At the exact moment Eternal Meteor crossed the finish line, the cafeteria at Tracen Academy went eerily quiet.
Then, after that brief silence, discussion erupted in an unbroken wave.
"Did you see that? She stayed standing after the finish and even waved."
"After big-breakawaying the whole race?"
"And she still won by a huge margin—what kind of endurance is that?"
"She's going to be a terrifying rival."
Hearing the chatter around her, Tokai Teio stared at the screen with a heavy expression.
But it wasn't because Eternal Meteor looked frightening as a future opponent.
It was because Teio was worried: please don't let that injury flare up after a full-race big breakaway.
Trainer Nishizaki had told her before that Eternal Meteor's dream was also to become a Triple Crown horse girl—meaning she'd be an extremely powerful competitor.
Still… Teio and Eternal Meteor were friendly. They were friends.
When Teio saw Eternal Meteor show no obvious signs of trouble after the finish—standing at the line, waving to everyone—she finally let out the breath she'd been holding.
But then a new curiosity rose.
Why was Eternal Meteor just… standing there at the finish? What was she waiting for?
After greeting the crowd, Eternal Meteor leaned sideways against the finish-line rail, humming a familiar little tune out of habit. Her left foot kicked idly back and forth.
"So," X asked, confused, "what are you waiting for?"
Eternal Meteor—who should have been preparing for the Winner's Stage—didn't move.
"Someone."
"?"
"Look," she said. "Here."
At the base of the slope before the finish line, a patch of blue finally crested into view.
Along with it came chaotic, off-beat footsteps—and ragged, desperate breathing.
Twin Turbo had finally reached the finish.
Sweat dripped onto the track. Her eyes were coated with liquid—sweat or tears, it didn't matter—blurring everything so she could only vaguely make out the finish line ahead.
Her body was exhausted beyond reason.
Only her final obsession drove her forward.
Don't fall here.
At least finish the race.
Don't lose to Eternal Meteor!!!
But the instant she crossed the line, even the strongest soul couldn't hold back the body's collapse.
Her spirit returned to flesh.
Her vision went black.
And gravity pulled her down.
"I… did it…"
She braced for pain.
It never came.
Instead, it felt like she'd fallen onto a mattress—harder than expected, but warm.
"Yeah," a voice said gently. "You did."
Turbo heard the affirmation. Felt a warm hand stroking her hair again and again—so soothing it felt almost maternal.
With all her remaining willpower, she lifted her head and forced her eyes open.
The face she saw was—
Eternal Meteor's.
Always smiling.
"Eh…?"
Eternal Meteor watched Turbo's stunned whisper—and then watched her fully pass out.
Meteor, suddenly uncertain, pinched her own cheeks.
"I don't look that scary, do I? Like… the kind of face that makes kids stop crying at night?"
"Quit joking around," X snapped. "Get her to the infirmary already, you heart-arsonist."
"How am I burning anyone's heart?!"
Meteor wanted to argue—and maybe pet those ears a little longer too—but Turbo looked genuinely miserable.
So: infirmary first.
She scooped Turbo up in a bridal carry, half-amazed at the strength of this body, and sprinted toward the competitor tunnel.
Her eyes had just adjusted to the tunnel's darkness when she saw two horse girls she wanted to see the least.
Symboli Rudolf stood there with arms folded, eyes closed, fingers tapping lightly on her forearm.
Maruzensky leaned on the wall, scrolling on her phone.
Eternal Meteor swallowed.
She felt like crying.
How am I supposed to sneak past while carrying someone?!
It's not like she could just drop Turbo on the ground.
So she chose the only option left:
Face the fear.
She gathered herself, then tried to sprint straight through with Turbo in her arms—no matter what, get her to medical care first.
Decision made, she burst forward.
Ignoring Maruzensky and Rudolf noticing her, she didn't slow once and flew straight to the infirmary.
At the door, she glanced back—
No one seemed to be chasing.
Only then did she exhale, knock, and enter.
Following instructions, she laid Twin Turbo carefully onto the bed, then waited patiently for the doctor's check.
"It's nothing serious," the doctor said. "Mild dehydration. Keep her here for IV fluids."
Meteor relaxed.
After all… this happened because she'd deliberately slowed down to "bully" Turbo a little—baiting her into a reckless surge.
Since it wasn't serious, the rest could be left to the staff.
Meteor stood, bowed slightly, and walked toward the exit.
She pushed the door open with a light heart—
completely forgetting that she'd probably missed something very important.
The moment the door fully opened, she froze.
Rudolf stood outside wearing an almost too-gentle smile.
Maruzensky was visibly holding back laughter—she even waved.
"Hi, lil' Meteor!"
Meteor slammed the door shut.
Nope. My door-opening method is definitely wrong.
"Ha—still lying to yourself?" Maruzensky teased through laughter. "Or are you just trying to stall your expiration date?"
"Shut up!"
Meteor opened and closed the door several times in a row like a malfunctioning NPC—only to watch Maruzensky's laughter steadily break free.
Finally, Meteor gave up.
Ears drooping, tail low, she stepped outside.
After closing the door behind her, she shut her eyes—
and waited for judgment.
In the darkness behind her eyelids, time felt like it slowed.
She braced for scolding.
For a smack.
For something.
Instead…
A warm, broad hand gently patted her head.
"HAHAHAHA—Rudolf," Maruzensky wheezed, pointing, "what exactly is your image in lil' Meteor's mind?!"
Meteor cracked her eyes open.
Rudolf still wore that gentle expression.
Maruzensky, meanwhile, was doubled over, laughing so hard she could barely breathe, finger still accusingly aimed at Rudolf.
"You look fine," Rudolf said calmly. "But is Twin Turbo okay?"
"She's fine. Just mildly dehydrated."
"Good. Alright, alright—Maruzensky, stop laughing."
Rudolf's smile twitched like it was beginning to strain under the assault of Maruzensky's cackling.
"Okaaaay, okaaaay, I'm not laughing anymore."
Maruzensky finally reined herself in, then leaned close—both hands reaching up to aggressively rub and knead Meteor's ears and hair.
"Just promised you'd take care of your body, and then you go run a full-on big breakaway, huh?"
"I'm going to punish you properly for that."
Join here to read ahead.
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Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter50)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter50)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter50)
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