Umamusume's days are numbered

I can't even walk steadily.

"Miss Platinum... are you sure you want to sign up for a debut competition that's about to start today?" Seeing that Platinum didn't answer his question, Junkawa Tezuna repeated his question, making sure to pronounce the words clearly so that she wouldn't misunderstand.

Platinum felt that Surugawa Tessuna was a death knell.

Platinum knows that Surugawa Tessuna, who is sitting across from him, is a good person... It's precisely because he's a good person that he causes trouble.

Because good people will tirelessly offer help to everyone, rather than simply seeking personal gain. Otherwise, they could just leave and, at worst, try wilderness survival here.

However, Shirogane was certain that Tsuna wouldn't let go of her suspicions easily—she would definitely keep asking questions until she got to the bottom of it; that's just the kind of person she is.

Platinum could only rack its brains and try to figure out how to use its not-so-bright little head.

Now that things have come to this, deserting the race is no longer an option. Giving up halfway would not only be disrespectful to horse racing, but it would also fail to dispel Miss Junchuan's suspicions.

He couldn't very well tell her, "Actually, I'm a time traveler, that's why I look like this!"

Only a fool would believe that.

"Yes, I want to participate in the debut battle. I want to become a proper horse girl."

More importantly, I want the bounty. He didn't dare say the second half of it.

"Um... although it's rude to ask, I still want to ask." Junkawa Tsuna's fingers gripped the nib of his pen, "Why do you insist on participating in the competition today?"

"If you want to debut, it would be better to be fully prepared first."

Next, Tsuna saw Shirogane puff out his cheeks, lower his head, and glance to the side.

"...Because there's no time left," Platinum muttered.

Even I... have goals I want to achieve with all my might...

"What?" Because Platinum's voice was so soft, Tsuna only vaguely heard what she said.

"There's nothing there." Bai Jin simply shook his head and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Sorry to bother you."

"That makes sense. Without identification and not being a student of Treson Academy... it would be terrible to let someone like that onto the field."

"I know it in my heart..." Platinum covered her face with her fingers, her voice unconsciously turning into a sob.

"But even so, I still want to one day achieve my dreams through my own efforts..."

"Once you come out again... you'll never have another chance..."

欸?

Hey hey hey? Cried?

Surugawa Tessuna panicked for a moment. She couldn't stand seeing girls cry.

what is going on?

This girl had no money and no identity...

Surugawa Tessuna's color flickered.

etc···

Ultimately, they lacked identification and a mobile phone.

Or is it that it exists but cannot be used?

She looked at the girl across the table. Although she was sobbing with her hands covering her cheeks, once you took off her clothes, her slender fingers, delicate skin, and silky white hair... were so pure and flawless.

This is not something an ordinary family can raise.

Children like this should be wearing layers of cotton candy-like dresses and living in ancient castles in Europe, rather than on the streets of this country.

In other words, Hinterlaya actually came all the way from Poland to this country with the intention of making her debut here.

What prompted her to make this decision? And what made her afraid to even use identification and a mobile phone after arriving in this country?

Considering her earlier statement that "there will never be another chance"... Surugawa Tsuna could tell that the girl in front of her was of debut age. Perhaps her words could be interpreted as—if she couldn't debut as a Uma Musume this time, she would never have another chance in her life.

Surugawa Tezuna understood completely, comprehended everything.

Hinterlea has probably run away from home. Not only that, but she's boldly running away from home across half the globe.

Following this line of reasoning, did Hinterlaya come to this country because only here could she avoid being easily captured and taken back?

That's why they chose this country, whose horse racing record isn't considered top-tier internationally.

This also explains why passports and mobile phones cannot be used as identification—it's probably because if you touch any money in the house, it will be immediately discovered where it is.

All of this is in pursuit of his dream—the dream of running on the track.

Surugawa Tezuna was moved to tears.

On the other side, Hinterlea, also known as Platinum, secretly observed Surugawa Tessuna's expression through her fingers.

That's right, Platinum's final decision was to play the victim.

In short, the world is kind to cute crying girls, isn't it? Just try anything, don't worry about any damn pride, put on a pitiful look, and say some nonsensical things that you don't even understand yourself, and see if you can move the heart of the other person.

How is the effect?

Outstanding effect!

It seems that Tsuna was completely moved to tears by her own nonsensical words! Seriously, is your tear threshold really that low?

Platinum's eyes darted around slyly a few times, deciding to add fuel to the fire.

"Excuse me for bothering you..." She stood up, pretended to sniffle twice, and gave a slow, reluctant bow. "If there is another chance, I will come back fully prepared."

Okay, perfect! Platinum mentally made a peace sign.

In short, he used this method to dispel his doubts and portray himself as a runaway child. Even the Green Devil, Tsuna Suguru, wouldn't call the police on a whim when faced with a runaway child, would he?

They're not refugees, they just ran away from home.

Let's not think about the competition anymore. Let's leave here first and then consider the feasibility of begging.

Snapped!

Junkawa Tessuna grasped Hinterlea's hand, tears welling in his eyes.

A bead of cold sweat slowly slid down Bai Jin's forehead. "Miss Junchuan, why are you flushed?"

"That's not true at all—"

Junkawa Tezuna shook his head as he spoke.

"Because the determination to pursue dreams is something that humans are born with, as natural as eating and drinking."

Junkawa Tessuna held Platinum's small hand and placed it on his chest, causing Platinum's cheeks to turn bright red.

"Um, Miss waitress..." Platinum stammered, trying to pull her hand back.

Is this how you test cadres right from the start? The negative influence that woman, Tsuna, has on teenagers is immeasurable!

"So please don't say things like 'even to me.' Hinterlea—no, Miss Platinum."

Surugawa Tezuna looked directly into Platinum's eyes. In those eyes, she saw a determination that spanned half the globe, a do-or-die battle.

“Miss Platinum, please say this: Now that we’ve come this far, how can we possibly back down now?”

Wait a few more days? If it were Tsuna, he wouldn't want to wait even a second longer!

"I must step onto this field."

"I will definitely win the crown."

"I will definitely have no regrets."

"This is what I see in your eyes, your true feelings."

"Suruga Tezuna, what did you see?" Shirogane was dumbfounded. "Even if you saw something, it should have been the desire to escape the police and your surroundings, right?"

Is this how you do reading comprehension?

“Come, Miss Platinum, please say this to me.” Tsuna Sugawa took a deep breath.

“Repeat after me: I must participate in this debut competition, and I will smash through all obstacles to achieve it.”

"Ah... um..." Shirogane stared blankly at Tsuna, unconsciously stammering, "I... I want to participate in this competition..."

No, no, no, I don't want to! Now that my initial enthusiasm has cooled down, all I can think about is what begging posture is the fastest way to make money?

"Well then, I have received your thoughts."

"Go and run as fast as you want, so that you will have no regrets in your life, Miss Platinum—leave everything to your older sister!"

They won't see the other person clearly just because they are a girl who ran away from home in a fit of pique.

Because that passionate and sincere heart was undoubtedly exposed to Surugawa Tetsuya.

Faced with a child like this, all I can do is offer respect and blessings, and become her support.

Bai Jin swallowed hard, her throat dry. She couldn't bring herself to admit that she'd come all this way simply because she'd seen a TV program on it.

*Gulp...* Kill me...

Hot tears streamed down Bai Jin's face. These were not tears of emotion, but tears of despair.

"Miss receptionist...but I can't pay the registration fee, and I don't have training clothes or shoes..."

"Leave it all to me, your older sister!" Tsuna said, her eyes sparkling as she comforted Shirokin. "I promise, I will make sure you get to stand on this stage today."

"Finally—although it's rather late."

"Welcome to this country. I hope you can achieve your life goals in the competition here."

Miss Platinum's throat was dry as she forced out distorted sounds from her vocal cords.

"Eh—"

In the blink of an eye, he was being led into the racecourse by the green devil, who was holding his hand tightly.

"Yes, it's this child... Could you please add another spot?"

"Of course, of course, I'm really sorry for this situation... But you've seen this kid and you understand, right? She will definitely give us a great match."

"Eh—"

In the blink of an eye, she had been led into the racehorse girls' dressing room by Tsuna Suguru.

"Here are your workout clothes and shoes. Try them on to see if they fit. Oh, and don't forget to bring your race bib."

"Since you were added as the last person at the last minute, your number is the outermost number, number nine. However, being on the outermost edge has its advantages and disadvantages; the rest is up to Xiaobaijin to decide."

Junkawa Tezuka winked playfully at Platinum from outside the door, then closed the locker room door, leaving Platinum alone in the locker room, clutching her tracksuit and staring blankly.

"Eh—"

In the blink of an eye, I was standing on the stage, with a huge, dark cloud of people below.

"Now taking the stage is contestant number nine, Bai Jin, a guest added at the last minute, and a beautiful white horse from a foreign country. All of this adds a touch of mystery to her."

"So, Miss Platinum isn't even a student at Treson Academy. What a unique way to make an entrance."

The sound of commentators talking could be heard over the loudspeaker.

"She sounds like a princess who stepped right out of a fairy tale."

"I wonder what kind of surprise our beautiful foreign princess will bring to everyone on this stage."

Platinum's lips trembled, her eyes almost turning into mosquito coils.

The last time I stood on stage and was watched by so many people was... oh, there wasn't a last time.

Wouldn't this be the first time he'd ever stood in front of so many people in public?

How many people were there? Hundreds? Thousands? Surely not... tens of thousands?

Mom, that's scary!

Platinum's ears were pressed tightly against his head, and he felt his whole body trembling.

Let's think about it another way... So many people are here today to see me make a fool of myself.

Hahaha.

Shouldn't we hurry up and reincarnate?

"The Platinum player seems a bit nervous. After all, it's her first time competing, so hopefully she can adjust her mindset quickly."