Chapter 176: Crystalline Inflammation
As if sinking into her memories, Duramente fell silent for a moment.
After a while, as though veering off topic, she slowly said:
"When I was little, there was a period when my parents were especially busy and didn't have time to take care of me. It was Groove-nee who looked after me."
Hearing this, Kitasan Black felt a little confused. She thought it over, but still couldn't quite grasp what Duramente was getting at, and couldn't help tilting her head as she asked:
"…And then?"
"And then, on the day she was taking care of me," Duramente nodded, "Groove-nee asked what I liked to eat."
"I said I liked dorayaki."
"So on the first day, all three meals were dorayaki."
"The second day, the third day, the fourth day… all the way until my parents finished their work and came back, every day it was dorayaki."
She let out a wry smile.
"It's not that I dislike dorayaki. I still like it quite a bit, but…"
"I guess what I really want to say is that I'm the type who doesn't think very deeply about things."
"Groove-nee asked what I liked to eat, so I said dorayaki, and then I ate dorayaki for many days."
"My parents, and many people at home, said I should become the strongest Umamusume, that I could become the strongest Umamusume, so I just kept running like that."
"In the same way, since the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is the greatest race of all, if I want to become the strongest Umamusume, then I…"
She paused. Her gaze held an oddly striking mixture of confusion and resolve.
"…I should win it."
Listening quietly, a sense of shock slowly welled up in Kitasan Black's heart.
In her impression, Duramente had always been the one with clearer ideas, bigger dreams. Even now, she vividly remembered that declaration of "fastest, strongest, supreme."
How could an Umamusume with such a dream say she had no dreams?
Yet at this moment, Kitasan Black realized that Duramente wasn't quite what she had imagined. In the growth of this friend—and rival—there was a past like this hidden away.
It was only dorayaki, something so simple, and yet it gave her a strange feeling of uncertainty.
She couldn't help thinking of herself.
She admired Tokai Teio—that dazzling idol in her heart.
She longed to run freely across the track just like her idol, to bring people cheers, to create miracles that would capture the world's attention.
That dream, like a brilliant star, had always shone in her heart, guiding her to step into Tracen Academy.
There were also her family, her friends, and the fans who cheered for her after her debut—all of them powerful motivations driving her forward.
She didn't want to disappoint them. Every training session, every race, was her answer to that trust.
And her Trainer—since the day he became her assigned trainer, he had come to hold a special place in her heart.
From the very beginning until now, his exceptional professionalism and patience, his perfectly timed training guidance at every moment, even his intentional or unintentional care in daily life…
She had long understood that every step she took carried her Trainer efforts within it.
More than anything, she hoped that through her own hard work, she could make her Trainer be seen by the world as an outstanding trainer, proving his judgment and ability.
"So… the reasons that Dura-chan and I stepped onto the race track… are completely different?"
As soon as she murmured that to herself, she suddenly shook her head. Duramente looked over at her in confusion.
"Hm? Kitasan, what did you just say?"
"Ah, nothing… no, wait."
Still shaking her head, Kitasan Black suddenly broke into a smile.
"What I meant is, maybe it's precisely because you're so simple and pure, Dura-chan, that you're able to be so strong."
"Simple…?" Duramente tilted her head. "Pure…?"
"Yeah. Because I have way more reasons than you for stepping into the Twinkle Series," Kitasan Black said with a grin, counting them off on her fingers.
"Teio-senpai, my grandpa, my dad, everyone else, Crow-chan, Dia-chan, and all the fans who support me…"
"And my trainer, too."
"The paths we walk… probably aren't the same, Dura-chan. I mean, yours and mine."
"But you know, no matter the reason, as long as we keep going, I think we'll definitely be able to achieve our own dreams!"
Duramente fell silent for a moment.
"…Kitasan, right now…"
She suddenly smiled. "You sound like an adult. Like Groove-nee… or Makoto-san."
"Huh? Really? That's way too much praise, isn't it—hehehe…"
Out of habit, Kitasan Black scratched her head with a goofy grin, then subconsciously glanced at the clock on the wall of the room.
"Ah, it's already not that early anymore. So… do you still want to play Monster Hunter, or should we just go to sleep now?"
"Mm… let's play a little more. It still feels pretty fun," Duramente said after thinking it over, nodding.
"Alright! Then let's play some more!"
Kitasan Black perked up, lifting the controller and pointing at the console screen.
"Tonight's goal is—hunting this tempered Rathalos!"
…
The next morning, sunlight filtered through thin clouds and spilled into the hospital corridor, falling on Makoto, Kitasan Black, Air Groove, and Duramente.
Today, they had brought the two Umamusume in for comprehensive medical examinations. While waiting, it was obvious that the two of them were squinting slightly from time to time, looking far less energetic than they had the day before.
"…So, what exactly is going on with you two?" Makoto asked, holding the examination queue slips.
"Ahaha, um…"
With an embarrassed grin, Kitasan Black scratched her head and lowered her voice. "The two of us… stayed up a bit late last night playing Monster Hunter…"
Duramente nodded along as well, a faint blush flashing across her usually cool, expressionless face.
"Playing games… sigh—"
Pressing a hand to her forehead, Air Groove let out a long sigh, clearly displeased, and shot Duramente a sharp look. "There's nothing wrong with balancing work and rest, but… you need to be moderate. If it affects—"
She had been about to mention training and competitions, but recalling Duramente's stubbornness from yesterday, she stopped herself.
Though she didn't respond, it was obvious that Duramente's face had turned even redder.
At that moment, Almond Eye arrived at the hospital accompanied by her parents.
The night before, Almond Eye's parents had already discussed things with Air Groove and agreed to let Almond Eye undergo a full medical checkup as well.
After exchanging introductions and pleasantries, and following the nurse's instructions, the three Umamusume entered the various examination rooms one after another.
After a long series of meticulous and complicated tests, the results didn't come out until the afternoon.
Looking over Kitasan Black's and Almond Eye's reports, Makoto and the others all wore satisfied expressions.
Kitasan Black's physical condition was extremely healthy, with every indicator looking excellent.
Almond Eye's results were just as expected—this little one had entered her full development phase, with all her bodily functions rapidly advancing.
However, when they reached Duramente's examination results, both Makoto and Air Groove—aside from the three Umamusume themselves and Almond Eye's parents—showed grave expressions.
Crystalline inflammation.
That was the condition present in Duramente's body.
No explanation from the doctor was necessary. With their deep familiarity with the medical knowledge essential to training, the two of them understood immediately: it was a secondary inflammatory condition caused by excessive purine intake combined with a specific constitution.
This kind of inflammation was not easy to detect in its early stages. If left uncontrolled, it could very easily lead to serious consequences—for example, affecting bone structure and ultimately causing fractures.
So Duramente, in her grazing—no, in this world, had she encountered this condition instead?
Staring at the medical report, Makoto frowned as the thought crossed his mind.
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