt the change immediately. That subtle hitch in King's stride, the tension creeping into her shoulders, the wobble starting to show in her form.
There it is. Now's my chance.
She accelerated hard, eating up the gap between them. King Halo tried to respond, tried to dig deeper and find something more, but her legs had nothing left. The tank was empty.
By 1850 meters, Seiun Sky pulled alongside King Halo, then passed her clean. Second place secured, just like that.
King Halo could only watch helplessly as Seiun surged ahead, her own body refusing to obey anymore. Every command from her brain just died somewhere between her mind and her legs.
I'm... I'm done...
But Seiun Sky wasn't satisfied with just second place. Not even close.
Her eyes locked onto Silence Suzuka's back, still eight lengths ahead. Still far, but something was different now. Suzuka's stride didn't look quite as effortless anymore. That relentless pace she'd set from the gun was finally starting to cost her.
She's slowing down. I can catch her. I can actually do this.
Coming out of the final corner into the home stretch, the gap started shrinking. Eight lengths became seven, then six. Suzuka's breathing was clearly labored now, visible even from behind. Her pace was dropping, the price of that explosive start finally coming due.
1900 meters. Five lengths. Then four.
Seiun Sky dug deeper, pouring everything she had into her legs. The gap kept closing. She could almost taste it now, that victory she'd been chasing all day.
Come on. Come on! Just a little more!
1950 meters. Only 50 meters left. Three lengths. Two.
So close! I've almost got her!
Silence Suzuka's ears flicked back, picking up the sound of hooves getting closer.
Someone is catching up.
There was no panic, no fear. Just a quiet awareness that her space was being invaded. That peaceful silence she'd been running in, that beautiful solitude where it was just her and the track and the wind, was about to be broken.
She's getting too close.
The noise would come soon. Heavy breathing. Pounding hooves right beside her. The presence of another horse girl was disrupting the calm scenery she'd been enjoying alone.
No. Not yet. I want to keep running like this a little longer.
Her body responded smoothly, instinctively. She increased her pace, not desperately but naturally, like widening the distance between herself.
This is better. Just me and the track ahead.
The gap stabilized at two lengths, then widened slightly back to three. The quiet returned, wrapping around her like a comfortable blanket.
No! Don't let her get away again!
Seiun Sky threw everything she had left into those final meters. Her legs were screaming, her lungs burning like fire, but the gap just wouldn't close anymore. It was like hitting an invisible wall.
"Ah...."
The finish line came and went.
First place went to Silence Suzuka, breathing hard and clearly exhausted but still untouchable when it mattered most. That final acceleration had sealed the deal.
She slowed to a gentle trot, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her legs felt heavy, wobbly even. That last burst had taken more out of her than she'd expected.
They're getting faster. Both of them.
Suzuka turned back to look at the other two. Seiun Sky was grinning despite gasping for air, and King Halo looked completely crushed. Something tightened in Suzuka's chest seeing that.
I'm sorry, but the view from the lead is mine!
The words stayed trapped in her throat like they always did. She wasn't good at comunication to people, all she could manage was a small, gentle nod toward them before she walked off to cool down.
Second was Seiun Sky, finishing two lengths behind and gasping for air. She dragged the back of her sleeve across her mouth, wiping away sweat and breath in one rough motion. But even through the frustration, she was grinning. She'd closed eight lengths down to two.
Third place was King Halo, trailing far behind with her shoulders slumped forward, head hanging down, legs trembling beneath her.
The sweet taste of victory from those mile races evaporated instantly, replaced by bitter ash coating her tongue.
King Halo trudged back to Hayato slowly, completely dejected. Each step felt like she was dragging weights behind her.
Even at 2000 meters... I really thought I could... but I...
"My stamina still isn't enough." The words came out quietly, barely above a whisper. She kept staring at the ground, couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye. "Trying to fight at the front against Seiun Sky in medium-distance didn't work out. Maybe if I'd stayed at the back instead... I could've shown what I'm actually capable of."
She paused, her ears drooping even further.
"I need to rethink my tactics."
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Btw thx for the support and comment! Maybe some of u can do a review star in webnovel :) No need to push yourself for 5 stars, just make sure it's not below 4 haha.
Whatever, enjoy it... Uhhh heavy rain...I hate the cold....I hope tomorrow doesn't have heavy rain again...