Chapter 94: Don't Want to Be Defined
During her self-introduction, Kitasan Black kept glancing toward the corner of the classroom.
Before her, her friends and several others had already introduced themselves.
When they spoke of their past accomplishments and the glory of their families, the children in the audience grew visibly excited, bursting into cheers again and again.
Yet amidst that chorus of cheers, one chestnut-haired girl sat with her head resting on her arms, tracing meaningless lines across her desk with a fingertip.
She had long chestnut hair that gleamed like satin in the sunlight, and she wore a pair of pale-blue earmuffs over her ears.
She was very young, but her delicate features gave off a sense of quiet elegance.
Her ice-blue eyes carried that same impression of stillness.
Kitasan Black was certain she hadn't imagined it—when she spoke her own name, that little girl's eyes had lit up at once.
So… maybe later she should go over and ask her directly…
After finishing her introduction, Kitasan Black stood waiting like the others before her.
This was the children's chance either to ask questions or to volunteer themselves.
But the young faces in the seats only looked around at one another for a long time, with not a single hand raised.
Instead, whispers spread through the room, like children sneaking side conversations during a lesson.
"Um… I don't think I've heard of this onee-san before?"
"I kind of have… but Mama said that in her family, she's the only one who races…"
"That can't be right, can it? All the other onee-sans' families had famous Uma…"
"I don't know… maybe let's just wait and see what the teacher says later…"
Hearing these murmurs, Kitasan's ears twitched, and she pressed her lips together.
There was a pang of disappointment.
Naturally, compared to the way her friends' introductions had ended—children eagerly raising their hands, one after another—it was hard not to feel the sting.
But she wasn't really surprised.
The kids weren't wrong, after all. Unlike the Satono family, with its long line of champions, her own family was renowned in the music world but had little presence in racing. Their record on the track was, frankly, unimpressive.
Still, she already had her eye on that one particular child. Once the introductions were finished, she could approach her and see.
Quickly regaining her usual composure, Kitasan Black smiled brightly and said before the teacher could step in:
"Well then, that concludes my self-introduction! If anyone wants to team up with me, onee-san would be more than happy to welcome you!"
With a polite bow toward the teacher, she stepped down from the platform and left the classroom, waiting in the hallway.
There were one or two other Uma standing there as well—just like her, they hadn't gotten much response after their introductions.
Through the window, she glanced outside. The campus had grown even livelier than when she first arrived.
The playground was filled with parents, trainers, invited guests, and members of the press.
At the center of it all was the track. The Uma who had finished their introductions were already there with their chosen children, beginning training sessions.
Thanks to her familiarity, Kitasan immediately spotted Satono Crown and Duramente among them.
On the track, Satono Crown was demonstrating how to take curves.
Off to the side, Duramente still seemed to be introducing herself to her partner, though it looked like they were about to start training soon as well.
'That's so nice… I wonder when I'll get to start. And that girl from earlier…'
Her thoughts drifting back, Kitasan's gaze naturally turned toward the classroom, eyes drawn straight to that same corner.
And there she was again—the little girl, lying on her desk, arms folded beneath her head, still dragging her finger back and forth across the wooden surface.
As if sensing her gaze, the girl in the corner suddenly glanced back.
There it was again—that familiar glimmer she had noticed before.
Kitasan Black blinked in surprise, then smiled and gave a little wave.
The child turned her head away shyly, but after a moment, peeked back again.
Then, to Kitasan Black's astonishment, the girl abruptly stood up, slipped out through the back door without so much as a word, and came straight toward her.
"…Eh? Little one, you—"
Kitasan glanced toward the podium, where the teacher was still speaking, and said uncertainly,
"Why did you come out all of a sudden? You'll get scolded if the teacher notices…"
"Good day, Kitasan Black-senpai. It's a pleasure to meet you. Please take care of me."
Ignoring her concern entirely, the young Umamusume bowed formally. Her tone was calm, but her words were blunt:
"Will you guide me so that I can win the race?"
"Eh? You mean… the race this afternoon?"
Kitasan Black froze. "Whether you can win or not, that kind of thing—"
But before she could finish, the little Umamusume interrupted her, almost rudely.
"If I can't win, then it's meaningless. Don't you agree, Senpai?"
In that moment, Kitasan Black suddenly felt a strange sense of reversal—as if the grade-schooler before her wasn't a child at all, but she herself was.
The girl's composure and maturity were startlingly out of place. Compared to the other children in the classroom and on the track, this one felt more like a peer, an equal rival.
"…A race without victory is meaningless, huh? That's something Duramente-chan once said, too."
Her tone shifted unconsciously. Nodding slightly, Kitasan tilted her head in curiosity.
"Can I ask why you want to win so badly? Is it because your family expects it of you…?"
In her mind, it made sense. Maybe, just like Duramente, this girl came from a distinguished family, pressured to claim victory in some important race.
But at the mention of "family," the young girl's expression hardened, a flicker of obvious distaste crossing her face.
"Family? Quite the opposite."
She drew in a deep breath, and in her ice-blue eyes flashed that same brilliance Kitasan had seen before.
"The races I want to win are the ones my family has never wished for."
"I've heard about you, Senpai. Before you debuted, many people said you could only handle short-distance races."
"But then you proved them wrong, with three straight wins in middle-distance races. That was a slap in their faces."
"I… want to do the same."
"Because—I don't want to be defined by anyone."
Kitasan found herself at a loss for words.
She had met precocious children before, but the girl before her was far beyond that.
Standing face to face with her felt less like speaking to a student and more like confronting a powerful rival, equal in spirit.
And alongside that thought, an odd, unbidden spark of competitiveness rose in her chest.
"A slap in the face… ahaha~ that's a bit dramatic. I wasn't really thinking that at the time," Kitasan Black laughed awkwardly. Then, with renewed energy, she declared:
"But your spirit is amazing! And you're right—races are about winning!
"So, you want me to guide you to victory this afternoon, right?"
The girl didn't immediately reply. She simply held Kitasan's shining gaze, stunned for a second, then slowly, firmly nodded.
"I understand. Then I'll give it everything I've got to help you! Please take care of me!"
Beaming with confidence, Kitasan Black extended her hand.
"Oh right—what's your name?"
The ice-blue eyes lowered briefly, lingering on her outstretched hand. After a few seconds, the girl reached out as well.
"My name is Almond Eye."
"Please take care of me, Kitasan Black-senpai."
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Note:
Almond Eye: https://umamusume.fandom.com/wiki/Almond_Eye
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