Hikari-chan's Desired Kitasan Black

Crown's expression froze for an instant. A flash of gloom and resentment passed through her eyes before settling into a profound sense of helplessness.

"Of course I remember—" she said softly, her fingers curling unconsciously. "But what does that have to do with—"

"'A promising investment,' or 'a risk that needs careful assessment'? Or—something even uglier?"

Diamond cut her off. Her voice was quiet, but every word was clear. "Back then, we had merely shown the potential to win G1 races, and the pressure and scrutiny were already enough to make us unable to breathe. At the time, I even—occasionally had thoughts of simply giving up racing altogether."

Crown looked at her younger sister in surprise, her eyes full of heartache. "You actually thought that—"

Then she froze, belated realization dawning in her eyes. "So you mean Little Kita—"

"That's right. That's what I think."

Diamond nodded firmly and continued her clear and logical analysis. Her tone carried the instinctive familiarity with certain rules that came from being born into a prominent family, along with a faint hint of mockery. "What is Little Kita now? A nine-crown champion, the strongest active Horse Girl in Japan—without question. According to what the adults taught us in the family's general knowledge classes, she is a phenomenon-level asset, a walking money printer, the face of the industry."

"At a time like this, any unstable factor—especially a plan like an overseas campaign, which requires high investment, carries high risk, and could take her beyond the sphere of domestic control—would absolutely touch a lot of people's most sensitive nerves: the nerves called 'Will we lose money?' and 'Will things get out of control?'"

"The merchant associations fear that a poor overseas performance or an injury could affect her commercial value in Japan. The Association fears that