End stayed completely still as she listened to Astonishing's story. She didn't interrupt her a single time, she simply sat there processing the impossibility of what had just been shared. Looking at Astonishing, her expression, her tone. End knew it wasn't a story made up on a whim.
"I see," she simply said.
The silence is loud.
"So by defeating me, the loop would break, is that what you're saying?" End finally said.
Astonishing went silent for a moment. "I think... there's something more into it. Something more than just winning. It's just... I don't know what it is"
"If you failed, then... you'll disappear..."
"This version of me will disappear" Astonishing corrected.
"So, meeting you are one in an infinite chance then?"
"I guess you could put it like that,"
"One in an infinite chance..." End whispered. Then, unexpectedly, a small laugh escaped her lips.
"What's so funny?" Astonishing blinked, tilting her head in confusion.
"I was just thinking," End said, turning her eyes back toward Astonishing. "Out of all the infinite possibilities... I somehow got lucky enough to meet you."
"If the odds were truly that low, then this version of us isn't an accident" She continued. "I don't know about your other version other timelines, but if what you said is true, then this timeline is truly special, did it not? Maybe this is the only timeline where we sat together on this cliff talking about our life and secrets. I'm not about to let a one-in-an-infinite chance fade away into another reset."
"End..."
"If this is truly the only and last time we'll ever met, then I will give everything I got in our next race"
"Huh..?"
"Don't expect me to hold back or take pity on your situation, Astonishing," End said, with a determined expression "I won't soften myself, and I certainly won't hand you a sympathetic victory just to break a curse. To do that would ruin the very thing that makes this timeline special."
"This one-in-an-infinite chance deserves nothing less than our absolute best," End continued, "I am going to bring every ounce of strength, every drop of sweat, and every piece of who I am to that track. I will showcase everything I've got at the Kikuka Sho."
Slowly, the surprise on Astonishing's face melted away, replaced by a wide, crooked grin.
"You really are the worst, you know that?" Astonishing laughed, "Here I am, laying out this terrifying fate, and your first thought is to make sure I don't get an easy win."
"A cheap victory wouldn't break the loop anyway,"
End pushed herself up. She reached down, pulled her tripod legs together, collapsed the frame and slid the gear into her bag, slinging the strap across her shoulder. She then extended her hand down toward Astonishing.
"If you want to reach that answer, if you want to keep this version of us alive, you'll have to come and tear the victory out of my hands yourself," She declared, "So come at me with everything you've got."
Astonishing looked at the outstretched hand. She reached up, took End's hand, and pulled herself to her feet. "You truly are the worse", though a little smile is apparent.
"I'll take that as a compliment," End said, pulling Astonishing to her feet.
The wind blows past. Losing its strength after continous use, Astonishing's hairtie finally gave up and her hair spilled down instantly, tumbling wild and free. "Ah!"
End froze. The breeze swept the loose strands across Astonishing's cheeks. Without the neat ponytail she always wore, Astonishing looked entirely different, vulnerable, and strikingly pretty.
A faint flush dusted End's cheeks, heat creeping up to the tips of her ears before she could catch herself. She quickly turned her head away, clearing her throat with a cough.
"Well, that's a new record." Astonishing said, looking down on the snapped elastic band. She the turned back towards End. "What happened to you?"
"Nnothing!" she denied. "Come on, if we miss curfew, we'll be in trouble"
Astonishing raised an eyebrow, though she didn't push. "...true"
They turned away from the cliff edge, walking side by side down the way back towards the dormitory.
And thus, the summer camp ended smoothly.
.
.
.
"I can't do this anymore!!"
Takeda flinched, his mechanical pencil skittering across the paper as Astonishing slammed both palms flat against the wooden desk, letting her forehead hit the surface.
"My brain is fried, Trainer," Astonishing groaned. "I studied all day long during class and I also have to study here too!"
Takeda let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "But you are the one who wanted it in the first place"
"I know...." Astonishing has no way to deny that fact. "Still, isn't this the time to finally implemented everything I've learned. We do need the practice, right?!"
Takeda leaned back in his office chair, crossing his arms as he looked at her. "Fair enough," Takeda conceded, "Maybe it's time for you to practice all the lesson you've learned"
"Let's end today's session, we meet again tomorrow" he continued, "I also have a few arrangements to handle before tomorrow"
Astonishing tilted her head, watching him gather a stack of racing telemetry logs into his briefcase. "Arrangements? Like what?"
"Don't worry about it," Takeda replied. "Just rest up""
"Alright then, I'll prepare" She said.
.
.
.
"Now then..." Takeda hold her chin thinking. 'For her to able to race competitively in Kikuka Sho, there needs to be some changes. Firstly I need to change her strategy, she is an end-closer by nature, her powerful kick had proven reliable for this task. However, it seems we need to sacrifice the reliability if we want more performance, that's why she's going to run as a late surger this time. Of course her low-posture while running also needs to be counted in'
"Hmm... low running posture, a reliable late surger with powerful kick. I only know two umamusume that met the qualification" he paused to think. 'I guess I'll go with plan A'
He made his way toward a certain team office, stopping outside a familiar office door marked with a wooden plaque. Without hesitation, he knocked twice. "Excuse me, Kitahara-senpai. Can I have a minute of your time?"
.
.
.
An umamusume stood on the turf track wearing Tracen's tracksuit. Her grey hair fluttering from the wind as she stretch her body. Everyone in Tracen knows her, a prodigy from the countryside, an umamusume who changed the URA rule. That, or her bottomless stomach.
Oguri Cap paused her shoulder stretch, tilting her head slightly as she watched the two trainers talking just behind the railing.
"Thank you for agreeing my request, senpai" Takeda said.
Kitahara waved a dismissive hand. "Haha, I should also be grateful you came. Oguri's usual training partners are busy at the moment, you are just on time."
"Though I'm surprised you asked for a three-thousand-meter trial," Kitahara added, "Oguri's long distance aptitude has improved greatly, but even then she had never run that far. As you know the longest race she had ever run is the Arima Kinen"
"I'm well aware," Takeda said, "I'm not asking her to run the full distance at peak race output. I need my trainee to get accustomed to late-surge rhythm from someone who had similar running. There's no better teacher for that than your Oguri Cap."
Kitahara chuckled, "Fair enough. Oguri might not be a natural long-distance runner, but if it comes to her flexibility and low running posture, she's unmatched. I dare to say the Vice President is still a step behind."
"Hey, she's a Triple Crown umamusume, you know? Sure, Oguri Cap won more races, but Narita Brian has more G1 title. Also she's my second option if Oguri Cap isn't available" Takeda argued. "Good this she is, I really don't want to deal with the Student Council..."
Kitahara let out a laugh, "Can't blame you there. They can be a little scary sometimes, especially the Emperor..."
Their conversation were interrupted by a quick footsteps heading their way.
"Talk about perfect timing," Takeda grinned. He watches ad Astonishing jog up to in her tracksuit.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Trainer!" Astonishing said, catching her breath before her eyes drifted past Takeda to Kitahara, then towards the grey-haired figure standing on the turf.
Kitahara leaned against the fence, grinning as he motioned toward the track . "Go on in. Oguri's all warmed up and ready."
Astonishing blinked once, twice, before slowly turning her head toward Takeda. "Trainer... when you said you had 'arrangements,' you mean bringin in Oguri Cap?!"
Takeda smirked, leaning casually against the railing with his arms crossed. "You said you were ready to practice everything you learned."
Astonishing swallowed hard, her eyes darting back to Oguri Cap.
"Don't freeze up now," Takeda added, "If you want to beat World's End Opening at the Kikuka Sho, you need to master the late-surge mechanics over long distance. I need you to observe her running from the very front seat."
She turned her gaze back toward the turf where Oguri Cap stood waiting. The grey-haired legend didn't boast an intimidating aura, nor did she radiate hostile pressure. She simply stood there waiting for her.
"Go on," Takeda encouraged her.
"...Okay..."
Astonishing stepped on the track and approached Oguri Cap.
"Hello..." Astonishing gave her a slight bow. "Please take care of me"
Oguri Cap holds her chin, as if thinking of something.
Astonishing tensed a little bit, 'Is she judging me? Was my introduction wrong? Perhaps I should be more respectful!'
GRUMBLEEE
"Hmm... hungry"
Astonishing's tension shattered instantly, "H-huh?"
"You want to eat lunch together after this?" she suddenly asked.
"U-umm... sure"
Satisfied with the answer, Oguri Cap finally turned serious. "Then, let's race!"
"Alright, get readt, you two! We're simulating 3000 meters today!" Kitahara shouted.
The two umamusumes lined up behind the makeshift starting line. Both of them have the same low posture stance, but Oguri Cap's stance is at a more extreme angle.
'So that's how she does it', Astonishing thought, adjusting her hips down another inch, feeling the immediate stretch in her hamstrings and calves. It was punishing, but as she tilted her chin up, the wind sheared straight over her back instead of hitting her chest.
TWEEEEEEET!
The whistle blows. The two umamusumes launched forward with Oguri Cap leading. Astonishing tucked herself directly behind Oguri's shoulder, closely watching her running. Her rhythm were off for a moment trying to adapt to Oguri Cap's style.
Even for an umamusume with low running posture, this angle is just too much.
For the first thousand meters, Astonishing struggled to sync her stride. Every time she tried to push off, her balance wavered.
Meanwhile, Kitahara and Takeda watches the two from the side.
"Hmm... what's with that face?" Kitahara noticed Takeda's expression.
"She's trying to mimic Oguri Cap's style" he replied.
"Well, isn't that good?"
"... I don't know. The reason for this mock race is to test her stamina and decision making skill, not trying to mimic other's running style."
"But they both have the same running style, right?"
Takeda's gaze sharpened. "If we're going for the definition along, yes they did have the same running style. But, they have different stride length"
"Astonishing's flexibility is above average, but Oguri Cap's flexibility is even better" he continued. "I read that umamusume's running style can be influenced by genetics. Some umamusume have more stamina, more speed, and more power. Those three factors determines the way they run, their body will adapt for that need"
"That said, every umamusume's running style is unique" Takeda pointed.
'My balance is slipping...' Astonishing gritted her teeth, 'Why can't I keep up smoothly? We're running the exact same way!'
No matter how hard she tries, she can't get close even an inch. The mock race ended with Astonishing panting on the ground. Oguri Cap on the other hand, while also tired, still stood unwavering.
Oguri Cap slowly walked back toward her, "Hey... are you okay", she lended a hand.
"*pant* Yes, no need to worry about me, *pant* it's my first time running more than 2400 meters" Astonishing took her hand and get up on her feet.
GRUMBLEEE
Oguri Cap touched her stomach. "Mmh..."
GRUMBLEEE....
Astonishing touched her stomach. "Mmh..."
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING
The bell rings just in time to mark lunch break. Oguri Cap stared at Astonishing with glittering eyes, "Let's go to cafeteria together!"
"R-Right," Astonishing replied, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "Lunch. Lead the way."
Over by the fence, Kitahara laughed, "Looks like training is officially on pause. You can't separate Oguri from the cafeteria when the noon bell rings."
Takeda walked over, "You girls go get some food. We'll be looking at the data for a bit"
""Got it!"" They both said at the same time.