Platinum knelt on the grass, hands braced against the ground, gasping for air. Her entire body was drenched in sweat.
This... this was nothing like the Hong Kong trip she'd imagined!
In her mind, she was just there to go through the motions—show up, wave Agnes Tachyon off from a distance, then spend her days sleeping and eating, maybe exploring Hong Kong a bit in between. She could even jot down some travel notes if she felt like it. Life would've been sweet.
Then she'd just trot around the track, snag the 150-carrot participation reward, and glide comfortably back to Japan—a nice little break after just finishing a G3 race.
But from the very start, this trip had veered wildly off course, completely beyond her control.
First, Agnes Tachyon showed up in Hong Kong unannounced. Then, the sisters Golden Sixty and Leap of Faith started hounding her relentlessly.
And now, Agnes Tachyon was acting like she'd lost her mind, insisting Platinum win the championship...
Platinum collapsed face-down onto the grass, her expression utterly shattered.
If this kept up, she was going to die—either whipped to death on the training field by Agnes Tachyon, or getting her legs sawed off for failing to take first place!
"Platinum, are you okay?" Agnes Digital crouched down, patting her back with concern.
"Tachyon, let's take a break. Platinum doesn't look so well." Then, Agnes Digital waved toward Agnes Tachyon in the distance.
Agnes Tachyon glanced at the clock and waved back. "Fine, go. Be back within half an hour."
Once permission was granted, Agnes Digital helped Platinum over to the spectator stands. The moment she touched the seat, Platinum melted into it like a puddle of liquid.
"I'm... I'm gonna die..."
Platinum panted heavily, grinding her teeth.
"That Agnes Tachyon—she's definitely trying to get back at me for beating her that one time. Now she's got her eyes on my legs—just waiting for an excuse—"
Agnes Digital didn't know whether to respond or stay quiet, so she just sat beside Platinum with an awkward, hesitant smile.
"Agnes Digital, aren't you tired? We did the exact same training."
Platinum's eyes suddenly shifted slyly, as if trying to pull Agnes Digital into her own camp.
"Hehe, how could I be tired when I get to run alongside other Uma Musume..."
Agnes Digital murmured under her breath, a dreamy sweetness in her tone.
"But the fact that Tachyon is pushing you so hard means she has high expectations for you, right? She's never been this intense, even with Daiwa Scarlet or Manhattan Cafe."
As she said this, Agnes Digital recalled the white pills she'd seen in Platinum's possession. Something like that... it must have come from Tachyon.
Was it one of those "take this and you'll run super fast" kinds of drugs?
Whatever the relationship between those two, whatever the reason might be... Agnes Digital felt she had a duty to say something.
Besides, for her, this felt like an idol-scandal-level event. If she didn't ask, her conscience wouldn't let it go.
"Um... Platinum... it's just that..." Agnes Digital racked her brain, struggling to find the right words.
"I noticed... you don't really seem that driven to win. So why come all the way to Hong Kong for a competition at this level? Winning won't earn you an extra trophy, but losing would feel pretty bad, right?"
She was treading carefully. Those who used such drugs were usually desperate to win but lacked the ability themselves.
After running alongside Platinum, Agnes Digital could tell she had plenty of potential.
Platinum rested her hands behind her head, gazing up at the endless blue sky.
She couldn't very well say she was just in it for the 150-carrot consolation prize and a two-week Hong Kong vacation, could she?
"Winning or losing doesn't really matter to me. I'm just here for the experience. Even if I lose, the school's covering the trip, so it's no loss."
After a moment's thought, Platinum decided to be honest. Slacking was slacking—no shame in it.
The only one constantly pushing her to go all-out was Agnes Tachyon.
"Speaking of which, it just makes me mad."
At the thought of Agnes Tachyon, Platinum bolted upright and punched her own thigh in frustration. "She's dead set on me taking first place."
"With so many strong competitors, all I can promise is to do my best. Even Symboli Rudolf and Trainer Okino told me not to fixate on winning—just learn what I can, and that's victory enough."
"But Agnes Tachyon? She's demanding the impossible. If I can't do it, I can't do it. No amount of grand speeches from her will change that."
Agnes Digital giggled softly, listening as Platinum vented about Agnes Tachyon.
"I do want to run well, but the moment I saw Sham's stride today, I knew the gap between us couldn't be closed with just a month of special training. If even I can see that, how could Agnes Tachyon not know? She's just lost her mind..." Platinum rambled on, relieved to finally have an audience for her complaints.
So that's why Agnes Tachyon gave you... that kind of drug?
Agnes Digital listened quietly.
Was she leaving the choice up to you?
If you absolutely had to take first place, how would you achieve it?
By trying pointlessly, or by using underhanded methods?
Suddenly, it clicked. Everything became clear. She finally understood why Agnes Tachyon had asked her to train alongside Platinum!
So that's it! Agnes Tachyon, as your longtime roommate, I completely grasp your intention now!
Even though you never explained a thing to me... this must be a sign of your trust, right?
Don't worry. I've got it. I understand perfectly.
Private Agnes Digital, reporting for duty!
Agnes Digital saluted in Agnes Tachyon's direction.
The truth was, Agnes Tachyon never actually expected Platinum to defeat Golden Sixty. She knew better than anyone how impossible that was.
Just as Okino and Symboli Rudolf had said, the real purpose of this Hong Kong trip was for Platinum to learn something.
Learn what? How to run on Hong Kong's turf? Study Golden Sixty's racing style?
Agnes Tachyon believed it was neither.
Turf adaptation could come later; racing form could be modeled after anyone. The only thing Platinum could learn here and now was how to maintain fighting spirit in the face of an unwinnable race.
That was the first lesson Agnes Tachyon wanted to teach Platinum.
And so, despite getting every detail and process completely wrong, Agnes Digital's reasoning had somehow aligned with Agnes Tachyon's.
Because that was exactly what Agnes Tachyon had in mind—this was, indeed, Platinum's first lesson.
She'd once said she intended to temper Platinum starting from her mindset, and she wasn't joking.
Since she was playing the villain, Agnes Digital was the perfect candidate to play the good cop.
As for why she hadn't told Agnes Digital... it wasn't out of trust.
Agnes Tachyon had simply forgotten.
--+--
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.