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About time for my morning jog.
My outfit is the same as it usually is. Cropped hoodie that leaves my midriff bare, sweat pants, sneakers, and a black cap, which I have my ponytail and ears sticking out of. I can't really call it a jogging outfit, since it's pretty much what I always wear. Part of me is still baffled how lenient Tracen is with dress codes, honestly. But given the sheer variety of racewear the trainees have, I suppose they wanted to give trainers a similar privilege.
Though it's more likely Akikawa just doesn't want to wear a uniform herself, and extended that courtesy to the rest of the staff.
Well, either way, I'm grateful for that. Can't imagine myself wearing a suit, much less trying to run in one. How my trainee does it is yet another thing that baffles me. Not to mention the heels.
Mental sidetrack aside, I do make it outside and to the nearest Uma lane where I always start my morning jogs, beginning with some stretches to get myself warmed up.
At least until I hear a familiar voice from nearby. “Ah, there you are, Trainer. Exactly as expected.”
I look over and sure enough, there's my trainee, Fuji Kiseki, walking over. She sure wasn't kidding when she said she likes surprising me.
“What are you doing here? It's a bit early to come seeking me out.” I continue with my warm-ups as I speak, no reason to slouch on them.
“Why, because I'm here to join you of course. When I asked you to join me in running, you mentioned that the only time you run properly is when you're out jogging. So naturally, the simple choice is to join you for your morning jog.” Well, that explains the tracksuit.
“I suppose I can't deny that train of thought. Join me in warming up as well then, I'd rather you don't injure yourself outside of official training schedules. Oh, and feel free to drop the title while we're busy.”
She follows my advice, beginning her own stretches as she keeps up the conversation.
“Oh? Are you sure you're fine with that, miss Pave The Way?” I can tell she's smirking at me saying it like that.
“Alright, don't go too far now. We're three years apart, having you call me miss just feels wrong.”
That earns a short laugh from her. One I've heard plenty before by now, but it doesn't become any less pleasant to hear.
“Alright, Pave it is. Or maybe you'd prefer something cuter like Pavey?”
“Eh, too much.”
“Pei-chan?” That one gets a snort from me as I look her way. She's looking back at me with a particularly smug smile.
“Way too much, why did you go even cuter?”
“Well, it's only fitting for you, no?” She remarks, the smile somehow becoming less smug despite the clear jest.
“Hardly. Pave is fine. I'd have accepted ‘Way’ too, but if we do that a certain gyaru will have me turning my head too much.”
“True enough. Pave it will be, then.”
We wrap up our warm-ups, walking over to the Uma lane.
“Just make sure you can keep up, alright?” I remark, looking over to her as I tap the tips of my sneakers to the ground. I take my music player out as well, finding a good song after I put the buds in my ears.
That earned a playful scoff from her. “Must I remind you you're speaking with a G1 winner?”
“Must I remind you I trained that G1 winner?”
She simply rolls her eyes at that, before we start running shortly afterward. I set my usual pace, letting her maintain it behind me. This isn't a race, so just keeping the same tempo as each other will serve fine here.
But it seems someone has a different idea. I can feel Fuji closing in behind me, probably trying to push me to go full speed. I may be tempted to indulge her, but not yet. Too many road crossings and stoplights for now.
We come to a stop at another stoplight, kicking our legs up as we wait for it to go to green. I know this is the last one before a long clear path, so I plant my feet steadily on the ground, smirking at Fuji.
“Remember, try to keep up.”
I don't let her contemplate my words much longer as the stoplight switches to green and I take off. A little advantage should be fine against a professional athlete, no?
Buildings go by quickly, even cars driving beside me on the other lane getting overtaken. I don't give myself many chances to go all out, so I'd better make sure to give Fuji a good show for once. She always does the same for me, after all.
I don't feel her closing in anymore.
Just the wind going by.
Steady breaths, steady steps.
I see my usual stopping point ahead. Earlier than expected, but I am sprinting rather than jogging, so it tracks.
I get myself to slow down, coming to a halt. Which is when the exhaustion and heat hit me immediately, things I'd been blocking out in my focus. Fuji seems to be approaching too, so I put a hand in my pocket to turn off my music player.
“So,” I begin, stepping to the side to look back at her with a smug smile of my own, raising my cap a bit at the front so I can wipe the sweat off of my brow. “What do you think… of your trainer's running?”
She has a smile on her face as well, a short laugh escaping her as she comes to a stop. She seems less winded than me, but then she certainly has better stamina than I do. That, and not having gone as all out as I did. “I knew you would be fast, but that was certainly something. You'd make a great sprinter with more training of your own.”
I nod with a sigh. “That's one I've heard plenty before, yes.” I walk to the nearby grass overlooking the river, sitting down so I can rest easier. Calming my breathing is the first step of that.
“Then why don't you?” And there's the expected question. I knew she'd ask, people always do. Can't blame her though, I was the one who decided to show off after all.
“Sorry, is that a touchy subject?” Ah, seems she noticed my brief silence, even beyond my exhaustion. Observant as always.
“No, no, just a question I hear a lot is all. As for why?” Now, usually I give some roundabout answer. ‘I'm not competitive enough’ or ‘circumstances prevented it’. But Fuji? I know she'll be understanding.
“I just didn't want to.”
I look to my side as Fuji sits down beside me. “That simple of a reason, hm?”
“What more reason do I need? I'd rather not dedicate my life to something I don't even enjoy. Especially when doing so crushes the dreams of others, while I'm there not even happy about winning.”
A chuckle comes from her as she leans towards me a bit. “So you're that confident that you would win? Already considering those poor ‘crushed dreams’?”
I can't help but smile back at her. “Hey, you saw me running. And you said it yourself, I'd make a great sprinter.”
She nods, backing away again as she closes her eyes. I turn my sight back to the river when she does. “I did indeed. But still, no victory is guaranteed.”
“Heh, true enough. My parents and tutors seemed to think differently. Always going on about how well I'd do in races, how proud I'd make them. With a name like mine, they definitely expected great things from me. So when I chose not to pursue racing myself early on, well… I can't say they reacted in a horrible way, but they were clearly disappointed.”
I can tell Fuji is just listening now, all her attention focused on me as I continue. She's considerate like that.
“It's odd. They didn't object when I decided I wanted to become a trainer. To help, well, ‘pave the way’ for others instead of myself. Heck, they even helped fund getting me into a trainer academy. But that… feeling of disappointment never really left. Like they always felt I wasn't doing what I should be doing. Like I was wasting my life away.”
I'm looking over the river as the sun reflects off of the surface. A sight I do always enjoy, but right now I can't appreciate it in full.
“They obviously didn't hate me for it. But… I don't know. Honestly I'm not sure why I'm sharing this story.”
I feel a hand gently place itself onto my shoulder. “I'm still grateful that you shared it with me. That you trust me enough to do so. And most of all, I'm grateful that you did choose to do what you wanted. After all, I wouldn't be here otherwise.”
“Come on, you would have done great with another trainer too.” I look back to her to see an oddly soft smile on her face. Usually her smile is more large, boisterous, one that makes sure everyone can see it. One of her ways to bring joy wherever she goes as a top class entertainer.
“That may be true. But I wouldn't be sitting with them on a riverbank watching the sun rise over the water.”
“Hm, touché. There's surprisingly not many Uma trainers out there after all. Well, less than human trainers anyways.” It's something I wonder about more often, actually. Though it probably stems from that desire for racing having only one route for humans, where Umas can actually participate.
Fuji however shakes her head. “No, even with another Uma as trainer, I'd still not be here.” She raises her hand before she taps her finger against my chest.
“Because it wouldn't be you. The one who paved the way to my dreams.”
…She's too smooth for her own good. That one even got me, I can feel my face heating up a bit. Not wanting to give her the satisfaction of finally seeing me flustered, I grab my cap's brim and look to the other side.
“...I'm glad I was able to be the one to do so.”
I get back up quickly, dusting myself off as I regain my composure. “Alright, that's enough of a break. Let's keep going, alright? The jog isn't finished yet, and this break is already longer than it should have been.”
She nods, smiling smugly as she probably knows full well she managed to get me. She then stands up as well, and shortly after we're off again to finish up the jog.
I have a nagging feeling she'll be joining me more often.
—
I was right on that feeling. Since that day, Fuji has been joining me on my jogs more and more. Sometimes we'd simply greet each other, go the full jog and then split off again. But more often we'd end up talking about various things. None of it related to her career, I made sure to firmly plant my feet on keeping those jogs an ‘outside of work’ occasion.
Right now though, I am standing beside her at the side of the racetrack on academy grounds, checking over the training schedule. She's drinking from the water bottle I had given her earlier, though clearly has plenty more energy in the tank. Which is good, because next up on the schedule…
“Alright, next on our schedule is partner running. I was thinking of a mock race, to judge your improvements.” I look over to her just about reaching the bottom of that bottle as she gives me an okay sign with her free hand.
“Good. Then you just keep yourself warmed up here, and I'll go ahead and find someone willing to run with you.”
She lowers the empty bottle, breathing out before looking at me. “What for? I have a perfectly capable racer right here.”
She does? But there's no one… Ah, I see.
“You're thinking of running with me? Should I remind you that I only run for jogs? And even if I did run with you, I'm both a sprinter and not an active runner. It wouldn't give the proper exercise.”
Fuji turns to me, nodding as she raises a hand to point a finger at me. “Very true. But you're hardly what I would call ‘out of shape’. And you also told me the ‘why’ of you only running for jogs. That you don't want to crush any dreams. Well, that's certainly not a concern with me, is it?”
“Arrogant, but fair enough.”
“Haha! Sorry, what I mean to say is that I don't mind whether I win or lose. I simply want to have a race with you, even if it is just once, and just as a mock race.”
She puts the hand on her chest now, extending the other to me theatrically. “You wouldn't be crushing any dreams, you would be making another dream of mine come true.”
…Damnit, she's got me again. Ever since that first time, she figured out the right button to get me flustered. I turn away, distracting myself with the training schedule as her smile probably turns more smug.
It would be deviating from the schedule. And I wouldn't be able to properly oversee and log the results. But a deviation now and then should be acceptable. It would just go from ‘examining improvements’ to effectively being ‘speed training’. Because it won't be any training at all if I compete on her turf.
“Fine. We can have a mock race on one condition. We'll be doing a 1000 meter sprint.”
“Giving yourself an advantage, are you?”
“Against you? Naturally.”
I turn to put the pad down with my other items, grabbing the empty bottle Fuji had dropped for the sake of her theatrics as I do. I then begin to do stretches to warm up for a race against her.
“You're a miler though, so it should somewhat even out.”
“Are you sure about that? I'm training more for longs nowadays. And your speed was something else, back during our first jog. Not to mention that was just you showing off, not an actual race.”
“Well, true, but you're an actual racer. One trained by me, no less.” I consider getting a change of clothes or losing a layer, but I should be fine. If I'm not mistaken, there's actually another racer whose racewear is somewhat close to my usual outfit. If that's fine for proper races, this is fine for a mock one.
“Hmm… How about this, Trainer? You stop making excuses for losing before we have even started running, and I will ease on the teasing.”
I snort, looking up at her as I stretch my legs. “We both know the latter won't be happening. But fine, I'll stop providing logical reasoning.”
“Tsk tsk, as a trainer you should know that doubts like that are something to get rid of.”
I stand up, looking at her as I take out my phone so I can start a timer for us to have as a starting signal. “Yeah yeah, get onto the track smartass. I'm starting our countdown.”
She makes her way there laughing as I put my phone on max volume and tap it to start the timer. I then set it down on a nearby post, walking onto the track and stopping beside her.
I look over to her, nodding as I get into a starting position, which she mimics. I'm actually unsure how not having gates will alter her start, but without a third we can't exactly use those properly anyhow, so we'll make do.
Now to just wait for the alarm…
I hear the sound of it, and immediately take off at full speed.
I let my focus shift purely to running.
Focus on reaching the marked line as fast as I can.
Steady breaths, steady steps.
Though this time, I can't help but sense that Fuji is closing in. She's running close behind me as expected, steadily starting to move in beside me.
Until we cross the 1000 meter mark.
I'm actually unsure who passed first, but that's not important right now. Stopping myself is. I slow myself down, eventually coming to a stop some way along the track as I lean forward, breathing heavily with sweat dripping down my brow. And frankly my everything else. I really should have lost a layer…
I forgot just how arduous a proper sprint race is…
Ah screw it, we're the only ones here. I stand back up, slapping the bottom of my cap so it flips off my head, before I grab the underside of my hoodie and pull it right off, dropping it beside me. I got my sports bra on under it anyhow, and it's hardly the most revealing a person has been on this turf.
I stand there for a while, just cooling down as best as I can with my head tilted back so my hair isn't resting against my neck. “So… who won?”
I don't get a response, so I turn to look at her.
She seems to be in no better shape than me, regaining her breath as she looks my way, her face red from the heat as mine probably is too. To think I managed to push her that far… I feel a bit of pride from that. It's no surprise then that she didn't hear me, she must be as shocked as I was. And, well… as breathless right now.
“Fuji?” I call out to her properly, turning to her.
That seems to get her attention, though it takes a little bit. “Oh, yes Pave?”
Hm, she dropped the ‘Trainer’. “Who won the race?”
She takes in a deep breath, exhaling before smiling. “You did. You beat me fair and square.”
“And how much were you holding back?”
She puts a hand on her chest, feigning bemusement. “Are you implying I would ever not put my all in a race, Trainer?” And there it is again. Curious…
“No, just… I actually beat you? I know it was a sprint, but still…”
“It was narrow, but yes. It seems I'm still not quite as fast as you. Though clearly my stamina is a great deal better than yours.”
I roll my eyes, reaching down for my hoodie before biting the bullet of proving her right as I let myself fall down, rolling onto my back.
“Hardy har, laugh it up while you can. One day I will manage to stand back up, and you'll rue that day.”
I hear approaching footsteps before she leans over me, smiling smugly down at me. “Even though you already managed to make me lose?”
“Yeah, even though… that. Ugh, I'm glad nobody saw, I wouldn't hear the end of people saying I should race too…”
“Well, don't you worry. That secret will be ours alone.” She reaches a hand out, but rather than trying to help me up she picks up my hoodie. “Need a hand up? Or shall I tuck you in instead, give you a blanket and a wish goodnight?”
I scoff, smiling up at her. Vengeance time. “How about a kiss goodnight instead, hm?”
To my surprise, that actually managed to get her. I see her lock up, her face turning even more red than it already was from the race before she stands back up. “Alright, you can stay there then.”
Vengeance is sweet. One day I'll rise to enjoy it. Not right now though, I still need to get my lungs back.
She stays there for a moment before opting to sit down with me. “Though… I do want to say thank you.”
I turn my head towards her. “What for? Racing with you?”
“Well, partially. I moreso wanted to thank you for choosing to follow your own desired career path, rather than what others wanted of you. Because if you hadn't chosen that path, I doubt we would have ever raced at all. Or even met for that matter.”
Right. I guess that is true. Had I gone into racing, I would have not just been ahead of her by three years, I would have been doing sprints while she's running miles and longs. We'd have never crossed paths.
A strangely… sorrowful thought. One I'd rather not think of.
“True. Which means you should be extra happy I didn't.”
She smirks, leaning forward to me. She's already recovered from my earlier teasing. “I am, don't worry. Though you could make me a bit happier by giving me a performance, now that you have won a race against me.”
“Yeah, in your dreams. Even if my legs still worked, I wouldn't do that.”
“Oh? And here I was thinking realizing dreams was becoming a specialty of yours.”
“Don't take that too far now. Dream whatever you want, as long as it doesn't include me in an idol outfit.”
She leans back, putting a hand on her chin. “Hmm… Sorry, it seems that's already no longer possible.”
Should have kept my mouth shut.
—
Another evening, another jog that Fuji joins me for.
By this point it's just the norm. I don't even question it anymore, it's been a while since I've done my jogs alone. Frankly, she's been joining me for more than just the jogs lately. Shopping trips, going out to eat, catching some shows together. I've been learning a lot more about her.
It's nice. Just being all strictly professional isn't exactly my preference anyways, so it suits me fine. But it's also not like I'm dense. There's a reason she's been tagging with me more.
We make it to our first stop, catching our breath. As we do though, Fuji turns to me. Something is clearly on her mind.
“Pave. There is something I wanted to tell you.”
“Yeah? What is it?” I look her in the eyes, giving her my full concentration.
“The Kikuka Sho is in only a month from now. If I manage to win it, I will have succeeded in becoming a triple crown winner, and will be one step closer to my dream.”
Her dream to become the world's greatest entertainer. Someone everyone can look to and smile. She's told me of that dream several times now.
“Afterwards, I would like to run the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.”
“A sprint? That's… surprising. You didn't think of it purely because of me, did you?”
She shakes her head, chuckling as she does. “Don't worry, I chose that stage myself. But I will admit you are partly responsible for making me decide a little earlier that I want to go through with it. Because if I win it too, it would make for the perfect stage from which to attempt my newest dream. One I hope you'll be able to fulfill as well.”
She puts a hand on her chest, extending the other to me in her usual theatric style. “Please, stay with me until then. Wait for me to stand on that stage, and the grand reveal that awaits there.”
‘Perfect stage’. ‘Wait for me’. ‘Grand reveal’.
Seems someone got too caught up dreaming.
So I can't help but sigh.
“Fuji. Remember what I told you?”
She lowers her hands, putting one of them onto her side. “You'll have to be more specific than that, Pave.”
“I told you 'no talking about the job on our jogs’.”
That sure gets her attention. From the shocked expression and dropped arm, I can tell I blindsided her a bit with that response. Best not leave that unease hanging too long.
“With that in mind, I don't want you to create some ‘perfect stage’. I don't want you to force either of us to wait, and I especially don't want you to think you need to win those races just to make your dreams come true. Because I know you can even without that. So don't put that kind of unnecessary pressure on yourself.”
I point a finger at her, no theatrics about the gesture. I partly want to match her antics, but it's important to drive this point home properly.
“If you have something to tell me, a new dream you want me to realize, then tell me about it. Not as the greatest entertainer standing on the perfect stage, but as Fuji Kiseki, standing on the same ground as me.”
I must have really dumbfounded her, because she seems speechless. Her of all people. She stares at me for a while, before looking down and exhaling, her gaze coming back up to me with a smile. An honest one, not a performer's smile.
“You can be surprisingly inspiring at times, you know?”
“Backhanded, but I'll allow it.”
“Ha… Well, alright. Since you asked, I suppose I should be clear with you, then. You have been an amazing trainer. But more than that, you've been an incredible friend. You've helped me far beyond what was needed, and every second we spend together has been more enjoyable than the last. You have made every dream of mine thus far come true…”
She walks toward me, stopping in front of me. No theatrics, just her and me.
“Pave The Way. Will you fulfill another dream of mine, and spend every future second with me as well, through my career and far beyond?”
Took her long enough. I can't help but smile as well now.
“Yeah. I'd gladly realize that dream of yours too.”
Her own smile broadens, before she closes the final bit of distance to wrap her arms around me, an act that I mimic as we embrace on the side of the road.
There could have been more romantic spots, sure. A more ‘perfect stage’. But right here is good enough.
“Isn't this the part where you're supposed to kiss me, Pave?”
“L-Look, I know what I said earlier, but love isn't a race, okay? Give me some time to prepare for that at least…”