Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 513 Prove it to me, Northern Black Steed

As soon as the Northern Black Horse finished speaking, the surprise in the eyes of a good opera singer instantly transformed into the sharpness it had before.

The gaze was so intense it was almost tangible. Yamato Akachi, Vodka, and Almond all unconsciously turned their heads away, their eyes widening as they stared at the Northern Black Horse with disbelief.

Miqi Rocket lowered its head, clenched its hands together, and then looked up in astonishment, staring blankly at Beibu Xuanju with its mouth wide open, without making a sound.

As for the Northern Black Horse himself, his mind went completely blank.

In that instant, she felt an inexplicable impulse and, without thinking too much, blurted out those words.

But she never remembers ever contradicting her elders or seniors, especially those as renowned as Good Opera, whom she had always admired.

...How...how could this happen...?
What am I doing...?
What I just said... was so rude! If Grandpa and Dad found out, they'd definitely scold me...

A wave of self-reproach and regret washed over her, and she couldn't help but feel flustered.

Just then, Good Opera nodded and spoke in a deep voice:
"So if I didn't mishear, Kita... no, Kita Genko, you... don't agree with what I just said?"

Upon hearing this, Beibu Xuanju unconsciously bit his lower lip and looked away for a moment.

Almond Eyes and Rocket Meek became increasingly bewildered. The two stood awkwardly in place, their eyes darting around, unsure of what to do with their hands and feet, moving erratically with their wagging tails.

"...Oh dear... Xiao Bei probably didn't mean that, did she?"

Suddenly stepping forward, Yamato Akaki waved his hands frantically and said with a dry laugh:

"Communication is something that will inevitably have some misunderstandings, and..."

"Besides, we were talking about beach volleyball, so let's go book a court now, or we might not get a spot if we're late."

"Yes, yes! It's a holiday now, so there will probably be a lot more people coming to the beach soon!"

Immediately realizing Yamato Akaki's intention to smooth things over, Vodka quickly nodded in agreement:
"How about this, you guys go reserve the court, and I'll pay for the ball rental. That way, you won't have to worry about it!"

He didn't look at them, but kept staring at the Northern Black Horse. His gaze was sharp, his demeanor calm and composed, and he didn't utter a word.

Seeing this, Yamato Akachi and Vodka exchanged a glance, noticing each other's troubled expressions. Then, like Almond and Miki Rocket, they looked worriedly at the Northern Black Horse.

With its head tilted to the side, as if holding its breath, the Northern Black Horse remained silent.

The air on the beach seemed to freeze. After an unknown amount of time, she slowly turned her head, her crimson eyes revealing an unprecedented determination, and nodded forcefully:

"Yes, I... I've figured it out."

“Dear senior opera singer, I… do not agree with what you just said.”

"I don't think that Miki-chan can't surpass her predecessors just by imitating their methods."

As soon as Beibu Xuanju finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to the opera.

In an instant, the aura emanating from the opera suddenly became even more oppressive, like a gust of wind that was about to sweep away everything around it.

However, this momentum lasted only a moment before it was broken by her own laughter.

"Ha! Hahaha—it seems that Miqi and you have been getting along very well these past few days."

After speaking with her head held high and a loud laugh, she lowered her head, crossed her arms, and her aura began to gather again:
"However, just being able to talk isn't enough, so I want to ask..."

She stepped forward, her eyes sharply fixed on the Northern Black Steed:

"How can you prove that what you're saying is right and what I'm saying is wrong?"

This time, Yamato Akari and Vodka didn't try to smooth things over, and Almond and Miki Rocket weren't as flustered as before. Everyone sensed that Good Opera's question seemed to have a hidden meaning.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, and the racehorses on the beach, including the opera singers, silently gazed at the northern black horse.

She averted her gaze again, as if admiring the sea as the sun had just risen, and gazed at the distant horizon. After a long while, she slowly turned her head, her eyes meeting the opera's with a piercing gaze:
"Proof... I don't know."

"I just want to say that, indeed, you can never create a perfect work by simply imitating others."

"But doesn't every artist start by learning from their predecessors before embarking on their artistic journey, and doesn't every artist stand on the shoulders of their predecessors to leave behind amazing achievements?"

"more importantly……"

She looked away, glanced at the Miqi Rocket, smiled, and then looked back at it:
"Miki-chan and I made a promise to follow in the footsteps of our seniors, and then... surpass them."

"That's why we stepped onto the stage of the Shining Series, and that's how we got to where we are today. We will continue to work hard like this in the future."

"This is our dream, the reason we... run."

"Therefore, if we give up our dreams and reasons because of a single sentence, even a sentence from a senior we've always admired..."

As she spoke, she pressed her hand to her chest and shook her head very slowly but forcefully:

"That's... ridiculous."

That's all I wanted to say.

In that instant, Yamato Akachi and Vodka looked at the Northern Black Horse with a sense of relief and appreciation. They nodded in unison, then exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes filled with memories and emotions.

Almond and Miki Rocket looked at the Northern Black Steed with excitement. Almond's eyes were filled with admiration, while Miki Rocket's eyes were full of gratitude.

From the moment the Northern Genko spoke, the gaze of the opera connoisseur remained fixed on hers.

Now, facing this junior directly in the eye, she clearly sensed his unwavering resolve. Just like before, she suddenly raised her head again and burst into laughter.

Unlike before, her laughter this time seemed to carry a different meaning.

Laughing loudly, she turned around and strode off the beach, waving goodbye without looking back.

"Very good, very good."

"However, I still stand by what I said."

"Just being good at talking is useless in a competition."

"Want to prove..."

She stopped in her tracks and turned her head slightly:
"There are practice matches scheduled for this training camp, right?"

"By the time……"

She turned her head and continued walking off the beach.

"Prove it to me, Northern Black Steed."

Without pausing or slowing down, she had already walked off the beach a few seconds after she finished speaking.

At this moment, the somewhat stunned Northern Black Horse and the others finally came to their senses.

“Good opera senior!”

Yamato Akachi called out, then glanced at Vodka. Seeing a knowing look on her face, she nodded and hurried after the opera singer who had gone.

Vodka remained where he was, gazing thoughtfully into the distance. Suddenly, he smiled excitedly, turned around, and patted Northern Black Horse on the shoulder:

"Great job, Xiao Bei! Thanks to you, we can now perform alongside such great opera veterans!"

(End of this chapter)