Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live

"Heehee, don't be too surprised, everyone! Pay close attention to my performance! My skills are the real main event that will blow you all away!"

After her brief appearance on stage, Gold Ship naturally became the center of attention. Compared to her sister, she was swarmed by other horse girls in the waiting area, not at all looking like the least popular competitor.

This was, of course, her own doing. She had registered so late that there were no pre-race popularity stats for her. If not for her "connections" at Tracen, this debut race would have been mobbed by students. Her reputation was just that massive. She was a "criminal" mastermind whose list of "crimes" was too long to list, yet no one could ever catch her. She was a monster of both speed and power.

"I never thought I'd see the day you debut, Gold Ship-san," said Tokai Teio, her expression serious. She was now more focused on Gold Ship than on Festa. "But Emperor Teio will absolutely not lose to you! In the future, whether it's you or McQueen, I won't hold back on the racetrack!"

"That's right," Mejiro McQueen added with a smile, looking up at the taller girl. "It feels so strange... Do your best this time. I'm looking forward to your performance."

"Yeah! I won't disappoint you, McQueen!" Gold Ship gave a thumbs-up. But just then, a figure approached from behind...

"Ow, ow, ow, ow!! Nakayama-nee! Stop pulling my ear!"

"Come with me." With a blank expression, Nakayama Festa dragged her sister away to an empty corner.

"So, what's the deal?" Festa asked, her voice finally showing a hint of emotion. "You knew it was my debut race, and you decided to give me a 'surprise'? Are you here to mess things up or to help?"

Festa wasn't truly angry. She knew her sister's pranks always had a line. There had to be a good reason for her to be here.

However, Gold Ship just grinned her usual goofy grin. But the words that came out of her mouth next made Festa's relaxed expression freeze.

"Because now, just like you, Nakayama-nee, I'm also Kitano-chan's contracted horse girl! I really want to compete with you! So I immediately signed up for the same race!"

"...Huh?"

Festa was stunned. Gold Ship is his charge now? When did that happen?

"Trying to trick me? Even if you're going to lie, don't use Kitano as an excuse. That guy would never betray me."

"I never said he betrayed you, Nakayama-nee. But I really am his charge now—look, I even have the contract!"

As if ignoring Festa's simmering rage, Gold Ship pulled out the contract, now officially stamped by Rudolf, showing both their thumbprints.

"I've been his charge for over ten hours, Nakayama-nee!"

"...What exactly are you trying to say?" At this, Festa's tone grew sharper, her eyes glaring at her sister with real aggression for the first time.

But Gold Ship remained unfazed, cheerfully delivering the words that would provoke her sister the most:

"It means—I really like Kitano-chan too, but only you got to be his charge, Nakayama-nee. And that makes me very unhappy!"

"So let's settle it here! Whoever wins gets to be his number one charge! The loser is forever number two, the number one's lackey. How about it?"

"Be careful, Nakayama-nee. I'm being serious this time. I'm really going all out. If you lose, Kitano-chan will be all mine~"

With that, Gold Ship turned and ran towards the track entrance. After a long silence, an unusual sneer appeared on Festa's face as she too walked towards the tunnel, muttering:

"Trying to provoke me? Golshi, if that's your game, your acting is terrible."

The moment Festa saw the thumbprint on the contract, she knew what was happening. Gold Ship was a liar, but never about important things. All her actions pointed to one reason—Kitano.

She was afraid Festa would choke in her debut race, so she had tricked Kitano into providing his thumbprint. She was here to put pressure on her, to force her to bring out her full strength.

As for all the talk about "liking Kitano" and being "unhappy"... that was just an excuse. Gold Ship would never deliberately cross her sister's line. She was sure of it.

"The horse girls are entering the gate! The track condition is poor today, rated 'heavy' due to yesterday's rain, a considerable challenge for these debuting racers."

"We see number seven, Nakayama Festa, and number eight, Gold Ship, in the outermost lane, entering the gate. The race is about to begin!"

...But, Gold Ship, some lies, even when seen through, can still make a person angry.

Inside the gate, Festa finally lifted her head. Her wine-red eyes now glowed with a chilling scarlet light. She spit out the last of her lollipop stick, her muscles tensing, ready to explode.

"Well then... in that guy's words—let's show all of you who look down on me."

"Perfect. I was just getting bored with how unchallenging this race was. Gold Ship... let's see how much of a thrill you can give me."

Unseen by her sister, Gold Ship was also staring intently at the gate, her playful demeanor gone, replaced by a cold, confident smirk that mirrored their eldest sister's.

Only Gold Ship knew that she had not been joking. She would give this race her all. She absolutely could not lose.

If even I lose, then Nakayama-nee... and Kitano... I can't afford to lose. Therefore, I will not lose!

I will save you, Kitano. No matter what!

CLANG!

"The gates are open! A clean start for all horse girls!"

"We see number two, Nakayama Festa, quickly taking an inside position, running at the front of the pack! She looks full of fighting spirit!"

"And number eight, Gold Ship, from the outermost lane, has fallen to the back of the pack. It seems she's going for a late-charge tactic, but in an 1800-meter race, will she have enough time to make her move?"

A late charge? No, that idiot is...

Running near the front, just behind a single pace-setter, Festa immediately understood what Gold Ship was doing.

She's not joking. She's really going all out this time.

Festa knew her sister wasn't conserving energy; she was accelerating, "warming up" to unleash her maximum speed.

But... she wouldn't lose. If Gold Ship was serious, then she had to show her why Kitano had bet everything on her.

"Kitano—I will absolutely not lose! Just you watch!"

At that moment, Festa had no idea that Kitano, with the help of a dark-haired horse girl, had already arrived at the racecourse. Her only thought was to live up to his expectations, right here, right now.

Only she could win this race! No one else!

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