"How did things end up like this…"
Shiragawa stared at the number on her phone and let out a helpless sigh.
She knew her own limitations, so she had long expected to be eliminated in the selection trials.
What Shiragawa hadn't anticipated, however, was that Dream Weaver would stand up for her in front of everyone, openly criticizing that arrogant European trainer.
If that was all, it might have been manageable.
Shiragawa had even prepared herself to share the backlash with Dream Weaver. But she never imagined the situation would escalate to this extent.
The moment Dream Weaver turned into a streak of red light and stormed past the finish line with an unstoppable force, Shiragawa's mind went blank. She had always sensed that Dream Weaver was stronger than most of their peers, but she never dared to imagine it was to this degree.
And then came Richard's invitation, the joint challenge issued to Europe alongside Symboli Rudolf and Mr. C.B., and following them to Symboli Rudolf's secret base—through most of it, Shiragawa felt completely dazed.
Even during the conversation in the room earlier, she had barely managed to gather her wits. It was only after they had left and walked for over ten minutes that she finally began to collect herself.
Shiragawa glanced sideways at Dream Weaver, pursed her lips, and cautiously asked:
"Dream Weaver… do you really understand what you're going into?"
The power and influence represented by the words "European Uma Musume Racing world" were not something a mere freshman from Tracen Academy could challenge.
Shiragawa was afraid she might accidentally fall into an abyss she couldn't climb out of.
Hearing Shiragawa's worried words, Dream Weaver didn't break her stride and replied calmly:
"Of course I know. Right now, I'm going to eat."
As she spoke, she pointed toward the cafeteria just ahead and nodded at Shiragawa beside her.
"Hey, don't joke around! You know exactly what I'm talking about!"
Thrown off by her deflection, the anxiety in Shiragawa's heart was quickly replaced by flustered irritation. She poked Dream Weaver's side and grumbled in dissatisfaction.
Dream Weaver sidestepped the poke, then turned to Shiragawa and said:
"I will win the Triple Crown. That will never change."
"But that doesn't mean you have to confront the European Uma Musume Racing world head-on! Didn't Shinzan train in Europe before? After receiving that kind of training, winning the Triple Crown would be easier, wouldn't it?!"
"But I simply don't like them. And you saw it too, right? According to their way of thinking, a Triple Crown winner who doesn't join the European Uma Musume Racing world would never be allowed to exist."
Dream Weaver turned her head, looking seriously at Shiragawa.
"If we're bound to clash sooner or later, what does it matter if it happens a little earlier?"
"And… the Triple Crown won this way might just change this world, who knows?"
Looking into Dream Weaver's dark eyes that seemed to swallow all hesitation, Shiragawa found the words she had meant to say suddenly vanish. All she could do was sigh in defeat.
"But it's going to be so difficult…"
Shiragawa wasn't a fool. After what had just happened, she realized exactly what the absolute authority of the European Uma Musume Racing world demanded as sacrifice.
But like countless others, she couldn't help feeling intimidated by that authority.
Centuries of accumulated advantage—could one person's strength really change anything?
"We'll never know… unless we try, right?"
Dream Weaver chuckled softly and shook her head. In a way, she was already accustomed to hardship—from awakening Orfevre's legendary talent, to facing the peak-form Narita Brian with an injured body.
She had come this far already.
Now it was just the entire European Uma Musume Racing world standing in her way. Did she have any reason to be afraid now?
Seeing her so unshaken, Shiragawa took a deep breath.
The emotions pent up inside her suddenly erupted in her chest like a volcano. Though fear of the European racing world still lingered, she felt a powerful urge to speak her mind.
As if steeling herself with some firm resolution, Shiragawa said to Dream Weaver:
"Now I'm starting to think you might be the kind of fool Symboli Rudolf was talking about earlier."
"But what can I do? I'm your class president and your roommate. Even knowing you're a total blockhead, I guess I have to tag along and help."
After saying this, Shiragawa smiled at Dream Weaver, placed a hand over her chest, feeling the fierce emotions swirling inside, and spoke slowly:
"I don't have the talent of Mr. C.B., to be of help in your Triple Crown races. I don't have the charisma of Symboli Rudolf, able to gather so many professionals into a team."
"Compared to them, I'm just an ordinary Uma Musume."
As she said, the Uma Musume named Shiragawa was only one among countless ordinary ones.
Like millions of ordinary Uma Musume, she had worked hard to get here, driven by dreams for the future.
In the world shaped by the European Uma Musume Racing regime, the racecourse would never have a place for her.
Once her dream shattered, she, like so many others, would have to quietly leave the stage.
But Dream Weaver had shown her a possibility. Having grown up within the order constructed by the European Uma Musume Racing world, Shiragawa didn't know what this other path Dream Weaver spoke of would look like.
She couldn't even imagine what the world would become if the authority of the European Uma Musume Racing world were overturned.
But just as Dream Weaver said earlier—won't we only know if we try?
This world, filled with strife and chains, didn't suit Shiragawa. And it certainly didn't suit the millions of ordinary Uma Musume like her.
She had already been hurt once by the selection trials. Many before her had suffered the same pain. She didn't want to see that cycle repeat anymore.
So, even though fear still lingered in her heart, even though she thought it was a fantasy for so few to overturn the European Uma Musume Racing world, Shiragawa resolutely threw herself into this whirlpool, determined to contribute her own share of strength.
"If there's anything at all I can do to help you, I'll give it my all. I may only know the little that I know, but even that might be of some use to you."
"So… if there's anything you don't know in the future… just come to me, like you did before! I'll give everything I have to you!"
As she spoke, Shiragawa took Dream Weaver's hand. Feeling the warmth of Dream Weaver's palm, Shiragawa suddenly felt as if it contained an ember capable of changing the world.
She quietly tightened her fingers, holding that warmth a little tighter, and made a silent vow in her heart:
Even if I'm just a tiny, insignificant presence, if I can help this new flame burn brighter and farther, until it lights up the whole world—then I must use everything I have to fuel that fire.
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T/N: Lemme predict the future... Dream Weaver will die!
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.