Horse Girl, Your Friend is Fighting Her Way Out of the Horse Racing Track

This question is actually quite abrupt, and asking it on the eve of a decisive battle makes Poetry and Wine seem somewhat ill-mannered.

However, out of some secret selfishness and trust in Naritaji's gentle nature, Shi and Jiu deliberately asked the question.

Narita didn't feel offended. She knew that Shiyu wasn't the type to deliberately make things difficult for others with words. Since she was asking so persistently, she must have her own reasons.

"I hope... she won't cry."

Naritaji put away his smile and instead stared intently at the petite black horse girl in front of him.

"Because I've given it my all. Even if I do cry..."

Narita paused for a moment, then nodded firmly.

"That must be for some other reason."

"I see..."

Upon hearing this answer, a glimmer of light flashed in Poetry and Wine's eyes.

Seemingly satisfied with the answer, she tilted her head slightly, gazing at the sky dyed red by the sunset, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Then you'll definitely cry."

"?"

Narita was completely dumbfounded. She tilted her head in confusion, and the horse ears on her head also formed a question mark.

She couldn't understand what was wrong with Poetry and Wine today, why they kept saying these riddle-like things.

Poetry and wine offered no explanation, but he simply turned his head and gave Naritaji a meaningful look.

She then moved slightly closer to Naritaji and spoke with a hint of regret in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"I hope that by then, I'll still have some place in your heart."

Upon hearing this, Narita's cheeks involuntarily flushed. Although she didn't fully understand, Shi and Jiu's demeanor at that moment was particularly eye-catching.

However, after the initial excitement subsided, Naritaji's doubts did not diminish.

'Why does it seem like... ever since Satsuki-san lost the Satsuki Sho, her personality has become... a bit more cheerful?'

Okay, while he's described as cheerful, Narita would actually prefer to use the words "eccentric" or "unpredictable."

It's as if, having tasted the bitterness of failure for the first time, some mysterious quality within poetry and wine has been fully unleashed.

The once aloof but occasionally tender-hearted girl is now evolving in a strange and erroneous direction.

'I wonder what happened that night when she went camping in the mountains with Ai-san…'

Considering that since returning from the camping trip, Shi and Jiu have not only become more willing to express their true emotions, but have also spent a lot of time with Orihime, whom he admires, Narita couldn't help but feel a little depressed.

It felt as if someone else had snatched away a treasure she had always cherished, and she felt as if she had lost the right to fight for something.

Just then.

"Finished training?"

Poetry and wine, with curious voices, rang out.

Narita turned his head and saw that Orihime, who admired him, had finished her final lap and was now standing next to them.

Main character: Chapter 366 How could this be? (I'm going to work hard this May Day!)

The red and white tracksuit was soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to Ai Musashi's body and outlining her beautiful curves.

She responded while panting.

"Ah."

"Ai-san's daily training volume is truly astonishing, you've worked so hard!"

A bright smile immediately appeared on Narita's face as she handed over the unopened bottle of mineral water.

Because she only brought two bottles in total, and one had already been given to Poetry and Wine, she could only give away her own bottle now.

"Thank you, but no need."

Ai Musou coldly refused. She casually wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, her gaze falling on the bench next to Shi and Sake.

Immediately afterward, to Naritaji's astonishment, Aiko reached out and snatched the bottle of mineral water that was half-finished and still lying there.

"Gudong."

Without any regard for the lip prints of poetry and wine still remaining on the bottle opening, Ai Musashi unhesitatingly unscrewed the cap, tilted her head back, and drank it in large gulps.

Narita's hand holding the new water bottle froze in mid-air, and the smile on his face instantly became extremely stiff.

'They...indirectly kissed?!'

Narita stared blankly at the scene, his frustration growing stronger, and the horse ears on his head drooped limply.

Poetry and wine, standing to the side, were clearly not expecting that Orihime, whom they admired, would pull such a stunt.

A distinct blush instantly spread across the black-haired girl's face, but when she opened her mouth, she couldn't say anything.

In the end, Poetry and Wine turned their heads away without saying a word, tacitly approving of this transgression.

Soon, Aimu finished the remaining half bottle of water. She screwed on the cap and casually and precisely tossed the empty bottle into the nearby trash can.

"I……"

Just as Ai Mu was about to speak, seemingly wanting to say something about poetry and wine, a loud laugh suddenly came from above.

"Ha-hahaha! I knew it, my nemesis has indeed gathered here!"

The three of them turned and looked toward the source of the laughter.

On the high stands of the training field, an orange-haired girl struck a highly expressive pose. The setting sun cast its golden rays upon her, giving her a shimmering, luminous glow.

It's a great opera.

"On the eve of the decisive battle, this magnificent sunset, as beautiful as blood, makes it hard for me to contain my growing excitement!"

Good opera deftly leaped down from the audience railing and landed steadily in front of poetry and wine.

She raised her chin, her purple eyes filled with joy.

"I've come to declare war on you."

"Declare war?"

Narita, recovering from the shock, blinked curiously.

"That's right!"

Good Opera nodded confidently.

"It was that incredibly magnificent duel at the Satsuki Sho that made me definitively establish your identities as the sworn enemies of the Overlord within the mysterious chapter of destiny!"

She opened her arms and spoke with great enthusiasm, as if giving a speech on stage.

"You are my destined rivals! Therefore, on this ultimate stage of Darby, let us march together toward that coveted victory!"

Having said that, Good Opera took a step forward and solemnly extended his right hand.

"Thank you for your recognition, my dear opera friend. Darby's victory is mine to keep!"

Narita's frustration was temporarily dispelled by this passionate speech.

She stepped forward as well, extended her hand with a broad smile, and firmly grasped the hand of Good Opera.

"Ai Zhisang, Jiu Sang, you two come too!"

Narita turned around and, together with Good Opera, looked at the two who were still standing there with expectant eyes.

The pre-battle alliance scene, reminiscent of a classic shonen manga, appears exceptionally youthful under the setting sun.

Seeing this, Poetry and Wine froze in place, somewhat at a loss.

And standing beside her was Orihime, who admired her...

She lowered her head slightly, her deep purple eyes obscured by her bangs, making it impossible to discern her expression.

Just when Narita thought she was going to refuse, Aigumi raised her head again, her eyes sharp as she looked at them.

"I will win this game."

But then, she also reached out her hand.

Okay, if you shake hands, then I'll shake hands too.

'Could it be that Ai Zhisang is actually...?'

A hint of surprise flashed in Naritaji's eyes as he looked forward to Orihime placing her hand on his.

However, Narita's expression quickly froze.

Because the hand that admired Orihime did not reach for the back of their clasped hands, but instead grabbed the hand of Shi and Sake who were still in shock!

Their fingers were intertwined.

Poetry and wine: ?

Narita Road:? !

Under Naritaji's shocked gaze, Ai Musashi tightly gripped the hands of Shi and Jiu, her deep purple eyes fixed on the two formidable rivals in front of her, and declared, word by word.

"But I will run with all my might on the track tomorrow until I destroy all your hopes."

The last rays of the setting sun finally sank below the horizon, and the orange-red sky of the hour of Omaha was completely swallowed up by the deep blue of the early summer night.

"Such poetic wording, and such a dashing pose."

"It seems that Ai-san and I are kindred spirits."

After receiving the declaration of "I will destroy you with all my might," Good Opera burst into a thunderous laugh. Then, she turned and left with satisfaction, dragging along Naritaji, who had lost his soul and whose hair had turned completely gray from gold.

The noisy training ground fell silent once more.

The night wind blew across the empty racetrack, swirling up a few fallen leaves.

Only after confirming that the two figures had completely disappeared at the end of the tree-lined path did Shi and Jiu seem to lose all strength, slightly breaking free from the hands that Ai-Akihime was holding tightly.

The moment their fingers parted, the night wind carried away the warmth left behind by the brown-haired girl.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Poetry and Wine put her hands back into her school uniform pockets, her head down, her tone somewhat resentful.

"I just hate her entitled attitude."

Ai Mu withdrew her hand, her deep purple eyes gazing into the distance.

"The race is brutal. If you want to win, you have to be prepared to destroy everyone's dreams."

"..."

Poetry and wine fell silent.

The two walked side by side on the tree-lined path back to their dormitory.

Poetry and wine deliberately lagged behind Orihime by several steps, and she began to feel that a certain "existence" within her body was rapidly slipping away like sand in an hourglass.

A deep-seated weariness and a tendency toward self-destruction began to surface in the girl's mind.

But she didn't show it.

Poetry and wine are, after all, eccentric individuals. Getting her to say that she wants help from others is no less difficult than getting the Golden Ship to become human.

"Loves weaving mulberry leaves".

As they passed a streetlamp that was flickering on and off, Poetry and Wine suddenly stopped.

P.S.: I have returned like lightning.

Main character: Chapter 367 What a beautiful heart

"what happened?"

Aigumi Orihime keenly noticed the slow pace of the person beside her.

She stopped and turned around, looking at Shi Yujiu, whose body was half-hidden in the shadows of the streetlights, his face mostly obscured by the shadows.

"Tomorrow's Darby match is one you absolutely don't want to lose, right?"