Umamusume's days are numbered

Platinum had just observed the lounge; it was suffocating inside. Perhaps to protect privacy, there were no windows, which meant he could only exit through the blocked exit.

But this has created another stalemate. There are people outside, and there's no way he can escape them!

I have to find a way to get them all to disperse.

As the noise outside grew louder and the pounding on the door intensified, Bai Jin's forehead broke out in sweat. Time was running out.

"Hey, I'm talking inside, are you listening? Do you even have the strength to answer?" Fuji Koji shouted loudly.

"Platinum, hang in there, the staff will be here soon." This was the anxious, concerned voice of Li Yuelongmen.

How can I get them all to scatter...?

How can I...

That's right, this is what I'm best at.

Isn't it something you've been doing for a long time: driving away everyone who gathers around you, going against other people's expectations?

"Phew, you guys are really troublesome and stubborn."

Then, Koi Leaps Over the Dragon Gate and Fuji Koji heard Platinum's slow voice coming from the lounge.

"I don't have any problems... In fact, all my current troubles are caused by you."

Platinum's voice sounded very flippant, with an upward inflection; whether it was my imagination or not, it even had a provocative quality.

“Platinum…” But even so, Koi Leaps Over the Dragon Gate still felt a sense of relief. Racehorse girls are all gifted spirits, and no matter what kind of racehorse girl they are, they all have pure and kind hearts. There are quite a few like Koi Leaps Over the Dragon Gate who would worry and be anxious for strangers.

Even someone as cold-faced as Fuji Koji would rush to help immediately; that's just Uma Musume's nature.

That's why Platinum felt even more guilty about what she was about to say.

"So, this fake pretend play is enough, isn't it? I thought you would know better and leave on your own, but you've misunderstood in a completely different way."

Platinum's cheeks twitched slightly as he leaned against the cabinet, stabbing a deadly sword out of his mouth.

Words are the sharpest weapon, a truth that Platinum understood long ago.

At the bedside, facing caring friends, family members who can no longer afford medical expenses, and all sorts of people who come with good intentions.

Thank you so much for everything you've done for me, but my life is over, while yours can continue.

If you continue to tie me to you, I will become a burden to you.

It's one thing if we can't support each other, but if we become a burden, then we truly deserve to die.

so---

"Don't you understand? I just don't want you to come in. The thought of being squeezed into a small space with you makes me feel disgusted."

"How could you say such a thing?"

With a bang, Fuji Koji slammed his fist on the door of the lounge and shouted at Platinum inside.

"Give me some respect for the opponents you've competed against on the same field!" Fuji Koji gritted her teeth. Platinum had touched a nerve, and it seemed Fuji Koji was completely enraged.

See? It's that simple. Just by gently opening and closing your upper and lower lips, you can make someone leave your side.

So Platinum went even further.

"Opponents?" Fuji Koji heard a silvery laugh coming from inside the door. "You mean those of you I left behind by more than a dozen horse lengths?"

"They can't even run up to me, let alone compete on the same stage... they don't even qualify to be backup dancers."

"You—" Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate quickly grabbed the enraged Fuji Koji. She grabbed Fuji Koji's arms and dragged her backward.

"Apologize to A-Li, apologize to everyone here!" Even as A-Li was being pulled along by the carp leaping over the dragon gate, Fuji Koji still waved his arms. "So, I knew I wasn't wrong. You're a really annoying guy!"

"Of everyone here, only you, only you, don't care about the game or your opponent at all. Someone like you should never step onto the field again!"

Upon hearing Fuji Koji's words, Shirogane curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

I'm sorry, Mr. Fuji. What you said is all correct.

I am neither a qualified racehorse girl nor even a qualified person.

That's why I want you to stay away from me.

I could see the burning fire in your eyes—a thirst for victory, a desire to claim the crown. I'm so sorry I trampled on that dream.

However, this should be the last time. I'm sorry.

On the field, there should be people like you, not opportunists and mediocre players like me.

"So what?" Platinum said with a grin.

"Yes, I admit it. I've never taken the competition seriously. For me, it's just for fun, for playing around, you know?"

"But... what I didn't expect was that even with this mindset, you couldn't defeat me. Is it me, who can become number one just by running around, who is more despicable, or you, who can't surpass me even when you try your best?"

Upon hearing this, the racehorse girls outside the door began to whisper among themselves.

"That's really hurtful..."

"His personality is terrible. He was timid and hesitant in front of the gate, but as soon as he won the game, he became extremely arrogant."

"In the end, she was just born with a good physique, wasn't she? If everyone had the same talent, Fuji Koji wouldn't have lost."

"Thinking about it this way, those guys who are so proud of their talent seem even worse."

Episode 9: Sharp Blade and Stabbing

"He looks like he's never run before."

"This is terrible... The worst kind of people are those who compare things like talent."

"She's not from Treson Academy either, is she? Ultimately, it's because she's never seen a true genius that she's so arrogant."

"Yes, look at Donghai Emperor. He's always so polite and kind when he speaks to people. He's the heir to that emperor, after all."

"No, you're so certain about the heir... but your assessment of the Emperor is quite accurate. Even with talent, can anyone compare to him?"

Before Fujikoji could react, the carp leaping over the dragon gate had already pulled her far away.

"Ah Li, don't touch me! I'm going to do this today—" Fuji Koji angrily pried open the carp leaping over the dragon gate's fingers.

"What are you going to do?" Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate and releases Fuji Koji's body.

"Of course..." Fuji Koji swallowed the words he wanted to say when he saw the expression on Koi Leaping Over the Dragon Gate's face.

She and Li Yuelongmen had always been companions, but this was the first time she had ever seen Li Yuelongmen... show such an expression.

"Nothing you say will matter at a time like this. Platinum is number one, the champion, so she's right. It's that simple." Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate glanced back indifferently, and the voices of the horse racing girls immediately disappeared.

"If you want to gossip about others, as you said, the Emperor of the East Sea can, Nebula Sky can, Special Week can, Big Tree Express can, Divine Eagle can... but let's not talk about those of us who haven't won the Dao Battle yet."

"It sounds like someone is just yelling in frustration after losing."

After speaking, Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate withdrew its gaze, walked to the door of the lounge, and gently knocked on the door.

"Platinum. I understand what you're saying. Perhaps that's what you're thinking, or perhaps you have other reasons."

“But I don’t care about that. There’s only one dressing room for everyone, and all the clothes we can change into are in there. Not to mention that I, Fuji Koji, and you still have the winner’s stage to go.”

"So please open the door. Of course, I understand that you don't want to share a lounge with us. You can change first, and then we can go in and change."

"There's no time left. The winner's time is almost up, and continuing to delay would be disrespectful to the audience."

Platinum opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Is this guy serious? Even after hearing such outrageous things...

She could understand if he said that for the sake of the audience, the winner's stage, and the racehorse girls outside... but even though she said such outrageous things, he still asked her to think about it.

This is not what I imagined.

Platinum thought that this level of indifference would make them disregard her and spread their disgust towards her.

No, regardless of whether they still care about themselves or not. The guilt I feel will only deepen if a child like this says such things.

But... there's no turning back! It's precisely to protect them that I must disperse them. If I can't achieve the effect Platinum wants, I have no choice but to continue.

Platinum felt her stomach contracting tightly, and her heart felt as heavy as lead, each beat incredibly difficult.

She was feeling sad and guilty for the words she had uttered, yet she had to continue—Platinum was like being caught in a whirlpool, slowly being submerged by the tide.

"Didn't you understand what I said? I said—the winner's stage doesn't need you."

"Who wants a loser with a mournful face as my backup dancer? The winner's stage should only belong to the winner!"

Of course not. Platinum didn't know the definition of the winner's stage. But she did really enjoy running, and especially enjoyed running with everyone.

She knew her attitude towards the race was frivolous. Shirogane was intelligent and perceptive, which is why she was able to so accurately pinpoint Fujikoji's sensitive spots.

But that doesn't mean she doesn't like running. On the contrary... Having lost both her legs, she cherishes every moment she can stand, walk, and run, and she wants to imprint every single second of that time deeply into her mind.

But no, that won't work. I'm not qualified to compete here.

If I were to become a source of infection, as a patient with soul dissolution syndrome, perhaps the best way to avoid causing trouble for others would be to commit suicide?

So now it doesn't matter what I say, since we'll never see each other again anyway. Once I get rid of them, I'll slink away like a deserter and just fend for myself.

This is for everyone's good, and also for my own good. Watching the brain slowly detach from my body is so painful; I don't want to experience it myself, nor do I want anyone else to.

Hearing Bai Jin say such things, Li Yuelongmen could only stand in front of the gate with a complicated expression.

"...Alright, if you don't want to, then so be it."

As she spoke, Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate turned around and shrugged at the few racehorse girls standing in front of the lounge.

"Everyone heard it, this is what our champion demanded."

"In that case... let's leave for a while and give Platinum time to prepare for the winner's stage."

Hearing the words "Carp leaping over the dragon gate," one of the horse racers timidly raised her hand: "Should we... really listen to what she says?"

"What else can we do?" Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate shook its head. "Are we supposed to break down the door?"

"Our clothes were all inside..."

“Yes, all our clothes are inside.” Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate nodded, raised its voice to Platinum in the lounge, and said, enunciating each word clearly, “So please, champion, get to the winner’s stage as soon as possible… after all, racehorse girls are very fragile.”

She received no reply from the lounge. Platinum's voice fell silent.

"Everyone, let's leave too. Let's find another rest room to sit for a while." Koi Leaps Over the Dragon Gate pushed Fuji Koji's back and led him out. "We're all sweaty from running. It wouldn't be good if we caught a chill from the wind."

"...Since you've put it that way..."

One by one, after hearing what the carp had said about leaping over the dragon gate, everyone slowly left, and the area in front of the lounge finally became empty.

Looking at the door of the lounge, Li Yuelongmen walked back to the door, pressed his body against it, and whispered into the room.

"Little princess, you have achieved your goal."

"Whatever you want to do, please don't use such hurtful methods next time."

"Even Uma Musume... has guys you genuinely dislike, you know?"

(The moon is fullest on the sixteenth day of the lunar month, not the fifteenth.)

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Daga!

Episode 10: Drinks and Guests

The thin, azure sky was cloudless; it was the time when the sun was setting but the world was not yet completely shrouded in darkness. The entire sky, like glass, had a cold, icy feel, and a slightly chilly sensation emanated from it.

Compared to the gradually warming hues of the sky, the urban landscape is just beginning to awaken, gradually turning warmer in color. For modern people, the arrival of night doesn't mean rest; rather, it's a signal that nightlife is about to begin.

Especially in big cities like this, the business of shopping malls, bars, and izakayas is just getting started.

At the corner bar, young people were clinking glasses and chatting merrily. Some were absentmindedly scrolling through their phones, repeatedly refreshing their social media apps for a fleeting sense of comfort.

Did anyone watch it? It was my debut race at Hanshin Racecourse today.

[The match was completely one-sided; that guy named Platinum was too strong. I even bet that Fuji Koji would win (￣︶￣)↗]

[You're betting nonsense! www. If this competition hadn't gone viral online, you wouldn't even glance at this debut battle.]

There are many debut battles like this every day. If you include regional competitions, the number of debut battles every day is countless, and most of them don't attract much attention. Only those genius girls who already have high popularity before their debut, or those promising contestants who have inherited excellent bloodlines, receive a lot of attention.