"Her speed is just on another level… and that explosive acceleration to boot. It only reinforces why I have to get her fundamentals ironed out first."
I sat at my desk, poring over the data from Suzuka's initial training session to draft a new, specialized menu. Unlike the general "hell" I prescribed for the Nemesis girls, this had to be surgical—tailored specifically to Suzuka's unique physiology. Every time I looked at the numbers, I found myself in awe of her raw talent.
(In just a few strides, she's already completed her gear changes. It's incredible. Once she masters the Great Escape, she'll be able to finish races without a single soul even catching a glimpse of her shadow…)
But that gift came with a price. Suzuka's legs were under immense strain. While most runners accelerated gradually, she entered the high-speed zone almost instantaneously. Twin Turbo might look similar to the naked eye, but Turbo was a pitch-runner who used the ground for purchase; Suzuka was something entirely different.
I had a general strategy in mind, but I could already sense the "shackles" tightening. Not the eyes of the public—Suzuka didn't care about them, and I could act as her shield. No, the problem was closer to home.
"These two, right?"
"Yes. Exactly as you suspected," Minamisaka replied, placing a set of documents on my desk.
On the top of the pile were the names Air Groove and Mejiro Dober. Minamisaka was standing there with Okino and Tojo hovering behind him.
"I saw her today," Okino said, his usual energy tempered with a bit of envy. "The girl you scouted. Man, what a waste… I really wanted to sign her myself."
"I only saw the basics," Tojo added, "but she's a diamond in the rough. I'm impressed you found her so quickly."
I gave them a polite, slightly strained smile. Internally, I felt a pang of guilt. In the original timeline, Suzuka would have been in their care; I felt like I'd pulled a fast one on them using my "meta-knowledge." But I couldn't let that show. She was my student now, and I had to commit to our path together.
"So, what's with the triple-threat visit? Minami-chan, Okino-chi, and Hana-san all in one place."
"Wait, is that my nickname now? 'Okino-chi'?" Okino blinked.
"It's better than 'Creepy Masseur,' isn't it?" Tojo quipped.
"Much better," Minamisaka agreed.
"Gah… my heart…" Okino slumped.
"We're here to invite you out for drinks," Minamisaka said, getting back on track. "These two have a few things they'd like to ask you."
My work was done for the day, and I wasn't about to turn down a free meal. I shoved my files into the desk and followed them out. I asked if we should get Kuronuma, but they told me the "Boss" was already at the tavern holding a table. We headed to the same izakaya I'd visited with Minamisaka; apparently, my recommendation had stuck, and they loved the place for its quality and fair prices.
We entered the tavern to find Kuronuma and Musaka (Oguri Cap's trainer) already settled in. Musaka had apparently finished his shift at the same time and tagged along. We ordered a round of drinks to get the gears turning.
"Alright, let's hear it," I said, leaning back. "You want to know why I didn't pick Air Groove or Dober, right?"
"You catch on quick," Tojo noted, sipping her sake.
"You left the files right on top of the pile," I pointed out.
It was a valid question. From a trainer's perspective, Mejiro Dober was the obvious choice—she was family. And Air Groove was a powerhouse I'd already been working with at Canopus. Both were established, elite prospects. Why skip them for a total unknown?
"If I were picking from the freshmen, I'd have gone with Dober," Kuronuma grunted. "You've known her for years; training her would be a walk in the park. Boss, can we get some fried cheese and chicken wings?"
"I agree," Tojo said. "You've already looked after Air Groove's training. It's easier to work with someone you have a rapport with. Oh, look, they have Ooba-wrapped fried mentaiko. Let's get that and the Okhotsk Atka mackerel."
"I'll take the thick-cut bacon," Minamisaka added. "Musaka-san?"
"Lightly pickled cucumbers and lotus root sandwiches for me."
"And I'll have the beef tendon stew, the simmered potatoes, and the stuffed peppers," I finished.
Once the orders were in, I turned back to the veteran trainers.
"The reason is simple. Those two look at me with too much reverence."
"Is that a bad thing?" Okino asked. "I would've thought having a student who worships the ground you walk on would be a massive motivation boost."
"I'm with Okino on this one," Tojo admitted. "Keeping a student motivated is half the battle. If they already look up to you, the battle is won."
Musaka took a long pull of his sake and nodded slowly, while Kuronuma poured him a refill. They seemed to understand what the younger trainers hadn't yet grasped.
"The two of you aren't wrong," Musaka said, "but you aren't entirely right, either."
"Motivation is key," Kuronuma added, "but in Rampage's case, it can be a poison."
"Wait… oh," Tojo whispered as the realization hit her.
"I see it now," Okino muttered, his shoulders dropping.
"Exactly," I said.
Being coached by me would be the ultimate joy for someone like Air Groove or Dober. They'd be thrilled, and they'd work themselves to the bone. But that was the problem.
"They wouldn't listen to anyone's advice but mine," I explained. "They'd tense up, trying too hard to be 'worthy' of me. On top of that, the circus that follows me everywhere would follow them, too. They'd be so obsessed with not 'tarnishing the Mejiro name' or 'embarrassing their teacher' that they'd snap. Their mental health would go pop and then kaboom."
I love them both, but they carry too much weight. Picking them as my first charge would have been setting them up for a breakdown.
"But what about Silence Suzuka?" Okino asked. "Doesn't she look up to you the same way?"
"I suspect the perspective is different," Minamisaka answered for me.
"How so?" Tojo asked.
"Just a hunch from a former trainer," he smiled.
"A hunch, huh? Well, you're right," I said.
What Suzuka wants isn't to be me; it's to see the scenery beyond me. She admires what I've done, but it's a much smaller, healthier kind of admiration. To her, I'm not a god to be worshipped—I'm a target to be surpassed.
"So, for Groove and Dober, you're an object of worship," Okino summarized. "But for Suzuka, you're just the girl she has to beat to see the front."
"I hate the word 'worship,' but yeah, basically."
"I see your point," Tojo admitted. "If you took them on, they'd spend their entire careers trying to prove they weren't a disgrace to your name. They'd never try to actually step out of your shadow."
"Which means they'd never grow past me," I said. "Which is why I think Dober is better off at Canopus for now. Let her find her own feet."
The veterans nodded. Excessive admiration can kill a student's potential—it was a lesson only someone who had spent their life at the summit could truly teach.
I looked over at Tojo and decided to push my luck.
"Hana-san, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"Let me borrow Flora." (Air Groove).
Tojo's eyes widened, and for a second, she looked like a protective cat.
"I—!"
"You're being creepy again, Sister," Okino teased.
"Seriously, super creepy," I added, grinning.
"Wait! That's not it! I haven't even said anything yet! I haven't even made a move! That's so mean, I'm actually going to cry!" Tojo wailed, her elegant composure crumbling under our teasing.
The table erupted in laughter. Amidst the clinking of glasses and the smell of fried food, the transition felt official. I was a trainer now—and I had a monster to raise.
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