As Fujimasa March and the others made their way toward the field, Nearl was in the middle of an endurance training session—this time, jumping rope.
Jumping rope is a convenient and effective training method that thoroughly works the muscles of the thighs and calves. The up-and-down motion also builds leaping power, but most importantly, it strengthens cardiovascular function.
Having enough stamina in reserve for a race depends crucially on cardiovascular fitness. With every breath, the intake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide supply the body with sufficient energy. Any Uma Musume who neglects this is nothing but an amateur.
Nearl understood perfectly well how vital cardiovascular fitness was. That's why she had dedicated a third of her training regimen to it: a daily 100km jog, 10,000 jump ropes, 2,000 step jumps, and so on.
Truth be told, Nearl rather regretted that Tracen Academy in Kasamatsu didn't have a swimming pool—swimming was actually her favorite form of training.
Tap-tap-tap-tap…
Nearl's legs bounced up and down at an incredibly rapid pace. Each time the soles of her feet touched the ground, they rebounded like springs, showcasing remarkable flexibility. Her wrists swung in smooth circles, tracing perfect arcs in the air. Her golden hair swayed over her shoulders, sleek and dazzling like satin. Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead with every vigorous jump, tracing paths along her cheeks before being scattered mid-air by the wind whipped up from the rope, vanishing to who-knows-where.
By now, Nearl had already completed over 2,000 jumps, but she had no intention of stopping. The fatigue was still within her limits; she planned to keep going until around 3,000 before taking a break.
But a voice interrupted her plans.
"Hey~ Nearl! Over here—can you come for a moment?"
The call came from the edge of the field. It was Kitahara Jo calling for her. Hearing him, Nearl gradually slowed the pace of her rope swings, and the fierce swish-swish in the air slowly faded away.
After five or six seconds, Nearl finally came to a stop. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her arm, coiled up the jump rope, and walked over to Kitahara.
"Trainer, shouldn't you be reviewing problems right now? For you to come all the way here—is something the matter?"
By the time she reached Kitahara, Nearl's breathing had already steadied considerably, only slightly quicker than usual. She twisted her upper body from side to side, loosening the muscles that had been tensed moments earlier, and asked Kitahara why he had come. Of course, she didn't overlook the Uma Musume standing beside him.
"Hello, my name is Margaret Nearl. I'm an Uma Musume under Trainer Kitahara Jo here. May I ask how to address you?"
Nearl politely inquired of the other Uma Musume, but the latter's expression was far from cheerful. Her brow was tightly furrowed, and her crimson eyes were fixed intently on Nearl's face.
"Fujimasa March. That's my name."
Despite being stared down so intensely, Nearl didn't flinch at all. Still smiling, she extended her right hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Fujimasa. Please, just call me Nearl."
Looking at the hand extended toward her, Fujimasa March was somewhat taken aback. This was the first time she had encountered someone who didn't show the slightest unease under her intense gaze.
Her feet shuffled in place hesitantly for a moment, but finally, she took Nearl's hand. "I've heard about you from Oguri Cap. She said you're her best friend."
"I'm honored to have Oguri as a friend. So, you're an acquaintance of hers?"
Hearing Fujimasa's reply, Nearl felt pleased—so this dapple-gray Uma Musume also knew Oguri Cap?
"I'm Oguri Cap's rival… or at least, I'd like to say that. But I know my limits. I'm nowhere near her level—I can't truly be her rival. I'm just her friend."
At Nearl's question, Fujimasa March's expression suddenly fell. Her sharp, determined eyes dimmed.
Seeing Fujimasa's reaction, Nearl lowered her eyelids slightly. She recalled Matron Komori's parting words to her.
'Matron Komori, I've encountered another Uma Musume bound by the limits of her talent. The reality is indeed as harsh as you said…'
But Nearl quickly rallied her spirits. She had long been acquainted with life's cruelties, and besides, she realized what Fujimasa March's arrival likely meant.
"Miss Fujimasa, if I may ask—are you here to do parallel training with me?"
That's right—Nearl remembered. A few hours earlier, her trainer had made a promise: if she could keep up with Fujimasa March, he would allow her to debut directly in official races. She just hadn't expected her trainer to be this close with Fujimasa, enough to bring her over in just a few hours.
"Ah, that's right. I did want to see what you're made of. After all, Oguri Cap speaks so highly of you. I imagine your talent must be on par with hers. I want to witness that level of genius again."
Fujimasa March's expression grew fervent. Her words brimmed with powerful self-determination as she stared straight at Nearl.
"This year, I'll probably be moving to the central circuit. I know I'm weak—going there will only make me an insignificant stepping stone. But still, I want to see that scenery for myself. I want to feel that turf beneath my feet. Margaret Nearl—can you, like Oguri Cap, make me feel that absolute gap?"
Being looked at with such fighting spirit, Nearl felt herself getting swept up as well. What kind of knight would fear a challenge? Perhaps some, but certainly not her! So Nearl decisively responded to Fujimasa March's resolve.
"Trainer, could I trouble you to give the starting call and keep time? Instead of parallel training, I'd like to have a mock race with Miss Fujimasa here. Let's use the result to settle our agreement!"
Turning back, Nearl looked toward Kitahara. Her firm, clear words left him no room for refusal—or perhaps, Kitahara himself felt a surge of excitement. He clenched his right hand tightly and agreed to the proposal.
"Alright! I'll be the judge. The mock race begins in ten minutes. You two can head to the track now."
--+--
Joy—the joy of having her will acknowledged; the joy of her thoughts being met with a response; the joy of being respected as herself. Fujimasa March felt like she was in the best condition of her life.
"Thank you, Nearl. I'll give this mock race everything I've got. And I expect you to do the same."
"Of course. I'll run with everything I have right now, Miss Fujimasa."
"Just call me March. 'Fujimasa' feels too formal. Oguri Cap really has a good eye for people—you really are worth befriending."
"Thank you for the kind words, March."
The two chatted as they made their way to the track. The other students training on the track saw them walking side by side and seemed to realize what was happening. With excited expressions, they temporarily cleared the lane, gathering along the edges to watch.
Among those Uma Musume, one with wild, untamed hair stood in the front row, muttering under her breath: "No way… That new girl is going to race against Fujimasa? She's got some nerve."
--+--
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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.