"Suzuka-san... are you heading out?"
Having finally caught a break and planning to sleep in all day, Special Week watched as Silence Suzuka rose early, combed her hair, and prepared to go out.
"Thought I'd go for a run outside."
"Is that so? Same as always, Suzuka-san. I won't see you off then, bye~"
Mumbling into her soft blanket, Special Week hugged it tightly with a look that said she'd never let go, waved limply at Silence Suzuka, then rolled over and drifted back to dreamland.
"Want to join me, Spica... ah, already asleep..."
Seeing Special Week, mouth slightly open and drooling in a rather peculiar way, Silence Suzuka shook her head, pulled the covers up for her, and left the room.
Morning runs had become a near habit for Silence Suzuka. Every day before classes, she would wake up early and go for a light jog along the riverbank.
Sometimes she did the same before noon training.
For Silence Suzuka, running had become part of her very being, just as humans need to intake nutrients to sustain life; for her, running was equally indispensable.
Whether she was feeling down, stressed, or simply wanted to pass the time, Silence Suzuka would unconsciously find herself on the riverbank outside the academy.
In spring and summer, the temperature here was pleasant, the wind gentler. In autumn and winter, the riverbank scenery was at its most beautiful.
It could be said it was a rare, treasured track perfect for running, and every day Silence Suzuka would find time to come take a look.
Today was no different.
Changing into her running shoes, and taking advantage of the empty early morning, Silence Suzuka rose onto her toes and gradually picked up speed.
Running alone felt nice, but running with someone else wasn't bad either.
Yesterday, Manhattan Cafe had asked her for advice about the mental aspect of running. At the time, Silence Suzuka had no idea how to explain it, so, with a 'let's try this' attitude, she had invited her to go for a light run together.
The final result was hard to call good or bad. Manhattan Cafe seemed to have understood, yet the faint furrow of her brows also expressed inner confusion.
'I hope I was able to help her...'
Silence Suzuka couldn't help but think.
But even if she didn't quite get it, it would be fine to ask her to run together again.
Yes, run together again.
Even Silence Suzuka was surprised she had thought such a thing.
How to put it... although she usually didn't think about other things while running, yesterday, after running with Cafe, she could faintly hear the sound of breathing behind her.
It wasn't a particularly heavy sound, but very soft, something relaxing to listen to, like the peaceful, comfortable sound of someone sleeping soundly beside you.
Silence Suzuka really liked that feeling. During that stretch of the run, she had completely lost track of time, only noticing they should head back to Tracen when Manhattan Cafe reminded her from behind.
Reluctant to part with it... well, you could probably say that...
It was rare for her to feel such lingering attachment to the act of running with someone.
It made her recall that grassy field involuntarily.
The clear sky, the emerald ground, and that person who guided her, constantly seeking out beautiful scenery.
She didn't know why such an important memory had been forgotten by her, nor why, one day, it had suddenly resurfaced like opening a long-sealed treasure box.
Every night, Silence Suzuka dreamed of that person.
A black silhouette, running quietly ahead.
She had seen her before.
She grew increasingly certain it wasn't some character from a storybook, but that she had truly met that person.
But why?
Even though she recalled things about that person, the most crucial part of the memory remained blurred.
That figure looked at her face, telling her about the beauty of the scenery.
What did she actually look like? What kind of voice did she have?
It was like glass sprayed with mist, blurred into obscurity.
That hazy feeling turned the dreams into what they probably were—just dreams.
Silence Suzuka was troubled.
The more she couldn't remember, the more curious she became.
So much so that she became almost obsessed, linking Manhattan Cafe with that silhouette.
But that was impossible, Silence Suzuka knew.
At her age, Manhattan Cafe was probably about the same age as her, while that person was clearly a mature Uma Musume.
So it couldn't be Manhattan Cafe.
Silence Suzuka told herself this.
Even so, she couldn't help but pay more attention to Cafe.
Thinking about it now, perhaps the reason she felt a connection with Cafe among so many students was, to some extent, because she had unconsciously linked Cafe with that person she yearned for.
It was her subconscious acting up.
'This won't do, Suzuka!'
Patting her cheeks, the girl rallied herself.
How could she have such an embarrassing misconception just because of a resemblance!
A classmate is a classmate, an idol is an idol. How could she, just because she herself mixed things up, impose matters related to someone else onto an unrelated person?
Doing that would be truly unfair to Cafe-san!
Giving her special treatment just because she looks similar shows no respect for Cafe's own personhood.
That's just terrible...
For the first time in a while, Silence Suzuka found her mind wandering during her run.
Every time that black silhouette was involved, her heart would inevitably become unsettled.
She really wanted to know where that person had gone, what she was doing now.
Although they had only met that one brief time, that single encounter had changed Silence Suzuka, setting her on the path of a Uma Musume.
So, if possible, Silence Suzuka wanted to thank her in person.
Thank her for helping her find the most precious part of her life.
Taking a few deep breaths, Silence Suzuka adjusted her state.
She firmly believed that person would also definitely like who she had become.
Wholeheartedly, devoting her heart to her legs.
Slowly, her steps grew lighter, she regained her usual form, and her mind grew more peaceful.
Just as she was about to cast all distracting thoughts aside, a black figure flashed in the corner of Silence Suzuka's vision.
A familiar feeling surged up instantly.
Silence Suzuka's heart gave a violent throb.
That person is—!
Her horseshoes scraped against the asphalt with a sharp sound as Silence Suzuka spun around and chased after that black figure.
"Wait, please wait—!"
Passing two clusters of shrubs, Silence Suzuka ran to the spot where the figure had disappeared.
The calm river water came into view below.
Gone...
The person who was just standing there had vanished.
Silence Suzuka's eyes widened as she searched the surroundings in bewilderment.
How was it possible? In just a mere moment, where could they have gone!?
Silence Suzuka doubted herself, even wondering if her eyes had deceived her. As she wandered around searching, a voice came from behind her.
"Suzuka-san... what a coincidence, you're here too."
A black-haired girl in a tracksuit lay on the green grass of the riverbank, her hands cushioning her head.
A long blade of grass was tucked in the corner of her mouth.
--+--
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.