Chapter 233: A Conversation on Different Wavelengths
The Autumn Tenno Sho and the Japan Cup races made Kitasan Black think about many things.
As usual, she had talked about almost everything with her trainer.
And as usual, she had received reassurance and comfort from her trainer.
However, there was one thought she had been hesitant to voice.
That thought—both relieving and shameful—she still hadn't said out loud.
This wasn't a thought she should have.
Nor was it a thought a runner should have…
A runner should give her all no matter how strong the opponent is, no matter what race it is…
How could she feel relieved when an opponent became weaker…?
If her trainer and everyone else knew she had such thoughts…
Wouldn't they be disappointed in her…?
Since she had never been the type to struggle with such feelings before, even though the thought didn't truly trouble her, it would still occasionally surface—making her feel irritated for a moment.
The thought was like a mosquito in the summer.
The kind that buzzes loudly and flies quickly.
When her mind was occupied with other things—training, racing—she could usually ignore it.
But once the busyness ended and things quieted down, that annoying buzzing sensation would start circling around her again.
Still, the past month hadn't been filled only with these complicated emotions.
During this time, someone very important to her had finally made her debut.
Her childhood friend who had grown up with her, who had promised together to come to Tracen Academy—
Satono Diamond had successfully debuted.
At the Kyoto racecourse, in her debut race over 2000 meters, she was the most favored runner—and she won.
Not only that, Kitasan Black had witnessed the race with her own eyes. She knew just how amazing her friend had been.
She passed the four corners in positions 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd, maintaining incredible stability throughout the race.
Then came the fastest closing kick in the field—34.8 seconds.
And finally, she crossed the finish line with an absolute three-length advantage.
In Kitasan Black's eyes, Satono Diamond's debut race had been far more impressive than her own.
Dia-chan… has finally stepped onto the stage of the Twinkle Series.
This was something that made Kitasan Black smile involuntarily every time she thought about it these days.
"That's great, Dia-chan…"
"Hm? What do you mean 'that's great,' Kita-chan?"
"Huh? Oh, I mean—"
Startled after answering instinctively, Kitasan Black suddenly flipped over and sat up. Only then did she realize that Satono Diamond had already ended her video call and was now looking at her with a gentle smile.
Kitasan Black couldn't help but laugh and scratch her head.
"I was talking about your debut race, Dia-chan. It was really great—really beautiful!"
"Geez, even you too, Kita-chan…"
Satono Diamond blushed slightly, then waved her phone as if to change the subject.
"By the way, just now I was talking with my sister about what to do on race day."
"Race day?" Kitasan Black tilted her head. "What do you mean, what to do?"
"I mean whether I should go to Nakayama Racecourse to cheer you on that same day after my race ends, or go the next day instead."
Satono Diamond nodded. A flash of confidence passed through her eyes on her still slightly flushed face.
"My race… will definitely be a big victory."
Then she looked troubled.
"But my race is at Hanshin Racecourse, while yours is at Nakayama Racecourse… And you'll probably go to the racecourse a day early to get used to the track like before, right?"
"Yeah, that's right," Kitasan Black nodded, recalling the plan she had already discussed with Makoto. "It's all arranged with my trainer."
"Exactly."
Satono Diamond clapped her hands.
"Hanshin Racecourse is still pretty far from here. I was wondering if coming over the next day might be too rushed."
"And that's the Arima Kinen, after all. Shinkansen tickets and flights are really hard to get."
"And using the family's private plane… seems kind of troublesome too."
She smiled and nodded to herself.
"So I was thinking—right after my victory stage ends, I'll just head straight to Nakayama Racecourse."
Her smile brightened.
"That way, I definitely won't miss the moment when you win the championship, Kita-chan!"
Kitasan Black froze. She opened her mouth and heard herself murmuring unconsciously:
"Win the championship… Is that what you think, Dia-chan?"
"Hm?"
Tilting her head, having not heard clearly what Kitasan Black said, Satono Diamond asked curiously,
"Kita-chan, what… did you just say?"
"...Ah, nothing. Hehehe… it's nothing."
Kitasan Black scratched her head with a silly grin. After thinking for a moment, she said somewhat emotionally,
"It just feels like… Dia-chan has even more confidence than I do. I mean… about the Arima Kinen."
Blinking, Satono Diamond smiled, speaking as if it were only natural.
"Of course. Kita-chan… is really amazing."
"Actually…"
She placed a finger against her chin and glanced up at the ceiling, then nodded as if she had made up her mind about something.
"I think it's probably okay to say this."
"My sister and the others often say at home that if they had to choose the strongest runner of their generation, it would definitely be you, Kita-chan."
Kitasan Black froze again, blankly pointing at herself.
"…Me?"
"Yes, and…"
Satono Diamond thought for a moment.
"My sister actually said that the reason she finally accepted the arrangement to run in the Autumn Tenno Sho was largely because of you."
"Because… of me?" Kitasan Black looked even more stunned.
"I didn't really have much confidence in beating her in the Kikuka Sho. Maybe I should try the Autumn Tenno Sho instead."
Suddenly changing her tone to imitate Satono Crown, Satono Diamond repeated the words and nodded heavily.
"That's what my sister said."
"And she also said that although there might still be a gap, the pressure she felt from those veteran runners in the Autumn Tenno Sho… actually felt somewhat similar to the pressure she feels when facing you, Kita-chan."
Kitasan Black was dumbfounded.
What Satono Diamond said was something she had never known. She had never imagined that Satono Crown held such a high opinion of her.
And Crown had said it so openly—whether it was running in the Autumn Tenno Sho with a bit of hopeful luck, or admitting the pressure she felt when facing Kitasan Black.
Her own feelings toward Gold Ship-senpai were probably the same kind of hopeful thinking, yet she had never spoken about them because she worried about what others might think.
Compared to that, Kitasan Black suddenly felt that she was being petty… and cowardly.
"I get it!"
Suddenly, under Satono Diamond's startled gaze, Kitasan Black jumped off the bed and clenched her fists.
"I should… be more honest with my trainer!"
"Ho… ho… ho… honest…?"
Satono Diamond stammered in confusion.
"Yeah! That's right! I can't keep hiding things like this. Otherwise that would be what really makes him sad!"
Her voice grew louder and louder as Kitasan Black turned around and started changing her clothes.
"I'm going to tell him everything!"
Watching Kitasan Black suddenly become so fired up, Satono Diamond blinked blankly.
Then suddenly, her pupils shrank before widening again, and the corners of her mouth curled upward uncontrollably.
"Oh… if you've decided to confess, then… that's a very important matter."
Her voice unconsciously stretched out as she stared brightly at Kitasan Black, who had finished changing clothes. Her smile grew wider and wider.
"And it's true—Trainer Yasui cares about you so much, Kita-chan. You really shouldn't hide anything from him."
"So, Kita-chan, you must be brave. Don't hesitate—just say everything in your heart all at once."
"If you miss this chance… there might not be another one."
As she said this, a strange light flickered in her usually clear eyes.
"Mm-hm! Thank you, Dia-chan!"
Already dressed and completely unaware of Satono Diamond's expression, Kitasan Black excitedly rushed toward the door.
"Then I'm off!"
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Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
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