"Hi there~! A new day begins with a wonderful encounter."
"..."
When Saito Asuka opened his door and saw the black-haired Horse Girl standing there with a cheerful grin, greeting him with those words, the man couldn't help but fall into silence.
An encounter...?
You're the one who knocked on my door - how can you call this a 'wonderful encounter'?
"Elegance? What brings you here?"
Suppressing his urge to retort, the tired man rubbed his sleepy eyes and covered a yawn with his hand: "Shouldn't you be back in your dorm sleeping at this hour?"
"This late? Trainer, do you even know what time it is now?"
Hearing Saito Asuka's words, Bamboo Elegance's expression turned helpless: "Dawn is almost here, you know?"
"...Huh?"
Saito Asuka stared blankly for a moment, then looked at the phone screen Bamboo Elegance was holding up for him to see.
"It's already 5:56...?"
Seeing the time displayed on the lit screen, the man who had completely lost track of time turned in disbelief toward the window, only then noticing the white light filtering through the curtains.
Oh no... it's already this late?
Turning his attention back to Bamboo Elegance standing before him, Saito Asuka thought for a moment before heading toward the bathroom.
"Wait here for a bit, let me wash my face, then I'll go to the training ground with you..."
"Wait, I didn't come here to have you accompany me for training."
Hearing the man's words, Bamboo Elegance reached out with a resigned expression and grabbed his arm: "I was wondering on my way here whether you'd still be up working late, and I can't believe I actually guessed right..."
At this point, Bamboo Elegance fixed her gaze intently on Saito Asuka: "...Do you have to treat your body this poorly?"
"What do you mean, treating poorly..."
The man attempted to explain: "I'm just preparing to pass the trainer certification exam..."
"Alright, alright, I get it, I understand."
Bamboo Elegance cut off the man before he could finish, then pointed toward the foldable bed in the room.
"For now, you should just get some proper sleep."
"Eh? But what about your training today..."
"Don't worry, don't worry. Since I promised to save this academy, I definitely won't slack off."
Bamboo Elegance continued, "Even if I'm alone, I can complete the training properly. You can rest assured, Trainer."
"...Yeah, you're right."
After a brief silence, the man who heard Bamboo Elegance's words showed a bitter smile on his face.
"I understand. I'll rest properly."
"Mhm, that's more like it."
Hearing the man say this, Bamboo Elegance's face lit up with a smile again.
She took a few steps back, waved at the man leaning against the doorframe, then descended the stairs and disappeared from his view.
"Sigh..."
The man closed the heavy wooden door and couldn't help but sigh.
Although he had found a breakthrough opportunity, this feeling of being completely unable to help and only being able to watch from the sidelines was truly frustrating...
...I'm completely useless, aren't I?
Recalling how he had confidently told the black-haired Horse Girl before him, 'I'll walk this path with you,' the man shook his head with a wry smile.
If he couldn't help at all like this...
...wouldn't all the burden fall on that child's shoulders?
The man looked up at the books piled nearly mountain-high on his desk.
No, Saito Asuka.
It was you who asked Bamboo Elegance to join you in saving this academy from the brink of closure!
How could you feel discouraged just because you can't be of help right now and leave everything to that child?
Since you already told that child, 'I'll walk this path with you,' you need to act on those words!
Thinking this, the man sat down at his desk again and opened the book he hadn't finished reading.
...If he couldn't help her now, then he would make himself stronger than he currently was!
Someday in the future, he would definitely become a trainer capable of supporting the amazingly talented Bamboo Elegance!
Since that child chose to help and believe in him, he couldn't let her down!
With burning determination, Saito Asuka picked up his pen.
...Do your best! Me!
Saito Asuka was filled with confidence.
...
"Is Trainer really resting properly?"
Standing on the training field, Bamboo Elegance did her usual warm-up jumps, then turned to look toward the principal's office of Himeji Tracen Academy.
Looking at the still-curtained principal's office, Bamboo Elegance murmured to herself.
...After training ends, I'll go check on him again.
Having completed her warm-up, the black-haired Horse Girl turned her gaze forward.
For now... let's focus on completing today's training properly!
Bamboo Elegance bent down, assuming her starting position.
"Ready... go!"
As soon as the last word left her lips, Bamboo Elegance pushed off the ground forcefully, shooting forward like an arrow released from its bow.
[Focus]: Excels at starting, reduces late departure time.
The moment she started, two golden icons appeared in the left side of her vision.
[Strike First, Win First]: Easier to gain lead in early race.
Alright, let's begin today's training!
The black-haired Horse Girl, running freely across the training field all by herself, narrowed her eyes contentedly, enjoying the strong wind blowing against her face.
...Running is truly enjoyable.
She thought to herself with genuine sincerity.
...
"Haaah..."
Saito Asuka secretly lifted a corner of the curtain.
Seeing that Bamboo Elegance was still running on the training field, he breathed a sigh of relief, released the corner of the curtain he had been holding, and sat back down in his chair.
Staying up all night was truly too much for him.
Saito Asuka shook his head, trying to maintain the last bit of alertness.
No... I can't fall asleep yet.
Saito Asuka took a deep breath and slapped his cheeks firmly.
At least... let me finish reading the rest of this chapter...
Though he thought this in his heart, his eyes were so heavy he could barely keep them open. In the end, he unknowingly closed his eyes and slumped over the desk.
Just... just a short nap.
Before completely losing consciousness, Saito Asuka mustered his energy to set an alarm on his phone for three hours later, then fell into a deep sleep.
A little sleep... it shouldn't be too late to get up and read afterward, right?
Resting his head on his arm, Saito Asuka hazily thought to himself.
...
"Huff...!"
After running several consecutive laps on the training field, Bamboo Elegance finally stopped with a satisfied expression.
"Today's training was completed quite easily as well."
After cheerfully greeting the elderly man tidying up the field behind her, Bamboo Elegance looked up toward the chairman's office with its drawn curtains.
Next... it's time to check if my trainer has been obediently sleeping.