"Ah...then I apologise, I have missed out on the Matsu Hide-san party."
She smiles at her laughing companion and nearly goes head over heels from a root sticking out into the dirt, lurching dangerously side to side until she can steady her balance.

"You'll...have to...tell me, all about it....after I win of course."
The crossroad uphead marked the halfway point of the race, the last official farm before the land started giving away to scrub.

“You’ll have to catch me, first!” Hide grinned, Shoan’s little stumble was what she needed to pull ahead. They seemed to have made good time so far, almost at the turning point.

“Don’t go hurting yourself trying to compete with excellence!”

"You have to give a 100% to compete with excellence"
Shoan kept pumping her arms but the Mastu was damned fast

"You are..quit impressive though" Straining for air "Usually, leg length would give me the advantage."
The two hurtled across the turning point with Hide in the lead, the road slowly turning to the right in a great loop that will take them back to the city.

“Hey, I was always the runt in my family.” Hide looked back to Shoan, grin way to large for someone running as she was. “Gotta work hard to compensate for your shortcomings. Pun only partially intended.”

Shoan snorts, although it's hard to hear over all the heavy breathing
"Sounds like a tall order, Matsu-san...speaking of."

The Murame veers to the right and starts cutting across a muddy field to try and get ahead of Hide

It took a moment for Hide to realize what was going on, but when she did, there was a flash of momentary anger which soon diluted into mild annoyance. “Hey! I won’t lose to your tricks, Murame-san!”

She took the the fields, now a bit behind Shoan again thanks to her tricksy nature.

"Hey! Akodo-no-kami said a samurai should always know the terrain, this-" paint "- is one interpretation of that!"

Shoan vaults the fence on the other side of the field and shoots back a tricksy look before continuing the race.

Hide gritted her teeth, shoes muddy and the run starting to really wear her down. Still, she was able to vault herself over the fence and bolt after Shoan. At this point, the annoyance was enough to make her not notice how much her calves were yelling at her.

“Don’t go quoting Leadership at me!”

Shoan has to try not to laugh, which is easier when you're short enough of breath to have trouble even talking.

"Oh, I believe as the current leader of this race it is my duty to do so, to motivate you!"
The road back to the city is increasingly busy with heimin coming the other way, all heading down to the fields to work.

“Shit.” Hide could see what was likely gonna happen. Shoan was gonna try and get Hide to slow down by running headlong towards people. It was time for Hide to use her brain.

Time to find the path of least resistance. It was a gamble, but Hide decided to go around the crowd of people by taking a sharp turn and rushing through a backroad. Less people, and it might also confuse Shoan if she times it right.

"And that is why I've motivated you to try and chase me even harder Matsu-san....Matsu-san?"
The Murame looks around in confusion, was that Hide sprinting up a sidestreet? Damn it, she was pulling ahead!

"Out of the way! Samurai business! Samurai business!"
Shoan ducks and dives around the crowds of heimin, hoping she wouldn't end up too far behind.

Hide pulled back into the main street again where the crowd had thinned out, this time ahead of her rival. She glanced back at Shoan with a huge grin. Oh how sweet it is to pull a reversal so perfectly! “A samurai should always know the terrain, Murame-san!”

"If I...wasn't so winded, I would have...a very witty retort right now!"
Shoan shoots Hide her best look, which just looks like a very tired/sweaty half glare

"There's still plenty of street to go!"

Although not that much, as the two raced back up towards the Wisteria Inn.

Hide could feel her calves protest this last little bit, which slowed her pace ever so much. But she was determined to not lose.

“Y-yeah... That was my last bit of wit left in me, I gotta admit.”

"It's okay, it was reasonably witty, I'll try and take that route next time!"
Shoan catches up a fraction to Hide, now right behind the Matsu's shoulder as the round the final bend. Up the street and on the left are the open doors to the Wisteria Inn, the finish line.

Okay, it was so or die at this point. Shoan has caught up to Hide, a worrying sign for the smaller Lion. Still, she had one ace left up her sleeve, and would definitely use it if her legs cooperated.

Little did Shoan know, Hide was the one that held the long jump record in her unit.

I mean, it would be more impressive if she didn’t botch the landing. Rolling through the door, most assuredly spooking whoever was inside.
______

D7: EM Raaaaace against Shoan. Let’s go, Long Jump. VP for +3k1 call 2 raises!: 9d10o10k5 26

Shoan summons all of her own power and stubbornness as she sees Hide leap. She ends up launching herself after Hide and crossing the threshold at the same time to also end up tumbling through the doors. The two Lion ending up rolling either side of a terrified looking doorman before coming to a rest on the tattered carpet.

Day 7 fluff athletics jump roll TN25: 4d10o10k3 32

“We’ll....” The Murame has trouble catching her breath as she lies on her back, chest heaving, almost all of her body hurting

“We’ll call it a draw?”

Hide, kind of heaving on her side, legs completely unable to be moved currently. “Draw... Good. What was our time?”

From her side, she forced herself to roll onto her back, panting heavily.

Shoan clumsily pulls out her Densai and wipes some sweat off it
“Seventy.... seventy-eight minutes. That’s... new record, we were so fast.”
One of her legs starts twitching as it’s muscle unite in cramping protest at their treatment

Pained “So fast.”

“Next time... Just fitness jog.” Hide groaned as she forced herself to sit up. “Sweat... Mud. Yeah, shower after I’m able to stand back up.”