Mizuki picked up her pen, flipped open the diary, and began updating today's content.
[Today's weather was excellent. The tail end of winter is fading, and spring is arriving. Training for Spica is over, and overall, it was very productive.]
[Early this morning, I went to the Spica clubroom and saw Hayakawa Tazuna. Her hat is as eye-catching as ever. She gave me my Spica certificate; I'm a certified woman now!]
[Come to think of it, Hayakawa Tazuna is very diligent. She went out early to catch the problem children— specifically Nakayama Festa. That girl is a real headache for Tazuna. I wonder if Gold Ship was with her?]
[Eh, Golshi is likely there too, they're inseparable.]
[Before Tazuna left, she encouraged us and told me to look after the girls' safety. She really is gentle and lovely; no wonder everyone at Tracen likes her.]
Mizuki finished the first paragraph. As her diary updated, everyone saw the new content.
Inside the Chairwoman's office: The laughter of Akikawa Yayoi rang out first. She snapped her fan shut and said: "Agreement! Tazuna, did you see? Trainer Mizuki's diary mentioned you. She said you are gentle and lovely. I couldn't agree more!"
Akikawa Yayoi was a natural prankster at heart and was delighted by the entry.
"Honestly, it's just politeness..." Tazuna was quite shy, her cheeks flushing red, but she was undeniably happy to be praised.
"But, I am curious... is my outfit and hat that strange? Trainer Mizuki was staring at my hat before." Tazuna put a finger to her lip, looking thoughtful. She even went to the mirror but couldn't see what the problem was.
"Haha! I know, Tazuna! Look at the back of your clothes and hat— they've faded! They aren't green enough anymore, that's why she noticed!"
Chairwoman Akikawa had an epiphany. Being small, she immediately noticed details others missed. She concluded that Tazuna's clothes no longer radiated that "green" feeling, and that getting an even greener "Green Hat" was the best choice.
Tazuna wondered if that was really it. Regardless, she decided she would switch to an even greener outfit next time, find some motivation, and work hard.
"Arigato, Chairwoman Akikawa." Tazuna was now brimming with motivation. Since everyone liked her, she was even more driven to help the students at Tracen.
"No problem, no problem! And as expected, I am quite brilliant. I bet any children I have in the future will be just like me, hahaha!"
The Chairwoman was getting carried away, unaware they were drifting further down the wrong path.
[T/N: Again, "Green Hat" is Chinese slang for a cuck.]
Because Tazuna was now fully motivated to supervise the students more strictly, a chain reaction was about to occur. For instance, the slacking Seiun Sky, the class-skipping Mayano Top Gun, and the party-loving Twin Turbo and Daitaku Helios were all likely about to face the judgment of the "Green Hat Demon."
Mizuki had no idea that a simple paragraph in her diary would lead to countless Uma Musume at Tracen facing the wrath of Tazuna.
The diary continued to update.
[Early this morning, we also finalized the race schedules. Daiwa Scarlet wants to follow the Triple Tiara route, while Vodka aims to conquer the Japanese Derby. As for Gold Ship, she's doing whatever she wants— as long as she's happy. She has plenty of drive, so she'll handle her own arrangements.]
[McQueen's goal remains the Spring Tenno Sho. Before that major race, there is only one G2 event: the Hanshin Daishoten, a 3000-meter long-distance turf race.]
[However, speaking of the G2 Hanshin Daishoten, that race is a true breeding ground for legends. Take Orfevre, for instance— she produced a performance that became an instant career classic. I can only say the "Gold Family" is truly full of characters.]
As Mizuki wrote, she couldn't help but recall the Hanshin Daishoten that Orfevre had participated in.
Orfevre had been leading the pack, running as if he were in a world of her own, leaving the other horses far behind in despair. Just when everyone thought Orfevre was about to secure an easy victory, hisbrain seemed to short-circuit.
Perhaps he thought he had already reached the finish line, as he slowed down to a leisurely stroll to contemplate the meaning of life, pulling a stunt that left everyone watching in stunned silence.
What was even more ridiculous was that once the other horses began overtaking him— pulling ahead by over a dozen horse lengths and leaving her in dead last— Orfevre suddenly accelerated again. He unleashed a "Final Kick" of such terrifying power that, with a crushing momentum, he tore through the pack once more to claim second place. He scared the other horses so badly they practically forgot how to run, and he nearly took first place despite the detour.
One could only imagine that the fans who had bought Orfevre's betting tickets that day nearly suffered heart attacks. Life is truly full of such extreme ups and downs.
That is the power of the "Gold Bloodline"— absolute chaos. Moreover, Orfevre wasn't even the wildest one; the Gold Family also boasts the "12.1 Billion Yen Incident!"
Due to various reasons, Orfevre was given the affectionate nickname: "The brain-damaged powerhouse."
Meanwhile, near Hokkaido:
Orfevre stared at the log, completely stunned, her head buzzing.
"'The Gold Family is full of characters'... why does that sentence feel so wrong?"
Orfevre was currently practicing her swimming at the beach. She was in a swimsuit, her golden hair dampened by the seawater, though it couldn't hide her refined features.
"And I've never participated in the Hanshin Daishoten. Is it someone with the same name as me? It couldn't possibly be actually me, right? Dammit, I can't figure it out!"
Orfevre cared deeply but couldn't find an answer, which made her incredibly frustrated. She decided that once she returned to Tracen, she would definitely demand an explanation from Trainer Mizuki.
At that moment, the diary updated again.
[Aside from training today, Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka spoke to me about their Racing Outfits.]
[It's true; they're about to have their Debut Races, so they need to wear their Racing Outfits. They came to ask for my opinion, and I took the time to help them choose.]
[Both Scarlet and Vodka want outfits that match their personalities. Scarlet wants the most eye-catching one, while Vodka wants something cool. Honestly, the designs they picked really suit them. Do these two actually have a natural talent for modeling?]
[As their Trainer, I really wanted to say: "Given our bond, I'll buy all the Racing Outfits available for you!"]
[But alas, those words never left my mouth. After all, a quick check of my pockets revealed I'm flat broke.]
[This is just one of life's two great hardships.]
[Talking about money hurts the feelings, and talking about feelings hurts the money.]
[Wait, how did my money disappear so fast?! I thought I had 2000 left? Why is it only 400? I'm reeling.]
Mizuki then remembered that she had spent all her money on building up Spica. It was an investment. After all, once the Uma Musume won major races, she would receive a large payout. Since Scarlet and Vodka were good to her, buying them Racing Outfits was nothing.
They were her beloved horses; what was wrong with spending on them? It was just a pity that her income couldn't keep up yet.
[With so little cash, surviving until payday is going to be tough.]
[Maybe I should go to that lottery stall outside Tracen and test my luck?]
[Even winning second prize— a bundle of carrots— would be a win. Not to mention the Hot Springs Trip Ticket, which is worth five figures! Even if there's only a 1% chance, there's still hope!]
[That's right, how can you call yourself a Cygames player if you don't gamble? 1% chance? That means that the odds are in my favor!]
[I have no other use for this 400 yen anyway. Let's go gambling!]
Mizuki finished with a flourish of her pen. Little did she know that the group of Uma Musume reading her log were losing it.
"Hahaha! So Trainer Mizuki is also living paycheck to paycheck? What do you know, I feel like we've gotten closer now."
Gold Ship had initially thought Mizuki was some rich woman, but seeing that she was a fellow broke gambler made her die of laughter. Especially that "1% chance? The odds are in my favor" line— she couldn't stop laughing.
As for Matikane Fukukitaru, she was baffled. She believed in fortune-telling and luck, but Trainer Mizuki was even more ridiculous than she was, aiming for the grand prize right off the bat. And what on earth was a "Cygames player"?
Nice Nature saw it and burst out laughing. She found it all too relatable— money really does just vanish if you aren't paying attention. But she didn't expect Mizuki to be such a dreamer. She was aiming for the grand prize in broad daylight? It was just like her fantasizing about defeating Tokai Teio and taking first place.
Thinking of a genius like Teio, Nature scratched her head.
'Dammit, I always lose to her. It's so frustrating...'
Hishi Miracle had a playful look on her face. She was always "ordinary," but this made her want to try her luck too. Should she buy a lottery ticket? She checked her pocket— 1222 yen in pocket money.
Maybe if she bought one, she'd get rich?
She smiled cutely but then dismissed the idea. Someone as ordinary as her couldn't possibly win. She had often heard the saying: Stay away from gambling and drugs.
Narita Top Road was also laughing. She found it all very endearing and thought Mizuki was quite funny.
She didn't know that she was about to make an appearance.
[By the way, I also saw Admire Vega and Narita Top Road today. They seemed to want to talk to me and kept staring. Was it an illusion?]
[Regardless, they are 'Stars of the Century's End'— famous figures. Don't be fooled by their young age, their talent is outstanding. They are top-tier Uma Musume.]
[However, even for Admire Vega and Top Road, the rivals they will face in the future are even more formidable. The competition between them will be spectacular.]
[Speaking of which, I can't help but think of Narita Top Road's meme face. I feel bad for her, but at the same time, it's just so funny. Hahaha! That meme is just too classic.]
At this moment, Narita Top Road was stunned to see herself mentioned.
"Eh? I really was discovered?"
She thought she had hidden well. How embarrassing! Though they hadn't done much afterward— they just made up an excuse to go eat together. Seeing the next part, she was even more surprised.
"The Star of the Century's End... Me?"
She never expected to be called a star. Her eyes widened, feeling a bit apprehensive but inevitably happy. Her cheeks were slightly flushed with shyness, looking incredibly adorable.
"But what does she mean by 'meme face'? I don't have a meme face! Is it an emoji on my phone? That has nothing to do with me, right?"
Top Road spoke in a cute voice, tilting her head in curiosity. She had no idea that her "pouty crybaby" face had already taken the racing world by storm— a classic among classics. Perhaps one day, with the diary's upgrades, she might actually see it.
At that point, she'd likely want to find a hole to crawl into or drag Trainer Mizuki to a basement and torture her until she deleted it.
Meanwhile:
Admire Vega had a serious expression. Unlike Top Road's happiness, seeing herself described as a "Star of the Century's End" only made her feel self-loathing.
"A star... me? No... why did I feel a flicker of joy just now?! That's unfair to you, isn't it?"
"I won't make that mistake again. My running is only for you."
"For you, I am willing to give everything."
Admire Vega became somber. She felt she didn't deserve the joy of running; it felt like an injustice to her twin sister who had died before birth. She believed her sister had died so she could live, and she carried that guilt with her.
No one at Tracen knew this secret.
"I can't hesitate next time. I have to ask Trainer Mizuki clearly. No matter what it takes, I have to get answers from her."
She looked toward the star Vega. For her sister, she was willing to do anything— though her phrasing sounded a bit dangerous.
In a Tracen dance studio:
T.M. Opera O was fascinated by the log. Her goal was to become the "Conqueror of the Century's End." Admire Vega and Narita Top Road? Her "Overlord Radar" was already spinning. She remembered those names and wanted to challenge them.
They would surely meet in the classic Triple Crown races, wouldn't they?
"Admire Vega-san, Narita Top Road-san... I look forward to our duel. I am certain that in the end, victory will be mine!"
"My path as the Overlord is about to begin! Don't you agree? Ha~hahaha!"
She began her signature laugh, filled with anticipation and passion. Meisho Doto walked in just then, only to be confused by the sudden outburst. What's happened to Opera O now? But that laugh was so confident. Doto decided she should learn it too.
"Ha~~ ha... ha... ha..."
Doto tried her best to laugh, but she lost her balance and tripped again.
Just then, the final paragraph of Mizuki's diary was written.
[Come to think of it, the Uma Musume at Tracen are really interesting. I still have many new friends to meet.]
[For example, those 'hot-blooded idiots' my friends mentioned: Twin Turbo, Winning Ticket, and the party-loving gyaru, Daitaku Helios. Hahaha.]
[And speaking of which, I remember my superfan friend saying...]
[There's one Uma Musume who is the absolute— the absolute goofiest of them all.]
[Her name had something to do with the 'Opera.' Who could it be? Or did I remember it wrong?]
[I'll have to pay more attention later. That's all for today's log. What a high-energy morning.]
Reading this, T.M. Opera O froze. An Uma Musume who's name had something to do with "Opera?" Her name had "Opera" right in the middle!
"But... surely it's not me. After all, the word that suits me best is 'Overlord.' Besides, I get good grades in exams easily. How could I be known as a goofy Uma Musume?!"
Opera O felt that "goofiest" couldn't possibly describe her. But then, who was it?
In the Ritto Dorms, inside Matikane Tannhauser's room:
Matikane Tannhauser saw those words— "absolute goofiest"— and her expression became one of extreme shock.
Because... her name was related to the Opera too! Could she be talking about her?
"Mumu... maybe Trainer Mizuki remembered it wrong? Is there really another Uma Musume with 'Opera' related to her name?"
"But even if there isn't, it still shouldn't be me. Even if my luck has been a bit rotten lately, I'm not 'goofy' at all!"
"That's right, no problem! She's definitely not talking about me. But I need to work harder! So many strong people appeared in the diary: the Stars of the Century's End, McQueen, Scarlet, Vodka!"
"OH!!! I have to do my best too!!"
Tannhauser let out a strange horse-girl yelp and threw her hands up, suddenly filled with fighting spirit.
In short, she was going to complete today's training with even more diligence!
It was precisely because Tracen Academy was filled with extreme geniuses and monsters that an ordinary person like her had to put in even more effort!
Keep it up, Tannhauser!
Ei, Ei, Mun!