"I don't get it."
Watching Daiwa Scarlet come back in total defeat, Agnes Tachyon stroked her chin and, for once, wore a genuinely grave expression.
She fixed her with a stare. "Explain in detail."
Daiwa Scarlet had run over to Xingyun Liuge full of concern and very earnestly relayed what Agnes Tachyon had discovered, but Xingyun Liuge and Chihaya Yui gave almost exactly the same response:
Thank you for your concern. We know.
Xingyun Liuge said less, but made up for it with body language.
Looking at Daiwa Scarlet standing there in a daze, Liuge stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. Their soft curves pressed together, and in an instant, a deep blush spread across Daiwa Scarlet's lovely face from every angle.
Her temperature clearly rose, and her heart started pounding even harder.
Daiwa Scarlet had originally wanted to keep persuading Xingyun Liuge, but being hugged so suddenly—and feeling that dangerously distracting softness—made her brain crash on the spot.
And that was not all. Xingyun Liuge leaned her face right up close to Daiwa Scarlet's, so close they were practically cheek to cheek. At that point, Daiwa Scarlet was so stunned she could barely think.
Her pink tongue seemed to tie itself in knots; she could hardly force out a single word.
Inside, Daiwa Scarlet was screaming: So—so close!
Now that she had fully matured, Xingyun Liuge had shed the trace of youthful immaturity she used to have and become composed and self-possessed, with a natural gallant air whenever she turned or glanced around.
Even setting that indescribable charisma aside, every part of her was captivating—the pretty face, the bright crimson eyes full of life, the smile that curved at exactly the right angle.
And on top of that, Daiwa Scarlet was already Xingyun Liuge's fan. With Liuge's warm breath brushing against her skin so clearly, how could she not get flustered?
Standing in front of her was the horse girl she admired most.
Just remembering that moment was enough to make Daiwa Scarlet unconsciously clasp her hands together and break into a delighted smile.
"…So you got completely mesmerized by her looks, blanked out, and forgot everything, is that it?" Agnes Tachyon flicked her sleeve and looked at her with open disdain.
"Th-that's not it!" Daiwa Scarlet protested, a little guilty, then muttered in a smaller voice, "Senior Xingyun said she has a way to handle it. That's all."
Then came Chihaya Yui's part.
After being hugged by Xingyun Liuge, Daiwa Scarlet had staggered away in a daze, thoroughly satisfied. Only halfway back did she remember her mission had been to make Xingyun Liuge take Tachyon's discovery seriously—not to retreat halfway through.
So she turned around and went back, but this time she went to find Chihaya Yui instead.
If the person involved did not seem worried, then she would go through the trainer. One way or another, Xingyun Liuge had to be made to take this seriously.
Then came her second crushing defeat.
But unlike Xingyun Liuge, Chihaya Yui thanked Daiwa Scarlet very seriously for her concern and support, explained the situation carefully, and gently reassured her for quite a while before finally seeing her off.
So Daiwa Scarlet could only say with confidence, "Senior Xingyun must already have a solution. Didn't she make that special anti-motion-sickness medicine before? Maybe she's actually an amazing researcher too."
"Hm?"
Hearing that, Agnes Tachyon immediately felt like Daiwa Scarlet's elbow had turned outward. She deliberately dragged out the sound, making her intense displeasure crystal clear.
Daiwa Scarlet also realized she had said the wrong thing and guiltily looked away.
After all, Agnes Tachyon had given her plenty of useful and tasty medicines. Saying something like that without even making a comparison really was improper—flat-out rude, even.
Tachyon snorted, but in the end did not press the matter with her.
After that, reporters swarmed in. The moment they heard that Xingyun Liuge had matured, they descended like sharks smelling blood, each demanding an exclusive interview. They nearly started fighting each other on the spot.
To keep them from affecting Xingyun Liuge's daily life and training, Chihaya Yui discussed it with Liuge, then took over the interview duties herself and directly held a small press conference.
But in the face of all their questions, Chihaya Yui did not reveal any truly valuable information. Nor did she talk trash about the upcoming Belmont Stakes, much less pop the champagne early.
Her answer was only, "Little Ge is very happy to run together with the American horse girls on the track and feel the wind against her face."
A perfect answer. It neither sounded like deliberate ingratiation toward the American horse girls nor came off as too distant.
What the reporters did not know was that while they were all gathered in the hotel conference room for the press event, Xingyun Liuge had quietly slipped out—and was promptly intercepted by a group of American horse girls led by Winning Colors and Goodbye Halo.
Seeing the faintly awkward expressions on their faces, Liuge did not need to think hard to guess. "You came because you heard I matured, didn't you?"
Forty Niner's already complicated expression turned bitter. "I already felt like I couldn't beat you before, but it turns out back then you hadn't even fully matured yet…"
At that point, any will to fight left in her simply vanished.
Xingyun Liuge had crushed them even before reaching her peak physical state. Now that she had, there was even less chance they could win.
She continued, "Originally, I wasn't planning to run in the Belmont Stakes, but I hesitated a little. I felt like I shouldn't miss the chance to race you. Now I know for sure there's no need."
It was rare for them to meet a Japanese horse girl this strong. Of course they wanted a thrilling, hard-fought showdown.
But if it was only going to be a one-sided stomp, there was no meaning in it.
Rather than face her on the track, it would be better to start as friends.
"I mean, if you only came over here because you couldn't run in Japan's classic triple crown, why not just transfer over here?" Forty Niner pressed on. "Our American rules are way more progressive than Japan's, the prize money's better, the crowds are unbelievably enthusiastic—everything's better than Japan, isn't it?"
Most importantly, if she came here, she could become a first-generation rich girl and start a family legend of her own.
Hadn't the Triple Crown winners already held a banquet just for Xingyun Liuge? If she really transferred over, the days ahead would definitely be even more dazzling than that.
Brian's Time thought along similar lines, though she did not press too hard. She had plenty of juniors back in Japan, after all—she had to leave those younger girls a little face.
Xingyun Liuge found them rather strange. "Did someone assign you this job? Did they send you here to persuade me?"
Then they were out of luck. The only ones she knew at all well were Winning Colors, Goodbye Halo, and Risen Star. Even if they dragged out every outstanding horse girl of her generation and had them take turns trying to persuade her, she would not be moved. She just did not know them that well.
With that thought, Xingyun Liuge turned to Winning Colors.
She wanted to know what this horse girl was really thinking.
Surely she was not another one who believed a little persuasion could actually change anything?
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 150)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter190)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter105)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter222)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 190
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 170
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/5
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 215
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 200
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/30
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 115
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 130
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 105
I Can Copy Unique Skills 100
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 90
My Harem Is Indescribable 85
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 90
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 81
Still playing traditional Honk 69
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 65
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 60
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 61
Checking In in Demon Slayer 65
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 80
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 66
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 58
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 65
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 63
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 59
Why did they assign me to Uma 55
MYGO Beauties 56
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 45
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 49
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 36
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 15
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