The room was quiet—or at least, it appeared to be. Inside Via's mind, however, it was anything but quiet.
Ah—Uhm… yeah… right there—That's the spot…
She bit down hard into her pillow, face completely buried as she tried—desperately—to keep any of those sounds from slipping out into the real world. Her body, unfortunately, was not cooperating at all.
Lunar's hands moved precisely along her lower back and upper hips, pressing, kneading, and working through the soreness with a level of control that felt very unfair. Every time her fingers found a tight spot, Via could physically feel the tension melt away, replaced by a strange, overwhelming sense of relief that made her toes curl slightly against the mattress.
"…Mm—"
She froze, that almost slipped out.
Her ears flattened instantly, burning red as she pressed her face deeper into the pillow, silently screaming at herself to get it together. This was just a massage. A completely normal, helpful, innocent massage by her good friend Lunar.
So why did it feel like this?!
Meanwhile, Lunar remained completely composed, her expression calm as she continued working, completely unaware of the internal crisis happening right beneath her hands.
"If the muscle is too tight, you shouldn't press too hard immediately," she explained gently, her tone almost like a teacher guiding a lesson. "Start lighter, then slowly increase pressure so the body can adjust…"
"Mhm… mhm…" Speedy nodded rapidly, sitting close by with full focus, her eyes practically sparkling as she watched every movement like it was the most important lecture of her life.
"So this part—this is where you press with your thumb, right?" she asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Yeah," Lunar replied, demonstrating again, her fingers pressing carefully into a specific spot along Via's hip. "There are certain pressure points here that help release tension faster if you get them right."
Via's entire body jolted slightly at that exact moment.
That's definitely one of them—
She shoved her face deeper into the pillow.
Behind Speedy, Hiro stood with her arms loosely crossed, watching the scene with a thoughtful expression, though her attention wasn't on Lunar's technique like Speedy's—it was entirely on Via.
"Hey, Look at Via, " Hiro muttered and pointed towards the lying girl. "She's being awfully quiet…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she asked Speedy. "Was the training really that exhausting…?"
At that exact moment, Via tightened her grip on the pillow. Please don't ask anything—
Hiro hummed, then suddenly snapped her fingers as if coming to a realization. "Ah! Then I want in next time too!"
Her voice cut through the room casually as she looked over at Lunar.
"I wanna try that training of yours."
Lunar glanced up briefly, smiling warmly despite not stopping her movements.
"Of course, Hiro-senpai. I'll let you know when we're training again."
"Nice~" Hiro grinned.
Meanwhile, Lunar's hands had already moved lower, working down toward Via's thighs, her technique just as consistent, just as precise—
—and just as devastating.
Via's shoulders tensed again.
This is too much—
She buried her face even deeper into the pillow, her ears completely tucked as her entire body radiated quiet embarrassment, doing everything she could to stay still and not react…
…while Speedy continued watching with pure, innocent fascination, completely unaware that the "demonstration" she was witnessing was currently destroying Via's ability to function like a normal person.
After what felt like an eternity—and yet somehow not long enough at all—the massage finally began to wind down, Lunar's hands slowing as she worked through the last remaining tension in Via's thighs with one final, careful stroke before easing off completely.
"Anddd… we're done!" she announced lightly.
A couple of small claps followed through.
"Wahh… that was amazing…" Speedy beamed, clearly impressed as she looked at Lunar like she had just witnessed something revolutionary.
Hiro gave a short nod of approval from behind. "Not bad at all."
Lunar let out a small, bashful laugh before turning her attention back to Via, who was still lying face-down, unmoving. "Via-chan?" she called gently. "Do you still feel any soreness anywhere?"
No response.
Only the faint sound of muffled breathing came through the pillow.
"…Via-chan?" Lunar tried again, tilting her head slightly.
Still nothing.
She glanced over at Speedy and Hiro, both of whom returned equally confused looks, and for a brief moment, Lunar wondered if Via had somehow fallen asleep during the massage.
But then—
A shift.
Slowly and sluggishly, Via lifted her head and turned herself over, now lying on her back as her chest rose and fell a little too quickly, her breathing uneven while one arm came up to cover her eyes.
"…Via-chan? Are you okay?" Lunar asked, a hint of worry slipping into her voice. "You look really exhausted…"
Via took a few more needed breaths before finally speaking. "…If Rickey ever asks you for a massage like this…"
There was a brief pause. "…please don't give it to her."
Lunar blinked. "…Huh?" Her brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "…Was it bad?"
That question jolted Via right back to life.
"No—!" she shot up into a sitting position instantly, her expression flustered as she waved her hands in panic. "I don't mean it that way! It's honestly incredible—like, genuinely! That was the best massage I've ever received!"
She paused for a split second, her thoughts spiraling.
But If Rickey were to experience that…
Her face twitched slightly.
…I am NOT dealing with whatever nonsense comes out of her mouth after that.
Clearing her throat, she quickly tried to recover.
"It's just… a little too intense," she added, attempting to sound composed. "And Rickey-chan has a really sensitive body, so I'm worried you might… accidentally cause something… unwanted."
Lunar blinked again, then slowly nodded. "…Ah. I see." A small, apologetic smile formed as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry if it was too much for you, Via-chan…"
Via immediately shook her head—quickly, firmly. "No! For me, it was perfect!"
Without really thinking, she reached forward and grabbed both of Lunar's hands, holding them in hers as she leaned in slightly, her expression suddenly far more serious.
"Like, seriously, Lunar-chan… how are you this knowledgeable about so many things?"
Lunar tilted her head slightly at that, unsure of what to make of it.
"I initially thought you were the type who's just naturally talented and kind of… does everything by instinct," Via continued, her grip tightening just a little. "But after seeing how detailed you are with training, how well you understand racing theory, and now even remedial skills…"
Her eyes softened slightly, filled with quiet realization. "…it's obvious that you've put in a lot of effort behind the scenes."
There was a small pause. "You study really hard… don't you?"
Lunar visibly faltered under the sudden barrage of praise, her shoulders drawing in slightly as she looked off to the side, a faint flush creeping onto her face while she let out a small, awkward laugh.
"Ah… it's really nothing special," she murmured, gently trying to pull her hands back but not quite committing to it. "I just do what I can… and honestly, I'm nowhere near you when it comes to dedication in studying, Via-chan…"
She paused for a moment, her gaze drifting slightly, recalling something far away, and then her expression softened. "…And besides, I had really amazing teachers back home."
In her mind, two figures surfaced almost immediately—one calm and composed, guiding her through theory with ultimate patience, and another sharp yet oddly warm, drilling both knowledge and application into her until it became second nature.
"They taught me so much… both in theory and practice," Lunar continued quietly, a small smile forming. "So it never really felt like I had to struggle for it… it was more like everything was… given to me step by step."
She rubbed the back of her neck, a little sheepish. "Honestly, it felt less like studying hard and more like being fed with a golden spoon…"
There was a brief silence—
—and then Hiro snorted.
"Yeah, no," she cut in bluntly. "That's a bunch of humble bullshit."
Lunar jolted at the blunt reply.
"You're seriously underselling yourself," Hiro continued, crossing her arms. "It's like watching someone slash their own price tag like it's Black Friday."
"Mhm! Exactly!" Speedy nodded vigorously, pointing at Lunar as if Hiro had just spoken absolute truth. "You're amazing, Lunar-senpai! You should say it more!"
Lunar puffed her cheeks slightly at that, letting out a soft huff as she looked away. "…I'm already losing this argument by numbers, aren't I…"
She didn't bother pushing it any further.
Meanwhile, Via slowly slid herself off the bed, testing her footing carefully at first, her movements cautious as she placed her weight onto her legs.
One step.
Then another.
Her eyes widened.
"…Huh?"
She shifted again, this time more confidently, even giving a small bounce.
"…Wait—"
Another step, then a light hop.
"I—what—this is amazing—!"
She looked down at herself, almost in disbelief as she flexed her legs, expecting soreness, tightness—something—but there was nothing.
No discomfort.
No lingering fatigue.
It felt as if the earlier training had never even happened.
"I don't feel anything at all…!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine astonishment. "It's like I didn't even go through that insane training session earlier!"
Lunar just smiled softly at that, clearly pleased.
Beside her, Speedy stared with wide, sparkling eyes, glancing down at her own still-sore legs before looking back at Via, who was now moving around freely like nothing had happened. "Wahh…" she breathed out. "That's… actually crazy…"
Hiro, on the other hand, simply watched Via bounce lightly in place before giving a small, satisfied nod. "Well," she said casually, "if you're already back to perfect condition…"
Her golden orbs focused just slightly. "…then you've got no excuses for tomorrow."
Via paused, looking over at her.
"You better go out there and kick those girls' asses," Hiro added with a smirk. "I'll be there watching."
That earned a confident grin from Via, her earlier embarrassment completely gone as something fiercer settled into her expression. "…Of course."
She then turned toward Lunar, meeting her gaze—
—and Lunar returned it just as steadily.
"Don't forget," Lunar said, her tone light but carrying a quiet weight beneath it. "You still need to pay me back."
Via's grin widened. "With a win, right?"
Lunar nodded once. "…With a win."
Via straightened slightly, her confidence practically radiating now.
"Then I'll make sure to pay it back…" she said, her voice steady—
"…with interest."
And with interest, she did.
What followed in the race could only be described in one way—total annihilation.
Even though Cerasus Via had entered as the favourite, no one in the stands that day had come expecting this. Not the students, not the trainers, not even the other contestants who had lined up beside her at the start with confidence in their own chances. What they witnessed instead was something far beyond a simple victory.
It was domination.
"—And we're entering the final straight!" the commentator's voice rang out across the track, filled with excitement as the small crowd leaned forward in their seats. "Siena Gunjo and Lottie Minister are still leading the pack side by side, both pushing hard for that final burst—!"
The two front runners surged forward, their strides long and powerful, fighting neck and neck as the finish line loomed closer—
—but then—
"—BUT WHAT IS THAT?! WHAT IS THAT ON THE INSIDE?!"
There was a shift from the distance, a sky blue blur.
"IT'S CERASUS VIA! CERASUS VIA IS PICKING UP THE PACE—WHAT IS THAT ACCELERATION?!"
From the inner lane, Via surged forward smoothly.
And then—
Explosive.
Her form was cleaner than ever, her strides consistent, her breathing perfectly timed as her body moved in seamless harmony, and in just a few seconds, she closed the gap that should have taken far longer to overcome.
Then she passed them.
Effortlessly.
Siena Gunjo and Lottie Minister were left behind as Via broke through the front, her speed only increasing, confirming that she had been holding back this entire time, and the moment she took the lead, she didn't take it any easier, she kept going even further.
"INCREDIBLE—SHE'S PULLING AWAY—CERASUS VIA IS CREATING A GAP!"
One length.
Two.
Three—
—and it kept growing.
By the time the rest of the field even tried to respond to that monstrous final kick, it was already too late, their figures shrinking behind her as Via tore through the track with absolute authority.
The cheers fired from the stands.
"GO VIA-SENPAI!!!" Speedy shouted at the top of her lungs.
"THAT'S OUR GIRL—DON'T SLOW DOWN!!!" Rickey yelled beside her, her voice cracking from how hard she was screaming.
Behind them, the students of Junior A who had attended the race also joined in, their voices blending into one overwhelming wave of support, led loudly by Ryuno Amazoness, who stood at the front like a commander rallying her troops.
"PUSH THROUGH, JUNIOR A'S PRIDE, CERASUS VIA!!!"
Amidst all of that—
Lunar remained watching her friend tear through the track quietly. A soft, proud smile resting on her lips as her pale yellow eyes followed Via's figure racing toward the finish line, with Sakura standing beside her in uncharacteristic silence, her gaze just as focused.
"THERE SHE IS—THE FAVOURITE!"
The commentator's voice peaked.
"CERASUS VIA CROSSES THE FINISH LINE! SHE WINS THE TOKUBETSU JUNIOR RACE—FOUR LENGTHS AHEAD OF SECOND PLACE, LOTTIE MINISTER!"
They all erupted in joy.
Rickey jumped as high as she could, screaming incoherently as she grabbed onto Speedy, who was just as loud beside her, both of them completely losing it in celebration.
Even from where she stood, Lunar could spot Hiro-senpai in the distance, clinging onto one of her senior friends while dramatically crying into her shoulder like a proud mother witnessing her child's first big win, and the sheer sight of it was so over-the-top that Lunar couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"What is senpai even doing…"
Her gaze shifted back toward the track.
Via had already slowed down, coming to a stop as the aftermath of the race settled around her, and by instinct, she turned, looking straight at Lunar.
For a brief moment, the noise of the crowd seemed to fade between the two of them.
Then Via raised her hand, and flashed a peace sign.
Lunar was stunned for a second, before a smile gradually found its place. And without hesitation, she raised her own hand in return.
Matching it perfectly
The exchanged peace signs lingered for just a moment—simple, wordless, but filled with everything that needed to be said—before the scene gradually transformed as Via was ushered toward the center, where the post-race performance was already being set up.
What followed was music.
Bright, bubbly, and overwhelmingly cute.
Via stepped forward on the stage, and just like that, she changed again.
The same girl who had been sprinting with razor-sharp focus a couple minutes ago now moved with a completely different kind of energy, her expression lighting up as she began to sing, her voice extremely soft yet lively, perfectly matching the upbeat tempo of the idol song. Her movements were light and playful, each step flowing smoothly into the next as she danced across the stage, and at one point, she spun gracefully before flashing a cheerful peace sign toward the crowd as part of her choreography.
Lunar found herself unsure of what to say about this Via. "…That's… really cutesy…"
It wasn't even a song she recognized, and if she was being honest with herself, it was far beyond what she would normally gravitate toward—it was just too bright, too sugary, too sparkly.
And yet, it worked. Because the crowd loved it.
"HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!"
Rickey, somehow—somehow—had taken charge of an entire wotagei formation among the Junior A students, her voice leading the chants with shocking perfection as synchronized arm movements rippled through the group.
"VIA! VIA! VIA! VIA!"
Among them, Speedy waved a pair of glowing lightsticks with unfiltered excitement, her entire body moving along with the rhythm as if she had been preparing for this moment her whole life.
Lunar stared at them for a second. "…Where did they even get those…"
She didn't get an answer. Instead, beside her, Sakura crossed her arms lightly, her gaze sharp and analytical as she watched Via's performance with an entirely different kind of enthusiasm.
"…Hmm, yes… perfect spin on the beat…" she muttered under her breath. "Great facial expression…"
There was a slight pause.
"…Timing on the clap was a little off…"
Another beat.
"…Ah. She missed the jump on that note at the end…"
Lunar glanced at her.
"…You're really perfectly analyzing it, huh…"
Sakura didn't respond, her eyes still locked onto the stage.
Lunar let out a small, amused breath before turning her attention back to Via.
And for a moment, she just watched. Because the contrast was… striking.
The Via she had come to know over the past few days—calm, a little reserved, sometimes overthinking, sometimes unsure of herself, was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, the girl on stage shone.
Every movement she made drew attention naturally, every expression pulling the audience in, and it wasn't forced—it felt genuine, like she was truly enjoying every second of being up there.
And the result?
She commanded the attention of everyone watching.
At least a hundred people, maybe more—
All focused on her.
Lunar felt something stir quietly in her chest as she took it in. "…That's… amazing…"
There was no hint of doubt in Via now, no hesitation, no restraint—just pure presence.
And somehow, that made it even more inspiring. Because this was the same girl who had been doubting herself not long ago, who had been pushing herself so hard just to be acknowledged, and now—
She was standing there, shining on her own.
Lunar's gaze softened slightly as a memory graced her mind, a familiar voice echoing clearly from a recorded lesson she had watched not too long ago.
"As much as you enjoy running on the track…"
Her eyes remained on Via, following every step, every movement.
"…make sure to also go up on the stage and enjoy it just the same."
Lunar exhaled quietly. "…On the stage, huh…"
The final note of Via's performance rang out bright and clear, her voice carrying just a fraction longer before fading into the open air, and for a brief second there was silence—before it erupted into a wave of cheers, applause, and excited chatter that rolled across the field like thunder.
Lunar found herself clapping along, her hands coming together in a steady rhythm as a small, genuine smile settled on her face, her eyes still fixed on Via who stood at the center of it all, basking in the attention with a glow that felt completely different from the quiet, uncertain girl she had spoken to just a couple days prior.
Then, in the middle of it all, Lunar felt a light tap against her shoulder. She turned her head slightly and found Sakura standing beside her, wearing a small, almost oddly knowing smile that didn't quite match the usual teasing curve of her lips.
"Tomorrow…" Sakura began, her tone casual but deliberate, "is Sunday."
Lunar blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic. "Uh… yeah?"
Sakura tilted her head just a little, as if waiting for something to click. "It's the weekend."
There was a pause, then Lunar's expression shifted, realization slowly dawning across her face. "…Oh."
Before she could react any further, Sakura's other hand came to rest on her opposite shoulder, effectively trapping her in place as that small smile sharpened into a dangerous one.
"Be prepared, Lunar-chan," Sakura said, her voice dropping just enough to send a faint chill down Lunar's spine. "Time to make you into a perfect umadol~"
A visible shiver ran through Lunar's body. "…O-okay…"
—
"No! Not like that, Lunar-chan! Lift your smile higher!"
Hiro's voice rang out across the room with surprising intensity, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall like a strict coach rather than the usually laid-back senior.
In front of her, Lunar stiffly repeated the same sequence of movements, her hands forming the gesture again while she tried to adjust her expression, stretching her smile just a little wider this time as the music replayed from the beginning.
She followed the rhythm carefully, step by step, trying to match what she had seen earlier—
"No, no, that's too forced! Make it natural!" Sakura cut in immediately, her critique sharp and unfiltered as she stepped closer, pink eyes narrowing slightly, analyzing every tiny detail of Lunar's face.
Lunar paused, then nodded quickly. "O-okay, natural…"
The music restarted.
She tried again, softening her expression this time, letting her shoulders relax as she went through the motions, her smile gentler, less rigid—
"You're back to not smiling again!" Hiro's voice echoed once more.
Lunar's body sagged following that, her shoulders dropping as a quiet, defeated sigh slipped out of her. "…But I am smiling…"
From the side of the room, Via and Rickey sat comfortably on the floor, sharing a crinkled bag of chips between them like spectators at a live show, completely unbothered by Lunar's suffering.
Rickey snorted, barely holding back her laughter. "Pfft… it's like watching a child trying to walk for the first time."
Lunar's head snapped toward the pair in offense. "Hey! Shut up! Stop finding so much entertainment in this!"
Via raised a hand slightly in mock apology, though the crunch of the chip between her teeth completely ruined any sincerity behind it. "Sorry, Lunar-chan… but it's not every day we get to see you not be good at something. This is a rare moment~"
"You're both terrible…"
The music started again.
Lunar took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and lifted her hands once more, forming the small "OK" gesture as she followed along with the lyrics, this time putting extra effort into her expression, trying to balance between "not forced" and "actually smiling"—
The track abruptly paused again.
Sakura stepped forward, tapping her chin thoughtfully before looking straight at Lunar. "Lunar-chan…" she said slowly, trying her best not to upset Lunar, "there was no emotion behind that 'OK' hand gesture."
Lunar froze mid-pose. "…It's an 'OK' sign…" she muttered weakly. "What emotion is it supposed to have…?"
Sakura's eyes shone with conviction. "Feeling."
Hiro nodded in agreement from the side. "Passion."
Rickey grinned. "Soul."
Via popped another chip into her mouth. "Desperation."
"…That one doesn't sound right."
"It fits your current situation," Rickey shot back immediately.
Lunar stared at all of them in silence for a moment, her expression slowly flattening as the weight of her situation dropped back down onto her.
Then, she turned back toward the speaker.
"…Again."
The same scene repeated itself again, and again, and again—music starting, Lunar trying, Hiro or Sakura stopping her halfway, Via and Rickey eating their potato chips, and then another correction layered on top of the last one until everything blurred together into a frustrating loop she couldn't quite break out of.
"Too stiff!"
"Too forced!"
"You lost the smile again!"
"That hand movement—what even was that?!"
Each restart chipped away at her confidence just a little more, and by the time they reached what must have been their tenth attempt, Lunar's movements had slowed, her energy noticeably drained as she pushed through the routine one last time, trying to remember every correction they had thrown at her.
The music ended.
And this time, instead of resetting, Lunar simply… dropped.
She plopped down onto the floor without grace, sitting there with her legs slightly spread and her hands braced behind her, chest rising and falling as she stared ahead blankly for a second before tilting her head back to look at them.
"…How was that?" she asked, her voice carrying a quiet, tired hope.
Hiro and Sakura exchanged a glance.
Sakura tapped her chin lightly, her brows knitting together as she considered it carefully before finally answering, "…It was… okay."
Lunar's shoulders slumped immediately.
"…Just okay…" she murmured, letting out a long, exhausted sigh as her gaze drifted back up to the ceiling, clearly not understanding what exactly she was missing no matter how many times she tried to fix it.
Hiro pushed herself off the wall then, frowning slightly as she crossed her arms. "But that's what I don't get," she said, tilting her head as she looked at Lunar. "You danced really well when we sang Yumehayate together back in the dorm room, and that was completely spontaneous too, so why can't you do it now when we've already shown you the moves so many times?"
That question hung in the air for a moment, pulling everyone into a brief silence as they each tried to make sense of it.
Then Via, who had been quietly munching on her chips this whole time, suddenly paused mid-bite as something clicked in her head. "…Lunar," she called, sitting up slightly. "Name one song you actually like."
Lunar blinked, caught off guard by the question as she stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, thinking. "…Mizuki Mano… by Sakura Laurel…" she answered eventually.
Via's lips curved into a small, insistent smile. "Then how about we try that instead?"
Sakura's eyes lit up in realization at what Via is trying to do. "Ah… I see," she murmured, already moving toward the tablet. "Good idea."
Without wasting another second, she pulled up the song, tapping through the screen until the familiar track loaded, and then she glanced back over her shoulder.
"Ready, Lunar-chan?"
Lunar pushed herself up to her feet, brushing off her clothes and wiping a bit of sweat from her face before giving a small nod.
"…Yeah."
The moment the music started, everything changed.
The strong burst of drums and guitar filled the room, followed instantly by Sakura Laurel's voice cutting through the loud instrumental with energy—
"Now, embrace your everything—!"
And Lunar moved.
Not hesitantly, not stiffly, but naturally, as if her body had been waiting for this exact rhythm all along, her steps flowing into the beat without needing to think about them, her arms and posture aligning instinctively with the music.
As the lyrics filled her mind, something in her expression shifted.
Even if today's route is blocked,
I can still break open the gate to tomorrow—
Her movements carried meaning now, her body no longer just mimicking actions but responding to the song itself, her face brightening with a genuine, unforced smile that reached her now golden eyes, her energy rising with each passing second.
"I'll show that I can overcome any winter—!"
She sang along quietly, her voice blending with the track as her confidence grew, her steps nimbler, lighter, more alive than anything they had seen from her before, as if this version of Lunar was an entirely different person from the one who had been struggling just minutes ago.
Rickey slowly lowered her chips, Hiro's brows lifted slightly in surprise, and Sakura… simply watched in silence, her expression satisfied as what she expected had come to fruition.
The performance carried on, smooth and expressive from beginning to end, until the final beat of the song hit with a sharp drum stop—
—and Lunar stopped with it perfectly, her body stopping into place as the last note faded.
For a moment, she stayed there, still caught in the afterglow of the music.
Then she blinked. "…Huh?"
She looked around, suddenly aware of the silence in the room, only to find everyone staring at her in a way that made her shift slightly on her feet.
"…Uhm," she started, scratching her cheek awkwardly, "was that… better?"
Rickey was the first to break the silence, and she did so spectacularly.
"What was that?!" she blurted out, half-rising from her seat with her eyes wide in disbelief, the crinkled chip bag nearly slipping from her hands. "How are you capable of that this entire time? Were you pretending to struggle earlier or something?!"
Lunar raised her arms, immediately shaking her head as she waved her hands in denial. "No, no! I wasn't pretending, I swear—I really was struggling earlier…"
Her voice carried a genuine confusion, as if she herself didn't fully understand what had just happened either.
Sakura, who had been watching quietly, lowered her gaze slightly as her fingers came up to rest against her chin, her expression slipping into a thoughtful frown as she pieced things together.
"…Lunar-chan," she began slowly. "do you actually enjoy the song we were practicing just before this?"
Lunar paused at that, thinking for a moment before answering honestly. "It's not that I hate it… but I don't really think much of it either…"
There was a brief silence, as then Hiro's eyes suddenly lit up, the confidence in her demeanor appearing as realization hit her like a spark. "Oh—that's why!" she exclaimed, snapping her fingers. "That's why you're having such a hard time with it! You just can't get your emotions in tune with the performance!"
Lunar tilted her head slightly, caught on that phrasing. "…I can't?"
Via leaned forward a little from her spot, resting her chin against her hand as she studied Lunar with a small look before speaking. "In more accurate terms," she said calmly, "it seems like you, Lunar, are a flow-state type of performer."
Lunar looked towards the ceiling again before turning it back to the sitting girl, the term clearly unfamiliar to her. "…And that means…?"
Sakura picked up from there, her tone steady as she explained, "A flow-state performer is someone who gets so immersed in what they're doing—so lost in the enjoyment of it—that their body naturally produces high-quality results without needing conscious effort or overthinking."
"…Oh…" Lunar murmured softly, her eyes lowering a little as that explanation started to settle in.
Hiro crossed her arms again, nodding along before adding, "But the downside is that performers like that are very dependent on what they're performing and how they feel about it."
She gestured loosely toward the tablet. "Which explains everything we just saw—you were amazing when you danced to 'Mizuki Mano' because you actually like that song, and you feel something when you hear it, but when it comes to songs you don't really connect with…"
"…My body just doesn't respond the same way…" Lunar finished quietly, her gaze drifting off to the side as she thought about it more deeply.
And the more she thought about it, the clearer it became.
That feeling earlier—the way her body moved so naturally, the way she didn't have to think, didn't have to force anything, how everything just flowed as if it had always been there—it was completely different from what she had been trying to do before.
"…It really did feel like that…" she admitted. "Like I didn't have to think about anything at all… I just… moved the way I wanted to."
Via gave a small nod at that, as if confirming her thoughts. "Exactly. You weren't performing the song—you were feeling it, and your body followed as suited."
Lunar looked down at her hands for a moment, flexing her fingers slightly as if trying to recall that sensation again, that effortless rhythm that had taken over her movements, one that is similar to her style of running.
"…So that's why…" she murmured.
It made sense now—why she could dance so freely in some moments, yet feel completely lost in others. It was not because she lacked skill, but because her heart simply wasn't there, she wasn't enjoying it.
Rickey then snapped her fingers like everything had suddenly fallen into place.
"Alright, so now that we've figured out the problem…" she said with a confident grin, "then there's nothing else to worry about, right? Lunar can dance—we just need to pick songs that she actually likes! And for a winning live, she'll be the one choosing anyway, so… problem solved!"
She threw her hands up slightly, clearly satisfied with her own conclusion.
Via, however, didn't look nearly as convinced. "…There's a flaw in that logic,"
Rickey blinked, immediately turning to her. "Huh? What flaw?"
Via shifted slightly where she sat, her tone still even as she explained, "That solution works in the context of NAR winning lives, sure… but what about JRA?"
That single point made the room go quiet.
Sakura's expression fell as she picked up on it. "…That's true," she murmured, scratching her arms lightly. "JRA lives require the top three finishers to perform together, and only the winner gets to choose the song. The other two have no choice but to follow along."
She glanced toward Lunar then. "So if Lunar doesn't win, and the selected song is something she can't connect with…"
"…Then I'll have trouble again…" Lunar finished softly.
The implication settled over all of them, and slowly—almost in perfect sync—they turned to look at her.
Lunar, now under the weight of everyone's attention, hesitated for just a second before letting out a small, uncertain sound. "…Uhmm…"
Then, with a slight tilt of her head and a ridiculously straight face for what she was about to say, she added, "…I can just… win?"
They all stared at her.
Hiro's brows lifted as she let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Lunar… you do realize you're basically saying you plan to go undefeated for your entire JRA career, right?"
Via exhaled softly through her nose, shaking her head just a little. "Do you know how absurd that sounds? Even 'Emperor' Symboli Rudolf didn't stay undefeated forever…"
She paused after saying that, her eyes lingering on Lunar for a moment longer than necessary.
Because despite her words—despite how ridiculous that statement should have sounded—something about it didn't feel ridiculous coming from Lunar.
It didn't feel like arrogance, It didn't even feel like overconfidence. It just… sounded like a simple statement.
And for reasons she couldn't quite explain, Via found herself unable to dismiss it as easily as she normally would have.
Lunar, on the other hand, seemed to finally realize the ridiculousness of what she had just said, her shoulders shrinking slightly as she scratched her cheek in mild embarrassment. "…That… didn't sound very convincing, huh…"
Sakura let out a quiet breath before stepping in, her tone firm but not unkind. "While I am confident in your ability, Lunar-chan, there's no reason for us to ignore other possibilities."
Lunar nodded in agreement. "…Yeah, that makes sense."
Sakura's gaze softened just a fraction before she continued, "Which means we still need to train you using songs you don't naturally connect with. It will be harder for you—much harder than usual—but it's necessary if you want to perform consistently regardless of the situation."
Lunar straightened slightly, her earlier uncertainty fading as determination settled back into her expression. "…I don't mind," she said, still determined despite the challenge laid out in front of her. "If that's what I need to do, then let's continue."
Hiro grinned at that, cracking her knuckles lightly. "That's the spirit."
The session carried on afterwards, stretching into hours of repeated attempts, corrections, small improvements, and the common frustrated groan, until eventually the song played one last time and Lunar pushed herself through the final sequence for the day, her movements no longer as clumsy as before, though still not quite at the level she wanted them to be.
When the track ended, she held her final pose for a brief second before relaxing, her shoulders dropping as she let out a long, deep exhale, the kind that came from both physical and mental exhaustion.
Hiro clapped her hands lightly from the side, a satisfied grin on her face. "Good work, Lunar-chan~"
Lunar straightened up a little at that, offering a small, respectful incline of her head. "Thank you, Hiro-senpai… and Sakura-chan too, for helping me…"
Almost as if on cue, Sakura appeared beside her, already holding out a bottle of water. She twisted the cap open with ease before handing it over without a word.
Lunar gave her a soft, grateful look before taking it, lifting the bottle to her lips and taking a long, generous gulp, the cool water washing down her throat as she let out a satisfied breath right after.
"…Ahh… that feels nice…"
Before she could lower the bottle completely, Rickey suddenly slid into view, still catching her breath from her own personal attempts earlier.
"Hey, hey, pass that over for a sec," Rickey said, reaching out with a hopeful grin. "I'm dying here…"
Lunar nodded, already moving to hand it over—-but before she could, the bottle was abruptly snatched out of her hand.
Both Lunar and Rickey froze, blinking in confusion as they turned to look at the culprit in the form of Sakura.
The girl lifted the bottle and drank it down in one smooth motion, completely ignoring the stunned looks directed at her.
Rickey stared, absolutely petrified. "…That…I just wanted a sip…" she whispered, her soul practically leaving her body as she watched the last drop disappear.
Via stepped in with perfect timing, holding another bottle loosely in her hand before casually placing it on top of Rickey's head. "There's another one right here, idiot."
Rickey took a few moments to reboot back to life, as she then grabbed the bottle immediately. "Oh—right. Never mind, Thank you Via-chan~" she said quickly, twisting it open and taking a desperate gulp.
Via simply shook her head in mild disbelief before glancing up at the clock on the wall. "…It's already 7:20," she noted.
Hiro's eyes widened slightly. "Already?! Time really flies when you're having fun, huh…"
Sakura let out a small hum, then added dryly, "Yeah… it flies even faster when you throw a clock too."
There was a beat of silence before then Rickey—still mid-drink—snorted.
Water immediately sprayed out of her mouth as she choked on it, coughing violently while trying to recover, which only made everyone else burst into laughter at the ridiculous sight.
Even Lunar couldn't help it, her earlier exhaustion momentarily forgotten as she laughed along with them.
But then, as the laughter died down, something seemed to click in her mind. Her eyes flicked toward the time again. "…Oh—wait."
There was a sudden shift in her expression.
Before anyone could question it, Lunar quickly grabbed her towel and walked over to Hiro, pressing it into her hands. "Hiro-senpai, can you take this back to the dorm for me?" she asked.
Hiro blinked, taking the towel instinctively. "Yeah, sure… but why? Aren't you coming too?"
Lunar was already backing toward the exit. "I've got somewhere I need to be," she replied, a hint of urgency slipping into her voice as she turned and started toward the door.
She paused only briefly to glance back at them, offering a quick smile. "I'll meet you guys later!"
And with that, she was gone—darting out of the studio before anyone could stop her or ask another question, leaving the rest of them behind in a mix of curiosity and mild confusion as the door swung shut in her wake.
—
Lunar moved quietly along the dimly lit path that led toward the training field, her steps light and careful as she kept close to the shadows cast by the trees, occasionally glancing over her shoulder, trying very hard not to be seen.
Now, why was she sneaking around like this?
Well… over the past few days, Lunar had unintentionally picked up a rather… peculiar hobby.
And that hobby came in the form of Validissimus—or more specifically, throwing a bottle of water in her direction whenever she spotted the tall girl training alone on the field.
As if it were part of some strange nightly ritual, Lunar would first make the usual stop at the vending machine, slipping in coins before retrieving a chilled bottle, which she now held in her hand as she continued forward with a small, mischievous hum.
Every time she had done this so far, the results had been… incredibly entertaining.
Validissimus, for all her imposing presence and intimidating aura, had never once managed to anticipate it. The bottle would come flying in out of nowhere, landing somewhere near her cones or at her feet, and without fail, she would react with immediate, startled aggression like an angry stray cat—spinning around sharply, scanning the area with narrowed eyes before shouting into the empty night.
"WHO THE HELL IS THAT?!"
Or sometimes—
"COME OUT, YOU EVIL SPIRIT! I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU!"
Lunar had nearly burst into laughter the first time she heard that.
Evil spirit.
The irony of it still made her shoulders shake a little just thinking about it.
And honestly, from Lunar's perspective, she wasn't doing anything bad at all. If anything, she was helping. Not everyone could say that during their late-night training, a mysterious benefactor would appear and provide them with hydration out of nowhere.
That wasn't a curse.
If anything, it was practically a blessing.
What kind of cursed spirit gives out free water? she wondered to herself, lips pressing together as she tried—and failed—to suppress the quiet laughter threatening to escape.
Still wearing that faint, lingering smile, Lunar slipped behind her usual spot among the trees, carefully parting the leaves just enough to peek through. Her gaze lifted toward the field, already expecting the familiar sight—Validissimus running her drills beneath the dim lights, moving with that same relentless intensity.
But—
"…Huh?"
The field was empty.
Completely empty.
There was no tall figure sprinting between cones, no steady rhythm of pounding footsteps, no muttered frustration cutting through the night air. Just a quiet stretch of grass and dirt, with a few pieces of training equipment scattered here and there, as if they had been left behind in a hurry.
Lunar blinked, leaning forward slightly as she scanned the area again, just to make sure she wasn't missing something.
"…Maybe she's just… in the bathroom?" she murmured under her breath, trying to make sense of it as she lingered a little longer.
A minute passed.
Then another.
Still nothing.
No movement. No sound. No sign of her at all.
Lunar's shoulders sank just a little, disappointment quietly settling into her expression.
"…Maybe it's her day off…" she muttered softly.
With a small sigh, she let the leaves fall back into place and turned around, ready to head back the way she came—
—and immediately walked straight into something.
"Mmph—!" Her face collided with something firm and warm, the impact enough to make her stumble back a step, her vision briefly filled with a blur of deep purple fabric.
Deep purple Tracksuit.
Recognition came just a second too late. Slowly—very slowly—Lunar lifted her head, her gaze traveling upward…and upward…
…until it met a pair of sharp, mismatched eyes—one blue, one yellow—staring down at her with an intensity that made the already obvious height difference feel even more overwhelming.
Short brown hair framed a face that was anything but welcoming, was Validissimus, standing right in front of her.
Lunar froze.
Validissimus's gaze focused onto Lunar, her lips parting slightly as her voice slipped out low and edged with something between suspicion and quiet triumph. "…I found you."
For a brief moment, neither of them moved, before the taller girl finished her sentence. "…Damn cursed spirit."