"With... a shift in perspective?"
Dream Weaver instinctively murmured under her breath, and Mr. C.B immediately continued.
"Running itself is fun, of course."
"Standing inside the narrow starting gate, the green turf stretching out ahead, surrounded by carefully selected opponents, each with their own unique flair, promising a truly interesting race."
"With the bang of the gate, you leave that cramped, dark space behind and burst into a world without restraints, a world where you can run free. Nothing can hold you back, nothing can bind you. As a fellow Uma Musume—"
"You understand, right?"
Mr. C.B said to Dream Weaver with a smile. The moment she started talking about racing, her azure, sky-like eyes seemed to sparkle with the sun's radiance.
"But then..."
She paused, as if remembering something, and the light in her eyes, once ignited by the thought of running, dimmed. Mr. C.B looked at Dream Weaver and spoke softly.
"Races like that don't exist anymore, do they?"
"Selection, competition, over and over again, time after time. We Uma Musume are like... driven by some unseen force, compelled to become stronger, to run faster, chasing after that elusive honor that seems right before our eyes yet feels miles away."
"From the rookie selection races to the Triple Crown, the names and places might be different, but it's all fundamentally the same, isn't it? These kinds of races are just so dull, don't you think?"
"I don't want to run in places like that. So I won't be participating in any selection races."
As she spoke, Mr. C.B gently removed Dream Weaver's hand from her own wrist and smiled at her.
"Of course, if you want to go, I won't say anything against it. Everyone has their own path to choose."
"I can tell, you know. Right now, you're stronger than everyone else, aren't you? If you enter the selection race, you'd definitely win first place. Go for it."
After these words, Mr. C.B turned around, waved a hand dismissively over her shoulder without looking back.
"As for me... I think I'll just find a nice tree with a broad view and see if I can spot any other interesting places to have fun."
"But you looked so happy during training. After putting in all that effort, don't you feel frustrated getting no recognition for it?"
Dream Weaver had seen Mr. C.B training many times over the past week. That diligent attitude, the figure that even torrential rain after class cancellations couldn't stop from running.
Mr. C.B's footsteps faltered for a moment.
After a brief silence, her back still turned to Dream Weaver, she replied in a tone so flat it was impossible to read her emotions.
"Effort...? Running is something I love. Running on the track can't really be considered 'effort' in that sense, can it?"
"But you still love the moment the gates fly open, don't you?"
"You love the feeling of vying for position against strong rivals."
"That's a feeling you can never get from training alone."
Dream Weaver stated decisively. A high, insurmountable wall stood between training and a real race. How could Mr. C.B possibly find true satisfaction in ordinary practice?
"It's pretty much the same. I can always just find a few classmates for a practice race—"
Seeing Mr. C.B still being stubborn, Dream Weaver simply strode forward, grabbed her hand, and started pulling her towards the training grounds.
"If you can still talk like that after seeing a real race, then I'll leave you be!"
She shouted as she pulled Mr. C.B along at a brisk pace across the campus. Mr. C.B seemed stunned by the sudden action, allowing herself to be dragged along in a daze.
By the time she finally gathered her wits, Dream Weaver had already pulled her all the way to the training track.
Slightly breathless, Mr. C.B opened her mouth to speak, but her attention was instantly captured by the Uma Musume racing on the track.
The sun hung high in the sky, its fierce, glaring light almost blinding, yet Mr. C.B felt that the Uma Musume in the race were far more radiant than the sun itself.
But this brilliance... was shackled, trapped...
Mr. C.B's fists unconsciously clenched. She pressed her lips together tightly, barely suppressing the turmoil rising in her chest.
Dream Weaver paid her no further mind. She had brought Mr. C.B to the track; what happened next was up to her.
After all, they had only exchanged a few words. Dream Weaver didn't think she could change Mr. C.B's mind.
Right now, more than that, Dream Weaver wanted to find Shiragawa.
She'd been chattering in Dream Weaver's ear about the selection race for a whole week. Dream Weaver could easily guess how much importance she placed on it.
Her idol, Shinzan, had apparently returned from studying abroad in Europe, right?
It was only natural for Shiragawa to want to follow in her idol's footsteps. So, Dream Weaver wanted to know the result of her selection and congratulate her if she made it.
They had been roommates for a week, after all. Shiragawa had been so friendly and provided a lot of information. Dream Weaver felt it was the right thing to do.
She ran down towards the track, scanned the area, and quickly spotted the dark braid amidst the green grass. But just as Dream Weaver started heading towards her, she noticed two men in black suits standing next to Shiragawa, talking incessantly.
"How tedious. Ultimately, the talent of the Uma Musume here is just... like this. A single Shinzan was a miracle."
One of the men, tall and imposing, scoffed disdainfully to his companion.
"Not a single interesting Uma Musume in this selection race. With their level of innate talent, they actually want to go to Europe? They're daydreaming."
The other, younger-looking man, chimed in agreement. Seemingly recalling something, he added,
"Remember that Uma Musume with the braids from earlier? She ran her heart out, a real try-hard. A pity... no talent means no talent. She's peaked already."
As he spoke, he gave an exaggerated shrug and smiled at his companion with a hint of schadenfreude.
Dream Weaver took it all in. Shiragawa, standing so close, had already clenched her fists. The ears that were always perky and full of spirit now drooped powerlessly.
What angered Dream Weaver even more was that the two European trainers clearly noticed the subject of their mockery was right beside them, yet they continued their arrogant display without restraint, their grating laughter persistently belittling Shiragawa's performance.
Without a moment's hesitation, Dream Weaver strode forward and positioned herself squarely in front of the two men.
She lifted her head, meeting their disdainful gazes directly. Her voice, cold as frost, carried an undeniable force.
"Take those words back."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.