The socially anxious girl doesn't want to stick to me!

This is the part where I don’t know what to say.

Just standing there, looking at Narita Road quietly.

The other person was sitting, a little weaker than Igarashi Sakuraba. She pursed her lips, seemed a little anxious, and asked: "Igarashi Sakuraba-san, you didn't use your full strength in your debut battle back then, right? Now, you are using your full strength, using my Momoiro Sonic Boom, but you ran much better than me."

"I think I can understand why you are so crazy."

That look...

It is my present self. Yes, my present self, who is so powerful that he cannot be defeated no matter what.

——Clench your fists slightly.

Narita Road looked hopeful.

Igarashi Sakuraba was silent for a moment, and just as she was about to reply, she suddenly noticed the admiring Orihime beside her.

My future opponent in the Junior Cup - although she has not officially decided to participate yet, but, some things, don't they already have answers? No need to elaborate.

He tore his gaze away from Adoring Orihime.

...No, I used all my strength.

Don't think you're so strong! You're just a weak horse racing girl!

Igarashi Sakuraba thought in reply.

This really isn't the end.

Not far away, the gray-haired Uma-sama was carrying a few cute toys and slowly approached. The clothes and accessories she was wearing were all filled with the same cute charm.

Until close.

Suddenly I found the Uma Musume that shouldn’t be here.

"Eh?" Zhen Jiling exclaimed in surprise, and asked in disbelief: "Sakuraba-san!? Why are you here?"

"Ji Ling...chan?"

Igarashi Sakuraba didn't expect that the next meeting with Shinji Ling would be here.

seriously.

There was no warning at all - I ran into him head on.

This was the first time the two had met since the training session at the horse farm...because Zhen Jiling hadn't returned to the dormitory for the past two days.

The words that the Emperor of the East China Sea said suddenly emerged in her mind. She looked at Zhen Jiling, then at Ai Mu Zhiji, and fell silent for a while.

All that seemed to remain in my heart was a trace of anger ignited by betrayal.

...are they all true?

Are the things that the Emperor of the East China Sea said true?

Igarashi Sakuraba never thought the worst of people.

only……

What to say now?

I've already prepared an apology, but now it seems that there's no need to apologize! ? Isn't the other party just more close to Aimo Orihime? After that incident, he didn't even dare to come back to the dormitory. Did he just stay with the other party like this? He even bought ice cream... and trained with the other party.

Even the nails will pierce into the flesh.

Igarashi Sakuraba always thought that Zhen Jiling and the Emperor of the East China Sea were his best friends.

Or.

She only has these two friends.

No, no, no... Maybe the situation is not what I think! ? Although Jin Ji Ling and the other party are sticking together, they are not doing anything, they are just training together and being friends.

…Ai Mu Orihime withdrew her gaze and said, “Let’s go.”

As if all this had nothing to do with her.

"Hey, I..." Shin Ji-ling didn't know what to say or do for a moment. Holding the ice cream in her hand, she looked at Aimu Orihime, but then looked at Igarashi Sakuraba: "Wait for me, Aimu Orihime-sister."

——Those two words once again hurt Igarashi Sakuraba’s heart.

Her eyes hidden under the hood of her sweatshirt were a little red.

……elder sister.

All... I mean all. All the excuses Igarashi Sakuraba had found to make up for Shin Ji-ling disappeared in an instant, and the anger in his heart burned once again.

then.

Aimo Orihime stopped and looked over.

And Zhen Jingling trotted in front of Igarashi Sakuraba and said, "Yes, Sakuraba-san, I'll treat you to ice cream."

"--No."

Igarashi Sakuraba replied coldly.

He completely rejected Zhen Jiling's kindness... and the other party was about to talk endlessly. All the thoughts and ideas of wanting to apologize disappeared, and the action he took was to turn around and leave directly without any delay.

Looking at Igarashi Sakuraba who wanted to leave.

Naritaji stood up quickly and shouted, "So you've been hiding your strength, right? Sakuraba-san!"

"Yeah! Yeah! I'm stronger than all of you!"

Igarashi Sakuraba turned around rudely, pointing his finger without any courtesy: "You, and you, or you, all three of you - you can't outrun me, you know? Especially Aimu Orihime... Wait for me in the [Junior Cup], do you understand?"

"How arrogant."

Faced with this blatant provocation.

Ai Mu Zhi Ji also replied with great determination: "Then you come and try! The only one who can win is me!"

The scene was filled with the smell of gunpowder and tension.

Until Igarashi Sakuraba left.

...and it will end soon.

Zhen Jiling looked at the ice cream in his hand...for a moment he didn't know what to say and his expression was complicated.

Chapter 53 Humming the Rhythm of Four Beats

go away.

It's not just about leaving Narita Road.

Similarly...he left the training ground directly...he could be considered skipping class. Even if there were any consequences, he would not think about them for the time being. Igarashi Sakuraba came to the training ground of the [LOCK] team alone, feeling disheartened.

The aerial temple and the beautiful posture in the distance were just a glance.

Just look away.

After all, he had given away the training horse farm, and the other party could use it however they wanted - he didn't notice anything strange about Igarashi Sakuraba at all.

There was only a complicated strangeness in his mood and an expressionless coldness on his face.

...I don't know what to say, it's so complicated.

Why am I so angry?

Igarashi Sakuraba had thought about this before, and she knew that this did not fit her "cowardly" character. The so-called social phobia was essentially just the cowardice of not being able to face others. But today, she got so angry, which was really unreasonable.

Furthermore.

She doesn't have that close a relationship with Zhen Jiling.

——We were just roommates with whom I had a relatively good relationship. So why did you get so angry?

Or maybe it’s because I care...there’s no way I can’t care.

Mixed feelings.

It's so complicated that I don't know what to say...

Just take a deep breath.

Breathe repeatedly, letting the cool and clear air fill your lungs - and wake your brain up again.

……

No matter how you think about it now.

Igarashi Sakuraba only knew that... he had spoken nonsense again.

When she was extremely angry, she did not suppress her emotions - but let them burst out, becoming the most arrogant child, saying that no matter whether it was Narita Road, Shin Ji-ling, or Aimu Orihime, they were not as strong as her... and she would make Aimu Orihime fail in the [Junior Cup].

On the side of the road, he squatted silently.

…Ahhh.

Why do I get angry? Why do I feel like a chuunibyou sometimes?

To say that I have a chuunibyou is a bit of an exaggeration.

Igarashi Sakuraba clearly realized that... his character had huge flaws. Sometimes he would avoid everything, and sometimes he would be arrogant, overbearing, and conceited.

This distressed her greatly.

I even wonder how others will view me.

Even his thoughts were restless, he just stood up and rubbed his temples.

Forget it.

Igarashi Sakuraba thought - forget it.

Although she recognized her own character flaws, she also knew one thing: As long as it was in the past, no matter how much she regretted it, she could not change it. She could only focus on the future, anchor it, and then move on.

That's it.

--so.

Igarashi Sakuraba decided to keep running.

The future she was anchoring... was a future in which she defeated Aimo Orihime.

Obstructed and long.

In fact, it is somewhat similar to the situation at Narita Road. Both of them made harsh remarks before the game due to some unexpected reasons, and it turned out that the opponent was much stronger than themselves - and they had to catch up with the opponent in a short period of time, and then defeat the opponent fairly.

call……

Realized my own character flaws.

but.

Igarashi Sakuraba had no way to change it. What she absolutely, absolutely, absolutely didn’t want was to die in public! She couldn’t say such harsh words and then lose the game. Then others would definitely step on her head and hit her back! ! She mocked him… Is this the only genius? He was just at this level!

I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

——He particularly admires Orihime and is a horse girl who wins consecutive championships.

Much better than Narita Road——

I kind of regretted using the skill [Pink Sonic Boom: Unyielding Will (Color Change)].

Igarashi Sakuraba patted his head, thinking that he had really taken great pains to avoid social death. Killing a chicken with a butcher knife? No! Killing a chicken with a dragon-slaying sword! That was the peak of Narita Road, Momoiro Sonic Boom! Maybe they were at the level of winning the G1 championship... I used a simulated running burst, so forget it.

And was seen.

First, it elevates other people’s perception of you.

Igarashi Sakuraba is definitely not that strong. The second point is even more noteworthy. After seeing her powerful posture, Aimo Orihime did not back off and let herself try. This shows that she may be extremely strong. Yes, if she is not strong, how can she reward the consecutive champions?

Think so.

The sense of urgency was born in Igarashi Sakuraba's heart.

Let her understand.

I must start training hard to become stronger.

Filter all your current thoughts... and stop caring about anything else.

Igarashi Sakuraba simply recovered and started training seriously, started training here, and was reborn here.