Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 525 A little boldness now and then makes you more like a senior!

The echoes of the competition still lingered in the training field, and the onlookers were still cheering, while many athletes had already dispersed.

Some people huddled together in twos and threes, talking excitedly about the highlights of the game and laughing out loud every now and then.

Some people leaned against the railings beside the track to stretch their legs or press their sore muscles.

After watching the opera and rocket performances with smiles for a while, expressing their heartfelt wishes and blessings, Northern Black Horse silently walked off the field.

After walking a few steps, she couldn't help but look back for a moment, a warm feeling rising in her heart.

She is now absolutely certain that her decision to convey her feelings through actions was the right one.

Thinking about it, she couldn't help but recall the sudden invitation from the Emperor of the East Sea before the training camp.

It was that invitation that made her think of proving this approach through her own efforts in running towards good operas and discovering the wonders of rockets.

Looking back now, I realize that I've accomplished so much because I imitated my predecessors.

After a moment of relief, she turned back to worry.

Looking down at the dark toes of her sneakers stained with sweat, she recalled her desperate tactic on the final straight, and unconsciously rubbed her hair, her earlobes twitching.

To be honest, although I had discussed it with A-Zhen before, and he agreed with my idea...

But it seems like his performance wasn't very good, and if the Emperor-senpai were to see this match, he'd probably be a little dissatisfied...?
Ugh... As expected, were many of my thoughts... too audacious...?
Lost in thought and worry, I suddenly heard light and familiar footsteps behind me.

"Senior Xiao Bei, why are you standing here in a daze?"

Turning his head instinctively, Beifang Xuanju paused, then exclaimed, "Eh? Little almond-shaped eyes..."

It was Apricot Eyes who walked over. When Kita Genko turned around, she immediately noticed his furrowed brows:

"What's wrong? Why... do you look so serious?"

Two unexpected words made her nervous:

"Could it be that he's not feeling well? Let's go to the infirmary right away!"

"Huh? That's not how it is..."

Realizing he had been misunderstood, the Northern Black Steed quickly shook his head:
"Well, to put it simply... I'm worried about the linear tactics..."

As she spoke, she pursed her lips:
"I feel that I was too reckless at the time. Even if A-Zhen agreed, my performance in this competition was really not good."

"and……"

She looked at the live broadcast area:

"I wonder if the Emperor will watch this match. If he does, he'll definitely scold me...?"

"So that's why..."

In stark contrast to Northern Black Horse's worries, Anzu, seeing that it wasn't a matter of physical condition, breathed a sigh of relief and laughed nonchalantly:

"If you ask me, you're overthinking it."

"You know Zhen's personality better than I do. Since he promised you he would run like that, he probably won't care about anything."

"As for the Emperor... the Emperor has a very good personality, so he certainly won't blame me."

"Besides, while you yourself may feel it was reckless, I think..."

Almond-shaped eyes lit up with excitement and anticipation:
"So cool! That was his performance back then!"

Northern Black Steed froze, as if a pause button had been pressed, even forgetting to twitch its ears.

"Handsome, handsome?"

She repeated it blankly, her tone filled with disbelief and hesitation:
"But... I didn't make it to the front in the end..." "No way! I think you're just overthinking things right now!"

He immediately shook his head vigorously, his tone even more resolute than when he had just declared his excitement:
"I saw it clearly! When you accelerated on the curve, it felt like... a beam of light suddenly exploded from your body!"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but spread her arms wide, mimicking the posture on the racetrack, taking a few small steps, her face full of excitement:
"So many powerful predecessors were ahead of him, but he was not flustered at all. He just gathered his strength at his own pace and then rushed out in one breath!"
That decisiveness, that focus...

"He's really super handsome!"

“And also,” she said, her almond-shaped eyes drawing closer, a serious look appearing in them:

"If I remember correctly, didn't the senior say that he wanted to convey his feelings to the great opera seniors and Miki?"

"I think the senior definitely succeeded."

"I was basically running at the back in this race. I could see very clearly how Senior Mi Qi looked later, and the response from Senior Good Opera."

"They... must have all understood what you meant, senior!"

Beifang Xuanju listened intently, the almond-shaped eyes' words like warm pebbles gently falling into the somewhat chaotic lake of her heart, rippling out warm waves.

Yes, she remembered.

As she burst out of the bend and ran alongside her opera predecessors, and as she saw Miki-chan bursting forward in the lead, what surged within her was not an obsession with winning or losing, but a feeling of exhilarating relief.

"...Thank you, Almond Eyes."

Northern Black Steed raised its head, a relaxed smile appearing on its face, and its crimson eyes regained their bright light:

Now that you mention it, it does seem... not so bad after all.

"It wasn't bad at all! Senior was definitely overthinking it."

Seeing that her brows had finally relaxed, Xingmu smiled too:
"Senior is the Northern Black Steed!"

"It's that Northern Black Steed who won so many games and was as free as the wind on the field!"

"Being a little bolder sometimes makes you seem more like a senior!"

Just as Beibu Genko and Xingmu were exchanging smiles, a voice with a unique rhythm came from behind them, like the perfect interlude in a magnificent musical piece:

"Ha-hahaha! What a brilliant 'declaration'!"

The two turned around at the same time and saw Good Opera walking slowly towards them, with his signature smile, which was now more genuine than usual.

She first nodded slightly to Xingmu, then her gaze fell on Beibu Xuanju, whose eyes, which always sparkled with dramatic light, were now filled with undisguised admiration.

"I overheard what was just said."

Good Opera raised its chin, its tone carrying the dramatic intonation of an aria:
"Handsome, decisive, focused... I must say, that's a very accurate assessment."

"Your all-or-nothing drive on the track just now, that pure spirit that wasn't bound by winning or losing, truly deserves this praise."

Northern Genko hadn't expected to have his conversation overheard by Good Opera; his cheeks flushed slightly, and he instinctively lowered his head.
"You flatter me, senior..."

"This is no compliment."

Good Opera gently waved his hand, interrupting her modest words, his gaze gradually becoming serious:

"Being able to channel your passion into running, allowing your opponents and juniors to clearly feel your conviction, is itself a remarkable ability."

"What you just showed me truly transcends victory and defeat."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the still-lingering cheers outside the arena before settling back on the Northern Black Horse:
"But Xiao Bei, do you think this is the end of it?"

(End of this chapter)