By that time... there'd be no escape. Everyone present could potentially be infected.
The mere thought of that scene made Platinum feel her breath catch in her throat. That was one thing she absolutely could not allow to happen.
If people in this world were also stricken with that incurable disease... neither her conscience nor her reason would ever forgive her.
She couldn't stay here much longer. She had to find a way out, and fast.
It wasn't certain she even had Soul Dissolution Syndrome—maybe her lungs were just suffering from her reckless, all-out running style.
Even if it was Stage One Soul Dissolution, she'd taken her medication; surely she wouldn't be contagious after a few hours.
The only real issue was the bloodstain on her palm. She could deal with that later with a wet wipe or some water. After all, it was never confirmed that blood was a transmission vector.
If she could just get out of here, everything would be fine. Soon enough, she'd be tame and harmless.
The problem now was... with that crowd gathered outside the door, how was she supposed to get out?!
Platinum had already scanned the restroom.
The place was stifling, probably designed for privacy, with no windows at all. That meant her only exit was the currently blocked doorway.
But that brought her right back to the impasse. The area outside was packed; there was no way she could slip past them all unnoticed.
She had to think of a way to make them all disperse.
As the noise outside the door grew louder and the banging more forceful, sweat beaded on Platinum's forehead. Time was running out.
"Hey, you in there! Are you listening? Do you have the strength to answer?" Fuji Kyoji's loud voice boomed through the door.
"Platinum, hang in there! The staff will be here soon!" This was the flustered, concerned voice of Leap of Faith.
How could she make them all leave...?
How...?
Ah, right. This was exactly the kind of thing she was best at.
Going against others' expectations, driving away those who gathered around her... wasn't she already an old hand at this?
"...Hah. You all are really so troublesome and stubborn."
Then, Leap of Faith and Fuji Kyoji heard Platinum's voice, speaking slowly from inside the restroom.
"There's nothing wrong with me... I'd say my current troubles are all because of you."
Platinum's voice sounded flippant, lilting upwards. Maybe it was their imagination, but it even carried a hint of provocation.
"Platinum..." Even so, Leap of Faith felt a wave of relief.
Uma Musume were blessed spirits; no matter the individual, they all possessed pure and kind hearts. It wasn't rare for ones like Leap of Faith to worry and fret even for a stranger.
Even a seemingly cold-faced one like Fuji Kyoji had rushed to help without hesitation. It was simply their nature.
And precisely because of that—Platinum felt all the more guilty for what she was about to say.
"So, isn't this fake, pretend 'let's play house' routine enough already? I thought you'd have the sense to leave on your own, but you ended up misunderstanding in completely the wrong direction."
A slight twitch pulled at Platinum's cheek. Leaning back against the lockers, she let sharp, wounding words spill from her lips.
She'd learned long ago that words were the sharpest weapons.
At her hospital bedside, facing friends who cared for her, family who could no longer shoulder the medical costs, all sorts of people who came to her with goodwill in their hearts...
'Thank you for everything you've done for me. But my life is already over. Yours can still go on.'
'If you remain tethered to me, I'll only become a burden.'
If they couldn't support each other, fine. But if she became a dead weight? That would truly make her a sinner who deserved a thousand deaths.
So—
"Don't you get it? I simply don't want you in here. The thought of being crammed into a tiny space with you all just makes me sick."
"You—! How can you say something like that?!"
BAM! Fuji Kyoji's fist slammed against the restroom door as she shouted at Platinum inside.
"Show some respect for the rivals you've competed with on the same track!" Fuji Kyoji's teeth ground together audibly. Platinum had hit a nerve. She was clearly furious now.
See? It was simple. Just a slight parting of the lips, and she could make others leave her side.
So, Platinum escalated.
"Rivals?"Fuji Kyoji heard Platinum's silvery laugh ring out from behind the door. "You mean the ones I left trailing by a dozen lengths?"
"You can't even reach my side. Don't talk about sharing the same stage... you don't even qualify as backup dancers."
"You—!" Leap of Faith quickly grabbed the enraged Fuji Kyoji, hooking her arms and pulling her back.
"Apologize to Faith! Apologize to everyone here!"Even while being restrained, Fuji Kyoji waved her arms wildly. "See! I knew I wasn't wrong about you! You're just a hateful person!"
"Out of everyone here, it's only you! You're the only one who doesn't care about the races or respect your opponents! Someone like you shouldn't ever set foot on a track again!"
Hearing Fuji Kyoji's words, Platinum's lips curved into a smile.
I'm sorry, Fuji Kyoji. Everything you said is right.
I'm not a proper Uma Musume, and I'm not even a proper person.
That's exactly why I have to keep you all away from me.
I can see it—the blazing fire in your eyes. That thirst for victory, that desire to seize the laurels. I'm sorry for trampling on that wish.
But, this should be the last time. I'm sorry.
The racetrack should be for people like you, not for opportunists and half-hearted amateurs like me.
"—So what if I am?"Platinum's voice came out again, light and laughing.
"Yeah, I admit it. I've never taken the races seriously. For me, it's just playing around. A game, understand?"
"But... what I never expected was that even a me with that mindset is someone you can't defeat. So tell me, which is more despicable? Someone like me, who can take first place just by fooling around? Or someone like you, who gives it your all but still can't surpass me?"
Hearing this, the Uma Musume outside began whispering amongst themselves.
"That's so harsh..."
"What a terrible personality. She was all timid and hesitant at the starting gate, but the moment she wins, her head swells up."
"Honestly, isn't she just coasting on natural talent? If everyone had the same innate ability, Fuji Kyoji would never lose."
"Thinking of it that way, someone who gloats just because of their talent seems even worse."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 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.