"Phew…"
I leaned against my Impreza, flicking my lighter to life. To be honest, I didn't really "need" the herb cigars for my mental health anymore, but old habits die hard; after all this time, the scent still felt like a grounding ritual. I stood alone in the early morning parking lot, letting the fragrant smoke drift through the crisp air. It was a selfish, slightly decadent moment of peace.
There was nothing quite like the post-run high. As I stood there, savoring the quiet, I heard the familiar patter of approaching footsteps.
"Right on time," I muttered.
I stubbed out the cigar and looked toward the mist-shrouded path. Soon, a figure emerged from the gray dawn. Her gait was a bit unsteady—the distance was still a struggle for her—but she didn't falter. She ran all the way to the finish line without breaking into a walk even once.
"Good work. Here, drink up," I said, handing her a bottle.
"Th-thank you… so much…" she panted, her chest heaving as she took the water.
It was Silence Suzuka. For a freshman, my morning pace should have been agonizing, yet she had followed me every single day for a week without a single word of complaint. She had some serious grit.
"Seven days in a row, huh? Since the Maya-velous duo stayed home, it's just us today."
"What… happened to them?" Suzuka asked between gulps of water.
"They stayed up late watching movies. Told me they weren't going to make it this morning."
"They really are close, aren't they?"
"They're classmates. It's natural."
The two of them had messaged me ahead of time to bail. I didn't mind; my sessions weren't mandatory, and I liked that they felt comfortable enough to tell me. But truthfully, I was glad they were absent today. It made things simpler.
"So… do you remember what I told you the other day?"
Suzuka's ears twitched, and her tail gave a small, involuntary flick. She hadn't forgotten—not for a second. The "view from the front" that only Mejiro Rampage had seen—the world of the absolute fastest. She hadn't spent a single day since then not thinking about reaching that horizon.
"I'm technically a sub-trainer right now," I began, my voice steady. "But I'm allowed to take on a personal charge. The URA Finals are finally on track, and while it might be too early to start a full team, I think it's the right time for me to focus on someone specific."
Suzuka stood perfectly still, hanging on my every word. Her eyes, already bright, began to shimmer with an even deeper intensity.
"Suzuka, tell me. What is your dream?"
"My dream…" she whispered, then found her voice. "My dream is to become a Horse Girl who gives dreams to everyone watching her. Just like you did for me."
I felt the corners of my mouth tug upward. I stepped forward until I was standing directly in front of her, looking her straight in the eye.
"Silence Suzuka, I want to scout you. Are you ready to take my style of running and make it your own? To evolve it into something even greater?"
"I am," she answered instantly. Her hand shot out to grip mine with surprising strength. "I want to see the scenery you saw. I want to see the front through my own eyes."
She didn't hesitate for a heartbeat, even though the path ahead was bound to be grueling.
"I'm still a greenhorn trainer, you know," I cautioned. "A total rookie. You okay with that?"
"It's fine," she said, her expression serene yet fierce. "I'm going to become faster than you, anyway."
I blinked. To say that to the fastest woman in history… anyone else would have been trembling, but she said it with a smile so gentle it could have melted snow. And yet, beneath that calm exterior was a competitive fire that burned white-hot.
I liked it. If she wanted to surpass me, I'd make damn sure she had to work for it.
"Big words, kid… You know, I only had a year or two to really polish my style during my active career. But you? You've got nearly four years until you hit your prime. Plenty of time to break down the fundamentals and hammer my techniques into your soul. Man… must be nice to be young. So this is the fire of youth, huh?"
"Aren't you young too, Rampage-san?"
"Don't worry about the details," I laughed. "But Suzuka, let's get one thing straight from the start."
I toyed with my car keys, looking up at the sky as the sun began to break over the horizon.
"Being my student means you're going to be in the spotlight, whether you like it or not. People will talk. People will judge. But don't you dare let them distract you. I'll handle the noise. You just focus on your run. We're in this together—a three-legged race."
"I understand. But… I really am going to be faster than you soon."
"Oh? Listen to this little brat," I teased. "Why don't you try breaking even one of my world records before you start talking big, hmm?"
"I plan to."
"Gah… that beautiful face and that fearless attitude. You really are starting to remind me of Minami-chan."
Before we knew it, we were both laughing. The tension had vanished, replaced by a comfortable, natural bond. Looking at her now, I couldn't help but think of my own time with Minamisaka. I hoped I could build something just as meaningful with her.
The sun finally crested the horizon, bathing the world in gold.
"Time's up," I said. "Come on, Suzuka. Let's head back."
"Yes!"
"You can use the shower at my place. I'll even treat you to breakfast."
"Your place? Don't you live in the faculty dorms at Miho or Rittou?"
"I'm a Horse Girl, but I'm not a student anymore. I moved out the day I graduated. I've got my own place now. I'll tell you some stories about my overseas races while we eat."
"Oh! I'd love to hear them!"
She climbed into the passenger seat of the Impreza, her face radiant with anticipation. She was thinking about the future—about the view from the front that she would one day reach. Would Rampage be running beside her then? Or would that scenery be something they created together in a duel of speed?
As she settled in, she noticed something in the cup holder.
"Um… what's this paper cup for?"
"Oh, that? Uh… it's for, uh… weight transfer practice."
"...Huh?"
I felt my face heat up. It was a bit embarrassing to admit I was practicing Initial D style drifting techniques in my spare time. I wasn't perfect at it yet, but I'd reached the point where I could throw the car into a turn without spilling a drop. I'd been spending my weekends at the mountain passes with Maruzensky lately; rumors were already spreading among the local street racers about a "Red Flash" Countach and a "Blue Meteor" Impreza that haunted the turns at night.
"Anyway," I cleared my throat, "the plan is fundamentals first. Then I'll start teaching you my 'Whole-Body' running style. I have a feeling you'll master it in no time. And once you do… it won't matter if it's a domestic race or a world stage. No one will be able to touch you."
"I'll give it my all."
"That's the spirit. By the way, have you thought about your track? Classic or Triple Tiara?"
"Hmm… I don't really have a preference."
"Well, we've got time. We'll figure it out as we go."
"Okay!"
And so, Silence Suzuka became Mejiro Rampage's very first student. Whether she would be known to history as the one who inherited the legend's crown… well, that's a story for the future. For now, they would simply take it one step at a time.
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