Of course, just because I couldn't walk didn't mean I couldn't train. I just had to be careful about it. And discreet. I didn't want to get my eardrums blown open by another scolding session from an enraged Musaka Ginjirou.
Thankfully, I had someone rather unexpected to aid me in that regard.
「Come on! You can bench more than that!」Secretariat said in English.
「I'm…trying…!」I bit out, trying my best to lift the massive barbell I was carrying. Secretariat had her hands just under the barbell, just in case my grip happened to slip. I grit my teeth, and with a shout, I lifted the barbell over my head and held it there for a few seconds.
「Nice!」Secretariat cheered. I gasped as strength left my arms, and Secretariat was quick to catch the barbell before it could hit me.「Your power's ain't bad, rookie! You're pretty strong for somoene so small.」
I couldn't help but grin wryly when I saw the way Secretariat held the massive barbell with only one hand.「You're the one who's incredible.」I said, sighing slightly as I slouched back. My arms were still tingling from how heavy that was.
「Well, I'm me after all!」She easily said.
I rolled my eyes.
Despite the doctor's orders, I needed to train. Not because I was some training junky like Muteki was, but because my System still gave me that weekly Mission even though I was injured. I needed to increase my stats by a certain amount if I wanted that SP, and losing 2 months of SP would be quite the blow.
Out of everyone, I knew that Secretariat was the one who'd most likely help me in this endeavour. And thankfully, she did.
So now here we were, in a secluded gym at the corner of Tracen Central Academy. It was nearly midnight now, so there was hardly anyone awake that could bother us. And even if someone did find us, having Secretariat by my side would scare off most people.
…
Well, that wasn't the only reason I asked help from Secretariat.
After a few moments of catching my breath, I turned to her and raised an eyebrow.「Aren't you going to go back anytime soon?」
She snorted.「Bah, everything's fine. Ain't like America's gonna fall just 'cause I'm not there.」She then grinned sharply.「'Sides, if anyone wants to go and mess with us while I'm gone, we still have Man O' War to hold the ground.」
I smiled wanly.「Don't think anyone's stupid enough to do that anyway.」
She laughed loudly.「This world has no shortage of fools, after all!」
I went quiet for a moment, staring at my bandaged legs, before I glanced at her.「Are you sure about this, Ms. Secretariat?」
She smirked.「Finally stopped dancing around it, huh?」
I grinned lazily as I gently lifted my left leg.「Ain't like I can dance with my legs like this.」
See, here's the thing.
Even with the whole fiasco with Obey Your Master and the Japanese URA, that wouldn't be enough of a reason for Secretariat herself to suddenly fly all the way to Japan, especially with such a tight schedule. Compared to America, the racing scene of Japan was just too behind. In a way, Japan was the 'Kasamatsu' of the rest of the world.
Or at least it was until the mystical scene that occured at the [Japan Cup], but that was a story for another day.
That aside, when I'd managed to get an audience with Secretariat herself, I'd come into that conversation knowing that I'd need to offer something so enticing that Secretariat couldn't refuse. I needed some final gambit I could resort to in the event that all my words failed.
And alas, they did. Secretariat wasn't one to be swayed by simple words—she needed a promise, something substantial enough for her to divert her time for.
So I gave her one.
「But really.」I said, my expression turning serious.「Maybe you don't think that it's that big of a deal, but it is.」I stared at her.「You've never taken a disciple before.」
And that was the thing.
Back then, I didn't have much to offer to someone like Secretariat. So the only thing I could do was offer myself in exchange for her help. I promised her that, during the 4th year of my career, I would travel to America to race. It was simple enough in concept; I would essentially do what Sirius Symboli already did.
Yet, after the [Japan Cup], Secretariat had instead offered to make me her disciple. She'd said that I was too special to remain in Japan. She was confident that, in a year's time, I would be too much for Japan to handle.
I wasn't really sure where her confidence came from, but since her offer coincided with my own plans to travel the world, I accepted.
But even if Secretariat was strangely confident, I couldn't help but worry slightly.
「What? Getting cold feet?」Secretariat asked, before she gave a sly smirk.「Or are you worried about being separated from your little girlfriend over there?」
My cheeks flushed pink.「Oh, come on.」I grumbled. So even Secretariat was teasing me about this, huh? I guess Oguri had been shadowing me too much as of late.「It ain't that obvious, am I?」
「Sure you aren't.」She said sarcastically, though she then grinned.「But don't worry. I can bring your little monster over as well if you want.」
「I-, yeah, that'll be nice if you could.」I smiled wryly.「She would've probably tried entering by force if we left her behind.」
I then quickly shook my head.「No, but really. You sure no one's going to complain about this?」I furrowed my brows slightly, knowing just how much situations like this could devolve into something far worse.
「Oh they will.」She easily said, before she grinned sharply.「The question's if anyone's going to have the balls to actually say it out loud.」
I chuckled weakly.
Right, Secretariat was built like a brick house. Her height allowed her tower over everyone here, and her body was sculpted like a greek god. I had a feeling that, if she wanted to, she could easily punch through a wall of pure steel. There wasn't many that was willing to go against someone like that.
「Alright, enough talking.」She grinned like a sharp as she suddenly held the barbell over my head.「It's time for another rep!」
I groaned as I placed my hands just beneath the barbell.「Just do it.」
「Here ya go!」
Secretariat let go of the barbell, and I resumed screaming in agony.