At Amanohashidate, there were Japanese restaurants where you could get sushi or omakase, but there were also towers and log cabins where you could barbecue or cook. It was up to everyone's preference.
You could buy meals or redeem them with points. If you wanted to cook yourself, you could buy ingredients or even be self-sufficient like Seiun Sky.
Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa had come prepared. She brought carrots, plenty of rice, and flour, letting the Uma Musume choose for themselves. Girls like Super Creek and Matikane Tannhauser could all cook together.
Under the setting sun:
Hayakawa Tazuna felt happy seeing everyone's smiles. She was carrying several bags of rice by herself toward the tower. Symboli Rudolf, Air Groove, and Narita Brian were also helping, otherwise, moving everything alone would be too much trouble.
"Wow, Tazuna-san is amazing. She's carrying so much!"
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi was stunned. She felt the pressure carrying just six bags, but Tazuna carried ten every time and looked relaxed. How did she do it?
Furthermore, Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi had heard rumors in Tracen that someone had seen Tazuna running at full speed. It was said that her aura when going all out could form a terrifying "domain," and under that pressure, ordinary Uma Musume felt an urge to simply surrender.
She shook her head, thinking it must be an exaggeration, and continued toward the tower.
But Tazuna was no exaggeration. In Tracen, she could catch up to Taiki Shuttle in an instant and nab a runaway Tokai Teio. Her leg strength was legendary.
Over by the log cabins, many Uma Musume were getting busy. There were ingredients for sale nearby. The selection was more limited than a normal market, but they still managed to get vegetables, onions, soy sauce, and other seasonings.
"Everyone, I'll show you a thing or two today," Mizuki said with a smile.
"Oh? Trainer Mizuki, I didn't know you could cook?" Agnes Tachyon's interest was piqued.
"That's amazing. Why don't you take Manhattan Cafe under your wing as your personal Uma Musume? That way, both of you could cook for me."
To Tachyon, cooking skills were a massive plus, as she possessed absolutely zero life skills.
"Hey, Tachyon, I heard that!" Manhattan Cafe chimed in. She never expected Tachyon to sell her out for a meal.
At that moment, the "fishing master" Seiun Sky returned. She was carrying a large bucket with a self-satisfied look on her face. Seeing the raw materials arrive, Mizuki started cooking with Matikane Tannhauser and Super Creek.
"Wow, Seiun-chan caught so many fish! Let's make grilled fish together!" Tannhauser said, brandishing a spatula.
"Grilled fish... I'll be in your debt..." Oguri Cap said softly. To her, braised, steamed, boiled, or grilled— it was all the same. Looking at the lively, flopping fish, her mouth was already watering.
Mizuki was stunned. She was already reacting like this to raw fish? What would happen when the grilled fish was actually ready?
In Oguri Cap's eyes, everything was edible.
As a side note, Oguri Cap didn't just eat a lot, her digestion was incredibly powerful. Her stomach could process almost anything. She was one of the few known Uma Musume capable of digesting lignin.
"Hehe, we'll do our best! Oguri-san, I can also make Mapo Tofu, carrot BBQ, shredded pork with green peppers, and corn and pork rib soup. Many of these are dishes my family taught me. Just wait for it!" Tannhauser said with a laugh.
"Okay... I will wait patiently. Thank you." Oguri Cap bowed in gratitude.
She was getting hungrier by the second, but she didn't stay idle. She did minor chores like helping to wash the rice. However, she was washing it by the lake, and because she was a bit afraid of water, her movements were hilariously clumsy.
On Mizuki's side, Tannhauser and Super Creek were the head chefs. Nishino Flower came to help too, and because she was so short, she had to stand on a small stool to reach the stove. Mizuki acted as the kitchen hand.
"Seiun Sky, fish please," Mizuki called out.
"Catch!" Sky chirped, tossing over a lively fish. Mizuki caught it and immediately stunned it with the back of her knife. The fish for grilling were usually around three pounds, and Seuin Sky's catch was certainly big enough.
She rinsed the fish in water and put on gloves. The fish, now unconscious, floated belly up.
She then placed the fish on the cutting board, sliced it open with practiced ease, removed the entrails, and scraped off the scales. After the process, she rinsed it clean with a hose.
"Done. Next one."
The surrounding Umas were shocked at Mizuki's speed. She had to ask for the next fish several times before they snapped out of it.
Mizuki worked fast. She finished prepping the fish for grilling and started preparing vermicelli, bean curd skin, rice cakes, and other side dishes. Her knife work was quite good, and on the sidelines, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen watched in awe.
"Trainer Mizuki, Teio-sama will help you too!" Teio grabbed a knife and began chopping carefully. The rice cakes she cut were perfectly symetrical. Like always, Teio excels in whatever she puts her mind to.
Mejiro McQueen was even more impressive, she actually carved little rice cakes in the shapes of Tokai Teio, Mizuki, Hokko Tarumae, and Daiwa Scarlet. She made a 1:1 replica of basically everyone in Spica.
In the second season of the anime, McQueen could even spin cotton candy into the shape of Tokai Teio. Her technical skills in this area were top-tier.
"Tannhauser, how's it going?" Mizuki handed the prepared ingredients to her.
"I'm ready here, Trainer! Here's the grilled fish, and here's the corn and rib soup— though these two will take a bit longer, about an hour. I'm starting the Mapo Tofu now. Ikuno Dictus and Nature-san are making the shredded pork and peppers," Tannhauser said with a smile.
She really was good at cooking— a verified domestic goddess. People called "Mambo" a bit of a ditz, but wasn't her cooking skills world-class?
"Hehe, we're in for a treat today." Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Palmer were thrilled. They were planning to leave and come back after another two laps. With the sunset in the forest, it was the perfect time for a run.
After Mizuki finished her tasks, she went to take a shower to wash off the fishy smell. There was about half an hour until the grilled fish would be ready. She happened to have time to write her log.
The Uma Musume she planned to write about today was one she had looked up last night— the "Phantom Horse" who went ten for ten: Tokino Minoru.
To be honest, when she first saw the name "Tokino Minoru," she wondered who it could be, as it was a name she wasn't familiar with.
It was only after finishing her research that Mizuki realized she had heard this name before.
Back when she was in the real-horse world, her Uma Musume loving friends had told her that Tokino Minoru might be the real identity of the Tracen Secretary, Hayakawa Tazuna!
Many details supported this: Tokino Minoru's birthday was May 2nd, and so was Tazuna's. Tokino Minoru was born with an issue in its right hoof, and in Tracen, Tazuna always wears a watch on her right wrist.
When Cygames created the Uma Musume project, the team considered everything. For example, why does Mejiro Ardan have blue hair? It symbolizes her glass-like constitution and ankles— beautiful but dangerously fragile.
Tazuna wearing a watch on her right wrist likely corresponded to that congenital defect in her right front hoof, which was a major reason for the real horse's later injuries and eventual passing.
Mizuki began writing the log.
[Today was a shameful day for me.]
[I played some arcade games at Amanohashidate, and with the power of my cheats, I was destroying all the Uma Musume who came at me. Jordan, Festa, and Gold Ship all fell before my gaming skills.]
[But I wasn't counting how many points I had left. I used my last cheat to win a ton of plushies from the claw machine for the girls. Afterwards, Nice Nature challenged me to a penalty game. The loser has to do one thing the winner asks them to do.]
[She won.]
[Dammit, I'm so embarrased. I wanted to die when I realized I was out of cheats.]
[Just thinking about what happened makes me cringe. I should ask Gold Ship to dropkick me and hope it gives me amnesia.]
[But at least the Uma Musumes' motivation has spiked across the board. While comfort can dull one's edge, proper relaxation helps boost morale.]
[Everyone is getting ready for dinner now. We're trying grilled fish, plus fried tofu, braised tofu, and Mapo Tofu. It's basically a tofu convention. I'll see how it tastes in a bit.]
[At least I saw some interesting things today too. Daitaku Helios saw Daiichi Ruby and showed massive interest. She immediately tried to romance Ruby.]
[Hahaha, at least I'm not the only one getting embarrassed today. I wish I got the moment on camera.]
[She got rejected so hard. Helios didn't mind it too much and declared that she'd keep trying, but I could see Palmer standing to the side awkwardly.]
[I think it's a bit of a shame. Helios, you've already got a lovely Uma Musume next to you. Why not drop these thoughts about Ruby and look at the girl who's always beside you? You don't need to use Palmer as a substitue for Ruby.]
[She's better than Ruby!]
[Go for it, Palmer! I'll be rooting for you!]
At that moment:
"Helios-san... I didn't expect that I was just a substitute for Daiichi Ruby in your heart?" Mejiro Palmer was running with Daitaku Helios when the diary showed up. Seeing this, she was both angry and aggrieved.
'My feelings were misplaced. Truly misplaced. I gave my heart to the moon, but the moon shines on a drainage ditch...'
"Hey! How is that possible, Palmer-san?! After all we've been through, you are the most, most, most important in my heart!"
"It's just a misunderstanding between me and Daiichi Ruby!" Helios explained frantically.
"Oh? Really?" Palmer was easy to appease, after all, she was a "Great Escape Idiot."
"Of course!" Helios nodded, nearly in tears.
The two idiots embraced again, wailing loudly. Just like that, they made up instantly and their relationship was strengthened. Uma Musume were meant to run, but relationships were more important than running.
The bond between Daitaku Helios and Mejiro Palmer would never change! They were the best partners!
In another part of Amanohashidate...
Daiichi Ruby watched the scene unfold. She didn't have a bad impression of Daitaku Helios, but she never expected Helios to come at her like that. They didn't even know each other that well!
She scratched her head, wondering why Helios was so love struck.
In the real horse world, Daiichi Ruby was a mare and Daitaku Helios was a stallion. Combined with the fact that the two frequently traded wins, racing fans added their own shipping headcanons, and the rumors spread like wildfire.
Daiichi Ruby's bloodline was formidable, her father was Tosho Boy, known as the "Flying Horse." Tosho Boy belonged to the same era as Maruzensky and was supposed to face him in the 1977 Arima Kinen, but unfortunately, Maruzensky retired due to injury. Otherwise, they would have had a spectacular showdown.
These real life facts were replicated by Cygames. That's why Ruby was from a noble family and Helios acted like that around her.
"It seems I must train harder. When I debut, I must defeat everyone of my generation, and that includes Daitaku Helios," Ruby said, her expression full of resolve.
[By the way, I just looked at Special Week. For a split second, I wondered if she'd gotten a bit chubby, or was it just my imagination? Maybe she just ate too much recently?]
[Whatever, she has a race coming up soon. I hope she works hard. Today everyone is feasting, so let's just eat first and talk later.]
Meanwhile, at Amanohashidate.
Silence Suzuka placed a finger to her lips and mused, "Speaking of which, Spe-chan has been taking longer to get dressed lately. Is it because she can't fit into her clothes?"
Spe-chan was sweating bullets.
"Could it be that I'm still in a growth spurt? The clothes Satono Crown gave me do feel a bit small. Did I grow taller?"
Buena Vista giggled. "Special Week-senpai, you've gained weight, not height. When you get fat, clothes feel tight, when you get taller, clothes feel short."
"O-Oh... right."
Special Week felt a critical hit to her soul.
'Am I really fat?'
The General felt a wave of sadness and began to tear up.
Mood: Great→ Awful.
However, Spe-chan figured it was probably just because she ate too much today. She'd deal with it after the feast and weigh herself when she got back.
Mood: Awful→ Great.
Mizuki's log continued.
[If Spe-chan finds out she's gained weight, her motivation will tank. Speaking of motivation, I'm reminded of the top choice for a support card: the SSR-grade Hayakawa Tazuna.]
[The real horse I'm writing about today is her. Her true name is Tokino Minoru, also known as 'Harvest Time.' He was a 'Phantom Horse' with a record of ten wins and zero losses. In the era he ran, no one could even come close to him.]
[Tokino Minoru was Japan's first Hall of Fame horse. His prestige is immense. In all of Tracen, perhaps only the Chairwoman and Symboli Rudolf know her true identity. Her leg strength and physical power are the absolute pinnacle of Tracen.]
[He was born at the Moto-Kirari Farm in Hokkaido on May 2nd. Because the owner didn't know if he could run, he hastily named him 'Perfect' for his first race. Little did he know it was a prophecy. The Tokino Minoru that galloped at full speed back then lived up to the name: A promise to be perfect in the world!]
The moment Hayakawa Tazuna's name appeared, every Uma Musume at Amanohashidate was floored. Total shock.
Tokai Teio froze. "Ten wins, ten starts... is Tazuna-san an undefeatable Triple Crown Uma Musume? She never lost in her entire career!"
Teio was stunned. Her goal was the undefeated Triple Crown, but that was still a distant dream. She currently stood at three wins in three starts, and she was still far from Tazuna's ten-for-ten record.
What surprised her more was that Tazuna had never mentioned this. "Tokino Minoru"— it was her first time hearing this name. More importantly, she saw Mizuki's description of her:
"A promise to be perfect in the world!"
Teio swallowed hard. That description was incredibly domineering. She couldn't wait to read more— just how strong was she?
Honestly, Teio wanted a title like that too. She wanted to claim the throne of the WorldKin's Strongest Racer and break the ten-win streak record.
Beside Teio, Special Week was also in shock. Something clicked in her mind.
"I remember now! Suzuka-san, do you remember? I told you before that one day I was sprinting at full speed because I was almost late."
"But while I was at full speed, Tazuna-san suddenly caught up to me and asked me to bring some documents to Trainer Mizuki."
"I was so curious back then about who Tazuna-san really was. I never imagined... I never imagined she was Tokino Minoru! Ten wins, ten starts, world-class... She's too, too, too... too amazing!"
Special Week had been sprinting at full power, yet Tazuna caught her with ease. For Spe-chan to be that impressed, Tazuna's strength was clearly beyond terrifying.
In the Cygames project, Tazuna was indeed granted terrifying abilities, fitting for her historical counterpart. The real horse's appearance back then had caused a massive shock to the Japanese racing world. His speed was breathtaking for that era, and everyone knew he was destined to be an incredible horse.
"To think she was that strong... but it makes sense. Thinking back, when Tazuna catches Uma Musume who break the rules, the pressure she exerts is several times stronger than an average Uma Musume. It's like a zone," Silence Suzuka whispered, swallowing hard.
Only now did she realize Tazuna had such a glorious past.
Over by the cabins, Nice Nature was chopping onions and green peppers.
"A-choo!" The onions made her eyes water, but the moment she saw the log update, she stopped what she was doing, her face filled with shock.
"A Phantom Horse... ten wins in ten starts. Is Tazuna a once-in-a-century super Uma Musume? What kind of past does she have? This is... incredible."
Nature wondered how much training she would need to reach that level.
She felt strongly that no matter how many years she trained, she might never reach that realm. It wasn't a matter of effort, in a school of geniuses like Tracen, her talent simply couldn't break through that barrier.
She was both anxious and excited about her own "real horse" information. Did she ever win a championship? What did the world think of her?
She suddenly envied Tokai Teio.
'If only I could learn the Teio Step, maybe I could leave everyone in the dust too...'
She had to keep reading.
In reality, Nice Nature had a massive fan base. Wada Ryuji was a huge fan of him. In his heart, T.M. Opera O was first, but Nice Nature was a close second. You could even say Nature gave a young Wada the dream of becoming a JRA jockey.
Fuji Kiseki was equally surprised.
"I knew it. Tazuna-san really is a monster-class Uma Musume. I'd love to race her, it's so exciting."
As the dormitory manager of Ritto, Fuji Kiseki sometimes couldn't catch "problem children" like Sweep Tosho or Mayano Top Gun even at full speed. At those times, Tazuna would step in, and shortly after, she'd bring them back with a serious face.
Fuji Kiseki also remembered a time they ran out of bricks for practice. Tazuna said she was free and brought over a mountain of bricks by herself.
No one saw her do it, so they assumed she took multiple trips. Now it seemed she might have done it all in one go.
"Terrifying. Not just speed, but incredible strength. But I recall Tazuna-san once vaguely mentioning old racing injuries. I thought I misheard back then, but was it true? What happened?"
"Regardless, I shouldn't trouble her to run around so much anymore. She's always so dedicated to us. Let's see what Trainer Mizuki says."
"And... ten wins, ten starts. How many G1s did she have? Why did she retire? Did she run out of opponents, or was it injury?"
Fuji Kiseki continued reading.
Meanwhile, the "Three Brats"— Mayano Top Gun, Sweep Tosho, and Marvelous Sunday— were stunned.
"T-Tazuna-san's strength is a bit scary. No wonder she catches us every time." Sweep Tosho, the stubborn little witch, was actually shivering a bit.
She always felt something was wrong. Whenever Tazuna chased her, she got caught instantly. Even Fuji Kiseki couldn't always keep up. Sweep had tried using "magic spells" while running away, but they never worked.
'Was Tazuna really that strong?'
"Marvelous! Tazuna-san is so cool! I'm going to challenge my limits and make it so she can't catch me! That would be a miracle!"
Marvelous Sunday wasn't afraid. Like Mayano, she thrived on danger.
"Eh?!!! You guys aren't scared? Hmph, then I'm definitely going to beat her too!" Sweep Tosho put her hands on her hips. The three had formed an alliance.
One person might be weak, but a group? They had no problem acting brave.
Meanwhile, with Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa:
"Oh my, I didn't expect you to be exposed, Tazuna. This won't affect you, will it? After all, your departure..."
Akikawa spoke softly. She knew Mizuki was telling the truth. Hayakawa Tazuna was once known as Tokino Minoru.
The first time the Chairwoman saw her was at the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes. The aura Tazuna radiated on the track was simply too terrifying— a crushing pressure that left all other Uma Musume trembling.
The green racing silks, the terrifying impact... Akikawa had only one thought: 'A true top-tier Uma Musume has been born!'
In that Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes, Tokino Minoru won by 4 lengths, marking her sixth consecutive victory. She afterward introduced herself to Akikawa, who was surprised by how gentle Tazuna was in person, and they became close friends.
But Akikawa knew about the issue with her right leg. Just as she was about to challenge the Kikuka Sho, she was struck by tetanus— a disease that couldn't be treated with the technology of that time.
Although times have changed and her injuries have healed, she can never return to that stage. Now, she is simply the secretary named Hayakawa Tazuna.
"Tokino Minoru... when was the last time I heard that name?"
"Back then, I just wanted to wait for my body to recover and go back to racing under that name. I didn't expect that no matter the treatment, I'd never get the chance..."
"...But this is fine too. I can use my own example to tell everyone to watch their health and never overextend themselves," Tazuna said softly.
She didn't mind her past being revealed, she was more concerned about the health of the other Uma Musume.
This was consistent with her character in the game— she was very focused on health and medical items. At the start of the URA scenario, she constantly reminds the Trainer to take care of their Trainee. Because she retired due to injury, she wants to hold the umbrella for others.
When cute new Uma Musume arrive at Tracen, she is tirelessly kind to them.
Meanwhile, in France:
"'Perfect in the World'... what a domineering name. Is that the Tracen secretary? Hey, Montjeu-san, are there any seniors I don't know about here in France?" Treve asked curiously. She looked at Montjeu, her eyes brightening.
"Ah... yes. There is a very strong Uma Musume named Sea-Bird. Seven wins in eight starts, 7 G1s, including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."
"Speaking of the Arc, do you remember how Japan's top Uma Musume, the 7-G1 winner Orfevre, lost the 2012 Arc de Triomphe, Treve?" Montjeu suddenly asked.
"Um... it was the veering, right? Trainer Mizuki said Orfevre was a super-strong horse with a nasty personality. She could have won that Arc, but in the final 200m, she veered toward the rail and slowed down, allowing Ireland's Solemia to overtake her. That was the closest Japan ever got to the Arc title," Treve recalled.
"Yes. But did you know? Our senior Sea-Bird also veered and slowed down in the 1965 Arc before accelerating again. Yet, she still won by 6 lengths. And the 1965 Arc field was legendary, featuring five Derby winners," Montjeu said calmly.
She knew the exact history because she had completed her training goals, and Sea-Bird's record was famous in France.
"What? Veering and slowing down like Orfevre, but winning by 6 lengths? Sea-Bird never mentioned this!" Treve said in shock.
"She's waiting for someone to ask. She's been holding it in," Montjeu said dryly.
"Eh... really? I thought she was just low-profile. Should I pretend I don't know and ask her?" Treve scratched her head.
"Go ahead. She'll be delighted," Montjeu laughed.
In truth, Montjeu was right, but she didn't know the whole story. He was a legendary horse on the level of Frankel, Sea The Stars, and Secretariat.
Sea-Bird's accolades were terrifying. His Timeform rating was 145, a record that stood until the world king Frankel broke it with a 147. Before Frankel, he was the undisputed king of racing.
Frankel's rating of 140 (World's Best Racehorse Rankings) and 147 (Timeform) were unprecedented. While ratings differ, to get a 145 in Timeform as a French horse in that era was monstrous.
Brigadier Gerard in 1968 was also a middle-distance king, 17 wins in 18 starts, and was invincible under 2000m until Frankel arrived.
Sea-Bird sadly passed away at 11 years old due to intestinal blockage. Undoubtedly, it's a poor end for a racehorse as decorated as he was.
His death was much better than his mother's, however. Sea-Bird's mother, Sicalade, was slaughtered and turned into meat before Sea-Bird could debut.
However, in this world of Uma Musume created by the Three Goddesses, neither Sea-Bird nor her mother wouldn't suffer such a fate. They could live peacefully and share Sea-Bird's achievements with her juniors.
The cute little Treve went to find Sea-Bird now, determined to play her part.
"Sea-Bird, I'm so bored. Weren't you an Uma Musume too? Can I hear your story? Tell me, please?" Treve tilted her head, acting curious.
"Oho? Treve, you're quite free today. Ahem... well, first of all, I had no intention of talking about it, but since you asked, I suppose I have no choice."
Sea-Bird put on an act of being reluctant, but her actions betrayed her mood. She had already poured tea for Treve and brought over a small stool to sit right next to her, fearing she might leave.
Sea-Bird was overjoyed, she had been waiting for this day!
"Mm-hmm! I'm so curious!" Treve's eyes sparkled. Her acting was a bit exaggerated, but to Sea-Bird, it was perfect— exactly like a curious child wanting to hear a story.
As Treve listened to the story of Sea-Bird's career, her expression of shock became genuine. Sea-Bird really was incredible. Treve's gasps of surprise made Sea-Bird feel immensely satisfied.
Without realizing it, she gave Treve more and more snacks, sighing inwardly:
'Treve is the only one who truly understands me.'
As for Montjeu, she watched from afar with a faint smile.
She felt that the world here truly was beautiful, didn't she?
Meanwhile, Mizuki's log continued, and everyone kept reading— especially those from Tracen, who were incredibly curious about their senior, Hayakawa Tazuna.
[Tokino Minoru wasn't favored at first. It was the only foal born at the farm that year. Fearing it would be lonely, Motokiri Farm specifically bought a same-age colt from Chiba Prefecture to be its playmate.]
[It was born tall and strong, but due to its bloodline, it struggled to find a buyer. People believed it couldn't handle long distances. In reality, this was a misunderstanding. It belonged to the Theft bloodline, which at the time of its birth had already produced a Kikuka Sho and a Spring Tenno Sho winner, proving its stamina.]
[It's likely that the slow flow of information in 1950 caused countless owners to miss out on this historic horse, Tokino Minoru.]
[However, a trainer from Tokyo named Kazuichiro Tanaka was lucky enough to spot it. He loved the leg power Tokino Minoru displayed and persuaded the president of Daiei, Masaichi Nagata, to buy it.]
[Nagata trusted his judgment, though after buying Tokino Minoru he didn't show any particular affection for it. He delayed naming it and simply sent it to the stables to begin training.]
[Tanaka chose Mitsumasa Iwashita as the rider, hoping for chemistry. Unfortunately, the partnership between Iwashita and the horse was rocky at first, Iwashita was even bucked off.]
[Tokino Minoru almost missed its debut because of these issues. It was only when the prestigious owner Tomoji Kuribayashi intervened that the debut was made possible.]
[Since Nagata still hadn't settled on a name, Tokino Minoru entered its debut race under its stable name, "Perfect."]
[However, Tokino Minoru's debut surprised everyone. Despite pre-race difficulties— struggling at the gate and even throwing its jockey— once the race started, no one could doubt its strength.]
[In an 800m turf debut, it sprinted from the moment the gates opened as if releasing its primal nature. It won by a staggering 8 lengths, breaking the Japanese record and securing a terrifyingly dominant victory.]
[Writing this, even I'm a bit surprised. The skill given by the Hayakawa Tazuna friend card is "Concentration", but to think she actually struggled with the gates back then— that's a fun irony.]
At Amanohashidate.
"The game... it must be that Uma Musume 2K or whatever from the real horse world mentioned before. I didn't expect to be a 'Friend Card.' That's quite nice, I hope I'm helpful to newcomers and don't get power-crept too quickly."
Hayakawa Tazuna was stunned for a moment, but then simply hoped she could be of use to others.
In reality, she was essential in the early days. Countless players would reroll specifically to get multiple copies of her card to reach high or max limit breaks. A maxed-out Tazuna card was considered a god-tier start.
Of course, a high-limit-break Fine Motion or Kitisan Black was also perfect in the early meta.
"Hahaha! Tazuna, so you struggled with gates at first too? And you had a temper?" Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa laughed.
"Everyone gets nervous in their first race. I adjusted later on. And my temper wasn't that bad... actually, I don't know, I've forgotten," Tazuna said bashfully.
She might have had a past she'd rather not revisit, but now she was gentle and lovely. Internally, she felt sorry for Jockey Iwashita and hoped he was alright.
Elsewhere.
"Eh? Tazuna-san has a past like that? But the scariest part is the 8-length lead! And over only 800 meters?" Twin Turbo thought she had misread.
That was equivalent to a one-length lead every 100 meters. An 800m track is a pure test of explosiveness where every horse runs at full tilt. For Tazuna to pull ahead by 8 lengths meant she was roughly 2 seconds ahead of the rest. Turbo felt Tazuna's strength was beyond imagination.
Meanwhile, with Mayano Top Gun.
"Speaking of which, Maya just realized something. It feels like 50% of the times I get caught, it's because of Tazuna. Either she corners me or she just flat-out outruns me."
Top Gun recalled her history of being "arrested."
"Be more confident— it's probably 90%!" Sweep Tosho huffed. She wondered if Tazuna was some kind of scary super-witch.
She couldn't understand it, Tazuna must have some secret magic.
She decided she would demand answers later.
Mizuki's log updated again.
[After the debut, Trainer Tanaka was ecstatic. He called owner Masaichi Nagata to tell him their horse had debuted with an 8-length win— a horse destined for legend!]
[Nagata was stunned. It took him a long time to even remember he had bought such a horse. He was shocked, his only reaction being: "What did you say? EIGHT LENGTHS?!"]
[I almost feel bad for Nagata. But then again, it's his fault for not paying attention to the horse he bought.]
[Nagata immediately rushed to the stables. Facing Tanaka and the breeder Kasagi, he was visibly thrilled. He had spent his life looking for a horse that could win the Japanese Derby, and now he finally had hope. He sincerely declared that thanks to them, the dream of being a Derby owner was possible.]
[It was then that Nagata finally gave this horse the name that would be the most important of his life: 'Tokino Minoru.']
[The name had a double meaning. 'Minoru' represented the moment his efforts in the racing world finally bore fruit. 'Tokino' was borrowed from the horse-naming style of Kan Kikuchi, a man he deeply admired.]
[A name that would shock all of Japan was born.]
[There was also a story between Kikuchi and Jockey Iwashita. Kikuchi had not only given Iwashita a horse that won one of the eight major races but also acted as a matchmaker for his marriage in 1942. He was a great benefactor.]
[I imagine the scene went like this: Kikuchi smiling and asking Iwashita, "Old Iwa, you want a wife or what?"]
[Iwashita wanted to repay the favor by making the name "Tokino Minoru" famous across Japan. They clearly succeeded.]
[A month later, Tokino Minoru raced again under the new name. It won by 2.5 lengths without breaking any records. Looking at its whole career, this was one of its worst performances.]
[But even at his worst, he still beat the other racers.]
[On September 3, 1950, Minoru challenged a higher-level special race, the Sapporo Stakes.]
[There were 11 entries. Despite being two-for-two, Tokino Minoru wasn't the favorite. The top Kanto contender, a horse named Truck O, was the first big boss it had to challenge.]
[How strong was Truck O? He debuted later than Tokino Minoru but was three-for-three with a 100% win rate. His speed over the first 1000m was actually 0.4 seconds faster than Tokino Minoru's.]
[However, the result shocked everyone. Tokino Minoru didn't even acknowledge him. He broke the record again on the 1200m dirt track at Sapporo with a time of 1:13.2, crushing Truck O by a massive margin!]
[The undefeated Truck O was a top-tier newcomer, but Tokino Minoru was on another level entirely. The gap between them was a wide abyss!]
[And the story of Tokino Minoru was just beginning. He moved to Kanto and ran two races at Nakayama in October. He broke records in both the 1000m and 1100m races— one by 6 lengths, the other by 4.]
[At this point, it was five-for-five with four records broken, all by massive margins. No one knew where his limit was. The power he displayed left all other horses in the dust. Everyone was waiting to see just how terrifyingly high his peak could reach!]
Reading this, everyone at Tracen was speechless. They knew Tazuna was impressive, but they never imagined it was to this staggering degree.
With the BNW trio:
"So cool!"
"Cool and domineering! This is amazing. I want to run with Tazuna-san later, that would definitely pull out my hidden potential," Winning Ticket said.
Seeing a strong person only made her more motivated to surpass herself. That was just what her personality was like.
"It's five-for-five now. Do you think Tazuna took the undefeated Triple Crown?" Ticket asked.
"If she keeps going at this rate, she's guaranteed to get the Triple Crown. The only was she wouldn't would be if she retired." Biwa Hayahide concluded.
"But why would she retire? It'd have to be an injury, right?" Narita Taishin pondered.
If that were the case, it would be a tragedy. She remembered how responsible Tazuna was and how Tracen thrived under her management.
Tazuna often carried injured girls to the infirmary and stayed with them until late at night. She didn't have to do that much, yet she insisted on caring for every single one.
Taishin herself had been cared for by Tazuna, so she knew how gentle she was. Taishin hoped for a good ending, a voluntary retirement like Sea The Stars.
"Let's not assume the worst yet," Biwa Hayahide said, adjusting her glasses. Thinking too much would make her head... wait, she meant it would just add unnecessary worry.
Yes, unnecessary worry.
On the other side of Amanohashidate.
Rudolf looked at Mizuki's log. For once, she chose silence. She knew the ending for Hayakawa Tazuna. She knew that if Senior Tazuna hadn't been injured, she likely would have been the very first undefeated Triple Crown winner in Japan's history.
She clearly remembered when she was celebrating her own undefeated Triple Crown, the expression on Tazuna's face was a subtle mix of pride and joy, but also a trace of unmaskable bitterness.
Tazuna must have wanted to run the Kikuka Sho— she must have wanted to finish the legend of Tokino Minoru. Rudolf became the Student Council President with Tazuna as her role model, never slacking in her care for the students or their health.
In Hong Kong.
"Tokino Minoru... this record is insane. It's not just the win streak, it's breaking records in almost every race. I can barely breathe just reading it. A win streak brings immense pressure— you get studied and targeted so much— but it meant nothing to her."
Invincible was stunned. She felt Tazuna-san was truly invincible. This record was explosive even across all of history. She kept reading, wanting to know why she retired.
Mizuki's log updated.
[Then came the 1950 Asahi Hai. This was Tokino Minoru's first time on a heavy track.]
[But a heavy track couldn't hold back a horse of this caliber. He still pulled 4 lengths ahead of second place after the break. The only shame was that the track was a bit too heavy for a record-breaking time that day.]
[At 6-for-6, many felt he could break the 11-win streak record held by Kurifuji. People calculated his schedule— if he broke that record, he'd likely become the first undefeated Triple Crown horse.]
[The owner of Kurifuji was Tomoji Kuribayashi, the same man who had spoken up for Tokino Minoru. He loved chestnut horses, and Kurifuji's streak was known as the 'Chestnut Wall.']
[But the good times didn't last. The hidden danger appeared. Yoshio Nohira, who was an apprentice jockey at Tanaka's stable, recalled that Tokino Minoru had suffered from cracked hooves on his right foot since he first entered the stable. By his classic year, it had become severe.]
[To protect him, he was never allowed to train at full power. He could only give 70% at most.]
[Jockey Iwashita had noticed long ago that Tokino Minoru would avoid putting full weight on the injured leg. His 6-for-6 record and 4 broken records were all achieved while he was carrying a hidden injury, effectively running while compromised.]
[Iwashita expressed his concerns, which mirrored the stable's feelings. They didn't know if he could keep running, but the three-year-old races only happen once. The Japanese Derby they dreamed of was approaching. They could only take it one step at a time.]
[Tokino Minoru had met the greatest enemy of his career: His own health.]
The students at Tracen didn't know what to say.
"So... Tazuna was running on a bad leg the whole time? She's too strong," Daiwa Scarlet gasped.
She knew that if Tazuna had been able to train fully, she would have been even more monstrous.
'To be 6-for-6 like that... what would her peak have been? Could she have challenged the world's best?'
Tosen Jordan covered her mouth. She was the expert on cracked hooves. She struggled with them to this day, and they affected her races. She knew exactly how much it hurt, yet Tazuna ran like that.
Jordan was stunned by the despair of it, and she finally understood how great Tazuna truly was.
However, Tazuna was humble:
"No... it wasn't that exaggerated. It wasn't to the point where I couldn't run. My results were affected slightly, but I never had a fracture. Though, if I'd had proper training back then, maybe my times could have been a bit better."
Tokai Teio said worriedly, "A fracture... just hearing it hurts. Don't say things like that, Tazuna-san. Is your leg okay now? Let me see! You can't be reckless."
Teio had received so much care from Tazuna, so she wanted to return the favor.
"Yes, it's been healed for a long time," Tazuna smiled warmly. She was moved. Technology had advanced, and her ailments were gone.
Special Week and Silence Suzuka were amazed. Spe-chan finally understood how Tazuna caught her so easily. When Spe-chan first enrolled, she hadn't fully blossomed, but Tazuna's explosive power was simply on another level.
The log continued.
[The following year, after some rest, he had recovered somewhat. But the right hoof issue was congenital and hard to cure, so maintenance was the priority. But then more trouble came: After the New Year, his jockey suddenly gained 7kg.]
[But Tokino Minoru was a legendary horse. Despite these setbacks, he won his seventh race by 3.5 lengths, breaking yet another record.]
[Then, in his first left-handed race at Tokyo Racecourse, he reached a staggering 8-win streak with a 2-length lead.]
[With an undefeated record, he headed to Nakayama Racecourse for the Satsuki Sho. Unsurprisingly, he was the heavy favorite.]
[In JRA history, there is another horse at the absolute peak of the racing world: Deep Impact.]
[When Deep Impact entered the Satsuki Sho, he had 63% of the popularity and 1.3 odds— more than half the audience supported him. This was the second-highest support rate in Satsuki Sho history.]
[Number one? That would be the 1951 Satsuki Sho, where Tokino Minoru entered with a crushing 73.3% support rate.]
[How strong must a horse be to command 73.3% of the betting pool?]
[So far, there is only one answer: As strong as Tokino Minoru.]
[At the time, his greatest rival was a horse named Itsuse. Against any other horse, Itsuse was 7-for-7 and dominant. Against Tokino Minoru, it was 3 races, 3 second-place finishes— all crushing defeats.]
[Basically, the remaining audience members just bought Itsuse's tickets out of hope.]
[However, when the Satsuki Sho began, Itsuse's fans fell into despair. From the first second, Tokino Minoru aggressively took the lead. He sprinted the whole way at an unprecedented pace.]
[Only Itsuse and another strong horse, Mitsuhata, could even stay in sight. Under Tokino Minoru's extreme lead-running, he won the first gem of the Triple Crown, shattering the record by a full 6.1 seconds.]
[Itsuse and Mitsuhata were 2 lengths behind. They had been pushed to their absolute limits as well, both breaking the record by over 5 seconds.]
[You could say Tokino Minoru single-handedly advanced the standard of the Satsuki Sho by 20 years.]
[However, after returning from Nakayama, the nightmare became reality while preparing for the Japanese Derby. His gait became abnormal, and cracks appeared in his right front hoof.]
[Considering his condition, training for the Derby was reduced. But the next day, his left front hoof showed tendon swelling as well. Owner Nagata even issued a statement that they might withdraw from the Derby.]
[The stable staff worked tirelessly to treat him. Because his symptoms improved two days before the Derby, the trainer decided to go ahead with the race. Despite his poor physical condition and the jockey controlling his speed out of fear, Tokino Minoru still won the Japanese Derby in record-breaking fashion, standing out among 26 horses.]
[Nagata told the media that if he won the Triple Crown, he would take him on Japan's first-ever American expedition.]
[At this point, Tokino Minoru was 10-for-10 with 7 records broken. He did this while constantly injured and, in one instance, while his jockey was 7kg overweight. The sheer caliber of his talent was undeniable.]
[But, ultimately, it ended right here...]
At this moment, countless Uma Musume were shocked as they read. By the end, their hearts were filled with trepidation.
'Did Senior Hayakawa Tazuna retire because of her injuries?'
They didn't know for sure, but they expected to find out soon. More than anything, they felt a sense of awe. They never imagined that the gentle Tazuna-san beside them had such a glorious history.
Shattering the Satsuki Sho record by a full 6.1 seconds sounded like a fairy tale— even a TV drama wouldn't dare to write a plot like that.
Nice Nature was dazed. She had never heard of such a thing. A thought began to bud in her mind: She really, really wanted to run with Tazuna just once.
But she was also worried. 'Tazuna should be okay, right?'
She decided to make this dinner extra delicious as a reward for her.
"Hmm... not bad."
Nature took a pair of chopsticks and had a small bite. She had made shredded pork with green peppers, a recipe she learned from a street vendor. Being an incredibly popular Uma Musume, the local vendors adored her, it seemed like everyone had a "Nature Doll" at their stall. It was only natural they'd teach her their secrets.
Nature was truly talented. It's no wonder why some players gave her the nickname "Wife Nature."
She knew how to haggle at the market, she was great at chatting, she could cook, and she knew how to coax children.
This dish was just an appetizer. She planned to whip up some tomato and egg soup and miso soup for everyone as well.
Meanwhile, Matikane Fukukitaru was moved to tears.
"I... I have witnessed the existence of a truly powerful being. No wonder the Great Shiraoki appeared in my dreams to guide me, telling me to pay my respects to Miss Tazuna. It all makes sense now. She is too powerful!"
In the 78th chapter of the Uma Musume four-panel manga, Fukukitaru once spread a rumor: "Giving offerings to Ms. Tazuna will boost your luck."
At the time, Tazuna had gone for a quick stroll only to return and find her desk piled high with snacks, leaving her completely bewildered.
In reality, this has a historical basis. After the real horse's death, a statue was erected at Tokyo Racecourse. Many fans who knew its story would pray and leave offerings at the statue, and this was the story's way of paying tribute to history.
Perhaps Shiraoki had told Fukukitaru this so that Tazuna would be loved by everyone.
Furthermore, there is a manga interaction between Tazuna and Maruzensky. Maruzensky invites Tazuna for a drink just before the last train is due. Maruzensky misses the train, but Tazuna insists on catching it.
At the same time, Tokai Teio read the diary and watched the story unfold.
"Uuu... it's definitely going to be something sad next, isn't it, Tazuna-san?"
Teio knew that being one step away from the undefeated Triple Crown and being unable to run the Kikuka Sho must be heartbreaking. She wanted to comfort her.
"Yes. I can tell you all now... I was injured, and at that time, it couldn't be cured. So, I retired." Tazuna spoke calmly.
Or rather, after so many years, she could finally speak of this history with peace. In her heart, she wished her real-horse counterpart could have changed that fate.
But it seemed it wasn't to be. However, she didn't know that the fate of the real horse was even more tragic.
In fact, one could say the fates of Derby winners are often tragic, Special Week is actually one of the few who had a relatively happy ending.
Tazuna didn't lose heart. She had her own "training goals" now, like raising G1 winners and helping Uma Musume prevent injuries. She was more than willing to do this work even without a reward, because for her, seeing no girls get injured was the greatest reward of all.
She also hoped that through Trainer Mizuki's log, her real-horse self could receive some "rewards" to chase its dreams and continue the legend of Tokino Minoru. She wanted to see what kind of results a peak-form Tokino Minoru could achieve.
Would an American expedition have brought glory to Tracen Academy?
"Waaaah! How could it end like that... It's okay, Tazuna-san! Your dream of the undefeated Triple Crown— leave it to Teio-sama! Teio is very strong, I'll make that dream come true for you, I promise!"
Tokai Teio thought that if she were barred from the final leg of the Triple Crown due to injury, she would collapse. It was too painful.
Fortunately, she could still run. She would work hard to catch up to the President and show her Teio Step to the world. She would claim that undefeated Triple Crown.
Teio put her hands on her hips, acting cocky and energetic again. That was just who she was— full of life.
However, she didn't know that fate often plays tricks, but she would surely grow through them, becoming the Tokai Teio who dares to rebel against destiny itself.
Elsewhere in Tokyo.
"Undefeated Triple Crown? That sounds incredibly cool. It's enough to get my blood pumping," Contrail remarked.
She silently set a goal for herself. The one she wanted to surpass wasn't President Rudolf, but Deep Impact.
Contrail was like Teio. When Deep Impact ran those amazing races, she expressed her admiration and her desire to be just as strong. But Deep Impact wasn't as gentle as Rudolf. She had simply said coldly:
"Oh, I see. But your dreams have nothing to do with me. If you want me to look at you, catch up in your own way," before turning away without a second glance.
Well, now Contrail wanted to humiliate Deep Impact. But Contrail was smart enough to know that Deep Impact meant she should focus on her own path rather than just following someone else's footsteps. But she still wouldn't admit she was grateful.
Truly, this "parent and child" pair were exactly alike.
She was also incredibly curious to see what happened to Tazuna in the end, her heart filled with worry.
At that moment, Mizuki's log updated again.
[Right after Tokino Minoru ran the Japanese Derby, a heart-wrenching tragedy occurred. Five days later, the wound on his hoof worsened due to a tetanus infection, leading to various complications. Despite the owner spending a fortune on treatment, he succumbed to sepsis 17 days later, on June 20, 1951, entering an eternal sleep.]
[His remains were interred at the racecourse cemetery near the Baji Koen in Tokyo, where a bronze statue was erected in its memory. Tokino Minoru's record stands at 10 starts, 10 wins. His career ended with the Japanese Derby— the Derby became his final race.]
[Years later, the Kyodo Tsushin Hai changed its full name to "Kyodo Tsushin Hai (Tokinominoru Kinen)" to pay tribute to this Phantom Horse.]
[One can only assume the owner was filled with regret. He later spent a fortune to produce the movie "The Phantom Horse." Tokino Minoru was the first generation 'Phantom Horse.' He left no offspring, which remains a great regret for the Japanese racing world. Otherwise, there might be countless more powerful foals in Japan today.]
[In truth, many horses have unfortunate fates. One race can cause them to burn out completely. But at least they burned out on the track.]
[After dinner, I'll talk about one of the most classic races of all: the Hanshin Daishoten involving Mayano Top Gun and Narita Brian. It was the ultimate showdown between the new era and the old.]
[A battle to defend the glory of an era, a fight where everything was left on the track— a head-to-head duel that set Hanshin ablaze.]
[At the same time, I'll talk about the 'Triple Crown Killer' and the story of Seabiscuit.]
After Mizuki finished writing, she uploaded the log. As she did, she received another reward. Since it was her second one today, it was relatively modest but extremely practical.
[Log uploaded successfully.]
[Reward: Hoof Crack Treatment Patch x10]
[Apply this patch to the foot to gradually heal cracked hooves. It eliminates pain and allows for training, though the user cannot participate in races during the process.]
Mizuki noted that this was similar to the "Fracture Patch" from before. Being able to reduce pain and allow an Uma Musume to train instead of lying in a hospital bed all day was a massive win. She could give some to Hayakawa Tazuna and Tosen Jordan, who suffered from cracked hooves daily.
Meanwhile, countless people were heartbroken by the fate of Tazuna's real-horse counterpart.
At Amanohashidate:
"How could this happen? Maya will never run away again! Uuuu..." Mayano Top Gun, despite always dodging Tazuna, was smart enough to know that Tazuna loved them all. She couldn't bear the thought of Tazuna leaving.
"Yeah, I don't want that either. But wait, Tazuna-sanis already healed here! And her goal is to help more Uma Musume win G1s. That means we can keep letting her chase us! She chases, we run, and we get faster— that's the right way to do it," Marvelous Sunday declared.
"For the first time, I think you're making sense," Sweep Tosho muttered, her guilt fading.
That was Marvelous Sunday for you. Solving an internal crisis in a single sentence.
With Team Spica:
"So cool! Elegant enough to teach students at Tracen, strong enough to run JRA races. Miss Tazuna, you are my idol!" Bamboo Memory put on her headband, and the hot-blooded Uma Musume was unable to hold back her tears.
"You're over-praising me..." Tazuna blushed. She had no idea how they came up with such flattering words.
"Ha~~hahaha! Incredible! What beautiful words of praise! I shall include them in my opera!" T.M. Opera O clapped repeatedly.
Meisho Doto clapped too, but she noticed the horse Itsuse, who had been beaten by Tazuna four times in a row.
That "perpetual second place" feeling felt hauntingly familiar.
'Itsuse-san! I hope you had better results later!'
Doto felt she understood those feelings perfectly. Fortunately, her real-horse self had beaten Opera O once. That single victory gave her immense confidence. She felt she could probably handle the media alone now...
...Probably.
"Wow, a kitty!"
Doto saw a cute kitten climb onto her head. There were even goats nearby. Her mood instantly brightened.
"Haha, be careful not to fall," Tazuna said with her usual gentleness.
"A-wa-wa-wa-wa!"
No sooner had the words left Tazuna's mouth than Meisho Doto tripped and fell flat on her face. Fortunately, she was durable, otherwise, with the way she falls, she'd have been retired long ago.
She was now incredibly curious: 'Who would the next racer be? Seabiscuit? What was her story?'