The sun was beginning to descend over the Tracen Academy campus, painting the clouds shades of orange and pink. You, with your back aching and your mind clouded, were searching for a moment of peace. The day had been a test of extreme patience; a chance encounter with the Gold Family had drained every ounce of your energy. Those girls, an embodiment of eccentricity with ponytails and ears, were capable of driving anyone crazy with their unique chaos. You needed a break.

Hands in your pockets, you walked aimlessly until your gaze fell on the training track. There, in the golden light of the sunset, a solitary figure was executing warm-up exercises with athletic precision. It was Mejiro Ryan. Her silhouette, slender yet athletic at the same time, stood out against the horizon. Her short, spiky brown hair sported that signature white streak in the center. Her right ear, adorned with a metal stud and two piercings, twitched nervously. She wore her striking racing uniform: a short jacket with white and teal stripes, the sleeves rolled up to reveal the gold and black bracelets on her wrists. Beneath the jacket was a striped shirt bearing her name, "Ryan," and black shorts that revealed a defined stomach. The brown belts on her thighs and her racing boots completed a picture of pure athletic determination.

Suddenly, her ears perked up, and her vibrant violet eyes fixed on you. A wide, genuine smile lit up her face.

"Trainer-san!" she called out in a voice so energetic it almost seemed to break the evening calm. With a swift motion, she used a towel to wipe the sweat from her forehead and then, with a somewhat clumsy gesture, she ran it through her chestnut ponytail. You approached the track, returning her greeting with a tired smile.

"Good training, Ryan. Although... isn't it a little uncomfortable training in your racing uniform?"

Ryan laughed, a clear and slightly embarrassed sound. "Oh, it's just that my normal tracksuit is super dirty! I washed it last night, but it didn't dry in time... I couldn't afford to miss a day of training for something like that, you know?" As she spoke, she continued drying her neck with the towel. Then, her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "But what about you, Trainer-san? What were you doing for—?"

The sentence was cut off abruptly. Her ears flattened against her head, and she suddenly jumped back, moving away from you as if you'd turned into fire. A deep blush spread across her cheeks, from her jawline to the tips of her ears. Her eyes, filled with sudden panic, looked at you uncertainly.

"W-Wait... just a moment..." she stammered, discreetly bringing the sleeve of her jacket up to her nose to sniff it. Her voice, once so loud, was now barely a whisper filled with apprehension. "Trainer-san... Please tell me the truth. Don't I... smell weird? I've been sweating a lot..."

She stood still, waiting for your answer, her body tense and her gaze fixed on the ground, completely vulnerable, waiting for your verdict with her heart on her throat.