Umamusume's days are numbered

You can't sleep if you talk about Aili Digital.

Everyone knows what kind of person Alice is.

It's not that I don't trust Eliseko, but rather that I trust her too much.

After taking the medicine made by Alice... even normal people can run as fast as racehorses.

What if this kind of medicine were used on a racehorse girl?

No... Elisako wouldn't do such a thing. I know Elisako quite well. Beneath her crazy, mad scientist exterior lies a strong moral compass, which is part of her personal charm.

but···

Alice Digital recalled the white pills in the small, transparent jar. Didn't this look like one of those counterfeit or substandard products? Like… something made in Alice's lab.

Moreover, how did these two become so close? Alice used to be a very lazy person, sometimes not getting up until the sun had set, but now she goes to bed early and gets up early every day for Platinum, and suddenly she has transformed into Platinum's pharmacist. Even when she comes to Hong Kong, she follows him around like a little tail, something she never dared to imagine before.

It was as if overnight, Platinum suddenly captured Alice's heart, and she was completely captivated by Platinum.

Even Yamato Akaki and Manhattan Coffee couldn't achieve that. Yamato Akaki and Ali Soko, as well as Manhattan Coffee and Ali Soko, were combinations that Ali Digital previously strongly supported.

Aili Digital turned over again, facing Platinum's sleeping face.

Bai Jin's sleeping face was serene and beautiful, like a sculpture just polished from plaster. Her snow-white hair meandered and coiled on the mattress, like ice on a snow-capped peak transformed into spring rain by the sun.

Looking down, one sees a slender neck and a delicate body. It's a budding, alluring curve, youthful yet possessing a dreamy, bittersweet quality, like unripe fruit hanging heavily on a branch.

Further down, there were those exaggeratedly long legs. Those legs alone could unleash unimaginable bursts of speed in a race, achieving a victory as devastating as a ten-horse's length. And at the far end of the field of vision, glossy pink toenails were arranged like neatly arranged seashells by a child.

Aili Digital's gaze returned to Platinum's face. But more than anything else, what impressed Aili Digital the most were her eyes.

That was the first time Aili Digital saw Platinum up close, on the day Platinum and Donghai Emperor ran side by side. Platinum stood alone on the track in his sportswear, sweat pouring down his body, but his face was expressionless.

Platinum scanned the area outside the track, and that's when Aili Digital saw those eyes for the first time.

Their pure black eyes were like bottomless pits, whirlpools, and black holes, sucking in all light and trapping everything within them.

Eyes that seem to reflect the sun's shadow, making the sky appear dim and colorless.

—What exactly has Platinum been thinking all along?

From that moment on, Aili Digital had been thinking about this question. The mystery surrounding Platinum seemed to have been solved, but once you got close to Platinum, you could still feel that she was shrouded in a heavy fog, and within the fog was a black hole that swallowed everything.

—Ah, that explains it.

It wasn't Alice who gave Platinum the medicine; rather, Platinum forced Alice to make the medicine for him.

She completely bewitched Elisako, making her obedient and willing to do anything for her. Then Platinum made Elisako create a drug to make her run faster, and used this stolen, unjust power to torment herself and the race.

Aili Digital was suddenly stunned.

So... Platinum came to see me for no reason today.

Alice Digital sat up in alarm.

Oh no, am I going to be next?

Even Alice Soko couldn't survive the allure of this place, and Alice Digital doesn't think it can either.

Damn it, this is even darker than the Night Emperor of Bitresen Academy... no, this is the one who should truly be called the Night Emperor!

Alice Digital quietly got out of bed and sneaked out of her room, where she saw Alice Soko coming out to get water in the hallway.

Aliseko was already used to Alise Digital's various behaviors, so she looked at Alise Digital with a kind expression as it came out.

When Aili Digital saw Aili Suzi, they hesitated for a moment and asked her, "What does platinum mean to you?"

"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Alice shook her head and said without thinking, "Of course, it's all of me."

All hopes were pinned on her.

Alice Digital's expression immediately turned terrified, and she ran away from Alice's side as if fleeing.

Episode 89 Maintain a Winning Mindset

"Why did you drag me out at this time?" Platinum rubbed his eyes and kept yawning.

The thin mist on the horizon gradually dissipated under the sunlight, and it was another sunny day.

Alice Digital stood next to Platinum, nodding repeatedly. It wasn't that she agreed with Platinum's words; Alice Digital hadn't received any outside voices and was still in a state where dreams and reality intertwined.

"Giving you two days to adapt to the environment here is quite generous of you."

Alice had already changed into her sportswear and was standing in front of the two of them, calling out to them.

"And you too, Aili Digital. Did I tell you beforehand to make sure you get enough sleep? Or do you also need some melatonin?"

Upon hearing this, Alice Digital remembered seeing the white pills in Platinum's arms yesterday and immediately came to her senses.

"Sir, no need, the soldiers are ready!" Alice Digital immediately stood at attention.

“And you, Platinum.” Alice’s gaze moved to Platinum’s still bewildered face. “I’ll say it again, I’m not forcing you, but don’t forget our promise.”

Upon hearing this, Platinum realized that her hope for recovery still lay in Alice's hands, and she came to her senses!

"Reporting, sir! Soldier Bai Jin is ready to go through fire and water!" Bai Jin stood at attention.

Looking at Alice and Platinum, Alice Digital's eyes darted around.

She wasn't thinking about anything intimate between the two of them right now. Normally, countless ideas would have been bursting forth from Alice Digital's little head, but she didn't have the time for that now.

What exactly is the relationship between these two people?

Yesterday, AliShoko's explosive statement was still fresh in AliDigital's memory; it was practically a declaration that she was already taken. Manhattan Coffee could, as usual, start groveling on the floor, pounding the ground and crying.

However, based on Ali Digital's understanding of Ali Suko, 50% of what she says has been filtered through her brain, meaning there is 50% distortion. Anything that slips out of Suko's mouth needs to be verified and compared from multiple sources.

Moreover... judging from today's situation, it's obvious that Eliseko tamed Platinum, rather than Platinum subduing Eliseko.

But who knows, what if Platinum is the kind of weak-willed but tough character?

In short, this was the first time Aili Digital had ever felt so unfamiliar with her roommate.

"What are you thinking about?" Alice Suko patted Alice Digital's head. "You're the main player today, so don't slack off."

"oh oh."

“And Platinum.” Alice pointed at Platinum again. “You too.”

“You used to complain that what I said was too disorganized, too brief, and hard to understand. This time I’ve found you a good teacher to soothe your brain.”

Platinum pouted: "I feel like you're saying I'm stupid."

Isn't it your fault for being an unqualified teacher? Even if I have a 1% mistake, don't you have a 99% problem?

“No, I was just saying that you’ve chosen the path in life that best leverages your strengths and minimizes your weaknesses.” Alice looked at Platinum with kind eyes.

In short, it's all about compliance; just comply and that's it.

“Aili Digital is a well-known double-sword style racehorse girl, and she has participated in Hong Kong races before, so she is familiar with the turf and rules here. Training with Aili Digital will help you adapt faster.”

Aili Digital raised her hands and clapped them in the air, raising her voice two decibels: "There are still two weeks until the special match at Sha Tin Stadium. You need to adjust your condition within these two weeks!"

"Aili Digital, you need to recapture the feeling you had when you were in service. It's a bit difficult for you, but since you've decided to run, you have to run beautifully."

“Platinum…” Alice looked at Platinum intently and said, word by word.

"You must get first place. With your ability, you can do it."

Platinum choked up immediately, his eyes wide open.

She recalled what Alice had said to her before she left.

"If I can't win first place, I'll kill you."

Zhi, is this guy serious?

Don’t do that kind of thing!

Platinum raised her hand tremblingly: "Um... are you sure?"

"You have to grind levels before you can fight a boss in a game without using Wind Spirit Moon Shadow. If I could beat a level 60 Golden Gunner right now... isn't that a bit of a joke?"

It's not that Bai Jin lacks confidence; she's far too confident. She even dares to criticize airline routes and the secretariat. If she weren't in Hong Kong right now, she could still be spouting nonsense about Jin Qiang Liushi.

What's that saying again? When asked, it's always the same: they're not as good as me; when talking, they're always inferior to the Emperor of the East Sea.

However, she had truly experienced the terror of these horse kings.

Previously, in the symbolic parallel run with Rudolph, Platinum surged ahead within those few meters...

I saw the insurmountable barrier.

Platinum didn't know if Rudolph had used his full strength, but her relaxed demeanor certainly didn't seem faked. The pressure from those few minutes of running side-by-side was real; it was even more tiring than running an entire debut race.

She and Rudolph symbolize something missing between them. It's probably not something physical, after all, Platinum is quite confident in her physical abilities. It's something else, something more... ethereal and intangible.

Rudolph symbolizes a retired racehorse. Next up is the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year—Golden Sixty!

Platinum can hardly imagine how strong she must be.

What's the difference between this and challenging the final boss right after leaving the starting village? Just watch the cutscene and that's it, are you really going to fight for it?

Even Rudolf symbolically tells himself, "Take care of yourself, and it would be better if you could learn something." While this is certainly a statement of concern for himself, it also shows that Rudolf symbolically believes that Platinum will inevitably suffer a crushing defeat.

They are not opponents from the same dimension.

Upon hearing Platinum's words, Alice scoffed, her scarlet eyes fixed intently on Platinum.

Immediately afterwards, Alice took one, two, three steps toward Platinum, standing directly in front of her and looking down at her.

"If you want to take first place, you might lose."

"But if you come in with a casual attitude from the beginning, you will definitely lose."

Alice extended her right index finger and slowly pressed it against Platinum's chest, gradually increasing the pressure.

"If you're not on the field to win first place, it's not only disrespectful to yourself, but also to your opponents, the audience, and the competition itself."

“I told you before that you need to work on more than just your body.”

"Now, this is the first lesson I'm going to teach you."

"Maintaining a winning mentality is the first step for you as a racehorse girl."

(Book recommendation!)

(Miss Uma Musume can't get excited)

Episode 90: Blooming

Platinum looked at his chest, then at Alice's fingers.

She still didn't understand.

“Even if you say that…” Platinum shook his head in confusion, “A match that can’t be won is a match that can’t be won, or are you trying to say that Golden Gun Sixty is still in the recovery phase from his injury, so there’s still a chance to win?”

"What are you thinking?" Alice sneered. "Even if Golden Spear Sixty is injured, the gap between you is still greater than heaven and earth. I've said it before, the gap between you is not just physical, but a deficiency in every aspect."

"Golden Spear Sixty is a Horse King at its peak after [Blooming]. You do have the potential to become a Horse King, but right now you are at most a [Budding Mushroom] that has not yet bloomed."

As she said this, Alice withdrew her finger and hopped onto the electric scooter next to her.

“You probably wouldn’t understand if I explained it to you like this, but I’ll take you to see it.” Alice waved to the two of them. “Come on, let’s jog to the racetrack, consider it our morning exercise. Kintō-Sixty is warming up at the racetrack right now.”

Aili Digital and Platinum exchanged a glance and started jogging slowly on the road.

"Listen to my explanation as you run," Alice said, sitting on the electric scooter, the tires whirring. "Maintain proper form! If your form isn't correct, the training will have the opposite effect."

As she spoke, Alice pulled out a folding fan from somewhere and tapped Platinum on the head from behind, making her wince in pain.

Just as Aili Digital was relieved that it wasn't them who got hit, and was still wondering why Aili Suzuko had become such a Spartan, she also got hit on the head.

"You too! Even if it's just for fun, in order to recall your previous state, you need to take it seriously from the warm-up stage."

Alice Digital covered her head in grievance and said "Oh".

So the two of them jogged slowly along the roadside, one after the other, the cool sea breeze ruffling their clothes, and trams slowly passing by. Alice followed behind them, a folding fan in her hand.

"Platinum, you should really observe how Ali Digital runs. She's a veteran who has been through high-intensity races, a top-tier racehorse girl on par with Hai Du City and Scammer. Even though she's retired and her flower has withered, you should still be able to vaguely sense something from her and learn something from her."