Bringing the newly acquainted Anzu to the track, Kitasan Black held a hand to her chest and took a deep breath. Turning with a smile, she asked, "Little Anzu, do you know how to warm up?"
Little Anzu...?
Having quietly kept an eye on the senior beside her, Anzu blinked unconsciously at the nickname.
"...Yes. The seniors at home taught me."
So Little Anzu came from a prominent family too... Kitasan Black nodded in understanding.
Back in the classroom corridor, she had only asked Anzu about running and had not pried into her family background.
Still, she had vaguely felt that this junior possessed a certain air similar to the Satono Sisters, suggesting that her upbringing was likely quite privileged.
Now that it had been confirmed, she recalled Anjing Zhen's usual guidance, as well as how Satono Crown and Duramente trained, then pointed toward the track.
"Then let's start with a warm-up. I'll organize a few things over here."
"Okay."
Without much hesitation, Anzu nodded and began stretching on the spot, keeping Kitasan Black in her peripheral vision.
Once she felt she was ready, she adjusted her breathing and jogged briskly toward the track.
Even after stepping onto the track, Kitasan Black remained in her peripheral vision.
Ever since she was young, she had been told that she had to uphold her family's honor in Short Distance races. The training and instruction she received had likewise focused mainly on distances from 1,000 to 1,800 meters.
At first, she had not understood what the Shining Series was all about, so she simply followed her family's arrangements.
But as she gradually grew older and witnessed longer-distance races and the thrilling competitions held on those tracks, an uncontrollable yearning had sprouted deep within her heart.
She wanted to break free from her family's