Tamamo Cross saw her retirement.
She hadn't expected to retire so early when she still wanted to keep running, and was very confused.
Why did her real-world team make her retire so soon? It seemed that after real horses retire, they still have work to do.
What kind of work?
Tamamo Cross found it impossible to understand. She felt that real horses and Uma Musume were the same— born to run. Prize money was earned by running.
Since she could still run, why retire so early? What was the goal?
"I really don't get it... whatever, I'm sure the real world had its reasons. My record against Oguri Cap ended at 2:1, I guess. But here at Tracen, I'll definitely take it 3:0."
Tamamo Cross said confidently. She understood that Oguri Cap was called the "Gray Monster" because she was likely the strongest of all gray horses in JRA history, but she, Tamamo Cross, was the "White Lightning."
In their struggle, she hadn't lost out at all.
"I ran for quite a while and took 7 G1s," Kitasan Black said, clenching her fist with an energetic expression.
This Kitasan Black was a sharp contrast to the real-life Kitasan Black who grew thinner by the day after retirement.
In the real world, "Kita-chan," during the peak breeding months, had to mate with hundreds of mares.
If this kept going, one might worry he'd be completely drained.
Luckily, Equinox had arrived to share some of the pressure with his old man... even if a large part of that pressure was created by Equinox himself in the first place.
Oguri Cap said, "Hmm... the 1988 Arima Kinen. Was that my first G1 victory? But it's not enough. Super Creek is catching up, and there's Inari One too."
"I won't give up. I'll keep working hard, carrying Tama-chan's share with me."
Inwardly, Oguri Cap felt a wave of determination.
'Gray horses didn't have much glory in the world where Trainer Mizuki comes from. I helped change that.'
'But a lot of the credit should go to Tama-chan.'
'That Japan Cup, when she was overtaken by Pay the Butler... it kept her from a lot of fame and glory, didn't it? It even kept her out of the Hall of Fame...'
'Tamamo Cross is retired, but my races continue. Other me, you have to treat every upcoming G1 as if it's your only chance.'
'And if you ever have the chance to run in the Japan Cup, you must win everything.'
Tamamo Cross turned red and said, "What do you mean 'carrying my share'? Hmph! Since you said it, Oguri Cap, don't you dare embarrass us grays. Tell everyone we are the strongest!"
Tamamo Cross raised a fist, and the two grays bumped knuckles.
"I'm a gray Uma too. I'll cheer for you," Biwa Hayahide said with a smile.
"I bet Oguri Cap-senpai will win another G1 within the next three races," Seiun Sky chuckled.
She was also a gray, and if Seiun Sky lived a bit longer, his hair might have turned even whiter.
Inari One cut in: "Hey, hey! In 1989, the secret weapon from Oi is coming! The record Tama created is impressive, but I'll surpass it. That's my promise to everyone."
Inari One was now extremely hungry for a G1 win. She knew Tamamo Cross had 3 G1s, so she wanted 4.
Especially after seeing how much joy a G1 win brought to a team. She understood the weight of the Spring Shield, the Arima Kinen, and the Autumn Triple Crown.
Would Oguri Cap win a G1 within three races? Then she, Inari One, would be even better. She respected Oguri, but that didn't mean she was afraid.
She was one of the "Heisei Trio," and she wouldn't fall behind them.
Super Creek said, "Is it my turn next? The G1 Kikuka Sho. But my Kikuka Sho was probably more complicated than most."
"I want to see my story, but I feel that in 1988, my luck was terrible. I got injured before the Derby, relied on Yutaka Take for the Kikuka Sho, and I was disqualified from the Arima Kinen..."
"Sigh... I feel like I can't be a good role model for the children."
Seeing Super Creek's sad expression, Vivlos's "cat-mouth" immediately puckered.
She rushed forward to act spoiled and comfort her, her voice dripping with sweetness:
"Super Creek-oneesama~~ You shouldn't say that! Every one of your races was amazing, you just had a tiny bit of bad luck. I believe you'll win many G1 titles in the future. I'll always support you!"
Vivlos loved acting spoiled, and Super Creek had an overflowing maternal instinct, so the two hit it off immediately.
Vivlos had been looked after by Creek many times, so she hurried to snuggle up to her.
Smart Falcon immediately said, "As expected of Vivlos! Not only is she cute, but she speaks so nicely. It makes one feel so comfortable. Falco can't lose either!"
Orfevre snorted. "It's just flattery. I never care for such things. It's just self-consolation for losers."
"What I must do is crush everything and take first place in the race, dominating my generation. Your own strength won't give you any room for excuses."
Yaeno Muteki: "Heh, quite a hot-blooded speech. Even more hot-blooded and dramatic than Bamboo Memory."
Bamboo Memory adjusted her headband. "Yaeno Muteki-senpai! Hearing Orfevre's words, I... I feel a raging fire within me! I want to go race now!"
Super Creek was happy to hear Vivlos's comfort and patted her head.
"Hehe, if Super Creek has children in the future, they will definitely be very happy," Cheval said.
"Children?"
Hearing that word, Mejiro Ardan's thoughts drifted.
She suddenly thought of her "dear son" Invincible.
To be honest, she was still a bit preoccupied because Trainer Mizuki had exposed the genders.
What did that result in?
She found out she was actually a boy, and that Invincible really was from China and was also a boy.
Under these coincidences, she couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.
On the day the genders were exposed, she had been spaced out while eating with Yaeno Muteki and Sakura Chiyono O.
Sakura Chiyono O asked her, "Mejiro Ardan, what's wrong?"
Ardan hesitated for a long time, biting her lip before saying timidly, "I thought of a possibility. Please don't laugh at me."
Chiyono O said curiously, "What possibility? Tell us, we definitely won't laugh."
Ardan fidgeted for a very long time, hesitating until the other two were practically begging her to speak.
Finally, she stuttered out word by word:
"Ahem... Do you think... in the... real horse... world... could I... actually be Invincible's... be Invincible's..."
Chiyono O leaned in so close their faces almost touched. "Invincible's what?"
Ardan finally steeled her heart and blurted it out: "Invincible's... biological father!"
In that instant, giant question marks appeared over the heads of Yaeno Muteki and Sakura Chiyono O.
They froze for a solid ten seconds.
Then, Chiyono O and Yaeno Muteki looked at each other, both seeing shock and confusion in the other's eyes.
They clearly hadn't expected that after all that stalling, Ardan would say that.
Yaeno Muteki was worried for a second, almost reaching out to feel Ardan's forehead to see if she had a fever, but she restrained herself.
However, while Muteki restrained herself, Sakura Chiyono O simply couldn't.
"Hahahahaha!"
That silly cow Chiyono O couldn't take it anymore. She burst out laughing.
While Ardan looked on with an expression of embarrassment and anger, Chiyono O clutched her stomach, laughing and apologizing at the same time.
It went something like this:
"Hahaha, cough... Ardan, you... listen to my explanation, it's not like that... I didn't mean to laugh at you... hahahaha!"
Chiyono O wanted to strangle herself in that moment, but she really couldn't help it.
She simply couldn't fathom why the young Mejiro Ardan would have the idea that she was that Chinese Uma Musume's father.
However, once Chiyono O laughed, Yaeno Muteki, who was trying her hardest to hold it in, finally snapped too.
After enduring for ten seconds, she broke down. The two of them began to apologize while laughing hysterically.
Listening to their laughter, Mejiro Ardan's face turned bright red. Her cheeks puffed out.
In that moment, she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
"Hmph!"
Ardan knew she couldn't blame them, her idea was indeed a bit "out there."
But these two were being too much! Did they have to laugh that loud?
People were starting to look. She really wanted to take some tape and seal their mouths shut.
It took a long time for Chiyono O and Yaeno Muteki to stop laughing. They didn't dare look at each other, fearing they'd start up again.
However, Sakura Chiyono O felt truly apologetic in her heart. She was usually very polite, but sometimes humor is just a strange thing.
The same sentence might not be funny at all, but if you're with a friend and you catch their eye, you just can't stop laughing.
Recovering herself, she asked, "But Mejiro Ardan, why did you suddenly have such a thought?"
Mejiro Ardan sighed, stirring her coffee absentmindedly with a spoon. "I don't know. It might just be a feeling. I've always felt like I care about Invincible in a special way. Combined with what Trainer Mizuki said, I started speculating and reached... this conclusion."
"But you can't tease me anymore! I told you, it's just a guess."
In truth, Ardan really did feel a sense of connection to Invincible . Perhaps that is what it means to be a parent, even in another world, she could recognize her "son" at a glance and feel a protective worry for him.
Such a bond, spanning parallel worlds, could never be broken.
It was just like how Air Groove always worried about Duramente, or how Kitasan Black would take Equinox out to play.
Even Gold Ship's father, Stay Gold, would join her "sons" in their chaotic antics— scenes so ridiculous they often caused Air Groove's mental defenses to crumble completely.
Sakura Chiyono O scratched her head and said sheepishly:
"It's probably a misunderstanding. Doesn't Trainer Mizuki love to talk big in her logs? She even called me a 'Silly Cow.' I can't actually be a cow, right?"
"But you're right about one thing— that feeling of connection. I have it too toward Maruzensky-senpai and a few other specific people."
"But think about it: If every connection meant a family relationship, Maruzensky-senpai couldn't possibly be my dad in the real horse world, could she?"
"So rest easy. If this turns out to be true, I'll go to the school entrance and shout 'I am a Silly Cow, and the Silly Cow is me' a thousand times."
Mejiro Ardan nodded. She felt she was overthinking it.
Perhaps her meeting with Invincible was just a chance encounter between friends. She decided to put those thoughts aside.
At that moment, Kitasan Black happened to be on a video call with Equinox. Because Kitasan and Satono Diamond were about to leave for an international exchange in France, they had requested to attend classes at Tracen recently.
On her first day, Kitasan was so nervous she forgot to turn in her phone. Equinox wanted to see what was happening, so they started a video chat.
Kitasan Black said, "Equinox, it's break time now. You can't call us while we're in class!"
Equinox giggled. "I know, I know. But I just heard you guys talking about retirement. I'm curious because I retired early too. I really want to know what fun things real horses do after they retire."
"Kitasan Black-san, I heard that after I retire, I'll be at the same stallion station as you. You have to take me to all the fun places! We can even race each other."
Knowing Equinox's strength, Kitasan felt a surge of excitement. She pumped her fist.
"Fine! I'll give it my all. Even if you're a once-in-a-century genius, Teio-sama says I'm the best at utilizing my skills! Don't let your guard down!"
Equinox looked confused. "Oh, right— have you talked to Mejiro Ardan-san lately? She seems a bit troubled..."
Actually, Equinox had been eating nearby that day and overheard Ardan saying she felt a connection to a certain Uma Musume and wondered if that girl was her son in the real world.
Kitisan was confused. "Eh? What's wrong with Ardan-san?"
"I'm not sure..." Equinox said.
However, remembering Ardan's words, Equinox fell into deep thought.
'If a connection means someone is your son... I feel a connection to Kitasan Black-san, too.'
'I can't possibly say that Kitasan Black is my son in the real world!'
'Wait, wait, wait... that's all wrong! It's impossible! I debuted later than Kitasan-san.'
She shook her head, thinking the idea was too absurd.
But Equinox was very smart. A sudden thought struck her:
'Wait, is there a possibility... that I am Kitasan Black's son?'
What a plot twist!
Equinox was shocked for a moment but decided she was being too imaginative.
In the Uma Musume world, she had her own parents. She decided to stop thinking about it.
Little did they know, they were about to be struck by a metaphorical bolt of lightning. Not just Tracen, but all Uma Musume across Japan, Britain, Ireland, France, and America were about to be left speechless.
That moment was fast approaching.
Soon, Mizuki's log continued.
[Back to 1988: Oguri Cap took six consecutive graded wins, followed by 2nd in the Tenno Sho Autumn, 3rd in the Japan Cup, and 1st in the Arima Kinen. Tamamo Cross retired after three consecutive G1 wins and two subsequent G1 runner-up finishes.]
[Meanwhile, Super Creek, one of the 'Heisei Trio,' planned to enter the Japan Derby after his maiden win in March. However, he fractured his left front leg during preparations for the Aoba Sho, missing the Derby and entering a long period of recovery.]
[Six months later, Super Creek returned, taking 3rd in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai on September 25. He then entered the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai on October 16.]
[In this race, a top-5 finish would have given him enough prize money to enter the Kikuka Sho.]
[However, an accident occurred. During the race, Super Creek was impacted by a foul from Chiaki Sakai (riding Gakuen To Beat), leading to him being struck in the face.]
[He finished 6th, just short of the prize money needed for the Kikuka Sho.]
[After the race, Trainer Ito was furious: "How could something so stupid happen!"]
[Yutaka Take also lamented: "That's the first time I've ever dealt with such a disadvantage."]
[At this point, Super Creek was set to lose his spot. There were only 18 seats in the Kikuka Sho, and his prize money ranked 19th out of 36 applicants. If Oguri Cap had entered, Creek would have been 20th.]
[At the time, Yutaka Take had two other horses he could choose to ride instead of Super Creek. But while selecting, he passed Super Creek's stall twice, and each time, Creek gently nipped at his sleeve as if to beg him to stay.]
[Take, who hadn't won a G1 yet, was deeply moved. He felt Creek was like him, a talent waiting for his moment.]
[So, Yutaka Take declared: "If Super Creek cannot race, then I won't race either."]
[This declaration undoubtedly shook the entire JRA.]
[Owner Shigeyuki Okada decided to withdraw one of his horses who hadn't been performing well, Meiner Frische.]
[However, Meiner Frische's trainer, Hitoshi Nakamura, was very upset because Meiner Frische had actually beaten Super Creek twice before.]
[But Okada insisted that the Kikuka Sho should feature the strongest horses. Under his pressure, Trainer Nakamura was forced to withdraw him.]
At Tracen Academy:
"So that's how I was able to compete. I'm moved by Yutaka Take's words, but it's not fair to sacrifice Meiner Frische," Super Creek said.
She was a gentle Uma Musume, but her tone now held a hint of anger— not at Take, but at the owner who decided Meiner Frische's fate so arbitrarily.
If she could only compete because of someone else's sacrifice... well, she didn't want that result.
"People like that are just too much," Sirius Symboli said indignantly.
She hated owners who decided the fates of others.
There is no "strong" or "weak" before a race. When every Uma Musume stands at the starting line, everyone is equal. Everyone has a chance to cross the line first.
Whether it was Daitaku Yusaku beating Mejiro McQueen, Heart's Cry beating Deep Impact, or Nakayama Festa's explosive performance in the Takarazuka Kinen— if you decide a horse will lose before the race even starts, why did you enter her?
As her owner, why wouldn't you believe in her?
Meiner Frische felt a sting in her heart, a look of sadness crossing her beautiful face.
Perhaps... this was the sorrow of a minor character unable to decide her own fate.
"The wheel of fortune forever turns! Even though you have bad luck now, I'm sure you'll turn things around in the future!"
Zenno Rob Roy, who read many books, quoted an inspiring line to encourage Meiner Frische.
Meiner Frische managed a smile and said:
"Why are you making that face, Super Creek-san? You were meant to compete, it wasn't your fault. Don't tell me you're going to say you want to withdraw now— I won't allow that."
"Trainer Mizuki wrote it herself: I hadn't been performing well. The owner probably considered many factors."
"Maybe she was even looking out for me, considering what we saw happened to Sakura Star O..."
"Besides, I have the real-life logs now. There's still a chance to change things. If I can earn my spot in the Kikuka Sho for real, I'll be right on your heels."
"So this time, run! Carry my spirit with you."
Meiner Frische didn't blame her owner, she just wanted to understand the full story if she ever went to the real world.
Super Creek nodded. She realized that in 1988, she wasn't unlucky, she was incredibly lucky to have so many people believe in her.
This Kikuka Sho carried Meiner Frische's fate and Take's expectations. That was why she was able to shine so brightly.
Mizuki's log continued.
[Super Creek entered the Kikuka Sho as the 3rd favorite, behind Yaeno Muteki and Dictus Land. He waited in the middle of the pack before exploding through the fourth corner. He led all the way down the straight, winning by a massive 5 lengths.]
[It was his first G1 win and the first G1 for the 18-year-old Yutaka Take.]
[At the end of that year, Super Creek entered the Arima Kinen. He finished 3rd, but upon review, he was disqualified. In the final 200m, he had cut outside of Bamboo Memory to block Meiro Durren from behind.]
[In 1989, Super Creek suffered from muscle pain in his hind legs and had to rest the entire spring, not returning until the G2 Kyoto Daishoten on October 8.]
[Coincidentally, in early February 1989, Oguri Cap had to skip the Osaka Hai due to a fetlock sprain.]
[In April, a ligament inflammation in his right front leg caused him to miss the Tenno Sho Spring and the Takarazuka Kinen. He didn't return to the training center until mid-July.]
[Because his recovery was going well, Oguri Cap prepared to return in September.]
[Thus, in the first half of 1989, the two superstars Oguri Cap and Super Creek were absent from G1 races. The stage belonged to Inari One, who had finally arrived in the JRA from the regional circuits.]
[As for Tamamo Cross, he had already begun his life as a stallion. Interestingly, he was not only the first of the four to become famous, but his breeding record was also the best.]
[You could say his breeding success was greater than Oguri Cap, Super Creek, and Inari One combined.]
[Even though he retired in 1989, his fame remained high because his genes were incredibly strong. He once reached the Top 10 on the JRA Sire Rankings, proving his power.]
[Breeding, for the most part, relies on bloodline.]
[After looking at countless cases, I can say that horses with average bloodlines rarely produce GI-winning offspring. Even an "Overlord of the Century's End" like T.M. Opera O, a Hall of Famer with 7 G1s, didn't necessarily have high breeding value.]
[The same goes for Oguri Cap. His career was legendary, but his breeding was poor, utterly outmatched by Tamamo Cross. Though he left many offspring, none achieved much.]
[His bloodline was simply too average. That's why he was underestimated at the start and didn't even fetch a high price in the regional markets.]
[There are many such examples. In the Golden Generation, Seiun Sky's offspring were quite average. He Nishino Flower produced a filly named Nishino Mirai.]
[However, the long-distance escape artist Seiun Sky and the short-distance sprinter Nishino Flower were completely incompatible. Despite Nishino Mirai's hard work in the JRA, her central record was 0 wins in 6 starts.]
[On the other hand, look at the powerful bloodlines of Special Week, Grass Wonder, and King Halo. Their pedigrees are on a completely different level compared to Seiun Sky.]
[Let's talk about the "General of Japan" Special Week. Setting aside his sons, look at his two most famous daughters— Buena Vista and Cesario.]
[Both took the JRA by storm. Buena Vista won 6 G1s, though she was known as a "runner-up" due to some bad luck, her strength was undeniable.]
[She was just one step away from 7 G1s and, like her father, was heartbreakingly left out of the Hall of Fame.]
[And King Halo? The maternal grandfather of the world-ranking horse Equinox. That alone says it all.]
[Do you understand the top-tier breeding power of an elite Uma Musume like King Halo?]
[Speaking of Equinox, we have to mention his contemporaries: Titleholder, Liberty Island, and Stars on Earth. The bloodlines of these three are the pinnacle of the "Royal Road" because their father is Duramente, the inheritor of the King's blood.]
[Is there any doubt about Duramente's worth? The King of JRA Stallions, with progeny earnings ranking number one.]
[More tragically, Duramente died young, otherwise, his impact would have been even more terrifying. His early passing was an immeasurable loss for the JRA.]
[However, Duramente passed down a bad habit to his kids: The ruthless headbutt. I've seen Titleholder and Liberty Island constantly trying to headbutt something.]
[Air Groove complained about this habit of Duramente's, saying it would hurt her head. It's natural for Air Groove to care so much about Duramente— after all, she is her grandmother.]
[Sigh, I don't even want to get started on bloodlines because there's no end to it. But now that I'm familiar with the real horses, it's quite interesting to piece it together.]
[And as I said before, while some horses start from nothing and have weak breeding, there's another type: Those who start from nothing but have breeding power that is absolutely absurd.]
[Right, Kitasan Black?]
[Of course, there are horses who were strong themselves and produced legendary children. Like Symboli Rudolf, the "Emperor" who surpassed Shinzan. He sired Tokai Teio, who perfectly inherited his talent.]
[The two were just one step away from becoming the first father-son duo to complete an undefeated Triple Crown, until Teio fractured his leg before the Kikuka Sho.]
[Then there's the daughter of Tanino Gimlet— Vodka. Do you understand the weight of a 7-G1 Empress?]
[Mejiro McQueen's siring ability wasn't the strongest, but he is the maternal grandfather of Gold Ship. Both are grays.]
[To put it simply, McQueen really spoils Gold Ship. After all, what's wrong with a grandpa spoiling his eldest grandson?]
[Overseas, it gets even more ridiculous. Take Sea the Stars, whose son Baaeed was also a world-class champion.]
[Sea the Stars, you're a beast.]
[In France, there's Montjeu. Not only did he win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but his offspring won countless awards. His bloodline achieved a back-to-back Arc victory in 2005.]
[His grandson Werther was the Hong Kong Horse of the Year in 2015/16.]
[In 2013, Montjeu's granddaughter Treve appeared, defeating the Triple Crown winner Orfevre and the Derby winner Kizuna to win the Arc.]
[In 2014, Treve won the Arc again without a rival in sight, beating Japanese stars like Harp Star, Just A Way, and Gold Ship.]
[You could say the Montjeu's bloodline is truly a wall the JRA cannot climb.]
[There are so many more... let me think...]
Mizuki finished writing this casually, stretched her shoulders, and ate a biscuit.
She had no idea that the moment she finished this paragraph, the entire Tracen Academy... no, the entire Uma Musume community across Japan, China, Britain, Ireland, and America, fell into a state of extreme shock and total silence.
This information was far too impactful.
Specifically, at Tracen Academy, the Uma Musume mentioned by name in the log stood as if frozen.
Some, thinking it was impossible, pinched their arms hard, convinced they must be in a dream.
At Tracen Academy:
Seiun Sky, who usually had a playful grin, dropped her hands from behind her head.
She picked up the log and read it word by word, as if she couldn't believe her eyes.
She pointed to her own name and stuttered:
"Seiun Sky and... and Nishino Flower... had a child... Nishino Mirai..."
The "Escape Artist" nearly blacked out.
She thought of Nishino Flower's cute, innocent face— she was like a child!
Seiun Sky wanted to find the "real horse" version of herself and scream: 'You bastard! You were supposed to be fishing! What were you doing?! How could you lay a hand on Flower-chan?! You beast in human skin!!'
Then, Seiun Sky remembered: The old owner of Nishino Farm really did ship her and Nishino Flower.
'So that actually happened?!'
Seiun Sky didn't know what to say. What could she do now? She could only make a vow in her heart.
'Flower-chan, I... I will take responsibility for you.'
She also wanted to punch the real-life version of herself.
'You didn't do a single decent thing, did you?! I'm gonna deck you!'
Nishino Flower was blushing furiously. Her partner in the real world was Seiun-chan? But if it was Seiun-chan, she'd probably be a very handsome boy.
Thinking of her with that lazy expression, coming up with clever ways to run... it didn't seem so bad.
But if it were her, she'd probably just be at home cooking and taking good care of him.
And their child was Nishino Mirai!
She already liked Nishino Mirai, she hadn't realized they were related like that.
Flower's head was like mush. It was real, she was the "wife" of Seiun-chan in the real world.
She hoped she'd been a good wife and mother there. But here at Tracen, they were both girls.
How was she supposed to face Seiun-chan now?
'Ah... it's over... I'm fainting...'
Her face was beet red. She decided to go find Seiun-chan, Seiun was so smart, surely she could fix this.
But... wait... if she's Seiun Sky's wife, she's too embarrassed to even look at her...
Watching this, Mayano Top Gun was stunned.
'Is this what romance is? The atmosphere is so sweet!'
She suddenly felt that seeing this was better than a hundred books.
On the other side:
"Eh?! My dad in the real horse world is Special Week-san?!"
The book in Buena Vista's hand fell to the floor.
She suddenly remembered Trainer Mizuki calling her "Junior General of Japan." She hadn't understood why then, but now it all made sense.
Since Special Week was "Japan's General," she, as her daughter, was the "Junior General!"
'So that's how it is!!'
Buena Vista stood up, her pupils trembling.
She couldn't reconcile the dorky, cute Special Week with the image of a cool, powerful father from the real horse world.
She no longer knew what to do.
Furthermore, seeing Cesario on the list made her brain completely short-circuit— was she Cesario's older or younger sister?
Her eyes went dull, and her mind went blank.
Besides, she had her own father and mother in the Uma Musume world. What on earth was going on?
She even considered a possibility: Could it be that in the real horse world, their parents are also horses instead of humans?
Buena Vista looked at Cesario, hoping for some answers, but Cesario was in a state of extreme shock and confusion herself.
She felt like she was living in a dream. She truly admired Special Week-senpai, but she never expected that she would be her biological father in the real horse world.
'No wonder Special Week-senpai always feeds us carrots and treats us to delicious food...'
To be honest, everyone was dazed beyond belief.
However, Gold Ship was the only one buzzing with excitement. In a chaotic scene like this, she was in her natural element.
She grabbed McQueen's arm and shook the elegant lady— who was currently shivering in disbelief— with manic energy.
"Hahaha! McQueen! Look! You must have been blessed by your ancestors to have such a great grandson like me! I won 6 G1s!"
"Hmm? Hello? McQueen? Why aren't you talking? Are you so happy you're about to faint? By the way, what should I call you from now on? Grandpa? Old Man? Peepaw? Or just McQueen?"
Gold Ship kept pestering her. McQueen was too fragile to respond, she hadn't recovered from the shock yet.
She wasn't that strong, she was just a confused chubby pony. How could she digest such news instantly?
'Trainer Mizuki, if you're going to talk about this, can you at least give us a warning? Who can handle this sudden drop?!'
"Eh? What? You want to call me Grandpa... No, no, no! Gold Ship, just call me McQueen. There's no need for such titles!"
McQueen was startled by Gold Ship's words.
Honestly, even being called "Fat Pony" was just a bit of a blow to her ego, but being called "Grandpa" was just too weird.
'Absolutely not.'
"Ahem, Gold Ship... Grandpa... wait, I have something to do. I need to step out for a moment."
Terrified, McQueen declared she needed to cool her head. This was too horrifying.
She just read a diary entry, so how did she become Gold Ship's grandfather?
'Hahahaha... it's fake. It's all fake.'
She even tried to convince herself she was hallucinating from a sugar deficiency.
'Yes, that's it. I'll go to the Tracen cafeteria and eat several desserts to calm my nerves.'
'Surely, once I calm down, Tracen will go back to normal.'
'Surely.'
"Grandpa! What's wrong? Where are you going?" Gold Ship called out.
"Really... Honestly! What 'Grandpa'?! I told you, don't call me Grandpa, Gold Ship!" McQueen barked back, her face flushing crimson as she turned away.
"Waaaaah! McQueen doesn't want me anymore! Grandpa abandoned me! Waaaaah!"
Gold Ship immediately dove into the role, weeping with practiced ease.
"Hey! Who said I don't want you?! Stop crying first!"
McQueen was panicked. Now she was truly trapped in Gold Ship's clutches.
Elsewhere, Sakura Chiyono O was also stunned. "Wait, why is it like this? Could what Ardan said be true? Is Invincible really her child?"
"And... could it be that my dad is actually Maruzensky-senpai?!!!"
Yaeno Muteki swallowed hard. "Now that you mention it, I remember. Chiyono O, you said that if Invincible really was Ardan's son, you'd shout 'I am a Silly Cow' a thousand times at the gate."
"Are you still going to do that?"
Chiyono O went into a self-imposed exile of silence. "I... I-I-I..."
She looked like she was about to cry. The louder she had laughed before, the more desperate she felt now.
Chiyono O finally whispered pathetically, "I... I'm a woman of my word. I laughed at Ardan, so this is my retribution. But Trainer Mizuki hasn't finished yet, maybe there's a chance for a reversal?"
"If it's really true... I'll go shout it!"
She was going for it. The seeds sown then were the fruit reaped today.
Mejiro Ardan interjected, "There's no need for that, Chiyono O-san. I don't mind at all."
Chiyono O shook her head, closed her eyes, and steeled herself.
Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap were also floored. Tamamo didn't know whether to be shocked or happy.
She was shocked that after retiring, her real-life self actually went and "fell in love" with other horses.
That... was a lot to take in.
But she was happy that her children were successful. She didn't actually care if they won many races, she just hoped they didn't have to live in poverty like she did.
They could eat and drink whatever they wanted.
Although she teased Oguri Cap for being a glutton, she'd be happy if her future children were just like Oguri, focusing entirely on their meals.
After all, a good appetite is a blessing. Look at Oguri— give her food and she's happy.
Oguri Cap said, "Will I have children too? What are their names? It doesn't matter if they race, as long as they grow up healthy."
"The only pity is that they can't have another 'Battle of the Grays' with Tamamo Cross's children."
In reality, did Oguri's offspring and Tamamo's offspring ever have a showdown?
Actually, yes— and quite recently, though it was purely physical.
In the same paddock, a descendant of Oguri Cap met a descendant of Tamamo Cross. As if by destiny, the two gray horses took one look at each other and got into a scrap, kicking and biting.
Now that is a true Battle of the Grays!
T.M. Opera O watched with a hint of regret.
"I see. I was hoping to have a child who could race with Wada's child in the future. But the most important thing is their happiness. Even if my future children can't run, it would be wonderful if they could act on stage with me."
"Opera O-san... if they have to act with you, the children might not be able to handle it," Meisho Doto said, scared half to death.
An Opera O play lasts hours. Who could survive that?
Doto was also curious if she had children. She hoped they wouldn't be clumsy like her— it'd be best if they were confident like Opera O.
As for Tokai Teio, she was beyond shocked. She practically teleported a step back, her face turning into a literal emoji.
"Eh?!!!! President Rudolf?! She's my dad in the real horse world?!"
This time, it wasn't just Teio. The fountain pen in Symboli Rudolf's hand slipped and hit the floor with a heavy thud, ink splattering everywhere.
She didn't even react, her pupils were simply trembling.
Air Groove was also stunned. She was Duramente's grandmother?
The office was terrifyingly quiet. For the first time, Air Groove actually wished Rudolf would tell a joke to break the tension, otherwise she didn't know what to do.
To be honest, Air Groove had read the logs before, but never anything this intense.
Since this breeding log came out, her heart had been alternating between racing and stopping. She was going to develop a heart condition at this rate.
Tokai Teio said, "That... that pun-loving President Rudolf is my dad? Impossible. How am I supposed to look at her from now on?"
Zenno Rob Roy was also dazed. She was wondering if anyone present was her biological father.
She had read countless books, but Trainer Mizuki's writings were the most absurd.
King Halo tossed her hair and laughed triumphantly: "Ohohoho! Am I the maternal grandfather of Equinox? My bloodline is truly elite!"
Kitasan Black said tremulously, "That saying is true, but King Halo-san, you aren't Equinox's father."
King Halo scoffed. "What does it matter? Even if I'm not her father, when Equinox's father meets me, doesn't he still have to call me 'Dad'?"
Kitasan Black had a sudden realization and nodded. That made sense. But... who was Equinox's father?
In the Tokyo countryside:
"Liberty Island, give my head a good hit. I think this is a dream."
Titleholder's mind was a complete blank. She was Duramente's child? She felt a wave of indignation.
Look at Kitasan Black taking Equinox out for treats and going running with her every day.
But what about you, Duramente?!
You're great, doing goose-steps on the track while ignoring your own kids!
'This is too much! Way too much!'
Indeed, Titleholder had instinctively started viewing Kitasan Black as Equinox's father. She realized later that Mizuki hadn't explicitly said that, but it didn't change her mind.
Because Duramente, as their father, hadn't trained with them, taken them to festivals, or gone singing when they were little.
In that regard, she was a complete failure compared to Kitasan Black. A pure villain!
Wait... was Titleholder just jealous?
Liberty Island didn't even have the strength to headbutt Titleholder. She wanted to faint herself.
If Duramente was her real father, then what about her father in the Tracen world?
Stars on Earth was also numb. She didn't know what to say, but she began to imagine a male version of Duramente.
As a boy, he would be domineering the moment she stepped onto the track, running like a bolt of lightning, breaking records in the Satsuki Sho and the Japan Derby.
In that moment, he would announce to the entire JRA that the Royal Road of Duramente had begun.
Just like a manga protagonist.
And Kitasan Black? The male version of Kitasan Black would be full of energy from the start— a hard worker from the countryside who met the unattainable genius Duramente.
From then on, he would begin training so intense it would break a normal person, and he stuck with it her entire career.
Then, Kitasan Black completed her evolution. He became stronger and stronger, yearning for a final battle with the star-studded Duramente... only to hear the news that Duramente had retired due to injury.
Kitasan Black knew he would never face him again. Carrying that regret, he continued on his path.
But he eventually carved out her own glory in a JRA filled with legends. In his final Arima Kinen, he led from start to finish, finally winning the race that had eluded him twice.
No matter how you look at it, the story of the Noble-Blooded Duramente and the Talented Hard-Worker Kitasan Black was incredibly hot-blooded and cool.
Oh, and there was Satono Diamond, who determined to break his family curse no matter the hardship.
The story was undoubtedly brilliant.
To be honest, Stars on Earth really wanted to go to the real horse world to see their races. What was it like?
"Um... but wait, next time we see Duramente, what are we supposed to call her?"
While Stars on Earth was daydreaming, Titleholder suddenly spoke.
"I... I don't know."
Liberty Island was just shocked at first, but like Titleholder, she thought of Kitasan and Equinox. She suddenly felt Duramente was a "bad dad" for not playing with them.
Compared to Kitasan, it was like heaven and earth.
Thinking her "father" was like that, she almost shed tears.
She wanted to give Duramente a "Super Headbutt" right now.
"But wait, if Duramente is our dad, what do we call our dad's grandma? Hehe... come to think of it, we have connections in Tracen now! Air Groove-senpai is the Vice President. If we don't do our homework, she'll back us up, right?" Titleholder giggled.
"Back you up? I'm afraid you'd be the first one Air Groove kills," Liberty Island said.
She wouldn't dare try anything like. Air Groove was strict...
'Though, maybe she'll dote on us as her grandkids?'
At Tracen Academy:
Tokai Teio said, "Dammit, I want to know more about the real horse world! What did people think of the real Tokai Teio? I still can't accept that the President is my dad."
Mejiro McQueen: "Me too. I still haven't processed it."
Daiwa Scarlet: "So what are you going to do when you see the President?"
Tokai Teio: "I have a great idea. I'll keep calling her President Rudolf, and she can call me whatever. We'll just treat each other as equals! Ni-shi-shi!"
Hokko Tarumae added, "Vodka, I didn't expect you to be Tanino Gimlet's daughter. But you didn't inherit her bad habit, you don't kick fences."
Vodka scratched her head. She never expected to find a dad while reading a log.
Satono Diamond mused, "Wait... after we retire, do we just go 'breed'? Like, 'mare resources'"
"Do they really assign partners right after retirement? Is that when Kitasan's... 'Little Kitasan' was broken?"
Kitasan Black's face went dark with terror. "Dia-chan! What are you saying?!"
Sweep Tosho added, "That can't be right. How tired would that make Kitasan? It can't be that insane, right?"
Equinox deadpanned, "Kitasan Black-san, life is not easy. Do your best!"
Elsewhere:
If Treve hadn't been buckled into her airplane seat, she would have jumped up.
Reading the data from other countries had left her speechless.
She, Solemia, and Workforce had their heads huddled together, eyes trembling. This was a huge shock for the French fillies.
Treve never expected Tokai Teio to be Rudolf's child, or Air Groove to be Duramente's grandmother.
They thought they were just reading about gray horses fighting!
But the most shocking thing for Treve was the news about Montjeu.
Treve paused, then slumped back into her chair.
She swallowed hard, feeling like her heart was going to jump out of her chest.
She didn't even notice the mention of her two Arc victories.
She never expected that Montjeu-senpai— who had watched her grow up, taught her patiently, and occasionally called her a slob and told her to clean her room— was her... her grandpa in the real horse world!
"Treve, are you okay?" Solemia was startled by Treve's sudden slump.
Treve shook her head. "I'm fine. It's just too much impact. But the Montjeu bloodline... it really is powerful..."
"But I bet Japan is getting stronger now after reading all these logs. I must pass down our bloodline, racing experience, and spirit, and remain the obstacle at the Arc that they can never overcome."
Treve calmed down.
She meant it, after all, their bloodline had never lost to Japan at the Arc— not Montjeu-senpai, not Hurricane Run-senpai, and not herself.
But Treve also saw the mention of Werther and others.
'Wait, do I have a younger sibling? Why did she go to Hong Kong?'
In Ireland:
Sea the Stars was also stunned. She did find Baaeed very similar to herself, but wasn't she from Britain?
Why did her child end up there?
However, Sea the Stars was very smart. Like Agnes Tachyon, she hit upon a key point: Their parents in the Tracen world might be based on their real-world owners.
She deduced this by analyzing the data on Seiun Sky's owner, Chiyono O's owner, and the bloodline relationships.
According to the log, Seiun Sky had a grandfather in the Tracen world who was very similar to her real-life ranch owner. It was the same for Chiyono O, her father was a sumo wrestler, just like her real-life owner.
Even Kitasan Black's father was a singer, just like her real-life owner.
And Special Week had two mothers, that content could be used for reference too.
All these clues led Sea the Stars to a hypothesis: In the Uma Musume world protected by the Three Goddesses, their parents are closely related to their real-world counterparts— they are their biological parents here.
But in the real horse world, their biological parents might just be an Uma Musume standing right next to them.
This made Sea the Stars break into a cold sweat. She looked at the data for Urban Sea and wondered if her mother was none other than Urban Sea herself.
Once that idea took root, she couldn't stop thinking about it: On one hand, her confirmed superstar son Baaeed, and on the other, her potential real-life mother, Urban Sea.
'Trainer Mizuki, stop writing, my brain is about to explode!'
It was the fastest Sea the Stars' mind had ever raced, yet she still didn't dare reach that conclusion— it was simply too absurd.
Furthermore, she noticed a terrifying point: Trainer Mizuki said she had much more to write.
She swallowed hard. If it was already like this, what more world-shaking revelations could she possibly produce?
Little did she know, things were about to get even more ridiculous.