Tokyo.
The small streamer team from China who'd come to watch the Winter Dream Cup, along with Mino Naru and the others, had gathered at a rather famous local restaurant.
This was recommended by Mino Naru—a Japanese Uma Musume and international student from China.
But the cheerful mood of arriving in Tokyo to finally meet Barbatos in person and cheer her on live had grown somewhat heavy.
In this room, at least half of the streamers had been professional players before retiring and starting their streaming careers. They understood better than anyone the frustration of losing a match.
They could empathize, more or less, with how Barbatos must have felt after falling short in the Dream Cup.
At the peak of her confidence, she had run straight into rivals who were a full step ahead, hitting what might be the first and biggest hurdle of her career.
"Piao Laoshi" pulled out a freshly bought pack of cigarettes, tore it open, and was about to light one.
He understood that feeling better than most. He still remembered his own peak, when four of his passives got blasted away in one shot—just completely shattered.
Barbatos was probably feeling pretty much the same way he did after that match, right?
His hand holding the cigarette moved to light it, to settle his thoughts, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mino Naru, who had been their guide ever since they arrived in Japan.
Looking at this middle school-aged Uma Musume with reddened eyes, who had burst into loud sobs the moment Barbatos lost, he ultimately chose to put the cigarette away.
Before the race, Mino Naru had been the one among them who best understood the sheer strength of the Legendary Uma Musume.
She was the one who had told them Barbatos likely couldn't win against them. Yet in the end, she was also the one who cried openly.
Still just a kid, after all. Didn't seem much like a university student Uma Musume.
Still, it was she who had organized the Chinese spectators at the venue to cheer for Barbatos before the race.
It was also she who had coordinated in advance: if Barbatos lost, they would all give her encouragement together.
'If only I had fans like that back in my League of Legends pro league days,' Piao Laoshi couldn't help but reminisce, a pang of sentimentality hitting him.
He was the first to break the heavy silence, opening the conversation. "You know, the spectators at the Uma Musume races all seem really friendly," he remarked.
He didn't use his usual streaming voice or any of his witty banter. It didn't feel right just now.
"When the race ended, so many people joined us yelling 'Next time!' That's a scene you'd never expect at a League tournament."
"No kidding. These days it's pretty much all 'adaptive applause' over there. No chance of that happening," someone chimed in, following the lead, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
As for why they hadn't met Barbatos privately yet after coming to Japan, they all knew that after a fresh loss, Barbatos must be feeling awful. She needed some time, for now.
Besides, tomorrow was New Year's in Japan. If they were going to meet up, it would have to be after the New Year. They could pay her a visit then.
After this Winter Dream Cup, it was clear Barbatos had suffered an injury. Visiting then would also be a chance to check on her.
Although they all had their own things to attend to, staying in Japan for a little while longer wasn't a problem.
As the seasoned streamers chatted amongst themselves, they also kept an eye on Mino Naru. As the elders in the room, they were quietly looking out for their fellow Uma Musume.
"In competitive sports, there are always wins and losses. It's something every athlete goes through," one said.
"Look at me. Lots of people think I'm retired, but I'm just unwanted. I'm still hanging in there."
"I'm sure Barbatos can keep going too. Next time, she'll definitely win it back."
Listening to the lanky man's words of comfort, Mino Naru, who had been silent, let out a soft, "Mhm."
Her voice still carried a hint of a sob. "I know. I just couldn't help it. Even though Barbatos tried very hard."
Barbatos worked hard. But her opponents worked hard too. For athletes, hard work is the cheapest currency.
Every professional player there couldn't help but think that same line.
While they might not understand the world of Uma Musume as well as Mino Naru did, as athletes in competitive fields, this much was fundamentally the same.
And Barbatos was undoubtedly a gifted player. Before the Winter Dream Cup, even while streaming League of Legends every day, she could still effortlessly win all her races.
In the half-month leading up to the Winter Dream Cup, Barbatos stopped streaming. For two weeks, she was busy training hard, preparing for the Dream Cup.
That hard training? The other Legendary Uma Musume were probably doing it too, maybe even more intensely.
Competitive events are judged at the moment you stand on that stage, not by what happens behind the scenes.
They chose not to voice these thoughts. Mino Naru surely understood this logic too. But when your favorite Uma Musume loses, what fan wouldn't have complicated feelings?
Everyone needs to vent a little sometimes. Letting it out makes you feel better.
"Just didn't expect even 'The Grand Prophet's' cursed blessing to fail this time," someone mentioned.
Before the Dream Cup started, the streamer known as "The Master of Management Science" and "The Great Cursed Blessing Immortal" had declared Barbatos would definitely lose. Usually, after he said something like that, the opposite would happen.
But this time, he was right.
"That's all just a joke everyone's in on. In the end, competitive sports speak through skill, especially in a running competition."
"Maybe China's 'Management Science' just doesn't work on Japanese Uma Musume?"
The atmosphere at the table gradually grew less stifled under their deliberate steering.
Mino Naru had calmed down a little too. She parted her lips slightly and took a small sip of juice, wondering if she should message Barbatos now. Or maybe wait until after tomorrow? Ask how her injury was, avoid mentioning the race for the time being.
Just as she was thinking this, her phone, resting nearby, lit up with a notification sound—the one for messages from specially marked friends.
Opening QQ, she saw a message from Barbatos.
["I'm sorry."]
["Next time you're back in Japan, I'll win!"]
Mino Naru gave a soft "Mhm," nodding obediently in her seat. "There's no need for 'sorry' at all."
A moment later, she realized Barbatos couldn't see her actions from the other side of the phone. She quickly reached out and typed a reply on QQ.
["Okay!"]
Right after she sent the message, a push notification popped up at the top of her screen.
It was from a Japanese app, one that tracked the latest news about Uma Musume.
[The Prodigy's Nightmare: Barbatos's Injury]
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, 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.