Miss Platinum was breaking out in a cold sweat.
At this very moment, if she tried to back out of reconciling with Miss Hayakawa Tazuna and say she didn't want to register anymore… could she preserve her freedom?
Honestly, was it even appropriate for someone like her, who'd only just grown these two legs a short while ago, to run alongside a bunch of lively, energetic Uma Musume?
She could barely even walk steadily yet.
"Miss Platinum… Are you sure… you want to register for a debut race that's about to start, today, at this hour?" Seeing that Platinum hadn't answered her question, Hayakawa Tazuna repeated it, carefully enunciating each word to make sure she was understood.
Platinum couldn't help but feel Tazuna was some kind of slave-driver.
Platinum knew the woman sitting across from her was a good person… and that was precisely what made it so troublesome.
Because a good person would tirelessly offer help to everyone, instead of taking the easy path of just minding their own business.
Otherwise, Platinum could just turn and leave, and at worst, try her hand at surviving in the wild right here.
But Platinum was certain Tazuna wouldn't let her, a suspicious character, off the hook easily—she was the type to interrogate things to the very end.
All Platinum could do was rack her not-so-bright little brain.
At this point, fleeing at the last moment was impossible. Giving up halfway wouldn't just be disrespectful to horse racing, it also wouldn't dispel Miss Tazuna's suspicions.
She couldn't very well tell her: 'Oh, well, you see, I'm actually a transmigrator, that's why I'm in this mess~'
No one would believe that ghost story.
"Yes, I want to participate in the debut race. I want to become a proper Racing Uma Musume."
'More importantly, I want the prize money.' She didn't dare voice that second part.
"Ahem… It might be rude to ask this, but I must." Hayakawa Tazuna's fingers tightened around her pen. "Why exactly are you so determined to race today?"
"If you want to make your debut, wouldn't it be better to come back when you're fully prepared?"
Next, Tazuna saw Platinum puff out her cheeks, lower her head, and avert her gaze.
"…Because there's no time left," Platinum muttered.
"Even someone like me… has a goal I want to give my all to achieve…"
"What was that?" Platinum's voice had been so faint Tazuna only caught a vague murmur.
"Nothing," Platinum simply shook her head and offered a self-deprecating smile. "I'm sorry for troubling you."
"I suppose it makes sense… Someone with no ID, not even a student from Tracen Academy… It would be terrible to let a person like that onto the track."
"I knew it in my heart all along…" Platinum covered her face with her hands, her voice unconsciously taking on a sob. "But… even someone like me… wants to believe that one day, I can rely on myself… to achieve the dream I want…"
"If I miss this chance… there won't be another…"
Huh?
Huh?! Wait, is she crying?
Hayakawa Tazuna immediately felt flustered. She couldn't stand seeing girls cry.
What in the world was going on?
This girl, with no money and no identity…
Tazuna's expression shifted slightly.
Wait a minute…
Was it that she had no identification or phone—
Or was it that she had them but couldn't use them?
She looked again at the girl across the table. Though she was covering her face and sobbing, aside from her clothes, her slender fingers, delicate skin, and silky white hair… she was such a pure white horse, without a single blemish.
This wasn't the kind of girl an ordinary family could raise.
A child like this… she ought to be dressed in layers of frilly, cotton-candy-like skirts, living in an old castle somewhere in Europe, not wandering the streets of this country.
In other words… Centaurea had actually traveled all the way from Poland to this country, wanting to make her debut here.
What had driven her to this decision? And what made her so afraid to use her ID or phone after arriving here?
Combined with what she'd said about "there won't be another chance"... Tazuna could see the girl was at the perfect age for a debut.
Perhaps her words could be understood like this—if she couldn't debut as an Uma Musume now, she would never get another chance in her life.
Hayakawa Tazuna saw the light. She understood. She completely got it.
Centaurea had probably—run away from home. And not just any runaway, but a dramatic one spanning half the globe.
Following this line of thought, had Centaurea come to this country precisely because it would be harder to track her down here?
That's why she chose a country whose horse racing achievements weren't top-tier internationally.
That would also explain why she couldn't use her passport or other IDs, or her phone—probably because the moment she touched any of the family's money, her location would be discovered immediately.
And all of this… was for the sake of pursuing her dream—the dream of running on the racetrack.
Hayakawa Tazuna was moved to tears.
On the other side, Centaurea—aka Platinum—was secretly observing Hayakawa Tazuna's expression through the gaps between her fingers.
That's right, the method Platinum had finally settled on was: playing the pity card.
Anyway, the world tends to go easy on cute, crying girls, right? She'd treat this dead horse like a live one, cast her damn pride aside, put on a pitiful act, and spout some nonsense even she didn't understand, hoping to move the iron-willed woman opposite her.
How was the effect?
Spectacular!
It seemed Hayakawa Tazuna was completely moved to tears by her nonsensical mutterings! Seriously, are your tear ducts that loose?
Platinum's eyes rolled around sneakily a few times. She decided to add fuel to the fire.
"Sorry for bothering you…" She stood up, theatrically sniffled twice, and gave a slow, reluctant bow. "If there's a next time, I'll come properly prepared."
Yes, perfect! Platinum mentally gave herself a victory sign.
Anyway, she'd use this method to dispel suspicion and paint herself as a runaway kid. Faced with a child who'd run away from home, even the 'Green Demon' Hayakawa Tazuna wouldn't just call the police outright, right?
Not a refugee, see? Just a runaway.
Forget about the race for now, just get out of here and then think about the feasibility of begging—
Thwack!
Hayakawa Tazuna grabbed Centaurea's hand, her eyes brimming with passionate tears.
A single drop of cold sweat slowly trickled down Platinum's forehead. Miss Tazuna, why do you look so fired up?
"Nothing of the sort—"
Hayakawa Tazuna shook her head as she spoke.
"Because the resolve to chase your dreams is something both Humans and Uma are born with, as natural a habit as eating or drinking."
Tazuna held Platinum's small hand and placed it against her own chest, causing Platinum's cheeks to flush bright red.
"Um, Miss Receptionist…" Platinum stammered, trying to pull her hand back.
Testing a comrade like this right off the bat? This Hayakawa Tazuna woman, her corrupting influence on the youth is immeasurable!
"So please, don't say things like 'even someone like me.' Centaurea—no, Miss Platinum."
Hayakawa Tazuna looked straight into Platinum's eyes. In them, she saw a resolve that had crossed half the globe, a do-or-die determination.
"Miss Platinum, you should say it like this. Having come this far, how could I possibly back down now?"
Wait a few days? If it were Hayakawa Tazuna herself, she wouldn't want to wait a single second longer!
"I will set foot on this track."
"I will seize the victor's wreath."
"I will have no regrets."
"That is the genuine feeling I see in your eyes right now."
'…? Hayakawa Tazuna, what are you seeing?'
Platinum stood frozen, dumbfounded. Even if you see something, shouldn't it be the desire to escape the police and get away from you?
What kind of reading comprehension is this?
"Come, Miss Platinum, say it to me like this." Hayakawa Tazuna took a deep breath.
"Repeat after me: I will run in this debut race, and I will smash through any obstacle in my way."
"Ah… Uh…" Platinum stared blankly at Tazuna, her lips moving unconsciously. "I… I want to run in this race…"
No, no, no, I don't! Now that the passion has cooled, all I can think about is what begging posture earns money the fastest!
"Then, your feelings, I have received them wholeheartedly."
"Please, run to your heart's content, and live your life with no regrets, Miss Platinum—leave everything to your big sister here!"
She wouldn't look down on the girl just because she was a runaway throwing a tantrum.
Because that earnest, passionate heart was undoubtedly laid bare before Hayakawa Tazuna.
Faced with such a child, all she could do was offer respect and blessings, and become her support.
Platinum swallowed with a dry throat. At this point, she could no longer admit she'd just come here on a whim after seeing a TV program.
Guh… Just kill me now…
Scalding hot tears streamed from Platinum's eyes. They weren't tears of happiness, but of despair.
"Miss Receptionist… But I can't pay the entry fee, and I have no training clothes or shoes…"
"—Leave it all to your big sister!" Hayakawa Tazuna's eyes sparkled as she comforted Platinum. "I will absolutely, positively, make sure you set foot on that stage today."
"And finally—though it's a bit late to say it."
"Welcome to this country. I hope you can achieve your life's goal in the races held here."
Miss Platinum's throat felt parched as she forced out a strained sound.
"Ehh—"
In the blink of an eye, she was being firmly led by the hand by this Green Demon into the racing venue.
"Yes, this is the girl… Could I trouble you to add one more slot?"
"Of course, of course, my apologies for this last-minute situation… But you've seen this child, right? You understand, don't you? She'll definitely give us a wonderful race."
"Ehh—"
In the blink of an eye, she was being ushered by Hayakawa Tazuna into the Uma Musume changing room.
"Here are your sports clothes, and your shoes. Try them on for size. Oh, and this number bib, don't forget to wear it."
"Since you're the last temporary addition, your number is 9, on the outermost gate. But there are pros and cons to the outside position. The rest is up to Platinum-chan's own skill."
Hayakawa Tazuna gave a playful wink from outside the door before closing it, leaving Platinum alone in the changing room, holding the sports uniform in a daze.
"Ehh—"
In the blink of an eye, she was standing on the stage, facing a vast, murky, cloud-like mass of people below.
"Now taking the stage is Number 9, Platinum, a temporary addition and a beautiful white horse from a foreign land. All of this adds to her mysterious aura."
"Speaking of which, Miss Platinum isn't even a student of Tracen Academy. What a unique way to make an appearance."
The announcers' chatting voices came over the broadcast.
"She sounds like a princess who just jumped out of a fairy tale."
"I wonder what kind of surprise our beautiful foreign princess will bring us on this stage."
Platinum's lips trembled, her eyes nearly spinning into spirals.
The last time she stood on a stage being stared at by so many people was… oh, wait, there was no last time.
So this was her first time, in front of a huge crowd, under the public gaze?
That murky mass of people, how many were there? Hundreds? Thousands? It couldn't be… over ten thousand, could it?
Mom, this is terrifying!
Platinum's ears flattened tightly against her head, her whole body trembling.
Think of it another way… all these people came today to watch me make a fool of myself.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
Would it be better to just go reincarnate quickly?
"Platinum looks a bit nervous. It is her first race, after all. Let's hope she can adjust quickly."
"Today's race is really something to look forward to. Whether it's the top favorite, Fuji Kyoji, or Leap of Faith making her second attempt at a debut, or this sudden newcomer, Platinum, they're all the center of attention for the audience."
Standing on the stage, in front of everyone, Platinum slowly crouched down, feeling a stabbing pain in her stomach.
She clutched her head and let out a silent scream.
"Ehh—"
In the blink of an eye, the solid floor tiles beneath her feet were replaced by soft, tender green grass.
Looking around, beyond the track, ring upon ring, section upon section, were the spectators sitting in the stands, watching with keen interest.
Looking ahead, a row of neat starting gates stood before her. Young girls brimming with youthful energy walked past Platinum one by one, stepping with firm resolve into the starting gates.
Oh no, I can't breathe. My head is starting to spin. I'm so nervous I'm gonna die.
Platinum covered her face.
How did things end up like this?! Aaaaaah!
"Strange, what's happening on the track?"
"Perhaps due to excessive nerves, Platinum is refusing to enter the starting gate."
A staff member gently took Platinum's shoulders and slowly guided her towards the gate.
All Platinum could manage was a garbled, mournful sound from her throat.
"Ehh—"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.