Seeing all the people that supported me disappear like ghosts was quite shocking. I wonder if I hallucinated, am I already losing my mind? I’m only two months into my career!
I get up and dust myself off trying to stay positive even after my loss. Afterwards I look around trying to see my godforsaken trainer that probably got kicked in the head as a baby so he can inform me what I should do next, finding him at an entrance to a hallway opposite to me. He has a grim expression, maybe with a hint of sadness. He then pointed a finger at me then at himself. I guess he wants me to go to him?
I get into a light jog getting to the hallway and entering it. I wonder what he has to say
He takes a big breath and says “I failed you” leaving me quite a bit dumbfounded...I mean yeah you failed me, you ran me ragged like a dog day in and day out. It’s honestly a miracle I didn’t break a leg
“I realised that I won’t be able to fulfill your potential in that race. Your last spurt truly was something” He said the last part with a small laugh. But to be honest I don’t think he can fulfill anyone’s potential.
“Tracen has given you a letter of admission. That is to say that if you accept you will be enrolled in tracen academy” He finished.
What!? How? The math isn’t mathing, I finished second place! “How? I’m not that good” I said to my trainer, looking confused.
“Why do you look confused? You do know that Ancient Ohio had a saying, what was it again...right! If Ancient Ohio enters her final spurt no one can catch up! And you matched her speed for 150m in that final sprint so you basically broke that myth” He said looking ahead.
“I guess I accept” I was only joking when I said that I want to get to Tracen...but I guess I’m going there? “When should I go?” I ask also looking ahead
“You’ll be going on the next train to the Kanto region and once you're there just look around it won’t be that hard to find. The Tracen academy officials know that you’re gonna enter. I will send them your stuff so don’t worry about that or about the concert I will handle it” He said before doing a shooing motion as if to say begin running to the train station.
“The next train for the Kanto region leaves in 15 minutes and it’s a 30 minute walk there so begin running!” He explained before shooing me off again with a grin.
I of course promptly ran.
Right, left, go straight, now left no right. All these thoughts swirled in my head as I sprinted to the train station trying to avoid smashing into a wall or some poor cat that was trying to feed her kitten.
There!
The train had just begun boarding passengers and I turned on an extra gear, planting my feet into the ground and basically hurling myself at the train’s doors before they closed. My body cut through the air like a finely honed weapon made by an ancient dwarf with a full beard and rolled squarely into one of the train cars right before the doors closed behind me with a loud thunk.
All the other passengers looked at me weirdly as if I was some nuisance at me rolling into the train car before going back to what they were doing…one of them is staring at a window, standing upright as stone as if he was an old martial warrior about to fight his old arch nemesis, who was originally his brother but after a feud about who should inherit the throne the relationship turned sour!
…
I should really stop reading those cultivation novels because it can't be good for my own mental wellbeing. But at the same time…they are so good! Like an addiction...am I becoming a novel addict? My mother always warned me about drugs but never about novels. I’m gonna become one of those homeless uma’s you see on the street because I blew all my money on my novel addiction aren’t I!?
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Oh such a tragic story! A uma who had a bright future loses it after her novel addiction!
...I should really find a seat to sit on, the ground kinda hurts.
I get up, stretch my back hearing it pop really loudly like I was an old lady instead of a physically fit young uma! And then I look around for a seat, finding one open right beside an old lady. So I go over there and sit on it contemplating.
I hope my next race will be a win...no that isn’t the right mentality for an athlete! I am gonna win! Yes I am definitely gonna win even if I have lost all my...previous races, and don't have anything special about me that would help me win. No,no! Half of the battle is the mental battle! If I can win it then my chances of winning a race will go up exponentially!...but I haven’t won any of my previous races so how am I gonna win this mental battle? Can you lose against yourself? I probably can.
“Would you want an orange?” Amidst my mental ramblings the old lady beside had offerd...an orange?
“No,but thank you for your consideration" I say declining the offer
God, even someone’s grandma tried to cheer me up. I’m truly hopeless! Why did I think I had a chance? I’m simply not talented enough. I should probably quit before I make a fool of myself. No! I promised myself that I wouldn’t quit...but still it’s looking kinda hopeless.
“Would you want two! Oranges?” The old lady said with a smile that could melt glaciers and hold up two oranges, interrupting my thoughts again.
Is this old lady like a sales women? Why is she so persistent? But I guess two oranges wouldn’t be so bad right now. “Fine” I responded
She gave me the oranges and turned away. I peeled one of the oranges off and began eating, taking a bite.
...I have never tasted such a good orange. The orange transported me to a world where world peace was possible, where I achieved my life dreams...and then I finished it in 2 seconds.
Damn that orange was good! “I have to ask where did you buy these oranges!?” I asked the old lady and she grinned at me as if I activated her trap card.
“Oh these oranges are from my grocery store just across the right street of Tracen Academy" The old lady said with a kind smile.
“Oh, I see! I will probably visit your grocery store! But it seems I have arrived at my station!" I hopped out of my seat cracking my back yet again and walked out of the train.
Now my trainer said I couldn’t miss it...so where the fuck is it!?
…
I have walked for two hours and searched every inch of Fuchu and Tama so why can’t I find this damn academy!?
I’m definitely in the suburban sprawl Tracen academy is in so why can’t I find it!? Am I this navigationally inept!? It’s also beginning to darken and I really don’t want to search in the dark! There is only one option now. I have to break my leg and say that my career is over, that is the only way that I do not embarrass myself.
“Um...hello?” A feminine voice said behind me…well I guess I won’t have to break my leg.
“Hi! Could you tell me where Tracen academy is located? With it being dark I just can’t find it” I say turning around and greeting her. I’m definitely not telling her I have been searching for two hours that would make me a laughing stock.
“I can show it to you? Are you perhaps enrolling?” She responded. She had the average Tracen academy uniform and her hair was cut short to her shoulders.
“Yes please!” I answered following her as she took a left corner and...for fuck’s sake there was Tracen acedemy! How did I miss it!?
I turned my head to the ground trying to sound like I wasn’t berating myself to the seven hells. “Ah there it was...hehe”
The girl looked at me dumbfounded. “Is navigation...perhaps not one of your skills?” She asked trying to sound polite but I understood the actual meaning ,are you fucking stupid!, I can already hear her insulting me in her mind and honestly I understand.
“Well...I guess this were we part ways” I then began running disguised in a walk to Tracen academy.
The acedemy was...well a acedemy? It looked like a Japanese high school kinda, just larger and with more facilities.
I walked inside openingthe doorsfor a bright future...and realise I’m lost. I mean this is a completely new environment so I guess it makes sense that I don’t know what to do.
I look around completely confused before taking off my shoes and using the indoor ones. Now what to do?
