9: Chapter 8 How Could an Umamusume Kidnap Someone?
9: Chapter 8 How Could an Umamusume Kidnap Someone?
“Phew, that was nice…” After washing up, the two little Umamusume talked while drying off with their towels.
Although it was mostly Sweep Tosho finding topics and Tojo Keiko awkwardly responding, they actually got along quite well.
However, Keiko couldn’t help but feel that Sweep Tosho was way gentler when talking to her compared to her sharp-tongued attitude toward Kitasan Black.
‘I guess it’s just a polite distance?’ Keiko didn’t pay it much mind.
She had never cared much about socializing; while she wasn’t socially anxious in the traditional sense, she was a complete idiot when it came to human relations.
She found it hard to grasp personal boundaries and guess what others were thinking.
Whenever she tried to take the initiative, she would always mess up, so she had gotten used to adopting a passive mode, only responding to whatever the other party threw at her.
Although her friends sometimes called her a lazy person who only moved when poked, it was better than making a fool of herself.
She wasn’t actually afraid of socializing, unlike the original Keiko.
She just hated having to overthink every conversation.
As a friend, she was indeed reliable, but to a first-time acquaintance, her behavior could easily come across as cold and aloof.
However, Satono Diamond, who had spent a lot of time with the original owner of this body, might be an exception.
To hide the fact that she was a transmigrator, Keiko naturally had to act like she used to be socially anxious.
Fortunately, faking social anxiety wasn’t hard.
She was just a bit worried about Satono Diamond’s sharp intuition.
Entering the changing room, Keiko noticed a new set of clothes in her locker.
It seemed Satono Diamond had returned.
The outfit didn’t look like something Keiko would buy herself, and even the underwear still had the tags attached.
Keiko had every reason to believe that Satono Diamond had run out to a mall to pick out a set of clothes based on Keiko’s measurements.
“…What a busybody,” she muttered to herself.
Still, since Diamond had gone through all the trouble to show her goodwill, not wearing it would be ungrateful.
So, Keiko changed into the dress and the underwear, which were decorated with fancy lace, and took a spin in front of the mirror.
“Umamusume’s natural beauty is really top-tier…
In my past world, every single one of them would be a supermodel,” she marveled at the perks of being an Umamusume.
Even without any skin care, she still looked radiant.
Especially this natural white hair, which was a critical hit to the preferences of Chinese players.
She wondered how many people would lick their screens once this character was implemented in the mobile game.
“And next, the stockings…
white thigh-highs?
Won’t that make my legs look thick?” She hesitated for a moment as she picked up the stockings, but looking at her long and shapely legs, she realized she was overthinking it.
An Umamusume could gain weight anywhere, but her legs would always remain beautiful.
Neither stick-thin nor heavy, their legs were perfectly balanced, fleshy yet long.
As an art student in her past life, she couldn’t help but marvel that the golden ratio was practically an innate skill for Umamusume.
In the future, she could probably practice throwing steel balls for the Spin.
With their natural physical fitness and beauty, plus the absolute love the entire world had for Umamusume sports, they were practically the chosen race of this world—just like elves in high fantasy works.
Except for their population size, they completely surpassed humans in every way.
Lamenting the gap between Umamusume and humans, she finally finished dressing.
The dress itself wasn’t too flashy, leaning slightly toward a Gothic Lolita style, lacking only a hat.
The excess lace was probably Satono Diamond’s preference, but when paired with Keiko’s quiet and fragile face, it perfectly outlined the image of a sickly, beautiful girl.
As an art student, Keiko even seriously considered that if this outfit were a character skin in a game, giving her an IV stand or a nurse outfit would definitely bait a lot of players into spending money.
*No…
I’m an Umamusume now, so why is my brain still thinking like an art student?* Keiko sighed at her own lack of ambition.
“Oh well, the others are probably tired of waiting.
I should head out.” When she pushed open the changing room door, she saw Kitasan Black sitting between Satono Diamond and Sweep Tosho, holding both of them in her arms and playing both sides smoothly.
Keiko stopped in her tracks, her meme lord soul burning fiercely.
“Ah—Keiko-san…” “Sorry, I might have come at the wrong time.” “Eh?” Kitasan Black blinked.
Having never experienced the era of classic memes, she had no idea how to respond to this line and could only stand there blankly.
Keiko didn’t mind; she had just wanted to recreate a classic scene.
“Keiko-san really suits these kinds of clothes!” Satono Diamond clasped her hands together.
“Approved!” “Indeed—is this Lolita style?” Sweep Tosho sized Keiko up and nodded in understanding.
“I feel like Keiko would be perfect for a vampire cosplay.” “Sweep-san, you’re a genius!
Approved!” Satono Diamond clapped her hands, as if a new world had opened to her.
“Exactly!
Pale skin + sickly vibe, she really is perfect for a sickly vampire beauty!” “…” Although Keiko thought it made sense, to prevent herself from becoming their dress-up doll, she still spoke up.
“Diamond-san, this shouldn’t be my clothing, right?” “I saw it when I passed by a boutique, and since I thought it would suit you, I bought it~ Ehe~” Satono Diamond tapped her own head and stuck out her tongue to act cute.
“And it really suits you!
I didn’t expect Keiko-san to look so good in Lolita fashion.” “I’d give it a solid nine out of ten, maybe even a ten,” Kitasan Black stroked her chin, giving a serious evaluation.
“I feel like Keiko-san is suited to be an idol.” “Spare me…
Performing song and dance in front of so many people sounds like a form of torture.” These words came straight from her heart.
Especially since idols had to do handshake events, she felt like her face would cramp up from fake smiling.
“Eh~ But you’d be so good at it.” Kitasan Black sighed in regret.
“If Keiko-san became an idol, I’d have a new favorite to support.” “Do you…
change your favorite every hour?
Who was it last time?
Homoto Akina?” “Ehe~” Kitasan Black activated her skill, acting cute to dodge the question.
It was super effective.
Satono Diamond’s heart was struck, leaving her unable to function, so she could only ignore Kitasan Black’s player behavior.
Keiko watched Kitasan Black navigate smoothly between Sweep Tosho and Satono Diamond while maintaining great relationships with both.
She felt an unprecedented player vibe.
In the future, Kita-chan would probably survive easily just by sweet-talking her way through life.
As expected of Kitasan Black.
She had a feeling she would eventually see a scene of Kitasan Black being chased down by a mob of angry Umamusume.
Although Keiko wanted to warn her, she felt Kitasan Black would probably enjoy it, so she gave up on the idea and simply watched her with a warm, pitying gaze.
In her mind, she could already hear the screech of a boiling kettle.
“Keiko-san’s gaze is a bit scary…
it makes my spine tingle.” Kitasan Black shrunk her neck, feeling an inexplicable chill.
“Are you criticizing me in your head?” “Of course not, I’m not the type to criticize a corpse.” Keiko replied calmly.
“It’s just your imagination.” “Don’t treat me like a corpse in your head!
That’s even scarier!” Kitasan Black protested.
“But that line just now was pretty cool.
I wish I could have recorded it.” “Indeed.
*Ahem.*” When Keiko calmed her voice down, it really did sound quite similar to some big-name voice actresses from her past life.
Especially since she was still a middle schooler, her voice had a youthful quality.
‘Yep, definitely Yui Ogura,’ she judged in her heart.
‘This character must have been designed with Yui Ogura in mind.’ “Alright, although we’ve confirmed that Keiko-san is talented, you still haven’t changed your mind, right?” Satono Diamond asked.
“Speaking of which, your financial situation is quite tight.
Are you worried about Tracen Academy’s tuition fees?” “That’s part of the reason,” Keiko nodded.
“I’m confident I can get a scholarship, but Tracen Academy doesn’t seem to care much about written exams, right?
After all, it’s basically a sports school for athletes.” “Confident in getting a scholarship…” Satono Diamond tilted her head in confusion.
“But Keiko-san, aren’t your grades only about average?” “…Eh?” Keiko was stunned.
This was the first time she had heard that her grades were only mediocre.
“But most Umamusume’s grades aren’t that great anyway.
Kita-chan didn’t even pass her last exam.” Sweep Tosho added.
“It’s pretty much common knowledge that Umamusume aren’t great at academics.” ‘I see.
So the real reason Todai doesn’t accept Umamusume is because most of them are uneducated dummies?!’ ‘I completely understand now—not!
It’s obviously because these girls have nothing but racing on their minds.
Don’t blame your own bad grades on your race, kora!’ Then again, having such superior physical capabilities but choosing to compete with humans for elite universities seemed like choosing sesame seeds over watermelons for most Umamusume.
However, precisely because every Umamusume’s physical fitness far surpassed that of humans, the competition they faced among themselves was actually far more intense.
“There’s still a year and a half left.
I think as long as I start studying hard now, it should be fine.” Tojo Keiko replied seriously.
“If I chose to go straight to Tracen Academy, I feel like I wouldn’t be able to compare to those hardworking people.
Whether in terms of talent or willpower, I don’t think I can compete with them.” “I feel like Keiko-san has some kind of misunderstanding about her own talent…
Even though you’re actually amazing.” Kitasan Black sighed.
“But since you’ve said so, I can’t keep trying to convince you.
After all, pushing any further would be interfering with your decision.” “That’s true…
As long as Keiko-san is happy, that’s what matters.
Going to Tracen Academy or not isn’t that important.
Just because we aren’t in the same school doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, right?” Satono Diamond thought about it.
Even if they weren’t in the same dorm, she would probably still run over to find Keiko.
After all, they had finally become friends, so she wouldn’t just give up on that.
“No matter where you are, I will always come to play with you, Keiko-san~” “Diamond-san…” Keiko was slightly touched.
‘I’m sorry for calling you guys uneducated dummies in my head earlier.
The hearts of Umamusume are indeed kind and reliable.
These elf-like existences surely wouldn’t force anyone to do something against their will, right?
As expected of a slice-of-life world, I really came to the right place.’ — “There is an Umamusume I want to bring to Tracen Academy.” Symboli Rudolf said with a serious expression.
“Although she has some flaws, her talent is unquestionable.
For an outstanding talent like her, not joining Tracen Academy is a waste of her abilities, and a major loss for the academy itself.
Therefore, I recommend recruiting her through a special admission process once she graduates.
The Student Council can cover her tuition.
Compared to talent, money is just a trivial detail.” “But…
Rudolf, you haven’t asked for her consent yet, have you?” Maruzensky, though used to Symboli Rudolf’s obsession with recruiting talent, still offered a routine reminder.
“You should at least get her consent before—” “True, that was my oversight.
In that case, we will head to her school tomorrow to have a private chat.” Symboli Rudolf nodded, admitting that her eagerness had caused her to be inconsiderate.
However, knowing her swift and decisive nature, Maruzensky already knew that no one could refuse Symboli Rudolf in this state.
“Yes, yes…
I will prepare everything.” Maruzensky silently offered her condolences to the targeted girl while organizing the reports in her hands.
According to Rudolf’s habits, while she would ask for the girl’s opinion on the surface, she had actually already prepared all the paperwork, waiting only for the girl’s nod.
This scene could easily leave a psychological shadow on the girl.
Although Rudolf herself didn’t mean it that way, her personality naturally exerted a suffocating pressure on most Umamusume.
It was one of her innate traits—something she couldn’t control.
Well, except in front of a certain Umamusume…
“President!” Symboli Rudolf’s serious expression didn’t even last a few minutes before it was melted by a timid call.
A side-tailed girl hopped into the student council room, heading straight to Rudolf’s desk with zero regard for formalities.
She familiarly pulled open the second drawer from the bottom of Rudolf’s desk, grabbed a piece of candy, and sat right on Rudolf’s lap.
The sheer efficiency and casualness of her movements made it clear she was a repeat offender.
“Tokai Teio, why are you here at this time?” “Because it was so boring—” “Are you skipping class?
If you don’t pay attention, you’ll have a hard time with the make-up exams if you fail the midterms.” Rudolf said with a helpless sigh.
“It’s better to pay attention in class.
Skipping class isn’t a good thing.” “I didn’t skip class!
The teacher suddenly remembered they had a date, so they ran off and turned it into self-study!” Tokai Teio corrected her, dissatisfied.
“But it also gave me time to see the President, so that’s pretty good.” “You…” Rudolf’s serious expression almost never lasted more than a few minutes in front of Tokai Teio.
However, Teio noticed a file in Rudolf’s hand.
“Tojo Keiko?” She read the name on the document, then stared at the ID photo that didn’t show the girl’s eyes, murmuring to herself in confusion.
“Who is this kid anyway?”