"Miss Sasami~" Reiko said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, her hand pressing down on Sasami's shoulder. "Didn't you say you've been practicing for many years?"
"I—I have! I've been practicing for many years, that's right!"
"Then how come I just heard you say you've failed every single time before?"
"Th-that's also true... I only said I've been practicing for many years."
Sasami stammered under Reiko's intense pressure.
"Oh~ But Miss Sasami, I seem to recall you claiming that when you took action, your success rate was as high as eighty percent?"
"Well... if my Master were the one performing the procedure, the success rate would indeed be eighty percent..."
Sasami's guilty expression was so ridiculous it made Reiko laugh in exasperation. Fortunately, the outcome had been positive. Since the Acupuncturist had indeed saved a life, Reiko decided not to press the matter further.
"Miss Sasami, what are my chances of returning to competitive form?" Kousei asked. She was well aware of the severity of her injury and had already braced herself for the worst before posing the question.
"I've administered three needles, and your condition has largely stabilized," Sasami explained. "Dr. Takuya will be returning from Central soon. If McQueen's surgery goes smoothly, then theoretically, the experience gained from her procedure could also benefit you."
"Can't you heal me yourself, Miss Sasami?"
"I'm not a doctor, after all. For this, we must rely on an expert. But don't worry—since the data came from you, I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to accept the treatment."
Kousei thought Sasami was offering a shot of confidence, but then she continued, "That said, please don't get your hopes up too high. A full recovery is impossible. Logically, your body shouldn't be competing anymore.
"I advised Reiko and the others against it, but they insisted you would never give up, no matter what. Since that's the case, as a medical professional, I must fully inform you of the risks.
"Acupuncture is, by its very nature, a desperate measure. Back in the day, Symboli Rudolf also underwent Acupuncture treatment."
"The President did too?" Kousei found this hard to believe.
"As the Emperor, she had responsibilities and a mission she could not abandon. So, even when her condition was perilous, she accepted Acupuncture to force herself onto the track."
The Emperor's career was undoubtedly great, legendary. But she herself was fragile. Her already sickly constitution deteriorated even more rapidly after being injected with the potent drug of Acupuncture. In a way, Acupuncture was like a death warrant—it allowed an Umamusume to return to peak condition for a short time, but they had to pay for it with the rest of their professional careers.
"The Emperor only received one needle back then," Sasami continued, her tone grave. "You, Kousei, have received three. The backlash from the Acupuncture will surely be far more severe. Even if Mr. Takuya and his team find a way to help you recover, at best, you'll only be able to live out the rest of your life peacefully.
"If you want to keep competing, to keep dedicating yourself to racing, I can tell you with certainty that you have no more than a handful of races left—and that's assuming you suffer no further injuries. If you push yourself too hard in your upcoming races, that number will only shrink."
Kousei understood Sasami's meaning. The days she had left to race could truly be counted on one hand.
"No more than a handful? That's enough."
Everything has a price. In this world, there's no such thing as having it all.
"Well, if you take good care of yourself, you might just manage to run all five races. That's not too bad, right?" Miss Sasami said with a smile.
"You're right," Kousei replied, smiling back. "In that case, I should cherish the time I have left even more."
"That's right! That's right! The most important thing is to keep a positive mindset. Frowning will only make happiness slip away~" Sasami chirped, playfully imitating a nurse.
Reiko and the others, who had known Kousei the longest, had already anticipated her decision. They remained silent throughout the conversation, respecting all of Kousei's choices as her companions.
A growing clamor from outside caught Kousei's attention.
"What's that noise?" Kousei asked.
"I was going to tell you right away, but I suppose now is just as good," Reiko said, signaling with her eyes.
"Here, slowly now."
Just a Way helped Kousei out of bed, and the two of them slowly made their way to the window.
"Look. It's all just as you wished."
The curtains were drawn open, and blinding sunlight flooded the room. Kousei squinted, her eyes struggling to adjust. A cacophony of voices swirled around her as the scene outside gradually came into focus.
"It's so cold! But this is how you build resilience!"
"It's so noisy! But I'm all for it!"
Why was it so lively? The air was thick with the clamor of countless voices, and unfamiliar faces constantly streamed into view, overwhelming her senses. The warm sunlight poured freely over the land, casting an orange glow on the white snow and lending it a surprising warmth.
Northern Academy had long since shed its initial coldness. Countless Umamusume were arriving, luggage in tow—young, energetic fledglings whose vibrant presence was truly heartwarming.
Kousei stared, completely lost in the sight, forgetting herself entirely.
What was she thinking? No one knew. But soon, her eyes grew misty. She quickly wiped them, stopping the tears from spilling over.
"This is wonderful," Kousei murmured, moved by the scene.
"The snow in the north seems to be melting too," Reiko remarked.
"After all, spring is almost here."
Kousei signaled for Just a Way to let go. Just a Way hesitated at first, but under Kousei's insistent gaze, she finally released her hold.
It took Kousei a moment to steady herself. She had never felt so unsteady, yet her face was radiant with joy.
After a few attempts, Kousei managed to walk, albeit unsteadily. "I want to go see the Academy," she said eagerly.
Reiko immediately agreed. Though Kousei's steps were stumbling, they held a hint of joy. Her body felt heavy, but her spirit was incredibly light.
As she pushed open the gate, a wave of vibrant energy immediately enveloped her.
Kousei walked in small steps, her eyes constantly scanning the smiling faces of the Umamusume around her.
"This is incredible, truly incredible!" They were all faces Kousei didn't recognize, but no one could escape being swept up in the celebratory atmosphere.
Having just recovered from a serious illness, Kousei's stamina naturally couldn't keep up. She casually leaned against a wall to rest, but unexpectedly, her tired appearance immediately drew the attention of those nearby.
"Ah! Look! It's Kousei-senpai!"
That shout instantly drew everyone's attention to her.
"It's really her! It's really Kousei-senpai!"
"Wow! A living, breathing Kousei-senpai!"
The new students swarmed toward Kousei in a dense crowd. Accustomed to large gatherings, she simply raised a hand to calm them.
"Everyone, please be careful not to cause a stampede."
"Yes, Kousei-senpai!"
The chorus of voices was so loud it made Kousei's ears ring.
"Um! Senpai! I'm an Umamusume from Rukomachi!" a charming young girl exclaimed, raising her hand. "After watching your races, Sister Belle and I discussed it and decided to enroll here at Northern Academy, where you are!"
Rukomachi—Kousei's very first starting point.
"How is everyone in Rukomachi doing lately?"
"They're all doing great! And! Thanks to your influence, Kousei-senpai, the number of Umamusume racers in Rukomachi has skyrocketed! It turns out everyone was just fooling themselves. They never really wanted to give up racing; they just couldn't face their true feelings."
Rukomachi is constantly moving forward, and dreams have returned here once again.
"I chose Northern Academy because I admire Kousei-senpai! I think you're amazing, Senpai! You're the one who connected Northern Academy to the world, and I hope to become an Umamusume just like you!"
Kousei recognized her—it was that boisterous, energetic Umamusume!
"Hehe~ Don't try to become me. Just be yourself."
"Yes!" The reply was full of life—young, cheerful, and bright. Energetic kids always feel like a breath of spring air.
Everyone eagerly introduced themselves. Though the end of the line was nowhere in sight, Kousei smiled warmly and responded to each and every one of them.
Once upon a time, it was the scenery she only dared to imagine in her dreams.