Umamusume's days are numbered

"I'm sorry, actually I wanted to reject you. I had a lot of fun hanging out with you today, but I still can't accept you."

"I'm going back now. Thank you for coming out with me today."

After saying that, Bai Jin jumped off the piano bench and walked outside.

Episode 329 Hound Dog

"Wait...wait a minute!" The astronomer was dumbfounded as she watched Platinum jump off the piano bench. She felt like she'd finally won the lottery, only to have it blown away by a tornado while she was on her way to claim it.

Putting aside whether the astronomer could tell from Bai Jin's expression and tone of refusal that she was being given a way out, her mind was completely in a mess right now, and she couldn't even think straight.

"Don't go, Darling, what happened?" The astronomer felt his blood freeze, and he couldn't even think of chasing after her. His hands were still unconsciously playing jazz music. As he watched Platinum's figure getting further and further away, he could only shout from afar.

Strange Light, chained to the side, silently wiped her sweat. Judging from the astronomer's bewildered expression, she was clearly devastated by Platinum's attack; it was unlikely she could think straight. After a moment's hesitation, Strange Light slapped her forehead, sighed again, and resignedly pulled the chains. In an instant, all of Strange Light's muscles bulged, and the iron plate, along with the piano, began to move again, chasing after Platinum.

Platinum had planned to sneak away from the astronomer and talk to him again once everyone had dispersed and they were back at their lodgings. Unexpectedly, the jazz music behind her didn't fade away but instead drew closer. Turning around, she saw a strange light dragging the astronomer straight towards her.

No, are you really that patient?

In the blink of an eye, the strange light swept past Platinum, and the astronomer was now walking alongside it again. When Platinum turned left, the astronomer turned left; when Platinum turned right, the astronomer turned right—the strange light seemed to have eyes in the back of its head. The astronomer could still be heard chattering incessantly, almost stuttering.

"Honey, what happened? Are you shy? I'm sorry I didn't consider your feelings. Let's run away from these people, okay? Let's find a bar where there's no one around, just the two of us, and have a good chat like this afternoon... Wasn't the atmosphere just now great?"

Bai Jin stopped in her tracks, feeling helpless. She glanced at the group of people trailing behind them, not very close, and probably unable to hear what they were saying. Besides, the astronomer was like a piece of chewing gum—once he got there, he couldn't shake him off. It seemed she wouldn't be able to leave until she explained things clearly today.

Platinum really didn't want to face this situation, because their relationship was definitely going to become very strange and awkward! The astronomer was not only an important anchor point, but also Platinum's coach for the entire summer training camp, and the two of them still had a lot to do together. Platinum could get goosebumps just thinking about what would happen then, but the current situation made him feel like he was being roasted on a fire.

So she took a deep breath: "Astronomer, stop following me, let me be alone for a while."

“Darling…” The astronomer looked at Platinum with longing, teary eyes.

"And don't call me 'darling,' astronomer." Seeing the astronomer's gaze, Platinum had a strange feeling about who was the adult between them. "I...uh, I do like you a lot. But not in that way, you understand?"

"I think you are a trustworthy friend, but I have never gone beyond the idea of ​​being friends."

"We both need some space and time to cool off. I don't want to lose a valuable friend because of this, okay?"

Upon hearing Platinum's words, the astronomer was frozen in place, his fingers unconsciously stopping their movements on the piano keys, leaving only the lingering echo of the last note struck in the air.

Seeing that the astronomer had stopped moving, Platinum tentatively took a step back. Seeing that the astronomer didn't pursue her, she silently retreated, moving further and further away from him, trying to escape this maddening silence.

Platinum stepped onto the beach, a place no longer illuminated by streetlights or neon tubes. She glanced back at the astronomer one last time, only to see him with his head bowed, exposed to the light, looking pitiful like an abandoned puppy.

Why are you acting like this... as if I abandoned you? We weren't meant to be that kind of relationship, were we?

Seeing the astronomer like that, Platinum almost softened her heart. But the farce had already escalated to this point, and there was no way to salvage it. She gritted her teeth and turned to walk towards the beach late at night.

A strange light slammed the chains off her body onto the ground with a clang. She watched the platinum figure disappear, then turned to look at the astronomer.

"Are you alright?" the strange light called out tentatively to the astronomer, thinking to itself that this setback was far more humiliating than losing to me in a race, and wondered if the astronomer's fragile heart could handle it.

The astronomer didn't reply, but silently climbed down from the piano with her head down. She tripped over the chains as she climbed down, stumbled, and almost fell. Her long bangs obscured her eyes, and the strange light emanating from them made one wonder if the astronomer was crying.

A piercing horn blared from behind, and a jeep with its neon lights flashing and its hatch open slowly drove up—it was the same jeep that the astronomer and Platinum had seen outside the bar before sunset, the one that had been playing old, outdated songs on and on.

It's the same now.

———You ain't nothin'but a hound dog.

—Cryin'all the time.

The jeep gradually approached, its headlights flashing briefly in front of the astronomer and the strange light. A few horns blared, and the driver simply turned and veered off the road, swaying as he drove past the piano.

The people here not only live a leisurely life, but also have good tempers, as if time has slowed down here.

———You ain't nothin'but a hound dog.

—Cryin'all the time.

Strange light and astronomers also heard the muffled sound from the car's cheap stereo, mixed with the light from the neon tubes on the car and the headlights, flying hoarsely in the darkness.

——Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit

———And you ain't no friend of mine!

The astronomer slowly squatted down, as if she had no strength left. A strange light stood silently beside her, and the two listened to the sound of a jeep approaching and then receding behind them.

——Well they say you was high-classed,

——Well, that's was just a lie.

——Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit

———And you ain't no friend of mine!

Happy Children's Day everyone!

Episode 330 Stop acting like a child.

The strange light said nothing, just watched the astronomer squatting silently to the side, wondering what the astronomer should do next.

Although it's highly likely the astronomer never even considered it. After spending so much time together, Strange Light had long since figured out the astronomer's personality. So even though she knew all along that Platinum didn't actually have those kinds of feelings for the astronomer, she never hindered him, just following his orders like an old ox.

This person is completely uncooperative and has a worse temper than a Shiba Inu. It's hard to imagine how she's managed to live to this age.

The sound of the jeep had gradually faded into the distance. The strange light seemed to want to say something when the astronomer stood up, dusted himself off, and appeared to have something stuck in his throat that he wanted to say, but in the end he just exhaled.

The astronomer's face didn't show the disappointment one might expect from the strange light; instead, it held a relieved ease. She tilted her head, then shrugged with utter regret: "It failed."

The strange light knew that the astronomer was talking to himself.

"And then what? What are you going to do next?"

Putting aside the upcoming summer training camp, how is she supposed to get along with Platinum? Even if she, as an astronomer, has thick skin, a kid like Platinum definitely won't be able to treat her normally.

"Let me think..." the astronomer pondered, stroking his chin. "Next, should we go to San Francisco for a stroll? We're already here."

"To San Francisco?"

“Yes, I’ve wanted to go to San Francisco for a long time.” The astronomer said enthusiastically, as if nothing had just happened. “I want to photograph Chinatown there.”

The strange light emanating from his brow furrowed deeply: "You know that's not what I'm asking you."

"Then we'll set off from San Francisco, rent a car, and drive from west to east. I've heard the highway system in America is very developed, so we can take turns driving along the interstates and stay in motels." The astronomer continued his rambling, seemingly oblivious to what the strange light was saying. "I'm just a little worried about encountering tornadoes. Tornadoes here can sweep from the far north to the far south, even lifting cows and houses into the air..."

Galileo!

Strange Light, her face ashen, abruptly interrupted the astronomer. The astronomer seemed choked, his voice abruptly cut off, and the two stared at each other. Strange Light's chest heaved violently, but she struggled to remain calm.

"You're not planning to leave now, are you? Just the two of us?"

"What about the mandate Rudolf symbolized for you? What about the platinum?"

Here we go again. Just like before. The strange light sensed an unsettling and repulsive odor permeating the air.

When was the last time such a scene occurred? It was during my competition with the astronomers—the astronomers' last race, which ended in my victory.

What did the astronomers say to the reporters back then?

“There’s no other way.” The astronomer opened his eyes innocently. “Since things have already developed to this point, we can only back out. Platinum has so clearly rejected me, so I have no reason to stay by her side.”

"As for Rudolf's symbol over there... we'll explain it to her later. Anyway, since Haidu City is still here, she's more professional than me as a trainer. She won't abandon Platinum."

"Anyway, let's give each other some time to cool off—"

The astronomer was grabbed by the collar by two hands and lifted up. These hands were so strong that the astronomer felt a slight obstruction, making it difficult to breathe. The face radiating strange light appeared so close to the astronomer, its slightly ferocious features exuding an oppressive aura.

"W-what's wrong?" Although the astronomer knew that the strange light was very powerful and appeared to be very tall, this was the first time the strange light had displayed such power before her—the astronomer immediately deflated. It was the first time she had seen the strange light angry, and she didn't know what she had done to offend it.

"You just ran away like that? Slinking away like that, all because you were rejected by a little girl, and you're acting like some innocent virgin, crying and wishing you could disappear?" Strange Light felt her temples throbbing uncontrollably, and she couldn't help but growl, "Galileo, please! You're a fucking adult! How can you still act like a child, so childish and willful?"

The astronomer grinned, realizing after just one attempt that he had no chance of escaping the strange light's grasp, and the other's roar made his ears ring: "Then what do you suggest we do?"

"You want me to go to a bar and drink myself into oblivion just because I got dumped by a girl? Get completely drunk, then wander around the highway acting crazy, hugging a lamppost while crying and vomiting, and finally go back to being someone's coach covered in vomit?"

Looking at the astronomer who was pretending to be relaxed, the strange light suddenly remembered what the astronomer had said to the reporters after the last competition.

After crossing the finish line, she was trembling and drenched in sweat, unable to believe that she had actually beaten that monster, that genius. Excited yet anxious, she tried to find the astronomer on the track, imagining what he would say to her.

Should I smile and encourage myself? Angrily question myself? Resentfully blame myself? I imagined all the strange lights and scenes, but none of them came to pass. The astronomer didn't even notice me; he simply brushed past me with a regretful expression and returned to his lounge.

After the race, the astronomer told reporters, "I feel a little tired, and I'm also accumulating some injuries. Although it's a bit sudden, I think my career as a racehorse girl ends here."

Exotic Light can guarantee that the astronomer had never mentioned retirement before this competition. She had never had any news of injuries or any indication of wanting to retire.

There was a sentence that had been hidden in the heart of the strange light for a very, very long time. She had never dared to tell it to the astronomer, because she didn't know how to face the astronomer's answer.

Is it because I defeated you that you decided to run away?

Is it because you want to escape me that you decided to end your Uma Musume career?

Are you afraid of me... or do you just run away from all kinds of misfortunes?

Now the strange light had its answer. It was the answer she hated and loathed most.

(Happy Dragon Boat Festival)

Episode 331 You're right

From a young age, Qi Yiguang was often praised for her intelligence. She could complete assignments that others couldn't finish at a fast pace; while others were still counting on their fingers doing arithmetic, she was already quietly reading a thick book in a corner. Similarly, she began learning classical music at a very young age, finding joy in those slightly obscure and antique notes.

Of course, becoming a racehorse girl was also a smooth journey. Naturally, her family placed high hopes on her, and she naturally climbed all the way from the lowest level of youth selection competitions to the top.

But Strange Light herself didn't consider herself particularly intelligent or talented. She was simply more mature and thought about things earlier than others. So she wasn't surprised that she would encounter obstacles one day.

But she never imagined that the barrier was so tall, so awe-inspiring, so...exciting to the point of igniting fighting spirit.

That's why she longed for the battle to return, for the entanglement between the two of them. She would charge forward, fall again and again, perhaps never to win, or perhaps to win only to lose again. She had indeed encountered that strange, radiant barrier, and she was absolutely certain it would stay with her for the rest of her life.

That's why their struggle ended so easily and ridiculously, which puzzled the strange light and even frightened her, making her feel afraid to face it.

She wasn't afraid of contempt, disgust, or even the fear others had of her. The only thing the strange light feared was...

That person never considered the game he believed he should risk everything on as something worth paying attention to.

That person was just playing house, enjoying themselves all by themselves.

That person is just a miser who only cares about himself.

The strange light was terrified of this answer, yet today she had received it with unparalleled clarity.

"The answer should have been given long ago," the strange light thought.

I've just been deceiving and comforting myself all along. It seems I'm not that smart after all; I'm just a fool.

"Alright, now you can let me go, right?" The voice suddenly ripped through the strange light's eardrums. The astronomer put his hands above his head to indicate his surrender: "Or do you really want to punch me a couple of times? If it makes you feel better, I don't mind, but I might not be able to take it."

"In the end, it's me who got dumped, not you. Although you put in a lot of effort along the way, you and Bai Jin aren't that close, are you? Why does it seem like you're here to seek revenge on me?"

This is not the same thing... Although this matter is also infuriating, my anger is not because of this!

The strange light felt both anger and helplessness. This guy... still hadn't grasped the crux of the problem.

"This is not the same thing..."

"How is it not the same thing?" After being lifted up and hung in the air by the strange light for a while, the astronomer, who had finally managed to calm himself down, suddenly felt a nameless anger welling up inside him.

She gripped the fingers of the strange light that were pulling her by the collar, her eyebrows furrowing: "What exactly do you want to tell me? How am I supposed to understand if you don't explain it clearly?"

"Or do you have a better way to deal with Platinum? In this situation, besides avoiding each other, what other ways do you have to salvage the situation?"

"You always expect me to follow your rules, so let me ask you this: how are your rules supposed to handle this situation? Just tell me!"

"Strange light!" The astronomer took a deep breath and shouted into the ear of the strange light, "Listen carefully, I have never hidden anything from you! Whatever I'm thinking, whatever I'm doing, if you ask, I have never lied to you! I think I've been honest with you, haven't I?"

"Let me tell you. I'm very sad and embarrassed right now. I just want to find a crack in the ground and never come out again. And I'm also very angry because you're venting your anger on me and blaming me on your own."

"But what are you thinking now? Why are you angry? Why are you condemning me?" At this point, the astronomer's voice began to tremble. "I don't know."

"I don't understand why you were so mean to me when I needed comfort."

“Even my sister… ugh…” the astronomer sniffed, “my sister has never been this mean to me.”

Now it was Strange Light's turn to be at a loss. Crying? Had he made the girl cry? Although, from Strange Light's perspective, astronomers always seemed to exist between two genders.

I didn't yell at her at all! I just grabbed her collar and yelled at her...