"Yo, Maruzen."
Tosho Boy, having just finished her warm-up, came over to greet her.
"Never thought you'd actually go through with it."
The four of them, competing together on the same track.
When she first heard the request, Tosho Boy thought she must have misheard.
After all, it was Maruzensky herself who said it—and to her rivals from back in the day.
No matter how she looked at it, this didn't seem like a race that could be taken lightly.
"Ara, did I surprise you?" Maruzensky laughed.
"You could say that. But more than surprise, I'd call it excitement."
Tosho Boy clenched her fist, the joints emitting a sharp crack. "I've been stewing over this for ages—if you had raced back then, Maru, would the title of that era's representative have shifted?"
"Ara~, you say that, but Tosho, you don't look like someone who expects to lose."
She really didn't. At this moment, Tosho Boy had never felt such fierce competitive spirit.
After retiring, she thought she'd settle into a mundane life coaching the juniors. She never expected a day would come when she'd face all her old rivals again.
Her body had almost grown rusty from the long absence of official races. Today was the perfect chance to cut loose and really run.
"Don't hold it against me if I hand you your first defeat in this race, Maruzen."
"If you can manage it, I'd be quite looking forward to it."
Her expression remained as unshakably calm as ever.
Now that she thought about it, Tosho Boy had never actually seen Maruzensky run all-out.
"But I guess I'm about to find out..."
""Ten Point Senpai—!!!""
A wave of shrill cheers swept over the track, cutting her off.
Banners held high, the students had scrawled Ten Point's name, surrounded by a sea of hand-drawn hearts.
Standing on the turf, Ten Point flashed a sunny smile and waved back, triggering another surge of screams.
"That Ten Point, huh..." Tosho Boy folded her arms, a wry comment escaping her.
"Well, she is one of the most popular seniors."
With her formidable skill, handsome yet pretty features, and a gentle personality, she'd become an object of admiration for many juniors.
That prince-charming image had earned Ten Point a devoted crowd of juniors who cheered her every move.
Not that she herself enjoyed all that attention.
"Such lively kids..."
Wearing a resigned smile, Ten Point finally managed to extricate herself and made her way over to Maruzensky.
"If we're going by popularity rankings, Ten Point is the undisputed number one right now," Tosho Boy teased.
"Give me a break. Don't bring popularity contests into an intra-school race," Ten Point said, massaging her temples.
"By the way, where's Green Grass? I haven't seen her since earlier."
"Green Grass was right next to me a moment ago. Weird."
Shing—a sound like a blade leaving its scabbard. Suddenly, an icy cold sensation pressed against her neck.
A jolt ran through her. Ten Point froze on the spot.
"I was really happy when I heard 'Senpai'..."
A mournful voice drifted from behind her.
"But why did you have to add 'Ten Point' in front of it?"
"Green Grass?"
"Green Grass is dead. Now there is only a vengeful spirit, deeply wounded by you..."
"What's all this? Stop clinging to Ten Point and get over here."
At Tosho Boy's words, Ten Point realized the cold sensation on her neck was just Green Grass's hand.
Ever since she started getting a handle on her feelings for her junior, hadn't Green Grass become... scarier?
Was she going to get even more obsessive from here on out...?
Finally, with all four girls assembled, the training ground's broadcast system crackled to life again.
[It's finally happening! The grudges, the bonds, the drama among Tracen's four great seniors—will it all be settled here today?! I'm your host for this race, Hishi Amazon, and joining me is—!]
[I'm Fuji Kiseki, providing commentary for today's match.]
Another voice came over the speakers.
Another wave of screams rose from the crowd.
The second most popular figure after Ten Point, a banner slowly unfurled amid the students, bearing Fuji Kiseki's name wrapped in hearts.
"Hey! You there—no cheering for the commentator—!"
After scolding the ones disrupting the order, Hishi Amazon raised her mic.
[Now, all competitors, please enter the starting gates!]
Though not often used, the academy kept proper starting gates in the sports equipment warehouse next to the training field, all to mimic a real race environment.
Once Maruzensky and the others had entered their gates one by one, Fuji Kiseki, the commentator, began:
[Based on pre-race polls, most respondents found the outcome of this race too close to call. Those believing Maruzensky-senpai or Tosho Boy-senpai would win made up over 70% of the total. However, Ten Point-senpai and Green Grass-senpai also possess undeniable strength.]
[In other words, all four seniors here today have a real chance of victory.]
[Truly worthy of Tracen's most veteran seniors—every one of them is a force to be reckoned with!]Hishi Amazon pounded the table as she yelled.
[The question that has lingered in everyone's hearts will finally be answered today.]
[Will the three TTG seniors showcase their former glory once more, or will Maruzensky-senpai demonstrate her utterly overwhelming speed?!]
[Let's wait and see!]
With a loud clang, the gates flew open. All four girls launched forward simultaneously. Their textbook-perfect start drew cheers from the surrounding students—everyone was rooting for them.
The loudest cheers were for Ten Point, a tsunami of sound rolling from south to north.
Next was Maruzensky. As a kind and gentle senior, she too had many admirers.
"Maruzensky-senpai!! Go—!!"
"Do your best, Senpai!!!"
Since it wasn't an official race, the Tracen students in the audience were much rowdier than they would be at a proper racecourse.
Cupping their hands around their mouths like megaphones, they shouted at the top of their lungs.
[And they're off! All the seniors execute a beautiful start—!!]
Feet pounding the ground, the four chose their signature running styles.
Maruzensky shot into the lead right away, putting half a length between herself and Tosho Boy from the very start.
Ten Point settled in next, positioning herself a length behind Tosho Boy.
Green Grass held the rear, sticking close to Ten Point's heels.
With only four runners, strategy was pretty much out the window.
What they needed now wasn't clever tricks or tactics on the track—it was a straight-up, honest clash of skill.
[The race distance is 2000 meters—a distance all the seniors here excel at! This race symbolizes the end of an old era and the dawn of a new one!]
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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.