"...Alright, that's enough training for today."
After Seiun Sky crossed the finish line, Saito Asuka pressed the timer and then called out to the Black-haired Horse Girl on the training ground.
"Huh? Is it over so early?"
Seiun Sky, who was preparing to run another lap, paused, then looked at the phone in the man's hand.
Seven thirty-two.
"Oh? Is it already that late?"
Looking at the time displayed on the phone, Seiun Sky, who only just realized how late it was, had a slightly regretful expression: "...I originally wanted to run a few more laps."
"Isn't there training this afternoon?"
Saito Asuka put away his phone: "If you still want to run, continue this afternoon."
"This afternoon, huh…"
Seiun Sky repeated the Trainer's words, then looked at Saito Asuka.
"Trainer, let me run one more lap, please~?"
Seiun Sky said with a smile: "Look, I still have energy, and at my speed, another lap wouldn't take long at all, so…"
"So you want to run another lap?"
Saito Asuka looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl in front of him, who had her hands clasped together and was watching him with an expectant expression.
"Mhm mhm, I want to keep running."
Seiun Sky nodded: "So, can I?"
"Of course not."
Saito Asuka shook his head without hesitation: "Morning practice time is over. It's class time now."
"...Class time?"
Hearing the man say this, Seiun Sky blinked: "But… Himeji Tracen Academy doesn't have any teachers anymore, does it?"
"Ah…"
Reminded by Seiun Sky, Saito Asuka, who had just remembered this, froze, then showed a wry smile.
...How could he have forgotten that?
"So, since I don't have to go to class, can I…?"
The Black-haired Horse Girl looked at him expectantly: "Anyway, I can't attend class, so just let me run a bit more."
"Can I? Can I? Please~ Please~?"
"Cough cough…"
Saito Asuka, intensely stared at by Seiun Sky's expectant gaze, coughed and averted his eyes.
Hiss… When this child pouts, he really can't resist.
Even Megumi has never pouted like this in front of him!
"...Although everything you said is correct, I just like saying no to those who are full of themselves!"
Saito Asuka, whose mood had immediately calmed down, said expressionlessly: "It's breakfast time now. Hurry to the cafeteria."
"Sigh… Alright."
Seiun Sky, who didn't get her way, drooped her ears, looking very dejected that her suggestion had been rejected.
"Since Trainer won't let me run, then I'll do as you say and continue after the afternoon training begins."
After saying this, Seiun Sky paused, then added another sentence: "...But this afternoon, you absolutely must let me run to my heart's content."
"…"
Saito Asuka silently looked at the Black-haired Horse Girl in front of him, whose ears were now folded back like an airplane's wings.
Strange, I didn't do anything wrong, did I?
Why do I feel sorry for her?
"...Alright, stop looking at me like that."
Saito Asuka, stared at by the pitiful Seiun Sky, averted his gaze and compromised: "You said it, only one more lap, then we go eat."
"Eh? But Trainer, didn't you say I should run during afternoon training?"
"...Just tell me if you're going to run or not!"
Looking at the Black-haired Horse Girl who was taking advantage and still acting coy, Saito Asuka's expression grew increasingly helpless.
"Since Trainer has agreed… then please wait here a little longer~?"
Hearing Saito Asuka say this, Seiun Sky walked briskly to the starting line: "Then… this time's timing, I'll leave it to you too~?"
"Yes, yes, yes… There's nothing I can do with you."
The man pulled out the timer from his pants pocket once more.
"Twelve hundred meters, left turn, are you ready?"
"Already ready~!"
The Black-haired Horse Girl chuckled in response, then started at the exact moment Saito Asuka pressed the timer, dashing out like a black lightning bolt.
…
"Oh dear… Running after waking up in the morning really does make the body feel more comfortable!"
Seiun Sky, who had walked out of the training ground with Saito Asuka, raised her hands above her head and stretched with a satisfied expression on her face.
"I say… Is your stamina really okay?"
Looking at the Black-haired Horse Girl, who was still full of energy after morning practice, Saito Asuka couldn't help but ask.
...When he was little, he had heard the 'oyster' sounds of Uma Musume collapsing from exhaustion during training more than once in this academy, and had seen Uma Musume playing 'stacking' games more than once.
And while he watched Seiun Sky train, the Black-haired Horse Girl not only never showed any signs of exhaustion, but always looked completely at ease after every training session.
...Is this child perhaps forcing herself?
Looking at the Black-haired Horse Girl beside him, Saito Asuka's mind couldn't help but be filled with such worrying thoughts.
Driven by this concern, Saito Asuka unconsciously asked.
"Hmm? No, I'm not pushing myself."
Seiun Sky, who was about to pull her tightly clinging clothes outwards, replied: "I eat so much normally, so it's normal for my stamina to be slightly better than other Uma Musume, right?"
"So Trainer, don't think I'm forcing myself, I'm really fine! If my stamina truly can't keep up, I'll tell you, so bring on any training!"
Seiun Sky patted the two mountains on her chest, confidently replying: "...No matter what training it is, I can endure it!"
"Is that so…"
Saito Asuka, half-believing, stared at Seiun Sky for a few seconds before continuing: "If you can't keep going during training, you must tell me, don't force yourself."
"Not just Trainer, even Ms. Megumi has told me this several times, you know?"
Seiun Sky looked him up and down, then closed her eyes and said with a giggle: "...Trainer and Ms. Megumi really have great chemistry."
"R-r-ridiculous!"
Saito Asuka, who understood the hidden meaning in Seiun Sky's words, blushed, then quickened his pace under the Black-haired Horse Girl's smiling gaze.
"Why are you still standing there? Aren't you going to the cafeteria to eat?"
After walking a few steps, Saito Asuka said: "I still have some documents waiting for me to process!"
"Hmm… That's true~"
Watching Saito Asuka's disheveled back, like he was fleeing in panic, Seiun Sky then lowered her head and looked at the training uniform clinging tightly to her body.
"I'm all sticky… I should quickly finish breakfast and then go back to the dorm to take a shower!"
The slightly annoyed Black-haired Horse Girl said, troubled.
Please save this school from being abolished!