Chapter 224: Kabedon
After taking a few comfortable days to rest and recover, Kitasan Black threw herself back into campus life once more.
She went to class on time every day, earnestly absorbing knowledge.
After school, she headed straight for the training grounds, sweating it out on the track while following her Trainer guidance.
And during her free time, she hung out with classmates and friends—going out together or simply chatting and laughing.
Yet amid this familiar routine, her thoughts kept drifting back, again and again, to what Oguri Cap had said a few days ago.
"A reason you absolutely must win… it should be important. At least, that's what I think."
"It might sound selfish, but after so many races, I gradually realized that sometimes you need a reason that belongs only to yourself."
"I'm actually… probably pretty clumsy."
"A lot of the time, there are things I want to say but don't know how to put into words. Sometimes I don't even understand what I want to say myself."
"So it's not other people's fault, it's mine."
"If you can't explain it clearly, then even if everyone cares about you, they won't know how to help."
"That feeling… it's pretty lonely."
"Even on the track, surrounded by strong opponents, it can still feel lonely."
"Maybe I'm lucky, but I've always had a reason that belongs just to me."
"For me… as long as I'm running… Just being able to run makes me happy. It makes me feel fortunate.
"That's my reason. That's what I wanted to tell you."
"Is it a bit hard to understand? Sorry… I'm not very good with words."
"Suddenly saying all this to you… it's probably because you always look so happy every day. You probably feel happy when you race too, right?"
"That's good. Just keep running like that… that's enough."
By the time she'd rambled through all of that, Oguri Cap-senpai had already finished making the desserts without anyone noticing.
Those words left her confused.
These past few days, she'd been thinking constantly about a "reason that belongs to herself."
And little by little, she began to realize that she seemed to be missing a pure motivation to run just for her own sake.
When she thought back to why she'd wanted to become a runner in the first place, it was because she'd seen an idol she admired dash across the track with dazzling speed. That moment had planted the seed of a dream in her heart.
Later, she promised Dia-chan to apply to Tracen Academy together. Her friend and her family all supported her. Those became her motivation to move forward.
After fortunately getting into Tracen Academy, she met her Trainer and got to know friends like Dura-chan and Ribbon-chan—both close companions and rivals. All of them together formed the reasons that kept her running.
But now, when she calmed down and thought carefully—if she stripped away all those external factors, if the world were left with only herself alone—
What exactly was she running for?
Because it's fun?
Running really is fun.
But her kind of happiness didn't seem quite the same as what Oguri Cap had described.
Her thoughts returned to the look in Oguri Cap's eyes when she said, "As long as I can run, I'm happy."
Kitasan Black suddenly realized that when senpai said those words, her gaze carried an incredibly special feeling.
Like pure crystal—clear and bright, without the slightest impurity. Utterly, completely pure.
Looking into those eyes, it felt as though even if running were the only thing left in the world, that purity would still exist forever.
The determination and love contained within them—
Kitasan Black realized she had never seen anything like that in anyone else.
No… that wasn't quite right.
She had seen it before.
Suddenly, she remembered the way her grandfather's eyes looked whenever he talked about music—just as pure and moving, filled with a devotion to what he loved that seemed to reach the depths of his soul.
Come to think of it, only her grandfather had ever had eyes that pure.
Even her father and her grandfather's prized disciples fell just a bit short in comparison when they spoke about music.
"So whether it's running… or music…"
Unconsciously, Kitasan Black lifted her chin slightly and murmured to herself, deep in thought,
"It really has to be pure… completely pure…"
Classes had already been over for a while, and there was hardly anyone left on the main road through campus.
On both sides, trees shed golden leaves under the gentle touch of the autumn breeze. Her soft whisper drifted away with the wind.
Suddenly, her ears twitched.
From beneath a tree not far away, like a clear spring flowing over stones, came the sound of a violin—melodious and graceful.
Having grown up in a musical family, she immediately recognized the performer's extraordinary skill. Unable to resist, she followed the sound with her eyes.
Under the tree stood a runner with long brown hair, poised and elegant.
Her figure was light and graceful. The violin in her hands looked like a precious treasure, cradled tenderly against her shoulder.
The bow slid across the strings with lively precision, every note seeming to come alive.
As she played, she gazed ahead with rapture and said passionately,
"Ah, beautiful—simply beautiful."
"At the concert of the Kikuka Sho, I heard your wonderful melody."
"It was magnificent!"
As she spoke, she turned her burning, admiring gaze toward Kitasan Black.
"I'm Sounds of Earth. It's an honor to meet you, Kitasan Black."
Her voice was brimming with enthusiasm and endless energy.
Kitasan Black froze for a moment. Faced with that almost fanatical gaze, she instinctively took a step back and stammered,
"Th-thank you… um…"
Before she could finish, the Umamusume called Sounds of Earth casually and stylishly lowered her bow and removed the violin from her neck.
Then, as if about to embrace the entire world, she spread her arms wide and strode toward Kitasan Black with exaggerated elegance.
Kitasan Black grew even more bewildered.
Even though the girl had clearly stopped playing, the violin in her hand still continued to produce a flowing, beautiful melody—as if invisible hands were still drawing the bow across the strings.
"Racing is a duet between the earth and the Umamusume. We runners are all great musicians."
Sounds of Earth spoke these ridiculously theatrical lines while steadily closing the distance.
"And you, Kitasan Black—just like me—are one of the greatest performers of this generation."
Seeing her inexplicable enthusiasm and approach, Kitasan Black's lips twitched awkwardly as she instinctively kept backing away.
Suddenly, something pressed against her back.
She glanced sideways and realized she'd already retreated all the way to a large tree.
And when she turned back, Sounds of Earth was right in front of her.
Smack
One hand planted firmly against the tree trunk beside Kitasan Black's head.
Leaning in close, Sounds of Earth looked straight into her eyes, her tone soft but feverishly intense, like she was confessing the most heartfelt love in the world.
"Come… play this beautiful melody with me."
"As long as we're together, we'll become soaring masters of performance at Nakayama Racecourse!"
As she spoke, her face moved closer and closer, so close that Kitasan Black could feel her warm breath against her skin.
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Note:
Sound of Earth is giving Kitasan Black a kabedon.
Also, this is how she looks like
https://umamusu.wiki/Sounds_of_Earth
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