"Natural," in this sense, meant being able to consciously control one's emotions, remaining unaffected by external things.
To a certain degree, the girl could manage it, but obviously, what Sunday Silence was describing wasn't simply the level of 'not being affected by others' opinions'.
It was about throwing one's entire being into the race. Or rather, merging one's entire self into the very act of running itself.
To empty the mind and feel the course.
This was somewhat difficult for the girl. As a practicalist, the knowledge stuffed into her head would inevitably surface and be applied during a race.
Analyzing the race situation, analyzing her opponents—it had become second nature to her.
Now, to be suddenly told not to think of anything extraneous, to run with her whole heart and soul…
This option of subtraction ran completely contrary to everything she'd done before. She couldn't possibly adapt to it in such a short time.
Besides, if she really wanted to try this method, her current running style—the stalking method that required considering when to decelerate and how to apply pressure to her opponents—was definitely unsuitable.
Running without a single care…
That was only possible for a front-runner, one who abandoned all tactics in a mad dash for the lead.
In the quiet school building, the girl intercepted a student known for always being the last to leave the classroom.
Long, soft orange hair, an elegant and slender figure, her entire being exuded a gentle, almost soft and yielding quality from the inside out.
Possessing monstrous speed, called the most perfect Uma Musume by Agnes Tachyon, she was like a meteor streaking across the night sky.
The Fugitive From Another Dimension, Silence Suzuka.
Her turquoise eyes looked at the black-haired girl before her. A bit uncertain, Silence Suzuka repeated, "Um… You want me to teach you how to change your mindset while running?"
"Mm-hm."
"I see…"
Even if you say 'Mm-hm', I don't understand at all!
Brushing her fingers against her cheek, Silence Suzuka masked her bewilderment with a smile.
She never thought the day would come when Manhattan Cafe would ask her for advice on the secrets of the front-running dash.
She remembered the other girl used a mid-pack running style in both races and training, didn't she? Why the sudden change in strategy?
But as a fellow student, and especially one of the few who had managed to capture Silence Suzuka's attention, she naturally couldn't bring herself to refuse outright.
This question, however, was truly beyond the syllabus…
What did she mean, 'how to change your mindset'? It was like asking why, faced with the same situation, some people get really angry while others remain indifferent.
There might not be any complicated reason at all; it could just be a matter of personality.
Everyone was different.
Like herself, when she ran, she just ran. She didn't think about complicated things, so naturally, her mindset stayed focused on the running itself.
As for exactly how that shift happened, she couldn't really explain it.
Do you think about which specific muscles to contract and extend when you raise your arm?
Silence Suzuka hesitated.
"Could you… give me some time to think about it…?"
"Of course."
The girl nodded.
However long it takes.
She watched as Silence Suzuka pinched her chin, a conflicted, thoughtful expression on her face. Her feet began to move almost unconsciously. In the empty hallway, the girl watched her walk further and further away, and then…
"Huh? How did I end up over here…?"
Having unconsciously wandered into the stairwell, Silence Suzuka came clattering back.
"Sorry, Manhattan Cafe," Silence Suzuka said, a hand placed over her chest. "I don't think I can give you an answer."
She was never much of a talker to begin with, spending little time interacting with others. Faced with such a difficult question, she simply had no idea how to respond.
"I see." The girl nodded. She wasn't particularly surprised.
Some things simply couldn't be learned through study alone.
Comprehension, insight, resolve—these three forms of understanding were like three invisible barriers, blocking out those who only knew how to strive foolishly without learning to think.
The girl could learn technical knowledge, but when it came to temperament, she was still sorely lacking.
Fear, dread, anxiety—even if she could mask them well with a neutral expression, her emotions were still swayed by them.
It was a good thing this world didn't have things like ghost-powered lie detectors. Otherwise, like that time she was found out by Narita Brian, or when Agnes Tachyon wanted to use her for an experiment, her hands and feet would have been sweating buckets from nerves.
It really isn't that easy.
Thinking this, the girl shook her head. She thanked Silence Suzuka and prepared to leave.
It seemed this was a path she would have to traverse step by step, groping her way forward in the dark.
"Wait, please, Cafe!"
Seeing the other girl about to leave, Silence Suzuka called out to stop her.
Seeing that disappointed look on her face, for some reason, she felt terribly uneasy herself.
Strange… Since when was I such a soft-hearted person?
"Maybe… you'd understand if we just ran once…?" Hesitantly, Silence Suzuka spoke.
"Run once?"
"Yes. You see, we're not on the training track right now, we're not in a training mindset. In a situation like this, even if you asked me about things during training, it'd be hard to explain the reasons."
But if she could just go for a run outside, maybe she could grasp that feeling again and explain it.
"What do you think?"
Her gentle eyes rested on the other girl.
"Is it really alright? After lunch break, you have training, don't you? If you don't rest now…"
"It's fine with me!" Silence Suzuka said immediately.
"Ahem, what I mean is, during lunch break, I usually go for a run outside to pass the time anyway."
Besides reading, her favorite pastime was running along the river embankment.
Around noon, it was the least crowded, very quiet, and the wind blowing there felt wonderfully comfortable. It was a great spot, whether for relaxing or for training.
"If you don't mind."
"Of course I don't mind."
"Then… I'll be in your care, Suzuka."
--+--
The front-running dash. No, the Great Escape—the running style that left everyone else far behind.
Somewhere along the line, her running form had come to be called the Great Escape.
Ignoring race distance, ignoring stamina management, going all out from the very start.
Run forward, just keep running forward, until the very last ounce of strength was spent.
Silence Suzuka loved this feeling. She remembered that uninhabited grassland, lying there soft and boneless under the glow of the setting sun, having spent all her energy.
It was as if she had vented all her pent-up gloom and dissatisfaction.
In that moment, her body felt indescribably clear and free.
Her blood pulsed to the rhythm of the wind rushing into her heart. The surroundings were empty, the sky a blanket of crimson fire, the green grass stretching as far as the eye could see.
She sat up, feeling as if she were the only person left in the entire world.
Carefree, able to fully enjoy this breathtaking scenery that belonged to her alone.
I've seen it. That truly captivating sight—
Looking up at the sky, Silence Suzuka whispered softly to the black Uma Musume who had appeared to guide her toward the path of the big escape back when she first entered her Maturation, the one who hadn't appeared since.
It was… really so beautiful…
"What should I do?"
Once they reached the embankment, the black-haired girl asked.
"Just follow me. Because I never know myself where I'll stop."
It wasn't unheard of for her to get so absorbed in running that she accidentally missed training.
The moment her feet started moving, all distracting thoughts were left behind.
So just following her was enough.
"I understand. Then… let's begin."
As those golden eyes conveyed their message, Silence Suzuka took off.
In an instant, an endless, forward-stretching green prairie unfolded before her eyes.
She ran quietly across the vacant field.
"Suzuka? Suzuka? That's weird, where did Suzuka go?"
Having just returned to the dorm, Special Week looked around, her head full of question marks, searching for Silence Suzuka.
Soon, she found a note on the table.
"Sorry, Spe-chan. might not be back at noon for the next few days."
It was signed by Silence Suzuka.
Scratching her head, Special Week looked utterly perplexed.
What in the world was this all about?
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.