Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 575 The World Within Reach

Seeing the Heavenly Emperor's Song, Gao Shangjunyi opened his mouth, hesitated, glanced at Wan Laizheng, who was passionately "performing," and struggled with whether or not to explain to his childhood friend that Wan Laizheng had this strange personality.

While she was hesitating, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that on the overseas racehorse girls' side, after finishing a high-intensity training session, a racehorse girl exchanged a few words with her training team and then walked straight towards the direction of Kita Genko and Yasui Makoto.

Not only her, but also the Heavenly Emperor and the others noticed the horse racer's somewhat "abnormal" behavior. Wan Lai Zheng Ming also put down his harp bow, and all eyes turned to that direction.
"Huh? Isn't that... Ronghouzaijue classmate? What... is she going to see Xiaobei for?" Gao Shangjunyi, who was the first to look over, recognized the racehorse girl and blinked in confusion.

Then she saw Rong Houzai walk up to Beibu Xuanju and say a few words.

Although the distance was too far to hear clearly, one could see that Beibu Xuanju's face first showed obvious surprise, and then her crimson eyes were instantly filled with burning fighting spirit. She nodded excitedly.

Without exchanging any unnecessary words, the two quickly took their positions on the training track, ready to start, and a brief, unexpected contest seemed about to erupt.

"Huh? Are they... going to have a match right away?" Tian Di Song pushed up his slipped glasses in surprise and asked.

Watching this scene, Ming Sheng Lei Dong revealed a hint of understanding: "It must be... they met in Dubai. They'll decide later... she's actually a very direct person, it seems she wants to test Xiao Bei's current state directly."

Meanwhile, the Satomi sisters, watching Jouhou Zaijue and Kita Genko's actions, couldn't help but exchange a glance. They both saw amusement and感慨 in each other's eyes. Satomi Takako shook her head and looked at the track again: "Kita really does have friends all over the world."

Wan Lai Zheng Ming, who was standing nearby, had picked up her violin again. This time, she even closed her eyes and swayed her body back and forth dramatically, as if she were completely immersed in the stirring music that only she could hear.

She announced in a loud, aria-like tone:

"Ah—! Look! The threads of fate have drawn the two supreme performers to this final stage, where they have begun the prelude to destiny!"

"Is this the most anticipated duo of this year's Japan Cup - Genko Kita and the prelude to a decisive battle later?"

"This is wonderful!"
"This sudden inspiration, this impromptu collision!"

"This is the highest level of art!"
"Ah~ My soul... is trembling!!"

As she sang, she dramatically pulled the "bow" with all her might, her body tensing as if she were using all her strength to pull it.

Then, still no sound came out.

While Gao Shangjunyi and the others were speechless at the bizarre and abstract movements of Wanlaizhengming, all the horse girls who noticed the changes in the racetrack noticed the situation.

The overseas players who were just engaged in intense training also slowed down or stopped their movements almost simultaneously, and all eyes were focused on these two universally recognized top favorites in this year's Japan Cup.

The atmosphere inside the stadium suddenly became tense yet full of anticipation. A commotion broke out in the reporters' area of ​​the stands, and all the cameras instantly adjusted their direction, locking onto the two tracks that were about to collide.

In the VIP observation area at the top, two figures stood side by side in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

That was the student council president of Central Tresen Academy, the Emperor of the East Sea, and Zhuo Fu, the representative of Tresen Academy in overseas competitions and the coordinator of the European team.

The two event coordinators had just finished a brief exchange regarding questions about accommodations for overseas athletes and the final confirmation of the venue, and now they were whispering about whether the maintenance conditions at several key corners were fair to all teams.

The sudden, almost palpable tension rising in the training field below naturally interrupted their conversation and drew their attention to that area.

Zhuo Fu's sharp gaze swept over Xiao Bei and Rong Houzai, who were about to start their race. A slight smile of interest curved her lips. She said to the Emperor of the East Sea beside her:

“See? I told you they wouldn’t be able to resist touching it first. And then…” She studied the track for a moment, where “Later Decision” and “Northern Black Steed” had already started. She nodded slightly:

"As expected, this admirer of yours has many habitual preparatory movements and ways of adjusting his center of gravity... they're practically cut from the same mold as you."

Also watching the sudden duel on the track, the Emperor of the East Sea's gaze was solemn, yet he chuckled and scratched the back of his head, his childlike and playful face still beaming with a bright smile:

"Really? It's alright~ Maybe...she did watch quite a few of my match videos?"

Zhuo Fu didn't look to her side; she chuckled softly, her tone carrying a knowing, teasing tone:

"Don't play dumb, Your Majesty."

"Back then, my master studied the match videos of senior Lu Duo, senior Katsuragi Ace, and senior Tetsu Zhou repeatedly in preparation for the Japan Cup, including your match video, senior Emperor."

"Although it was a pity we lost that Japan Cup match in the end, well, there were still some gains, such as..."

She looked at the Emperor of the East Sea:

"Your running style was impressive."

As soon as Zhuo Fu finished speaking, whether she hadn't heard clearly or didn't understand, she remained with her arms crossed, watching the arena. After a moment, the Emperor of the East Sea smiled casually:
"Is that so...? That must be a tough job."

Despite realizing that the statement was ultimately meaningless and contained little information, Zhuo Fu remained unaffected. Instead, she smiled and, like the Emperor of the East Sea, looked back at the track and spoke directly:
"What I'm trying to say is that the Northern Black Horse is our biggest hypothetical enemy this time."

"So we should analyze her strategies, tactics, habits... including her trainer's consistent style very thoroughly."

These words, tinged with admiration for a formidable foe and an undisguised competitive spirit, were clearly heard, yet the smile on the Emperor of the East Sea remained unchanged.

But deep in his eyes, looking down at the northern black horse, there was a hint of seriousness and deep expectation.

"They've already completely caught the eye of the world's top players... That's really impressive, Xiao Bei, and Yasui too..." she thought to herself.
"Then... you have to run to the very end."

"This time, the world... is right at our doorstep."

……

The night before the Japan Cup.

The late autumn evening breeze in Tokyo carried a slight chill, but it couldn't dispel the warmth and noise inside the URA Association's banquet hall.

The crystal chandelier cast a soft light, and soothing music flowed through the air, attempting to calm every nerve that was taut with anticipation of tomorrow's battle.

The female racehorses from all over the world changed out of their sportswear and into various casual clothes, gathering in twos and threes, talking in hushed tones. The air was filled with a complex atmosphere that mixed tension, anticipation and superficial ease.

Northern Black Horse held a glass of orange juice, his gaze slowly sweeping across the scene.

Seeing those familiar or unfamiliar powerful figures, the scenes I witnessed during these final days of preparation involuntarily resurfaced in my mind.

(End of this chapter)