Urara placed fourth!
The news spread widely online through Urara’s fans and veteran horse racing fans—they were going to spread this hopeful message to the world!
Of course, at first, netizens who knew Urara didn’t believe it, given Urara’s situation…
Let’s just say everyone knew well enough, so at first they suspected someone hired a water army to spread rumors, or that the race only had four Umamusume.
However—very quickly!
The Racing Association also announced on their official account that it was true.
Urara had indeed placed fourth in a 16-Umamusume mile-class OP event, and they were shocked and moved.
And then…
The internet exploded—Haru Urara, who kept losing and losing, had successfully created a miracle!
She wasn’t last anymore, and she’d even almost made it into the top three?!
My youth is over!
Because of this, Urara’s fan count instantly shot up again.
Everyone was looking forward to whether Urara could keep creating miracles, and eventually win an OP race once, putting a perfect punctuation mark on her race career of repeated defeats and repeated fights.
Maybe it really was because this was 2D, but there actually wasn’t any suspicion online about Urara’s miraculous burst this time.
Instead, countless people were cheering wildly for her, saying Urara would definitely pull it off next time.
As for Little Kangbai-chan, her fans didn’t grow that much, because the vast majority of people didn’t know how much she had to do with Urara’s race.
They just thought her appearance was pretty cute.
After all, this was an era where “one Uma takes the lead, ten thousand Umas fade” was the norm.
Most people wouldn’t believe that something like a support could appear on the track.
Of course, there were definitely still some who had noticed the signs—like Okino, who had watched the entire race from the spectator stands, and Sukegahara and Feiyuan-sensei on Black Knight’s side, who had watched the whole race broadcast.
Watching Little Kangbai-chan leave the track grinning, Sukegahara couldn’t help but sigh.
He wanted to try pulling out another cigarette to relieve his worries, only to find he’d already handed all his cigarettes out to his old friends.
“As expected, this is what the Celestial Empire calls a golden age! An era of stars!” Watching Little Kangbai-chan and Urara copy each other’s running styles, Feiyuan-sensei became even more certain that this was the so-called golden age!
One proud genius after another was appearing, one amazing Umamusume after another!
More and more thrilling tracks would spread across the whole world!
Even greater competitive power would become the hallmark of the new era!
“As expected, our previous way of thinking couldn’t keep up with the times.” Sukegahara also shook his head, lamenting his former wrong ideas and wrong education.
“But this can’t make us give up!” Even though he’d failed before, Sukegahara had never been afraid!
If the past was wrong, then correct it!
Just change it to fit the new era better!
He didn’t know how long it would take, but it had already been so many years anyway.
Even if it took longer, they could afford it!
“Alright, then after Black Knight’s debut race, let’s properly revise our teaching and training methods! It needs to have our own characteristics, and also have perfect points worth adopting!”
“Ohhhhh!” An old trainer and an adult Umamusume raised their hands together, cheering for themselves.
However, Black Knight, who was on the track practicing how to improve her stamina, understood none of this…
…………
“Hmm hmm hmm~” Since she hadn’t made the top three, Little Kangbai-chan naturally had no reason to be kept around either.
After collecting the race prize money the Racing Association gave her, she couldn’t wait to leave the track and go buy food in front of the vending machine.
She directly picked the best-looking kind of soda, and bought several cans in a row, planning to give them all to herself as a reward after this first race.
“Gulp gulp gulp—ah~” After downing one whole can of soda, Little Kangbai-chan immediately felt like her entire body had come back to life.
Although she knew this stuff was carbonated, as long as it tasted good right now, it was fine.
She didn’t know why Urara had suddenly slowed down.
Could it have been because of the “good friend” effect?
Then that effect was kind of a scam, huh?
It clearly said the effect could be interrupted if they were forced apart.
“Speaking of which, she has a lot of fans. Even though she doesn’t sound like the type to be a constant winner, as expected, in 2D, looking good is the biggest cheat of all…”
“Little Kangbai-chan!” Just as Little Kangbai-chan was about to drink her second can of soda, a familiar voice caught her attention.
She saw Urara run up beside Little Kangbai-chan, smile at her, and casually pat her head again: “How was it? Your first race felt pretty good, right?”
“It was okay.” Little Kangbai-chan nodded.
There was no opening scene of colorful Eight Immortals crossing the sea, no terrifying domination like Tyrant, no frightening competitiveness like Redstone Wyvern almost solo-killing Tyrant, and no tough aura like the one on the first track.
She just felt this race was way too different from what she’d imagined.
Where was the promised screen full of skills showing off?
Why was she the only support left?
Where were their skills?
Had they been eaten?
Or was it that this race only had R-card and N-card level Umamusume?
—Mm, it had to be that.
After all, one look and you could tell the Umamusume here didn’t have the presence of the ones she’d seen in the BOSS battle.
In this race, she was definitely the only one actually making her debut.
Most of the others were probably just the type who had bad luck and couldn’t beat anyone.
“Hehe~ Anyway, I still have to thank you—thanks for letting me discover for the first time that I can run that fast~” Urara kept smiling.
Although it was a bit embarrassing, with Little Kangbai-chan’s help, she really had discovered for the first time that she could have that kind of speed, and could catch up to everyone.
“Huh? You knew?” Little Kangbai-chan felt a little awkward.
Back when her Black Knight template got linked by Little Kangbai-chan, she’d barely felt anything.
How did she get recognized so quickly over here?
This system was no good.
It couldn’t even hide this.
“Mm, but I still want to race with my own strength! And I believe I’ll definitely be able to reach first place one day!” Urara clenched one fist and threw it toward the sky, full of confidence.
“Huh?” But your stats are only about R-card level, right?
Little Kangbai-chan thought that in her heart, but she didn’t say it.
After all, it might be too hurtful.
Since the other girl was so confident, she had to respond to that confidence too!
Thinking that, Little Kangbai-chan took out a can of soda and handed it to Urara: “Then, let’s work hard for the races ahead. Cheers!”
“Yeah! Cheers!” Urara took the soda.
The two looked at each other and smiled, then simultaneously tilted their heads back and downed all the soda in the cans in one gulp, then let out comfortable sounds at the same time.
“Then, Little Kangbai-chan, see you in the next OP race!” Urara kept that flower-like beautiful smile and gave Little Kangbai-chan’s head another pat.
Although Urara had been supported by Little Kangbai-chan, since neither of them was champion, they naturally could only keep participating in OP-level races.
And since they could only participate in OP-level races, the two would definitely meet again someday.
Urara believed that by then, she would definitely be able to create today’s miracle again without needing Little Kangbai-chan’s help!
Alright!
Then go for it, Urara!
Work hard training after you get back!
Don’t let everyone’s expectations down!
With that thought, Urara said goodbye to Little Kangbai-chan and prepared to go back and properly plan her future training methods, preferably to recapture the feeling of running today.
“Oh~ That’s amazing. Even though she’s that kind of existence, she still works so hard.” Watching the spirited Urara, Little Kangbai-chan also marveled at her spirit and perseverance.
As expected, some things in 2D really did make people feel refreshed.
“I feel like I’m about to get fired up too! Okay, decided! I absolutely won’t slack off on all-stats-SS training! I’ve gotta run out the best results!”
“Oh! That’s the spirit! But your running style might not suit those ideas!”
Just then, a hand suddenly pressed down on Little Kangbai-chan’s head, scaring her so much she immediately kicked behind her.
—And then she fell over, and the soda cans in her hands rolled all over the ground.
Watching Little Kangbai-chan not only fail to kick anyone with a backward kick, but instead make herself fall, Okino suddenly felt like he’d finally found, in a type matchup chart full of things that countered him, the type he could counter.
“Hey hey, do you really think this little one can do it? Why does she feel so trash?” Watching Little Kangbai-chan fall in place, Gold Ship squatted over too, looking blankly at this incredibly short little thing.
“And she’s even a bit shorter than Tamamo.” Gold Ship slowly brought her head closer to Little Kangbai-chan, then stretched out one finger and lightly poked her, “This is even more than Urara—wuga—!”
The moment Gold Ship’s finger arrived, Little Kangbai-chan immediately straightened up, then slammed the back of her head into Gold Ship’s face with zero cushioning.
“Waaaaah! Ow ow ow ow ow!” Two Umamusume—one clutching her face, one clutching her head—started rolling around on the ground.
The scene was briefly very harmonious, because the two rolled in exactly the same direction without the slightest deviation.
Watching Little Kangbai-chan and Gold Ship roll around together, Okino rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, then smiled and gave a thumbs-up: “Not bad~”