Umamusume's days are numbered

"What's there to be ashamed of? We're all on the same side. What's wrong with showing it to our own people?"

"It's that look in your eyes that I know I absolutely can't let you see me!"

"You show me, and I'll show you, okay? See, we're even now."

"Who wants to see this!"

They were still pushing and shoving each other.

The astronomers, who had already parked their cars, displayed remarkable patience at this point. It was like waiting in a clothing store for your date to change; the waiting was a process filled with anticipation and sweetness. The longer you wait, the more surprising and delightful the sights you'll witness.

Astronomers tend to lack patience, but fortunately, she didn't lack it.

"Okay, okay, I'll get off first then. Teacher Necha, you have to come along."

The argument inside the car finally came to a temporary end. The astronomer saw the rear door slowly open, and a beautiful cloud emerged from the car.

The Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate has a very well-proportioned body. She doesn't have an exaggerated waist-to-hip ratio, nor does she have a chest that immediately draws the eye. The Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate is simply well-proportioned; her breasts don't appear like heavy, ripe fruits, nor do they appear as thin as a boy's; her thighs don't appear full and powerful, but are presented in the most appropriate way.

To give an example, most people have different definitions of beauty. Some people like plump women, while others prefer frail women who could be blown away by a gust of wind. They usually argue endlessly with each other because of their own preferences, but the story of the carp leaping over the dragon gate can put an end to all these arguments—she fits everyone's definition of "beauty".

In the end, Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate chose the sweet white swimsuit with its sheer fabric. The black one seemed too aggressive and didn't fit its long-standing strategy towards Platinum. That one was reserved for the final, decisive moment.

Noticing the astronomer's gaze, Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate not only didn't flinch, but instead naturally walked gracefully towards the astronomer with its hands on its hips.

Then, standing next to the astronomer, the two men wore the same expression, eagerly awaiting the person from the car to emerge.

Just kidding, who doesn't love pretty girls? Like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, you can see what you look like in a swimsuit anytime you want...

But look at Platinum's swimsuit, this is the only chance she'll get!

This is truly a priceless treasure!

Why does Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate keep asking to go to the beach? Hasn't she been to enough beaches since she was a child? From the Philippines to St. Petersburg to Chicago, where hasn't she been?

Hawaii's beaches are indeed beautiful, but other places are just as nice. I even think the beaches near the Black Sea are more fun.

The key is who you come to play with! Do you want to come to the beach with the mean older sister who has bullied you since you were little and likes to hold you upside down by one foot and throw you into the water, or do you want to come with the delicate little swans with long, slender necks?

No one would hesitate for even a second longer, okay? I'm almost sick of seeing Golden Gun Sixty's body, please take it away quickly.

Although it had happened countless times, Jinqiang Liushi, who was on the other side of the world, very cooperatively sneezed again.

The carp leaping over the dragon gate stood by the roadside, licking its lips, and made a gesture that was completely out of character for a fly rubbing its hands.

Then she noticed the astronomer next to her doing the same thing. The two of them stared at each other, wide-eyed.

I'm waiting for Platinum, what's wrong with you?

(Eleven more chapters to go)

Episode 289 Could it be?!

We already know that Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate is aiming to take advantage of the tourism lull in Hawaii to achieve Platinum status.

Her feelings for Platinum were no longer purely friendship—perhaps they were never purely friendship to begin with.

A two-month hiatus, with no competitors. This is like a predator without its natural enemies.

When a prey is trapped like a caged beast, the hunter's vigilance will naturally decrease... but that doesn't mean it will disappear.

The astronomer's actions immediately alerted her.

How should I put it... she looks a lot like Ibuki Mai and Kagura. She gives off a feeling that she wants to interfere with the pure and innocent love between us.

The thought of Ibuki Mai and Kagura leaping over the Dragon Gate makes me furious, so furious it makes my teeth itch. It was supposed to be a winning situation, but Ibuki Mai and Kagura managed to turn it into a brilliant victory... It's like Cao Cao's crushing defeat at the Battle of Red Cliffs, forcing him to postpone his original goal of unifying the Central Plains.

Do you think there's an advantage? The carp leaping over the dragon gate is still a huge advantage. How can the friendship that Ibuki Mai and Kagura gained by lowering themselves be compared to the feelings that grow over time?

But... it's really annoying, you know? It's like suddenly having a little tagalong around the girl you like. Nobody feels good in that situation. Watching Ibuki Mai and Kagura constantly circling around Shiro and calling out "Onee-sama, Onee-sama" makes me want to vomit blood.

But there was nothing she could do. Because of Ibuki Maikaku's skillful verbal advances, Shirogane couldn't possibly refuse her. That despicable parasite, exploiting Shirogane's kindness to act as her accomplice... I know Shirogane still has my side.

But even knowing this is annoying! You can't just tell Platinum, "I forbid you from being friends with Ibuki and Kagura," that would be too outrageous.

It was his own underestimation of the enemy that led to the series of mistakes that followed; he himself is to blame for the failure.

Therefore, Li Yuelongmen had already sworn a solemn oath in his heart that he would never make the same mistake again! A three-way division of the world was impossible; if it actually happened, that little rascal Ibuki and Kagura would definitely collude with the newcomers to launch a fierce rebellion against him. At that point, he would truly be subjected to a northern expedition!

So she felt that the astronomer... was acting a little strange.

That alluring look in her eyes was like the eyes of a cat that's been stealing fish.

Astronomers were also puzzled.

I was waiting to see the platinum swimsuits, and you ended up standing next to me too? Let's go play on the beach! It was your suggestion, so why aren't you in a hurry now that we're actually there?

The astronomer's keen nose also detected something different.

Although she had never been in a relationship, she was always surrounded by girls. Back in her school days, the girls always fawned over her. Even after she became a racehorse girl and competed everywhere, the other racehorses she encountered on the track still fawned over her—only their strange aura was different; she despised herself, but the astronomers loved her. Then, after retiring as a racehorse girl and traveling the world, things got even more incredible—everywhere she went, she'd sit in a bar, and within hours she was surrounded by girls.

Sometimes astronomers wonder if they have some kind of gland with a special odor that makes them like a flower stamen, always surrounded by butterflies.

Thanks to this, astronomers can pretend to be experts in love... they can tell at a glance whether a girl is interested in someone or not.

The astronomer hadn't initially expected to encounter a competitor. She attended junior high school in England, where the children were quite open-minded, and junior high students developed as quickly as calves. But she had always heard from Haidu City that the environment in East Asia was not like that.

Haidu City is saying that in East Asia, early dating is forbidden, and after graduating from high school, people are eager to get married, creating a clear distinction between the two.

Most importantly—besides a beast like myself, who would dare to have designs on junior high school students?

Well, the strange light calls itself a beast, and astronomers don't object. So what if I'm a beast? I'm just freely pursuing love.

However, astronomers have indeed overlooked one thing—middle school students can have a lot on their minds!

They themselves face the criminal law, but between the two junior high students, there's only the school rules!

The astronomer didn't initially pay much attention to the "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate." On one hand, she thought the dating culture here was still quite shy... at least that's how it was during her time as a substitute teacher. On the other hand, she thought the "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate" was just a simple support horse girl for Platinum.

What's so special about having a logistics team? Platinum is a player who's highly anticipated to compete in the Arc de Triomphe. Given her current value, if she really wanted to prepare for the Arc de Triomphe, having a whole regiment of logistics wouldn't be excessive.

Unexpectedly... this logistics department doesn't seem to be doing real logistics at all. They're probably just trying to climb the ranks!

The carp leaping over the dragon gate and the astronomer exchanged another glance. They both saw sincerity in each other's eyes.

...Perhaps I'm just too tense. Don't misunderstand. Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate is starting to doubt her own judgment. After all, the astronomer always acted like a middle-aged man. If he were a greasy middle-aged man, then this gaze would be perfectly normal; he's simply admiring the girl.

No, no, no, it might not be what I think. The astronomer shook his head. How could he apply the experience he'd gleaned from bars to a middle school student? The differences between people from different regions and social classes are sometimes greater than the differences between two species. What if he started harboring hostility and misunderstood them? Was he, an adult, going to compete with a middle school student for a girl's affections?

···

Their gazes met again in mid-air.

I can assume that's not what she meant.

But what if that's what she meant?

The idea appeared in both of their minds at the same time.

What if I assume she was interested in Platinum, but it turned out to be a false alarm?

[A test is needed.]

We need to wait until later to draw further conclusions.

The carp leaping over the dragon gate and the astronomers had reached a temporary conclusion. Continuing to think this way was pointless. They could only proceed cautiously, taking the other side into their vigilance.

Besides, even if Li Yuelong does have some feelings for Bai Jin, it's nothing to worry about. They've been together for so long, and judging from the current situation, even if there's a relationship, it's probably just a secret crush. Someone who's been secretly in love for so long wouldn't have the courage to confess; in the face of his maturity, it poses no threat whatsoever. The astronomer was full of confidence.

Besides, even if the astronomer is really that powerful and intends to attack his own student, how long has she been by Platinum's side? How long have I been with Platinum? Can such a long-standing bond be broken so easily? Absolutely not! Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate is also full of confidence.

Episode 290 Sunshine and Morning Dew

"Then I'll come out too." Still feeling her cheeks burning, she took a few deep breaths, carefully lifted the hem of her clothes, and jumped out of the car.

"Uh, um. Not bad." The astronomer gave a thumbs up.

"As expected of Teacher Neqia." Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate smiled and clapped.

"What's with those expressions? Be a little more enthusiastic, don't make it seem like you're trying to comfort me!"

"No, it's just a feeling, it's definitely your style."

"You should explain your style clearly. I admit that I wear a very plain school swimsuit, but I'm really embarrassed to wear anything else!"

"Is it possible that you'll only stand out more if you wear your school swimsuit here?"

Just as Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate was explaining the excellent qualities that made Carp's face turn red, another figure sneakily and furtively ran off the bus.

For a full half hour, Platinum remained silent in the passenger seat, trying his best to minimize his presence, waiting for this opportunity to divert everyone's attention.

I knew it! Professor Necha will always be my most loyal friend! Thank you!

Gently, quietly...slipping onto the beach...

Unfortunately, Platinum's plan still failed. She hadn't taken two steps when she felt someone hook her neck.

"Platinum, you're not getting away either." Turning around, she saw that Bai Jin's face was flushed red to her ears. She reached out and grabbed Bai Jin, stopping her from escaping.

Platinum never expected that the excellent qualities she thought were helping her would turn against her in the end.

Even with excellent qualities, her eyes darted around nervously, but she didn't loosen her grip on Bai Jin's arm at all.

When someone is overwhelmed with shame and subjected to torture, the best way to alleviate the embarrassment is to drag another person down with them and have them tortured as well.

Platinum sighed, hunched his shoulders, and returned to the team with his excellent manners.

She didn't feel ashamed at all. What was there to be ashamed of about her own body? What was the fundamental difference between wearing a swimsuit and a school uniform? It was all for her to wear anyway. She did care a lot about what others thought, but who cared that this was a public beach? When she had money, she could just rent the whole beach and play naked without anyone bothering her.

The old Platinum might have been a little coy, but now that Platinum is wearing that super revealing final outfit and has been seen by so many people on the field, there's nothing to be coy about anymore.

The reason for my timidity is still...

"Ugh—" Carp leaping over the dragon gate exaggeratedly clutched its neck, making a suffocating expression.

See? Platinum knew this would be her expression when she leaps over the dragon gate. Usually, her leaping over the dragon gate is pretty normal, but at times like this, she turns into Alice in her digital form and does some outrageous things that don't fit her character.

"Is your reaction really that exaggerated?" Excellent Quality couldn't help but wipe a bead of cold sweat from her brow. Why is your reaction so unremarkable when you're facing me? Is the gap between me and Platinum really that big?

The person with excellent qualities glanced at the Platinum member, then at themselves. Well, the gap was indeed quite large.

The astronomer was even more direct. She took out her camera, which was hanging around her neck, and pointed it directly at Platinum: "Um... excellent manners, could you move to the side a bit? You're blocking the lens."

With trembling lips, she took two steps to the left.

"Not enough, move a few more steps."

"To what extent should it be moved?"

The astronomer tilted his head and thought for a moment: "To the extent that it's moved out of the camera lens."

Excellent Quality was furious. Although she did want Platinum to share the damage, she hadn't expected Platinum to absorb all the damage! Although that was Excellent Quality's initial goal, when this situation actually occurred, Excellent Quality felt somewhat resentful.

Even someone with excellent taste would admit that Platinum's swimsuit is flashy enough... I really don't know when she prepared it.

Wearing light, strappy sandals, her legs stretched straight upwards, with a vine-like leg ring adorning her left thigh. If the body of a carp leaping over the dragon gate represents a perfect state that everyone could praise, then Bai Jin's figure seemed somewhat slender. In comparison, her body was more like an unripe fruit—a promising future.

Over her swimsuit, Platinum wore a sheer veil. The semi-transparent veil subtly revealed the beautiful curves of her waist, sparking the imagination. Extending backward was a large, silky shawl with delicate lace, cascading down to Platinum's ankles. This vibrant white ensemble made her look like a swan with its head held high, or as lifelike as an ancient Greek sculpture.

It's as if Venus has come to life.

【Platinum Coral Coast/Sunny Morning Dew SD05】

Platinum finally got to wear his own clothes for once.

She hadn't actually planned to wear this outfit at first. The swimsuit was pretty, but it looked far too flashy—wearing it made her look like she was going to walk the runway or at least have a photoshoot. Who wears something like this when they go out for fun?

But Platinum conveniently forgot about the swimsuit. Her luggage to Hawaii was also incredibly simple: a final outfit, a few changes of clothes, and different sizes of horseshoes—she brought nothing else.

She had originally planned to buy it on the beach, as there was no point in bringing something she could buy locally. But as she browsed the skin shop, she became tempted... The clothes in the skin shop were so cheap, it was practically free.

Especially after I finished running Takarazuka, I had more carrots in stock, so there was no need to be so frugal.

After hesitating for a while, Platinum finally bought it.

She also wanted to see what she would look like wearing this dress.

"Come on, Platinum, strike a pose and show off your body curves," the astronomer said, drawing Platinum's attention to the camera.

"Do you still want me to look like a model?" Platinum pouted, but reluctantly complied with the astronomer's request. She mimicked the pose in the swimsuit's promotional brochure, crossing her legs and leaning against the jeep, her arms slightly raised forward, the vine-like bracelet on her wrist shimmering.