"Hi there! A new day, starting with a wonderful encounter."
"..."
When Saito Asuka pulled open the door and saw the Black-haired Horse Girl smiling at him and saying these words, the man couldn't help but fall silent.
Encounter...?
You were the one who knocked on the door, so how did it become a 'wonderful encounter'?
"Fūga? Is there something you need me for?"
The man, suppressing the urge to retort, rubbed his eyes sleepily and yawned, covering his mouth: "It's so late, aren't you going back to the dorm to sleep?"
"Late? Trainer, do you not know what time it is?"
Hearing Saito Asuka's words, Seiun Sky's expression turned helpless: "It's almost dawn, you know?"
"...Huh?"
Saito Asuka was stunned, then looked at the phone screen Seiun Sky held in her hand, showing it to him.
"It's already 5:56...?
Looking at the time displayed on the bright phone screen, the man, who hadn't noticed the passage of time, incredulously turned his head and realized that white light was already visible outside the window, which had been covered by curtains.
Oh no... Is it really this late...?
Saito Asuka, refocusing his attention on Seiun Sky in front of him, thought for a moment, then turned and walked towards the washroom.
"You wait here first, I'll go wash my face, then go to the training ground with you..."
"Wait, I didn't come here for you to train with me."
Seiun Sky, hearing the man say this, helplessly reached out and grabbed his arm: "When I was coming here, I was wondering if you might still be staying up late, and I didn't expect to actually guess correctly..."
At this point, Seiun Sky stared intently at Saito Asuka: "...Are you just going to ruin your body like this?"
"What ruin..."
The man tried to argue: "This is just preparation to successfully pass the Trainer assessment..."
"Alright, alright, I get it, I get it."
Seiun Sky interrupted the man before he could finish, then pointed to the foldable bed in the room.
"You should get some good sleep first."
"Eh? But what about your training today...?"
"Don't worry, don't worry. Since I promised you I'd save this Academy, I definitely won't slack off."
Seiun Sky continued: "Even if I'm alone, I can complete the training well, Trainer, you can rest assured."
"...Hmm, that's true."
The man, hearing Seiun Sky say this, smiled wryly after a brief silence.
"I understand, I will rest well."
"Mm-hmm, that's more like it."
Seiun Sky's face once again broke into a smile upon hearing the man's words.
She took a few steps back, waved at the man who was leaning on the doorframe with one hand, then walked down the stairs and disappeared from his sight.
"Sigh..."
The man closed the heavy wooden door, unable to control a sigh.
Although he had found an opportunity to break the deadlock, this feeling of being completely unable to help and only being able to watch her was truly uncomfortable...
...I can't do anything at all.
Recalling how he had confidently told the Black-haired Horse Girl in front of him, 'I will walk this path with you,' the man shook his head with a bitter smile.
He couldn't help at all; if that was the case...
...Wouldn't all the burden fall on that child's shoulders?
The man looked up at the pile of books on the table, almost forming a small mountain.
No, Saito Asuka.
You were the one who asked Seiun Sky to work with you to pull this Academy back from the brink of being abolished!
How can you feel discouraged just because you can't help much now, and then completely hand everything over to that child?
Since you've already told that child, 'I will walk this path with you,' then you must act on it!
Thinking this, the man sat down at the table again and opened the book he hadn't finished reading.
...If I can't help her now, then I'll make myself stronger than I am now!
At some point in the future, he would definitely become a Trainer capable of assisting the incredibly talented Seiun Sky!
Since that child chose to help and trust him, he couldn't let her down!
Saito Asuka, with renewed fighting spirit, picked up his pen.
...Come on! Me!
Saito Asuka was full of confidence.
...
"Trainer, is he really getting enough rest?"
Seiun Sky, standing on the training ground, habitually jumped in place, then turned her head to look at the Director's Office of Himeji Tracen Academy.
Looking at the Director's Office, where the curtains were still drawn, Seiun Sky murmured.
...After training, I'll go check on him.
The Black-haired Horse Girl, having finished her warm-up, withdrew her gaze and looked ahead.
Now... I'll focus on completing today's training!
Seiun Sky bent down and assumed a starting position.
"Ready... Go!"
As soon as the last word left her lips, Seiun Sky pushed off the ground, shooting forward like an arrow from a bow.
[Focus]: Good at starting, reduces time spent starting late.
At the moment of the start, two golden icons appeared on the left side of her vision.
[First Strike Advantage]: More likely to gain an early lead in the race.
Alright, let's start today's training!
The Black-haired Horse Girl, running freely on the training ground where she was all alone, narrowed her eyes in contentment, enjoying the fierce wind blowing against her face.
...Running is so enjoyable.
She thought to herself, genuinely.
...
"Haah..."
Saito Asuka secretly lifted a corner of the curtain.
Seeing Seiun Sky still running on the training ground, he sighed in relief, let go of the curtain, and sat back down in his chair.
Staying up all night was indeed too much for him.
Saito Asuka shook his head, trying to maintain his last bit of consciousness.
No... I can't sleep yet.
Saito Asuka took a deep breath and slapped his cheeks hard again.
At least... let me finish the rest of this chapter...
Although he thought this, his eyes, already so heavy they could barely stay open, eventually closed as he unconsciously leaned on the table.
Just... just a short nap.
Before completely losing consciousness, Saito Asuka forced himself to stay awake long enough to set an alarm on his phone for three hours later, then fell into a deep sleep.
A short nap... it wouldn't be too late to get up and read after that, right?
Saito Asuka, resting his head on his arm, vaguely thought to himself.
...
"Phew...!"
Seiun Sky, after running several laps around the training ground, finally stopped with a satisfied expression.
"Today's training was also completed very easily."
Smiling as she greeted the elderly man tidying the ground behind her, Seiun Sky looked up at the Director's Office, where the curtains were drawn.
Next... I'll go check if Trainer is sleeping obediently.