"If you're fine with it, then don't go thinking I was bullying you." Norn Ace leaned against the door and waved, indicating she was taking her leave.
"Alright, I'm heading back then. Make yourself at home tonight, just don't turn this storage room into a complete mess. Remember to come find me tomorrow so we can set up your bed together."
With that, Norn Ace turned and left without another word. Nearl heard the sound of footsteps fading into the distance—she was really gone now.
"Norn Ace is a kind person at heart. Blunt with her words, but she doesn't hesitate to act," Nearl murmured to herself, a warm smile gracing her lips.
"Alright, time to keep pushing forward. From now on, part of my time will go toward training, which means I need to be even more focused during study hours. I've already learned most of what I can about being a trainer—next step is picking a date to take the Central Trainer's exam."
As she spoke, Nearl set down her large backpack and knelt on one knee, rummaging through it.
"Hmm, where's my book Meridian Circuits in Uma Musume: A Complete Guide? Ah, it's under this one. Whew, starting today, I'll be studying this."
(T/N: personally, I'm not really racist towards chinese people/content, and I don't think meridians are… that nationalistic? Im just adding this cause there was a complaint about meridians in another fic I tled. It's just an eastern version of home remedies/massages, and I'm east asian(not chinese or japanese) so I don't have much of a disdain toward it. Additionally, I don't really have a suitable replacement so im keeping it. Anything blatantly racist or nationalistic I'll take out tho.)
She switched on the desk lamp, pulled up a chair, arranged her materials, and began a new chapter of her studies.
'I have to work hard—at the very least, so that when I meet Tokai Teio someday, the medical knowledge I gain can help spare her from pain and injuries.'
Nearl recalled the deep emotion and inspiration she felt in her previous life just before passing—though it was only an animated portrayal, the feelings it evoked were undeniably real. Even now, she held a protective concern for Tokai Teio.
If possible, she wanted Tokai Teio to keep running on the track through her own strength, free from the shackles of injury—not struggling to stage miraculous comebacks.
A Tokai Teio untouched by injuries might achieve many victories or face defeats, but it would be a future earned through her own efforts. Not like in the anime, where she spent her life battling fate, sometimes barred from even attempting certain races.
'I hope my unique abilities and the knowledge I'm gaining can be of some help.'
That was the thought on Nearl's mind as she studied.
Late into the night, stars dotted the sky, but from outside the dormitories of Kasamatsu Tracen, a faint glow still shone from one window.
--+--
The night passed quickly. At the first hint of light on the horizon, Nearl's eyes fluttered open, though weariness still lingered in them.
'It was my first time studying meridian theory related to Uma Musume yesterday, and I got so absorbed I lost track of time—ended up with less than two hours of sleep. What a misstep. Looks like I still need to work on my self-control.'
Quietly chastising herself, Nearl began consciously guiding the radiance within her, letting it flow throughout her body. She'd discovered early on that this light could ease her fatigue.
For a moment, Nearl glowed from head to toe, radiant like the sun, giving off a warm, healing aura. But soon, the brilliance receded, fading inward until it was no longer visible.
As the warmth spread through her limbs and core, Nearl opened her eyes again—this time, clear and vibrant, with no trace of exhaustion. A faint golden light seemed to shimmer deep within her gaze.
After tidying her bedding and freshening up, Nearl gathered her books and headed to the training room. She'd already cleaned and organized it thoroughly yesterday, so there was plenty of space for her to move around now.
The dorm was a bit of a walk from the training room. Nearl quickened her pace, taking in the campus scenery along the way. Though the sky was just beginning to brighten, the track field was still empty.
Kitahara Jo's training room was tucked away in a corner of the field, so crossing the track was unavoidable. The field at Kasamatsu Tracen was expansive—nowhere near as large as Central Tracen's, but still far beyond what you'd find at an ordinary school.
After glancing across the field, Nearl sped up. She planned to drop off her books in the training room first, then hurry back to the track for training. This was her first official training session—until now, her daily routine had just been basic exercise, nothing compared to proper, structured training.
Crossing the field, Nearl reached the training room door. It was shut tight, and no sounds came from inside—seemed Kitahara Jo wasn't around yet.
Not that it was surprising. It wasn't even 6:30; most people wouldn't be here this early. Besides, Kitahara Jo wasn't exactly the type to push himself hard—no use expecting him to rise early and study diligently.
Nearl took out the key Kitahara Jo had given her yesterday and unlocked the door. The interior looked completely different from before: books were sorted and neatly arranged, dust had been swept away, and notes had been reviewed and reorganized. Now, the training room resembled more of a study.
Setting down her backpack, she locked the door behind her and changed into the athletic wear issued by the school. Such was the life of an Uma Musume—you spent more time in training clothes than in your uniform, let alone the pretty outfits you bought. Those hardly ever saw the light of day unless you slacked off in training and didn't care about your races.
She pulled on her jacket, zipped it up, and switched into her training sneakers. As she fixed the horseshoes onto her shoes, Nearl sighed softly. Money was on her mind.
Although Kasamatsu Tracen provided one set of training clothes, shoes, and horseshoes for free, it was a one-time offer. Given how intense Uma Musume training was, shoes and horseshoes didn't last long.
"Sigh, money… Looks like I need to tell Trainer Kitahara that we should schedule my debut race as soon as possible."
--+--
By 7:30 a.m., Norn Ace was also up and out of bed. She considered herself quite diligent these days—most Uma Musume at the academy typically rose around 8 or 9 a.m., especially on days without morning classes.
She spent a little time on her appearance, though these days, with training taking up most of her time, she'd ditched full makeup for just a touch of light cosmetics before heading out.
Leaving the dorm, she saw only a handful of students moving about the campus. After a brief glance their way, Norn Ace made her way to the track field, planning to run a few laps before breakfast.
But before she even reached the track, a faint sound caught her attention from afar, sparking her curiosity.
"Who at Kasamatsu is this diligent? Up this early for training?"
Muttering to herself, she kept walking, suddenly eager to meet this fellow Uma Musume.
As she drew closer, the indistinct noise grew clearer and more defined.
"996, 997, 998, 999… One set of high-knee jumps done."
The numbers made Norn Ace's eyes widen. "What? 999 in one set? What kind of endurance monster is this? Or is her idea of high-knee jumps different from mine?"
Her curiosity now burning like an itch she had to scratch, Norn Ace quickened her pace and reached the edge of the track. From there, she could overlook the entire training circuit—and spot the lone figure training on the field.
But that flash of gold was all too familiar—so familiar that her face lit up with surprise.
"It's that new special admission?!"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.