To Kitasan Black's surprise, during the rest of her time there, she didn't encounter any attacks from the two young ladies of the Satomi family. Though they frequently appeared in her field of vision and would come up to greet her, they maintained the same not-too-close, not-too-distant distance as they had at school.
(What exactly happened? Wasn't the young lady Diamond here to get the recording from me?)
Though she was puzzled as to why Satono Diamond had changed her mind, the result was good for her.
Pulling out the protective charm hanging around her neck by a red cord, Kitasan Black suspected this might be the good luck from Kobayashi's blessing protecting her.
Come to think of it, Kobayashi had suddenly given her this charm—could she have foreseen this tribulation during summer vacation?
If it were anyone else, she wouldn't have made such an outlandish guess, but this was Kobayashi Reki, who could hear the voice of dragon veins.
She was a super genius with extraordinary talent in the feng shui lineage—in a sense, a genuine psychic.
(If this really is Kobayashi's blessing, that's truly impressive.)
With gratitude toward Kobayashi Reki, Kitasan Black began to relax and enjoy this vacation.
Though she inevitably ended up playing with those two young ladies along the way, as long as things didn't progress further, she didn't mind.
Thinking this way, Kitasan Black didn't notice that her boundaries were shrinking bit by bit.
The seven-day vacation passed quickly. Apart from the day she first encountered the two young ladies of the Satomi family, which had her on edge, she had a great time the rest of the vacation. One could even say this wealthy lifestyle was exactly what she had always aspired to.
McQueen-senpai, come take a look—this is the life a proper young lady should have! Your lifestyle is nothing like a real young lady's!
Before returning to the train station, Satono Crown came to find Kitasan Black to say goodbye.
Not just a farewell for this occasion, but also for their future reunion.
"Kitasan-san, does this mean we've become friends?"
The moment Satono Crown's words fell, a dangerous gaze came from Satono Diamond behind her.
Looking at the young lady Crown before her, face full of expectation, Kitasan Black felt somewhat bewildered. So this young lady's earlier talk of friendship was just this kind of superficial relationship? That was fine then—this type of friend wasn't much different from a stranger anyway. She wouldn't feel bad about crushing her later.
But she still had to say, this wasn't the kind of friendship she acknowledged.
"No. I don't think our relationship has improved. And I don't need friends."
"I understand. Then someday I'll definitely make you acknowledge me. Though I'll be transferring to Hong Kong soon, I will definitely come back!"
"That day won't come. Don't just say whatever you—forget it. You'll understand when the time comes."
Kitasan Black thought that after today, she wouldn't see Satono Crown for a long time. The next time they met would be when they had both become professional uma musume. By then, she wouldn't need to hide her strength anymore. Once they stepped onto the same racecourse, Satono Crown would naturally understand they were people from different worlds and would naturally come to fear the powerful strength she had inherited from her senpais.
When that time came, even without her saying anything, Satono Crown would probably distance herself.
Seeing Kitasan Black's confident expression that they would definitely not become friends, Satono Crown felt somewhat puzzled but didn't think too much of it.
She believed she would eventually earn Kitasan Black's acknowledgment—acknowledgment as both a friend and a rival.
For that purpose, she would definitely refine her abilities in Hong Kong. Then she would reunite with Kitasan Black on the racecourse and get to know each other anew!
"Nee-san, our train is here. We should go."
Satono Diamond walked up with a smile on her face.
(My dear sister, didn't you tell me before that you have no feelings for Kitasan-san? So what are you trying to do now?)
Just wanting to become friends?
That's not allowed either!
Kitasan-san only needs me as her friend, because only I know the real Kitasan-san.
"Alright, I'm leaving then. Kitasan-san, goodbye. Let's meet again on the racecourse."
"..."
Hearing Satono Crown's declaration-like statement, Kitasan Black's gaze unconsciously sharpened.
Meeting again on the racecourse?
She knew Satono Crown could only say something so naive because she knew nothing.
But it still made her feel unpleasant.
There would be no opponents on her track. Once the race began, Satono Crown would be forced to recognize this whether she wanted to or not.
When that time came, she would be like Satono Diamond, with fear of her etched into her heart.
What a boring game of friendship. The racecourse is such a cruel place, yet you approach it with such a carefree attitude.
If that's the battlefield where you've poured your blood, sweat, and dreams, then be more ruthless about it.
Face me with the attitude you'd show an enemy. That way, I can stop thinking about anything and simply crush all of you decisively.
In Kitasan Black's eyes, those insect-like shadows appeared once again.
But Satono Crown, having already turned around, didn't notice this scene.
That monster-like aura was surging within Kitasan Black.
Though still suppressed, it writhed like twisted, dark insects, struggling as if ready to burst out and destroy this world at any moment.
Satono Diamond sensed that familiar aura. Even though she thought she had overcome her fear of Kitasan Black, her body couldn't help but tremble at this moment. The eyes of that Kitasan Black who was different from usual—those eyes on the racecourse—once again dominated her mind.
Empty, indifferent to everything, gazing down at them as if standing in some more distant sky.
But even while feeling fear, she simultaneously had an irrepressible urge to draw closer.
She wanted to know, wanted to understand, wanted to delve deeper into that abyss.
Even knowing it might be some kind of absolute taboo that should never be touched.
What kind of scenery did that person see through those eyes?
While wanting to approach, she also had the desire to catch up.
It was just that achieving such a thing was too difficult, so she didn't even dare reveal such thoughts. She could only hide them in the deepest part of her heart, constantly pushing herself forward, constantly squeezing out her potential—all just to get closer to that realm.
She wanted all of Kitasan-san, so she had to become a woman worthy of her.
Having made her resolution, Satono Diamond temporarily suppressed the fear in her heart.
Satono Diamond and Satono Crown headed in one direction while Kitasan Black headed toward where her parents were.
Unlike Kitasan Black's family, who had to wait for the train, the Satomi family traveled on a special service—their private train, so to speak.
This wasn't so strange, because the Satomi family was a top-tier conglomerate in this world—not just at the Japanese domestic level.
Their political status might not be high, but the Satomi family's financial power was truly immense.
The insufficient political status was only because the Satomi family's uma musume hadn't produced any true monsters.
Before returning to her parents, Kitasan Black had already readjusted her mood.
Every time something like this happened, she realized she was still an uma musume after all—otherwise, she couldn't possibly have such obsessive feelings about racing.
What exactly was her attitude toward racing? She herself couldn't say for certain. It was a very contradictory feeling.
She wanted to escape, yet also felt indifferent, while also feeling confident that she absolutely wouldn't lose to anyone, along with an aversion to being challenged...
But Kitasan Black wasn't really willing to acknowledge these feelings.
Because she always felt that these emotions perhaps didn't belong to her, but were influences from her senpais.
After all, she was just an ordinary person whose dream was a peaceful and prosperous daily life. How could she possibly have such complicated thoughts?
But sometimes she still couldn't control these feelings.
Kitasan Black genuinely felt that she was also a troublesome woman. How unlucky.
"Finished saying goodbye to your friends? Seeing you make such excellent friends at your new school, Mom is very pleased."
They're not friends, she thought, but Kitasan Black didn't say it aloud. Saying that would only make her mom worry about her situation.
During this time, her mom had also gotten to know the two young ladies of the Satomi family.
With those two young ladies' demeanor, they had certainly earned high marks with her mother.
After all, who wouldn't like young ladies who appeared cultured and well-mannered, gentle and lovely, very polite and considerate?
If not for the buff of them being future opponents, Kitasan Black actually wouldn't particularly resist becoming friends with these two young ladies.
If they became friends, she could shamelessly ask them to support her, this useless person.
But it wasn't possible. They were destined rivals. As long as this relationship existed, they couldn't become friends.
"Hmm... But Kita-chan, you really are impressive. To become good friends with both of those young ladies from the Satomi family."
Her old man was somewhat surprised that his Kita-chan could earn the friendship of those two young ladies, knowing their status in the Satomi family.
After all, those were the two strongest of the Satomi family's new generation, the two genius young ladies that the Satomi family had high hopes for.
You could tell from their names—one symbolized the Crown of the Satomi family, and the other was the Satomi family's most brilliant Diamond.
Without considerable talent oneself, it would probably be impossible to gain the favor of such high-level young ladies.
Though he believed his Kita-chan's talent wouldn't lose to anyone, actually seeing Kita-chan become friends with young ladies of that caliber still startled him a bit. Judging by how those two young ladies had treated Kita-chan these past few days, it didn't seem like just a casual acquaintance.
He wasn't confident enough to think those two young ladies had befriended Kita-chan because of his relationship with Osamu. His friendship with Osamu didn't carry that much weight—after all, Osamu was just an adopted son-in-law when all was said and done.
If it were just Diamond alone being close to Kita-chan, he could understand. But that young lady Crown was reportedly no less competitive than Diamond in the succession race. For both of them to be close to Kita-chan at the same time wasn't due to family background—it could only mean Kita-chan had earned it herself.
"You're overthinking it. Children's friendships are quite simple."
Facing his wife's reproachful gaze, the old man obediently nodded in agreement.
Though he didn't agree, his wife was right. He just wanted to express admiration for his Kita-chan's impressiveness.
Besides, Osamu had also started looking at Kita-chan with new eyes lately—otherwise, he wouldn't have been so happy when Diamond beat Kita-chan at the sports festival.
That guy had later posted photos his daughter took at the sports festival on his social media account, even specifically tagging his account. It was infuriating.
But that guy only made such a big deal about things when he really cared.
If he truly didn't care, he would have looked down his nose at people like before.
"Oh right, Kita-chan. For this year's Tracen Academy open day, your school's teacher made you the team leader, right?"
"Dad, you're well-informed."
"Your teacher specifically called to contact me. Told me to make sure you don't make any mistakes when the time comes."
"Then don't worry. I have a very capable vice leader. I've left everything to her."
Kitasan Black had full confidence in the young lady Diamond's abilities.
Hearing this, the old man immediately became annoyed. He picked up the newspaper and lightly tapped Kitasan Black's head.
"You really aren't taking this important matter seriously, are you? Don't you know that's Central Tracen—the holy land of Japanese uma musume!"
"Of course I know. That's why I've entrusted everything to Diamond-san to handle."
Holy land, my foot. There's not a single one there who can fight, Kitasan Black silently complained.
Hearing that Kita-chan had handed everything over to Osamu's daughter, the old man still felt Kita-chan was being too careless, but he was also somewhat relieved.
After all, Diamond was a serious, good kid. Plus, with Madam Satomi there to assist, they would definitely do better than he and Kita-chan could.
Kita-chan's decision was correct. Professional matters should be left to more professional people—that wasn't wrong.
But he really didn't like Kita-chan's attitude. That was Central Tracen Academy. Kita-chan's flippant attitude would get her looked down upon there.
So for the rest of the time while waiting for the train, Kitasan Black was forced to endure her old man's fatherly education.
She had to listen carefully and answer accurately, or she'd get a paper tube bonked on her head.
Though her old man hadn't used much force, it was still so embarrassing. She was completely numb.
...
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