Umamusume's days are numbered

Waiting for the elevator to come down...

Why is the elevator taking so long? Platinum looked up at the elevator display and realized that it had changed to "Under Maintenance" sometime during the day.

"How could this be—" Bai Jin exclaimed in disbelief. She clearly remembered that the elevator was working normally when she first looked at it, so how could it have broken down in the blink of an eye?

...Wait, was the elevator actually running normally at first?

Also, doesn't it seem strange that there's not a sound or a single person in the commercial building?

Platinum realized where the unease she'd been feeling came from. In this commercial building, the biggest problem wasn't the lack of people!

This...this is...

This isn't due to human intervention, it's... it's some kind of supernatural force! Platinum recalled the guidance she received before meeting Elizabeth, and then the flock of crows she encountered in Hong Kong... Wait, what am I saying? What about the flock of crows in Hong Kong?

Platinum's breathing quickened; this feeling... there was no mistake. The last anchor point was right beside him.

Episode 252 The Third Anchor Point

Platinum once again experienced the same unforgettable moments from before.

I felt like a puppet on a string, being manipulated at will, like a doll on a theatrical stage.

Just a few hundred meters away is the entrance to the commercial building. Stepping out of the entrance, you're on the bustling streets of Shibuya, with cars and people moving forward like cogs in a machine.

Just a door away, everything inside the commercial building was normal. The shops were open, and the large screen hanging in the air was silently playing advertisements on repeat. The lights were on, and there was nothing unusual—unless there was no one there.

Everyone was erased, everyone disappeared. It was like a bustling building that was operating normally just a moment ago, and in an instant, everyone was wiped away by an eraser, without even having time to react, just like that... vanished into thin air.

...Should we leave? Platinum's breathing became increasingly rapid. There was no one around, but the feeling of being watched persisted, and the gaze grew increasingly intense. Platinum's vision was excellent; she could see at a glance that everything outside the building was normal. If she just ran out, she wouldn't have to worry about any of this.

However, this feeling, though frightening... was also so familiar... it was because there was an anchor point beside me!

Platinum couldn't understand it. None of the remaining anchor points sounded like they were referring to Japan, so how did they suddenly appear?

However, if that's really the case, then I have no reason to back down.

As the prophecy says, the anchor point is also the hope for one's own healing.

Platinum was unwilling to give up even the slightest hope.

The elevator in front of them was flashing a red light, indicating it was under maintenance. At the same time, all the light on the first floor of the building vanished instantly, plunging Platinum into complete darkness.

"what---"

She wasn't leaving, but she was scared. Bai Jin screamed and dashed towards the only remaining source of light. As she ran, she could feel the gaze upon her growing heavier, as if someone were following her.

Platinum approached the light source, rolled over, and leaned against the wall, panting heavily. He was covered in cold sweat and felt like his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

The only light source was the spare lights standing in the corridor stairwell. From Platinum's position, one could see the bright spare lights rising higher and higher, all the way to the upper floor.

Platinum patted his chest hard to calm his racing heart. Was he trying to climb higher?

Damn it, if you tell me to go up, I'll go up. Why do you always have to scare me like this?

Platinum tried to take a step up, but her legs gave way and she squatted down instead.

"..." It wasn't that Bai Jin didn't want to leave; she didn't want to stay in this shabby place at all and would rather climb the stairs. But she also didn't want to expose her back.

Platinum couldn't stand the voyeuristic gaze.

Left with no other option, Platinum made a compromise: she crouched against the wall and climbed up step by step.

Forget about aesthetics for now, peace of mind is the most important thing.

As Platinum climbed each floor, the emergency lights on the next floor would suddenly go out. Every time this sound occurred, Platinum would jump in fright.

And that annoying gaze showed no sign of disappearing; it simply shifted from staring at Platinum's back to staring at his face. Platinum was moving forward with his back against the wall, so if that gaze were truly physical, it would be hanging straight down the middle of the corridor stairs, constantly rotating with Platinum's movements.

Bai Jin immediately closed her eyes. She couldn't think too much about it; she couldn't scare herself.

And so, perseverance paid off, and Platinum finally achieved the ultimate feat of climbing to the top floor with his back against the wall. At this moment, the only light illuminating the area in front of Platinum was an incandescent bulb.

In the distance, however, there were still flashing lights, illuminating the road ahead in a dim and intermittent manner.

Finally made it to the top... The finish line should be just ahead, right? Platinum breathed a sigh of relief, but then that relief was quickly followed by a sharp reflex—there were no more walls for Platinum to lean against as he went on.

Platinum will once again be pursued by that ever-present gaze.

Well, right? We're already here.

After hesitating for a long time under the incandescent light, and repeatedly making up her mind only to give up again, Bai Jin finally shrank back and walked out with a stiff neck.

The incandescent light behind her flickered twice before going out. Platinum was plunged into darkness, with only the fluorescent light ahead guiding her.

Platinum shrank back as she walked forward. She saw a tall, pale, plaster-like man's figure emerge from the shadows. Platinum's heart nearly leaped out of her chest; she practically turned tail and ran. Thankfully, upon closer inspection, she realized the man wasn't just pale plaster; he was a marble statue.

Balanced, powerful muscles, a gentle yet angry gaze, and a stone bag on his shoulder ready to throw stones at any moment—this is Michelangelo's masterpiece. Below the David sculpture, there is also an inscription.

The more pain I feel, the more I like it.

Platinum doesn't know what to say. The sculpture is indeed very beautiful... but, seriously, why put a naked man here?!

What was the building owner thinking?!

Platinum continued walking forward, David's piercing gaze once again hidden in the darkness. But then, different sculptures appeared.

The Winged Victory of Samothrace, with its wings outstretched but lacking a head; the Venus de Milo, missing her arms; Rodin's Thinker... more and more sculptures are appearing in Platinum's field of vision.

Countless paintings also hung on the walls. The Sistine Madonna, merciful and towering, stood in mid-air; Guernica's chaotic lines almost enveloped the platinum, as if she herself were shrouded in that abstract clamor; in the distance hung a Mona Lisa, and upon closer inspection, one could see that this Mona Lisa had a small, upward-curving mustache, and a soft, mollusc-like surface resting on her shoulder…

Where was she? Was there really such a large space on the top floor? Platinum felt dizzy, and the gazes behind her seemed to relentlessly follow her like hyenas. She stumbled towards the light, skirting the sculpture of a mother wolf nursing her cubs, and knocked over the painting attached to the paper shredder. The shredder immediately began to shred the painting into pieces. Platinum realized where the gazes were coming from.

These sculptures, and the people in the paintings, are looking at themselves!

Platinum stumbled and pushed open the last door, then slammed it shut. Leaning against the door, she slowly sat down, as if all her strength had left her behind. The shadowy gaze vanished, along with all the sculptures and paintings, completely shutting her out.

In Platinum's view... this is a movie theater. It's a screening room. The seats are empty... no, there's only one person. The movie playing on the big screen is still just that one person.

On the screen, a blonde woman with fiery red lips walked through the town square. She was so alluring, so beautiful, that every man present was captivated by her breathtaking curves. They jostled to get to her side; her fiery red lips held a cigarette, her breath sweet as orchids, and countless lighters vied to light it for her—every man yearned to light a cigarette for this blonde.

This film was shown only for that one person. At that moment, the viewer heard the door open behind them and turned to look at Platinum.

The viewer was also a beautiful woman with shoulder-length, jet-black hair, as if dyed from ink, hastily tied back with a hairband. Her bangs, especially the central section of her forehead, were dyed pure white. The contrast between her black hair and white bangs was striking. She wore a black hoodie, and a ribbon draped around her neck, winding down to her chest and attaching a heavy Leica Q2 to her.

In that instant when she turned around, a tear rolled out of the viewer's eye and left a tear stain on the left side of her cheek.

The moment Platinum saw her face, his mind went completely blank, as if a brilliant explosion had occurred inside his skull.

Platinum knew that it had found another anchor point.

Episode 253 The Astronomer

A woman, a...horse girl.

A horse girl who sits in the movie theater by herself and watches old movies.

Moreover, I don't know her at all... not to the point of having never seen her before, but I've never even heard of her. I have absolutely no impression of her whatsoever.

Although his appearance has some East Asian features, it is more three-dimensional, making him look like he is of mixed race.

Platinum opened her mouth, but didn't know how to start.

What should I say? When facing Alice, I know her very well. I can't say I can win her over completely, but I at least know the general direction of persuasion.

She had absolutely no recollection of this person in front of her. Was she really going to come up here and ask for her help?

If you think about it from the other side, you'll understand. Imagine someone is leisurely enjoying their time in a movie theater when suddenly someone bursts in and starts saying, "Save me, only you can help me..." At least Platinum would choose to call the police.

"Ah..." Platinum's vocal cords trembled as she struggled to speak.

We need to at least maintain contact with the other side... This is a matter of life and death; we have to get their contact information today no matter what...

—Today, Platinum didn't bring her phone.

Upon realizing this once again, Platinum felt an urge to travel back in time and slap her past self from that morning.

Why do I possess the ability to consistently make the wrong choice every single time?

Just as Platinum was about to burst into tears, she heard a reprimanding voice.

"Don't move! It's almost there!"

Platinum's arm froze in place. She then realized that the only moviegoer in the theater had somehow moved in front of her, her Leica Q2 lens pointed at Platinum. The moviegoer licked her lips with the tip of her bright red tongue, a tongue stud adorning it. She knelt a meter or two away from Platinum and pressed the shutter.

chapped.

"Alright, you can move now."

Platinum only then realized that he had been photographed.

After pressing the shutter, the viewer didn't even look at what they had photographed, immediately hung the camera back around their neck, and sat back down in their seat.

Throughout the entire film, the audience never once looked at Platinum; they only kept their eyes on the camera.

What should she say now? Should she just leave? This elaborate scheme had completely baffled Bai Jin. She didn't know what this woman meant. Did she dislike her and want her to leave? Or was she friendly, seemingly unconcerned about her intrusion?

"I've always enjoyed watching movies alone since I was a child."

The images on the screen continued to scroll, but the sound came from the viewers' mouths.

It was a very neutral voice, which could be mistaken for a boy's high-pitched voice, or it could sound like a slightly hoarse girl's voice. She was looking at the screen, but was actually talking to Platinum.

"At that time, I was thinking, there are so many people in my family, it's so annoying. One day, I will rent out a movie theater and be the only customer. I can come whenever I want and watch the movie however I want."

A moviegoer picked up a bucket of popcorn, popped a kernel into his mouth, and then casually lifted both legs and placed them on the back of the seat in front of him. This was extremely rude behavior—if the theater wasn't private.

The viewer leaned back in his chair, tilted his head, and looked up at Platinum upside down: "See, I did it."

"Actually, I don't like watching movies. I just like achieving my goals. Watching movies doesn't make me feel happy, but when I think about how this was my life goal when I was a child... I feel happy."

Seeing that Bai Jin still didn't react, the viewer patted the seat next to him, his face stiff as he looked upside down: "Hey, so why aren't you sitting here after I've finished filming? It must be tiring to talk like this."

So, he was just chatting with himself? Platinum paused for a moment, then stretched his stiff neck and patted the seat next to him eagerly.

This is an invitation to Platinum.

Although she's an oddball... she seems quite easy to get along with. Platinum walked over cautiously and sat down beside her. Platinum noticed that on her right hand, there was a thorn-like tattoo that snaked and coiled along the bones of her five fingers, as if she were wearing a glove.

Wow, this person... Platinum looks unapproachable at first glance. Although she's quite pretty and delicate-looking at first glance, with little to no makeup on her face, she has a tongue piercing and tattoos...

Oh, it seems scammers do the same thing. Never mind then. The scammer's tattoo covers half his body.

"You know, my sister is so annoying." The moviegoer seemed happy to see Platinum sitting next to him. "She interferes with everything I do. She interferes with my dating life, she interferes with my band activities, she interferes with my not dating life. She's a typical East Asian parent, even though we're not that much older than each other."

"Besides, there are many people younger than me, why pick on me to teach them a lesson?"

As he said this, the viewer nudged Platinum's shoulder: "What about you? My sister must have been quite the charmer when she was in Hong Kong, right?"

"How is my relationship with my sister now? What stage has it reached?"

Eh... no, what is all this?

How come I can understand each word she says individually, but not when they're put together? Although she's not very fluent, she's definitely speaking Japanese, isn't she?

Platinum was completely confused. From the very beginning, this moviegoer had been incredibly outgoing; had he mistaken her for someone else?

Ah, maybe she actually came with a friend, but her friend went to the restroom, and she herself is severely nearsighted...

Not hearing Bai Jin's reply, the black-haired beauty glanced at her suspiciously. She was met with Bai Jin's clear, bright eyes.

"What's wrong? Are you shy? Oh dear, why are you being so secretive with me? Aren't we family now?"

The person in front of him seemed to have misunderstood Bai Jin's meaning. He casually put his arm around Bai Jin's shoulder, acting quite familiar.

—This isn't nearsightedness!

Platinum was initially worried that she wouldn't be able to get close to this anchor, but now it seems she got close to it a little too quickly.

"Wait...shouldn't we take this a step further and start communicating, like exchanging names and contact information?" Platinum quickly pushed away the viewer's arm.

So the two of them stared at each other blankly.

The viewer pointed to himself: "So... you don't recognize me."

"Why...why would I need to...get to know you?" Platinum carefully considered her words before replying.

The viewer slapped his forehead: "Then how did you find me? I thought my sister gave you my account."

"According to seniority, you should call me elder sister. My name is Astronomer, and I am the younger sister of Haidu City and the elder sister of Haidu Star."