Let's go over it one more time.
Hong Kong is an international metropolis, a hub where East meets West.
Running into all sorts of people here was hardly surprising.
But Platinum never expected… to run into a local at Hong Kong International Airport.
"…Can you speak English?"
Stumbling over her words, Platinum attempted a broken, hybrid sort of English.
Why did it always come back to English in the end?!
The stunning blue-haired beauty stifled a laugh, cleared her throat, and then smoothly switched to Japanese.
"Sorry, sorry… You sounded so fluent in Mandarin, I thought you might know Cantonese too."
…Then why not just speak Mandarin from the start?
Platinum couldn't help feeling she'd picked the wrong person to ask. This one might be a bit of a handful.
"What I said was: 'Lost, aren't you?' Happens all the time. This airport's pretty huge—good thing I waited here for you."
See, you understood that just fine… Then it hit her, and Platinum quickly wiped her brow.
Good thing I waited here for you?
She glanced down at herself, then back at the restroom door behind her.
Lady, are you out of your mind?
The striking blue-haired woman slid her sunglasses up from the bridge of her nose, pushing the round frames up onto her forehead, nestled in her cascading bangs.
Then, she flashed Platinum a radiant smile.
"I am the one you've all been waiting for—Golden Sixty."
The undisputed champion of Hong Kong horse racing, the reigning powerhouse, the emperor of an unbreakable winning streak.
And this dazzling woman had just met Platinum… right outside a restroom.
"Well, since you're Symboli Rudolf's little sister, it's only right that I look after you…"
Completely ignoring Platinum's confusion, Golden Sixty just kept talking.
Platinum's family registry was under the Symboli name, so calling Rudolf her older sister wasn't exactly wrong, blood-wise.
Even if it was pretty strange for a pure-white Uma Musume to pop up among so many dark-coated ones.
"If you don't mind, just call me 'Sixty Sis.' I'll call you little Platinum, then."
"Must be scary, getting lost alone in a foreign country, huh? Don't worry, I'll help you find your way…"
As she said this, Golden Sixty reached cheerfully for Platinum's hand.
"Uh, no thanks." Platinum took a step back, avoiding the grab. She waved a hand dismissively and rolled her eyes.
"Calling you 'sis' or holding hands is a bit much—we literally just met."
"Besides, I'm here with friends. They'll come find me soon. You can go ahead."
Even though Rudolf had told her to show Golden Sixty respect… she'd also mentioned that Golden Sixty, much like herself, stood so far above the rest from the very start—so blessed by the world—that she came off as… eccentric.
Never mind why she'd been waiting outside the restroom… trying to grab her hand and calling herself 'sis' right off the bat reminded Platinum of that other woman, Leap of Faith.
That same hunter-on-the-prowl vibe.
Platinum decided it was better to play it safe.
"…How could this be?"
Hearing Platinum's reply, Golden Sixty froze.
She stared at her own rejected hand, then at Platinum's guarded expression, and buried her face in her palms.
"I deliberately waited until you were alone, followed you quietly, thinking I'd finally have a chance to shine and show off my reliable older sister side!"
"…Did you just say, 'deliberately waited until I was alone' and 'followed you quietly'?"
Platinum wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her. She tugged on them in disbelief as she stared at Golden Sixty.
Wait, what?
You're a champion—a living legend—and you've been tailing me since I got off the plane? Waiting for me to be alone? Stalking?
Shouldn't you have a little more dignity?
"Ah!"
Clapping a hand over her mouth, Golden Sixty realized she'd slipped up. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple.
"No… it's… that is… um…"
Then, she immediately launched into a flustered, flailing explanation.
All traces of that elegant aura from moments ago vanished completely.
"Well, the moment I saw you, I thought, 'Ah, would proposing today be too forward? Maybe having coffee first would make me seem more mature.'"
"Wait, that's not what I meant—I just thought, why not stay in Hong Kong and not go back to Japan?"
"No, no, what I really meant was, I'd like eleven kids—enough for a soccer team—"
"Forget all that, what I actually wanted to say was…"
Watching Platinum back further away with growing horror, Golden Sixty grew more frantic.
"…Now I believe you and Leap of Faith really are sisters."
"Waaaah—! Little Platinum, don't hate me!"
Those words were the final straw. Golden Sixty dropped to her knees and clutched Platinum's leg, sobbing.
"I just wanted to be a reliable big sister for once! Everyone always brushes me off, even Faith says 'don't tell anyone you're my sister'—!"
"I just wanted to hear someone call me 'sis'… preferably a white-haired Uma Musume with red eyes, a sweet voice, and a petite figure…"
A shiver ran down Platinum's spine. She shook her leg, trying to free herself. "Then go find Leap of Faith! Let go of me!"
"Since when do you get to be picky about your little sister? And since when are there requirements?"
Golden Sixty was truly beautiful. In this life, everyone Platinum had met was a notch more attractive than in her last, but Golden Sixty was still among the most stunning she'd ever seen.
Her silky, gorgeous hair, that face that looked like it stepped out of a painting… if she just stood there silently, her transcendent aura made her the very image of a classical Eastern beauty.
Too bad there was a hopeless weirdo inside.
As the two remained locked in their awkward standoff, a sudden shout erupted from ahead.
"Begone! Evil spirit, begone!"
Leap of Faith came charging over, slapped a yellow talisman covered in scribbles right onto Golden Sixty's face, and started pulling her back by the legs.
"Let! Go! Of! Platinum! Now!"
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself?!"
And so, right outside the airport restroom, Golden Sixty clung to Platinum's leg while Leap of Faith yanked on Golden Sixty's legs, the three of them tangled together in a heap.
President… this isn't what I imagined… not at all…
Amid the chaotic sounds around her, Platinum slowly lifted her gaze to the ceiling.
She had a feeling her trip to Hong Kong had already gone completely off the rails.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.