"U-Um, since you're me, can you tell me... did I achieve my dream?"
Kitasan Black's eyes sparkled as she stared at her grown-up "self." Her dream was to become a cool uma musume just like McQueen-senpai.
Influenced by that Kikka Sho race, Kitasan Black had already decided that she would definitely become a breakaway runner in the future!
She didn't know what the current "Kita-chan's" dream was—after all, this Kita-chan had even changed her idol.
"Sorry, but as you probably already realize, I'm not your future self, so I don't know what your future holds."
"I see... You're right. Forget I asked then. After all, the future is something you have to carve out with your own hands!"
Though Kitasan Black was a bit disappointed not to get any intel about her "future," she knew she'd find out what lay ahead just by keeping moving forward.
"Then, nee-san, have you achieved the dream you had when you were little?"
Even though she understood this wasn't her own future, Kita-chan was still very curious about Kitasan Black.
Kitasan Black: "..."
Dream?
If you never dreamed in the first place, how could you possibly have something like that?
Besides, although I look like your fully developed future form, I've actually only been alive for a few days. If you're asking me about my childhood dreams...
"No."
"..."
Kita-chan hadn't expected Kitasan Black's answer to be "no." This dealt a huge blow to her young self.
Kitasan Black didn't comfort Kita-chan.
Though her "no" actually meant she hadn't had any dreams as a child rather than that she'd failed to achieve them, there was no need to explain.
And the original Kita-chan truly hadn't achieved her childhood dreams either.
It wasn't just the original Kita-chan—uma musume dreams changed constantly with wins and losses, compromising with harsh reality.
"I'm sorry." After a moment of silence, Kita-chan apologized to Kitasan Black. "I won't ask these questions anymore."
She felt her questions might have reopened old wounds for Kitasan Black. This made Kitasan Black find it somewhat amusing—what did she have to be sad about? If anything, her current attitude was far too melodramatic.
"Do your best. Don't worry, you won't become me."
You who carry dreams and run forward are undoubtedly an uma musume blessed with [Glory]—completely different from a failure like me who has [nothing].
While mocking herself internally, Kitasan Black's face showed an incredibly relaxed smile.
Though she believed dreams were meaningless things, she admitted she envied this child who had dreams.
Because as long as you chased your dreams, even if what you achieved in the end wasn't your original dream, surely you'd find a satisfying answer—something impossibly distant for her.
As for herself, she'd just be a freeloader.
She had absolutely no desire to challenge Story Mode.
The senpais were so strong anyway—surely supporting one more deadweight wouldn't be a problem.
"Kita-chan, the race is about to start."
"...I'll be right there. Well then, nee-san, senpais, goodbye."
Kita-chan turned to bid farewell to Kitasan Black and the others, then followed Satono Diamond to the seats in the adjacent row.
Kitasan Black closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. She had zero interest in this race.
(Kita-chan's problem looks pretty serious.)
(...Should we make her experience the taste of defeat?)
(McQueen, don't tell me that's the only method you know? With Kita-chan's current state, she'd probably feel indifferent even if she lost.)
(Hmph! A creature who's already lost her very instincts—is there even any point?!)
(Rice wants to help Kita-chan, just like how nee-san and everyone helped Rice!)
(Kita-chan's situation is different from yours back then. Kita-chan's problem is that she's already given up on herself.)
(That's why I said this piece of trash isn't worth saving!)
(If you don't want to discuss this, go cool off somewhere else!)
Mejiro McQueen shot Gold Ship a cold glance.
Though the Demon King looked displeased, she obediently turned her head away.
Fine, no discussion then!
Kitasan Black quietly cracked open one eye from her spot nearby.
She was actually quite moved. Even that harsh-tongued Demon King-senpai—in her eyes, all those actions showed concern for her. If they truly didn't care, they wouldn't have wanted to do anything.
If possible, she too wanted to pull herself together, to find her own goals. It's just that she genuinely couldn't find such things.
What to run for, what to race for...
In the end, for someone who didn't even want to participate in races, the very prerequisite for pursuing victory didn't exist.
No opponent she wanted to defeat.
Nothing she wanted to prove.
In that case, why pursue the glory of racing?
"Tokai Teio has burst through! Tokai Teio has burst through!"
The announcer above the venue was shouting passionately.
All around were the enthusiastic cheers of the audience.
Below were the thundering footsteps of the uma musume.
All emotions intertwined, all dreams gathered in this place.
Even with her eyes closed, Kitasan Black could [see] that dazzling stage and its performers.
Everything was so brilliant, the entire stage seemed to glow.
But her heart felt no excitement—she even pathetically thought it was nothing special.
"Crossing the finish line! Dominating from the top is Tokai Teio, beautifully claiming victory in the Japan Derby!"
The roaring cheers around her made Kitasan Black frown involuntarily.
In that instant, she felt as if her brain had been struck by a hammer. Having perception this sharp was torture in an environment like this.
She opened her eyes wanting to see the situation below, only to find the viewing area's railings were now completely blocked by spectators.
Everyone wanted to share in that radiance from a closer distance.
(I can't understand it...)
She couldn't empathize with the emotions at the scene at all. Her only thought was that they were too noisy.
(I want to go back.)
Though all she could probably do when she got back was sleep.
"...Can we go back now?"
She murmured softly.
Though she wanted to go home, she hadn't come out alone—she'd been forcibly dragged out by the senpais. Under these circumstances, her opinion meant nothing.
Besides, if she spoke too loudly and was heard, she might get mocked by Gold Ship-senpai again.
That's what Kitasan Black thought, but she obviously forgot that the people beside her weren't ordinary.
Even in this environment, her voice was clearly caught by all of them.
As expected, she had absolutely no interest in racing.
Seeing Kitasan Black's current state, they realized the problem was indeed quite thorny.
Much more serious than Rice Shower's issues back then.
Tokai Teio was thinking of solutions.
She felt that in this household, probably only she could resolve these matters.
Gold Ship the Demon King would only make things worse, while McQueen would just forcefully impose her own understanding on juniors—neither of them understood education at all.
As for Rice Shower, she wasn't even in Tokai Teio's consideration, because in her eyes, Rice was also a junior who needed her care.
However, at that moment, Mejiro McQueen suddenly stood up from her seat and said, "We're leaving."
Tokai Teio: "..."
Huh?
Wait, McQueen, this matter should be left to me to handle!
But Mejiro McQueen completely ignored Tokai Teio's pleading looks. She gazed deeply at Kitasan Black, who was guiltily shrinking back.
"The race is over. There's nothing worth watching next. I'm going back. If you want to stay, stay by yourselves."
Though Kitasan Black felt somewhat guilty, hearing McQueen say this, she immediately raised her hand: "Then I'll go back with you, senpai."
Tokai Teio seemed about to speak but stopped herself. However, a single look from Mejiro McQueen silenced her.
What have you thought of?
Have you come up with a solution?
Don't tell me you need more time?
If you can't do it, step aside!
Tokai Teio wanted so badly to say that these things couldn't be rushed.
But she couldn't refute McQueen, because she truly couldn't think of any solution.
The only method she could think of was the old approach of having Kita-chan experience more races.
After all, the current problem was that Kita-chan didn't want to be an uma musume. The only thing they could do was make Kita-chan fall in love with running and racing again, right?
That could only be achieved through gradual environmental influence.
But McQueen obviously didn't approve of such a passive approach. She had always been one to face problems head-on.
(McQueen, have you already thought of a solution?)
Tokai Teio looked at McQueen in disbelief.
At this point, Gold Ship also stood up and said, "Then let's go back. Teio, if you want to stay, stay by yourself."
Tokai Teio's face darkened.
"When did I ever say I wanted to stay alone?!"
"Just now, that look of yours—wasn't that exactly the meaning of reluctantly not wanting to go back?"
"Was it? You're overthinking it."
"Hmph! Then let's leave it at that. You know the truth in your heart anyway. Not even daring to admit your own thoughts—that's why you'll forever be second-rate."
"Heh, I wonder who has the most losses. If I'm second-rate, wouldn't that make you third-rate?"
"..."
One sentence shut the Demon King up.
Though the Demon King's strength was indeed formidable—in gaming terms, she had extremely high attack and defense, plus AOE clearing ability—the problem was that even the highest stats only made her a vanilla card.
In top-tier duels, having no special mechanics meant weakness.
Currently in custom matches, the strongest was McQueen with an undefeated record. Next was Tokai Teio herself—though she couldn't outrun McQueen, she won more than she lost against the Demon King in one-on-ones. Even Rice Shower who came later had considerable strength. Gold Ship was undoubtedly at the bottom right now.
Perhaps the Demon King could only bully the current Kita-chan.
But Kita-chan hadn't entered Training Mode yet, plus she might not even race seriously, so even winning against her would be meaningless.
After being called out on her sore spot by Tokai Teio, Gold Ship fell silent for a moment, then without a word, turned to leave.
"Hey, wait for us."
Tokai Teio's voice came from behind, but Gold Ship pretended not to hear.
(Damn it, I've actually fallen to this level. The current me can't even outrun that second-rate trash!)
Unacceptable. Unforgivable. This wasn't who she should be!
Her strength shouldn't be limited to just this much!
At this rate, forget defeating the Hero—she would only grow weaker.
(Power! More power!)
A terrifying aura erupted from Gold Ship.
Seeing the Demon King like this, no one dared stand in her way. The path leading outside was immediately cleared.
Mejiro McQueen and the others followed behind Gold Ship.
Tokai Teio's expression looked conflicted.
She hadn't expected that the Demon King, who trash-talked others daily, would snap just from having her sore spot poked once.
(As a senpai, you really have no tolerance. I'm so done with you.)
Kita-chan's problem wasn't solved yet—could this Demon King please stop making people worry?
But compared to Tokai Teio who worried about so many things, the others didn't take Gold Ship's matter to heart.
It wasn't that their feelings weren't as deep as Tokai Teio's—they just didn't think the Demon King would be hurt by something like this.
After all, despite how she appeared, that Demon King's obsession was terrifying. She wasn't someone who'd be brought down so easily.
The group returned to the System Space.
Gold Ship, no longer in the mood to look after the newcomer, gave a cold snort and returned to her own world.
She needed to borrow the power of the Demon King Faction and her retainers to gain greater strength.
Though she'd been preparing for this all along, at this moment she couldn't wait even one more second.
McQueen glanced at the door Gold Ship had left through. She had a premonition that the next time they met, Gold Ship would be much stronger.
Compared to Tokai Teio who couldn't let go of her Student Council President duties, or Rice Shower who merely admired them—
Among all of them, only Gold Ship's mindset had always been pure.
That obsession with victory, that pure desire—it was the key to an uma musume's evolution.
Mejiro McQueen had basically figured out the conditions needed to open ZONE's second gate.
It's just that she currently couldn't experience major emotional fluctuations, which was why she was temporarily stuck at this level. This was also why she'd been using the system for custom matches lately—she could see the path forward but lacked the fuel to advance.
So seeing Gold Ship's outburst now, her heart actually felt some anticipation.
But before that...
Mejiro McQueen looked toward Kitasan Black, who was trying to sneak off to hide somewhere, and called out: "Kita-chan, where do you think you're going?"
"...The bathroom."
That excuse was terrible.
"No."
Kitasan Black reluctantly stopped.
"...O-Okay."
"I understand your feelings perfectly now. Don't worry, I won't force you. I'll respect your choice."
Unexpectedly, McQueen-senpai actually showed a gentle side.
This made Kitasan Black feel like the sun might rise from the west tomorrow.
"McQueen-senpai, please go back to normal. You're scaring me like this..."
"...."
Mejiro McQueen's gaze turned cold.
Ungrateful!
But seeing her like this, Kitasan Black actually relaxed and let out a breath.
That's right, McQueen-senpai should be like this.
"I'm not going to waste words with you. Not wanting to be an uma musume, not wanting to put in effort—those are your choices. But there's one thing you must do!"
"What is it?"
"Clear Story Mode for me! Because that's not just about you alone. As long as you can do this, afterward I won't say anything no matter what you want to do. Even if you decide to be a freeloader at home forever, I won't care."
Tokai Teio behind them looked thoughtful. I see, so that's your plan, McQueen.
Though, this did seem like a viable approach.
Kitasan Black also guessed that McQueen-senpai was trying to change her this way.
But she didn't care at all. She figured McQueen-senpai's plan was definitely going to backfire this time.
"No problem. But I want more. If I clear Story Mode, not only do you senpais have to support me from now on, you also have to give me spending money!"
"Fine."
"You promise?"
Kitasan Black suddenly felt like she'd found some motivation.
"You can start now."
"...In that case, I'll put in some effort."
Kitasan Black walked to the system terminal and operated the mouse to open [Story Mode].
Just as she was about to begin, a system notification suddenly informed her that no available character cards were found.
"?"
"Kita-chan, did you forget? The first time you enter Story Mode, you need to go through Training Mode first to develop a character card."
Tokai Teio reminded her from the side.
"...Can't we skip this process? I don't want to spend three years alone in Training Mode."
"Obviously, no."
The bit of motivation Kitasan Black had just generated now made her want to back out again.
After all, in her view, Training Mode was no different from hell.
Three years!
That's three whole years!
She hadn't enjoyed that much free time in her entire existence since being born.
"If you quit now, you'll have to sleep on the streets."
"..."
McQueen-senpai's demon-like words made Kitasan Black rally her spirits somewhat. Her trembling hand ultimately opened Training Mode.
The next second, accompanied by a wave of dizziness, Kitasan Black entered the Training Space.
Looking at the empty Tracen Academy before her and the Training Mode-exclusive virtual panel in front of her, Kitasan Black felt like crying but had no tears.
Though she could slack off, she shouldn't forget that Training Mode was modeled after the game's flow.
That meant there were nasty things like Career Objectives here. Even if she slacked off, she had to achieve the Career Objectives to complete this training cycle.
"Damn it, for the good life ahead—just this once, never again!"
And so, Kitasan Black, who only wanted to laze around, began her three-year training life.
...
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