A/N: Kill me.
*~*
"Another lap Karen! Near the middle part the running form we have been practicing for almost a year now faltered. Ingrain it into your whole being! The feeling of running in that technique. Put it in your DNA!" My dad hoarsely yelled.
If you don't know, we have been training Karen for almost a whole day now. It's currently 7PM. And we started at 4AM. This training is too spartan even for me, but according to my father, she's currently overseeing how Karen adapts in her most energy depleted state. We are doing short 400m spurt runs. We require her to at the very least, finish in 20 seconds. I have been helping my dad record the time it took.
"Dad. 31.2 seconds." I said while scribbling it down.
My dad looked at her emotionlessly.
"Again." He told her.
Karen merely looked down, and then nodded. She proceeds to run while my dad shouted the imperfection of her form.
"Dad. 29.6 seconds."
My dad suddenly became somber, before nodding to himself.
"Alright, we're done. Minami, help Karen out to the locker room." He said seriously.
I nodded. My dad walked away, while I looked at Karen---her chest going up and down, while her face is flushed with exhaustion.
"You okay down there?" I tried to joke while handing her salted water.
"Mhm..." She merely nodded and took the water.
She winced as the water itself is very salty. Hm... Maybe I put too much salt into it...
I walked away near the bench where our things are organized, I pull something out of the bag and gave it to her.
"Here. Honey water. Don't tell dad okay?"
She looked at it, her head tilted with a large question mark appeared in her head. After a couple of seconds of awkward silence, she finally understood the assignment and took the honey water.
She smelled it first before drinking it. I didn't spare a glance at her to give her some space, so I busied myself by preparing all the things so we can go to my dad's designated locker room for his charge as soon as Karen's energy is replenished.
As I tidied the bench, I heard a faint sound coming from Karen.
"Sweet..." She murmured.
My eyes widened and began to look at her. She smiled sweetly looking at me.
"Thanks, Minami..." She said sweetly.
Since I began my apprenticeship, I have spent a week with my dad and Karen. Since my dad's first lesson on me is to understand the Uma you are in charged in like you understand yourself for better chemistry, I did just that. And soon enough, I figured out Karen's personality.
An aloof idiot.
That's why seeing her smile in her otherwise emotionless face stunned me...
Although the track is dark since we are in the most secluded track. I can see a faint blush in her face and ear.
I gained a foothold in my otherwise erratic heart and smiled back at her.
"That's what friends are for, right?"
I can hear something breaking and the faint anger permeating near the path my dad walked away to.
Karen was stunned for a moment before smiling at me.
"Right... Friends."
***
We arrived at the locker room, and currently, Seattle Slew (Karen) is sprawled in the makeshift bed I hurriedly set up.
"Ah... My whole body hurts..." Karen said awkwardly while fidgeting in the bed.
"Makes sense... After finishing that run, it's bound for your body to hurt." I told her.
[That's not how you treat a girl, Bakanami...]
'Oh Rin. Why did you only show up now? I could have talked to you that time so i wouldn't be bored.'
[I didn't show up to not distract you.] Rin said solemnly.
'Alright. By the way, do you have like, tools or something to help Karen out? Running for almost 15 hours, her body will bound to hurt, so I need something to at least eleviate her pain.'
[I have this feature. It's like X-Ray of sorts, it can help to identify injuries, but its also is very useful for massage. You took your massage lessons seriously right?]
'Yeah.'
[Now do something. Don't keep a maiden waiting.] Rin urged.
I exhaled before looking at Karen seriously.
"Hey Karen. You said your whole body hurts right?"
"Mhm..." She nodded.
"Let me try and massage you." I said trying not to look away at her.
She looked at me expressionlessly before nodding.
'Rin, activate it now.'
[Hmph, you don't have to tell me!]
Vmmm...
I can see points glowing of what I can assume some minor injuries. I took out some sketchy ointment I bought in some random Vietnamese apothecary, and began to thoroughly rub it through her legs and thighs. After that I began my massage.
I pressed down in her leg.
"Ughn." She was jolted and moaned.
I stopped.
"If it hurts, just tell me. I will stop." Getting to massage her already is already a testament to her trust to me. Since letting a newcomer do the massage rather than professionals is a rather risky task that can spiral into injury.
She looked at me briefly before pointing at a pillow.
"You want that?" I asked.
She nodded, her face is covered by a blanket.
I gave it to her and resumed the message.
The massage lasted over 45 minutes, and it devolved into a full body massage (Kinda) since I also did her Scapula and shoulder.
After we were done, Me and Karen is covered in sweat, and Karen is panting very... Um... How can I say this. Seductively?
Anyways, that's the general gist.
She is currently looking away at me and is covering herself with a blanket (She is wearing a shirt and a short underneath, don't get the wrong idea).
"T-Thanks Minami, that felt good. It doesn't hurt now." She murmured under the pillow.
I merely nodded before I began to pack things so the locker room would look less like a battlefield.
Before I started packing, I suddenly heard footsteps.
"Minami, why are you taking so long. Don't tell me you impregnated my... My... My!" Dad suddenly ran towards me faster than my eyes can see.
"Minami, I am not against you having sex with others since you are already at that age. But please mind that Karen A.K.A Seattle Slew still has a bright future and if pregnant, can't run in her Triple Crown! We can't let her run while her tummy is bulging right?!" My dad reasoned.
"Don't worry, I didn't do what you are... Thinking. I wouldn't do something like that to my friend. Besides, I only gave her a massage. Nothing more." I calmly explained the situation. Panicking will only lead to further misunderstanding so better keep my head cool.
"Don't get me wrong. I trust you son but..." My dad suddenly goes near my ear, meanwhile, Karen looks at us with a clueless expression. Her face is still flushed after what we did. "Look at Karen. She is flushed, her outfit and hair is disheveled, and she is sweaty!"
My dad pulled out and pointed at me with flair. "This... Massage, is just like those galgames I played." My dad said, but he suddenly stopped, as if he realized something. He suddenly pulled me near him.
"Son, teach me how to perform that massage I wanna surprise your mother." My dad said with extreme seriousness. "Who knows, you'd perhaps get a younger brother if you did that."
I directly punched his stomach before dragging him out.
"Karen... Go to your dorm, it's already 8PM." I inquired at her before looking back.
"Also, take care." I finished before walking out with the corpse of my dad.
"T-Take care also... Minami!" She suddenly said to me.
I smiled faintly.
"Ooh love is in the air~~!" My dad teased.
"Shut your trap before i'll tell mom about the galgames."
"A-Anything but that!!"
"I remember seeing those titles. White Album 2 ,Nekopara, Rance, and Dies Irae? Seriously you goon to Nazi Anime girls?"
His eyes widen.
"Hey I read those stuff for the plot! White Album is PEAK romance also alright also Kazusa is the GOAT!"
"Yeah Yeah. The plot of Nekopara is definitely about running a shop and not having sex with Cat girls."
"Hey! Nekopara is not like that alright!"
[Like father like son. Both idiot and perverts...] Rin said while smiling faintly, although you can't see her smiling since she talks with words and not sounds and you can't see her.
***
Our days were spent like that, my dad is very stern in Karen's training. Karen, even though tired still persevered.
She has over 3 days of training every week. She trained on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. We trained her the hardest at Monday, and we lessen her training as days pass. After every training, I also massaged her, not only to eleviate her strain but to be more experienced once I go back to Japan.
She seems to be getting more and more spoiled? Often times taking me to go shopping while not saying anything.
Anyways.
It's April. The cool air is permeating around, and snow is already melting.
"Karen, I'm ready to debut! I can't wait to fight you in the track!" Affirmed optimistically said.
Affirmed--or as we call her, Louise. Is a Chestnut horse my dad found. She is very energetic and looks up to Karen. And Karen, being not used to her overly friendly attitude was resistant at first, but overtime, they became bestfriends. Almost everything when Louise is struggling, Karen will help her till the night struck.
I already know Karen can't express her emotions very well in words so instead, me and my dad told her to express her emotions through actions. So when Louise is struggling, she will suddenly appear. Almost like a ghost, and then begin to train her silently without saying anything. When Louise protests, she just glares (Although those glares are just her being too nervous to talk back, so she instinctively does that.).
"Mhm!" Karen nodded optimistically, her shiny black hair reflecting the sun.
The 2 Uma's then began to play with their phones.
"Look! Your sunset photo got 129k likes!" Louise energetically said while sighing afterwards.
"Meanwhile, mine only got 76..." She closed her eyes before opening them, now her eyes is shining. I have a bad feeling about this.
"Ohh... Maybe I'll post nudes first then after I accumulate followers, I'll revert... Haha! I'm a genius!" I deadpanned at her, while Karen began to clap emotionlessly.
I sighed.
Jeez Louise is really a bad influence to Karen...
"Louise, go to dad already or else he'll discipline you. You want your phone confiscated?" I threatened her.
"W-What? NO! You just want to spend time with Karen right? You bastard!" Louise shouted, her veins bulging.
"HUH? A incest connoisseur is telling me I'm weird?? Get a load of this woman."
"Incest is Wincest okay? It's only good when they are blood related!" She argued which makes her weird case already weird.
"Just shut your trap already and go!"
"Tch... Jeez this pedophiliac bastard."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear you."
She then pulled a middle finger on me, which I really appreciated.
"Let's train already Karen, we have already wasted time going with that pervert's antics." I smiled at her.
Karen silently nodded.
She then began to jog so that she can warm up.
Ehem, you might have questions.
If you are wondering why I'm the only one training Karen, it's because my dad trusted me. He doesn't really know how to communicate to a reclusive, and aloof girl like her. So he assigned me, as her charge. Of course, on paper my dad is still the charge but in terms of how I train her, my dad doesn't bother anymore and just reviews it.
Just thinking about it makes my head throb.
"Minami, I'm done." She said, while beaming a smile at me.
"Alright, let's do the improvised training plan 4 I sent you last Saturday, you remember that right?"
"Mhm..." She nodded.
"Well let's do it. But before that, run with all your might. I wanna time your best since Kentucky Derby is near."
She nodded and began to run.
Anyways, Karen has began to warm up to me. Compared to last month, she is more expressive when she's talking to me. She's so happy in-fact that it's almost giddy. Although I can't point out why she's happy talking to me.
"Time. 2400 meters. 2:03.5 seconds. Just need to shave off only 1 second and Kentucky stake will be guaranteed yours." I told her happily.
She seems to be blushing though.
She looks, at me, then looks away. Then she looked at me again. Her eyes darting back and forth, avoiding my gaze.
"M-Minami..." She stuttered as she began to talk.
"Yeah?"
"C-Can you give me the reward you promised.?"
Ah right, due to her listening to my every command in her training last Monday, I gave her a wish that I can't say no to.
"Alright shoot. What's your wish?"
She seems to be shaking though which I can't understand why.
"U-Uhm... Uhm.... ahh.... Uweghh..." Her mouth began to spew rainbow (It's not puke, it's literally rainbow)
"Hey! Are you alright?" I ran to her and worriedly put her to sit down.
"N-No! D-don't treat me like t-that!" She raised her voice at me, which is the first.
"A-ah... Sorry Karen..." I was startled, but Karen looked in horror realizing what she has done.
"N-No, that's not what I mean it's just... Don't treat me L-L-Like a kid..." She struggles to say.
"Alright." I said to her immediately.
"For your wish. What is it that you desire." I said with fake flourish as I bowed to her while smirking.
She blushed so hard, her face is like a tomato.
"T-T-T-T-T-T-" she seems to be malfunctioning.
"T? What is it? T-Shirt? Truck? I mean we have friends in the trucker industry so it should be not too hard."
"NO!" She shouted which echoed throughout the track.
"T-Tightly Hug me..." She whispered.
"Tightly what?" I didn't quite hear what she said.
She seems to mustered her courage as she looked at me.
"Hug me." She said, while looking firmly at my eyes
What?!
[This is what I have been warning about. You Playboy.] Rin said, disgusted.
I read what Rin said before steeling myself to meet her demand.
I walked slowly towards her, her back unconsciously straightens as Im going near. After she is arms length, I embraced her tightly.
Her body heat goes through our clothes, I can faintly feel her heat... I slapped my thoughts away and replaced them with happy thoughts. As me and Karen's journey began to play in my head, I smiled unconsciously.
"Thank you for always listening to me. If you have a hard time, just tell me that you want to hug me. I'll never think twice." I said to her in a whisper, her ears began to be red though...
"T-That's cheating." She murmured
"What's cheating? I said, while still hugging her.
I began to broke off her and smiled.
"That doesn't count as a wish. Please don't use your wish on something foolish like that."
"T-That's not foolish" she stuttered while reasoning.
"Well." I patted her head. "Cherish that wish. Who knows, it'll be useful when you need it.
I gave her a wink before sitting down.
"Alright, I would have given you a day off, but Kentucky derby is already close so let's continue. Any objections?"
Karen wiggled her head vigorously.
"Alright then! Let's make this a fruitful day!"
She then began to train.
Hm... But wishing for a hug is really weird...
***
After that day, Karen began to change, she became possessive to me. I told Rin about it, but she merely cursed at me.
I began to entertain the idea that she might like me but, I discarded that idea. Because there is a more plausible explanation. That is... I am the only one that she considered as a friend so me being with another Uma scares her. I based this on what Psychology teacher back when I am preparing to take the exam. While my gut says that she likes me, my psychology teachers says otherwise. He argued that Umas are different than humans, and possessive response to trainers is fairly normal. Heck, it even happen to married trainers. So I dismissed my gut feeling.
Or maybe this is just my coping mechanism. But who knows...
And so, days pass and soon enough, Karen is now at the Kentucky Derby.
*~*
A/N: This might sound incomplete. Because it is. I cut the original chapter, which is like 5K words in half, since I still haven't finished it.
Anyways, I feel like dying. This is might be a bit rushed. I told my friend who reads my fanfic about it. He's also a Rudolf connoisseur and he has been begging me to update. I also told him about my plan, to make this remaining arc in America compressed in 2 chapters. He agreed to it, but he said to me to prepare since it'll sound rushed. Don't worry, this arc will be the only one that'll be rushed.
My estimated chapter it'll take to finish this arc if I didn't do it is 20+ chaps. Which I'll gladly do, but my friend says otherwise. He just wants that Luna romance so I'll compress it.
Anyways my grades are plummeting. Might lock in. But it'll not affect the FF... Maybe.
Update A/N: It's 10am. We got brownout and it just came back. Fuckkkk my battery are low as shit.