Chapter 1962: with translation of chapter title

NO. 582: Horse girls help horse girls!

When even the feet, long numb from excruciating pain, could no longer be controlled freely, and that dangerous momentum could not be steadied off, Qianming stumbled and fell to the ground.

However, on the field filled with cheers, there was no time to let out an obvious gasp, because after her came one, two, three, four, five, six……

Not a single one could stay upright; each and every athlete more or less collapsed to the ground.

Fortunately, they could still slightly adjust their direction, so as not to incur the awkward post-race label of 'trying to kill the champion in a human pyramid'.

Moreover, the sight of each falling face‑first easily invited the alternative label of 'trying to eat grass to recover HP'.

After all, though many of them were shouting in pain, they could still force out a smile uglier than tears, roll over, and, straining, tilt their head toward the champion, lifting an arm to throw a punch that was neither clearly congratulatory nor thankful, nor a tribute, nor a challenge. They still looked quite energetic, and there was no sign of a serious injury.

And the Saichang system's excellent sound-capture precision can also fully pick up utterances like "Thank you," "Really impressive," "Amazing run," and the like, then, aided by the same high-precision recognition function, produce subtitles in various colors corresponding to the dedicated representative colors already set in each fan group.

As for the champion mixed among the athletes shouting in pain, his mind remained foggy and his field of vision was still a blur.

He did not respond to others with his former composure; he merely, in a blankness of mind, recalled past scenes like a revolving lantern.

It seemed, as if due to insufficient brain oxygen, that the past would occasionally stutter.

A sudden rain kicked up a storm on the poor track mud, tearing through the horse pack—the Gaoyue Prize, its sharpness fully revealed; a verdant green, appearing late in the early summer's mildness, fell far behind yet in the straight chase broke convention with an astonishing final kick—the Jidong Derby; a warm day, violating the taboo of rushing ahead on the slope, still managed to suppress the dangerous Chrysanthemum Prize; a golden hue, lagging behind the pack, only began to exert force in the middle of the final straight, breaking free of the horse herd and even creating a new Saichang record—the Autumn Emperor.

Having achieved the Four Crowns, what followed was a meeting with Ludaofu Xiangzheng: Triple Crown versus Triple Crown.

The streak of steps continually surpassing common sense was thus obstructed, like successive failures after losing one's spiritual energy; although still wanting to challenge, they nevertheless chose retirement under the pressure of bodily discomfort and the surrounding environment, unable to stand on the same Saichang as Ludaofu Xiangzheng, and had to watch what came next——

——the junior who always followed nearby, Gechengwangpai, also retired under similar circumstances.

——Ludaofu Xiangzheng, left alone on the Saichang, continued to win repeatedly in solitude, laying down a curtain that looked glamorous to outsiders but that both I and Gechengwangpai clearly saw as sorrowful.

For a while, I even dared not see her.

Even if she would not blame me, even if outsiders saw me as the one who should make Ludaofu avoid me as the victim, even if I ought to go bless her retirement and graduation……

Afterward, when did that relationship return to normal?

It seems to have been a chance encounter in an izakaya.

After Gechengwangpai graduated, they traveled everywhere, leaving no trace, but I remained working at the center, and Ludaofu still held the center's student council presidency, which clearly should have been rotated long ago.

Such encounters were inevitable, and so were the heavy drink sessions.

What was said then I can't recall now, but I have a feeling I could guess that there was such a line spoken.

I really… really want to keep running……

Even ordinary morning jogs are watched anxiously by people these days—truly I can't get through a day.

I once considered whether to run away like Gechengwangpai, to live where no one knows me, perhaps then I could run normally without people worrying—what am I thinking, do the friends and family here matter that much?

There are still so many cute underclassmen who love to get all bruised up—how could I feel okay giving up this place? Not even the Senpai from Shunchuan is an exception, right?

Although I have such experience, I would rather cover my ears and tail and stay here to watch over everyone…… With such a role model ahead, how could I flee for such a small reason?

As long as I think about it, I can still endure and go on.

Although I watch batch after batch of new shoots sprout and grow, watch those children there—whether happy or sad, suffering or joyful—running on the screen, I can't help but lower my gaze to my own legs, and I can't help but miss the past.

But those days can still be gotten through.

As long as I don't catch a glimpse of that little ghost peeking at me from the windowsill.

Ah, I can't really call it a little ghost anymore.

He already looks like a little handsome guy; at first glance he seems hardly changed, still that aloof, deadpan face when alone, but a closer look shows quite a change.

Not only is he handsome enough to be on camera, he even appears here, as if the news of his earlier TV appearance had been caught by the board chair.

Of course, I might also be at fault for not being able to resist going over and striking up a conversation, but does that mean that guy has no fault in pretending not to know me while wanting to say something?!

Why be so restrained?!

It makes me feel as if I'm looking in a mirror, forcing myself to recall the self I've wasted for so many years.

Geez… even though I'm used to it, why is it so easy to trigger those memories again, and I can't help but add trouble for Sirius by making that little ghost do a normal trainer's job?

This just makes it look like I'm deliberately hiding him—truly redundant, since it's useless anyway.

That guy never hid at all, and his path is completely unlike a normal trainer's—chaotic, just like my own career back then…… Whenever I see other junior underclassmen training and racing, I can't help but lament how many detours I took back then, some luck, some self-inflicted, but I guess I should just let it go.

I keep lamenting things that will grow old.

Hmm~ my persona is supposed to be a more affable, younger confidante sister than Maruzen (?), so I can't give others the chance to call me "auntie" or "old lady"!

You see, that guy also doesn't care about seniority, and he's started saying some improper probing remarks—really annoying, since I clearly don't want to think about it yet I'm being teased like this; I really shouldn't get too close to him, right?

Tomorrow I'll start distancing myself from that guy and stop watching his training!

Just like that, CB, you have piles of reference books to read—how can you waste time chatting with old fans? Uh… maybe you should still chat with old fans?

I don't want to look at medical reference books anymore! Can I just not take this certification?! Ahhh!!

I went to look again.

Qianming, Qianming, you can't get close to him anymore—always thinking of the past is definitely not good, that guy has plenty of horse girls around him, each more talented than the last, don't look! It hurts the eyes!

I went to look again, and I couldn't help but chime in to give guidance to two of them.

No way, I'm feeling worse and worse—I'm not going tomorrow!

Focus on secluded training!

I was asked to substitute-teach? What the hell?! Where's there a new trainer who doesn't seize the time to gain experience and just runs around everywhere?! And they even handed over the horse girl they're responsible for to someone else?!

But bringing along juniors is quite fun!

Eh, it's fun! Especially that junior, who's quite interesting, seems even interested in Aomo—truly fun, I feel the days have a hint of something to look forward to.

……

Is this memory getting weirder and weirder?

What happened to the promised revolving lantern? It's turned into this ever-finer diary?! Skip time!

Skip to the release of the Dream Cup news!

Skip to me meeting with Ludaofu and them to discuss pressuring Aomo!

My heart jumps like a drum!

No! Whose heart is beating like a drum?!

What happened to the promised competition-related stuff?!

The Qianming representative, whose thoughts had wandered again, opened his eyes, closed them, opened them again, overwhelmed by his own highly active thoughts.

When I try to be serious, I can't be serious; when I try to think of lofty ambitions and grand goals, I can't come up with anything for the running construction; all I can think of is my heart pounding like a drum when I heard the news, my heart pounding like a drum when I saw Aomo with Rudy and them, my heart pounding like a drum when walking with the trainer... Everything is just my heart pounding like a drum!

But at least it hasn't been exposed, right?

My acting skills are still strong; whether it's because of the competition, memories, or the trainer, nothing has been exposed!

"Hey, when are you planning to take down the trainer after winning like that?"

"Tianlangxing, shut up!"

"I suggest we just open a KTV tomorrow."

"Bairen, you shut up too!"

"..."

For a moment, the athletes lying on the grass all stayed silent, pretending not to have heard such a conversation.

This is on the field, you guys... oh, there's soundproofing...

Someone barely lifted their head, noticing the obvious visual effect of the soundproof barrier, which originated from the symbol of the first speaker, Tianlangxing.

But saying they didn't make a sound might not be entirely true.

"Eh eh eh! Add me, add me! Can't the older sister join?"

Lu: "Wanshan, shut up!"

The unexpected responder made the gazes of those lying on the grass subtly shift again.

But it was also friendly.

"Do you need help?"

When not on the track, he becomes that elegant black-haired horse girl like a chrysanthemum, Dazhenhan, as he chirps.

"If it's about Aomo the trainer, he's very reassuring to me."