The next morning.
Golden sunlight pierced the thin mist and spilled over the dorm building at the Hong Kong Training Center.
"Mm…"
Berno Light rubbed her sleepy eyes and lazily sat up in bed.
She wore pink pajamas, the loose fabric making her already petite frame look even cuter.
After a quick wash, the sting of cold water cleared the fog in her head in an instant.
Changed and freshly energized, she pushed open her door, ready to greet the second morning of early summer.
The moment she stepped into the hallway, her eyes drifted toward the end of the corridor.
Sure enough.
Oguri Cap's door was wide open, and the room was empty.
"Honestly…"
Berno Light shook her head, but there was a smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Kuroha-san even told her last night that the race had just ended, so she didn't need to train today. He said she could sleep in."
"And Oguri Cap still went out for her morning jog like clockwork."
After marveling at her friend's discipline, Berno Light turned her head and looked at the tightly closed door next to hers, a hint of confusion on her face.
That was Super Creek's room.
"Huh? Creek's still asleep?"
Given Creek's personality—so gentle and overwhelmingly accommodating—she normally woke up earlier than anyone. At this hour, she should've been fully dressed, maybe even helping everyone get breakfast sorted.
Mm…
"Mom-type" was the label Berno Light had quietly assigned after she and Super Creek got close—a fitting description for someone whose tenderness and tolerance felt almost unreal.
Of course, Super Creek herself didn't know that.
"Maybe yesterday wore her out," Berno Light muttered without thinking too hard about it. Stretching, she hummed a tune and headed for the cafeteria.
…
Hong Kong's training facilities were immaculate—after all, people paid a fortune for them.
She'd even heard the cafeteria chef was banquet-level.
And by Berno Light's own taste buds…
It was as good as Kuroha-san's cooking.
Inside the cafeteria, the fragrance of breakfast filled the air.
Berno Light sat with a tray, happily working through a bowl of wonton noodles.
Halfway through, she spotted a familiar figure at the entrance.
"…Morning, Light."
Super Creek carried a simple breakfast and shuffled over, looking drained.
That beautiful face that always wore a soothing smile was drooping now. Faint shadows hung under her eyes, and her whole body looked like it had been turned to soft cotton.
"Morning, Creek." Berno Light looked at her, puzzled, as Creek sat down across from her. "Are you feeling sick? You look really tired."
"N-no… I'm fine. I just… didn't sleep well in a new bed." Super Creek forced a small smile, then lowered her head and started quietly dealing with the noodles in her bowl.
Didn't sleep well in a new bed?
After being here this long?
Berno Light scratched her head. It felt odd, but she didn't ask further and went back to eating.
Across from her, Super Creek chewed mechanically, then cast a quick glance toward the dorm building, her thoughts spiraling into frantic complaints.
Why did it go on so late…
It was just… too… too… ugh…
As Fumino's horse girl, Super Creek's room happened to be right next to Fumino's.
In theory, this high-end dorm had excellent soundproofing. Thick walls, premium insulation.
In theory.
If the noise was sharp enough—and kept happening—someone next door could still catch the occasional "leak" of sound.
And Super Creek had been the innocent victim of last night's… battle.
The moment she remembered it, her long, shapely legs pressed together on instinct. She shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her knees lightly, a faint, unhealthy flush rising to her cheeks.
After the celebration banquet ended, she'd taken a shower and planned to sleep like a baby.
But less than ten minutes after she lay down…
Something… strange started coming from next door.
The wall muffled it so much it was almost inaudible, but every so often, something slipped through.
For a horse girl with sensitive hearing, it felt like someone was scraping her eardrums with a feather.
And the worst part was…
Each time it started, it would last nearly half an hour. Then it would stop for a bit—just long enough for her to think it was over and she could finally fall asleep—
And then a new round would begin.
On and off, it continued until almost three in the morning.
I couldn't sleep at all!!
If it were Oguri Cap—an innocent foodie—she probably wouldn't have even understood what those sounds meant.
But Super Creek, with her mature, thoughtful nature… there was no way she didn't know.
"Mmm… after breakfast, I have to go back and catch up on sleep…"
Half-asleep, Super Creek transformed her frustration into appetite and slurped down a big mouthful of noodles.
…
Even after things finally quieted down around three, she herself had been left with that lingering, restless heat. She'd tossed and turned until nearly five before she finally drifted off.
Which meant she'd slept less than four hours.
Even with a horse girl's tough physique, it was still rough.
Just then—
"Yo, morning. Eating already?" A bright, easy voice came from behind them.
Super Creek's chopsticks jerked. She almost stabbed herself in the nostril.
She looked up and saw Kuroha in casual clothes, refreshed and radiant, strolling over with a spring in his step.
"Kuroha-san! Morning!" Berno Light immediately set down her chopsticks and greeted him with full energy.
"Morning." Kuroha smiled back, his gaze sweeping the area as he asked casually, "Where's Oguri? Not here yet?"
"Yeah. With Oguri's personality, she's probably already eaten. She's probably walking it off or doing an easy jog right now." Berno Light grinned and spread her hands.
"That idiot…" Kuroha sighed and shook his head. "I told her to rest. She really can't sit still for a second."
He didn't sit down to eat. Instead, he walked straight to the counter and ordered two generous breakfasts to go.
On his way back, when he passed Super Creek's seat, his steps paused.
He looked at the brown-haired horse girl who was keeping her head down like she wanted to bury her face in the bowl, and he frowned slightly.
"Creek? You don't look great. Are you feeling sick?"
"Did you not sleep well last night?"
"N-no!!"
The instant she heard the words "last night," Super Creek reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She jolted, snapped her head up, and shook it so hard she was practically rattling.
"I'm fine! Super energetic! Nothing's wrong! Totally nothing!!"
"…?"
Kuroha blinked, thrown off by her excessive reaction, staring at her face—so red it looked like it might drip.
"If you're fine, then fine… get some rest." He still looked puzzled, but didn't think too deeply about it. After all, he still had to hurry back and feed a certain violet-haired lazybones who was probably still sprawled in bed.
"Alright, I'm heading back. Enjoy." Kuroha waved, carrying the two breakfasts as he left the cafeteria at a light pace.
Watching his retreating back, Super Creek let out a long breath, slumped into her chair again, and covered her face with both hands, on the verge of tears.
"…?"
Beside her, Berno Light slurped another bite of wonton noodles, chopsticks held between her lips, staring at Super Creek in confusion.
(End of Chapter)
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