Time flew, and soon the semester had passed.
The final class of the semester.
Kitasan Black lay sprawled on her desk, boredly watching the clock, not paying attention to what the teacher was saying.
Because what the teacher was talking about now were things to keep in mind during vacation—remember to do your homework, don't neglect daily training, that sort of thing. There was no point in listening to any of it.
When vacation came, she was definitely going to lie around at home and rest properly.
Daily training? No way she was doing that.
The morning jogs were already the limit of her effort. As for doing any training programs during vacation, that was simply impossible for her. For her, vacation meant proper rest and proper play.
So what the teacher was saying right now had no need to be remembered whatsoever.
Because even if she did remember these things, it would only add needless worries to her summer vacation.
At most she would just note what homework there was.
Though she wouldn't do the training, she still had to do her homework.
After all, unlike training which couldn't be checked, homework would definitely be collected and graded by the teacher.
So even though she found doing homework annoying, she still had to do what needed to be done. She was just a slacker, not a problem student.
The instant class ended, Kitasan Black immediately grabbed her already-packed bag and stood up, heading for the classroom door.
However, just as she walked out, she ran into the guidance counselor who hadn't left yet.
"Kitasan Black, perfect timing. I need to see you. Come to the guidance office later."
Hearing the counselor's instruction, Kitasan Black immediately had a bad feeling.
What had she done that required being called to the guidance office for a talk?
She had finally made it to vacation. Please don't let any unexpected incidents happen now!
She walked toward the guidance office looking utterly defeated.
Though unwilling, not going wasn't an option.
While Kitasan Black was heading to the guidance office—
Satono Crown and Satono Diamond left school together.
A lot had happened this semester.
For example, Satono Diamond's final exam results had finally surpassed Satono Crown's.
In the past, though Satono Diamond would occasionally beat Satono Crown in regular tests and mock races, her final rankings at the end of each semester would still fall behind Satono Crown's.
But this semester, Satono Diamond had finally surpassed Satono Crown across the board.
Satono Diamond had made tremendous progress recently, and this growth wasn't just reflected in her grades, but also in her personality.
The current Satono Diamond seemed to have suddenly matured overnight, possessing a resolve different from ordinary students.
But Satono Crown was very worried about Satono Diamond's current state.
Because Satono Diamond's progress this semester had been achieved through what could only be described as desperate effort.
This version of Satono Diamond gave her the feeling of someone who had gone off the deep end.
Satono Crown had tried to have heart-to-heart talks with Satono Diamond multiple times, but Diamond would evade her every time.
They had been close sisters who could talk about anything before, but lately Diamond refused to tell her anything.
Every time she asked if Diamond had encountered some problem, Diamond would brush it off.
Satono Crown had thought Diamond's condition would gradually improve, because from her observations, no one at school was bullying Diamond. Even the most suspicious Kitasan-san was still keeping the same distance from Diamond as before.
But a whole semester had passed, and Diamond's condition hadn't improved at all.
It was as if some enormous pressure was forcing Diamond to work this hard.
This state was just too strange.
Satono Crown really wanted to know what had happened to Diamond, why she had to go this far.
And even if she really wanted to get stronger, Satono Diamond's current approach was too dangerous.
This method of straining her mind and pushing her body would cause enormous burden even if it did increase her ability.
If she worked so hard to improve only to ruin her health, that would be putting the cart before the horse.
On the way back, Satono Crown brought up this topic again.
"Diamond, what difficulty are you facing? If I can help..."
"Crown, I've told you many times. I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."
Satono Diamond didn't want to discuss this topic with Crown, because what Crown was worried about didn't exist.
She wasn't being bullied or oppressed.
Right now... she simply couldn't wake up from that nightmare.
Though the reason she was having nightmares was because of that race with Kitasan Black, there was no way she could tell Crown about this.
Setting aside that she had already promised to keep Kitasan Black's secret—
Even without that agreement, she wouldn't have told Satono Crown.
Because Satono Crown, like her former self, had completely misunderstood her feelings toward Kitasan Black.
Mistaking a primal fear for some kind of guidance from fate—but that was simply wrong.
Because after witnessing Kitasan Black's true abilities, Satono Diamond didn't believe there was any way they could become Kitasan Black's rivals.
Now, without Kitasan Black needing to threaten her, Satono Diamond would voluntarily keep Kitasan Black's secret.
Even now, when she recalled what happened that day, her body would still tremble uncontrollably.
For Satono Diamond, still an elementary schooler, the blow from that crushing defeat had been far too heavy.
The fact that she could still keep attending classes now, without giving up on her dream of becoming an uma musume, was already very strong of her.
After all, what Kitasan Black had done was fundamentally no different from what the Demon King had done in the past.
Both had used absolute power to brand a deep mark into the other's heart.
The only difference was that one did it actively, and one did it passively.
Those who had been branded, if they couldn't overcome this psychological shadow, would never be able to face Kitasan Black head-on in a race from then on. Just standing on the same track as Kitasan Black would make them tremble with fear.
Satono Diamond didn't want Crown to experience this painful ordeal too.
"Diamond..."
Satono Crown looked at the trembling Satono Diamond and couldn't help but call out, "There's no way you're fine, looking like this!"
"Crown, stop meddling. This is my own business. It has nothing to do with you."
Satono Diamond knew her composure had slipped, but she still refused to tell Crown anything.
Because even if she did, it would be useless. Telling would only add one more victim.
She knew that if she told Crown she was having nightmares because of her race with Kitasan Black—
Crown would definitely try to get revenge for her, would definitely find a way to challenge Kitasan Black to a match.
But the consequence of doing that would only be Crown repeating her same experience.
And even if she told Crown she couldn't win, Crown probably wouldn't believe her.
Just like how she herself, before witnessing Kitasan Black's true abilities, hadn't believed such a monster could exist in this world either.
Unless Crown actually raced Kitasan Black once, she would never believe she couldn't win.
But if she raced Kitasan Black even once, Crown would definitely end up like her now.
"How can it have nothing to do with me? Diamond, I'm your sister."
Though they weren't biological sisters, just cousins—
Having grown up together since childhood, their relationship was no less close than that of blood sisters.
Satono Diamond fell silent.
If possible, of course she would have wanted someone to confide in about this kind of thing.
But the problem was that it would be useless.
Because no one could help her.
Satono Crown continued, "Has Uncle made some unreasonable demand of you again?"
Chairman Satomi was Crown's primary suspect, after all, her uncle had pressured Diamond before. When Satono Diamond was little, Chairman Satomi had constantly demanded that Satono Diamond be the best in every aspect.
Various tutoring sessions, and even techniques that shouldn't be learned at Satono Diamond's age, were required to be mastered.
Surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques were among them.
Though Satono Crown was also a young lady, she hadn't mastered as many skills as Satono Diamond.
Because Satono Crown's parents didn't have such high expectations of her.
So in Satono Crown's view, the reason Diamond was working so desperately must be because Uncle had made some excessive demand again.
"Is it because Uncle demanded you surpass me in your results this semester? You could have just told me about that."
If Satono Diamond had told her, she would have voluntarily given up that ranking.
Hearing Crown say this again, Satono Diamond's expression cooled by several degrees.
Since when did she, Satono Diamond, need Satono Crown to hand over first place to her?
In the past, she definitely would have gotten angry at Crown for saying this.
Now, though she still felt uncomfortable, she could control her emotions.
Besides, she didn't care about such things anymore!
Because in that monster Kitasan Black's eyes, the rankings they were competing for were utterly meaningless.
Surpassing Satono Crown in this final exam—she felt no joy from it.
Because after seeing that monster, the Crown who was only slightly stronger than her past self was no longer considered a rival in her eyes.
Why was she having nightmares? Was it just because of the crushing defeat?
No, what she feared wasn't that one defeat. What she feared was never being able to catch up to that figure in the future.
What she feared was never winning for her entire life!
That's why she had the same nightmare every night.
Because it wasn't just oppression—it was also a spur.
Though it was truly painful, and she had wanted to give up so many times, she had gritted her teeth and persisted in the end every time.
She was Satono Diamond, the most dazzling diamond of the Satomi family. She absolutely would not lose her brilliance here!
She hadn't yet broken the Satomi family's curse bearing this name—how could she give up!
Her parents' expectations, the trust of her siblings, and the long-cherished wish of the entire Satomi clan—
What she carried on her shoulders wasn't something that could be so easily abandoned.
Satono Diamond looked at Crown, who was still there badmouthing her father, and said seriously, "It has nothing to do with Father. Crown, please don't speak ill of Father in front of me again."
"..."
Satono Crown hadn't expected Diamond to warn her so severely.
After all, in the past, when there were too many lessons arranged by Uncle, Diamond would even run to her arms to cry at night.
Satono Diamond's attitude made Satono Crown think she might really have guessed wrong.
This matter probably really had nothing to do with Uncle, because if Uncle really was behind it, though Diamond would cover for him, she would also resent him, and when she heard her badmouthing Uncle, she would deliberately pretend not to hear.
But if it had nothing to do with Uncle, then what was the cause?
Satono Crown couldn't think of an answer for the moment.
Because in her view, aside from Uncle, there was no one around Diamond who would pressure her.
Satono Crown carefully recalled when Satono Diamond's change had begun.
She remembered it seemed to be around the time of the sports festival.
One day, Satono Diamond had taken sick leave with a fever, and the next day when she came back, she had become like this.
She remembered she had even gone to ask Diamond at the time if she had a conflict with Kitasan-san.
After all, Diamond at that time had been very concerned about whether Kitasan-san had sandbagged in the sports festival.
But Diamond had denied her speculation then.
Later, through observation, she had found that Diamond and Kitasan-san's relationship had indeed returned to how it was before.
At that time, she still hadn't noticed anything wrong with Diamond.
She had thought Diamond had simply suddenly become motivated.
It was only later, when she happened to see Diamond's desperate state during private training, that she began to feel something was wrong.
This was also why she suspected Uncle.
Because she believed there was no factor at school that could cause such a change in Diamond.
But now Diamond's reaction proved that this matter really had nothing to do with Uncle.
Then what was the cause?
Satono Crown thought of that possibility she had once suspected but also dismissed.
"If it's not Uncle, then is your current situation related to Kitasan-san?"
"I've told you before, there's never been any conflict between Kitasan-san and me. Stop making wild guesses!"
Satono Diamond hadn't expected Satono Crown to bring up Kitasan Black again.
She had clearly already dispelled Satono Crown's suspicions about Kitasan-san long ago.
"..."
(So I really do need to ask Kitasan-san?)
Though Satono Crown didn't think this matter could be related to Kitasan-san, with Satono Diamond refusing to tell her anything, even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance of suspicion, she had to ask Kitasan-san to find out.
The two walked the rest of the way to the school gate in silence.
Just as they were about to get in the car, Satono Crown suddenly stopped.
"Sorry, I think I left something behind. You go ahead. I'll take a taxi home later."
However, the instant she turned to leave, Satono Diamond immediately reached out and grabbed her.
Satono Diamond didn't believe Crown's excuse for a second.
"Crown, how many times do I have to tell you? Stay out of my business!"
Because of her anger, Satono Diamond's tone had become quite hostile.
She was stopping Crown from approaching Kitasan Black to protect Crown.
Why was this person so stubborn? She had clearly said she was fine!
"I really did leave something behind."
Satono Crown met Satono Diamond's eyes without backing down either.
The Satomi family's driver quickly turned his head to look elsewhere.
Whatever was happening between the two young ladies wasn't something a mere driver like him could get involved in. Better pretend he hadn't seen anything!
"Don't lie to me, Crown."
"When have I ever lied to you?"
But the more forceful Satono Diamond acted, the more resolute Satono Crown's determination became.
Her little sister had become so strange. There was no way she could really do nothing. She couldn't do that.
Satono Diamond suddenly took a step back.
"Fine. If that's the case, then I'll come with you to find whatever you left behind."
"No need..."
"Then you're lying to me."
Satono Diamond gave Crown no chance to make more excuses. She could see through exactly what Crown wanted to do at a glance.
She wanted to go ask Kitasan-san about her?
Though she thought Kitasan-san most likely wouldn't tell Crown the truth, what if Crown, like she had done before, successfully pushed Kitasan-san too far? Then Crown would see Kitasan-san's hidden true form.
She had to stop this!
"Diamond, don't throw a tantrum. And since you won't let me care about you, you have no reason to stop what I do!"
"You clearly are trying to meddle."
"This isn't meddling. You've changed, Diamond."
"I have changed, but I've become more mature, and stronger. My results being better than yours this time proves it!"
The driver listened to the two young ladies argue, cold sweat rolling down his forehead.
What exactly had happened?
Two young ladies with such close feelings—how had they ended up fighting so intensely?
Should he call the master and madam to inform them?
But... if he tattled on them now, wouldn't the two young ladies settle accounts with him later?
He had never seen the young ladies this fierce before.
Quite a few students and parents passing by were curious about what was happening here, but upon seeing the Satomi family's crest on the car, they immediately covered their ears and hurried away. They didn't dare stop to listen to Satomi family gossip.
After Satono Diamond and Satono Crown argued for a while, they both suddenly looked seriously at each other.
"Let's settle this with a match, Diamond! If you really think you're stronger than me now, then prove it with a race!"
"Exactly what I was thinking! Crown, if you lose, stop acting like a big sister and interfering in my affairs!"
"No problem. But if you lose, then you have to come clean about everything today!"
Since neither could convince the other with words, the only option left was to use strength to overpower the other.
Let the outcome of the race do the talking!
Kitasan Black, who had just arrived at the school gate, heard the conditions of their challenge and immediately felt awful.
Though these two looked like sisters having a fight, the conditions of their match were related to her!
She knew exactly what the Diamond ojou-sama would be "coming clean" about.
Because the Diamond ojou-sama's current changes were undoubtedly due to their race back then.
(I finally made it to vacation, and you two are trying to cause me trouble again? Stop it!)
...
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