"Wait! Wait a minute! I'm gonna pass out!" Just a Way, now changed into her training gear, gasped for breath, looking like she was on the verge of collapse.
"Eh? But we've only run 2,500 meters."
"I can't go on. Way needs a break."
With that, Just a Way immediately collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
"Way, your stamina really needs work," Kousei teased from the sidelines.
"Way isn't good at running, especially long distances," Just a Way replied, her breathing labored and sweat soaking through her clothes—a genuine display of exhaustion.
Way really isn't good at running... Am I just overthinking things?
Kousei had chosen Just a Way for this joint run because she had a nagging suspicion that Just a Way was hiding something. But with such obvious sweating and illogical pacing, she didn't seem like a powerful Umamusume at all.
"Comparing an Umamusume who hasn't even debuted yet to McQueen is just unfair," Just a Way complained.
"Sorry, Way. I'll treat you to carrot burgers tonight, just the two of us."
"Just the two of us!" Just a Way perked up instantly, her exhaustion forgotten.
Just a Way was clearly no match for a parallel run, so Kousei, left with no other option, sat down to rest with her.
"Speaking of which, it seems no other members of our generation are participating in the Osaka Cup. Won't Kousei be lonely racing alone?"
"Even without our generation, there are still other Veteran Horse Front runners competing. The Senpai are incredibly strong."
"You're right." Just a Way sat up. "Does Kousei have any strategies planned?"
"I wouldn't call it a strategy—just consistent, dedicated training. But there's one technique I've been particularly focused on lately," Kousei mused.
"Oh? What is it? Tell Way all about it!" Just a Way perked up, her ears twitching with curiosity.
"Brian's invincible running style stems from her explosive acceleration. After all those parallel runs with her, I've grasped some of the principles. But there's one technique I've tried countless times to master, yet I can't quite figure it out."
"What could possibly stump my Kousei?"
"The way she uses her knees—the Sakura-style speed."
From the very beginning, Kousei had witnessed Bakushin's almost divine speed, and that image had been etched into her mind ever since.
During the JC Cup, Kousei had sensed she was on the verge of breaking through, but she ultimately couldn't quite cross that final barrier.
Am I just not smart enough? Kousei wondered, utterly perplexed.
"But... doesn't speed largely depend on muscle strength?" Just a Way asked, still puzzled.
"You're right, but both speed and stamina can be improved through training and technique. I might never reach Bakushin's superhuman speed, but mastering knee usage will definitely make me faster than I am now."
Speaking of speed, Just a Way suddenly remembered Mihono Bourbon, the dazzling junior whose momentum had been soaring lately.
"Does Kousei know about Bourbon's recent surge in popularity?"
An image of Bourbon's mechanical expression flashed through Kousei's mind. "Riri's friend? I've seen her many times. Why do you ask?"
"No reason. I just heard she's been getting a lot of hype, and I also heard she might not be good at long distances."
Kousei remembered that Bourbon's dream was also to win the Triple Crown, making the Kikuka Sho undoubtedly her greatest obstacle.
"But Bourbon seems to be training meticulously, not letting such criticisms bother her. She's a bit like Kousei in that way."
The trainers had sharp eyes; perhaps Bourbon truly wasn't suited for long distances.
Yet Bourbon showed no signs of giving up, pushing herself to her absolute limit in training.
Kousei then thought of Rice Shower, her contemporary.
If it were them, they could surely deliver races that brought joy and happiness to everyone.
Thinking this, Kousei couldn't help but smile. Having failed to win a single leg of the Classic Triple Crown herself, she hoped that Rice Shower and Bourbon would both achieve their dreams, even though only one could claim the Triple Crown title.
"Should we go watch the race?" Just a Way suggested.
"I'd love to, but the Acting Chairman would never let us leave school for such a reason," Kousei replied.
Just a Way grinned slyly. "Then we'll just do what we did last time."
"Last time..." Kousei pondered for a moment before realizing what Just a Way meant. "You mean sneak out?"
"Hehe! As expected of you, Kousei!"
"But how are we going to get out?"
The matter seemed settled without further discussion, as if it were an unspoken agreement.
"We don't know, but doesn't Sirius Senpai?"
"I doubt Sirius Senpai would tell us," Kousei said, still skeptical.
"Easy fix! We'll threaten to tell President Rudolf about her sneaking out unless she reveals the secret passage. She's terrible at handling President Rudolf—she'll cave in no time!"
"Wow... Way, you're so ruthless!"
"Great minds don't sweat the small stuff."
Just a Way puffed out her chest proudly, quite pleased with her plan.
"Now comes the question: who's going to threaten Sirius?"
The air suddenly went still. Just a Way had overlooked this crucial step. The plan involved only two people: either Just a Way herself or Kousei.
Just a Way narrowed her eyes and fixed Kousei with a pointed look.
"No, absolutely not. I refuse."
"I haven't even said anything yet."
"Your eyes have already betrayed you."
For anything else, Kousei might have compromised, but threatening Sirius with Rudolf was a line she absolutely would not cross.
"In that case, there's only one way to resolve this."
"If I'm not mistaken, you mean... that?"
The two exchanged a knowing look, needing no further explanation.
After a fruitless afternoon of rock-paper-scissors matches, they decided to abandon this impractical plan.