Umamusume's days are numbered

She's slow-witted; slow-witted to the point that something someone else understands after one try might take her two or three tries to grasp. Forget about applying what she's learned to other situations; she'd be lucky to even apply what she's learned to three different situations.

However, this matter is not important, because diligence can make up for lack of talent, and besides, Platinum has also become more diligent recently.

However... being clumsy also means having poor adaptability. For a Platinum rider who hasn't experienced the special training required for high-stakes races... they simply won't be able to adapt to the running style of high-stakes races on their own.

This is why she always felt she couldn't outrun them and would be caught. Because her opponents, although perhaps not as physically capable as her...

However, everyone on the field is a genuine genius.

Alice was still forcing herself to calm down. But given the current situation, it was impossible to remain calm.

In her view, Platinum's failure was already a foregone conclusion.

"Phew, make way, make way!" The tall, black-haired figure squeezed through the crowd to move forward.

"Please, let me move aside, please let me get to the seat in the front!"

The figure with chestnut-brown hair in a single ponytail stood beside the taller figure with her arms crossed and a disgruntled expression, following her forward.

It was the two who arrived late: Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate and Fuji Koji.

"Ugh...it's all my fault for having my wallet stolen, along with my admission ticket...thankfully my phone wasn't lost, so I can get a replacement ticket..."

"No, so you're saying you should call the police first if your wallet gets stolen?" Fuji Koji clicked his tongue in annoyance. Is watching a game really that important?

It's not like I went up there to run myself.

"It's already late... wouldn't we miss the competition?" Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate said righteously, trying to move forward gently through communication, "Please, could you move aside? My seat is in the front..."

"---So, I'm really impressed by you!" Seeing the way the carp leaping over the dragon gate was being pushed and shoved, Fuji Koji's forehead vein bulged, and then he stretched out his arms to block the carp leaping over the dragon gate.

"Make way, did you hear me? Make way!" Fuji Koji was much more forceful than the carp leaping over the dragon gate, directly using the brute force of the racehorse girl to push the crowd forward.

The audience member who was pushed looked back with dissatisfaction, but then his expression changed to one of surprise when he saw the person behind him.

"Isn't this the Big Tree Express? I'm your fan..."

"I am not the Great Tree Express!" Fuji Koji got even angrier when this was mentioned.

Episode 181 Wild Run in the Wetlands

The reflections of everyone were mirrored in his azure pupils.

She saw everything.

Platinum was finding it more difficult than she had imagined. Even though she hadn't risked going to the cherry blossom viewing this time.

Ah, is it because of that?

Instead of enjoying the peace and quiet that followed, they lost the opportunity for a stellar collapse.

The pre-race mishap, the formidable opponents on the track, the unfamiliarity with the grass—all the ABSS (adversities) converged together.

But I've seen this kind of scene before.

I have experienced all of them, countless possibilities.

So, platinum—

【Satsuki Sho】is your 【GATE】.

Whether we can overcome it, whether we can get through it, I have no idea. Because the new universe has seen countless possibilities and trillions upon trillions of outcomes. There are always those that can be overcome, and naturally, there are those that cannot.

The new universe is merely a witness, and there's only one thing it can do.

That means giving it your all on the field.

"Ibuki Mai and Kagura have caught up with Platinum! No... Platinum's pace has slowed down!"

Something's wrong with Platinum that I discovered during the live stream.

"Platinum is about to be caught in the trap of the pioneers... Is it really because of the impact of the falling iron?"

Platinum pursed her lips tightly, looking troubled.

It wasn't that she was out of strength, but rather that she dared not exert any force. Bai Jin was terrified of slipping again. If she could stabilize herself once, could she gamble on stabilizing herself a second time?

Platinum couldn't even imagine the consequences of falling during the competition.

...Big sister?

The distance between Ibuki Kagura and Shirokin has gradually closed. This isn't because Ibuki Kagura is accelerating, but because Shirokin has already merged into the Vanguard Group. She can now even reach out and touch Shirokin's hair.

Having chased Platinum to this extent, the first thing that welled up in Ibuki Mai Kagura's heart was not joy, but... doubt.

No, this isn't the level she should be at...

Platinum looks distracted.

Moreover, she was still using the same running style on the uphill section of the racecourse. Was she not realizing it yet?

Platinum's running style is very distinctive; it's a unique stride style that was tailor-made for her by Ryu Nishizaki and Alice Soko.

Although Platinum isn't tall, her proportions are exaggerated. She has very long legs, giving her a long stride. Similarly, while her ankles aren't as flexible as the East Sea Emperor's, they are strong enough to withstand tremendous force and explosive power.

So when she runs, her body stays close to the ground, as if she's flying close to the ground. Ibuki Mai Kagura lost to Platinum using this running style before.

But this isn't the time to use it! All the other racehorses have unanimously shortened their strides and increased their cadence, only Platinum hasn't realized it herself, and being in first place, she can't see the others' running patterns...

—Should we remind her?

Ibuki Maikaku thought to herself.

This is very dangerous. If this continues, forget about the race, they might not even finish it...

The sound of horseshoes interrupted Ibuki Maikaku's thoughts. Her ears perked up instantly.

—The Emperor of the East Sea, he is the Emperor of the East Sea!

How could I have forgotten her?

"The drivers have entered the first corner."

"Platinum is still ranked first, but looks like it's a struggle. Ibuki and Kagura are close behind. After Me, although they want to take a strong position, they are constrained by the left and right sides and are ranked third."

“Alas…” followed me with a painful whimper.

They clearly wanted to get the top spot! Let's not even talk about Platinum, who was also leading, how come even Ibuki and Kagura couldn't catch up!

And... right behind him, there was someone relentlessly chasing after him...

"Following me is the much-anticipated Emperor of the East Sea."

"Between the Emperor of the East Sea and the White-winged Cedar lies a new universe. Leo Deban is waiting for his chance."

The ramp finally ended, and Platinum couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Throughout the entire ramp, Platinum had treaded on thin ice. But what followed was an even greater challenge—could Platinum, who could slip even when accelerating on a two-degree incline, really manage to accelerate on the curves?

It would be difficult to even maintain that.

Meanwhile, behind Platinum, Ibuki Maikaku tightly closed her lips, her eyes hardening once more.

Perhaps if she had just casually called out, Platinum would have noticed her problem—but Ibuki Maikaku didn't do that.

It wasn't because of the darkness in her heart, but because this was a competition! This is the Satsuki Sho track!

Even if someone is a Platinum player, even if they are so close to you, reminding your opponent during a match is undoubtedly an insult.

One look at the Emperor of the East Sea was enough to understand. His eyes were filled with a fervent fighting spirit, a determination to win the match.

That was an intense desire for victory.

Does that mean I should hold back just because my opponent isn't in good form? Should I even call an ambulance for her?

In situations like these, giving your all to defeat your opponent is the only true form of respect.

"What an intense battle... Is this what the G1 arena is like?"

Although he was running at the back, Leo Deban was careful to keep his stamina up and consciously avoided the fights at the front.

Platinum, Tokai no Teiō, and Ibuki Maikaku – each of them individually is someone I wouldn't be confident in, yet they're all appearing together on the field.

And New Universe, she seems to be handling it with ease too. I hadn't paid attention to that girl, White Winged Cedar, before, but she ran surprisingly well. She's probably a racehorse girl like me, with some fame at school but still far from being a star student.

Compared to them, those who come after me... will probably be the first to fall behind. Maybe they can hold on until the third bend? The fourth bend?

As for those behind him, he couldn't see them at all; he could only hear the continuous, dense sound of horses' hooves. He couldn't tell who was who, but he knew that someone was closely following him.

After navigating the bends, the track had completely devolved into a chaotic free-for-all.

Only the gaze of the new universe remained hazy yet sharp, piercing through everyone present and looking towards the very front of the competition.

That's where the platinum is.

Haven't you realized yet, Cornflower, that you've already... accessed your own [GATE]?

For you, truly crossing the gate is not difficult. What is difficult is truly facing the gate.

Realize it soon, realize it soon...

What I should really be doing right now is...

Do not cling to what you are destined to lose, for that is the sin of greed.

Only by confronting one's own weakness and insignificance can one achieve transformative growth.

This is the meaning of [GATE].

(The translation "White-winged Cedar" is my own, as I couldn't find a Chinese translation for this horse.)

Episode 182 Grinding Teeth and Sucking Blood

Finally, after squeezing their way to the front of the stage, Koi Leaping Over the Dragon Gate and Fuji Koji saw this competition field.

"—" Almost instantly, Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate covered its lips as if it were about to stop breathing.

The current situation makes it obvious to anyone that Platinum is not in good form. In contrast, Ibuki Maikaku and Tokai Teio behind Platinum are full of momentum, and the victory in the arena is tilting towards the others.

"Platinum!" Regardless of whether Platinum could hear him or not, Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate and shouts towards the track.

Tsk... Fuji Koji looked at the anxious expression on the carp leaping over the dragon gate and couldn't help but grit his teeth and turn his face away.

Contrary to his feelings of triumph over adversity, Fuji Koji was very calm, even somewhat gloating.

Fujiko knew that such thoughts were extremely filthy, so she enjoyed this pleasure alone in the shadows.

Ah Li, you see? This is the guy you're willing to become a support horse girl to support.

She looks like someone who can achieve great results, but she's actually fragile. Her victory was about to end at the very first step of her classic triple crown run.

Even so, don't you feel any regret?

But looking at the figures speeding along the track, Fuji Koji couldn't help but feel envious.

Did she not attend the Satsuki Sho because she didn't want to?

Fuji Koji was not qualified to enter that arena. She failed to win the preliminary rounds, and her bounty was not high enough.

With such mixed feelings, Fuji Koji watched the slightest movement on the field.

"Led by Platinum, the competitors are all heading into the second straight!"

The Emperor of the East Sea felt the sensation of his feet touching the grass.

It's a bit sticky and a bit slippery, so it's inevitable that you'll feel a little hesitant.

—But that's for the average person.

For emperors, and for their proud ankles, these environmental influences are insignificant.

With ample stamina, I can still run with ease.

The Emperor of the East Sea glanced forward. Apart from Ibuki Mai Kagura and those behind me, the Emperor of the East Sea paid more attention to the figure running in the lead.

Everything is going according to plan. The East Sea Emperor has already secured a good position in the early stages of the match, and all they need to do in the middle stages is maintain their advantage.

The athletes' reactions were within her expectations. They took too much risk after me; although it wasn't as noticeable because of the raindrops falling, the streams of sweat running down their backs were still impossible to hide.

I'd heard of Ibuki Maikaku. She was a formidable opponent—but nothing special.

Only Platinum... Platinum's condition doesn't seem right.