Chapter 231: Duramente, Who Doesn't Know How to Comfort People
Just as Kitasan Black was feeling torn…
Thud
"Ow!"
Angel Wing clutched her head. After standing there dazed for a moment, she finally saw the culprit who had chopped her on the head with a hand blade—her friend, Ribbon Victory.
"Ri-chan…? Why'd you hit me?"
Ribbon Victory withdrew her hand without the slightest hint of apology.
Instead, she quickly glanced at REAL STEEL and Duramente as if reassuring them, then smiled at Kitasan Black and abruptly changed the subject.
"What you've got in your hands… that should be intel on your opponents for this year's Arima Kinen, right? I just heard Lovely Day-senpai's name."
"Going up against a senior like that… the pressure on you must be huge, huh, Kita-chan?"
In an instant, Kitasan Black's expression tightened, her eyes turning serious.
"Lovely Day-senpai…"
She flipped quickly through her little notebook and stopped on a certain page, pressing her lips together.
"This year… first place in the Nakayama Kimpai in the first half of the year, first place in the Kyoto Kinen, then…"
"First in the Naruo Kinen, first in the Takarazuka Kinen, first in the Kyoto Daishoten…"
"That's already three straight wins, and the next race…"
"She's running as the number one favorite… the Autumn Tenno Sho."
As she spoke, her eyes shifted. She lifted her head and looked past the Umamusume in the cafeteria who were either eating heartily or chatting, gazing into the distance.
"Racing against a senpai like that… of course the pressure's huge, but…"
"Crow-chan… she must be under even more pressure right now… right?"
Hearing that, everyone at the table followed the direction of her gaze.
Satono Crown wasn't there, but everyone knew Kitasan Black was looking toward the Tokyo racecourse.
It was already Saturday, yet there were still so many students in the cafeteria because the Autumn Tenno Sho, a G1 race, was being held tomorrow.
Since the Tokyo racecourse was closer to the academy, Kitasan Black had decided to stay at school on Saturday so she could cheer for her good friend the next day.
Thanks to her cheerful and outgoing personality, Ribbon Victory and Duramente were often invited out with her, and before long they'd all grown close.
This time too, they had accepted her invitation to stay overnight at the academy and go to the track together tomorrow.
The Satono sisters, who usually joined these meals as well, were naturally absent—one preparing at the racecourse, the other helping out.
"Kita-chan really is warm-hearted. We were talking about your race, but yeah, the Autumn Tenno Sho is closer," Ribbon Victory said with a sigh. Then she thought for a moment. "Crown… she should be fine, right?"
"She's been working really hard lately, and with help from Oguri Cap-senpai and the others. I also heard her family hired a lot of really amazing trainers. This Tenno Sho…"
"She should be fine… right?"
She was clearly trying to comfort Kitasan Black, yet even she could hear the lack of confidence in her own voice.
As soon as she finished speaking, two voices rang out at the same time.
"I'm afraid it'll be difficult."
"But the seniors are definitely working hard too."
Duramente and Angel Wing both froze, then looked at each other.
Angel Wing scratched her nose and shrugged.
"I'm not trying to jinx Crown or anything. It's just… beating senpai is really tough."
"And even aside from Lovely Day-senpai, before the Kikuka Sho, I thought I had it in the bag too. But didn't I still lose to Kita-chan?"
Hearing that, REAL STEEL and Ribbon Victory both nodded deeply in agreement. Duramente, meanwhile, pinched her chin thoughtfully.
"Crown… she's not weak. But that's just when we're comparing ourselves."
"When it comes to the senior runners…"
"All I can say is, when I was little, I raced Groove-nee. Of course I couldn't beat her back then, but now…"
She shook her head.
"At least when we run side by side or do practice races… I still can't beat her."
She looked at Kitasan Black.
"Kita-chan should… have felt that too, right?"
Kitasan Black fell silent for a moment.
Just as Duramente had said, maybe it was luck, or maybe it was because the seniors liked her personality, but ever since her debut, she had received plenty of help from them.
Running together. Practice races. Demonstrations and guidance. Even the notes she'd recently been given…
You could say she understood very clearly that compared to the seniors, even though the gap was constantly shrinking, it was still there.
So every day during training, preparations, and even when observing the senior runners' training, she couldn't help feeling a bit anxious.
Now, thinking about Satono Crown, who would be facing the senior tomorrow, of course she felt concern and support.
At the same time, she also wanted to know—as a classmate, a close friend, and a rival—after putting in so much effort and working so hard for so long, what would happen when Crown faced the senior runners…
What kind of race would it be? What kind of result would she get?
Thinking this, she unconsciously clenched her fists.
After asking her question and seeing Kitasan Black stay silent without answering, concern showed in Duramente's eyes. She spoke instinctively.
"So, Kita-chan… maybe you shouldn't think too much. Just watch the race tomorrow and focus more on the Arima Kinen."
Startled, Kitasan Black felt grateful.
She could tell Duramente was trying to comfort her and was about to thank her—
"After all, besides strong opponents like Lovely Day-senpai, you still have even stronger rivals."
Duramente continued earnestly,
"Gold Ship-senpai, right?"
"First in the Satsuki Sho, first in the Kikuka Sho, first in the Arima Kinen, two wins in the Takarazuka Kinen, first in the Tenno Sho (Spring)…"
"Not even counting other wins, just G1s alone, Gold Ship-senpai already has six victories."
"There are only a handful of Umamusume with seven G1 wins. She probably really wants to become one of them."
"So whether it's the Japan Cup or the Arima Kinen, she'll definitely go all out."
"And her Arima Kinen situation is just like yours—beating a bunch of seniors in her classic year, so in terms of experience— mmph—"
While she kept rambling on with her well-meaning "comfort," Duramente suddenly felt her mouth clamp shut, only able to make muffled sounds.
Startled, she looked to the side and saw REAL STEEL covering her mouth with an amused expression.
On the other side, Angel Wing had her arms crossed, nodding repeatedly, while Ribbon Victory held her forehead, looking exasperated.
Across from them, Kitasan Black—who had already been quietly looking down—now had her head completely lowered, her chin practically touching her chest.
"You know," REAL STEEL said with a helpless smile, "sometimes… if you're not good at comforting people, you don't have to force it.
"I know you mean well, but it kind of feels like…"
Letting go of Duramente's mouth, she pointed at Kitasan Black across the table.
"…because of your 'comfort,' Kita-chan just took a pretty big hit instead."
"Ah? Um—"
Duramente immediately panicked. She hurriedly stood up, flustered.
"N-no, Kita-chan, that's not what I meant! I just… Gold Ship-senpai really is strong, but—but—"
"…Ah, I get it. I know you were trying to comfort me, Dura-chan."
Murmuring softly with her head lowered, Kitasan Black then lifted her face under everyone's surprised gazes. Her small face was tense, but the corners of her lips curled upward slightly.
"Don't worry. This Arima Kinen… I'm not going to back down."
"And besides…"
"If Gold Ship-senpai can do it… why can't I?"
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