Umamusume's days are numbered

If a child saw this, wouldn't their dreams be shattered on the spot? I can already hear the sound of Ocean Star's little heart breaking here!

It turned out that all the sounds Platinum heard were her hallucinations. Because—

Tap, tap, tap—

Although Sea Star remained expressionless, it opened its arms and ran towards Platinum. Platinum frantically covered its face with its hands and closed its eyes, afraid that Sea Star would punch it in the face, but instead felt a cool and soft touch in its arms.

"Ah...ah...ah...ah..."

Platinum peeked through a crack in its eyes and saw the face of the Sea Star right in front of it. Although it still had a blank expression, the Sea Star's ears and tail were wagging rapidly, looking very happy.

As for the carp leaping over the dragon gate... the carp almost couldn't catch its breath, looking incredulously at Haidu City and then at Haidu Star.

What's going on? What's happening here?

That's so unfair! We're all friends, after all. Not only did they send an astronomer to compete with me for the platinum title, but now they're sending another one? A direct, all-out attack right from the start?

Platinum, why didn't you run away?! Like always, you ran away from all those embraces! Why did you accept it so quickly this time?

Have you really betrayed Platinum?

The carp leaping over the dragon gate almost rushed up to separate the Star of the Sea from the Star of the Sea who was standing there dumbfounded, but was pulled back by the excellent quality and quick reflexes.

"Calm down, Sister Carp, calm down. Don't let anger cloud your judgment..." Excellent qualities passed through Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate's armpits and arms, firmly binding Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate. She was truly afraid that if she didn't do this, Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate would go up and bite the Star of the Sea.

"Reasonable? How can I be rational?!" In his desperation, even the carp leaping over the dragon gate almost barked like a dog.

Before setting off, Koi Leaping Over the Dragon Gate was still confidently thinking that without Ibuki Maikaku buzzing around, it would be a piece of cake for him to get the Platinum rank in two months. No rush, no rush, he'd just have some fun with her.

Who would have thought that while we were having fun here, an astronomer would suddenly appear? And not only an astronomer, but also a "Star of the Sea"?

Isn't this going too far? How can you even involve your own relatives? If you keep doing this, I'll shoot you with my golden gun at sixty!

How can you even field sister soldiers? Playing the sister attribute game, huh? Me and Golden Gunner 60 can do that too, who's afraid of who!

The carp leaping over the dragon gate is truly desperate, resorting to such self-destructive tactics as bringing out the Golden Spear Sixty.

Hai Dudu looked at the stiff Platinum and Hai Du Zhi Xing, who was still tightly hugging Platinum, with a kind smile on his face.

Well done, starfish!

You've completely completed the task your sister assigned you!

Yes, this is all part of Haidu City's scheme. Haidu City knows what kind of social anxiety Bai Jin has, and it also knows what kind of oddball Haidu Zhixing is. Even if you locked them both in a love hotel and wouldn't let them out, those two probably wouldn't speak a word for a whole day.

A strong catalyst is needed to deal with two blobs of inert gas.

So not long ago, Haidu City gave Haidu Star these instructions.

"We'll be seeing Platinum soon. Don't worry if you don't know what to say when you meet her, I'll teach you. Just rush up and hug her, and then never let go."

"Platinum loves hugs. If you hug her, she will be very happy."

Whether you're happy or not isn't important; what matters is that Haidu Star has definitely given Platinum a very deep first impression.

Once you've made a deep impression, won't everything else fall into place naturally?

"Yes, the situation here is quite good." Hai Dudu looked away with satisfaction and then turned his gaze to another person.

So... what should we do about this side...?

"Galileo," Hai Dudu called softly.

From the moment the astronomer began, he had been frozen in place, completely still, not even daring to turn around, as if trying to become invisible. Hearing Hai Du call his name, the astronomer shuddered. The voice, though soft, sounded to the astronomer like it was from the deepest depths of hell!

The astronomer's tremor was so sudden that his legs buckled, and he almost knelt on the ground. Fortunately, his excellent manners and quick reflexes prevented him from kneeling.

The man with excellent qualities is carrying a leaping carp over the dragon gate in his hand, with an astronomer leaning against him who looks like he has no bones. He looks very busy.

(Five more chapters to go. Victory is just around the corner!)

Episode 309: Called "Big Sister," but actually her biological mother.

Even with her excellent qualities, she was in a terrible hurry. It was already a struggle for her to stop a man with murderous urges, let alone with an astronomer on top of her.

Astronomers are indeed not very heavy or tall, and there's a difference between them and people of European and American descent. But even if you're light, you're still a female horse, and a retired top-tier racehorse at that. Putting that weight on someone with excellent qualities is like having three twin-turbochargers simultaneously using their head cones on you.

"Astronomer... get up, get up!" Youhao Jingsu shouted anxiously.

"Don't worry... I'm just... my legs are a little stiff..." The astronomer tried hard to maintain his balance, attempting to control his bent knees, but it didn't seem to be working. "Don't worry, I'm regaining control of my legs..."

"Are you having an epileptic seizure?!"

The astronomer, clinging to Excellent Quality's neck, desperately tried to stand up, but his legs were already dragging on the ground, as if he were partially paralyzed; the carp leaping over the dragon gate kept trying to break free from Excellent Quality's restraints. Excellent Quality not only carried the carp leaping over the dragon gate in his hands, but also had an astronomer hanging around his neck.

This cannot be blamed on astronomers.

When you're afraid of someone to a certain extent, you won't even want to see her in your dreams. And if she does appear in front of you, you'd better think you're dreaming.

"Galileo." Haidu City stood still again and called out to her softly, looking at her with the tenderness of a loving mother. "I didn't even know you were in Hawaii."

"How are you coexisting with the strange light?"

The astronomer finally managed to find a foothold by leaning on the shoulders of the excellent qualities, and stood up shakily, in a posture that made him look like a ninety-year-old: "Great-great-great-great-grandmother..."

"Well, let me explain first. I didn't mean to hide the fact that I was coming to Hawaii, sister. You have to believe me..."

"Big sister, you know me. I always listen to you the most. If you say east, I'll never go west; if you say south, I'll never turn north..."

"Ah! Right! It's like this, big sister. It's not that I didn't want to tell you, it's the strange light! The strange light insisted that I keep it from you, saying that we were going to have a private date for the two of us, that's it!"

It's hard to imagine what kind of experiences the astronomer had at home that would make her beg for mercy the first thing she did upon seeing her family.

Haidu Star just doesn't understand astronomers. Haidu Star thinks Haidu City is the best older sister in the world, just like Platinum is its best friend.

If you don't understand, just stay silent—that's always been Haidu Star's way of life. So she simply hugged Bai Jinlou even tighter.

"Sea... Sea Star... Could you loosen up a little..." Platinum said, sweating profusely, as he uttered the first words the two had spoken upon meeting.

Platinum didn't want things to be so undignified; she wanted to say something nice... but she really didn't know how to start.

As it turned out, the need for survival was paramount. If Platinum didn't speak up soon, she would experience a suffocating pleasure.

Haidu Star was following Haidu City's instructions to hold Baijin tightly, and he did so, using all his strength to hold her as tightly as possible. However, Baijin didn't feel the same way; she felt that Haidu Star wanted to strangle her.

Instead of strangling her, the Star of the Sea City embraced her lungs. Platinum exhaled from her lungs, and the Star of the Sea City tightened its grip. Platinum exhaled again, and the Star of the Sea City tightened its grip even more. Then, Platinum realized with horror that she could no longer breathe.

Haidu Star, you're not a horse, baby! You're a python!

Haidu Star pondered for a moment with an air of importance. Her dearest sister told her to hold Platinum tightly, while her best friend told her not to hold her so tightly. Now there was a conflict between the two requests.

So this is what it feels like to have friends. It's so contradictory, and so hard to choose. People who know how to make friends are truly remarkable.

The Star of the Sea could continue thinking, but Platinum's lungs wouldn't allow it. What started as somewhat alluring had quickly turned into sheer terror. Platinum gasped for breath, wondering if the Star of the Sea intended to kill her, and with her last ounce of strength spoke: "Don't hug my chest... hug my arm, wrap your arms around mine..."

Platinum is a compromise. She resists physical contact. But if you strangle her, she'll agree to let you hold her arm.

Haidu Star thought about it and agreed that it made sense, since Haidu City hadn't specified where she should hug. So she let go of Baijin's arm and immediately hugged it back.

"What's the big deal? I didn't even tell you that Hai Xingxing and I were coming to Hawaii." Hai Du walked forward step by step, getting closer and closer to the astronomer. "We're all family, so why do you act like we're facing a formidable enemy the moment we meet, Galileo?"

"No, this is..." The astronomer's pupils trembled as Hai Du City's figure magnified in her eyes. "It's because I'm so happy. It's been such a long time since I've seen my older sister."

Hai Dudu stopped in his tracks. The astronomer was a full head taller than Hai Dudu, even when perched on his back, he was still much taller. So Hai Dudu could only raise his head and gently touch the astronomer's cheek.

"Galileo, when have I ever failed to see through your lies?"

"You've always been a child who can't keep a secret. Tell me, what misdeed have you done this time?"

The astronomer, who had finally steeled her resolve to confront the authorities of Haidu City, immediately crumbled, collapsing to the ground and clutching her face: "Big sister, really, I didn't do anything wrong... ah, maybe I did, but it was definitely unintentional..."

Hiding far away in the bushes, the strange light swung its fist with great pleasure.

This world is a world of mutual generation and restraint; as the saying goes, one thing subdues another. Even an astronomer who fears neither heaven nor earth, nor even the Emperor himself, has the chance to be subdued by Hai Du City.

Just as Haidu City has always accompanied Haidu Star as it grows up, so too has the astronomer grown up. As Haidu City is several years older than its younger siblings, it has actually spent far more time with and caring for them than their parents.

For these younger siblings, Haidu City is both their eldest sister and their parent.

—This is not just talk; all the home visits that the astronomers made during junior high school were hosted by Haidu City.

As the oldest and most rebellious among his siblings, he received the most "education" in Haidu City.

This has led to the current situation.

Haha, if I can't subdue you, I have other ways! I can go to your parents!

Episode 310 A Promiscuous Woman

Looking at the trembling astronomer, Hai Du shook his head helplessly. He had always presented himself well to his brothers and sisters, striving to be perfect and become their pillar of support—how did things change when it came to the astronomer?

It's as if I've been abused at home.

Hai Dushi wasn't the kind of patriarch who took pride in having everyone in his family obey him. Seeing that the astronomer's first reaction upon seeing her was to tremble in fear, she was quite saddened.

"Never mind." Hai Du sighed softly. "Galileo, it's one thing that you haven't been home for so long and haven't written home, but why didn't you even greet your sister when you saw her again?"

“I don’t recall ever raising you to be a rude and bad child.”

A rude, naughty child... *chuckle*

Bai Jin almost couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. This impolite brat was just too funny. The nickname contained a hint of doting and care, as well as a touch of reproach from an elder, making it even more comical when applied to an astronomer.

What truly gives this joke its soul is the astronomer's dejected silence, a tacit acceptance. It's almost like the humorous feeling of you and your friends in the throes of adolescent angst, self-proclaimed invincible generals of the universe, ready to conquer the neighboring galaxy, when your mom calls you by your nickname to come home for dinner.

I'm sorry, I really wanted to hold it in, but it's just too funny.jpg

Sea City Star clung tightly to Platinum's arm, her mind racing. She was just stunned, not stupid. So, Sea City Star understood Sea City's words in a mere second, and then called out to the astronomer from afar.

"Good afternoon, sister. I miss you so much."

Now Sea Star greeted her older sister; Sea Star wasn't an impolite bad kid. The only bad kid was Galileo.

It wasn't that Haidu Star was deliberately teasing the astronomer; she also liked Galileo very much. But if she didn't greet him now, Haidu City would blame both of them; if she greeted him now, only Galileo would be blamed.

There's no other way, so we can only let Galileo suffer a bit.

The astronomer, who had been swaggering around outside, dragging his strange light around, was completely overwhelmed by the sisters' combined attack. He could only lower his head and say, "I'm sorry, big sister, I was wrong. I won't do it again next time," looking like a drowned rat.

It's clear that astronomers don't have a very high social standing in their families.

"Alright, alright, I didn't say much. Get up, don't squat on the ground." Hai Du quickly comforted the astronomer. Regardless of why the astronomer was so afraid of him, or what terrible thing he had done, this was a public place, and the astronomer was a public figure. This was right next to the astronomer's friend; it wouldn't be good to make the astronomer lose face.

Hai Dushi never expected that his words would be so powerful, turning the astronomer into this state with just a few sentences.

But speaking of friends...

Hai Du gently patted the astronomer on the back, his gaze passing over her to the small group behind her. Hai Du's Star remembered her teachings, clinging to Platinum like an octopus; on the other side, Excellent Quality stubbornly clung to Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, preventing her from leaping out.

With the repeated reassurances from the excellent qualities, Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate was finally able to calm herself down. She breathed heavily and communicated with Star of the Sea: "Let's talk things out properly. Don't start by hitting me, okay, little sister?"

When it comes to reasoning and getting emotional, Koi Leaps Over the Dragon Gate is first-rate; even someone like Ibuki Maki or Kagura can't compare. Every time the two of them argue, Koi Leaps Over the Dragon Gate always wins decisively, then looks up at Ibuki Maki and Kagura jumping up and down and laughs heartily.

"No." Sea Star flatly rejected Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, showing absolutely no interest in chatting with her. No matter what Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate said, Sea Star's eyes remained fixed on Platinum, making Platinum feel uneasy.

Persuasion and emotional appeal are indeed powerful, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. But even the most capable woman can't sway a rock! Haidu Star is just such a rock. A… stubborn diamond.

This brought an unprecedented sense of crisis to the carp leaping over the dragon gate. This sense of crisis was not given to her by Ibuki Mai Kagura, not by the emperor of the East Sea, and not by the astronomer.

Like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, it has encountered its natural enemy.

"Let go, and we'll let go and talk."

"No."

"The sun is high in the sky, it's so hot, you'll get heatstroke if you hug each other like this."

"No."

"If you really want to hug someone, why don't you hug your older sister? Platinum sister is almost dying of heat."

"No."

Hai Du City withdrew its gaze. The progress on Hai Du Star was going very smoothly, so there was no need for him to worry too much. The astronomer, not only had she arrived in Hawaii, but had also somehow ended up mingling with the children at Tokyo Trexon Academy… She hadn't told him about any of this. If it weren't for the strange light communicating with him, or if he hadn't suddenly decided to bring Hai Du Star to Hawaii… he would have truly been fooled by the astronomer.

Astronomers are popular with children, but they're also popular with both women and men. What could possibly motivate an astronomer to travel all the way to Japan and build a relationship with these children?

Considering how astronomers were so afraid of seeing me, and why they didn't tell me about their trip from Japan to Hawaii... the answer is quite obvious.

Hai Du City could understand the intricacies of an astronomer's mind without a second's hesitation.