Nearl's ears twitched lightly, tilting just a bit to the side as she caught the distant sound of surprised gasps. Her hearing was incredibly sharp; even with that slight delay, she could already tell exactly who was watching her train from the sidelines.
Just as she finished a set of exercises, Nearl found herself with a moment to spare—enough to greet the "peeping tom."
"Norn Ace, good morning! Are you here to train as well? After all, the early bird catches the worm—getting a workout in first thing really gets the body going."
She called up cheerfully to Norn Ace, who was standing on the slope, then made her way toward the railing. She was only slightly out of breath, but her pace and expression were as calm as ever, making one wonder if she'd even been pushing herself during the routine.
Norn Ace's face was stiff as she slowly made her way down the slope. She felt like she wasn't fully awake yet, and it was as if a tiny version of herself was throwing Hadoukens inside her mind.
'What's going on? Is this special admission student really that strong? And honestly, is my luck just weird? How many crazy talented Uma Musume have I run into already?'
Her thoughts were all over the place as she approached Nearl, her movements carrying a hint of unease.
Nearl pulled a towel from her sports bag nearby, wiped her face, then turned to Norn Ace with a refreshed smile.
"Norn Ace, I've been training here for a while now, but you're the first Uma Musume I've seen. Is today some kind of rest day?"
Hearing that, Norn Ace felt a little awkward. She knew the real reason—it wasn't a rest day at all. It was just that the Uma Musume at Kasamatsu tended to be… lazy.
"Ah, well… maybe they've got their own plans. Anyway, forget that—how'd you rest last night?"
"Thanks for your concern. To be honest, my family circumstances aren't great, so I can adapt to pretty much any environment. The storage room last night was actually quite comfortable."
Seeing that Norn Ace was changing the subject, Nearl understood why the track was empty. She let it go and followed Norn's lead.
"Not great family circumstances, huh… So what time did you get up to train today? It looks like you've been at it for a while."
"Around six, I think? I didn't really check the exact time."
Hearing that, Norn Ace felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Poor family background, hardworking, naturally gifted…
'She's like a carbon copy of Oguri Cap…'
'No, no—there's no way she'll reach Oguri Cap's level!'
Norn shook her head vigorously, brushing off the thought. She wouldn't put just anyone on the same pedestal as her idol.
'Oguri Cap is unbeatable! This one might be around Fujimasa March's level, at best.'
Reaffirming her beliefs, Norn decided to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"Waking up that early must be rough. You're training so hard—are you aiming for a good placing in your races?"
"Well, yes, you could say that. Though winning isn't the only reason I run."
"So, have you thought about getting a trainer? You can't enter races without one, you know. If you'd like, I could introduce you to mine. She's kind of irritable and strict, but she's reliable. I'm sure you'd get used to her."
Norn Ace started pitching her own trainer without hesitation. This special admit was clearly strong—having her join would be a great addition to the team.
Besides, she didn't dislike this girl. They'd probably get along fine.
"Thank you for the offer, Norn Ace, but I've already found a trainer. We get along well, so I'm not planning to join another team right now."
Nearl listened patiently, then politely declined with an apologetic look.
She could sense the warmth hidden behind the other girl's cool exterior, and part of her wanted to accept the sincere invitation. But she'd already chosen a trainer, and she wasn't going to go back on that.
"Huh? You already have a trainer? You weren't tricked, were you? There are plenty of folks like that here in Kasamatsu—all talk about dreams and the future, but no actual plans."
"No, that's not it. My trainer was recommended by a friend. I trust her judgment."
"A recommendation, huh… alright then, I won't push. Seriously, why am I even helping that irritable woman recruit Uma Musume~"
Once she heard Nearl had a trainer, Norn Ace didn't press further. She was starting to get a read on Nearl's personality: strict, serious, gentle. People like that valued promises. Pushing too hard might just annoy her.
But there was one thing she had to bring up.
"Hey, you know… you're kinda rigid, aren't you?"
"Hm?" Nearl wasn't sure what Norn meant.
"We know each other now, right? So stop using my full name. Isn't it a hassle? Just call me Norn from now on."
Norn Ace waved a hand dismissively. She really didn't like hearing her full name from Nearl—it gave her goosebumps. A shorter name was much better.
"Alright, then I'll call you Norn from now on. Likewise, you can just call me Nearl."
"Sure thing. I was getting tired of calling you 'special admit' anyway."
Nearl smiled. She found Norn Ace's personality rather endearing.
"Norn, there's something else I wanted to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Are you planning to enter any races soon? I want to debut as soon as possible, so I'd like to know more about how it works."
Nearl's expression was serious as she asked.
She didn't have much choice. Money was tight—she'd always worn hand-me-downs, and her shoes hadn't been replaced in years. But now things were different. Clothes were one thing, but shoes had become a real expense.
Based on her training intensity, she estimated that regular athletic shoes would fall apart in two or three days. Even proper racing shoes wouldn't last two months. And all of that cost money.
She didn't want to trouble Headmaster Komori, and she didn't expect her trainer to cover the costs either. That meant prize money from races was her only option. A speedy debut was essential.
"A debut race? You're in that much of a hurry?"
Norn Ace was puzzled. In her view, it was better to train for at least a month or two before debuting. A failed debut could land you in the "maiden" group—both a blow to your confidence and a complication for future race schedules.
"Yes. I don't have much money, so the sooner I debut, the sooner I can earn some prizes."
"But you don't have to rush it these next few days. The academy provides free meals, and special admits don't pay dorm fees. You shouldn't have any major expenses."
Norn Ace was genuinely surprised. Nearl didn't strike her as someone who cared about appearance—so why the sudden need for cash?
"I don't have a choice. My training volume is high, and my shoes wear out quickly. I'll need to spend a lot on footwear."
That explanation only made Norn more confused.
"What about your trainer? Shouldn't that be their responsibility? Trainers are supposed to help improve your performance—replacing shoes is part of that."
"My trainer isn't well-off either. Besides, he has exams to focus on. I need to consider his situation too. If I can earn the money myself, I'd rather not burden him."
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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.