Before Almond Eye could speak, California Spangle, who had been tilting her head and watching the direction Kitasan Black had left in, suddenly smiled.
"OK, looks like Miss Black agreed."
Still unaccustomed to the pronunciation of Japanese names, California Spangle casually used a transliteration of Kitasan Black's name as she began loosening up.
She slowly rolled her neck first, producing a series of soft crackling sounds from her cervical vertebrae.
Then she stretched her arms straight out to either side and made broad circles, her shoulders rising and falling rhythmically along with them.
After that, she crouched down, clasped her ankles tightly with both hands, and began twisting her waist from side to side.
As she warmed up, her long golden hair swayed with her movements, like golden waves beneath the sunlight.
Watching California Spangle begin her warm-up on her own, Almond Eye froze for a moment before asking in surprise, "...Senior California, did you understand what Senior Little Kita said?"
Already standing, California Spangle balanced on her right leg, lifted her left leg, and firmly held her left ankle with both hands. As she leaned forward, she pulled her foot back as far as she could.
Holding that position, she looked at Almond Eye, smiled, winked, and shook her head slightly. "You mean what Miss Black said just now? No, no, I barely understood any of it."
"Huh? Then this—" Almond Eye was stunned again.
"To be honest, the way your senior Black speaks... is very interesting."
With a smile, California Spangle lowered her left leg and began stretching her right one as she continued, "But some things don't need language.
"For example, a love for running.
"For example, the desire to have a race.
"And then there's—"
She lowered her right leg, interlaced her fingers with her palms