Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 591 I will choose to confess directly.

The sudden seriousness made California Shining and Frostfall stop joking on the tip of their tongues. Both of them looked at Rong Houzai in surprise, and even Northern Black Horse cast a surprised glance at them.

Under the questioning gazes of the three, Rong Houzai frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, as if carefully considering his words.

Then she raised her eyes, her gaze sharp as she looked at the northern black steed:

"Xiao Bei, I want to confirm... has your training been affected by constantly thinking about this lately?"

"Huh...?" Beifang Xuanju hadn't expected Ronghou Zaijue to guess so accurately. She couldn't help but widen her eyes. "How did you know...?"

"really……"

Continuing to observe the expression on the Northern Black Steed's face, he nodded and said after a moment's hesitation:
"Because I stayed at Central Teresen Academy for a few days, just like Shining and the others, and took the opportunity to check on your training."

"To be honest, I did this to prepare for our next showdown."

She stated her purpose without any hesitation, and continued:
"That's why I had a vague feeling that your training during this period wasn't as good as I had expected."

"This has nothing to do with recovery training, because even in recovery training, you made too many mistakes."

"Compared to the Japan Cup, this is far too much."

"You are a completely different person compared to the day of the Japan Cup. If you were still in your current training, you would definitely not be my match."

These words were like a series of precise straight punches, leaving Beifang Xuanju speechless, his face showing only astonishment at being completely hit.

She subconsciously clenched her fingers, suddenly realizing that her absent-mindedness and decline in performance were so obvious to her closely watching opponent that they had even become the basis for the opponent's assessment.

Meanwhile, California Shining and Frostfall, standing to the side, also showed expressions of sudden realization.

With a short, sharp "Ah!", California Radiance slapped his forehead, his azure eyes widening in surprise.

"Yeah! If that's the case... Xiao Bei has been acting a bit strange lately when adjusting his basic cadence. I thought it was because you hadn't fully recovered."

Frostfall narrowed its eyes slightly, crossed its arms, and nodded slowly, seemingly lost in thought.

“I also thought it was a recovery issue, but now that you've brought it up yourself… well, that’s it. In your weight-bearing test, repeatedly checking the weight plates… that was indeed quite strange.”

As she spoke, she looked at Rong Hou before making a decision:

"However, Empress Rong, you have a sharp eye; you even noticed something like this."

He shook his head, saying he would decide later.
"It's not that I have sharp eyes, but I only vaguely felt that something was strange before. If Xiao Bei hadn't brought up the issue of mentality, I wouldn't have been able to figure it out."

California Shining and Frostfall both nodded in agreement, while Northern Black Horse pursed his lips, his fingers clenching even tighter.

"In any case, you... should all understand the situation now."

"I...that's what I'm worried about, that's why I wanted to ask you."

"After the Japan Cup, there's the Arima Kinen at the end of the year... I've already won the Emperor's Autumn Festival and the Japan Cup, and I'm only one game away from the Autumn Triple Crown, Game 1."

Her gaze hardened, and she clenched her fists.

"I... absolutely refuse to lose!"

"I'll decide later" nodded in understanding: "Arima Commemorative Edition... I roughly know its significance."

"So, at this stage, it's really not suitable to let this kind of thing distract you, or even..."

She paused, then said meaningfully:
“I’m worried that if this isn’t handled properly, not only you, but also trainer Yasui might be unnecessarily troubled.”

These words made Beifang Xuanju's heart leap even higher, but he remained silent, staring intently at Rong Houzai.

"Hmm... I roughly know what Xiao Bei wants to ask, and..."

Meeting the gaze of the Northern Black Steed, Rong Hou hesitated for a moment, then subtly glanced at the two people beside him:

"In a sense, those two boring guys who started encouraging you from Dubai are indeed responsible for this."

"……Eh?"

Originally expecting that he would offer some advice later, the Northern Black Steed was instantly stunned:

"W-What, it started in Dubai...?"

At the same time, California Sparkle and Frostfall, as if electrocuted, instantly perked up their ears and tails, straightened their bodies, turned their heads to the left and right, and whistled off-key.

"...It's nothing, just ignore them. You'll probably understand later."

She shook her head, then unconsciously looked away: "Of course, by then, you'll probably understand what kind of... less-than-honorable role I played here."

Then, before the Northern Black Horse could react, she looked back:
"To put it bluntly, according to common understanding, the feeling you're describing... is probably 'liking'."

She paused, then, still without giving the Northern Black Steed time to react, continued:
"But we are not you, and we cannot truly define your feelings for you, especially if you really like this person... perhaps it is your trainer."

"So it's like a race. We're all running on a track called 'what we like,' but ultimately, everyone is facing a race that's only for themselves."

"This could make our running style, strategy, and even our ultimate goal completely different."

"Therefore, even if you ask us, it is difficult for us to give absolutely correct or suitable advice."

"not to mention……"

She hesitated for a moment, then added a crucial sentence:
“I remember that the environment here in Japan seems to… discourage trainers and racehorse girls from developing feelings for each other outside of training too early.”

Hearing this in a daze, Beifang Xuanju still looked bewildered.

Under the influence of this rational analysis, California Shining and Frostfall both turned their faces back and put away their joking expressions.

"Hmm... Empress Rong is right, it seems we went a bit too far before."

It's unclear how much sincerity he showed in his self-reflection, but California Shining stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then solemnly placed both hands on Northern Black Horse's shoulders:

"So I originally just wanted to watch the fun, but since you're taking it so seriously, I guess I'll take it seriously too."

She took a deep breath, her azure eyes gleaming with sincerity:
"If it were me, and I felt I liked someone, I would choose to... confess directly to Trainer Yasui!"

Northern Black Horse was carefully considering the suggestion to postpone the decision when he was suddenly stunned by California Shining's groundbreaking suggestion.

She stared wide-eyed like a startled rabbit, then shook her head frantically, her voice trembling with panic.

"No, no! This... this... how can this be allowed! I... I won't allow it!"

Her strong reaction and loud voice startled the three overseas racehorse girls once again.

Immediately, a knowing smile, mixed with "I knew it" and "How interesting," flashed across their faces.

"Seriously, it's just a hypothetical situation, a hypothetical situation! Why are you acting like you're trying to steal the Japan Cup title from me..."

California Shining patted Northern Black Horse helplessly, then its gaze turned serious again:

"Don't worry, Xiao Bei, you've probably misunderstood, or I didn't explain it clearly."

"What I mean is, if it were me, I would choose to confess my feelings."

"But you... I bet you wouldn't dare, right?"

At this moment, Shuangjiang nodded and took over the conversation:
"Yes, I completely agree. Don't be fooled by your strong reaction now, Xiao Bei, as if you're trying to protect some precious treasure. But if you were really asked to express your feelings, you'd probably hesitate."

Then, she glanced to the other side, her tone softening:

"So, both Ronghou and Shanyao gave you advice based on their personalities."

"And my suggestion is..."

She drew out her words slightly:

"If you feel that you are unable or unwilling to speak directly to Trainer Yasui for the time being, perhaps you could talk to someone else you trust who might better understand your current situation?"

"Eh……?"

Still reeling from the assumptions made before California's rise, Northern Black Horse paused, not fully understanding.
"Another... equally trusted person?"

Shuangjiang did not answer directly, but simply smiled and turned her gaze to another direction in the waiting hall.

Almost simultaneously, California Shining and Ronghouzaijue also seemed to be on the same wavelength, turning their heads to look in the same direction.

Northern Black Horse instinctively followed their gaze.

Standing there were several other members of overseas teams who had come to participate in the Japan Cup. The leader, besides the team leader from Teresen Academy in the United States, was the representative from Europe, Zhuo Fu, who had an elegant smile.

And there was that petite figure, yet radiating an undeniable presence, smiling and chatting with them—

It was the Emperor of the East Sea.

(End of this chapter)