"Here, this is an apology."
After buying another honey special drink as an apology, Gold Legend sat next to Gold City, feeling a bit awkward.
The setting sun dyed the sky red, the river shimmered, and two beautiful blonde Uma Musume sat on a bench by the river, a harmonious scene.
She felt like she had been seeing the sunset often recently.
Gold Legend fell into contemplation, gazing at the beautiful sunset.
"Do you all like this?"
Gold City took a sip of the honey special drink and said with a subtle expression.
"Yes, I have a friend who really likes it, so I grew to like it too. But her taste is a bit sweeter."
Gold Legend came back to her senses and said with a grin.
"It can be even sweeter?"
Gold City was a bit incredulous. For a model like her, even a regular honey special drink was contraband, as sugar and calories were major enemies of a good figure.
"So? How much did you hear?"
Gold City shook her head and got to the point.
"Just a little, really, only the very last bit."
After all, I was just passing by.
Gold Legend raised her hand and made a 'little bit' gesture.
"I'll believe you for now. By the way, who are you?"
Gold City didn't really care about such things. The person in front of her was neither a fan nor anyone related to her, so knowing a little about her wouldn't have a big impact. Moreover, she hadn't done anything that would damage her image.
"Ah, my name is Gold Legend. By age, I should be your junior."
"Hmm?"
Gold City finally focused her gaze on Gold Legend.
So beautiful.
Gold City secretly sighed. With her discerning eye and standards, she could tell that Gold Legend hadn't used any makeup, yet she maintained such beauty. She was a raw gem!
Her professional instincts made Gold City eager to act.
"Are you, from the Gold Family?"
"Yes, is it that obvious?"
No, it wasn't obvious.
Gold City had initially thought this child, like herself, merely had 'Gold' in her name, but she turned out to be genuinely from the Gold Family.
Didn't they say all Uma Musume from the Gold Family were abnormal? This child seemed very normal.
Gold City, who had some understanding of the Gold Family due to her name, fell into contemplation for a moment.
The scene became awkward for a while.
"The sunset is truly beautiful."
Gold Legend, who didn't possess sophisticated social skills, stiffly tried to break the ice.
"Ah, indeed."
Gold City came back to her senses, looked at the beautiful sunset, and agreed.
Then the scene fell silent again.
"..."
Someone, anyone, save me.
Gold Legend, who was already bad at such occasions, felt a shadow in her heart.
Suddenly, Gold City took out her phone and took a picture of the sunset.
"...Senior, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, just felt like I should record this beauty."
Gold City looked at the photo on her phone, her eyes complex, as if she wanted to say something.
"…Can you tell me your story, Senior?"
Gold Legend fell silent after saying that; she knew the girl in front of her would speak.
She also knew that all she needed to do afterward was listen in silence.
"I'm nothing but a doll with nothing inside except a pretty exterior."
Perhaps because of Gold Legend's words, or simply because she needed to unburden herself, Gold City opened her heart to the stranger beside her.
"When I first started modeling, I was really happy. If I could pull off the expressions and poses they wanted, they'd praise me, and that felt good. So I loved the job—performing exactly the way they expected."
Gold City gazed at the slowly setting sun, lost in memory.
"But one day while I was strolling down the street, I saw a huge billboard with my face on it—and suddenly this thought popped up: [Strange, who is that person?]"
"[Who is this stiffly stereotyped, prettily decorated thing?] Then I snapped back: that person was [Gold City]. The one who didn't know who it was turned out to be me, standing there staring up at it."
"I was suddenly terrified. I wanted to scream; I felt restless for no reason. So I just ran—ran without getting tired."
"Then I saw it—the sunset. I'd run to a place I didn't know at all, tripped and fallen, my feet covered in mud, my favorite dress all tattered. But the sky, for some reason, was breathtakingly beautiful—just like right now."
Gold City propped her cheek on her right hand, entranced by the sunset sky.
"…"
"Ah, sorry for dumping all that nonsense on you."
Coming back to herself, Gold City realized she'd bared her heart and felt embarrassed.
Gold Legend shook her head to show it was fine, then smilingly gave her an easy out.
"So after that, you decided you had to run?"
Emotional Quotient
"…Yeah. That was the first time I truly felt I was [me]. My feet hurt like hell, my lungs felt ready to burst, but the me at that moment was the real me."
"So I came to Tracen Academy. I wanted to become a [me] who could keep on running, to carve my existence deep into everyone's memory. That's what I hoped. But…"
As if remembering something unpleasant, Gold City stopped.
"But?"
"Nothing… it's just that even at Tracen I still can't seem to escape the fate of being a doll. Whoever it is, the first thing they see is my appearance."
Gold City relaxed, leaned back on the bench, and stared vacantly at the nearly vanished sunset, disheartened.
"I'm a little tired. Maybe I should just give up, don't you think?"
"…Isn't it beautiful?"
"Huh?"
"[Running and being your true self]—isn't that beautiful? Senior Gold City, your dream is as lovely as your appearance."
Gold Legend spoke from the bottom of her heart.
"…You've got guts saying that."
Feeling the sincerity in Legend's words, Gold City couldn't help blushing.
"Dreams are dazzling—they're worth chasing with everything you've got. So don't give up, Senior City. If you abandon even your dream, you'll really become a doll."
As she said it, Gold Legend pictured all those Uma Musume running for their dreams.
"Shut up! Hmph, looks like you've underestimated me."
Reacting to Gold Legend's teasing tone, Gold City retorted, lacking confidence.
"I'll cheer for your dream, so do your best, Senior City."
"…With you saying that much, I guess I have no choice but to try. I'll remember your words—but if you ever treat me like a doll even once, I'll knock you flying!"
"Yes~ I got it, Senior City."
"What do you mean, [I got it]… you're so annoying. And when did I let you call me that?"
"Eh, I can't? Senior's so mean."
"You little—!"
Under the sunset the two golden Horse Girls played happily until night fell.
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