At this moment, within Tracen, many people's expressions were incredibly vivid as they read the diary.
Inside Canopus:
"Oh my God, Teio actually did it. Away from the track for a year, yet she overtook the lead to win the Arima Kinen! Even if I were writing a story, I wouldn't dare write it like that."
Ikuno Dictus was incredibly surprised, her heart moved by Teio's unyielding spirit. It wasn't just that she was a great runner, her spirit was just as powerful, which is even more precious.
Many geniuses fall and never get back up after a setback, but Tokai Teio grit her teeth and ran desperately, shaking off a cruel fate to welcome a miracle.
Thinking about it, every step she took forward in that Arima Kinen was so inspiring. Ikuno really wanted to see what the live scene was like and hear how the fans of the real horse world evaluated that race.
Of course, besides Teio, Ikuno Dictus was also worried about McQueen. After all, those two real-life horses were a truly loving couple. Unlike Taiki Shuttle and Meisho Doto, Dictus and McQueen were a heterosexual pair.
When McQueen finished her runs in the future, Ikuno planned to give her thighs a massage to relax the ligaments.
Ikuno Dictus might be called the "Iron Lady," but in daily life, she was gentle and considerate.
"One can only say that reality provides more miracles, life is stranger than fiction," Twin Turbo suddenly stood up and said with total seriousness.
Nice Nature was stunned and said, "Whoever you are, get out of Twin Turbo's body. How could she say something so philosophical?"
Nature genuinely agreed with the sentiment, but she never expected it to come out of Twin Turbo's mouth.
"Hey! Nature! Turbo is very smart too! Am I not that kind of person in your eyes? Quickly, tell me your impression of me! I bet it's 'brilliant and majestic'!"
In truth, Twin Turbo had just seen that phrase while surfing the web. She had silently memorized it and was now showing off. She put her hands on her hips, waiting for everyone's praise.
Ikuno Dictus: "Reverse Jet."
Maruzensky: "Rowdy brat."
Nice Nature: "A dummy who's easily tricked."
Everyone spoke instantly, without a hint of hesitation. These evaluations had zero to do with the "brilliant and majestic" image Turbo had imagined.
Turbo's mental defenses shattered instantly. Was that really all they thought of her?
"Don't ask again, Turbo... I don't think you'll have the heart to keep going if you do," Nature said smugly. Her "child-tricking" skills were activating, she was about to make Turbo cry again.
Wait, why "again?"
Of course, they were just joking, and they praised Turbo a few times afterward. Turbo's moods came and went quickly, she was soon laughing heartily again.
"I've noticed that Turbo's words seem to be something she saw on the computer, though they are quite right," Ikuno Dictus added.
"Yeah. And I never imagined I'd take three Arima Kinen bronze medals in a row. Reality really is strange. That last result actually took seven minutes of photo-checking," Nice Nature sighed.
She could only comfort herself with the thought that three Arima Kinen bronzes could probably be combined into a 2-star bronze. In a sense, that was unique.
She laughed at her own thought. But in life, one must be optimistic. She was already third, with more effort, there was still a chance for first.
Nature planned to go congratulate Teio later and perhaps ask her for some running tips. Improving is always good.
Meanwhile, with the BNW trio:
"So close, Hayahide! You only got second place. But you did your best. You had just debuted that year, while Tokai Teio was already a more experience racer... though I guess you can't really compare them like that since Teio had been away for two years. She really is too amazing..."
Winning Ticket said excitedly. She also noticed a detail: She had already won a G1 title by then. Was it the Japanese Derby? She felt like she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight just thinking about it.
"Yeah, Tokai Teio is indeed incredible to be able to beat me after a year of recovery. But I won't lose. Whether it's Tokai Teio or Narita Brian, I'll catch up. It seems I need to rewrite my equation for victory."
Biwa Hayahide pushed up her glasses. However, she also noticed a specific detail... was her real-life counterpart's head really that big?
'Pah! What does a real horse's big head have to do with me? My own head isn't big at all!'
Every other Uma Musume in Tracen was trying their best to stay connected to their real-life counterparts, but Biwa Hayahide was already trying to cut ties, all because of the "Big Head" nickname.
"Sigh..." Hayahide let out a long breath. Who knew how much heartache was in that nickname? It was truly embarrassing.
The only benefit was that when crossing the finish line, she might have an advantage because her head reached further.
Thinking of that nickname, she really wanted to go to the real horse world and see exactly who was calling her "Big Head." She'd make them regret it within three days.
"It really was spectacular. An Arima Kinen that's a rebellion against fate? I definitely have to watch that race. Oh, by the way, I'm going out for a bit to see Smart Falcon about something," Narita Taishin suddenly said.
"What is it? If it's convenient, I want to go too! Take me with you!" Winning Ticket, being a social butterfly, didn't hesitate. But before she could finish, Taishin had already vanished.
"Hey, Hayahide, look at Taishin! Just leaving like that... how rude!" Ticket said poutily.
"It just means she didn't want you to come," Hayahide said bluntly. Still, she was curious: What was Taishin up to?
In the Tokyo countryside:
Kitasan Black was with Satono Diamond and Piedra de Luna. Equinox, Panthalassa, Liberty Island, and Titleholder had also come over to play.
"Waaaaah! Teio, you're so amazing! I'm so moved! That spirit will definitely keep inspiring me!"
Kitasan Black was crying like a miniture version of Narita Top Road, even letting out strange horse-like wails. She felt that the reason she was so obsessed with the Arima Kinen in the diary entries was likely due to Teio's influence.
She wanted to be like Tokai Teio, bringing the best "festival" to everyone and becoming a man of the people like her father. She was crying out of pure emotion.
"I'm also sincerely happy for Teio. But looking through all these diaries, I have to admire Kitasan's body. To be able to run high-intensity races since debut— that's truly incredible," Satono Diamond said.
She had read many of Trainer Mizuki's entries and saw that almost everyone's racing career had injuries, some of which were even fatal.
But Kitasan was the only one who could maintain health under such a high-intensity G1 schedule and torture-like training levels. Her entire racing career was remarkably complete. Diamond felt that Kitasan's physique and body were simply too exaggerated. She was virtually no different from a monster.
She wondered... What if Tokai Teio, Duramente, or Tokino Minoru had possessed such healthy bodies? How strong would they end up being...?
Diamond couldn't even imagine it. Racing is ever-changing, but it was foreseeable that their careers— and the entire history of the JRA— would have been even more brilliant.
Piedra de Luna spoke up cutely:
"Eh? Are you jealous, Diamond-san? My Mommy says that envy will make an Uma Musume's face turn green!"
Liberty Island chuckled: "Haha, what a cute description. But speaking of which, I've noticed something: The real horse world refers to us as 'Racehorses' or 'horses,' not 'Uma Musume.' Does that mean they are different from us?"
Titleholder was also curious: "I noticed that too. Is it just a difference in how we're addressed? But the real horse world has an Uma Musume game too. I remember Trainer Mizuki saying that the 'Twin Empresses,' Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet, are given for free in the beginner pool."
"I wonder if I'll be designed into the game? What star-rating would I be?"
"Also... I really want to meet the real horse. I wonder what it looks like?" Titleholder started pondering. Would her parallel-world self look exactly like her, or different?
"It probably looks just like us! The names are the same, the race distances are similar, so the appearance must be the same too. That's my sixth sense. Do you think that's reasonable?"Liberty Island said confidently.
Island-chan was quite cute, looking forward to meeting her friend from the real horse world.
"But I'm curious. When Trainer Mizuki talks about racehorses, she mentions 'front legs' and 'back legs' and stuff. Do you think real horses actually have four legs? Maybe they run faster that way?" Panthalassa scratched her head.
"Eh? That's impossible, right? 'Front legs' and 'back legs' probably just refers to thighs and calves," Kitasan said, even rolling up her trouser leg to examine her own leg. She figured a "back leg injury" was the thigh part, and a "front leg injury" was the calf.
"I can only say I admire Panthalassa's imagination. How could a racehorse have four legs? Believing a racehorse has four legs is as crazy as believing I'm a boy in the real horse world," Titleholder huffed.
"It's possible! Trainer Mizuki often says Suzuka is a boy, and she usually says 'he' and 'him' when she talks about the horses!"
"Ahem... in Suzuka-san's case... Trainer Mizuki probably doesn't mean it that way!"
Kitasan Black was at a loss. She didn't expect the meme about Silence Suzuka being a boy would even reach Panthalassa's ears.
She quickly changed the subject. Kitasan had just hit her maturation and was still shy about these topics.
"Yeah, speaking of which, seeing Teio's story makes me want to go for a run too."
Liberty Island spoke up, clearly inspired.
"Then let's go together! I want to run too. Kitasan Black-san, Dia-san, can you lead us? We aren't very familiar with the paths around here yet," Titleholder said, mimicking a running motion.
"No problem, but... I actually have something to do right now. Could you wait for me for just a little bit?" Kitasan Black said apologetically.
She had spent so much time preparing for Satono Diamond's birthday earlier that she still had some chores she'd promised to help others with that weren't finished yet.
She briefly considered letting Dia-chan take the kids to play while she handled her business, but she quickly dismissed the idea. Dia was good with kids, but she was also a curious girl who loved a good spectacle, and there was no telling what kind of adorable chaos she might accidentally trigger.
"How about this: We'll help Kitasan-san finish her work first, and then we'll all go running together. As payment, Kitasan-san can buy us some drinks! What do you think?"
Equinox stepped forward to suggest the plan. Don't let her small stature and playful nature fool you, she's incredibly sharp. Being Kitasan's "greatest son", how could she be anything less?
She actually wanted to help lighten Kitasan's load, but she knew Kitasan was so kind-hearted that she'd likely insist on doing it all herself if they just offered.
By framing it as "work for hire" with a drink as a reward, she made it impossible for Kitasan to refuse. Equinox wasn't doing this just to get Kitasan to play, she simply didn't want to see her working so hard all alone.
Equinox knew that Liberty Island, Titleholder, and Panthalassa would agree. Kitasan was great to them, and they had plenty of energy they were looking to burn anyway.
"Um... if we do that... you guys might get really tired. Maybe I should just..." Kitasan said, feeling a bit hesitant.
"It's okay! We can do it! I have tons of strength!" Panthalassa said, raising her hand and eagerly volunteering.
Evil capitalists love silly, hardworking kids like this.
"Well... alright then! But in return, I won't just buy you drinks, I'll treat you all to sushi! After that, you can have whatever you want, just tell me."
Kitasan stopped hesitating and put her hands on her hips. Without further ado, she led the enthusiastic group toward their "job" and started sprinting toward a sushi shop. The scene was instantly filled with joy.
Satono Diamond watched this and smiled tenderly. The Kitasan she knew was exactly like this: Full of enthusiasm, positive, and most importantly, patient. She listened to every child's opinion with sincerity and warmth, never letting their enthusiasm go to waste.
This was a quality many parents struggle to achieve.
"Dia-chan! What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up!" Kitasan waved from a distance, full of vitality.
"Coming, Kitasan!" Dia chased after them, a smile lighting up her face.
The world of Uma Musume was like this. Everyone was kind and straightforward. Life here was certainly much warmer than the world Mizuki came from.
However, things didn't go quite as smoothly as expected inside the sushi shop.
"Ah, sorry, Mister... I'm not tall enough. I can't reach the table."
Liberty Island tried her best to stand on her tiptoes. This sushi shop had several tiers of seating, and the counters near the entrance were quite high. She couldn't reach, and she didn't dare jump for fear of spilling the food.
"Hahaha, it's fine, it's fine!"
A bearded middle-aged man was so charmed by the cute Uma Musume that he didn't mind at all. He took the food from her and even asked if she wanted some to eat.
Liberty Island shook her head politely. If it had been someone bolder like Titleholder, she might have started eating already.
And of course, if it had been a young Oguri Cap, that plate of sushi wouldn't have even made it to the table before disappearing into her stomach.
Panthalassa and the others faced similar height issues. They all wished they could hit their maturation sooner.
The sushi shop was filled with a happy atmosphere, and the owner was delighted. Of course, this wasn't "child labor," he was just letting Equinox and the others experience the work.
Still, the ever-helpful Kitasan worried they were being a nuisance and dropped a classic line: "I'm so sorry, the kids are still young and don't know much. If they do anything wrong, please bear with them!"
Fortunately, the kids were quite steady, and there weren't many accidents.
Ironically, it was Kitasan herself who turned out to be the clumsy one, accidentally tripping and falling flat on the floor in a perfect "X" shape. She scrambled up quickly, hoping no one saw. Otherwise, it would be a huge embarrassment.
However, she didn't realize that Equinox was passing by at that exact moment. Equinox couldn't help it, she burst out laughing.
That one laugh probably cost her ten years of good karma.
Meanwhile, in Team Spica:
"Teio... after a whole year of recovery, you finally overcame yourself. I believe this race will inspire so many people," McQueen said, moved.
"I love this story. The meaning of this race transcends the sport itself. But I still hope Teio stays healthy," Silence Suzuka added with sincere admiration.
Teio was naturally optimistic, but Suzuka felt that if she had faced a year-long injury herself, she might not have been able to endure.
She felt Teio's willpower was even stronger than she'd imagined. Such resilience deserved to be remembered by everyone. If she ever retired, she would tell Teio's story to the world.
"I want to learn from Teio too and improve my own strength," Hokko Tarumae said.
Tokai Teio was deeply touched by the story of her real-life counterpart. She felt a surge of gratitude toward both the horse and Seiki Tabara. Her own journey had hit some rough patches— the lost Triple Crown, the broken undefeated record— leaving her feeling lost.
She hadn't expected her real-life self to be the one to give her strength again.
"Teio is invincible! I'll inherit my real-life self's will and run even more amazing races, ni-shi-shi!" Tokai Teio was fully recharged, looking like she wanted to go out and run laps right now.
Just then, the door to Spica opened.
"Special Week, Suzuka! I've come to find you! There's a shop by the station selling special Carrot Burgers today. We promised to go together, remember? Honestly, I came in here ready to tell you all to train hard, but everyone is already working so hard while I'm the only one slacking off."
Seiun Sky smiled cutely. This "fishing enthusiast" always acted laid-back, but she was a secret "effort-maxer" behind the scenes.
Seiun-chan was an educated girl, she believed in strategy and hiding her strength. Compared to her, Special Week was always so earnest. If Seiun Sky ever sold her, Spe would probably help her count the money.
El Condor Pasa was also with her.
"Honestly, Seiun-san, you should work hard too! Stop thinking about slacking off. Our Classic Year races are about to start. Look at Teio, she's amazing! That's first-class willpower." El Condor Pasa was also very moved by the diary.
"You guys are here! I'll get ready. I'll buy a few extra Carrot Burgers! They're delicious, and we can all eat together," Special Week said.
"Speaking of which, Spe-chan, the exams are coming up again... how is your revision going?" El Condor Pasa asked with concern.
"Uwaaa... studying and homework are too hard!" Special Week instantly looked pitiful.
"Now that you mention it, there is another quiz coming up. How are you all prepared?" Vodka asked, rubbing her head.
"Academic subjects aren't particularly difficult for me," Hokko Tarumae said honestly.
"Air Groove-senpai and Agnes Tachyon-senpai sometimes come over and give me advice on how to study more effectively. They've made sure that I study hard. Because of their help, exams aren't a problem," Daiwa Scarlet said confidently.
"Nya-haha~~ It seems Spica is divided into brainiacs and morons. The brainiacs find studying easy, while the morons find it impossible. A very clear divide," Seiun Sky said, hands behind her head, laughing.
"And what about you, Seiun-san? Which category do you fall into?" El Condor Pasa asked, hands on her hips.
"Let me think... a cute girl like Seiun-chan probably belongs to a category above those two! I'm like a God of Academics."
"Of course, I'm not saying I'm brilliant. The "God" part means that I pray hard whenever exams come along! Meaning, Seiun-chan relies entirely on luck for exams!"
Seiun Sky laughed, looking like a total slacker. But with her, whoever believed her was the one being fooled. She was not only smart but worked harder than anyone.
Spe-chan, however, took her literally. 'So Academic Gods rely on the luck of praying?' she thought. 'Then I'm an Academic God too!'
Mizuki's diary wasn't over yet, and everyone continued reading to see what Teio's subsequent results would be. Could she keep the miracle going? New content appeared.
[We move to 1994. After his strong comeback in the Arima Kinen, Teio planned to enter the Spring Tenno Sho. However, before the race, he was found to have yet another fracture in the radius of his left front leg. He had to enter recovery again.]
[By this point, Tokai Teio had suffered four fractures. His path was incredibly bumpy.]
[He later planned to compete in the Autumn Tenno Sho, but his recovery wasn't progressing well. Unable to make the race, his retirement ceremony was held on October 23 at Tokyo Racecourse.]
[Notably, during his retirement ceremony, Tokai Teio wore the number 20, the number from his Derby victory, rather than the number 4 from his Miraculous Resurrection in the Arima Kinen.]
[Tokai Teio was born under the halo of a genius, but his legendary career was plagued by injuries and ended prematurely, which was truly regrettable.]
[However, his brilliant victory against a field of foreign stars in the Japan Cup and his miraculous resurrection in the Arima Kinen after a year of recovery became symbols of an era. His strength matched that of the "Emperor" Symboli Rudolf, and his perseverance in the face of suffering never failed to inspire others.]
[The story he created remains a favorite topic of discussion for racing fans in Japan and horse racing fans worldwide even today.]
[On August 30, 2013, Tokai Teio died in his stall due to heart failure at the age of 25.]
[Tokai Teio's life had reached its end.]
[Reading this makes me sigh. Teio's life was too difficult. In Tracen, I must help her avoid the torment of injuries. It's a pity I went to the video analysis room only to find the door locked.]
[If I can analyze her stride, I'll be able to help pinpoint the dangerous parts of it.]
[There must be a way to prevent her injuries. Since I'm her Trainer, I might just be able to go to the Director or President Rudolf and have them unlock the room.]
[Oh well, I'll try again later.]
[That's all for today's diary entry.]
[As for tomorrow, I'll write about Zenno Rob Roy or Equinox. After looking over their real-life records, I have to say, they are truly spectacular.]
[By the way, Smart Falcon found me and asked me to make some emojis for her. I've already got some ideas, so it's time to get to work. Are her emojis about to become popular in Tracen too?]
After finishing the entry, Mizuki smiled. she had received a message from Smart Falcon earlier. She wanted some cute "Falco" emojis to give to her fans as fan service and to help gather more popularity.
Meanwhile, Smart Falcon had decided to become a Dirt specialist. She had shown amazing talent and now had a steady following.
Previously, her promotions only attracted three or four people, now she was in the double digits, and her fan count was rising. She realized that even in Dirt races, which typically had fewer fans in the URA, she could gain people's love and stand on the stage of her dreams.
One race could win over countless fans.
To give back to her supporters, she wanted to create things they'd like, starting with Falco emojis and then voice recordings of Falco's wake-up calls to give them energy.
She truly cherished every fan she had.
Mizuki also wondered what kind of reward she would get today. A reward that could prevent Uma Musume from getting injured would be nice.
Soon, a voice sounded in her mind.
[Host's diary upload successful.]
[Reward— 5x Professional Medical Diagnostic Units! Cutting-edge technology that can prevent injuries.]
Mizuki saw the advanced equipment appear before her. The system informed her that this modern technology could directly prevent Tokai Teio's habitual fractures.
She understood perfectly. It was just like McQueen's suspensory ligament desmitis— it was incurable back then, leading to retirement, but treatable now.
That is the power of technology.
If Tokai Teio's fractures were managed with modern medicine, he might not have suffered through four of them. The same went for Tokino Minoru. If his tetanus had been treated with modern medicine, there would have been a high chance of survival, and he would have left his own bloodline behind, perhaps even appearing in the 2023 stallion rankings.
However, the system still advised against Tokai Teio entering a race immediately after recovering from an injury.
This newest reward was a lot like one Mizuki had gotten before, it was just a more advanced version. It wouldn't completely negate the need to rest.
Regardless, Teio would never again have to endure the agony of years of recovery. If she worked hard, she would only have to miss a few races at the worst. Her career would be far more brilliant, and she might even get to run a few races overseas.
Of course, if Mizuki can help it, she'll make sure Teio gets zero injuries throughout her career.
Speaking of stallions, the 2023 JRA Leading Sire was Duramente, with total earnings of 4,165,559,000 yen. He became a new king following in his father King Kamehameha's footsteps, achieving the great feat of father and son both becoming Sire of the Year.
His bloodline is truly powerful. Looking at the 2023 Arima Kinen, the runner-up Stars on Earth and the third-place Titleholder are both children of Duramente.
Kitasan Black, who sired Equinox, currently ranks 6th with total earnings of 2,794,765,000 yen. As for Tokai Teio's offspring, their results weren't quite as stellar.
If Tokino Minoru had left a bloodline, who knows what kind of results they would have achieved? That remains a mystery.
Mizuki prepared to leave. After giving the Spica girls their assignments, she planned to make those Smart Falcon emojis. She was something of a keyboard warrior herself, so this would be easy.
Back in her room, she took the photos Falco had sent and started working. Since it was for fans, she went all out.
The first one she made was hilarious: A photo of Falco looking like she'd just lost everything because she got a 23 on a math test.
Mizuki added the caption: "I'll aim for a 40 next time."
The comedic effect was perfect.
The second one was more positive: It was a photo of Falco on stage doing a finger-heart. Mizuki captioned it: "If the heavens hadn't birthed Falco, the Idol world's future would be bleak."
She actually wanted to make an emoji of her pulling a "bad luck" fortune at a shrine, but she decided to take it slow. No need to add a bunch of Failco emojis this early.
She continued with the third one: Falco smiling and pointing forward, with the text: "To those Falco is pointing at: Falco will take away all your unhappiness this year!"
The caption for the third photo was requested by Smart Falcon herself. She has been working incredibly hard, recording numerous dances with the sincere intent of providing fan service to the followers who have stuck by her, hoping to wash away their unhappiness.
So, say thank you to Falco.
The fourth photo was a group shot.Smart Falcon stood in the center, flanked by Mihono Bourbon, Silence Suzuka, Agnes Tachyon, and Maruzensky. Everyone looked kind and friendly, but Mizuki captioned it: "All-Out Villains."
The fifth photo featured Smart Falcon and Eishin Flash making a German-style pizza together. Eishin Flash looked adorable in her apron, while Smart Falcon clapped in the background.
Based on this photo, Mizuki made two emojis. One was captioned: "The two of us are truly amazing."
The other: "Hell yeah! I want you to be my personal chef for the rest of my life."
As an internet veteran, Mizuki quickly helped Smart Falcon create a full set of 30 emojis. It was a shame she hadn't made too many memeworthy emojis yet, but there was no rush. She could make those legendary emojis at anytime.
When Smart Falcon saw them, she found them hilarious. However, since some featured other Uma Musume, she wouldn't post them recklessly. She planned to ask for their permission first, but as for the solo shots, those were fine to post immediately.
"Haha, this is so much fun!" Smart Falcon felt Trainer Mizuki was incredible. If it were her, she never could have come up with such amusing captions.
Mizuki, however, waved her off, saying it wasn't that she was amazing, but that the other keyboard warriors had inspired her. On the internet, you can find a meme for any situation.
Never doubt a keyboard warrior's ability to find the perfect image.
Smart Falcon immediately sent the two emojis featuring Eishin Flash to her. When Eishin Flash saw the first one, she found it quite fun and interesting.
But then she saw the second one:
"Hell yeah! I want you to be my personal chef for the rest of my life."
She felt a bit bashful. She was a German Uma Musume who valued precision and rigor. "Personal chef for life"... wasn't that basically the same as a wife? Her face flushed red, but she told herself she was overthinking.
It troubled her momentarily, making her feel she shouldn't read too much into it.
So, Eishin Flash decided to stop overthinking and gave her consent, hoping it would help Falcon gain more fans. She even saved the emojis as a mark of respect.
They were very cute, after all.
Smart Falcon was overjoyed. She wanted to thank Trainer Mizuki and considered doing something for Valentine's Day, though she knew she was a bit of a weakling in that department, she'd just have to try her best.
While Falco might seem clumsy, in the URA scenario, she wins it all by giving the Trainer a box of special chocolates on Valentine's Day.
By the time Mizuki finished, evening had arrived. She checked on the Spica members and saw that they had finished their basic training and returned to their dorms.
Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen had stayed an extra hour for extra training, but Mizuki called them on her phone, telling them that overworking their body is as bad as underworking it.
After getting off the phone, Mizuki smiled. Life at Tracen was fulfilling and exciting, making one look forward to tomorrow.
Compared to being a plaything of capital in the real world, suffering under the endless grind, life here was much more relaxed.
Her only concern was the health of these Uma Musume. Keeping them injury-free so they could keep running happily was what she would work toward.
She looked at the moonlight on the horizon, feeling the cool evening breeze.
"Trainer Mizuki~~!" A cheerful voice rang out. Below, Tokai Teio waved with a grin while McQueen stood elegantly beside her.
"Did you see? We're heading back now!" Teio stood with her hands on her hips like a child seeking praise.
She knew about her "four fractures" now, but she wasn't afraid. She wanted to fulfill the regrets her real-life counterpart left behind. Now that she knew in advance, she could prevent them.
"Got it. Get back safely, Teio! And remember, don't play games with Mayano Top Gun!" Mizuki gave her a quick reminder, lest she end up pulling an all-nighter.
"Okay! Goodbye, Trainer-san!" Teio and McQueen departed, and Mizuki started preparing for bed.
Tomorrow was January 29, and the Newcomer Performance and Satono Diamond's birthday were drawing closer. She had to wrap things up quickly.
Tomorrow, she was scheduled to film a video with Aston Machan, Hokko Tarumae, and Twin Turbo.
The next morning, Saturday arrived. Since many Uma Musume had no classes, they could rest in the morning and train in the afternoon. Mizuki used this time to film the new video with Machan.
Furthermore, Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond had arrived. Kitasan had messaged ahead, warning her not to leak the birthday surprise.
The little ones— Equinox, Titleholder, and the rest— had gone to Seiun Sky's place, tomorrow they'd bring "Star-chan" (Stars on Earth) along.
After getting Kitisan and Satono Diamond to help film a video (in which Dia-chan played a loan shark who sent her thug, Kitisan, to beat Mizuki up for not paying on time), Tokai Teio, Special Week, and Silence Suzuka arrived to take the two girls to the cafeteria.
Mizuki grabbed her diary, planning to write after lunch.
Looking at Kitasan, she decided today's real-life horse would be the one who inherited a father's greatness and stunned the world even further. The legendary horse who divided Spring and Autumn, the world-class Horse of the Year: Equinox.
In the JRA, there is a saying:
"If you missed the era of Shinzan, and if you missed the era of Symboli Rudolf, please make sure you do not miss the era of Equinox."
Such a horse is a once-in-a-generation miracle. It took twenty years to go from Shinzan to Rudolf, and another twenty from Rudolf to the world-shaking Equinox. Mizuki hadn't realized that the little girl named Equinox she met would grow to shock the world.
She received a message from Smart Falcon while trying to think of what to write. She said the emojis Mizuki made were extremely popular.
As a Uma Musume in the URA, she had her own Umastagram page, and the emoji post had 999+ replies instantly.
The one of her getting a 23 in math resonated with everyone. Students of all ages agreed: If you can't do the math, you just can't do it.
Some even joked that since they had to suffer, they'd make sure the difficulty stayed high for the juniors. If they got soaked by the rain, they'd break everyone else's umbrellas too.
The emoji with Eishin Flash, "I want you to be my personal chef for the rest of my life," was also a massive hit. Mizuki was happy for Falcon, she was single-handedly changing the landscape of Dirt racing, which usually had low attendance in the JRA.
"Trainer Mizuki, I can't let you do this for free. I don't have much money because concerts and posters are expensive, so here's a small bit of money as a return gift."
"Of course, Falco's gift is more than just that. Please look forward to it!"
Mizuki declined the money, as it was just a small favor. She helped because Falco was passionate and had helped her when she first arrived. Plus, making memes for Uma Musume was basically a core skill for any player.
At the cafeteria, she saw Neo Universe sitting with Zenno Rob Roy. It seemed they had become friends, though only someone as well-read as Rob Roy could understand Neo Universe's speech.
"Trainer Mizuki-san, you're here for lunch too," Zenno Rob Roy said, standing elegantly like a girl-next-door. She had a steak, some noodles, and a carrot taiyaki.
"Yeah. Hello, Rob Roy, Neo Universe."
Neo Universe's golden hair shimmered as she said, "Extreme particle transmission link in progress... Hello."
Mizuki's expression was that of a "confused old man on the subway." She knew from the URA that Neo Universe was a Uma Musume who transcended time, and her speech was highly astronomical.
It used to be that when Neo Universe and Mihono Bourbon sat together, the communication was a work of art. Any normal person would feel completely lost.
However, Mizuki was very friendly, which made Neo Universe's cheeks flush with happiness. She was often lonely because people didn't know how to talk to her. Rob Roy looked at Mizuki gratefully for her patience.
"Rob Roy-san, you've spent so much time in the library, can you tell me about the Book of Magic? Ah, Neo Universe is here too, hello!" Sweep Tosho, the little witch, ran over with a grin.
She didn't mind Neo Universe at all, thinking her strange speech might just be obscure magic incantations. She sat next to Mizuki and took a sip of tea. "Hehe, tea brewed with magic really does taste the best."
Mizuki was puzzled. "Magic tea? What's that?"
In fact, her so-called "Magic Tea" was simply the art of latte foam, where a witch's hat was drawn atop the tea. It was a technique more commonly seen in coffee.
This specific "Magic Tea" was a special creation by Fuji Kiseki, showing just how much she doted on the little witch, Sweep Tosho.
Fuji Kiseki had even added a cute little footnote to the drink description: "Magic Tea works best when paired with vegetables."
To get the willful little witch to eat her greens, Fuji Kiseki had certainly gone to great lengths.
And surprisingly, the method worked. After finishing her tea, the little witch reluctantly took a bite of broccoli with a look of pure disgust, but for the sake of her "magic," she forced herself to swallow it.
Like Haru Urara, everyone spoiled her, though Urara was far more obedient. Sweep Tosho was incredibly stubborn, only ever acting like a mature adult when she ran into younger girls like Piedra de Luna, who also looked up to magic.
"The Book of Magic? Sure thing," Zenno Rob Roy agreed. She loved discussing books with others.
Rob Roy began her explanation, and Sweep Tosho listened with intense curiosity. However, within moments, the little witch was completely floored. Rob Roy spoke with the precision of a scholar:
"It's like this, Sweep Tosho-san: first, if we categorize magic by era, it can be divided into Classical Magic and Modern Magic. Modern Magic is further split into Natural Magic and Ritual Magic, known as High Magick and Low Magick. This doesn't mean one is superior to the other, it simply refers to the different sources of power."
"According to Agrippa's classification in Three Books of Occult Philosophy, it is divided into Natural, Celestial, and Ceremonial magic. However, in literature, the overviews are broader, such as harmless White Magic and harmful Black Magic. Though, as history progressed, White Magic developed offensive capabilities and Black Magic developed defensive ones, making the classification less definitive..."
Sweep Tosho started off nodding with interest, but as Rob Roy continued her lecture using unfamiliar and increasingly obscure terminology, the little witch's eyes began to spin in circles. Her brain had completely short-circuited.
Sweep Tosho enjoyed reading magic books, but she liked exciting magic novels. Rob Roy liked research. Every time Rob Roy read a book, she had to explain the historical origin of every spell.
It wasn't a chat, it was a doctoral lecture.
Mizuki understood immediately. Before her transmigration, she had read plenty of novels on various platforms. Rob Roy's style was like an author who throws a massive info-dump of world-building into the first chapter.
If the setting is brilliant, it might keep some readers, if it's confusing, they'll drop the book instantly... and maybe leave a spicy comment for the author on the way out.
Sweep Tosho tugged on Mizuki's sleeve, her eyes pleading for a lifeline. Mizuki almost died laughing.
Little witch, oh little witch, you've finally met your match! If Fuji Kiseki saw this, she'd be delighted to see someone finally giving the stubborn girl a headache.
Mizuki decided to chime in, but she waited patiently for Rob Roy to finish her first segment to be polite. Once she asked if Sweep Tosho understood, Mizuki spoke up.
"That was a wonderful explanation. But Sweep Tosho... I could've sworn that your Trainer needed you? I remember him mentioning it. You should go find him."
It took the little witch a few seconds to understand what Mizuki meant, but as soon as she did, she started nodding her head up and down like a bobblehead.
"I'm sorry Rob Roy-san! I have to go now!"
"Ah, that's fine! Goodbye, Tosho-chan!"
As Sweep Tosho ran away with her tail between her legs, Zenno Rob Roy turned towards Mizuki.
"I'm glad you liked my explanation, Trainer Mizuki-san. Since Tosho-chan left, would you like to hear more?"
The smug joy and mockery Mizuki felt towards Sweep Tosho disappeared in an instant. She immediately blurted out an excuse.
"Oh sorry— I just remembered that I still have some paperwork to submit for Team Spica! I'll be going now!"
Mizuki quickly waved goodbye and headed out, spotting Ines Fujin and Agnes Tachyon talking.
'Tachyon's eyes looked... suspicious. Is she going to do something to Fujin?'
She wondered what was going on with those two, but she soon shook it off and went back to her room to write.
[Diary Entry: January 29]
[The day was very fulfilling. Filmed a video with Kitasan and Dia-chan this morning. I'm starting to think Dia-chan is a natural genius.]
[She captured the "scumlord" aura perfectly. That feeling of 'there is no escape'... the pressure was off the charts.]
[Kitasan's acting was great too. I swear, she was born to act like a thug. I almost suspect she wasn't acting, she was genuinely terrifying. Those two's intensity is no joke.]
[As for Machan, she's just too funny. In the video, she borrowed money from me to pay off Dia-chan, then turned around and started threatening me with those two!]
[That wasn't even in the script. All I can say is that Machan is a natural-born comedy genius.]
[At lunch, I ran into Sweep Tosho, Rob Roy, and Neo Universe. Rob Roy was frying Tosho's brain with a lecture about historical magic in one of her novels, but as soon as the little witch left, she turned her attention towards me!]
[I got out of there as fast as I could. Rob Roy is a sweet girl, but my brain isn't big enough to handle a lecture like that...]
[On the way back, I saw Curren Chan. She's way too sweet. She said the weather was cold, gave me a pair of gloves, and a wink.]
[Damn, she's a born idol.]
[Smart Falcon is basically a wannabe-Curren Chan.]
[Speaking of Falco, her emojis are a hit at Tracen. She thanked me, but honestly, seeing her succeed is enough.]
[In short: Isn't this onee-san amazing?]
[Anyway, Director Akikawa Yayoi and Hayakawa Tazuna are out of the office today. They're likely prepping the venue for tomorrow's Newcomer Performance. I also saw Agnes Tachyon and Ines Fujin. Tachyon had a look in her eyes that was 100% trouble.]
[But I'm sure it's fine. If Tachyon wanted to do something, she'd just tie them up, why waste breath talking and convincing? I'm looking forward to the stage tomorrow. But for now, let's talk about horses.]
[Today's horse belongs in the discussion of Japan's greatest of all time. Not only does he have millions of fans in Japan, but his fan base in the UK and Ireland is legendary. He possesses a versatile running style. Front-runner, Pace Chaser, Late Surger, End Closer... you name it, he's run as it!]
[He also has an unmatched presence. Trainers have described him as "Graceful yet Hungry, a blessing to encounter."]
[The Titan of the Turf, the pride of the 2023 JRA, the Horse of the Year, EQUINOX!]
[Equinox, defining the Spring and Autumn, and defining a legendary era of supreme brilliance.]
[If you missed the era of Shinzan, if you missed the era of Symboli Rudolf, then please, do not miss the era of Equinox!]
[On January 23, 2024, the London rankings gave Equinox a JRA-record score of 135, surpassing the legendary El Condor Pasa.]
[Top-tier horses with outstanding performances in the Arc de Triomphe only scored 128 in the final 2024 ratings, leaving an unbridgeable gap between them and Equinox.]
[In 2023, the JRA's second-ranked horses were Do Deuce and the retiring Titleholder at 124. Meanwhile, Golden Sixty and Lucky Sweynesse from Hong Kong took the world's 6th and 8th spots with 126 and 125.]
[Liberty Island hit 121, and Stars on Earth reached 119. The Duramente bloodline is truly a royal family of the turf. But no matter how strong they are, they cannot overshadow one individual.]
[One horse shines, ten thousand fall into their shadow.]
[In 2023, the New King was crowned. Equinox, standing alone atop the world.]
[A career of 10 starts and 8 wins, with a 100% top-two finish rate. He finished his career with a crushing 6-race G1 win streak. Like Mayano Top Gun, he won G1 races using all four running styles.]
[What's more terrifying is that as a descendant of Kitasan Black, he was considered a "late bloomer," yet he retired early, leaving fans worldwide to wonder what if?]
[What if he had run the 2023 Arima Kinen? What if he had challenged the 3200m Tenno Sho Spring? He only ran ten times, yet he drove the world of horse racing into a total frenzy.]
[It can be said that although he appeared early in the Kitasan Black line, he will be the strongest horse of that line for the next five, ten, or even twenty years. There's no doubt about it.]
[And this isn't just for Kitasan Black's lineage, it applies to the King Halo line as well.]
At that moment, the entirety of Tracen Academy exploded. Shock— pure, unadulterated shock— was the only emotion visible on everyone's faces.
Inside the Spica clubroom:
"Horse of the Year..." Mejiro McQueen stared at the words, completely dazed.
She could only whisper the words, her heart thundering with awe. She had seen foreign horses reach 130 or 140 before, but never a JRA horse reaching 135.
A surge of excitement and ancestral longing erupted within her. Who wouldn't want to stand at the absolute summit?
'Equinox... what kind of monster is she?'