On stage, the atmosphere remained fantastic.
Their singing voices were ethereal and pleasant. Teio was the lively type, McQueen was elegant and dignified, and Nature was the cute and gentle type. Dancing together, they looked incredibly good, absolutely crushing many real-world Japanese idol groups.
This LIVE performance level, they could easily make a grand debut into the idol scene.
Moreover, Mizuki was watching this Umapyoi LIVE in person. The real-world stage was even more passionate than in the game, with many other Uma Musume dancing along, the experience completely blew the game's cutscene out of the water.
On stage, Teio sang the most cheerful part of the BGM while spinning under the gorgeous lights, waving, giving a flirty wink, and blowing kisses.
Teio, McQueen, and Nature were all very flexible, perfectly suited for this kind of stage, and they were full of energy in the center.
They made heart shapes with their hands together, singing toward the camera:
The cheerful accompaniment of the BGM played as Teio reached the chorus. McQueen and Nature struck running poses and dashed toward the sides, the two looked a bit comical.
Below the stage, Mizuki also felt the atmosphere. This kind of stage performance was arguably even better than Tokyo Racecourse, because it wasn't just people dancing on stage— many Uma Musume in the audience could sing along too.
Smart Falcon was also below the stage, shouting, "Everyone, I'm already your die-hard fan!~~"
It was clear that Smart Falcon really wanted to go up and dance a bit. As for Orfevre, she felt nothing.
She wasn't interested in dancing, so she just propped her head on her hand and watched the performance silently.
Agnes Digital's eyes were turning into hearts as she watched. This girl was getting into a dangerous state.
As for Agnes Digital, she was actually very strong, with an amazing A-rank aptitude for both dirt and turf, having won G1 victories on both surfaces.
Festival-loving Uma Musume like Kita-chan were also dying of happiness. She was a "leader of children," lifting up many smaller Uma Musume so they could see more clearly.
Sometimes she even had three or four hanging off one arm. Kitasan's physique was no joke. She really was helpful.
However, Kitasan Black's helpful personality was actually partly based on the personality of the real horse, who was known for not causing trouble and often breaking up fights.
Indeed, while horses like Gold Ship who love to fight are common, a horse like Kitasan who mediates fights is something many have likely never seen before.
The ranch staff evaluated Kitasan Black like this:
Although Kitasan Black herself has a good personality and won't chase or intimidate other horses, his terrifyingly massive size and his habit of stopping conflicts between two horses made Kitasan Black the "Nuclear Mediator" of Shadai Stallion Station.
The song on stage finally finished, and Umapyoi ended to thunderous applause.
Everyone cheered, and many Uma Musume were left wanting more.
After all, usually at major racecourses, you need to place in the top three of a G1, G2, or G3 graded race to get on stage and dance. But at Tracen Academy, everyone could dance together happily and sing to their heart's content.
The atmosphere was lively and festive, even surpassing a real festival.
One could only say that this was only the second program, and everyone's mood had already skyrocketed. Everyone had Great mood.
...
Soon, many more programs were performed on stage, with a few lucky draws in between. However, everyone in Spica had average luck and didn't win anything.
When the performances reached the halfway point, Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa finally made her appearance.
Upon her entrance, a long, circular track rose from the stage, eliciting gasps from everyone.
Many Uma Musume had seen such a track before in the arcade at Amanohashidate— it looked like a Mini-car track, though the one Yayoi Akikawa made was clearly much larger.
Chairwoman Akikawa was clearly satisfied with everyone's reaction and smiled very happily.
On the stage, this giant circular track continued to rise and spread, overall resembling a DNA helix. Straight tracks were also set up in the middle. If the track were fully unfolded, it would be over a thousand meters long— a truly spectacular sight.
At this point, many Uma Musume were stunned. What was Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa planning to do?
They soon found out.
Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa quickly stated her purpose for today: She would hold a brand new and very interesting race.
She would select several Uma Musume, have them put on specific VR equipment, connect to a chip loaded into a Mini-car, and get on a specially made treadmill to try and run and battle alongside the Mini--cars, defeating others to reach the finish line.
Her plan was to first pick five young Uma Musume to experience it, then find five mature Uma Musume for a new duel. Finally, prizes would be awarded according to rank.
The grand prize included three Special Hot Springs Vouchers, along with a large amount of carrots and horseshoes. It was fun, interesting, and had plenty of rewards.
You should know that a single Hot Springs Voucher is a top-tier prize in the Cygames lottery. It was clear that Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa was really going all out.
Hearing this, many Uma Musume were extremely excited and all wanted to try it out. However, many had never tried VR equipment or Mini-cars before, they figured they'd understand once they put the gear on.
Narita Top Road thought so too. She had never tried such high-tech equipment either. Her beautiful eyes blinked as she grew eager to give it a go.
Admire Vega felt the same. Her old self would have felt that only her sister was worthy of enjoying this excitement and happiness, but her mindset had changed, and now she wanted to take the championship.
Meisho Doto, however, was scared.
She felt that if she were picked, she would definitely trip on the treadmill and make a fool of herself.
And then there was T.M. Opera O, the "Overlord of the Century's End." If she had a Mini-car, its name would surely be Victoria.
The crowd erupted in applause, everyone's curiosity and expectations were piqued. They all wanted to get on stage.
Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa was thrilled, she really was a genius. Only Hayakawa Tazuna had a look of distress, as this had cost a fortune.
She was afraid that if the Chairwoman got a taste of this success, she would continue to spend money recklessly.
That would be a headache for Tazuna, who would have to find ways to make up for the expenses elsewhere to balance the budget.
However, seeing everyone's smiles, Tazuna also felt the money was well spent. After all, happiness was the most important thing.
One of the reasons Tracen Academy existed was to make sure every Uma Musume lived happily.
Feeling everyone's enthusiasm, Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa didn't keep them in suspense and immediately explained the rules.
First, she would use a giant wheel to randomly select five young Uma Musume. Then, they could choose their own Mini-car. Currently, there were only ten models to choose from, such as Magnum Saber, Tridagger X, Spin Axe, Beak Spider, and Black Saber. Each car would have two exclusive skills.
However, the Uma Musume could only activate a skill point every 500 meters to choose and light up a skill, such as "Blade Overtake," "Victory Magnum Tornado," or "Lightning Run."
The track was 2,000 meters total. The first to arrive wins, if you fall off during the race, you're immediately out.
Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa also introduced the track content. After all the Uma Musume put on the VR equipment, they would be connected to four different track scenes.
The first stage was a super difficult one: The 3D Jurassic Gale Track. The track was surrounded by the sea, one wrong move and the car would be blown into the ocean, resulting in failure and only a standard Tracen Academy consolation prize.
The second stage was a series of Lava Curves. If your Mini-car's cornering technique wasn't up to par, it would fly off the curve and fall into the lava.
The third stage was the Shaking Hell Suspension Bridge, which heavily tested stability. If the Uma Musume lost her balance, the Mini-car would be hard to control and would fall off the bridge, being crushed and eliminated.
The fourth stage was another Gale Track, but with the wind power at maximum, testing the Uma Musume's ability to run against a headwind.
After the introduction, Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa immediately began the drawing process. Many young Uma Musume below the stage raised their hands, but the randomly jumping light eventually landed on the Spica side.
Equinox, Panthalassa, Liberty Island, Mane-chan, and Contrail were hit by the light. These five were chosen.
They were very happy, but Yayoi Akikawa also told those who weren't picked not to worry. Everyone would get to play later, as this would be provided as a leisure and learning tool for everyone.
"Look at that white patch on Contrail's hair, it looks just like a telephone."
"Hahaha, now that you say it, it's a 10/10 match!"
"Speaking of which, Duramente has a mark on her hair too."
"But Duramente's is much cooler than Contrail's."
After Contrail took the stage, everyone began to roast her. Hearing this, Contrail gnashed her teeth, her face flushing red.
'Can't you guys say something nice? What exactly is your problem with my beautiful hairstyle?!'
The other girls are lucky that Contrail isn't as defensive about her hair as a certain Japanese High School student from Morioh ...
Regardless of the insults, Contrail's attention was now focused on this Mini-car race. Under the Chairwoman's arrangement, they put on the VR equipment and stepped onto the specially made treadmills.
These treadmills had calibration and protection equipment, looking very high-tech.
Since they didn't know which car was best, they all just picked one at random. As for names, they could name them themselves, so they all named them after themselves.
For example, Contrail named her car the Contrail.
"Bring it on, first place definitely belongs to me, Contrail!" Contrail made no effort to hide her competitive spirit as she picked up her car and spoke quite cutely.
"Heh, you'll be looking at my taillights then, Contrail." Mane-chan was aggressive, she named her car Crimson.
She chose Crimson purely because she noticed it was larger than the other cars, so it would definitely be powerful to drive.
Good grief, at the rate she's going, she'll end up just like Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet.
"Is that so? In my eyes, all of your cars are like scrap metal. By the way, Mane-chan, I'm not targeting you— I'm saying every car here is trash."
Contrail was incredibly arrogant, uttering a classic show-off line.
"Oh? I wasn't looking for trouble with you, but you've actively come to provoke me. You must be tired of living." Liberty Island snorted, her momentum not backing down.
However, after speaking, she thought to herself, 'Was that tough talk tough enough?'
Regardless, she put her hands on her hips, looking formidable.
"Which one should I choose?" Equinox, on the other hand, fell into "choice paralysis," thinking every car looked very cool.
In the end, she chose a blue-and-white Emperor. It was fast on curves, which she thought was great.
After they finished choosing their cars, they moved to the treadmills, and the first scene appeared in the VR.
The five young Uma Musume were stunned. Under the VR projection, it was as if they had arrived at the seaside.
There was a track by the sea, with wind constantly blowing by, kicking up sea spray and soaking the track.
In the audience, everyone could also see the full content of the race between Equinox, Contrail, and Liberty Island. Everyone gasped, the feeling was just like actually being at the seaside.
Mizuki also thought it was quite interesting.
At this moment, Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa personally took the role of announcer and spoke:
"Every racer, are you ready?! You've learned about the four zones of the track and how to acquire skills, so the race is about to begin!"
"All participants, hold your Mini-cars and wait for the countdown. The race starts now!!"
As soon as Chairwoman Akikawa spoke, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Everyone cheered and leaped with excitement.
The four racers' Mini-cars had already been placed on the track in advance, they only needed to trigger the start within the VR simulation to begin.
Yayoi Akikawa said: "And now, a five-second countdown: 5— 4— 3— 2— 1, GO!"
"Go for it! Emperor!" Equinox let go, and the Emperor zoomed down the track instantly.
"Crimson, go!"
"Contrail, it's up to you!"
"Good luck, Sunrise Earth!"
"Sonic, dash!"
Mane-chan, Contrail, Liberty Island, and Panthalassa refused to be outdone, shouting with all their might.
"Hehe, you'll see how powerful I am in a moment. After 500 meters, my Contrail can get a skill that equips blades to the chassis. I can knock your cars right off the track!"
"With that skill, I'm the strongest!" Contrail said with supreme confidence.
"No way, blades?" Panthalassa was a bit startled and quickly checked her own skills.
The start of the track was a relatively long straightaway, which was highly advantageous for Liberty Island's Mini-car. She took an immediate lead and sprinted ahead, trying to shake everyone off.
Equinox lagged slightly behind but stayed close enough to catch up at any time.
As for Mane-chan, she was trailed by a certain distance. Her Crimson was quite large with great stability and collision resistance, but it lacked a bit in straight-line speed.
The Uma Musume followed their Mini-cars into the seaside road area. Yayoi Akikawa began her commentary:
"Although Crimson is lagging behind the front four, its chassis is very stable and unaffected by the seawater. Conversely, Liberty Island is pushing too fast and showing signs of skidding."
"Once a Mini-car encounters trouble, the speed on the Uma Musume's treadmill will increase. If the runner can't keep up, they will be disqualified immediately, so stay alert!"
"Furthermore, the Jurassic Gale Track isn't just about seawater— next comes the gale! The Uma Musume will experience it firsthand, and the treadmill will accelerate!"
"If they fail to complete the segment within the time limit, they are eliminated. If they pass, their Mini-car's attributes will be buffed."
"But we can see that all five young Uma Musume are holding out against the headwinds and sea spray, staying firm on their treadmills. Truly impressive! For mature Uma Musume, the wind resistance will be significantly increased."
Equinox noticed that this variable-speed running on the treadmill was much more exhausting than a steady pace. It was indeed a form of training that tested real-time reaction speed.
After clearing the first stage, she gained three attribute points and put them into her car's Stability and Cornering, since the curves were coming up next.
"The curves are here..." Liberty Island was quite tired.
For Uma Musume who hadn't reached their maturation, running 2,000 meters was a heavy burden. Although Chairwoman Akikawa had set the speed to a manageable range, the constant variations left her panting.
Moreover, Liberty Island realized her car was fast on straights but average on corners, requiring cautious driving.
"Now, it's my time to shine!" Equinox shouted as she finished the straight and entered the consecutive curves. The scene changed to a Lava Zone, emitting an intense heat.
This served to help them adapt to races like the Japanese Derby in the height of summer, where the heat is so extreme that real horses often break out in a white lather.
Take Efforia, for example, in the 2021 Japanese Derby. He broke out in white lather, and usually, in such conditions, a horse's performance drops significantly. They simply can't find their stride.
In the end, he lost by a nose to Shahryar. One could only say Efforia did his best, but Shahryar was strong and deserved the win.
Equinox handled the heat well, so it didn't affect her much. Facing the curves, the treadmill simulated the banking, but don't forget— Equinox learned her techniques from the "Professor of Curviture" Kitasan Black. She quickly caught up to Liberty Island.
However, it wasn't just Equinox, Contrail also caught up, displaying brilliant speed.
Real-time monitoring showed Contrail's pace reaching a staggering 1:02 for 1,000 meters— unbelievable for a young filly who hadn't debuted yet.
Legendary Uma Musume like Symboli Rudolf, Lord Kanaloa, and Shinzan took notice. This girl might have incredible results in the future.
Liberty Island was frustrated at being overtaken so easily, it felt like admitting she was inferior. She immediately accelerated with her car.
Panthalassa was the same, trying to take a position from Mane-chan, but the Crimson's chassis was so stable it knocked her car flying, nearly sending it into the lava.
Mane-chan laughed heartily: "That's just the first one! I'm catching up right now!"
Equinox didn't panic. Although she was Kitasan Black's "favorite child," her running style was more like Duramente, relying on a supreme final spurt to catch up.
She wasn't bothered by being behind and refused to be underestimated, pushing forward steadily.
They passed the consecutive curves. Equinox was now first, Contrail second, Liberty Island third, Mane-chan fourth, and Panthalassa last.
But Contrail was ready. After passing 500m and 1,000m, she had gained performance upgrades, changing her tired to serrated ones and mounting more destructive weapons.
It was time to go out with a bang!
When her car reached Equinox, she planned to use the weapons to knock her off and take the win!
The audience watched intently. Countless Uma Musume found it fascinating, cheering for their favorites.
With the final 1,000 meters left, what would the result be?
Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa was equally passionate. She slapped her folding fan and said:
"Spectacular!! Next, they must cross the Hell Suspension Bridge! Suspended high in the air, it shakes violently, testing the Uma Musume's stability."
"The treadmill will shift left and right, which would be even more intense for mature racers! To keep the car from falling, the runner must stay perfectly balanced!"
"This stage tests power, balance, adjustment ability, and psychological fortitide."
"Remember!! On the track, anything can happen. This simulates race conditions to an extent— the swaying is random, and there may be collisions with other enemies!"
"While not extremely difficult overall, it is highly challenging in a multi-person competition. Let's see how they handle their positioning!"
Orfevre watched this and wondered what she would do.
To be honest, she had been reflecting lately, she had lost to Solemia in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe because she failed to adjust in time and veered into the rails.
She wanted to see how these girls handled it and draw her own conclusions from there. She didn't want to lose to an Irish horse again.
After reaiding the diary, even the Golden Tyrant was changing. However, what Orfevre needed to change most was her temper.
No matter how much she planned, if her temper flared during a race, she'd just bolt toward the rails and no one could stop her.
Soon, Equinox was the first to reach the bridge. she froze for a second as the bridge swayed violently, making it feel like she could fall at any moment.
Her vision blurred, but she adjusted quickly. Races often involved even more violent jostling for position, so getting used to it now would help her in the future.
"This is too hard..." Liberty Island was panting as she stepped onto the bridge. She was still a young child, and her legs felt like lead. The 2,000m intensity was no joke.
In truth, even Equinox and Contrail were struggling, but they had strong willpower and gritted their teeth to cross the bridge.
They then charged into the final stretch. The race was ending, but the final track was difficult:A combination of a downhill slope and a gale zone.
Current standings: Equinox was temporarily leading, but Panthalassa, who had been last, activated a skill— Victory Magnum Tornado— and incredibly vaulted into second place.
Everyone was stunned, but she had used three skill points for that ultimate move and was now out of skills.
"Downhill! Emperor, let's reach the finish line in one go! Skill: Lightning Run!" Equinox saved her skill for the end and started her final sprint.
"Sonic, go! Victory is ours! Skill: Extreme Sonic!" Liberty Island gave it her all for the final showdown.
"Great, here's my chance! Contrail, charge! Destroy all their cars!" Contrail had spent her points on weapons, like a rocket booster for instant acceleration and more destructive tools.
She found her opening and approached them at high speed.
Clang!! A sharp blade popped out from the side of the Contrail, glinting with a cold chill like the Grim Reaper's scythe, ready to harvest the competition.
Contrail's car pulled up alongside Equinox's, and her blade pierced the Emperor's chassis. A screeching sound rang out, like a sharp tool scraping metal.
However, something unexpected happened.
The cars of Contrail and Equinox became locked together. Both cars' speeds plummeted, and their tires began to skid.
In a freak accident, they collided with the cars of Liberty Island and Panthalassa. All four were caught in the chaos, lost their grip, and were swept away by the powerful winds of the gale track.
Mane-chan's Crimson, however, came from behind, landed smoothly, and took the overall championship.
Below the stage, the audience was dumbfounded by the dramatic twist. They thought Equinox was going to win, but no one expected this.
Contrail's judgment had actually been quite accurate. She had found the perfect time to strike.
Unfortunately, Equinox was also very skilled and adjusted just in time. The resulting stalemate took everyone down, allowing Mane-chan to steal the win.
Seeing this, Daiwa Scarlet was overjoyed and laughed: "Wow! She passed them! Mane-chan won!"
Vodka looked up, equally happy: "The Crimson actually won! Hahaha, this race was so full of drama!"
As for Equinox, Liberty Island, Panthalassa, and Contrail, they didn't feel much regret— they just thought it was fun.
After all, it was a game with different ways to play. As the four of them took off their VR headsets, they collapsed to the ground, truly exhausted.
"I should have picked skills too," Contrail said regretfully.
"Geez, you really gave me a scare," Liberty Island complained.
Chairwoman Akikawa was generous and gave them plenty of rewards. Mane-chan took her Onsen Voucher to Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka, saying she'd take them along later.
The little one was very generous and knew how to share.
Next was the turn for the mature Uma Musume. No one from Spica or Canopus was picked. Instead, ancient legends like Deep Impact, Shinzan, Ten Point, Tosho Boy, and Maruzensky were selected.
In the end, Ten Point won. Her car skills were superior to everyone else.
"Old Lady" Maruzensky nearly vomited afterward, as her motion sickness had acted up again.
Speaking of Ten Point, he was a very tragic horse in real life. His later years were arguably a living hell.
In the JRA, many horses are euthanized after a fracture because they need to keep moving to provide blood circulation to the heart and body. If a leg is broken, it's usually a death sentence.
However, after Ten Point was injured, he had so many fans calling for his treatment that he underwent forced surgery. Ultimately, he lost 150kg, leaving him as nothing but skin and bones. It was pitiful.
He eventually died of laminitis, a tragic end that made many feel he should have been put down sooner. Afterward, the JRA referred to Tosho Boy as the "Aristocrat of Ill Fortune."
And, as if by some trick of fate, Tosho Boy, his lifelong rival who ran the legendary 1977 Arima Kinen with him, also died of the same laminitis.
The 1977 Arima Kinen is listed by the JRA as one of the ten must-watch Arima Kinens. Throughout the race, the "Aristocrat" Ten Point and the "Pegasus" Tosho Boy battled from the start, and it wasn't until the final moment that Ten Point won that historic showdown.
After the mid-stage performances ended, the shows continued, and the atmosphere remained excellent. Finally, the welcome party came to a successful close.
Reporter Etsuko Otonashi attended the event. As a reporter for Twinkle Monthly, she was deeply moved, constantly taking notes on the changes and innovations Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa had introduced.
Of course, after watching, Mizuki thought the Mini-car idea was great. This training method was quite fun due to the competition and simulated environments.
While it couldn't replace basic training, it was a nice supplementary session.
Just like the URA scenario in the game, an Uma Musume might choose to train extra after a session, getting something like Energy -5, Speed +5.
With this, it might be Energy-10, Speed +10, and it could also increase adaptability, reaction time, and stats like Guts and Stamina.
It was a very solid way to train.
But Mizuki would think about that later. she made a detailed note of it, intending to discuss it with Chairwoman Akikawa later.
Now, they knew the welcome party was about to end, so it was time to celebrate Satono Diamond's birthday.
Inside the Spica room:
Tokai Teio, Hokko Tarumae, Satono Crown, and others had returned early to set up the birthday scene for "Dia-chan."
The scene was quite dazzling, and they had even prepared a specialized record player, as she loved collecting all kinds of records.
As for Mizuki, she had already contacted the cake delivery and a Japanese restaurant to deliver food.
Currently, many members of other teams, including Canapus and the BNW trio, were also in the Spica room.
However, Winning Ticket was sulking because she had only been told ten minutes ago that it was Dia-chan's birthday, right before Narita Taishin dragged her to Spica.
"Hey, Taishin, Hayahide! You guys are too much, telling me just today! I'm being isolated, wahhhh~~~" Winning Ticket started crying immediately, feeling excluded and incredibly wronged.
"You dummy, stop crying! It's because of your noisy personality that we only told you now. Otherwise, if you knew earlier and saw Diamond-san today, what if you accidentally let it slip?" Narita Taishin roasted her heartlessly.
"Am I really that bad at keeping secrets?" Winning Ticket asked indignantly.
"YES!" Narita Taishin, Biwa Hayahide, Gold Ship, and the others all shouted in unison.
"Oh, alright then." Winning Ticket gave a small nod, patting herself on the head.
She seemed to be the type who got excited easily, but now she understood the situation. She had originally wanted to explain herself, but found she couldn't come up with a good reason.
However, deep down, Winning Ticket was very envious. To give Satono Diamond a birthday surprise, everyone had actually come together to help.
If someone were to prepare a birthday party like this for her, she felt it would truly be the happiest moment of her life.
What Winning Ticket didn't know, however, was that she would have her turn too. Narita Taishin and Biwa Hayahide would also prepare celebrations for her birthday.
Their friendship was eternal.
Soon, twenty minutes passed. They finished decorating the scene and sent a message to Mizuki, telling her she could bring Dia-chan back to Spica now.
Of course, Cheval Grand had already arrived. She worked silently, not knowing what to say.
Fortunately, there were many social butterflies around, so she chimed in here and there, her mind a complete blank.
On Kitasan Black's side, the message arrived, and she began leading Dia-chan back.
"Dia-chan, close your eyes. You absolutely, definitely cannot peek!"
Soon, Kitasan Black led Satono Diamond to Spica. She gently covered Dia's eyes.
Satono Diamond, being clever, seemed to realize what was happening.
'Was this a birthday surprise?'
She didn't say a word, but her heart was full of anticipation as she followed Kitasan step by step.
With a smile on her face, Kitasan brought Satono Diamond before everyone and said, "Alright, Dia-chan, you can open your eyes now."
As soon as she spoke, Satono Diamond opened her eyes to see the birthday scene everyone had decorated for her.
Her eyes sparkled instantly, a smile spread across her face, and a surge of happiness welled up from within.
Kitasan Black stepped in front of her, leaning down with a grin. "Dia-chan, Happy Birthday~~"
Equinox wagged her tail. "Diamond-san, Happy Birthday!"
Satono Crown did the same, saying, "Happy Birthday, Diamond."
That dummy Winning Ticket, however, actually started crying. "Uwooooohhh! This is so moving!!!!"
Mizuki turned off the lights. "Everyone, let's sing a birthday song."
...
Soon, everyone gathered around and sang for Dia-chan. Satono Crown stood to the side, recording this beautiful moment.
"Diamond, I wish you a happy birthday." After the song, Mizuki stepped forward to offer her wishes.
At the same time, she brought out the cake that Kitasan Black and Hokko Tarumae had picked out, already adorned with lit candles.
"Thank you... thank you, everyone." Looking at the smiles surrounding her, Satono Diamond was truly touched.
She saw the scene they had painstakingly prepared, she saw Kitasan, Equinox, Chevalier, Twin Turbo, and the others singing their hearts out for her.
The warmth in her heart allowed her to savor the feeling of true happiness. Unconsciously, her eyes grew moist.
She used to celebrate her birthday at home, feeling the love of her parents and her sister, but at Spica, she felt the deep care of her friends. This was a birthday she would never, ever forget.
Kitasan Black laughed. "Dia-chan, hurry and make a wish! A wish can break the Satono family curse!"
Hearing this, Satono Diamond nodded. She walked to the cake, slowly closed her eyes, clasped her hands to her chest, and began to wish.
But at that moment, her heart's desire wasn't to break the Satono curse, but something far more important: She wished that everyone here could always be as happy as they were today, and that they could all stay safe and joyful.
She felt that this was much more important than the long-cherished wish of the Satono family. She would surely break the curse herself, but everyone's happiness was the most important thing of all.
"Done!"
After a moment, Satono Diamond opened her eyes and said playfully, "I've finished my wish."
"Hehe, Dia-chan, did you wish to break the curse? You can definitely do it!" Kitasan said happily.
"Hmm? It's a secret," Dia-chan giggled. "Because Kitasan, if you say the wish out loud, it won't come true."
Grass Wonder looked at Special Week and smiled. "Well, since Dia-chan has finished her wish, shall we start eating?"
Spe-chan nodded immediately. "Can we eat now?"
Sure enough, Spe-chan had been eyeing the food for a long time, she was truly hungry.
"Mm-hmm." Then, Dia-chan began to cut the cake.
The first slice went to the birthday girl herself, and then she distributed the rest.
"Kitasan has great taste, this cake is delicious!"
Once Special Week got her cake, she began to gorge herself, devouring it so quickly that her mouth was covered in cream. Everyone burst into laughter at the sight.
Mizuki ate a bit as well, and then the group began to play together. As for Mizuki, she started writing in her log, and the content she planned to write today was about the "Golden Generation."
She found a quiet spot and began to write.
[Today is January 30th. It's been several months since I arrived at Tracen Academy. Today was very happy, and Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa prepared a welcome party for everyone.]
[Among the performances, Fine Motion's acting was superb. I must say, this Uma Musume from Ireland learns very quickly.]
[Furthermore, I didn't expect Chairwoman Akikawa to come up with a Mini-car training method, allowing Uma Musume to connect to the cars via VR to simulate various racing scenarios. While there are limitations, it's worth further research.]
[The happiest part of today was likely Satono Diamond's birthday party. Kitasan Black planned the whole thing. It's clear she is truly Dia-chan's childhood friend, their bond is incredible. I believe they will continue to inspire each other and go even further.]
[Yes, their story is coming up soon.]
[Their era was also incomparably glorious.]
[But for now, the story I want to tell belongs to the Golden Generation— the generation that remains the most talked-about in the history of the Japanese Horse Racing.]
[Because so many legendary racehorses appeared in this single generation, and so many iconic moments were created, these legends are collectively known as the Golden Generation!]
[In the Golden Generation, there is the undying phoenix who burns through everything, Grass Wonder, the swift and monstrous phantom bird, El Condor Pasa, the rapid lightning that gallops through the azure skies, Seiun Sky, the unyielding scion of noble blood, King Halo, and the General of Japan, Special Week.]
As she wrote this, many Uma Musume within Tracen froze. There were many people currently at Spica, and King Halo was among them. Seeing this, she let out a loud laugh.
"That's right! I am a first-class Uma Musume. An era with me in it is naturally a Golden Generation! Among these five, I must be the strongest. In the Classic Triple Crown, I should be the one who shines the brightest, right?"
King Halo was brimming with confidence. She couldn't wait to see her own story. What kind of performance would she give?
Would she be a Uma Musume that even the strongest couldn't help but admire, the one and only King Halo?
'Fine then, I'll show you all my true power soon enough.'
On the other side, Grass Wonder was also very pleased. A joyful glint appeared in her eyes.
"'The Undying Phoenix'... is that my title? How wonderful. Not 'The Second Coming of Maruzensky'... but a title that belongs to me, Grass Wonder."
Deep down, Grass Wonder deeply respected her senior, Maruzensky. Because of her powerful performances, she had been called the "Second Coming of Maruzensky."
At first, she had been happy about it, but later she found she couldn't escape Maruzensky's shadow. Everyone saw her as a replacement. The name "Grass Wonder" seemed like a mere substitute.
But now, seeing "Undying Phoenix," she was truly happy. She had her own title.
Yet, she was also curious. Why would everyone give her such a name? She continued reading and saw Special Week's nickname, her pupils widening slightly.
'The General of Japan. Did Spe-chan... fulfill her dream?'
At the same time, Seiun Sky saw this as well, a smile hanging on her face.
'The rapid lightning that gallops through the azure skies'... even she felt a bit embarrassed seeing that.
"Yay~~ It looks like Seiun-chan did pretty well." Seiun Sky leaned over and flashed a peace sign. She was looking forward to seeing her own performance.
'Just because I'm not showing off doesn't mean I'm a pushover, hehe.'
As for El Condor Pasa, she had also come to Dia-chan's party, bringing her peet hawk along.
"Mambo, did you see? I'm the 'The Swift and Monstrous Phantom Bird'! Hahaha, I'm just too amazing!"
El Condor Pasa grabbed Mambo and shook her wildly. Mambo looked utterly exasperated, and if he could speak, he'd clearly ask. "Why are you shouting so loudly...?"
As for Spe-chan, she was already dazed. she even wanted to call her mother right away.
'The General of Japan... did I really stand at the pinnacle of Japan?'
The thought of that title being attached to her name made her feel like she might faint from sheer bliss. They were all astonished now, wanting to see what would happen next.
However, they hadn't expected that what they saw next would cause a terrifying shock throughout Tracen— and even the whole world.
Mizuki continued her log.
[Regarding the Golden Generation, let's start from Special Week's perspective. After all, she is the one known as the General of Japan in that most special generation.]
[Actually, in the JRA, many horses who win the G1 international event, the Japan Cup, are called the "General of Japan."]
[So, there have been many "Generals."]
[But even now, in 2024, whenever the title "General of Japan" is mentioned, almost everyone thinks of Special Week. The reason is that the generation he belonged to was of extremely high quality, and the opponent he defeated in the Japan Cup was far too powerful.]
[Yes, the opponent Special Week defeated was the one who earned a world-class rating of 136 points, hailed as a once-in-a-century genius— Montjeu from France.]
[When Montjeu came to Japan that year, the entire nation of Japan held no hope for victory. All JRA fans were unprecedentedly nervous.]
[But Special Week defended the honor of the JRA. In the final straight of the Japan Cup, he overtook Montjeu to claim the pinnacle of the G1 Japan Cup.]
[At that time, everyone in Japan shouted in excitement, "Special Week, truly the General of Japan!!!!!"]
[However, the specific details of that race will be mentioned later. The story of the Golden Generation needs to be told slowly.]
As Mizuki reached this point, many who were reading were struck with immense shock.
Inside Spica:
"Montjeu with 136 points... that's 1 point higher than Equinox."
Liberty Island was stunned. She knew that among the world-class champions she followed, Equinox had achieved the world's number-one ranking in the 2000m turf, earning a high score of 135.
But Montjeu was even higher. How terrifying was that? As expected, the top of the world is a very distant place.
Furthermore, Liberty Island realized that Special Week had defeated Montjeu to protect the final honor of the JRA.
What on earth happened in that race?
"136 points? It seems I need to be even stronger," Equinox said.
"Your fighting spirit seems to be burning again," Panthalassa remarked.
"Hmph, it never went out," Equinox replied, her face full of determination, looking just as cool as Kitasan did when she competed.
Special Week was also stunned: "Montjeu has 136 points... but I won't fear any opponent. Once you're in the race, anything can happen. Moreover, if Japan asks me to represent them as the General of Japan, I will give it my absolute all!"
Spe-chan clenched her fists. She hadn't met Montjeu yet, but knowing she could reach 136 points meant she was unprecedentedly strong.
She wanted to see just what level Montjeu's strength reached.
Meanwhile, in France: Seeing this, Montjeu actually laughed.
"A 'once-in-a-century genius'... I don't care about things like that. I just want to win. Special Week, huh? I wonder what kind of person you are. Next time we meet, give me a good run."
Montjeu was intrigued, she even felt like going to Japan. And this time, she would use her own power to crush this "General of Japan."
She wouldn't lose.
Though she looked calm, she was actually quite unwilling in her heart. After all, who could stand still after seeing their own defeat?
Treve rested her face in her hands. "Do you have confidence facing Special Week this time, Montjeu?"
Montjeu: "It might be a bit tricky racing on a relatively unfamiliar Japanese track."
Treve: "But will you lose?"
Montjeu: "I will win."
At this time, they continued to read as Mizuki's log proceeded.
[On May 2nd, Special Week was born at Hidaka Taiyo Farm in Monbetsu, Hokkaido. He was the offspring of the super-stallion Sunday Silence. From his debut, he was held in high regard.]
[In December of the year before his birth, the frequency of his mother's colic suddenly spiked, and the intervals shortened. Doctors diagnosed it as partial intestinal necrosis, and her life was in critical danger.]
[At 9:00 AM on May 2nd, his mother suffered another sudden bout of colic. Farm staff and veterinarians had to induce labor, and thus, Special Week was born.]
[Five days later, his mother passed away. To ensure Special Week would nurse properly, the farm staff even built a structure like an observation deck in a tree to monitor him around the clock.]
[Fortunately, Special Week developed quickly and was successfully weaned by early September. Perhaps due to the long-term companionship of the farm staff, he was very friendly toward people, though he was quite cold and indifferent toward other foals.]
[Later, following the wishes of owner Hiroyoshi Usuda, Special Week was sent to the Northern Farm Airport branch in May 1997, and subsequently entered the stable of trainer Toshiaki Shirai at the Ritto Training Center.]
[At that time, Special Week received his name. There are claims that the name "Special Week" originated from an obsession with the Derby.]
[At the time, many JRA fans felt that within the entire racing calendar, the week the Japanese Derby was held was the most special week of all, so the name was chosen with the Derby as the goal.]
[Special Week participated in a 1600m newcomers' race on the turf at Hanshin Racecourse on November 29, 1997. Ridden by Yutaka Take, he took an early lead strategy and won easily by two lengths.]
[After the race, a young Yutaka Take gave him high praise, stating: "This is a horse with a very high potential for the future, his response to the jockey's commands and his strategy entering the final straight are excellent."]
At this moment, many Uma Musume in Tracen were stunned. They hadn't expected Special Week to have such a past.
Inside Spica:
"Spe-chan's mother was truly great," Hokko Tarumae remarked.
Although her mother had passed away, she gave Special Week life at the very end. She believed that if Spe-chan's mother were still around, she would have taken wonderful care of her.
"Yes, that's why I have two mothers. I love them both very much. If possible, I'd love to meet my biological mother too."
"According to my current mom, my biological mother's dream was to see me become the best Uma Musume in Japan. So, I will work hard. This is my dream, and the dream of both my mothers," Special Week said earnestly.
She had only seen photos of her mother, a very gentle woman, but she had never met her, spoken to her, been encouraged by her, or held her hand.
It was a lingering regret.
"I wonder... since it's a magic diary, could it let Spe-chan meet her mother?" Hokko Tarumae suddenly asked.
"That... that shouldn't be possible, right? After all, Mom has been gone for so long, and I want her to rest in peace without interruptions. Even though I want to see her so, so much, the dead cannot return to life," Spe-chan said.
However, deep down, she truly wanted to see her mother. She at least wanted to tell her that she was doing well now and that she had truly become the General of Japan.
Her mother would surely be happy.
"Not necessarily, Spe-chan. Maybe you will meet. How could meeting your daughter be an interruption?"
"I believe that until her final moment in this world, she was thinking of you and couldn't let go of you, because she is your mother," Nice Nature added.
She was absolutely right, Special Week's mother would never feel "interrupted" by her child.
Maternal love is, after all, one of the greatest of all.
"Right! I'll work hard. Maybe I really can talk to Mom... and now that I have this information, I'll do everything I can to help my real-world counterpart! If I push myself to complete the training objectives, maybe I can cure her mother's illness so that nothing happens to her!"
Special Week had actually thought this from the start. No matter what, she would try to save the fate of her mother in the real-horse world.
If her mother could see her become the General of Japan with her own eyes, she would be overjoyed.
Everyone continued to read, but in the next instant, everyone was dumbfounded. In fact, the entire student body was frozen in shock.
[Furthermore, when Special Week appeared, many people noticed that his attraction to mares was off the charts. His looks were truly outstanding among horses— especially as he matured and his body became stronger. He was truly a handsome man among handsome men.]
[Speaking of which, when I first started playing Uma Musume, I used my beginner SSR ticket on Oguri Cap, but later I pulled Special Week.]
[I ended up with the two biggest eaters. In the world of Tracen, they are exactly the same.]
[To be honest, at first, I didn't know what "stallion" and "mare" meant. My roommate had to tell me: A stallion is a male horse, and a mare is a female horse.]
[Real horses actually have genders, unlike at Tracen Academy where everyone is a Uma Musume.]
[For example, Spe-chan was a stallion and was very handsome. Of course, the manly Kitasan Black and the Genius Boy Equinox were also stallions.]
[Actually, in the Tracen world, distinguishing between stallions and mares is simple: Look at their ear ornaments. For example, those with the ornament on the right ear are stallions, and those on the left are fillies.]
[I thought that after transmigrating to the Tracen world, there wouldn't be such a distinction anymore. After all, who keeps their ear accessory on one side every single day? But I didn't expect this setting to remain unchanged.]
[Haha, if the Uma Musume found out, they'd probably be speechless.]
[To keep them calm, I'll definitely never tell them.]
[Hehe.]
At that moment, Mizuki smiled to herself. What she didn't know was that the Uma Musume already knew everything.
Inside Spica, Tracen Academy:
Upon seeing this news, Special Week's face turned into a literal emoji of shock. She involuntarily stumbled back three steps and, losing her balance, fell straight onto the floor.
She couldn't even react, she just frantically felt her horse ears. Her ornament was... on the right.
According to Trainer Mizuki, this meant that in the real-horse world, she wasn't a girl at all, but a boy?!
"How is that possible?!"
Special Week immediately checked the mirror and let out a sigh of relief.
'Thank goodness, in the mirror it's on the left. I really am a girl...'
'Wait! The mirror is flipped!!!'
"What is going on?!"
Special Week was completely dazed. She stood frozen, wondering if she was dreaming.
She had originally thought her real-horse counterpart looked just like her. After all, it was a counterpart in a parallel world.
She was suddenly very nervous. What did a male Special Week look like?
Spe-chan even worried that the parallel-world Special Week might look completely different from her.
'What would that even be like?'
Honestly, Special Week was so surprised her eyes were wide, and her mind was a total blank.
She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. Her system had completely crashed!
And her feelings were perfectly understandable. Imagine being told that in another world, there is a version of you that is the opposite gender, and you are about to meet.
You'd panic too, right?
Special Week finally realized: 'No wonder Trainer Mizuki called them "racehorses" instead of "Uma Musume."'
It turned out she was a boy!!
Silence Suzuka also felt a moment of realization. So she really was a boy. She looked at her own ear ornament.
Come to think of it, it was strange, she had never consciously styled her accessory, yet she instinctively always placed it on her left ear.
However, Silence Suzuka was also wondering:
'Is it too late to change the position of the ear ornament now?'
Silence Suzuka panicked for a moment. The Silence Suzuka of the other world was actually a boy.
However, she noticed that Trainer Mizuki didn't use "male" and "female" for humans, but rather "stallion" and "mare", terms usually used for animals.
Silence Suzuka crouched down, holding her head, her CPU starting to smoke.
'What is happening, what is happening, what is happening...'
Of course, Special Week and Silence Suzuka weren't the only ones.
Nice Nature also took a giant step back. She felt her ear. Was it really on the right?
A... male Nice Nature?
She gulped. She couldn't even imagine what a male version of herself would look like.
She started twirling her hair, her brain overheating. She twirled so hard a few strands came out.
"Damn it, damn it! What is going on?!"
Kitasan Black, Tokai Teio, and Equinox all had synchronized expressions of open-mouthed shock. They looked at each other. Were all three of us boys?
"No wonder! I always wanted to be a 'man of the people' like my father. I thought it was just a metaphor, but it turns out I really was a man!!"
Kitasan Black was numb. This shocking news would take a long time to process. She almost wanted to rush into Mizuki's room and ask her if this was really true!
"So... I'm really a 'Genius Boy', not a 'Genius Girl'!?!?"
Equinox was also stunned.
Honestly, she thought seeing herself become the Horse of the Year was the most shocking moment of her life, but seeing that her real-horse counterpart was a boy was a shock that wasn't inferior at all.
Even an Uma Musume as eloquent as her was speechless.
The same applied to many others like Air Shakur, Titleholder, and so on.
"Then doesn't that make me a boy too... Eh? Wait!! I'm a girl? Dammit, why am I a girl!!!"
Buena Vista thought she was a boy too, but she looked at her headgear and found it on the left. This meant she was a girl in both the Tracen world and the real-horse world.
Did Buena Vista actually want to be a boy in the parallel world?
On second thought, she decided being a girl was better. Being a boy would involve too many different habits, right?
To be honest, she really wanted to go to the parallel world to see herself. What would her real-horse image look like?
Furthermore, she wanted to see the real-horse version of Special Week. After all, she looked up to Special Week. In that world, Special Week was said to charm thousands of mares, so she wanted to see how handsome she was.
'Hehe.'
Also, Buena Vista wondered:
'If my gender was the same as the real horse, would our faces be the same?'
She noticed Mizuki used "stallion" and "mare" rather than "man" and "woman." Could it be that the real horses they were imagining were vastly different from reality?
For a moment, Buena Vista became even more curious about the real horses. What were they like?
Not just her, but the entire Tracen Academy, along with Uma Musume across the world, all had the same doubt.
'What exactly was going on?'
In the Tracen Chairwoman's Office:
"Hahaha, Trainer Mizuki, where is the punchline of this bad joke? Air Groove, I didn't even notice it."
Symboli Rudolf said with a laugh. She knew Mizuki sometimes liked to mess around and joke in her diary. She thought Mizuki was just making a pun that she hadn't noticed yet.
"It's not a joke, Rudolf. In the real-horse world, you're a man."
Air Groove's pupils were wide. She realized that in the real-horse world, she was still a girl.
But she also found something new in Mizuki's words: she used "stallion" and "mare," terms for animals. And she sometimes used "it" to refer to the real horses.
Actually, Air Groove didn't mind the "it." She had noticed it before and thought it was just Mizuki's way of distinguishing real horses from the Uma Musume of Tracen. It made the log easier to read.
But now, seeing them described as stallions and mares, everything changed.
'What did it mean? Why use those words?
She thought they might not be animals. Ssince Uma Musume are different from humans, could it be that they were still people, but referred to as "stallion" and "mare" instead of "man" and "woman"?
Air Groove couldn't make sense of it.
Symboli Rudolf was also stunned. She had asked the question but had already noticed the truth herself.
She was trying to tell herself it was just a joke, but it clearly wasn't.
The "Emperor" Symboli Rudolf. She finally understood why she had that title in the real-horse world instead of being the "Empress" like Air Groove.
It was because she was male.
However, Rudolf also noticed something: many of their titles in Tracen were similar to the real horses'.
'What was the relationship between the real-horse world and the Tracen world?'
Rudolf shook her head, feeling confused. Trainer Mizuki was telling the story of the real-horse world, so of course the commentary followed that world.
In their world, the commentary would surely call Equinox a "Genius Girl."
She continued to read, now very curious about her real-horse self. She wondered: If she had the chance to go to the real-horse world, what would she say to her counterpart? And what would he say to her?
What Rudolf didn't expect was that her real-horse counterpart would probably just poke his head out and look at this newcomer with confusion.
That would certainly be a very interesting scene.
In the United States:
Secretariat spat her 1982 Cola right onto Seabiscuit's face. Upon seeing the news, she was dazed. After living so many years, this was the first time she learned her real-horse counterpart was a boy?
She wiped her mouth.
Honestly, if someone told her her parallel-world self was a boy, she wouldn't have believed them. But now, the diary clearly stated this fact. She was speechless.
Seabiscuit was even more numb. She had a face full of cola, but she had no mood to complain. Instead, she instinctively felt her ear.
Her accessory was indeed on the right.
It was over. She really had become a boy.
Flightline was also dumbfounded.
'No way... suddenly becoming a boy or whatever, I don't want that!'
Then she realized: It was the real-world counterpart who was a boy, not her.
Still, Flightline fell silent. She needed some time to digest this.
In Ireland:
Baaeed was also numb. She thought seeing news about "Horse of the Year" was bold enough, but this was even more explosive. She was a boy, and Sea the Stars was a boy too.
Oh no, she was surrounded by boys.
However, Zarkava was a girl, and Urban Sea was a girl.
This world was crazy.
Baaeed held her head, unsure of what to say. She never thought there would be a day where she wouldn't know how to face herself.
And in another part of Tracen Academy:
"Awawawawa!!!"
Meisho Doto was stunned. When she saw she was a boy, she didn't know what to say.
What made her question her life even more was that she remembered she and Taiki Shuttle used to be very close and "lovey-dovey."
But she remembered Taiki Shuttle's ear ornament was also on the right.
'What is going on?! Doto, why did you fall for a boy?'
T.M. Opera O took a step back, but then started clapping.
"Incredible! Absolutely amazing!" This kind of dramatic twist was exactly what she wanted.
A male Opera O? She could perform the most perfect Opera together with him.
Opera O always felt it was a pity there was only one person as perfect as herself. Sometimes she had to play two roles by herself.
But now that problem was gone.
If there was a male version of herself, her stage would be perfect.
However, if the real-horse Opera O saw the current Opera O— given the real horse's good temperament— he would probably fulfill all her demands.
After all, the real Opera O was the very gentle type.
Of course, Opera O also thought of a question:
'Did the horses in the real-world know we are girls? And did the Trainers know? If we suddenly appeared, would we scare the real horses and trainers to death?'
'For example, how would Jockey Wada react to seeing her?'
To be honest, she really wanted to see what her real-horse self was like. And what was Ryuji Wada like?
Wada-san was actually quite handsome, he might have been a bit green when she was young, but as an older man, he could easily play a cool uncle in a Kamen Rider series.
While all these Uma Musume were shocked or speechless...
There was another Uma Musume who was surprised to an even more absurd degree. It wasn't just her, anyone who saw her would be left wide-eyed.
That was Fine Motion.
She was also reading the log seriously. She saw Trainer Mizuki say: "If your ear ornament is on the right, you're a boy, if it's on the left, you're a girl."
So, here was the problem: She had ear ornaments on both her left and right ears.
Was she a boy or a girl? What exactly was the situation?!
Fine Motion, as a "Wit" card, is actually quite brilliant at Tracen Academy.
Though everyone affectionately calls her a "silly goose", it's a term of endearment.
But right now, her expression has gone completely, utterly blank with shock.
She originally thought the gender distinction might be based on which ear she wore her ornament on the most, but she quickly realized that was wrong.
She discovered that in all of Tracen— and even across Ireland and the UK— she was the only Uma Musume who wore ornaments on both ears.
'Does this mean I'm a boy and a girl at the same time?'
Fine Motion felt like she was going to faint. She felt like this had to be a dream. It must be a dream.
However, in reality, why did this happen?
Actually, when Fine Motion was imported to Japan from Ireland, it was as a high-quality broodmare. At the time, the JRA was reluctant to let her race, only letting her run a few symbolic races.
After discovering her immense talent, they entered her into more competitions, where she achieved incredible results.
But later, Fine Motion suffered a minor injury, leading to her early retirement. Unlike other racehorses, her persona in Tracen Academy is like a young lady of a noble house who came on a study-abroad trip as a vacation.
However, when Fine Motion was sent to breeding, it was discovered that she could never get pregnant no matter what. After an examination, it was found that her chromosomes were different from other mares, she was sterile for life.
Fine Motion spent her later years in peace.
Therefore, when Cygames designed Fine Motion, they gave her the unique double-ear ornaments and a bright, innocent storyline.
It can be said that Cygames was very gentle toward her.