After leaving the Student Council door and thanking Teio, Legend leisurely made her way to the training room.
Since she was already late, she didn't care about a few more minutes.
Opening the training room door, the first thing she saw was the Trainer with a lollipop in his mouth, drawing something at the desk.
"...What are you doing?"
Legend asked with a bit of curiosity.
"Ah? Oh, I'm drawing a promotional poster for our 'Spica'."
The Trainer was startled by the sudden voice, and only relaxed and explained after seeing it was Legend.
"Since I plan to restart the team, recruiting must be reconsidered."
"Oh~ let me see."
Legend leaned over and saw an indescribable drawing.
"How is it? Not bad, right!"
"...What did Golshi say?"
"She had an expression of total incomprehension!"
Even that Golshi was like that?
"...I suggest you find a professional designer, Trainer." Legend chose an answer that wouldn't hurt anyone.
"Ah, don't worry, I've already posted it. There will definitely be Uma Musume coming!" The Trainer showed a confident expression.
"As long as you're happy." Legend gave a diamond smile.
Isn't it fine too?
"By the way, where's Golshi?" Legend looked around but didn't see that bouncy figure.
"Her? She said she smelled the scent of destiny and then rushed out."
"...What does that mean?"
"How could I possibly know? That's Gold Ship after all." The Trainer shrugged helplessly.
"...True." It was hard not to agree.
"By the way, why are you only arriving now? You're an hour late."
The Trainer checked the time and asked.
"Ah, I went to the Student Council for a bit."
Legend also remembered her purpose for coming here, walked straight to her locker, and began to change clothes.
"What did you go to the Student Council for... Hey, hey, I'm still here!"
The Trainer saw that Legend had no intention of avoiding him at all. He was so startled his lollipop fell out, and he hurriedly turned around.
"Hmm? It's fine, it's fine. It's not like I'm losing a limb or anything."
Legend said nonchalantly.
"I'm telling you..."
The Trainer felt a bit helpless.
"Alright, Trainer, you can turn around now."
Having quickly changed her clothes, Legend spoke to the Trainer.
"Whoa!"
The Trainer turned around and let out an exclamation of surprise.
"What is it?"
"Even though Uma Musume are all beautiful girls, it's truly rare to see someone as pretty as you," the Trainer praised.
"...Thank you for the compliment in the midst of your busy schedule." Legend raised an eyebrow.
"No, no, no. I've been a Trainer for over ten years, and you're the most beautiful one I've ever seen."
Having changed into Tracen's classic red-and-white training uniform, Legend tied her hair into a high ponytail, revealing her elegant neck and a face as beautiful as a sculpture. Her golden hair emitted a faint glow, her eyes and brows held a hidden grace, and her voice and smile radiated a gentle charm.
What a picture-perfect beauty.
"I'll take that as a compliment then. So, what are we doing today, Trainer-kun?"
Legend felt a bit helpless and pulled the topic back on track.
"Oh, right. Today's plan is basic testing—specifically, tests for speed, stamina, and explosive power. Although yesterday's race already showed your strength, I still need detailed data. So, today's tasks might be a bit heavy."
Snapping back to his senses, the Trainer regretfully popped a lollipop back into his mouth, took out a training schedule, and explained it to Legend.
"...Not bad!"
Legend took the training schedule, looked it over, and let out a surprised sound.
Though he seemed flighty and casual, he was quite reliable in this regard.
"I am a veteran Trainer, after all..."
As if seeing through Legend's thoughts, the Trainer made a declaration.
"Yes, yes, yes~" Her tone was blatantly perfunctory.
"Forget it. No time to lose—you're already an hour late, we have to hurry!"
The Trainer said as he led the way out of the training room.
"Yeah, yeah, right..."
Legend let out a lethargic sound and followed... "This is our training field," the Trainer said, pointing to the track in front of them.
"It's huge!" Legend let out an exclamation like someone who had never seen the world.
To prevent interference during training, Tracen Academy prepares a training field for every team of an intermediate-level Trainer or higher. Of course, only the wealthy Central Tracen would do such a thing.
The grass... it's truly comfortable.
Feeling the texture under her feet, Legend stretched.
I really want to run a lap.
She was eager to try.
"Go warm up first; the testing will happen in a bit," the Trainer instructed.
Legend nodded and walked to the side to start warming up.
"What a well-behaved child. She's nothing like the rest of the Gold Family."
A familiar female voice came from behind.
"Hana, could you please not talk behind me every single time? You'll scare me to death."
The Trainer turned around helplessly.
Ms. Hana didn't speak; she just watched Legend warming up.
"Hana, why did you come over?"
The Trainer asked casually while looking at the training sheet in his hand.
"I reviewed yesterday's training race last night, and something felt off. Then I heard you were bringing her for basic testing, so I came to take a look."
"I see. What's off?"
"It's because I don't know that I came here."
"Fair enough. By the way, want to go to a bar tonight? It's been a while."
"...Okay."
...After warming up, Legend began her testing.
The first item was speed training.
"You need to run one lap around this field at your fastest speed," the Trainer explained.
"...What's a passing time?"
"Within 55 seconds."
"Understood."
Start.
Legend set off... "What's the score?"
"53.32 seconds. A very good result."
"Next item!"
...Tojo Hana stood beside the Trainer watching Legend's test, her brows furrowed.
"What is it?" the Trainer asked.
"Something's wrong," Tojo Hana said. "How are her results?"
"A very standard result for a first-class Uma Musume," the Trainer said.
"How standard?" she pressed.
The Trainer also realized something and looked closely at the record sheet.
"...It's too standard. It's like..."
Like it was specifically controlled.
"...She's not quite normal." Recalling the scene of Legend's race yesterday and looking at her now, moving with ease during the test, "She doesn't seem to be taking it seriously at all—neither in yesterday's race nor in today's test."
"She's not thinking about chasing victory or her limits at all, but rather..." Tojo Hana thought carefully about how to describe it.
"But rather passing," the Trainer added. "Like a student who is satisfied just by reaching the passing grade."
The Trainer also recalled yesterday's race—not the crushing victory during the race, but the Uma Musume's relaxed posture after the race. She hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Does such an Uma Musume really exist?"
Tojo Hana showed an expression of disbelief.
Uma Musume, especially Racing Uma Musume, possess physical capabilities far exceeding those of ordinary people. Similarly, they have a desire for victory and a competitive spirit far beyond humans.
An attitude like Legend's, seemingly pursuing nothing more than a passing grade, was beyond just being rare.
"Chasing is the nature of an Uma Musume. Victory and the limit are things they dream of; it's their instinct," the Trainer emphasized. "If an Uma Musume doesn't pursue these things, then it can only be that they themselves are suppressing that instinct."
"Honestly, I thought I finally found a normal Uma Musume, but it turns out she's a problem child too." The Trainer rubbed his temples, a helpless expression on his face.
"...She is a child of the Gold Family, after all," Tojo Hana consoled... After the test ended, Legend stretched her body and walked toward the Trainer.
She didn't feel the fatigue the Trainer spoke of, only the refreshment of having exercised to her heart's content.
"How's the score, Trainer?" she asked.
"A very good score. However, you didn't give it your all, did you, Classmate Legend?" The Trainer tapped the record sheet in his hand.
"Eh?" Having been found out, Legend felt a bit guilty.
"Forget it, it doesn't matter anyway. Can you tell me why you're slacking off?"
"Well, it's just a test, after all. Good enough is fine."
"'Just a test', huh?" The Trainer seemed to think of something.
"Classmate Legend, what is your goal in becoming an Uma Musume?"
"...I don't know. I've never thought about that question."
Legend was silent for a moment before deciding to tell the truth.
Then why did you come here?
Looking at Legend's somewhat gloomy expression, the Trainer didn't ask that question out loud.
"Classmate Legend, your physical fitness is undoubtedly excellent. So your only remaining issues are strategy and running style. We'll train on those later. It's getting late; let's call it a day."
He changed the subject.
"Okay, Trainer." Legend nodded. "Then, see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow." The Trainer waved his hand and watched Legend walk out of the training field.