Umamusume's days are numbered

"I am Fuji Koji. To be honest, why does everyone I meet today call me Big Tree Express? I just changed my hairstyle."

"So, are you willing?" Platinum picked up the butler's uniform. "It seems like the store doesn't have any other clothes."

"Or if you don't like it, I can take it back and wash it, and then see if I can dry it. It might take you a while."

Wearing platinum clothes... the East Sea Emperor didn't mind. They had all trained together before, and there had been times when they wore the wrong sportswear, but the East Sea Emperor had never complained about anyone else; she wasn't a germaphobe.

It's like... in this kind of family, when the children have finished wearing the clothes, they pass them on to other children. It seems like it's always the older children giving clothes to the younger children, right?

Not only did she fail to become Platinum's older sister, but she even became Platinum's younger sister?

Thinking about this, the Emperor of the East Sea felt a little uneasy.

"Emperor?" Seeing that the Emperor of the East Sea did not react, Bai Jin assumed that she was having an internal struggle about putting on dirty clothes, and called out softly.

"No, I don't mind." Coming to his senses, the Emperor of the East Sea responded.

"It's too late to wash it now, isn't it? Let's just leave it like this."

Taking the butler's uniform from Platinum, the East Sea Emperor felt as if the clothes had been warmed by the sun, even though he knew it was probably because they had just been ironed.

"Then I'll go change my clothes."

After taking the clothes, the Emperor of the East Sea ducked down and slipped into the dressing room.

While changing clothes, the East Sea Emperor was clearly happy to be with the Chairman in the afternoon, and that was indeed why he went to the Butler's Cafe.

But when I feel the fabric against my skin, I can't help but think that this is the same outfit that Platinum wore this morning.

All morning, Bai Jin walked around the coffee shop in this tight-fitting outfit. With so many people, it must have been incredibly hot. Bai Jin wiped the sweat from her brow, but beads of sweat still rolled down her face and onto her collar. By the time the customers left, her white shirt underneath was completely soaked with sweat…

The Emperor of the East Sea quickly shook his head. "What are you thinking? It's just wearing someone else's clothes. Are you really going to complain?"

Suppressing his thoughts, the Emperor of the East Sea quickly changed his clothes and rushed out of the dressing room.

"Ta-da! How does His Majesty's butler's uniform look?"

After waiting for a long time, the Emperor of the East Sea did not hear Bai Jin's voice, but only applause and praise for the good opera.

"...Wait, where are Platinum and the others? Where did they go?"

Good Opera shrugged: "After handing you the clothes, she slipped away."

Episode 49: Fukuro's Fortune Telling Shop

So, what is Platinum doing now?

She slipped away secretly, followed by two little tails.

Platinum paused for a moment, then strode forward.

The two people behind him quickened their pace.

Platinum slowed down, and the two people behind him also slowed down.

"How long are you two planning to follow me?" Helpless, Platinum could only turn around and look at the two people who had been following her.

With its long, black hair and slender figure, the carp leaping over the dragon gate stood obediently behind him.

Behind the carp leaping over the dragon gate, Fuji Koji, with his light chestnut hair, followed leisurely with his hands behind his head.

"Who's following you?" Fuji Koji scoffed. "I'm just following A-Li."

"The chairman's request isn't over yet." Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate smiled with narrowed eyes. "The chairman's message is that the two of us are to 'take good care of you' today."

In the last four characters, "鲤跃龙门" emphasized the pronunciation.

Bai Jin clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. She had originally planned to go back to her dorm and take a nap, adopting the American sleep schedule. But judging from the current situation, if she headed back to her dorm, the "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate" might follow her right to her doorstep.

Judging from the story of "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate" today... Bai Jin really doesn't dare let her know her dormitory number.

She feared that in the future, the person knocking on her door every morning would change from the Emperor of the East Sea to two people: the Emperor of the East Sea and the Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate.

It's already creepy enough that one person comes every day; if more people come, it becomes a ghost summoning ritual.

If I were to leave the two of them behind on my own, even though they certainly couldn't outrun me... it would still be a bit too rude.

I just apologized. Even if the relationship doesn't improve, at least there shouldn't be any more conflict. I shouldn't add to others' dislike.

After thinking for a moment, Bai Jin stopped in his tracks.

Just when everyone thought that Platinum's honeyed lips were about to burst into laughter again, they saw her sigh and say, "Then why are you all following behind me?"

"I knew nothing about the festival beforehand, so how would I know what to look around?"

The carp leaping over the dragon gate rubbed its ears in disbelief.

"what did you just say?"

"Didn't you guys say it?" Platinum helplessly held out her palm, "Want to go to the festival together?"

Just going to a festival together... that shouldn't count as getting closer, right?

Ultimately, the goal is to prevent the carp leaping over the dragon gate from following them to their dormitory.

The carp leaping over the dragon gate clutched its chest and squatted down.

"I...I have no regrets in my life..."

"Don't do that..." Fuji Koji grabbed the carp leaping over the dragon gate, feeling that today was more tiring than running around all day.

First, after seeing the platinum butler's uniform, the carp leaping over the dragon gate seemed to experience a mental regression, turning itself into a mere nanny.

Then, ever since Platinum called out in the morning, everyone who sees me calls me "Big Tree Express." Do I really look that much like him?

Okay, maybe a little.

...Why does it seem like everything is related to platinum?

And then there's the debut competition where she lost despite being a Platinum member... she's practically got her completely under her thumb.

"Selling fried noodle bread! Fried noodle bread, anyone want to buy?"

"Are you all alright? I saw this child suddenly squatting down by the roadside..."

Seeing the carp leaping over the dragon gate squatting by the roadside, the kind-hearted racehorse girl who was selling goods by the roadside surrounded it.

"Gentlemen, would you like to buy fried noodle bread?"

"Hey... isn't this... Platinum, and the Big Tree Express? Hello, everyone."

"What are you two doing here..." Platinum hadn't expected to run into two people here. No, thinking about it, it wasn't surprising at all.

Golden Ship and Megumi McQueen, both dressed in long gowns and headbands, were selling yakisoba bread by the roadside. Golden Ship was a head taller than Megumi McQueen, carrying a wooden frame crammed full of yakisoba bread on his chest. Megumi McQueen held a round fan in his hand, seemingly calling out his wares from the roadside.

"Fried noodles bread, anyone want to buy fried noodles bread?" Golden Ship kept repeating.

"Is the child alright? Should we go to the infirmary to rest?" Megumi McQueen secretly nudged Golden Ship's side with his elbow and patted Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate on the back with concern.

"Hello, Senior McQueen, but I am Fuji Koji."

Even with Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate's thick skin, he couldn't quite hold back in front of someone like Megumi McQueen. As the saying goes, sincerity is the ultimate weapon; Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate coughed twice and stood up again.

"It's okay, I just had a bit of low blood sugar, I'm much better now."

"Are you sure it's okay? If you have low blood sugar, I have some candy here. You can take it if you need it."

"Well... haha..." Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate was defeated step by step under Megumi McQueen's sincere and pure gaze.

"Hey, Big Tree Express, want some fried noodles?" Golden Ship, clutching the side where Megumi McQueen had elbowed him, turned to ask Fuji Koji.

"Thinking about it, I've been in the coffee shop for so long and only had one cup of coffee. I am indeed a little hungry. Please give me one." Taking the fried noodle bread handed to him by the Golden Ship, Fuji Koji gritted his teeth. "But I am Fuji Koji."

Just then, Fuji Koji felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw a girl with emerald green eyes and a ponytail running past him. A bright green star hair clip hung behind her right ear.

That was none other than Big Tree Express himself.

The driver of the Big Tree Express was probably in a hurry; sweat streamed down his face as he sped along the road, dodging pedestrians.

However, the Great Tree Express still patted Fujikoji on the shoulder and winked at her.

"Yoho~Big Tree Express!"

Watching the silhouette of the tree express train gradually disappear into the distance, Fuji Koji touched his shoulder, then pinched his cheek, looked at the fried noodles bread in his hand, and exchanged a glance with the golden ship, remaining silent.

The people around him were chatting happily, while Bai Jin squinted at the roadside.

A tent in the style of one that a Gypsy would set up, with a deep purple curtain printed with twinkling stars covering the entire tent, leaving only a gap on the side facing the road for people to enter and exit.

At the very top of the tent hung a large wooden sign that read:

[The divination by Fukuro Okabe is absolutely accurate.]

Speaking of Fukuro Okabe... he is famous in another sense as well.

It's not that Fukuro Ochikane isn't famous. In fact, his achievements are quite remarkable. Despite not being particularly good at long-distance races, he defeated Suzuka Musume in the preliminary round and then battled Mejiro Kōmyō in the Chrysanthemum Sho to claim the title.

It can be said to be yet another legend.

At Treson College, if you shout that someone has beaten G1, a whole bunch of racehorse girls will stand up and cheer... Platinum muttered.

If we really want to know why Platinum holds such a peculiar attitude... it's all because of this fortune-telling shop.

As for the fortune telling by Taikaku Fukuro, well, it's quite accurate...

The result was almost entirely unpredictable.

So Platinum only glanced at the door a few times and had no intention of going in.

Just then, a hand reached out from a gap in the tent.

Episode 50 The Great Misfortune

Under Bai Jin's watchful gaze, an arm slowly extended from the fortune-telling shop of Machigane Fukuro, beckoning inwards.

What's going on here?

Platinum frowned.

After a pause, the arm reaching out from the fortune-telling room stopped for a moment, then continued to beckon in, as if inviting someone in.

"...Me?" Looking around, the Golden Ship was talking to Fuji Koji, while Megumi McQueen was eagerly watching Koi Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, who had an awkward smile on his face.

Only Platinum noticed the arm.

Is this how they always greet customers, like Daiken Fukuro?

It's quite abstract.

After hesitating for a moment, Shirogane walked towards Fukuro Okabe's fortune-telling shop.

Platinum was indeed not planning to ask Fukuro Okabe at first... but since she was so insistent on going there herself, a simple divination wouldn't hurt, just like collecting stamps.

Moreover... although the divination results of Ochikan Fukuro were not very ideal, the divination was indeed very accurate.

As Platinum approached, the arm that had been extended outside the fortune-telling booth gradually retracted. She was indeed calling Platinum over.

"Hello—do you offer fortune telling services?" Platinum lifted the curtain of the fortune telling tent and peered inside.

No one answered. The entire fortune-telling room was covered by a curtain, preventing any sunlight from entering. In the center of the room stood a desk with a few slowly burning candles, casting a flickering light.

On the desk, a sparkling crystal ball rested, covered by a semi-transparent gauze. Behind the desk sat a person draped in a thick robe.

It was a very thick robe that covered the person sitting behind the desk from head to toe, not revealing an inch of skin. The robe's hood concealed the entire face in shadow.

"...Is it Okabe Fukuro? Is this Okabe Fukuro?" Shirogane was a little unsure. Was the previous Okabe Fukuro art style like this?

So, I didn't see the famous general Raging Waves in the fortune-telling shop this time either. In Platinum's memory, Touken Fukuro was always associated with the famous general Raging Waves and would appear in the fortune-telling shop.

Maybe they went to rest or have lunch? Platinum didn't pay much attention.

Machika Fukuro didn't speak, but simply stretched out his arm, gesturing for Shirogane to sit in the chair in front of the desk.

So mysterious...not even saying a word? Frowning, Platinum sat in the chair in front of the desk.

"I'd like to have my fortune told about the recent events—"

You are confused.

Platinum's voice was interrupted. Fukuro crossed his arms, his figure concealed within a long, shadowy robe.