"So what you're saying is… My daughter has the potential to be the top racer?"
Kiyaka nodded as she sipped the tea that was served to her by Echo's mother.
"That is why I chose to visit you, her parents, to recommend her to the central Tracen Academy."
"... That uma? Echo Eclipse?" The mother asked in astonishment.
The trainer nodded silently.
"..."
"I swear all she has in her brain is running, I don't know if she could handle living in the central Trace Academy." She sighed as she rested her cheek onto her palm before glancing at Kiyaka.
"Don't you want your daughter to have more fun than she is having now?"
The mother froze before sighing.
"You're going to persist even if I refuse… Am I right?"
Kiyaka nodded.
"Fuuah…" The mother exhaled and smiled gently.
"We will only consent if Echo agrees to go."
Kiyaka smirked and offered her a handshake.
"Deal."
April 7th 1983. This was the date which made the trainer regrets ever making a deal with the parents to pursue that damn uma.
"Oi, Kiddo. Join the Central Tracen Academy!" She said as she chased the jogging Echo.
"Don't want to!"
"Why?!"
"Too complex!"
"Why is it complex?!" The trainer shouted in frustration.
"Why do I need to go to another place to race when I can do it here?"
"Because you deserve to be on a better stage!"
"No!"
"You Dam-"
…
..
.
"Fuh- Fuh- Fuh-" It has been 15 days ever since that trainer started begging Echo to go to the Central Tracen Academy. She doesn't understand why she should go there when running is fun as it is here!
"There you are!" The trainer shouted as she rode a bike.
"Kiyaaa~ What are you doing here?"
"Can you stop running!"
"Don't want to."
"For a minute!"
"..."
"..."
"No."
"Fine! We can talk while you jog." Kiyaka huffed before cycling faster to reach the speed of Echo.
"Fuh… Fuh… Can you tell me why you won't go to Central Tracen- Fuah… Academy?"
Echo thought for a bit while jogging.
"I mean, is there any reason for me to go there?"
"Fuah. Yes there is!"
"Why?"
"Because it would be a waste to see someone with a potential like you go to waste!"
"I don't care. I like running, too complex if I have to move somewhere to run when I could perfectly run here as it is."
"Fuh Fuh… Don't you want to run with someone beside you?"
"Mh?"
"Fuah… Fuh…" She takes a deep breath. "Running isn't meant to be run alone!"
"..."
"At Central Tracen Academy- Fuh Fuh. There are plenty of umas just like you! Fuah- Who loves running! And they race for their own desire!"
"..."
"Don't you want to run with someone beside you?"
Echo slowly reduces her pace while jogging, making it easier for Kiyaka to cycle without pushing herself.
"Is there a difference?"
"Yes, you won't be alone on the track." At this point, both of them stopped moving, Kiyaka moved her legs off the bike, feeling tired and shaky. But she has to convince this uma in front of her to enroll into Central Tracen Academy.
"Why are you going this far for me?"
"Don't get me wrong." Kiyaka smirked. "It's all for my selfish desire Fuh… Fuh…"
She takes a deep breath.
"I just find it a waste for someone like you to not be honed to perfection. Someone like you is meant for the spotlight- fuah fuh…" She takes another deep breath, still panting after the intense cycling.
"..."
"Fuh… Fuh… Fuh…"
"..."
"Fuh…"
"No is a no. I don't want to."
"Why?"
"It just felt like it."
Echo turned her head away as Kiyaka stared at her.
15 seconds went by before the trainer responded.
"Fine. But visit Hokkaido Tracen Academy if you changed her mind."
The trainer knew that she can't push further than this. She just has to wait and hope.
"..."
"Fuh…" Kiyaka got back on the bike and cycled away while Echo Eclipse stood there with a dull gaze.
…
..
.
It's been a few hours since she returned home. She doesn't feel like jogging or running in her backyard right now. She is laying down on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
This behavior hasn't gone unnoticed by her parents, so they were freaking out when Echo refused to go out to run in the backyard.
"Honey Honey, what do you think happened to our dear Echo?" The mother said worried sick, thinking that she is down with a fever.
"Don't tell me… Did she fall in love with a guy?!" The father widens his eyes before gritting his teeth. Ain't no way is he going to let some random guy seduce his daughter!
…
Running isn't meant to be run alone.
That was the quote the persistent old lady trainer said to her, and for some reason. It had stuck with her.
Why does it hurt… I don't want to think anything complicated, I'm happy as it is. I'm perfectly content running as I am. Yet, it hurts…
Because it's the truth?
Although I felt ecstatic running and racing with others. I didn't feel happy at that time.
Echo Eclipse closed her eyes and reminisced about her time at that endless grass plane. She felt so unbelievably happy at that moment, why?
In her memories, she turned her head left and right.
"Oh. I see…"
I felt happy because there were others running beside me, and even when they ran ahead. I still chase after them with a wide grin.
Did the goddesses expect this from the start? Before I was reborn?
"Will you keep running no matter what…" She mutters the quote the strict-looking goddess said.
"..."
"Of course I will. I will keep on running for the rest of my life. So if I don't feel happy, then I should make myself happy."
Suddenly, Echo sat up immediately and ran out of the house in such speed, it had startled her parents.
Was she telling the truth?
Was there really umas just like me who loves to run over there?
Will I be no longer alone on the track when I run over there?
"Fuah Fuah Fuah."
Echo pants as she lifted her head up at the gate ahead of her.
Hokkaido Tracen Academy.
She doesn't remember her journey coming here, but that doesn't matter as she enters and goes to the receptionist.
"Hello!"
"Hmu? Ah hello, you must be Echo Eclipse." The receptionist smiled gently.
She jumped in shock, how did this stranger know her name?!
"Huhu, Trainer Kiyaka told me that you might be coming over tonight."
She expected this?!
"Where can I find her?"
Echo said with determined eyes, her white pupils glimmered in the light.
Making the receptionist stare back in daze, as if her very soul needs to bow down to her. But that only lasted for a split moment.
"S-She should be at the tracks…"
"Thanks!" Echo smiled before running away.
"..."
The receptionist fell back onto her chair in shock, covering her mouth. She doesn't know what has happened.
No wonder Kiyaka explicitly made her to accommodate that uma… She has the aura of an emperor.
***
"Old Lady!!" Echo shouted out throughout the entire field, causing a certain trainer forehead vein to twitch.
"Who the hell are you calling an old lady! I'm still in my early 30s!"
Echo ignores her response and runs up to her.
"I accept!"
"Accept what?"
"Central Tracen Academy."
"That fast?"
"Eh? Weren't you expecting me to come here today?"
"Not at all! I was expecting you to come within a week! Not today!"
Eh?!
Kiyaka smirked widely as she held the young uma shoulders.
"No taking back your words now."
"I won't."
"Heh."
"So how do I enroll into the Central Tracen Academy?"
"Run."
"Really?"
"Yeah really, from that line and circle back to the same lime. 1000m sprint. And don't hold back, run to your very limit before you reach the finish line."
"That I can do." Echo grinned as the trainer moved to the starting line.
She adjusted her poses as she pushed her left foot all the way back and angled her upper body at 45 degrees.
"3."
Echo takes a deep breath.
"2."
Her eyes focus on the finish line, erasing any distraction.
"1"
This is the moment where the legend was born.
"Go!"
She stomps the ground with all of her strength and pushes herself forward, speeding at such ridiculous speed.
Her arms swung slowly as a smile creeped up on her face, she felt the wind rushing by. This is what she was born to do. In spirit and in body.
Run.
"40 seconds."
Her speed didn't decrease, she kept on running.
"49 seconds."
Her stamina allows her to keep running. So she did.
"56 seconds."
If she wants to run, she will get to run. Nothing will stop her.
"59 second-"
Click.
"59.8 seconds." Kiyaka muttered as she grinned, she knew it from the start. This girl is a monster, only 14 years old.
Imagine her capacity once she has been trained professionally. She glances at the panting sweating uma.
"Time recorded… Now time for me to do my part and recommend you to the Central Tracen Academy."