Sha Tin Racecourse is a world-class venue, hosting numerous top-tier international events each year. The sun was slowly sinking in the west, and now, at the peak of the day's excitement, the racecourse was buzzing with energy.
With spectators packing the stands and live broadcasts airing on television, countless eyes were fixed on this very track.
They had all come for today's event—the Citibank Sha Tin Special Race.
This would be a clash of the highest caliber, gathering the world's finest Uma Musume alongside promising young newcomers, all under the spotlight.
Every competing Uma Musume was filled with burning passion, ready to burst across the 2,000-meter course like fireworks in a brief, dazzling celebration.
"Get out there!"
"Hey, can't I just withdraw?"
...Let me rephrase—not everyone was brimming with enthusiasm.
Platinum trembled as she clutched her chair, wishing she could just vanish into the floor. "How many people did you say are watching?"
Agnes Tachyon tugged at Platinum's arm, trying to drag her out, but Platinum was surprisingly strong and wouldn't budge. Instead, Tachyon ended up panting and out of breath.
"Sha Tin Racecourse holds about 80,000 people. And it looks pretty packed out there."
Platinum's voice shook. "Eighty thousand? I've never seen that many people in my life."
And like she'd said before, not in her past life either.
Eighty thousand people... if each of them spat just once, she'd drown in it.
Stage fright, huh? Tachyon clicked her tongue in annoyance. After all that big talk, now she chickens out.
But then again, jumping into a race like this without enough experience—maybe this kind of reaction was to be expected?
This special race wasn't just for those retired old-timers. Sure, they were the main attraction, but there were also a few young Uma Musume, like Platinum, who'd traveled all this way just to get stomped. They were probably just as nervous as she was right now.
Thinking that, Tachyon felt a little better and forced a smile to comfort her. "What are you scared of?"
"Nobody here even knows you. They're all here for Golden Sixty and those other stars. Just go out and run. If the commentator so much as glances your way, I'll count it as your win."
"Is that supposed to be comforting? Are you serious?"
"Stop wasting your breath. Just run." Tachyon's last shred of patience had worn thin. She picked up the chair—with Platinum still clinging to it—and tossed both out of the locker room, then shut the door for good measure.
Stuck outside still hugging the chair, Platinum didn't know whether to stay or go.
Well, her legs had turned to jelly anyway.
She tentatively knocked on the door, but it was clear Tachyon wasn't letting her back in. With a long sigh, Platinum leaned against the wall and reluctantly trudged toward the track.
She'd made her bed, and now she had to lie in it—even if it meant running upside down.
That short corridor felt endless, but she finally reached the end. Like a thief, she cautiously peeked out, then immediately pulled her head back.
It was too dazzling, too overwhelming.
And she didn't mean the young Uma Musume already standing ready on the track—she meant the spectator stands.
This was a sea of people, a massive crowd. For the first time, Platinum understood that "sea of people" wasn't just an expression.
"Now entering the track is a young contender from the mainland—Jade Lion! Though she hasn't yet competed internationally, she has completed the roughly 1,000-kilometer Mongolia Derby—an Uma Musume with exceptional endurance."
The Uma Musume now on the track had just passed Platinum moments earlier. Like Platinum, she was pure white, but with a head of curly hair that looked permed, giving her the cute, sturdy appearance of a little lion.
She waved to the crowd, then stomped her booted feet on the ground as if not quite comfortable in her racing outfit.
"Let's see if Jade Lion can leverage her strengths and achieve a good result today."
Well, she sure isn't nervous. Guess that's what you'd expect from an Uma Musume who finished the Mongolia Derby.
Platinum watched quietly from behind. Jade Lion kept waving on the track, but her smile was growing stiff, and she kept glancing over at Platinum, trying to signal her with her eyes.
...Why isn't this girl coming out? Jade Lion's smile was practically frozen on her face. If the crowd couldn't hear her, she'd probably have started cracking jokes just to lighten the mood.
It's your turn to step up!
Finally noticing the awkward look on Jade Lion's face, Platinum pursed her lips, slapped her cheeks twice, lifted her head, straightened her chest, and walked out onto the track.
Time to show you all the sunny side of a gloomy character!
She wasn't like those guys from Gintama who had no ultimate moves and just slashed away with swords!
Here goes... steady breathing... I'm gonna use Ripple Overdrive!
Lost in these wild thoughts, Platinum stepped onto the racetrack.
She was wearing her racing outfit—almost identical to the one she remembered. A wide, plain white cloak flowed behind her, its gentle breeze causing it to flutter like the delicate wings of a moth.
Beneath the cloak, her slender waist was faintly visible. Further down, plain high-heeled boots reached up to her thighs, covering nearly her entire legs.
Though she wasn't carrying that elegant great bow, Platinum wore semi-transparent black gloves as thin as gossamer. On her right hand was a thumb ring, more for decoration than practicality.
The overall color scheme was white, giving her the grace of a swan, yet accents of black adorned the inner lining, collar, cuffs, and gloves. The entire outfit, a stark mix of black and white, was eye-catching and unmistakable.
Platinum didn't think it looked good. All she felt was that her stomach was going to catch a cold.
Though saying so might hurt the hardworking tailor's feelings... this outfit was seriously lacking material. The top half didn't even cover her midsection.
Looking around, Platinum realized that among all the Uma Musume present, she was showing the most skin!
"From Japan, we have Platinum! Just one month ago, she participated in the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup, leading from start to finish and winning by a staggering ten lengths. She's a promising newcomer with well-rounded abilities."
"With exceptional speed and remarkable endurance, Platinum possesses all the qualities of an outstanding Uma Musume. Let's look forward to her performance today."
Platinum maintained a painted-on smile, inwardly imagining that everyone in the stands was just a bunch of carrots—treating it like a single-player game.
Self-hypnosis, activate!
Jade Lion, standing nearby, watched as Platinum's face went through a kaleidoscope of expressions, like someone had shaken up a bottle of fruit pulp orange juice.
--+--
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.