Chapter 600: NO.182: Jet-Black Star

NO. 182: Jet-Black Star

It is worth noting that, just as in a Jidong manga, the early and late art styles of the sports competition genre are often like two different worlds, and Uma Musume is no exception.

The gap between first-year and second-year active participants is like a heavenly chasm; by the third year, it is enough to look down on the distances of most old Saichang.

That is why there have been reforms to the races, and why there is a tiered system.

Therefore, Aimu Zhiji, who shares a class with Chazuo, did not have a race round with Chazuo.

Compared to Chazuo, who just started the race program, Aimu Zhiji is already a senior who has run for a full year; on the Saichang where she runs, it is naturally filled with same-year Uma Musume like her who have entered their second year.

But — just having the same seniority does not mean equal strength.

Even though this is an elite-filled central, in the Saichang round that can hold at most 18 people, she is undoubtedly the strongest.

That low-posture sprint is like a speeding comet; after the final corner's turn, on the straightaway it whips up a hurricane that can activate the Saichang's barrier system.

Sprint to the finish!

Even if it's a premature acceleration, even if such premature acceleration leads to a lack of follow-through in the final straightaway sprint, the pursuer's all-out burst could not catch up to her fierce and violent final kick.

Naturally, she, who won with a large margin, would be surrounded by more trainers and staff.

Aimu Zhiji is a well-known Uma Musume who has not yet been signed.

Furthermore, according to rumors, she also has no interest in the campus selection race one week later.

Therefore, this practice race proves especially precious, allowing this lone Uma Musume to display her strength outside the official Saichang.

Although ordinary trainers usually do not consider Uma Musume whose basics are already set, and Aimu Zhiji's attitude and intentions have long been known over the past year, if you are excellent and eye-catching enough, there will still be many opportunities for you to take root.

Central trainers, like Uma Musume, undergo layered screening.

Professionals are the foundation; besides that, one must also have care and affection for the Uma Musume, and even the resilience appropriate for interacting with adolescent girls.

The 'ever-brave after setbacks' sort, like Xizaki Feng trainer who has been kicked into the hospital more than once for touching an Uma Musume's ankle — and still dares to come back!

And there is more than one such guy in the central.

Just based on Aomo's originally gathered information, then corroborated by peeking at screens in the chat room, one can conclude: 'The information needs updating; there are now 26 trainers who have gotten hospital membership cards, four more than previously known.'

Rather than scolding the lecherous lot, it's better to sigh at how primitive these people's muscle judgment is; clearly, when they receive treatment in the hospital, they have seen so much high-tech.

As for Xizaki Feng stretching his neck and shouting, 'Traditional craftsmanship must not be lost!' we won't dwell on it.

At least for now, Aomo, looking from afar at the small encirclement formed by those five colleagues, can't help but feel that good people are still many (x).

And facing this group of 'good people,' that Uma Musume with a cold expression merely took the towel and water handed by the school staff, and said something to those few trainers.

A little farther from those few, yet closer to where Aomo is, there are still several trainers whispering to each other:

"Those few Georges really have perseverance, huh? That guy is on his fourth attempt, right?"

"Not only that, it seems he even looked for her during breaks; this tenacity makes me almost suspect he likes that student, although he says only by becoming her trainer can he correct her attitude."

"Even if he really likes her, it's useless~ That kid doesn't even give face to Miss Junchuan, and for the second-year course she still plans to go it alone."

"Are you really putting yourself on an emperor's pedestal? Luoduo has an entire family as backup, right? Her family background is quite ordinary, isn't it?"

"Yeah, a typical three-person household, she's an only child, but I don't feel her parents' pampering would go so far as to spoil her into this arrogance."

"Arrogance is arrogance, talent is indeed good, she runs pretty well, but in the end it looks a bit overloaded; continuing like this runs the risk of breaking down—let's see if George and crew can pull through by sheer dogged persistence."

Central trainers always have keen eyes; those who can see Aimu Zhiji's problem are not just Aomo alone, and even among those trainers who step forward to say something, there are also people who want to solve the problem.

Seeing that it carries a hint of saturated-rescue vibe also makes Aomo's expression subtly complex, yet he also clearly knows those people are just wasting effort.

For an ordinary Uma Musume, you can promise her the snack treatment and sweet treatment befitting a Uma Musume, then promise future results, claim you can definitely uncover her potential, even grit your teeth and speak with a resolute tone, convinced you can help her stand at the peak……

——These lines are enough to cover most of the contract elements for Uma Musume and trainers.

Trainers are both teachers and sports coaches; they must not only treat the Uma Musume as a blossoming-age girl, but also regard the Uma Musume as a runner pursuing honor—this is the usual way of getting along.

But……

What if that Uma Musume is not only a girl and a runner, but also a martyr?

——

【Vega: Is there a trainer who can confidently bring out a champion?】

【Umastar: Flip through horse racing history, and you can see quite a few.

But if one wishes to judge with sufficiently rational eyes, all absolutes are merely a kind of line; the realistic possibility, even the Wastetime Association's astrologer dare not pin down.

The future that people can lock onto can only be a one-sided scene not easily interfered with】

【Vega: So those trainers are all con artists?】

【Umastar: It varies from person to person; this world never lacks those who paint pies, but that doesn't mean promises are useless, Miss.】

Even if the future cannot be known, one cannot deny the present struggle; you cannot change the past, but you can create the future.

So do not leave things to fate.

Do not stop the heartbeat; those who do not give up can be called extraordinary】

【Vega: You seem to think I want to die】

【Umastar: The death of the spirit is far more deadly than bodily injury, Miss.】

You drive a high-speed Benz at 70 km/h on the green turf; a little carelessness will harm others and yourself】

【Vega: You really are good at lecturing; any topic you can talk about fluently】

【Umastar: But even so, you cannot take in a single word】

【Vega: I'm not here to listen to big principles】

【Umastar: This isn't any big principle, Miss.】

This is a prophecy personally relevant to you, unrelated to starlight, only darkness.

I suppose you likely have some kind of mental shackle you don't wish to reveal, but you have a desire to confide, and that very desire itself means you are uneasy】

【Vega: ……】

【Umastar: Since you opened this private message rather than replying in the dynamics, don't treat this conversation as accidental, don't escape your inner thoughts, and also don't over-embellish it.】

Speak, miss.

This is already the third repetition.

I don't care about your contempt for my past words, nor do I care that you only came to me seeking a solution to the present problem.

Those who come to me for guidance and answers are far more than just you; I also don't feel burdened by that. Rather, with my modest knowledge, being able to help you is exactly what I wish.

But, the answers you have sought so far are merely minor complications, Miss Vega.

Any luminous point that can shine in the dark night is a self‑burning celestial body, but a single point cannot illuminate the darkness; it is merely a manifestation of drinking poison to quench thirst.

So it's also time to reveal it, isn't it?

What reason could make you so obsessed with becoming the jet‑black star?

Tell me, what is the true cause that has brought all this upon you?

The title is Blaze's ed name, and it's also a song 《ckstar/Jet Black Star》 that the author highly recommends, though the full version probably can't be found yet, only someone else's uploaded video version.

——

And… hey hey hey! What catnip, what succubus, Aomo is pure demon bloodline, and has no ability to charm others, okay! Can a succubus say the words above?!!

By the way, Aimu Zhiji was penalized in her debut battle for oblique movement; compare it to a certain admonition yourself.

(End of chapter)

。。