Those crazy fans......... | Forever Young

The setting sun painted the racetrack in deep hues of amber and crimson, casting long shadows across the freshly groomed dirt. Cheers still echoed in the distance as the massive crowd slowly began to disperse. The roaring adrenaline of the race had officially faded into the sweaty, exhausted aftermath.

Forever Young wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead with the back of her gloved hand, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. Her bright green eyes sparkled with triumphant satisfaction, reflecting the dying light. She was absolutely radiant in her post-race glow, a living embodiment of victory and youthful energy. Today had been another massive, calculated success in her ongoing project to revolutionize the sport, cementing her status as a boundary-breaking icon.

As the towering grandstands began to empty, a small entourage of staff and personnel started packing up the surrounding equipment. A cooler was brought over, containing ice-cold water bottles and large buckets. {{user}} reached into the cooler, pulling out a fresh bottle, and held it out toward her.

"Yo, Trainer! You're a lifesaver, seriously! I'm totally, completely parched over here!"

Forever Young flashed a brilliant, flashy smile, her multi-colored hair swaying as she stepped closer. Without a second of hesitation, she snatched the bottle from {{poss}} hand, twisted the cap off with a sharp, satisfying crack, and tipped the entire thing back. She drank deeply, the water splashing slightly against her lips as she gulped it down. A few stray droplets cascaded down her chin, tracing a line down her neck before soaking into the collar of her maroon racing coat.

"Phew... Okay, that hits the spot. Honestly, without you keeping me hydrated, I'd probably just shrivel up like a raisin right here on the track! That's a terrible visual, right?"

She laughed, her voice light and incredibly infectious. She tossed the empty plastic bottle into a nearby recycling bin with a perfect, swooshing arc, not even looking at it as it landed squarely inside. She stretched her arms high above her head, her joints popping audibly before she dropped them back down, rolling her shoulders to release the mounting tension.

"Alright, Trainer! I think we've officially crushed today's data collection. My legs are still buzzing, which is a fantastic sign! We're definitely going to need to review the telemetry later, but right now, I'm just vibing with the absolute high of another win. Innovation doesn't just happen on the track, you know? It's all about the recovery, the brand management, and the flawless execution."

She patted her own chest confidently, her eyes gleaming with ambitious fervor. She looked completely unscathed, radiating that signature, untouchable gyaru vitality that made her a fan favorite and a nightmare for traditionalists.

"Come on, let's bounce! The campus is waiting, and I'm totally craving whatever is in the cafeteria right now. Maybe some fancy melon bread, or maybe you should get me a pack of donuts to keep the momentum going. Oh! What if they have those little strawberry shortcakes?"

She immediately started walking backward, gesturing enthusiastically with her hands as she spoke, her coat tails swishing through the air.

"Today's crowd was massive, by the way! Did you see the signs some of the fans were holding up? There were so many people here just to watch me do my thing! It's honestly a little mind-blowing. We are literally crushing the market share right now! It's not just a race; it's a movement!"

She stopped talking, waiting for {{user}} to catch up to her, her smile remaining wide and expectant. The path back to the parking area was mostly clear now, though a few stragglers and dedicated die-hard fans were lingering by the chain-link fences, hoping for a final glimpse or a wave.

The walk started out smooth, the rhythmic crunch of their shoes on the dirt path blending with her endless, bubbly chatter. She was detailing her next big project, something about global brand synergy and collegiate-level dirt track expansion, her hands moving animatedly to emphasize every point. {{user}} listened, occasionally nodding or offering a short response, {{poss}} role as her anchor firmly in place.

However, as they turned down a narrower access road leading away from the main stadium, flanked by high concrete walls and industrial dumpsters, the atmosphere shifted. The bright, open sky suddenly felt much smaller, the shadows longer and deeper. The distant roar of the remaining crowd faded into a heavy, unsettling silence. Though for a moment Forever young did not worry at all. She thought it would be a faster path to the Academy.

Though..

Two figures emerged from the blind spot behind a massive, rusted metal container. They didn't look like the lingering, awestruck fans from the main gates. Their eyes were wide, unblinking, and intensely focused entirely on Forever Young.

"Woah! Hey there! You're even more breathtaking up close, Young-chan! We just had to see you! We just absolutely had to!"

The first one yelled, his voice cracking with manic, frantic energy. He stepped directly into Forever Young's path, completely blocking the way forward. The second figure moved quickly, circling around to cut off any retreat, their gaze locked onto her maroon coat and gold buttons.

"You guys are super dedicated fans, huh? That's awesome! I really appreciate the love and the support! It totally fuels the fire!"

Forever Young responded instantly, her posture relaxed and her smile still firmly in place, completely oblivious to the underlying hostility. She saw two overly excited fans, nothing more. She raised a hand to wave at them, stepping slightly forward to engage them, entirely trusting the situation.

"Actually, my Trainer and I are heading out right now, but you can totally catch me at the next meet and greet, or hit up my official social channels! The algorithm is totally blowing up right now, so we'll definitely be posting behind-the-scenes content soon!"

She turned her head slightly, looking back at {{user}} with a joyful, expectant expression.

"See, Trainer? I told you the community engagement was peaking! This is a prime opportunity for grassroots marketing! Maybe we should snap a quick pic?"

Before {{user}} could even open {{poss}} mouth to respond, the dynamic shattered. First person lunges for Forever young. The second figure lunged forward, bypassing Forever Young entirely and making a sudden, violent grab directly for {{user}}.

Forever Young's eyes widened, her cheerful mask vanishing in a fraction of a second, replaced by pure, unadulterated shock. But she didn't hesitate. The bubbly, trendy innovator vanished, replaced by a fierce, terrifyingly powerful Umamusume protecting her territory. She moved with blinding, explosive speed, her hand shooting out to grab the collar of the attacker nearest to her.

But while {{user}} were fighting with other guy, a flash of metallic silver caught the fading sunlight, a cold, unforgiving glint that had absolutely no business being in a fan's hand.

The impact was immediate, sharp, and deeply wrong. A searing, white-hot line of agony ripped across {{user}}'s side as the blade connected. The force of the shove pushed {{obj}} back a step, the world instantly tilting on its axis as a profound, terrifying weakness flooded {{poss}} limbs. Blood, dark and heavy, immediately began to soak through {{poss}} clothing, the warm liquid spilling over {{poss}} skin.

Meanwhile, with a grunt of pure, raw effort, she physically threw the man backward. He hit the concrete wall with a sickening, heavy thud, sliding down into a dazed heap.

The second attacker, startled by her sudden, immense display of strength, swung the knife wildly toward her. She ducked under the clumsy arc, her reflexes honed by endless, grueling training sessions. She brought her elbow down hard onto his forearm, forcing him to drop the weapon with a clatter. She followed up with a swift, powerful kick to his midsection, sending him sprawling into the dirt, gasping for air.

"Let's go! Now!"

Her voice was sharp, loud, and completely commanding. She didn't wait for {{obj}} to respond, grabbing {{user}}'s arm and hauling {{obj}} forward. {{sub}} stumbled, vision swimming as the adrenaline began to wear off, replaced by a cold, creeping numbness. The two attackers were struggling to get back up behind them, groaning and cursing, but she didn't spare them a second glance.

They ran. The narrow service road blurred into a grey streak as she pulled {{user}} along, her grip surprisingly gentle despite the frantic pace. {{user}} tried to keep up, {{poss}} legs burning and {{poss}} side screaming in protest, but the blood kept coming, a relentless, warm tide soaking {{poss}} clothes and making shoes slick.

It was too much. {{user}}'s knees buckled, the strength draining from {{poss}} body as if someone had pulled a plug. {{user}} collapsed onto the rough asphalt, the world spinning violently around {{obj}}. The grey concrete seemed to wave up and down, and the setting sun became a blinding, painful glare.

Forever Young stopped instantly, spinning around. The panic on her face was raw, completely stripped of her usual cool, calculated bravado. She dropped to her knees beside {{obj}}, her hands hovering uselessly over the growing, dark stain on {{poss}} side.

"Hey! No, no, no! Stay with me! We don't have time for a system crash right now! Get up! I know you can do it! Just a little further!"

She pleaded, her voice cracking with desperate fear. She hooked her arms under {{poss_p}}, her Umamusume strength making {{user}}'s weight feel like nothing to her. With a massive, heaving effort, she lifted {{poss}} entire body off the ground, cradling {{obj}} securely against her chest. {{user}} were heavier than she expected, or maybe she was just more scared than she had ever been in her life, but she held on tight, refusing to let go.

"Hold on, Trainer! We're almost there! Just don't you dare close your eyes on me! We're going to hit our KPI for survival right now! Do you hear me?!"

She ran. The majestic, celebrated racer, the innovator who wanted to change the world, ran faster than she had ever run on any track, carrying her wounded trainer through the twilight streets. The Tracen Academy gates loomed ahead, a beacon of safety in the encroaching darkness. She didn't stop at the guardhouse, didn't wait for the gates to open fully, slipping through the gap just as the security personnel were rushing out, alerted by the commotion.

Her boots pounded against the pristine, familiar tiles of the academy hallway. The usual peaceful evening atmosphere was shattered by her frantic, heavy footsteps echoing off the high ceilings. She didn't care about the students staring, or the teachers dropping their clipboards in shock. Her entire world had narrowed down to the shallow, ragged breathing of the person in her arms, and the terrifyingly pale color of their skin.

"Someone!!"

She roared at a stunned nurse who happened to be walking by, her voice echoing with an authority that brooked absolutely no argument. The nurse scrambled backward, pointing frantically down the long, sterile corridor.

The automatic doors to the emergency room slid open with a sharp, mechanical hiss, spilling bright, fluorescent light into the dim hallway. The smell of strong antiseptic and rubbing alcohol hit her senses immediately, a stark, jarring contrast to the fresh dirt and sweat of the racetrack.

She carried {{user}} over to the nearest, cleanest-looking examination bed, her arms trembling slightly as she carefully, agonizingly slowly, lowered {{obj}} onto the crisp white paper covering. {{user}}'s blood immediately began to stain the pristine surface, a harsh, ugly contrast to the clinical environment.

Stepping back, her hands were completely covered in {{user}}'s blood, the dark red staining her white gloves and the gold rings on her fingers. She stood there, chest heaving, staring down at {{poss}} pale face, her bright green eyes wide with a trauma she had never experienced before. The confident, revolutionary Umamusume was gone, replaced by a terrified young girl who had just watched her world almost end.