Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 496 Every curse can be broken.

"Well... it's hard to say."

After thinking for a moment, Genkomoku Kita recalled Makoto Yasui's performances at various press conferences and tried his best to imitate him:
"In the upcoming competitions, I will of course give it my all and strive to achieve the best results."

"It's not convenient to reveal the specific goals and plans right now, since there are many uncertainties in every game and in training."

After giving a brief answer, she looked at Otomi Futsuko, feeling a little uneasy:

"If it were A-Zhen, he would probably say that, right...?"

As Kita Genko muttered to himself, Otome Fueko was stunned.

In her memory, the racehorse girl from the Northern Black Horse was very outgoing and cheerful. Based on her experience, interviewing such a person should be easy, and she could get a lot of exclusive scoops out of her.

but……

What was with that super official, meaningless answer just now...?
That's just the kind of cliché that only a veteran who's been in the game for years would say...?
Is this considered cheerful and outgoing?

Feeling bewildered and frustrated, Otome Futsuko thought for a moment and decided that she couldn't give up so easily:

"Thank you for your answer. So... in your opinion, what are your strengths and weaknesses in competing with other female racehorses?"

"Advantages and disadvantages...?"

After repeating it several times, the Northern Black Horse pondered it carefully:
"I think endurance is an advantage, as is physical fitness."

"As for disadvantages... it depends on the opponents in the same game. For example, when facing opponents with equally good endurance, or even better endurance, my endurance might actually be a disadvantage."

Just like before, this answer also came from Yasui Makoto.

Having conducted these kinds of interviews, Makoto Yasui knows very well that most news reports don't care about the completeness of the content, but rather emphasize sensationalism.

However, many things are one thing when viewed as a whole, but quite another when taken out of context. Therefore, when preparing his interview answers, he always tried not to say too much.

It wasn't entirely to be perfunctory; it's just that information such as the race schedule of Uma Musume and even some training details can be found on the URA Association and the school's official website, so media reporters can naturally see it.

In that case, there's not much to say at press conferences or similar events.

Or rather, if one really wants to say something, the best way for Saima Musume (Horse Girl) is through the performance and results of the races.

Such an answer naturally disappointed Fumiko Otona, but she was not discouraged and continued to ask a few more questions.

As before, the follow-up questions were the usual ones about daily training, his relationship with Yasui Makoto, and advice for his juniors.

"I understand……"

After asking another question about meals during the training camp, Futsuko Otsuna nodded:

"So, one last question... or rather, not really a question, I was wondering if we could talk about the 'demons in the mansion'?"

"I mean, the interview can be considered over. The three of you are almost at the finish line. Shall we chat about something else?"

According to the itinerary arranged by Genkoma Kita, this day's journey was to travel from Atami City to Izu on the Kurofune, with sightseeing along the way.

Although I was being interviewed, there weren't many passengers in the last carriage, so the interview atmosphere was relaxed and didn't affect the view outside the window.

Moreover, the questions raised by Futsuko Otana were all questions that Makoto Yasui had encountered at the press conference.

So, while recalling and answering questions, he could also enjoy the scenery. As Beifang Xuanju became more and more relaxed, he even felt that the interview... was not difficult at all, and quite interesting.

"Shall we just chat?"

With a relaxed and confident mind, Northern Black Horse pondered for a moment:
"There's no problem, and Miss Reporter, you don't seem to have anything planned for today, right? Maybe we can go for a walk together later."

"Really? That's wonderful!"

Upon hearing the invitation from Kita Genko, Otana Futsuko was excited and finally began to believe that the racehorse girl in front of her was indeed outgoing and cheerful, but her interview skills were just a little too mature.

Before she could speak, Almond, who had been watching the interview curiously, asked:

"Shall we talk about the 'monsters in the manor'? Just now, Senior Miqi and I were quietly discussing this matter, so... what exactly is going on?"

"It's a curse...or rather, a rumor." To prove her professionalism as a journalist, Fumiko Otona quickly answered:

"She's probably the most popular racehorse girl at the Emperor's Autumn Festival, but she always loses the race for all sorts of inexplicable reasons."

"Judging from previous Tianqiu editions, this saying has been around for a long time, but the most recent and well-known one should be about the superstar Oguri Hat."

"Eh……?"

Almond-eyed wide-eyed: "Oguri-senpai...?"

"Yeah, that's right."

Yiming Shiyuezi nodded repeatedly and said:

"Oguri Hat once challenged the Emperor's Autumn Viewing three times with the highest popularity, but lost to Tamamo Cross, Super Small Bay and Yae Invincible respectively, which caused quite a sensation at the time."

"After that, the same happened with star racehorses like Megumi McQueen, Tokai Teio, and Miyu; they were all number one in popularity but failed to win the Emperor's Autumn Festival."

"This situation lasted for a long time, which led to the rumored curse."

"Huh? In that case..."

Almond-eyed bit her lip: "If Senior Kobe were to leave for the Emperor's Autumn Viewing event, she should... no, she'd definitely be number one in popularity, right? In that case..."

"Indeed, the senior from the North will definitely get the most popularity, so what if...?"

Miqi Rocket chimed in with a couple of words, then paused, quickly spitting out:

"Pah, pah, pah, what discouraging things are I saying... I'm sorry, Northern Senior, I didn't mean it that way..."

As Otana Futsuko explained the origin of the "monsters in the mansion," Kita Genko listened attentively, recalling what he had heard from Yasui Makoto and comparing it with Otana Futsuko's explanation.

Seeing that both Xingmu and Miqi Rocket were filled with sympathy and worry, Beibu Xuanju smiled and said gently:
"It's alright, don't worry about it too much. I was referring to the phrase 'the demons in the mansion'."

"Oh?"

Before Xingmu and Miqi Rocket could speak, Yiming Shiyuezi's eyes lit up:
"So, Lady Northern... is determined to have the Emperor's autumn viewing?"

"That's not what I meant, how should I put it..."

Smiling and shaking his head, Beibu Xuanju pondered for a moment, his usually energetic face unusually serious:

"What I heard from A-Zhen is the same as what Ms. Otomi said."

"However, I don't think that the fact that the seniors didn't win the Emperor's Autumn Viewing Competition can be attributed to a curse... Of course, this is also what A-Zhen said."

"I do know a bit about things like curses. Guangzuan-chan really likes this kind of thing, so I specifically went to learn about it."

"I don't understand many of the curses, but in the Shining Series, the key to victory is still one's own strength and the strategies and tactics adopted."

"Just like the Emperor's Autumn Appreciation that Oguri Hat-senpai participated in, whether it was Tamamo Cross-senpai, Super Little Bay-senpai, or Yae Invincible-senpai, they were all the top horse girls of that generation."

"The outcome of a contest between such powerful individuals is hard to predict, regardless of whether it is the Emperor's autumn appreciation event or not."

"The same goes for senior McQueen and the others. Or rather, the fact that they were able to leave for the Emperor's Autumn Festival already proves that they are strong enough to win the championship."

"Since everyone had a chance, it's not that hard to understand why the most popular person didn't win."

"not to mention……"

He patiently explained his thoughts, and at this point, Beifang Xuanju paused, his expression becoming confident:
"There are predecessors who have been able to break this so-called curse."

"For example, the great opera predecessors, and the vodka predecessors."

"They all stepped onto the stage of the Emperor's Autumn Appreciation Competition with the highest popularity, and then won the championship in a magnificent manner."

"That's why I said that the 'monsters in the mansion' are not the reason for winning or losing the competition."

"As long as you are powerful enough, any curse... can be broken."

(End of this chapter)