Soon, Mizuki woke up.
She was currently sticking to an "early to bed, early to rise" routine, and her spirits were high. She planned to get up and lead Special Week, Mejiro McQueen, Vodka, Hokko Tarumae, and the others through a training session.
Hokko Tarumae had been getting quite close to Aston Machan lately, they were even planning to co-star in a video. Tarumae had been using her videos to promote her hometown, Tomakomai, and many people had already started visiting.
The town had actually made life-sized standees of Mizuki and Tarumae and placed them at the entrance of Tomakomai. She felt like she was experiencing what it was like to be a true spokesperson.
Technically, as an honorary ambassador, Mizuki didn't earn much monthly income from Tomakomai, but the locals were so enthusiastic that they kept her supplied with so many local specialties she couldn't finish them all.
The video Aston Machan filmed previously had far more views than the ones she produced herself. In her original timeline, Machan would gradually be forgotten by everyone. She tried her best to promote herself, but despite her hard work, her video views wouldn't even break a hundred— sometimes only reaching a dozen.
But the advice Mizuki gave her (along with the popularity booster rewards from the Diary) helped her reach at least 300,000 views. Because of this, she kept coming to Mizuki for more advice.
Mizuki wasn't sure if she'd finished filming the latest video yet. If not, she could give her a new popularity boost, though she didn't have many left.
Actually, people in the world of Uma Musume loved short videos too. The ones Machan liked to film were absurd, and people found them quite fun to watch during meals, so many people began to remember her.
The reason Aston Machan went to such lengths to be remembered was tied to her real-life counterpart.
Aston Machan debuted on July 22, 2006. As a filly, she became well-known early on, winning two consecutive graded stakes races. She was at the top of her game, and everyone wondered if she would become the most dazzling filly of the era.
However, in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, she encountered the "Empress" Vodka, who surged out of nowhere. Machan tasted defeat as Vodka beat her by a neck. From then on, the spotlight shifted to Vodka.
In early April 2007, Machan entered the Oka Sho. Her rivals this time were Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka. Daiwa Scarlet eventually took the crown. Machan had held second place for a long time, but after entering the final straight, she simply couldn't accelerate again.
She finished 7th, a full second behind the runner-up, Vodka.
Machan struggled for a while after that, but she eventually found her calling: Sprinting.
She secured her first G1 victory in the Sprinters Stakes as a 3-year-old.
This G1 win was incredibly prestigious. Her 2007 victory made her the second 3-year-old filly to dominate the race since Nishino Flower in 1992. It was also Trainer Ishizaka's second Sprinters Stakes win since Daitaku Yamato in 2000. He was overjoyed that day.
As a side note, in that race, Machan's usual jockey— the old man Yutaka Take— chose to ride Suzuka Phoenix instead. Phoenix was a brother to Silence Suzuka and was very strong in sprints, having won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. He was the first favorite and the top pick to win.
Suzuka Phoenix was different from Silence Suzuka. If you called out "Suzuka-san," the real Silence Suzuka would turn to look at you. But Suzuka Phoenix wouldn't care at all. Only if you shouted "Phoenix-san" would he dorkily turn his head to see which "two-legged beast" was approaching.
In that race, Aston Machan paired with Jockey Nakadate to take the high-value G1 title. One can only imagine Machan thinking: 'Old man Take, you just keep obsessing over your Suzuka!'
However, after that race, Machan never won again. She participated in the Swan Stakes (G2) on October 27, 2007, and the Silk Road Stakes (G3) on February 10, 2008, suffering heavy defeats at 14th and 10th place respectively.
When the team decided to challenge the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, she suddenly fell ill on March 3rd. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she was diagnosed with gastroenteritis of unknown origin.
She was rushed to the racehorse clinic at the Ritto Training Center. Despite all efforts to save her, they couldn't stabilize her.
Ultimately, Aston Machan passed away on April 21, 2008, due to acute heart failure. Trainer Ishizaka stayed by her side until the very end.
In truth, Machan's death was incredibly tragic. While she couldn't run miles, she certainly could have achieved more in sprints, but she died young. What's sadder is that the brilliance of Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet that year was so blinding that Machan's death was quickly forgotten.
She was like a withered leaf falling in autumn, quietly fading away.
Essentially, when the JRA or fans mention the fillies of 2007, they only think of the "Twin Empresses" Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet. Later, Special Week's daughter Buena Vista shone brightly, and the "Queen of Mares" Gentildonna drew all eyes.
Almost no one remembered the flash of light that was Aston Machan.
That's why at Tracen Academy, Aston Machan became an Uma Musume who loves appearing on camera and wants to be remembered. Even though she just wants to be a mascot, she is still forgotten by many.
Knowing this, Mizuki did her best to help Machan boost her presence. Now that her video views were up, people were remembering her. Moreover, Mizuki would ensure no health accidents happened to her.
There was a chance to change everything.
"Speaking of which, Machan and Tarumae asked me to look at their video today. I'll check it once they've finished filming."
Mizuki checked her phone. She was shocked to see that the Spica group chat and the general Uma Musume chat had over 99+ messages.
'Was it that popular?'
Clicking in, she realized that for the Newcomer Welcome Gala on January 30th, Air Groove was taking everyone to buy decorations this afternoon. People could make requests, and rewards were set up, each team just needed to send a few representatives.
Tokai Teio: Great! For Team Spica, who's going? Teio-sama is up for the task! I'll definitely buy gifts everyone likes. Let's just buy Tokai Teio plushies! Everyone will love them, right?
Smart Falcon: My alarm clock ringtone can be a gift for the lucky draw during the gala. Actually, it doesn't have to be a prize, everyone is free to download it!
Rice Shower: Hehe, everyone at Tracen can discuss it together. I'm really looking forward to the rewards for this gala. But Rice won't go shopping... if Rice is there, it would be bad if something unlucky happened.
Mizuki: @Rice Shower, don't say that. I'll feel unlucky if you aren't there.
Special Week: @Mizuki, Trainer-san, you're awake!
Tanino Gimlet: Who the hell put up this railing near the school? It looks so annoying.
Sirius Symboli: @Tanino Gimlet, are you having an episode again? Stop kicking the railings. How many have you broken already? What did the railings ever do to you?
Vodka: Tanino Gimlet-senpai, you really should restrain yourself. You'll set a bad example for the younger ones.
Narita Brian: It's useless. This person is somewhat maniacal about fences and railings. On her first day at Tracen, she broke four. We had to increase the bars from three to five and reinforce them, but she just views it as a challenge. She kicks them whenever she's bored.
Narita Brian: Even after she injured her foot, she showed no remorse. After recovering, she broke two more as a celebration. She even corrupted her juniors. People have started called her the "God of Destruction."
Narita Brian was at a loss. She had tried to stop Tanino Gimlet, but the latter was truly obsessed with destroying fences.
As for the junior Brian mentioned, her name was Rose Kingdom, and in the real horse world, he had 1 G1 victory in his career. He was a contemporary of Special Week's daughter, Buena Vista.
As mentioned before, Buena Vista was demoted by the JRA in the 2010 Japan Cup due to a foreign jockey's interference. Rose Kingdom, who was second, became the winner, becoming the "General of Japan" one step ahead of Buena Vista.
One could only say Buena Vista was a victim of JRA's rules. Even though the JRA later changed the rules, she remained a victim. Her father, Special Week, missed out on the Hall of Fame because she lost the Arima Kinen by 4cm to Grass Wonder.
It felt like fate was playing a trick on both father and daughter.
Daiwa Scarlet: That is actually a bit scary.
Vodka: But Tanino Gimlet-senpai still won the Derby. That's so cool.
Tanino Gimlet was also Vodka's father. Her strength was very high— a Derby horse with a terrifying late kick.
At Tracen, Vodka mentioned her father took her to see the Japan Derby when she was little, which inspired her dream of winning it.
This reflected real history: Yutaka Take won on Tanino Gimlet in 2002, making him the first jockey in Japan to win the Derby three times.
In fact, if Yutaka Take had won the 2000 Derby on Air Shakur against Agnes Flight, he would have achieved an unprecedented "Derby Triple Crown" by winning for three consecutive years. It would have been a legendary feat, but Air Shakur lost by 7cm.
Otherwise, that achievement would have been unreachable for future jockeys. The old man was truly, truly strong. His 1998 and 1999 Derby winners were Special Week and Admire Vega, respectively.
Copano Rickey: So is @Rice Shower going?
Rice Shower: Rice doesn't want to be a burdon...
Agnes Tachyon: Haha, I know how to get her to go.
Rice Shower: Eh? You do?
Agnes Tachyon: @Rice Shower, we were planning on pairing you up with Meisho Doto. If you don't go, poor Doto will be all alone in the city.
Agnes Tachyon: You wouldn't want something bad to happen to her while she's alone, would you?
Meisho Doto: Awa-wa-wa-wa...
Meisho Doto was also shocked at Tachyon's words. Nobody had even told her she was going!
But when she read about Tanino Gimlet's grudge against railings, she felt a strange sense of comradery.
In reality, the real-life Meisho Doto would often try to break railings with his butt after retiring. He would lean his backside against the railing, push back with his legs, and had successfully broken them before.
His groomers had to stop him constantly, with several people pushing against his butt to get him to quit. But when Doto got into a mood, he ignored the "two-legged beasts" and just kept attacking the fence.
Mejiro McQueen: @Mizuki, Trainer-san, take a break after breakfast and then let's start training.
Hokko Tarumae: I'm ready too.
Tokai Teio: I'll definitely be the best.
Mizuki: OK OK, everyone meet at Spica first for a meeting.
Soon after breakfast, Mizuki arrived at the Spica room. She taught the dirt-track knowledge she'd gained yesterday to everyone.
Hokko Tarumae, being a dirt specialist, gained a lot, while the other girls learned about handling heavy track conditions.
Mizuki then took them to the track. Hokko Tarumae ran on dirt, while Special Week ran on turf. Since her race was coming up, she trained at 1,800m.
McQueen worked on her 3,200m pacing. Mejiro Ryan was there too, and McQueen took the opportunity to ask Ryan for advice on power training.
"What kind of running style is that?"
Copano Rickey was stunned when she saw Hokko Tarumae. She noticed Tarumae had become much stronger in just one morning. Her competitive spirit flared up, and she began to race Tarumae. She refused to lose.
Tarumae was using the techniques Mizuki had just taught her.
On another part of the track:
"Dammit! Let's see if I can't knock you flying!"
Gentildonna was glaring furiously at Gold Ship in front of her. She had seen in Mizuki's log that Gold Ship "didn't move an inch," when she tried to bump her.
This made her extremely angry. She wanted to teach Gold Ship a lesson.
But just as Gentildonna charged up and slammed into Gold Ship's rear, Gold Ship didn't budge at all. Gentildonna nearly tripped herself.
She was shocked, clenching her fists, thinking 'How is this possible?!'
Before Gentildonna could accelerate again, she was startled by a terrifying burst of speed. Orfevre had charged onto the track, turning into a streak of golden light.
"Gentildonna, if you aren't running, don't block the way. How annoying..."
"You... Orfevre! I might not be able to knock Gold Ship flying, but do you think that means you're safe?"
Hearing this, Gentildonna became aggressive. She locked her eyes on Orfevre and began a fierce sprint.
Mizuki watched, speechless. Special Week's "Golden Generation" had their rivalries, but they ran relatively steadily.
The "BNW" trio were a bit passionate, but their training was fine.
Only when this "Gold Family" trained together did things get terrifying. They probably got into a fight seven times every three minutes.
Amidst this atmosphere, Team Spica finished morning training. Everyone had made some progress. Gentildonna was the angriest, she failed to budge Gold Ship and couldn't catch Orfevre. She was totally tilted.
Mizuki knew the Spica girls would be out shopping in the afternoon. She spent her time reviewing the video content for Tarumae and Machan.
Around 1:00 PM, a knock came at the door. It was Aston Machan, Hokko Tarumae, and Twin Turbo.
"Trainer Mizuki, good afternoon! Sorry to bother you. Please look at the video we finished. We asked Manhattan Cafe and Agnes Tachyon-san to film with us. They were very kind and accepted immediately."
Aston Machan said with a smile. She was truly adorable.
In reality, Manhattan Cafe wouldn't usually agree to film videos. But what Mizuki didn't know was that because she had written about Machan's situation in her log— how she might die and be forgotten— kind Uma Musume like Cafe and Tachyon couldn't refuse her request.
(T/N: It looks like this happened off-screen. I can't find anywhere that the MC wrote about Machan's situation. The only time it was talked about was earlier in the chapter, and it was pretty clearly not a diary entry. You'll see this kind of stuff a few times throughout the novel, and I apologize in advance.)
However, Mizuki was stunned.
"Manhattan Cafe, an Uma Musume like her, agreed? No way..."
The video was less than a minute long, but it was quite funny to Mizuki. It centered around a convencience store robbery, but every time the cashier started handing over money, a new girl would burst into the store, shoot the robber, and then turn towards the cashier.
Just when the cashier would start to thank them for saving her life and stopping the robber, the new girl would raise her gun and demand the cashier to hang over all the money in the cash register.
This repeated until the end, where the cashier finally got fed up, shot the newest robber, and then made off with the money in the cash register herself.
The girls had somehow roped Air Groove into helping with the video, being the cashier, and when you combine that with the memetic BGM and the various twists, the comedic effect was off the charts.
"So, what do you think, Mizuki-san?!"
Aston Machan chirped happily. She had originally wanted Mizuki to play the role of the cashier, but since she was busy, they finished the video without her.
"It's filmed perfectly. Especially Manhattan Cafe— she doesn't even look like she's acting, she looks like a real bandit. I almost want to join her crew and let her lead me on a real crime spree."
"What about me?" Hokko Tarumae asked. Seeing herself in the video still made her feel a bit embarrassed. She bit her lip, her face flushing slightly.
"Your expressions were spot on, too. It's just a shame that the money you had stolen was returned. We couldn't actually bring it back to the Spica room," Mizuki remarked with a sigh.
"Trainer-san... if we did that, we'd truly be hardened criminals," Tarumae said, looking flustered, unaware that Mizuki was just teasing her.
"Aww, Tarumae, that's not right! Twin Turbo thinks we got that stuff through our own hard work, so why should we give it back? We should have swiped a few extra carrots while we were at it, hmph!"
Twin Turbo bragged. She was so entertained by the finished video that she was acting quite arrogant.
"Oh? What was that?"
Air Groove's voice suddenly drifted in, giving Twin Turbo an instant bout of PTSD.
In truth, if Mizuki's log hadn't appeared, Air Groove would never have allowed them to film such a nonsensical video. But now that she knew the context and the stakes, she hadn't just allowed it— she had volunteered to play a part.
Air Groove had a sharp tongue but a heart of gold. She was kind and cared for the students of Tracen more than anyone. She didn't want Aston Machan to disappear, and she wanted to help Tarumae promote Tomakomai, so she willingly played the cashier's role.
However, she did state that if they ever filmed something like this again, she'd insist on Symboli Rudolf doing it.
She was actually feeling incredibly embarrassed herself.
"Waaaaah! I'm sorry! Please don't make Turbo sweep the floors!" Twin Turbo cried out, terrified.
"She won't," Mizuki said, knocking the idiot on the head. Air Groove was clearly joking.
Over at the Tracen laboratory, Agnes Tachyon stretched and said:
"Cafe, I didn't expect you to agree to Machan's request. You were even willing to let me experiment on you just to get me to help her and Tarumae."
Manhattan Cafe replied softly: "Mm... I don't want Machan to disappear, and I don't want Tomakomai to vanish either. They have been very kind to me."
Tachyon chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't experiment on you. That would make me look like a villain. But you do have to feed me dinner." She finished by spinning her hands in her signature circular motion.
Cafe blinked, then said, "Really? Thank you, Tachyon."
Tachyon grinned. "Of course, I'm not a monster. Besides, are you really not going to watch your own video? Our Number One Robber of Tracen?"
"Please... don't mention that again. If this continues, I really might loot your lab for real." Cafe's face turned bright red.
She didn't dare look at the video for even a second, it was far too mortifying.
"What's the big deal? You were actually quite cute. I think the nickname 'Tracen's Number One Robber' is going to stick with you for a while. This video is definitely going viral," Tachyon laughed.
"Ugh..." Hearing that, Manhattan Cafe lowered her head like a dejected kitten and went to brew coffee, whimpering softly. She prayed in her heart:
'Being treated like Tracen's robber... please, anything but that.'
At Team Spica, a crowd had gathered to watch the video. Even Nice Nature and Matikane Tannhauser had come along, and they were laughing so hard their stomachs hurt.
Especially Nice Nature, who had a low threshold for comedy, she was practically losing it.
"Seriously, Twin Turbo, you should have just taken all that money and the horseshoes. Neicha-san would have kept them safe for you. Air Groove already has her eyes on you, so it's safer with me."
Nice Nature sounded exactly like an elder trying to trick a child out of their New Year's money.
"That makes sense! Neicha, it'll be fine if I leave it with you!" Twin Turbo was instantly duped, she was no match for Nature.
Mizuki, overhearing Nature, was stunned.
'It has to be you, Nature. You didn't do a lick of work, but with one sentence, you've totally scammed Turbo.'
'Teach me your ways!'
Aston Machan asked if Mizuki had any more advice.
She did, but she was a bit embarrassed to actually open her mouth and give that advice.
As a certified keyboard warrior back at home, she was familiar with all sorts of comedy videos. Most of them were Chinese videos, but she knew a few Western ones.
'Creating parodies of those would be a bit embarrassing, though...'
Actually, she had an idea for one that could be filmed with Mejiro Bright and Mejiro Dober.
The stage? The 1998 Takarazuka Kinen.
Mejiro Dober drops her ear accessory on accident while getting ready for the race, and it falls on the other side of the starting gate.
She climbs underneath the gate to grab it, but when she tries to back up, she finds that she can't move backwards.
She's trapped under the starting gate.
Just then, Mejiro Bright looks over from the other stall, eyes wide.
"Dober, are you stuck? Let me see!"
"Eh?! What are you doing, Step-bro Bright?!
...
Well, that would certainly have some value, but Mizuki decided to wait until the first video was officially posted.
She wasn't in a rush. Her training goals had expanded: She wanted to turn Tarumae and Machan into mega-influencers.
She could even bring Gold City into the mix later.
If she started making videos, the popularity would be off the charts.
Soon, the girls left to continue their projects, and Air Groove prepared to lead the shopping expedition.
Haru Urara had just returned from outside. She was covered in mud.
She had finished 5th in her latest race. There were only five participants.
She was filthy, but she had a massive smile on her face. Even though she lost this time, she was sure she'd win the next one.
King Halo was doing chores. She was actually very skilled at it, keeping the dorm room spotless.
Urara's arrival made things a little messy, but King didn't mind at all. Ever since she heard that Urara was willing to lend her money to "save" her, she had been deeply moved.
She'd handle this little bit of dirt. After all, she was a first-class housekeeper.
"King-san, I brought you some bread! Even though I lost, Urara will win next time! That's 24 losses now!" Urara chirped happily.
"Thank you, Urara-san. You really are strong," King Halo said as she took the bread. Even though Urara lost, she hadn't forgotten to bring back food.
"Because so many people are cheering for Urara! They help Urara so much, so I have to work hard!" Urara was full of energy as she skipped off to the bath.
King Halo knew that the reason everyone helped Urara so much was that Urara gave them strength. Everyone was instinctively infected by Urara's kindness and optimism, which made them want to cheer for such a hardworking Uma Musume.
This included King herself and Rice Shower.
Rice Shower always felt like everything she did was a mistake, whereas Urara was optimistic no matter what. Urara often helped Rice, and Rice was deeply grateful.
Urara was also incredibly naive. She was one of the few who could leave T.M. Opera O speechless. For instance, when Opera O narcissistically claimed she was so dazzling that everyone else simply "faded away" around her, Urara was shocked.
Thinking that "glowing" could make people disappear, she immediately brought out a flashlight to try it.
Unlike her timid real-life counterpart, Urara at Tracen was quite brave in certain ways. She often wondered what ghosts liked to eat— maybe ice cream, crepes, or sandwiches? Just thinking about it made her hungry.
In reality, Haru Urara was very thin throughout her career. Rice Shower is known for being petite, but even at Urara's heaviest, she never weighed more than Rice Shower at his lightest.
However, Urara and her real-life counterpart share the same trait: They are symbols of perseverance, the hope craved by countless others who have faced failure.
At Team Spica, Mizuki prepared to write in her log. The horse she wanted to write about today was unique: Haru Urara.
She wasn't dazzling like a genius, in fact, she wasn't even average. She spent her entire life running in newcomer races, but the spirit she represented transcended winning and losing. She moved people and gave them hope.
Urara wasn't a horse that refused to work hard, she loved to run and gave it her all. She just couldn't win. This was the evaluation given to her by countless famous jockeys, including Yutaka Take.
[I saw Machan and Tarumae's video today, it was hilarious. They've uploaded it for review. They said they want me to act in the next one. Once it passes review, I'll definitely watch it a few times and give it a "Like, Follow, and Share."]
[Manhattan Cafe is truly amazing. Her voice and her persona in that video create a perfect "gap moe"— it's too funny. Speaking of which, it reminds me of her voice actor's version of some of the cuter songs in Uma Musume. It's not quite Kitasan Black's level, but it's decent once you listen to it a few times.]
[I also went to see Tanino Gimlet today. This girl really loves kicking railings. I guess she really is Vodka's old man.]
As Mizuki wrote, her log appeared before everyone.
In Britain:
"Frankel went to France today. How annoying, I wanted to beat her. Whatever, I'll go to Ireland first. I need to find Sea the Stars and Urban Sea."
"As for Manhattan Cafe... I'll search for her name later and watch the video Trainer Mizuki talked about. I'm curious."
"And Tanino Gimlet— why does she like kicking railings? I don't get her logic."
Baaeed was already planning her trip to Ireland. She had already sent a challenge letter to the Irish academies.
That's right— she was going to challenge every single Irish horse by herself, including Urban Sea, Sea the Stars, and Solemia.
She now understood that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Before her lay the Path of Victory. Along the thousands of miles she traveled, she would leave the hoofprints of triumph.
She realized she didn't have to wait for Trainer Mizuki to write about her, if she just defeated these so-called "World Horse Kings," wouldn't she naturally be number one?
She would travel ten thousand miles and remain invincible.
And so, Baaeed began her northern expedition. She was projecting pure arrogance now.
One wonders how her mindset will change after she actually runs against Sea the Stars.
The trip from Britain to Ireland is quite short. She just needed to take a train from London to Liverpool and then a ferry to Dublin. She could take a direct ferry, but that takes 8 hours.
She could have flown, but it was expensive. Baaeed didn't have much money. The ferry ticket was paid for with money she'd scraped together.
"Wait... I bought the ticket to Ireland... but what about the return? Oh no, I don't have enough for the return ticket!"
Baaeed panicked for a moment. Her northern expedition was a point of no return from the very start. She couldn't afford to come back!
She decided not to worry about it. If push came to shove, she'd just bet on herself— she would definitely beat Sea the Stars, Urban Sea, and Solemia. She stepped onto the deck, still full of confidence.
Meanwhile, in Ireland:
"Everyone, a person named Baaeed has sent us a challenge. What's our response?" Solemia and the others looked at each other. They hadn't expected Baaeed to strike so soon.
Solemia looked up Baaeed's data. She had just debuted, but her strength was immense. Moreover, her appearance was somewhat similar to Sea the Stars, and her debut results were identical: Overwhelming victories with powerful late kicks.
"Truly, the strong all look alike," Rock of Gibraltar remarked, stunned.
"I'll do it," Solemia said.
"Sea the Stars and Urban Sea happen to be in Hong Kong. Since the diary appeared, many Uma Musume have started traveling. Baaeed is indeed strong, if we send average racers, they would be crushed."
Solemia also suggested they quickly "invite" Sea the Stars back from Hong Kong.
Sea the Stars and Urban Sea had gone to Hong Kong partly because Urban Sea was scheduled for the Hong Kong Cup, and partly because they were familiar with China through their Chinese elders and wanted to visit.
They also wanted to support the Chinese racing industry. Sea the Stars had an adventurous spirit. She heard that Invincible was also going to Hong Kong to find Golden Sixty and Werther, and she wanted to see what Invincible was made of.
She also planned to find River Verdon while in Hong Kong.
Ireland began preparing to face Baaeed, the challenger who looked and ran just like Sea the Stars. They had to protect their honor.
However, if Solemia were to face Baaeed, the probability of Baaeed winning was extremely high. She possessed the aura of a World Horse King.
If it weren't for Flightline receiving a terrifying 139 rating, Baaeed's 135 would have made him the World Horse of the Year in almost any other year.
But if Sea the Stars faced Baaeed? That would be a case of a father beating his son no matter how you looked at it.
In Hong Kong:
At that moment, Sea the Stars received a call from Solemia regarding the matter of Baaeed.
"I see, I understand... I'll return after I've met River Verdon, Golden Sixty, Werther, and Invincible. Urban Sea will stay here for a while longer."
Sea the Stars nodded. She had heard of Baaeed and had even seen her photo. The girl was quite good-looking— wearing a blue and white dress, small high heels, a red ornament on her head, and a face like a porcelain doll.
She was quite likable at first glance.
For some reason, Sea the Stars took a liking to her.
'Would such a cute Uma Musume look even cuter when she cries?'
The thought crossed her mind, leaving her wondering what had come over her.
Good grief, was Sea the Stars already planning to bully her "dear son" until she cried?
It was true that Baaeed was being too arrogant, she wasn't here for an exchange, but to declare war. If Sea the Stars had been there, she wouldn't have even accepted the challenge— who said you could just show up and demand a race?
But Solemia clearly lacked experience. It would have to wait until she got back. She looked forward to her race against Baaeed.
Meanwhile, Sea the Stars and Urban Sea continued reading Mizuki's log, curious to see what came next.
As for Team Spica:
Vodka was stunned. She was wondering what her "old man" Tanino Gimlet was thinking. She was totally confused, completely unaware that this was actually her biological father.
However, Vodka cringed a little when she saw the mention of the "cuter song." Some of these songs were something that was almost required for all Uma Musume to learn.
She always blushed and became embarrassed whenever she sang those songs.
'Is Kitasan Black really that good at cutesy songs?'
She decided to ask Kitasan Black for a lesson later.
Every Uma Musume at Tracen took their fans seriously. Everyone offered their best dances— even someone like Mejiro Ramonu would go down a playground slide if it meant pleasing the crowd.
Over in Hong Kong:
"Invincible, you need to do these math problems. As a core strength among Chinese Uma Musume, you must develop comprehensively in intelligence, physical fitness, and aesthetics."
River Verdon was dressed in the style of late 20th-century Hong Kong. From her hair to her clothes, she exuded a unique, radiant beauty.
She wore an emerald-green skirt, bright red lipstick, and voluminous wavy curls, giving her the aura of a sophisticated onee-san.
Golden Sixty's style was different— a high ponytail and an oil-paper umbrella, ethereal, reserved, and sincere.
Werther, on the other hand, had those classic Hong Kong waves, showing just the right amount of skin, confident and brilliant. She captured that unique aesthetic of a Hong Kong superstar from the late 90s.
Wearing red high heels, she lectured Invincible incessantly.
"Waaaah! Trainer Mizuki told me to come find Werther, so why are you making me do so much homework?!"
Invincible was practically in tears. She had been so happy to see River Verdon and Golden Sixty, hoping they would teach her how to run, but instead, she was doing homework the moment she arrived.
This wasn't fun at all. She had already finished several workbooks, but luckily, she was almost done.
"Phew... last question. The answer is 1145. I'm finished!" Invincible whimpered.
"Excellent. Math is done, right? Here are five workbooks for Literature and five for Social Studies. Write them all." River Verdon brought over another massive stack.
"NOOOOO!"
Invincible thought they were crazy.
'How long is this going to take?!'
In reality, River Verdon wanted to mold Invincible into a leader— the ace of Chinese racing. She was always proactive, but her methods were a bit... much.
Fortunately, Werther and Golden Sixty stepped in to stop the madness. Invincible immediately felt that they were much better than River Verdon.
River Verdon also received word that Urban Sea and Sea the Stars were coming. Since they were at a racing academy in Hong Kong, Sea the Stars would find them easily. The meeting was about to happen.
For a moment, the entire world of Uma Musume began to evolve and change quietly. Everything was becoming interesting.
Meanwhile, Mizuki's log continued.
[As for the horse I'm writing about today, let's talk about Haru Urara. She is different from horses like Frankel or Sea the Stars. If I remember correctly, up until this point, Urara has already experienced 24 consecutive losses since her debut.]
[Urara belongs to the Northern Dancer bloodline. Theoretically, she should have been born with a silver spoon in her mouth.]
[Unfortunately, after her birth at Nobuta Farm, she didn't show the strength of her lineage. She was small and very timid. The farm wanted to sell her, but no one would take her. Eventually, she was handed over to Trainer Dai Muneishi at the remote Kochi Racecourse on Shikoku Island.]
To be honest, Mizuki was shocked when she first saw the real-life data for Haru Urara. She belonged to the Northern Dancer line, and Northern Dancer's offspring were usually incredibly powerful.
Horses like Dancing Brave and Northern Taste both came from the Northern Dancer line.
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France is the highest honor in the racing world. Since the Arc's inception, the race widely considered by Europe— and even the world— to be the most brilliant in history was Dancing Brave's 1986 victory. It was hailed as the "ultimate late kick" that tore through Longchamp.
In the final 200 meters, Dancing Brave clocked a staggering speed of 10.8 seconds. Timeform rated it a legendary 140-point performance, surpassing all other races— an eternal memory of the Arc.
In that Arc, Dancing Brave ran alongside Sirius Symboli for 2,200 meters. They were both in the back of the pack, but in the final 200 meters, Dancing Brave left Sirius Symboli behind and simply took flight. With her terrifying late kick, she crushed everything in her path, finishing the race in a record-breaking 2:27.7.
As for Northern Taste, there's even less need for explanation. In fact, the prototype for the Chairwoman is Northern Taste, who was also the father of Matikane Tannhauser. Many say Northern Taste's offspring weren't as good as Sunday Silence's.
But in reality, if Japan's Shadai Farm hadn't relied on Northern Taste to produce so many excellent offspring, Shadai wouldn't have been able to function, let alone import Sunday Silence later to produce giants like Deep Impact, Special Week, and Manhattan Cafe.
So, there's no issue with Tracen Academy choosing Northern Taste as the Chairwoman. Without Northern Taste, the current Japanese racing world wouldn't exist. Don't be fooled by how goofy Chairwoman Akikawa Yayoi is, she actually made massive contributions.
However, Mizuki felt that Urara's situation might be related to her dam's side. Her maternal line wasn't particularly illustrious.
Bloodlines are a mysterious thing.
Meanwhile, in Canada:
Northern Dancer was stunned after seeing the log about Urara. She didn't expect a descendant of hers to lose 24 times in a row.
But she wanted to see exactly how Urara ran. If she were losing on purpose, she would be angry. But if Urara was working hard and simply couldn't win, she wouldn't mind.
Curious, she continued reading.
At Tracen Academy:
"Wow, it's Urara's turn! I'm so nervous! It's the first time I've appeared in the log as a participant. When will Urara finally win?"
Urara had just come out of the bath. She had finished 2nd recently and was feeling confident, but she had been beaten by a large margin today and felt like 1st place was still very far away. She was a bit confused and wanted to see what Trainer Mizuki would say.
She was full of anticipation.
Also, Urara finally learned the name of her trainer: Dai Muneishi. She felt he must be a very, very kind person.
In fact, Urara was right. Her rise to fame was Muneishi's idea. He was the one who named her "Haru Urara," and the pink Hello Kitty mask the real horse wore was hand-stitched by Muneishi himself. He truly wanted Urara to win and loved her dearly.
However, Urara didn't see a "main jockey" listed. Who could it be?
The truth was that Urara didn't have a main jockey, because she kept losing, the jockeys were constantly being swapped out.
Naturally, Urara's roommate, King Halo, also wanted to see when Urara would finally win. She was looking forward to it immensely.
At that moment, Mizuki's log continued.
[Haru Urara debuted at Kochi Racecourse on November 17, 1998. She finished 5th in her debut— out of a total of five horses. After that, her losing streak continued. She went through 24 losses, then 48... and by May 2003, Haru Urara had reached 87 consecutive losses.]
[To make matters worse, from 1993 to 2003, Japan went through a financial crisis. These ten years are known as the "Lost Decade." The stock market hit new lows, the economy stagnated, unemployment reached record highs, and people didn't know when things would improve.]
[Remote areas like Kochi City were hit the hardest. Kochi Racecourse was on the verge of closing. Because Urara kept losing, she couldn't earn money. Her upkeep was far greater than any profit she brought in. Nobuta Farm requested that Urara be retired.]
[In reality, if Urara had retired then, the consequences for her would have been dangerous because she couldn't become a breeding mare.]
[But Trainer Muneishi insisted: "As long as she can run, I want to let her keep running." This allowed Urara's career to continue. He knew Urara was a hardworking horse, she just couldn't win. It wasn't her fault. Her persistence saved her career, but her losing streak continued.]
[Speaking of which, Trainer Muneishi was truly good to Urara. He saw her strengths. Despite every failure, she had the energy to keep running. She was timid, but resilient and smart.]
[She was friendly to people, whenever fans wanted a photo, Urara wouldn't just stop to cooperate— she'd lift her hoof and strike a high-energy pose. Her petite frame had a unique cuteness, and combined with the Hello Kitty mask Muneishi made for her, she became a fan favorite.]
[Think about it— Mr. Muneishi was a middle-aged man in his fifties, yet he stitched a girly Hello Kitty mask. It seems he had a youthful heart. It was his kindness that helped Urara.]
[And that wasn't the only way he helped her. His creativity made Urara known to the world. If it weren't for the stories Muneishi wrote about Urara and published in the newspapers, all of Japan would never have known her.]
At that moment, countless people within Tracen were completely shocked.
"How is that possible? Urara suffered 87 consecutive losses? And she still had the energy to keep running?"
Tokai Teio was stunned. She had always chased an "invincible" record. She felt that if she lost even one race, she would be devastated because her dream was built on being the best.
It wasn't that she couldn't handle losing, but if her dream shattered, she wouldn't know what to do. What motivation would she have to keep running?
But seeing Urara, Teio saw a different story. Urara never gave up, representing a kind of hope.
Teio suddenly felt she needed to be even stronger than Urara. But she still didn't want to lose, she wanted to win everything.
A great existence like me couldn't possibly lose, right?
Over at the BNW group:
"Waaaaah! Urara-san, you're incredible!!!!"
Winning Ticket had already cried herself into a stupor. She remembered crying incessantly after losing her debut race— she was so fragile after that! She wanted to learn from Urara. She would keep running forever until she won the Japan Derby.
"I... I will definitely never cry again! Waaaaah..."
Even as she said she wouldn't cry, Winning Ticket was sobbing louder than anyone.
"The coordination between what you're saying and what you're doing isn't great," Narita Taishin sighed.
"Haha, at least Ticket is growing. But Urara-san is truly amazing. To be able to fight again and again after repeated defeats— that is a form of strength. And the real Urara is so much like the one we know: From Kochi Racecourse, full of energy, and optimistic," Biwa Hayahide praised.
"Growing? I hope so... Hey, Ticket, don't wipe your snot on me! Dammit!"
Taishin was fed up. She'd just said she hoped Ticket would grow, and the next second, Ticket was shouting "Taishin!" and shoving her face into her shoulder.
At the Satono household:
"Eh... 87 consecutive losses. If I lost 87 times, what would happen to me?"
Kitasan Black was stunned. She began to admire Urara's strength. She felt that if she lost five— or even three— races in a row, she'd be utterly crushed. If she lost 87 times, she'd probably fall into a deep depression.
In reality, the Kitasan Black designed by Cygames wouldn't be knocked down so easily. She's strong.
At Tracen, in the Chairwoman's office:
"Tazuna... do you think Urara will finish her career without a single win?" Chairwoman Akikawa Yayoi looked up from the log, contemplating the possibility.
"No... surely not, Chairwoman. That would be too cruel for Urara. Would she stop wanting to run? She's given everyone so much energy," Hayakawa Tazuna said sadly.
Despite her reputation as someone who catches unruly Uma Musume, she truly loved every student.
"I don't know. By the way, Tazuna, isn't there a shopping trip this afternoon? Let's change the location. Remember my first proposal? Going to the Tokyo countryside? There's a newly opened Gift Hall— you can buy gifts, play games for points, and get blind boxes."
"Chairwoman, why mention that now? We could buy stage decorations there, but it's expensive. Our budget is tight. Why go so far?" Tazuna didn't quite understand.
"Tazuna, I originally wanted to take everyone out to have fun and relax at an arcade. I was going to schedule it for later, but if Urara really hasn't won... let's go today. Urara has helped us a lot. We'll take everyone there to play."
"The gifts are expensive, but we can exchange most of the gift-buying budget for game tokens. They can use their points for blind boxes. Whatever they get, we use. What do you think?" Akikawa Yayoi said, waving her fan.
"Director... sigh. If this were any other time, I'd be furious. But right now... you're right." Tazuna smiled.
It was the first time she'd smiled at the Chairwoman's reckless spending. She understood— going to the countryside to forget about running and just play together. While there, everyone could encourage Urara. She could definitely win.
"But Urara isn't as fragile as we think. I believe she'll stay energetic," the Chairwoman laughed, coolly fanning herself.
Elsewhere:
"I... I lost 87 times? Really?"
Urara was shocked, but she was actually okay with the 87 losses. She was optimistic and believed she could keep running.
She was just incredibly grateful to Mr. Muneishi for protecting her career. She could still win! Urara even felt she was quite impressive for being able to run that much.
Of course, she felt everyone else was even more impressive and that she needed to keep working hard.
But Urara did have a worry:
'If Urara lost that much, would people stop liking me? Would they stop cheering for me...?'
And then she saw the most heartbreaking point— she had caused the Kochi Racecourse to lose money. She was overcome with guilt. In her self-reproach, she desperately wanted to see herself win. She wanted to repay everyone who loved Haru Urara.
She told herself it was okay— she could win.
It was what she told herself before every race. She would stay optimistic.
"Urara, are you okay?"
King Halo was stunned. She had expected Urara to lose, but not that badly. 87 consecutive losses, and the streak was still going. Her expression was grim, one could even say King Halo was more nervous than Urara. She kept glancing at Urara, terrified she would be heartbroken.
But Urara was mostly worried about the financial loss of the racecourse. She still felt her career wasn't over and that she could win. Seeing this, King let out a small sigh of relief and continued reading.
Mizuki's log continued:
[From the summer of 2003, the news of Urara's losing streak began to spread across Japan. Countless people learned the story of this horse who had never won but never stopped fighting. Gradually, Haru Urara's fan base grew, and many people even traveled to the track just to cheer for her.]
[Urara herself probably didn't know why so many people came to see her. It was because Mr. Muneishi had spread her story. This act alone brought Kochi Racecourse back from the dead— such was Urara's drawing power.]
[The Japanese Prime Minister at the time, Junichiro Koizumi, even stated directly: "In 2003, with the Japanese economy having been in decline for ten years, Haru Urara is the representative of hope that we need most."]
[By then, it was December 14th, and Haru Urara faced her 100th consecutive loss. Over 5,000 spectators attended the race, and approximately 120 journalists reported on it.]
[At that time, even though Urara never won a race, she became the hope that kept many people moving forward.]
[Koji Kyokuchi and Soseki Daimon of the Kochi Racecourse once shared a story: One day they received two visitors. One was a breast cancer patient who said she was on the verge of giving up, but seeing Urara run time after time gave her the courage to fight the disease. She loved the idea of Urara sharing just a little bit of strength with her.]
[They also received a phone call from an unemployed man who had intended to commit suicide. However, after seeing Urara's story, he decided to persist a little longer and abandoned the thought of ending his life.]
[I can only say that Haru Urara is the kind of presence that causes suicide rates to drop. That's the kind of person she is.]
[Beyond that, there was a man facing the daily pressure of unemployment, working alone in a basement. He also called to tell Mr. Soseki gratefully that he gained the strength to keep fighting through Urara. He even took a day off later to watch Urara race and cheer for her.]
[It can be said that while Urara failed constantly, she became the hope of the "losers." As long as Urara was still striving, life wouldn't be so bad. This was the dream she gave everyone. She might not be like Orfevre, bringing dreams to people during major disasters, but in her own way, she bestowed hope upon everyone struggling against hardship and failure.]
[On March 22, 2004, for Haru Urara's 106th race, the legendary Japanese jockey Yutaka Take was invited to ride her. Over 13,000 spectators attended, and the sales for Urara's betting tickets reached 121.75 million yen.]
[That day, Kochi Racecourse was packed. It had been raining heavily, but to everyone's amazement, the moment Yutaka Take appeared riding Haru Urara, the sky cleared up.]
[This sight made countless people wonder: Is Urara actually going to win?]
[However, Urara performed poorly that day as well. She suffered a crushing defeat, finishing 10th— dead last. Many people who bought betting tickets lost everything, yet they shouted, "Thank you, Urara!"]
[Some were even moved to tears, repeatedly chanting words of gratitude. Sadness and joy seemed to manifest in them simultaneously, a truly complex mix of emotions.]
[In that moment, Yutaka Take and Urara did a lap around the track as if they had won. No one cared about the outcome of the race anymore. Everyone was cheering for them. It was like a miracle.]
[After this race, Kochi Racecourse overcame its financial difficulties. In fact, one person had even bought a million dollars worth of Urara betting tickets, you could say she saved the track single-handedly.]
[Yutaka Take later commented: "I believe the joy of horse racing is a strong horse winning through its strength, and that view will never change. However, a horse that can gather so many fans at Kochi to cheer together and create a nationwide rhapsody is, without a doubt, a Legendary Horse."]
At this moment, everyone watching was stunned.
Hong Kong.
"Urara... she's really amazing. She gave everyone hope and was willing to fight so many times. But can she personally accept this result?"
Invincible was worried. She had met Urara before, Urara had been very kind to her. Invincible had run with her back then, and at first, she had been a bit rude, questioning if this was really a Tracen Umamusume.
In the end, Urara kept praising her for being amazing while mentioning her own constant losses, which made her feel so guilty she thought, 'I'm such a jerk.'
She later treated Urara to food, and Urara told her she was very gentle. Invincible wanted Urara to win, but Urara had achieved something even greater— giving everyone a dream.
"Hey, what are you worried for? Urara is cool as hell, isn't she?"
River Verdon flipped her hair. She desperately wanted to meet this Umamusume and give her a big hug.
"Invincible, don't you have Urara's contact info? You can message her."
"Oh, right!" Invincible remembered she had added her as a friend. She intended to send a message but decided to wait a bit, figuring Urara was likely reading the log right now.
"I'm so moved." Golden Sixty's eyes were red.
She truly admired people with such perseverance.
'Could I keep running forever too?'
She had felt a moment of intimidation after seeing Senior River Verdon's record, but now she secretly made up her mind: She wanted to be the next King of Hong Kong and surpass River Verdon.
After speaking, Golden Sixty made an excuse to run off— she was about to cry reading Urara's story and didn't want the others to see.
At Tracen Academy.
"Eh? Is Urara really that amazing? Did I really give so many people strength? That's great, waah..."
Haru Urara was moved to tears, her eyes turning red instantly. But she immediately held it back— 'No, no, Urara was everyone's source of strength, I shouldn't cry!'
She was toughing it out. Furthermore, Urara was thrilled she had earned money for her Kochi Racecourse. She trembled with excitement at the thought.
She hoped she could keep winning because everyone believed in her. She had to win to be their hope, right?
King Halo was also incredibly moved. Even the real-world Urara had given so many people hope, and everyone was so grateful to her. However, King Halo also wondered: 'Could Urara really win in the end?'
On a plane to France.
"Haru Urara... you are truly a strong one. I, Frankel, might actually be inferior to you in this regard."
Frankel was deeply shaken. Since birth, she had been extremely competitive, but she knew her talent was immense. If she faced constant failure, could she still believe in her success?
'I actually wanted to experience the feeling of defeat, but it seems... too difficult.'
Frankel scratched her head— she wasn't trying to brag when she had that thought, but she simply stating a fact.
Deep down, she admired Urara. Those who believe in miracles are as magnificent as the miracles themselves. She wanted to share Urara's story with all the British Umamusume.
In France.
Treve was already crying. Her heart was profoundly impacted. Was Trainer Mizuki joking?! She knew Urara never gave up and kept working hard, she just hadn't won.
This spirit was undoubtedly rare to come by. To be honest, seeing Frankel and Sea the Stars made Treve want to chase after them, but now, peering into her own heart, she wanted to steady herself. She needed that kind of unwavering perseverance.
At Tracen.
Tanino Gimlet saw it and wept. She was a woman of passion, and this was too touching. In her emotion, she kicked and broke several more fences.
She might be a bit eccentric, but she wore her heart on her sleeve. Rose Kingdom joined her, crying and offering a "toast" (or rather, a kick). They both believed Urara would eventually win.
However, Mizuki's following words caught everyone off guard.
[Urara continued running, and by this point, she was very famous. Many jockeys' wives learned of her, and people started buying her merchandise to cheer her on.]
[But unfortunately, Urara's final record was frozen at 0 wins and 113 losses. Due to a conflict between her owner and the farm, Urara was forced to retire and live out her days at a maintenance facility in Chiba Prefecture.]
[Wearing her pink hood with the Hello Kitty pattern, she never tasted victory, yet she never stopped running, striving for that win.]
[Unlike famous horses whose careers last only twenty or thirty races, Haru Urara moved and even saved many people through her 113 consecutive losses and her refusal to give up. Calling her a "Famous Horse" is no exaggeration.]
[In 2005, her story was made into a movie, though sadly it wasn't released nationwide, only showing in theaters within Kochi Prefecture.]
[Actually, many racehorses have cinematic stories, including Seabiscuit and Secretariat, who inspired generations. Their movies are titled after their names.]
At this point, many at Tracen were completely stunned. Some felt their hearts sink. This outcome was entirely unexpected.
Urara... finished her career with 0 wins? How could this be?
In the Ritto Dormitory.
"Eh... I... I didn't win even once?"
Urara's pupils flickered instantly. Her expression froze, and tears welled up uncontrollably. This result was a heavy blow even for the optimistic Urara. Her body trembled— a natural reaction to extreme shock or profound sadness.
She had worked so hard, yet she never won a single race for those who supported and believed in her?
"King-san... how can this be? Urara is so useless, I couldn't become their hope."
Urara's eyes were red from crying as she turned to King Halo. Her guilt and sorrow were written all over her face as large teardrops fell. She felt she had failed everyone who looked to her as a beacon of hope.
King Halo was startled, but she stayed calm. She didn't try to talk Urara out of it immediately, she just let her cry. A 113-race battle ending in nothing— the world is truly cruel.
But she knew that Urara hadn't failed them. Her fighting spirit had surely become the driving force for others to face their own hardships.
The world is cruel yet retains hope, like two sides of light and dark, Urara was the one who let everyone see the light.
Outside King Halo's room, many people gathered.
"Shh," King Halo whispered. Urara cried in her arms, venting her emotions. Her sobbing was intermittent, filled with self-reproach and helplessness. She only remembered that number: 113 races, 0 wins.
"Urara-san..." Rice Shower felt like crying too. She stepped forward, and finally, Urara looked up. Rice Shower comforted her, telling her there was still a chance and that she would surely win.
She repeated the same words of comfort Urara had once given her.
King Halo also conveyed everyone's feelings: Urara hadn't failed them, she had become their hope, even without a win.
"Really?" Urara suddenly regained some spirit.
"Really," King Halo nodded immediately.
"Yes! Even though she kept losing, Urara-san is an Umamusume who never gets discouraged. She's the one everyone loves who gives everyone energy," Rice Shower added, providing support in her own way.
"Then that's great! Urara thought she let everyone down. I'll keep working hard! The dreams the real horse couldn't finish, Urara will finish them!"
Urara bounced back to life, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa appeared and shouted:
"ATTENTION! I have an announcement! This afternoon's shopping trip is canceled!"
"Eh...?"
"BECAUSE! We have received a direct invitation! We're heading to the countryside to buy basic items, then we'll play games, earn points, and open 'blind boxes'! You get whatever you pull!"
"OHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Chairwoman Akikawa grinned, her left eye snapping open.
"Everyone, just have fun!"
Urara declared she would take first place in the games, and King Halo secretly wiped a tear and said she'd join. Mayano Top Gun, hearing about games and blind boxes, was over the moon. She and Teio practiced every day, and finally, their skills would be put to use!
"I want to play a magic game!" Sweep Tosho giggled.
"I wonder if they have one there," Fuji Kiseki remarked.
"Yada yada! They have to!" Sweep Tosho was being her cute self.
The Little Witch insisted on a witch game— otherwise, she'd rather die than play anything else.
"I'm usually too embarrassed to go to the arcade," Grass Wonder smiled gently. She actually really wanted to go but felt shy about it.
"Alright, Yaeno Muteki-senpai, let's give the arcade owner a lesson. Apparently, it's 100, 300, or 500 points for a blind box. Let's go for it!" Bamboo Memory said with a laugh.
Bamboo Memory was an Umamusume from Oguri Cap's era, a top-tier miler who had been beaten by Oguri Cap.
Oguri Cap's career consisted of 4 G1 wins, which was partly a matter of luck/scheduling, He could run almost any distance and was elite at miles. If he had run more mile races, his G1 count would be much higher.
As for Bamboo Memory, he had a famous "meme" attached to him.
In the 1991 Takarazuka Kinen, commentator Kiyoshi Sugimoto said the famous line: "Today, your dream and my dream are running here. Your dream might be Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro Ryan, or White Stone, but my dream is Bamboo Memory."
This was his prediction for his favorite horse. However, Bamboo Memory suffered a crushing defeat, finishing 10th. His trainer, Kunihiko Take, later grumbled, "Every time I remember that line, I can't stand it. It's too embarrassing."
By the way, Kunihiko Take is the father of the "old man" Yutaka Take. All the memes surrounding his dad are indeed quite embarrassing.
That phrase was frequently used by Japanese and world racing fans afterward— for example, during the JRA Arima Kinen in December 2023.
After Silence Suzuka passed away, commentators also used similar words to express their remembrance of him.
Meanwhile, at Spica, Mizuki received the notice. Mejiro Ardan personally came to tell her. She knew Mizuki was great at games and wanted to play together to earn points, she even suggested she could carry Urara.
Mizuki said it was fine— she'd carry them all.
"By the way, Ardan, you better play well this time. Don't be like before, missing all your combos."
Mejiro Ardan huffed: "I won't! Now hurry up and pack, let's go."
Mizuki finished her log entry:
[I'll end today's log here.]
[I wonder what kind of rewards I'll get.]
Immediately following the upload of her log, a voice rang out in her mind.
[Log upload successful!]
[Reward obtained— 50,000 Arcade Points.]
[The source of these points is reliable and verifiable. They can be consulted and redeemed for rewards!]