Umamusume's days are numbered

Driven by this conflicted emotion, Platinum, for the first time ever, trained a few extra laps. Turning around, she saw Nishizaki Ryuna with an expression that seemed to say, "I've seen the sun rise in the west."

He even pulled himself down and comforted himself, telling him not to put too much pressure on himself, that with his abilities, Yayoi Yuki would definitely be fine, and so on. He gave Bai Jin a good talking-to before letting her go.

No, is it so strange to voluntarily add extra training?

Let's return to the present. Platinum lay in bed, and that feeling of anxiety welled up again as he idly sat there.

Can we win? Can we win?

No one, including Ryu Nishizaki, could understand the pressure Platinum was under.

Platinum didn't have much desire to win; he just played casually in the other races, winning was great, but losing didn't matter much. Only the Yayoi Prize... that was his lifeline.

[Complete the Yayoi Prize (1/0)] (Winning the prize will earn you a three-star rating) (100 carrots reward + unlock the level 2 shop interface)

Level 2 stores are very important to me.

Although we don't yet know exactly what the level 2 shops sell, the only way to cure my illness is to go to the next level of shops.

This isn't like a game where you can have an alarm clock or something to start over if you lose. A loss is a loss.

The thought of the despairing words he wrote in his diary after losing the Yayoi Prize made Shirogane shudder.

Don’t do that kind of thing!

She knew perfectly well that her skills were actually quite good, and that she shouldn't lose the Yayoi Prize if she played normally... but she couldn't afford to lose. This immense pressure weighed on Platinum's shoulders, making it almost impossible for her to straighten her back.

After hesitating for a moment, Bai Jin took out his phone and sent a message.

[File Transfer Assistant]: If you were in a game you absolutely had to win, with no room for error, what would you do?

Platinum originally intended to send it to Alice, but then she thought Alice was probably playing all sorts of shady games with Manhattan Cafe, so she didn't want to bother her.

Like using coffee to wash out your stomach or something.

The main problem is... that girl, Alice, never makes her bed after sleeping; she deserves to be tormented. Let her miserable days continue a little longer, Platinum thought gleefully.

After thinking about it, she felt that the scammer was the most suitable person to confide in, since she had a lot of experience in dealing with stress. However, the scammer not only didn't reply, but even showed the message as unread.

Platinum thought about it again and realized it made sense. The scammer was currently doing extreme challenges all over the world, and she heard that Red Bull wanted to be her sponsor. It was perfectly normal that she didn't have her phone with her often.

So Platinum sent the message to Hai Du City. Hai Du City is still a very gentle person, and she has a good ability to withstand pressure. After all, she is a racehorse girl who was able to break through the encirclement and win the Arc de Triomphe, so her mental strength is good.

【Sea Starfish is the Best】: Yes, I often encounter this situation.

【Sea Starfish is the Best】: Hehe, you've come to the right person.

Bai Jin's eyes lit up immediately. Hai Du City, you are indeed the most trustworthy!

After waiting for a while, a 60-second voice message came from Haidu City.

"We run on the track, ultimately because of love. It is because of love that we can run, compete, and be born into this world. These are all blessings bestowed upon the world by the Three Goddesses. Platinum, I am truly pleased that you ask this question. It means you are close to understanding the true meaning of love. This is the fuel that drives us, the power that propels us to survive. In the end, racehorse girls are creatures who pursue happiness, and love is the ultimate happiness. Come and sincerely pray to the Three Goddesses for love. This is the most important thing in this world, and the only way to complete the epic races. In my words..."

At first, Platinum wanted to listen carefully, but the more she listened, the more she felt something was wrong, and Platinum frowned as she listened.

Before I could even finish listening to that message, another one was sent out.

Next one, then the next one, then another one, and another one.

Bai Jin was already covered in cold sweat. Had he accidentally triggered some strange switch in Haidu City?

【Sea Starfish is the Best】: No, that explanation is too superficial. I'll call you.

[File Transfer Assistant]: ...Thank you, no need, I already understand completely.

Platinum then sent a message to Golden Gun Sixty, determined to never ask Hai Du City about the outcome of the competition again.

It's not that I want to ask about the Golden Spear Sixty, it's just that there's no one else I can ask.

You can't exactly ask Ali Digital, can you? They might be watching Manhattan Cafe and Ali Soko playing a game right now.

Episode 144 Detailed Discussion

[File Transfer Assistant]: Are you there?.jpg

[File Transfer Assistant]: I have a question for you.

[Where is the Reed-haired Horse Girl?]: Hehehe. Finally remembered me?

[File Transfer Assistant]: Seriously, stop joking. If you were faced with a game you absolutely had to win, with no room for error, what would you do?

Platinum grinned at the sight of Golden Gun Sixty. If there weren't so few other options, Platinum really wouldn't want to waste time chatting with Golden Gun Sixty. Once you start talking to her, she'll go on and on until you can't take it anymore and start replying with "uh-huh, yes, yes, yes, yes."

It's also possible that Platinum players are given this honor simply because they're free. Maybe others wouldn't even want to talk about getting a +60 gold weapon, but in any case, Platinum players are currently annoyed by the constant grumbling about getting a +60 gold weapon.

[Where is the Reed-haired Horse Mother?]: I don't quite understand what you're saying.

Bai Jingang wanted to explain in detail, omitting the parts about the Soul Dissolution Symptom and the System Shop, and then he saw that Jin Qiang Liushi had sent another message.

[Where is Lu Mao Ma Niang?]: Excuse me, what does "losing" mean?

Platinum felt a sudden throbbing of veins on his forehead. He immediately opened the store and searched for "a pill to slap an idiot across the phone screen." Finding nothing, he angrily exited the store and finished the search in one swift motion.

This is not the same Golden Gun Sixty as last year. Having won the Hong Kong Mile Championship, Golden Gun Sixty's confidence has returned, and he's once again acting with an air of superiority, practically walking with his nose in the air. After recovering from his injuries, Golden Gun Sixty's physical condition has returned to its peak, and he is once again reigning supreme in the Hong Kong horse racing world.

Seriously? Who was it that said in front of everyone, "Maybe it's time to hand over the stage to the new generation"? Who was it that said in front of everyone, "I quit"?

She was about to cry before, but now she's changed her tune?

Platinum wanted to retort immediately, but remembering that she needed her help, she had to swallow her anger.

It's just playing dumb, isn't it? I've done it before in front of Rudolf's symbol.

What is face? Can you eat it? Platinum doesn't care about face anymore at this moment.

So Platinum brought the phone to her lips, coughed a few times to adjust her voice, and then spoke shyly in a sickeningly sweet voice.

"Sixty-year-old sister, please tell them..."

"I'm really afraid of losing the Yayoi Prize."

"I'll definitely go to Hong Kong again next time, mwah!"

An eerie silence fell on the other end of the phone. Some time later, the news of Golden Gun Sixty finally arrived.

[Where is the Reed-haired Horse Mother?]: Don't be like this, I'm scared. I'll tell you.

Platinum was overjoyed; this tactic really worked! So she struck while the iron was hot, continuing in that sweet voice, "I knew Sixty-sister was the best~"

Hearing the voice coming from the phone across the ocean, Jinqiang Liushi lost his balance and fell off the bed.

[Where is Lu Mao Ma Niang?]: I don't have that kind of situation where I absolutely have to win. Uncle He and Grandpa Ni always advise me to act according to my ability.

[Where is Lu Mao Ma Niang?]: But Uncle He and his group have had this situation before. Uncle He told me that if you can't reach an agreement with someone on a business deal, but the deal is very important to you, you can drive your convoy to that person in the middle of the night, and then take them for a drive around the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Basically, by the time it's dawn, the deal is done.

[Where is Lu Mao Ma Niang?]: So I feel that when you really, really want to achieve a certain goal, the most important thing is to be honest.

Platinum stared at the message on her phone, clenching her teeth, unsure how to respond.

This deal was clearly not made because of honesty! How can you rely on honesty for something like this?!

It's definitely a different kind of honesty! It's about being honest with each other on the other side of the river!

That Uncle He looked like an honest, quiet, and steady middle-aged man, but is he really doing this kind of work? You really can't judge a book by its cover! This must be the one, the so-called smiling tiger.

Recalling the two weeks he spent in Hong Kong, recalling his conversations and actions with Uncle He and Jin Qiang Liushi... Bai Jin couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Had he really been living in the home of such a dangerous person for so long?

It's better if there's no next time.

Platinum silently exited the chat with Golden Gun Sixty and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. It turns out that what was shown in the movies was all based on some truth.

Just then, another message notification popped up on her phone. Platinum initially thought it was a message from a scammer, but trembling, she tapped the screen and saw it was a message from a fraudster.

[Scammer]: Sorry, I just saw this. The signal isn't very good in the suburbs.

[The conman]: I really want to tell you, "There is no competition in the world that you are guaranteed to win, and there is no competition whose outcome can be determined before the competition starts." But I don't think you want to hear that.

[The conman]: So all I can say to you is: prepare carefully, give it your all, and leave no regrets. You are very capable, believe in yourself. Don't let the pressure overwhelm you. When you feel anxious, keep yourself busy and you won't think about these things anymore.

Even though it was just a few words, Platinum's eyes lit up.

A single sentence carries different weight depending on whether it comes from the mouth of a seasoned veteran or a conman.

I do realize that I am strong enough to win the championship, but my fear of failure makes me hesitant to move forward.

Since I can't help but overthink, I'll fill my time with other things so I don't have time to think about these things.

"Okay!" Bai Jin did a somersault, put on her gym clothes, and ran out of the dormitory.

Go to the training field and run a few more laps. When you're tired, go back and go straight to sleep!

When Alice, clutching her stomach and lips, crawled out of the clutches of Manhattan Coffee and staggered to the training ground, this was the scene that greeted her.

Platinum was jogging slowly alone in the empty training field. The lights in the training field had been turned off, so Platinum hung his phone in front of him, turned on the flashlight, and ran in front of him.

At this moment, Alice couldn't even bother to cover her stomach. She blinked in disbelief and saw that Platinum was still there.

He rubbed his face again and saw that Platinum was still there.

She pinched her cheek again; it did hurt a little, but that didn't completely prove she wasn't dreaming.

So Alice took out her phone again and dialed Manhattan Coffee.

"Coffee."

"Why...did you call me specifically to say goodbye? Are you still a little reluctant to part?"

Alice smacked her lips.

"I mean, the lesson you gave was too mild, it wasn't very impactful."

Alice suddenly felt a chilling killing intent, as sharp as a knife. She shuddered, clutched her stomach, and started running.

Good news, I wasn't dreaming.

The bad news is, I wasn't dreaming.

episode 145 Before the Yayoi Awards

中山

Sitting in the lounge, Ibuki Kagura felt her hands trembling slightly.

A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. She raised her left hand and pressed it against her right, as if that would stop her inner doubts.

Ibuki Kagura gazed at herself in the mirror. The short-haired chestnut-colored girl exuded youthful exuberance, but her reflection in the mirror showed an unyielding anxiety between her brows.

Ibuki Mai and Kagura knew where this anxiety came from.

Ibuki Maikara believed she possessed talent, and indeed, it was true. Recklessly squandering her talent, Ibuki Maikara consistently dominated the arena.

But deep down, I know that there are always people more talented than me, and one day I will encounter an opponent whose talent surpasses mine.

She had always strived to become the Emperor of the East Sea. However, before meeting the Emperor of the East Sea, she encountered an even more formidable opponent.

To travel to Hong Kong and defeat the reigning Hong Kong Horse Racing King as a newcomer... that's an honor that many people wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Not to mention how many female racehorses at their peak have failed in Hong Kong, just the fact that they have emerged from the world's top lineup is something that feels like a dream come true.

So far, she has won every single race, and except for the one in Hong Kong, she has won by a large margin in all races—no one has ever been able to get ahead of her.

The shimmering princess, like a Pegasus descending from the heavens, roams the arena in the name of Platinum.

No... We can't boost others' morale while diminishing our own...

Ibuki Kagura suddenly slapped her cheek. Hadn't she already decided to test Pegasus's strength?

The fact that I'm still standing here, still determined to participate in the Yayoi Prize, isn't that a symbol of my courage? Why am I backing down now?

With her hands on her hips, Ibuki Kagura let out two dry laughs in the empty lounge, then lowered her head, feeling unable to force a smile.

I can't laugh... No matter what, I can't laugh when facing such an opponent...

There are only eight contestants in this year's Yayoi Prize. This is unusual.

Although no one said anything, everyone understood the reason for this situation.

Avoid war. It's best to avoid an opponent you can't defeat.

Only those with extraordinary self-confidence, those who are not aiming to win, or those who have no other choice will participate in this competition.