Umamusume's days are numbered

Platinum's exhilarating voice echoed across the arena.

"Chrysanthemum viewing, stay tuned!"

The entire arena, including the players, spectators, commentators, and live broadcast, fell into an unusual silence.

"Did I just hear that right?" Yamato Akaki patted his ears in disbelief. "I think I heard my senior speaking on the field?"

"How could I have misheard along with you?" Vodka frowned. "A collective auditory hallucination?"

Then, a flurry of flashes and shutter sounds enveloped the platinum.

"Did you hear that, Ayun? Listen!" Genesis was so excited he almost jumped up, grabbing Helix's collar and shaking him vigorously, even making Helix's hat fall off. "Platinum is talking to us! For the first time ever!"

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh..." The contrails were being shaken so badly that they were foaming at the mouth, feeling as if a pair of iron clamps were squeezing their throats, and they were about to suffocate.

Fuji Koji rubbed his forehead in frustration: "Ari, didn't I tell you to keep an eye on those two kids? Why can I still hear them screaming!"

Turning my head, I saw that the carp leaping over the dragon gate was covering its mouth and making a sharp popping sound, and in the blink of an eye, tears were streaming down its face.

"It seems Platinum is in high spirits. We look forward to her performance at the Chrysanthemum Award. Let's wait and see if she can achieve a triple crown." Even the commentator echoed Platinum's words on the radio.

"Is this enough?" Platinum smiled stiffly while maintaining the pose, then asked the East Sea Emperor beside her in a low voice, "My hands are getting really sore."

"That's enough, you can let it go now. Walk away with a confident smile..." the East Sea Emperor whispered back.

Just as Platinum was about to do so, another hand landed on her shoulder.

Ibuki Kagura's face twitched, and she spoke shakily, as if she wanted to cry or laugh: "Shouldn't you let go? What kind of behavior is this in public?"

"Or is this a special segment where the champion comforts the loser? Then... is it my turn?"

Ibuki Kagura was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. She was exhausted from running the race and still had to maintain her idol image. When she looked up and saw the two of them whispering sweet nothings to each other, Ibuki Kagura almost fainted.

So you're trying to take advantage of me? If you can take advantage of me, so can I, right?

Now we don't need to monopolize it anymore, but at least everyone who sees it should have a share, right?

"What, you're not convinced?" The Emperor of the East Sea looked at Ibuki Maikaku with a grin, seeing her looking like a punching bag. It wasn't that she wanted to annoy Ibuki Maikaku on purpose, but she felt that Ibuki Maikaku was like a pufferfish, puffing up when provoked, and it was particularly satisfying to bully her.

"Well, that's what happens when I'm Platinum's older sister. Not only can I rely on her now, but I can also go to her dorm and lean on her after class!"

"That's not true," Bai Jin quickly proved her innocence. "I've never called you 'sister' either."

Why is the Emperor of the East Sea taking advantage of this? If I lend you my shoulder, you're my sister. I've already lent the president my two legs for a nap, so wouldn't the president become my mother?

"However... that's true, I feel like my leg strength has recovered enough." The East Sea Emperor released Platinum's shoulder and tentatively took a step forward with his left leg. "Looks like I overdid it this time; my leg is still a bit—"

Before he could finish speaking, the Emperor of the East Sea felt the entire world before him begin to tilt. At the same time, a sharp, almost tearing pain shot through his left leg.

Episode 238 The Master of Disappointment

Platinum pushed open the door to the lounge, only to find it empty and deserted.

With neither Rudolf nor Nishizaki Ryu present, the lounge felt empty.

Platinum didn't pay much attention, and after closing the door, she began to take off her sweat-soaked final outfit. Just as she took off her cloak, a silent black shadow appeared behind her.

The rest area appeared deserted, with no other way in or out. It's only possible that someone hid there before Platinum returned.

A shadowy figure stood behind Platinum, its fingers slowly reaching towards her. Platinum continued undressing as if unaware that someone was hiding behind her.

"Surprise!" The hands gripped Platinum's waist tightly. Platinum, however, remained unfazed, as if she were used to such things.

"Shoko, what are you doing here? You don't have a trainer's permit." Shirogane didn't even turn around, but instead took off her boots and turned them upside down to check the horseshoes on the soles. Ever since the iron-falling accident at the Satsuki Sho, Shirogane had developed the habit of checking the horseshoes from time to time.

"I got the certificate from Rudolf's symbol!" Alice smiled and held Platinum's waist tightly, her cheek pressed against Platinum's back. "How did it feel to run down? You looked like you had it all figured out."

“Without the extra distance, the initial start-up strategy worked. Choosing to lead the race prevented us from being surrounded by the pack. It's just that the course was 400 meters longer, and with my form so good, victory was practically guaranteed.” Platinum pulled off his other boot, wiggling his toes barefoot. Even with the best breathability, his shoes were soaked with sweat after running 2400 meters.

"Do you really have to stay in this position? I'm going to take off my shirt." Platinum listlessly tilted her head back.

Upon hearing Platinum's words, Alice did not loosen her grip; instead, she tightened her hold on even more.

"No—I won't let go."

With a sudden burst of strength, Airiko lifted Platinum completely. For a racehorse girl like her, lifting Platinum, who weighs less than fifty kilograms, was a piece of cake.

"Alice, you—" Platinum impatiently turned her head in mid-air with great effort, her legs kicking wildly.

Platinum stopped struggling when she saw Alice's face.

This was the first time she had seen Airi Soko with such an expression. There was neither an aggressive, eager look nor a malicious smile on her face. The joyful expression on Airi Soko's face at that moment was no different from that of any other racehorse girl; it was the most fundamental joy a racehorse girl could feel at victory.

"You did it, Platinum!" Alice held Platinum firmly in her arms, swaying slightly, and started spinning her around in the lounge. "You know what? You did it, Platinum!"

I love you to death, my little darling!

"Come here, let me give you a kiss!"

"Disgusting!" Platinum felt a chill run down her spine and quickly pushed away Alice's cheek as she leaned in. Alice was a woman of her word; if she said she would kiss, she meant it. "What's wrong with you? Why are you acting like you haven't taken your meds today?"

When Alice looked at him with a sinister gaze every day, played the suona to wake him up in the morning, and drugged him to go to bed early at night, he even dreamed that Alice could treat people gently.

When Alice actually showed that kind of expression and even tried to kiss him, Platinum felt more at ease if Alice just stared at him with her usual sinister gaze.

Alice put Platinum down. Just when Platinum thought Alice was finally going to return to normal, she ran up to Platinum again, stretched out her arms to support Platinum's armpits, and lifted her up like a cat.

"Platinum, do you know what the Japanese derby means?"

"Uh... the second of the classic three crowns? Does that mean my bounty is higher again?"

Alice's smile faded slightly, but that didn't mean she had returned to her usual self; instead, she wore a relieved expression.

"I only participated in four races during my professional career as a female horse racer."

As for the challenge of the classic triple crown, it stopped at the Satsuki Sho.

When they had just won the Satsuki Prize, everyone, including Airi Soko, her guinea pig, and their rivals, thought that another Horse King was about to be born.

The most precise running technique, the most talented racehorse girl, and the future with the most infinite possibilities.

And all of this came to an abrupt end. Like a shooting star, Alice streaked across the sky and then disappeared from everyone's sight.

So what if they're called the "Phantom Triple Crown"? A match not won is a match not won. What a bright future! Until it arrives, it's all just a pipe dream.

"Do you remember what you said when we first met? You said that your legs were the most perfect legs in the world, that you could reach the pinnacle of Uma Musume, and that you would be my hope. You are my new life, my birth, and my future that has never come."

Alice still had a smiling face, but the single tear that fell from her scarlet eyes could not be concealed.

“You did it, Platinum. You won the Japanese derby that I couldn’t be there for. From now on, every step you take will be one that I have never taken.”

“You are not my rebirth, you are not my child, you are not my future. You are the rebirth of the world, you are the child of the three goddesses, and you possess a future far more dazzling than mine.”

"Thank you, Platinum."

"Well..." Seeing how happy Alice was, Platinum tentatively made a request, "Since I've done things that you haven't been able to do, could you give me more freedom in my training?"

"Exactly, I want to train whenever I want, for as long as I want, and I don't want to take those awful supplements anymore."

After saying this, Platinum looked at Alice with hopeful eyes. Then she witnessed what a master of disguise truly looked like.

Upon hearing Platinum's words, the smile on Alice's face vanished instantly, replaced by her usual cold expression. She then immediately released her grip on Platinum's arms, causing him to fall flat on his backside.

"Heh, you really are a master of spoilsport." Alice's face was once again beaming with a smile, but this time it was different from the last; it seemed as if she were about to unleash another malicious grin. Shirogane felt a chill run down her spine just looking at Alice's face.

"We'll have extra training tonight to make up for the training we missed today. Also, after training, come to my lab for a full physical exam."

"After all, we're still far from the goal you promised me. You should try harder, shouldn't you?"

Episode 239 Fracture

"Speaking of which, why did you look so listless when you came back? Didn't you win the competition?" After giving Platinum a good beating, a satisfied Alice arrogantly took over the sofa that was originally intended for the contestants and comfortably crossed her legs.

Although I had long understood that Platinum was uncomfortable unless she got a beating, every time I saw her beam with joy at the slightest bit of kindness, I felt an inexplicable anger welling up inside me that I couldn't help but vent.

Rudolf might be able to tolerate it a little longer, but Elizabeth wouldn't. Everyone's experiencing life for the first time; who's going to give way to whom?

Platinum, looking aggrieved, squatted on the ground, hugging her knees: "Didn't you watch the game?"

"I saw you cross the finish line, so I headed to the rest area. What happened? Did anything go wrong after the race?"

Bai Jin buried his face between his legs, his head bowed: "The Emperor of the East Sea has been carried away on a stretcher."

"The medical resources that were originally intended for the new universe ended up being used on the Emperor of the East Sea."

Platinum recalled the situation on the field at that time.

He should have realized this when the Emperor of the East Sea kept leaning on his shoulder.

Although the Japanese derby is on a 2400-meter track, it's not exactly a long-distance race. Even if the Emperor of the East Sea was exhausted from chasing after me, several minutes had passed, and the swelling and pain in his legs should have subsided considerably.

The moment the Emperor of the East Sea released her, her entire body tilted to the left and collapsed limply onto the grass.

As the numbing sensation from the surge of adrenaline on the field began to fade, the excruciating pain arrived as expected.

"Emperor of the East Sea—" Ibuki Kagura reacted quickly, trying to help the Emperor of the East Sea to his feet. She still felt a little guilty, after all, she had just separated the two of them when the Emperor of the East Sea collapsed.

Platinum firmly held onto Ibuki Maki Kagura's wrist. Whether it was the fatigue from the competition or the scorching sun, Platinum was sweating profusely.

"Don't touch her yet," Platinum said in a low voice, bending down to examine the East Sea Emperor's left leg. "Go call the doctor."

The Emperor of the East Sea had long, shapely, and athletic calves, with supple ankles connecting perfectly to his muscular frame. Bai Jin dared not touch them; she could see that the Emperor's left leg seemed somewhat red and swollen, but she couldn't be certain. She only had good eyesight, not X-ray vision.

"Platinum..." Accompanied by a soft groan, the Emperor of the East Sea murmured, "My legs hurt so much..."

Damn it, I should have thought of that sooner—

The Eastern Sea Emperor, a descendant of Rudolf, is renowned for her unparalleled genius, yet also lamented for her fragile, glass-like legs.

Her supple ankles and light legs allow her to move with ballet-like grace while running, but this unrestrained use of her body undoubtedly adds pressure to her already fragile leg bones.

Even without Platinum, the invincible Tokai Teio's glory came to an end at the All-Japan Derby, preventing them from participating in the Chrysanthemum Prize. The reason for this was that Tokai Teio confirmed a fracture injury after participating in the All-Japan Derby.

This was under the condition of no competition. With Platinum's presence, the East Sea Emperor ruthlessly manipulated her legs. Under this immense pressure—

Glassware, easily broken at the slightest touch.

Although it's not certain yet, the Emperor of the East Sea is probably... suffering a broken bone.

Platinum clenched her teeth and gripped the hand that the Emperor of the East Sea had extended: "Ibuki Kagura has already gone to call an ambulance, don't worry, everything will be alright."

Despite trying to comfort her, Bai Jin was still unsure. She dared not touch the East Sea Emperor's left leg, nor move him; she could only grip his hand tightly.

Others may not realize this, but you should be!

How could I have allowed the Emperor of the East Sea to fight against me?

A piercing sound enveloped Platinum as she saw someone approach with a stretcher, carefully lifting the East Sea Emperor onto it. Platinum, bewildered, followed the East Sea Emperor's finger to the ambulance, only to be refused boarding.

“Go change your clothes first. You just finished the competition, you need to rest.” Rudolf symbolized his hand on Platinum’s shoulder. She forgot what Rudolf symbolized’s expression was like at the time, or maybe he didn’t even look up at her. “I’ll go with the Emperor. Don’t worry, nothing will happen.”

A noisy commotion erupted, then gradually faded into the distance, and silence returned to Shirogane's side. It wasn't until Ibuki and Kagura tugged at Shirogane's sleeve that she seemed to snap out of her daze and resumed her activity.

"Yes... it's time to leave." Platinum felt an unbearable soreness in her throat, as if she had swallowed a bitter almond. Numbly, she stepped off the field.

"---That's how it is."

Platinum lowered her eyelids and squatted on the ground, as if trying to curl herself into a mushroom.

Self-blame and bitterness once again enveloped Platinum.

It has been half a year since she met the Emperor of the East Sea. The two of them have spent half a year together, during which time they had countless opportunities to notice this matter, but they all overlooked it.

But you can't blame yourself, can you? Are you expecting someone to jump out and tell the emperor not to run so fast, that his legs can't take it? Who would believe that?

Besides, I need to win too. From that perspective, the East Sea Emperor is my opponent. The fact that I'm not trying to harm her is already a fair competition, okay? The East Sea Emperor might break a leg, but if I lose, I'll lose my life!

Platinum, oh Platinum, you have absolutely no humanity. Have you completely forgotten the care and consideration the Emperor of the East Sea has shown you all this time? How can you be so cold-blooded in the face of a girl like this? In the end, aren't you just afraid the Emperor of the East Sea will cause you to lose your chance at victory? You're afraid, afraid the Emperor of the East Sea will pose a threat to you, so you deliberately avoid thinking about it. Now that what you want has finally happened, you can hypocritically say, "I didn't want this to happen," and then you can go up on the winner's stage and sing and dance, right? Now you've succeeded. If the Emperor of the East Sea really does have a broken bone, he can't participate in the Chrysanthemum Award no matter what. Without the Emperor of the East Sea, isn't the Chrysanthemum Award yours for the taking?

Furthermore, if it weren't for you, the Emperor of the East Sea wouldn't have been injured so badly—without you, he could have still performed the victor's dance and walked normally. Now, he's been carried away on a stretcher!

Episode 240 Participation in the Takarazuka Battle

With a mix of negative emotions in her heart, Platinum turned her gaze to Alice.

"Shoko...do you have any way—"