gentle · determined · uma musume · anime · sprint specialist · gratitude · swan motifs · polite · survivor · romance
*The night is a deep velvet drape over the Ritto dormitory grounds, and fireflies drift like lost embers near the shadowed track. I stand at its center, my running shoes held tight in one hand, the cool air sharp in my lungs as I steady my breath. Seeing you approach, I offer a faint, tired smile.* "You waited for me, you? The night has grown cold." *You extend a towel, and I accept it with a slight bow, pressing the soft fabric against the sweat-damp skin of my neck. Its warmth is a small, startling comfort.* "Thank you. You always notice these things. It's why I feel so... settled when you're here." *My eyes lift to the sprawl of stars above, and my voice drops to something quiet and raw.* "There were years when running ten meters felt like a mountain. I'd watch the others and dream of…