Special Week's eyes trembled as she read. she hadn't expected to lose to Grass by only 4 centimeters. While luck played a part, a loss was a loss, she could make no excuses.
Spe-chan decided right then that when crossing the finish line in the future, she must exert every ounce of effort to lean her body forward.
She wanted to race Grass more. There must be a chance to beat her.
Then, Special Week remembered Trainer Mizuki saying that the first Uma Musume to win the Autumn Triple Crown was T.M. Opera O.
So, from the beginning, this race had no suspense, she should have known she would lose.
But she never imagined she would lose by only 4 centimeters.
Mejiro McQueen said, "Such a defeat truly does exist... Though I really want to see Yutaka Take's expression. he celebrated for so long only to find the champion was Grass. I wonder what that was like."
Narita Taishin: "It's probably like me pulling gacha in a game. Sometimes the rainbow light appears, only for it to be a different character. Yutaka Take's result in this race was probably a hundred... no, a thousand times more painful than mine."
Winning Ticket: "Hmph, Taishin! You're pulling gacha behind my back again! You promised you'd carry me to victory! Carry me! Carry me!"
Narita Taishin: "No way. You're seriously too trash. When people get matched against you, they complain that they're playing against a bot again."
Biwa Hayahide pushed up her glasses. "Are internet users these days really this sophisticated with their insults?"
Hearing that, Winning Ticket burst into tears. That was way too mean— she wasn't trash at all!
Contrail added a sharp jab: "Ticket-san, why not just get some cheats? A little 'assistance' isn't really cheating, technology improves life, after all."
Admire Vega spoke up then: "Speaking of which, I wonder what Yutaka Take actually looks like. Everyone says Spe is very handsome, but what about Yutaka Take's looks?"
Admire Vega tried to picture Yutaka Take in her mind, but she couldn't imagine a face out of thin air. She only knew she was a genius jockey who made occasional mistakes, which was only human, after all.
T.M. Opera O: "Ha~~~hahaha! Come to think of it, I don't know what Ryuji Wada looks like either. Trainer Mizuki always calls him 'Uncle Wada.' Could he be a scruffy middle-aged man with a face full of stubble?"
"And does he have a dragon tattoo on him? If he does, he could play so many roles on my operatic stage!"
Sirius Symboli couldn't believe her ears. "A dragon tattoo? That's a bit too... "gangster", isn't it? It doesn't sound very elegant."
Meisho Doto was completely stunned. "Opera O-san, please stop your imagination! Ryuji Wada-san clearly doesn't look like the type of guy who would get a dragon tattoo."
Admire Vega: "Hard to judge."
T.M. Opera O: "Ha~~~hahahaha! Anything is possible! Drama is all about the plot twists. But I am curious— if I were to actually meet Ryuji Wada, what would he be like? What would we say to each other?"
Rice Shower thought about it for a moment and said cutely, "True... what would it be like if everyone met their jockeys? I think it would be a very heartwarming scene. But Rice is too shy to meet her jockey, I'm afraid I'd bring him bad luck."
Daiwa Scarlet smiled gently. "That's not true, Rice-san. I'm sure he would really want to see you too. I think no matter which Uma Musume meets her jockey, the scene would be incredibly warm."
Meanwhile, only Orfevre was silently pondering:
'That brat Ikezoe... what does he look like? Hmph, I don't even have to think about it, he's definitely got a face that's just begging to be kicked.'
Orfevre didn't know why, but she always felt an urge to give Kenichi Ikezoe a solid kick.
She had been training hard every day lately. Ever since learning she had been bumped by Gentildonna and defeated at the Arc de Triomphe by Solemia and Treve, she had been focusing on her strength.
She felt incredibly robust now. Catching Ikezoe would be child's play. And not just Ikezoe, it would be the same for anyone else.
The tables had turned. Orfevre now felt like she could kill a bull with a single punch.
"Coming through, coming through!"
Orfevre was just basking in her pride when Gold Ship suddenly walked over. Orfevre's "robust" body, which she was so proud of, was instantly shoved aside by Gold Ship's muscular frame.
'How on earth was this annoying bastard so strong?!'
As it turned out, Gold Ship had come over to bring nail polish to Tosen Jordan. After all, Jordan was a beauty-loving, fashionable gal.
After handing the polish to Jordan, Gold Ship said:
"By the way, I'm going to train a new skill. If another Uma is neck-and-neck with me, I'm going to stick my tongue out right before the finish line. A tongue is at least a few centimeters long, right? Does that count as crossing the line first?"
Good grief. Gold Ship was actually researching "tongue-out finishes."
No one saw that coming, yet more absurdly, everyone felt that Gold Ship was exactly the type of person who could pull it off. After all, she already loved tilting her head and sticking her tongue out in her daily life.
"Eh? Despite everything, I'd actually really like to see that."
Win Variation's eyes sparkled, thinking it sounded very interesting.
Gold Ship grinned, crossing her arms with total confidence. "Right, right?"
"Honestly, Gold Ship, the rules definitely wouldn't allow that. Otherwise, everyone would be sticking their tongues out at the finish line."
Tosen Jordan put her hands on her hips, completely speechless by what Gold Ship is saying.
She soon finished painting her nails and looked at them with satisfaction. It was another youthful and beautiful day, Tracen's gyaru style was supreme.
Gold Ship felt incredibly disappointed.
"I can't stick my tongue out? That's no fun. But this race was still amazing. It's such a pity Spe-chan retired so early. I think both Spe and Grass have reached a level of absolute mastery in their running. I wish I could have seen a few more of their races."
Gold Ship fiddled with her Rubik's Cube, feeling a hint of regret in her heart. The reason she had retired was that she truly couldn't run anymore.
She still remembered her retirement race, she had sprinted with all her might, but she couldn't outrun the erosion of time. Gold Ship's terminal speed could no longer hold until the final moment like it did in her youth.
But Special Week was different— she clearly could have kept running. However, Gold Ship was smart, she knew that in the real-horse world, retirement was often the result of a team's business decision.
But here at Tracen Academy, they could keep running.
Vaguely, Gold Ship felt a sense of resonance. Many real horses probably still wanted to run when they retired. Perhaps by completing more training objectives here, they could run until they were truly satisfied.
Gold Ship felt sentimental for a fleeting moment, but she quickly snapped out of it. She suddenly slapped the small Orfevre next to her and said:
"Orfevre, why are you so quiet? Later, let's call Gentildonna and have a race."
Orfevre just muttered:
"You talk too much. You're just a loser I've already beaten. If you want to beat me, try again in your next life."
Orfevre was still silently fuming. She had been shoved aside by Gold Ship just moments ago and was very bothered by it.
'Forget racing, I'm going back to training in a minute.'
"Sigh, I'm the real loser here. I only managed fifth place in this Arima Kinen? As expected of the Golden Generation... trying to take a championship from you all, trying to win just once, is truly too difficult."
Mejiro Bright sighed. When she first saw that she had participated in this race, she had felt a deep longing for victory, hoping to add more glory to the Mejiro family name.
But her hopes were quickly crushed under the hooves of Special Week and Grass Wonder.
The gap between her and the Golden Generation was simply too vast.
Actually, Mejiro Bright was very strong, but his peak didn't quite overlap with the Golden Generation's prime. Even if it had, winning against Spe and Grass would have been an monumental task.
After all, his opponents were Special Week and Grass Wonder. These rivals would not be easily defeated.
What terrified Mejiro Bright even more was that Special Week and Grass Wonder were merely the top-tier powerhouses within the JRA.
Above them were the world-class terrors like Frankel, Sea the Stars, Treve, Baaeed, and Equinox.
She had a calm temperament, but now she felt a slight sense of frustration. She didn't lose heart, though. A Mejiro Uma Musume would never back down because of this.
When an Uma Musume steps onto the starting line, she must believe she will win and believe that miracles can happen.
Even if it happened again, she would face the challenge with everything she had.
At this time, everyone wanted to keep reading. They were sentimental about the retirements of El Condor Pasa and Special Week, wondering who would be next.
Would the final battle of the Golden Generation be a grand finale or a powerless exit?
Who among them would be the one to persevere until the very end?
Just then, surprisingly, Hayakawa Tazuna arrived at Team Spica. It turned out she was looking for Orfevre and had something to tell everyone.
Tazuna explained that following friendly discussions between Chairwoman Akikawa Yayoi and the French Uma Musume Academy, Japan and France had signed an international exchange contract.
First, French Uma Musume would travel to Tokyo and Kyoto for visits, and then Japanese Uma Musume would travel to Paris and Lyon on non-racing days.
Additionally, the French Uma Musume Association had discussed the matter of an ambassador with Japan. For an international exchange, each country would select one representative.
France had originally considered Montjeu, but Montjeu chose to let Treve be the ambassador instead.
Symboli Rudolf had initially thought of Nakayama Festa as the ambassador, given her runner-up finish at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and her special emotional connection to France.
However, Nakayama Festa insisted that honors should speak for themselves— Orfevre, with her two runner-up finishes at the Arc, was clearly more suitable.
Tazuna had come to ask if Orfevre was willing.
Naturally, Orfevre was unwilling. She didn't want to be an ambassador like this. If she had taken first at the Arc, that would be one thing, but she only had second-place finishes. It was better to find someone else.
At that moment, many Uma Musume at Tracen realized they had been added to a temporary Japan-France exchange group chat.
[Treve: Wow, hi everyone! I'm Treve. The Japan-France exchange meeting is about to start, and I'm so happy! I've wanted to see the outside world for ages.]
[Treve: I feel like President Rudolf is so much better, she's so gentle. Our teachers in France are super scary.]
[Daiwa Scarlet: Is this the real Treve?]
[Treve: The one and only!]
[Vodka: @Treve, I noticed people are still being added to the group. Aren't you afraid your French teachers will see your message if they join?]
[Treve: It's fine, it's fine. Even if they see it, they can't catch me. As long as I run fast, I have nothing to fear.]
[Marvelous Sunday: Marvelous☆! Every time we get caught by the dormitory head, it's only because we didn't run fast enough.]
[Mayano Top Gun: I've learned something new!]
[Treve: @Orfevre, Orfevre, will you be the ambassador for Tracen?]
[Orfevre: Of course not.]
[Treve: Oh, that's such a shame. I heard there would be a 1v1 duel between the two ambassadors. It's a pity you aren't the one. I have to ask privately— you aren't avoiding being the ambassador just because you're afraid of me, are you?]
Treve was surfing the web on her phone, having a blast. Her cute face was covered in smiles.
Solemia was stunned and said, "A 1v1 duel? Is that really a rule?"
Treve nodded solemnly. "I just added it. I'll have Montjeu go negotiate it later."
Solemia was flabbergasted. "Uh..."
[Orfevre: Afraid? I have yet to encounter an opponent who makes me feel pressured. If that's the rule, then it's perfect. I'll crush you completely at Tracen.]
[Treve: You haven't felt pressure because you haven't met me yet.]
[Tanino Gimlet: Hahaha! Fight! Fight!]
[Seiun Sky: The atmosphere suddenly got intense.]
[Solemia: Waaa... how did it turn into this?]
[Gentildonna: Treve, huh... regardless, both Orfevre and Treve are far from ordinary. Their duel will be worth watching.]
[Zenno Rob Roy: This is truly a clash of titans— a duel between true monsters.]
[Mihono Bourbon: Scanning... new terminology detected... adding the idiom 'clash of titans' to my database.]
[Mihono Bourbon: Database update complete...]
[Treve: @Mihono Bourbon, ???]
[Solemia: @Mihono Bourbon, ???]
[T.M. Opera O: I shall look forward to it! This duel will be absolutely magnificent. I wish I could participate too!]
[Oguri Cap: I...]
[Tamamo Cross: What is it, Oguri? Do you want to join too?]
[Oguri Cap: I'm hungry, Tama.]
[Tamamo Cross: How are you hungry again?! Even if our cafeteria has unlimited supply, you can't just eat non-stop! (Angry.jpg)]
Tamamo Cross was exasperated. This Oguri Cap was useless at everything except eating everything in sight. She was the undisputed Queen of the Cafeteria.
[Treve: Unlimited eating?]
[Oguri Cap: That's right.]
[Treve: Really? That's amazing! Is it too late to transfer from France?]
Treve was just being playful, she certainly wouldn't leave France, as she had to fight for her country's honor.
[Solemia: @Treve, calm down.]
[Treve: @Orfevre, well then Orfevre, show me around later. I want to eat something too.]
[Orfevre: Whatever. You can see all of Tracen pretty quickly.]
Orfevre thought about it. She actually wanted to gauge Treve's strength. "Know your enemy" is a saying, after all.
[Treve: No way! You actually agreed! Yay! (Flower-shower.jpg.) Let's have a good tour then, you can take me to get some Japanese food or something.]
Treve was happy. She didn't expect that Orfevre would be so welcoming.
'I love it!'
[Orfevre: Well... I suppose I can.]
[Treve: You're so nice! See you in a few days then. Speaking of which, this will be my first time in Japan.]
[Solemia: Come to think of it, me too.]
[Treve: Well, see you then!]
After Treve finished, she went offline.
She looked toward Japan, there was someone else she particularly wanted to see— Trainer Mizuki.
She wanted to see what kind of person she was in real life. She didn't say it in the group chat because she wanted to surprise her.
Orfevre composed herself, but it was clear she was extremely serious now. After finishing the log, she was going to ramp up her training.
However, Orfevre didn't know that before training, she had to go get her makeup done and do a photoshoot. After all, an ambassador needs some cool photos that look down upon the world.
Just then, Mizuki's log continued.
[After Special Week retired, Grass Wonder's team began setting up the schedule for the year 2000.]
[In 2000, the JRA also underwent major reforms.]
[Restrictions on foreign-born horses were set to be lifted, meaning Grass Wonder would finally be able to participate in the Tenno Sho Spring. This was great news for his team.]
[However, Grass Wonder was nearing the end of his career. If this policy had come a few years earlier, the fates of both El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder might have been completely rewritten.]
[They were born on the eve of the policy reform, it was just moments before dawn.]
[But again, if they had participated in the Classic Triple Crown, the Golden Generation might not have consisted of those specific five horses. It's hard to say.]
[Furthermore, it was likely the struggle of El Condor Pasa's team during the Japan Cup that accelerated the JRA's relaxation of policies toward foreign-born horses. Many foreign-born horses can race today because they paved the way.]
[However, Grass Wonder was in poor condition in 2000. One could even say his form was terrible. After winter pasturing, his gait became sluggish, leading to suspicions of a fracture. His gait issues didn't fade until February, and his weight ballooned by 18kg, bringing his total weight to 530kg.]
[He truly became a thousand-pound horse just like McQueen.]
[When Grass Wonder's weight was exposed, it sparked massive discussion. It was only after he had recovered slightly that he she participated in the G2 Nikkei Sho in March as a lead-up to the Tenno Sho Spring.]
[Despite being the first favorite, he finished a disappointing 6th place, coming home in a crushing defeat. This effectively turned his planned participation in the Tenno Sho Spring into empty talk.]
[In truth, Grass Wonder's trainer, Mitsuru Hashiguchi, had some regrets. He had sensed Grass Wonder's condition and originally wanted him to retire after the 1999 Arima Kinen. However, with both El Condor Pasa and Special Week retiring in 1999, the demand for stallion resources— or rather, the availability of mares— became tight, leading to the decision to keep Grass Wonder running for one more year.]
[Because of this, Grass Wonder carried his exhausted body alone into the final year of the 20th century.]
[But since the decision was made to run for another year, he persevered. His camp shifted their focus to the 2000 Takarazuka Kinen, hoping he could achieve the grand feat of four consecutive Grand Prix victories, winning two Takarazuka Kinens and two Arima Kinens back-to-back.]
[Such an honor would be truly extraordinary.]
[Thus, they began preparing for the Takarazuka Kinen, choosing the G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup in May as his prep race.]
[While Grass Wonder's team was struggling, on the other side, King Halo's team was working tirelessly to secure his first G1 victory.]
[In 1999, during the period when Special Week and Grass Wonder were racing in the Arima Kinen, King Halo's record was actually quite bleak.]
[In the G1 Mile Championship, he lost to Air Jihad by 1.5 lengths, suffering a narrow defeat in 2nd place. Later, he ran in the 1999 G1 Sprinters Stakes but lost to Black Hawk, finishing 3rd.]
[To help him win a G1, his team even considered his pedigree and entered him in the February Stakes, a G1 dirt race. King Halo went in as the 1st favorite, but the result was a disaster— it was so shocking that many felt they had witnessed a complete farce.]
[Due to the kicked-up sand affecting him on the inner rail, King Halo stayed trapped at the back and couldn't accelerate on the final straight, finishing in a crushing 13th place.]
[By this point, King Halo had suffered 10 consecutive G1 defeats. His entire team bore the brunt of the JRA fans' scorn. His trainer, Masahiro Sakaguchi, was blasted relentlessly. The internet wasn't as developed back then, otherwise, he likely would have trended as a target for hate after every race.]
[However, Masahiro Sakaguchi possessed an incredibly resilient personality. He ignored the rumors and never wavered in his determination to make King Halo a G1 winner.]
[They had fallen from the throne and lost everything, becoming laughingstocks. At this stage, what was there left to fear?]
[Compared to the endless insults, the regret of being unable to fulfill a dream was far more painful.]
[Time moved to 2000, the final year of the 20th century.]
[King Halo's team decided to enter the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March 2000, a 1200m G1 race that serves as the first G1 of every spring.]
[This would be King Halo's 11th challenge in a G1 event.]
[March 2000 arrived quickly, and the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen began amidst immense anticipation.]
[The field was full of powerhouses. Black Hawk was the 1st favorite, Agnes World the 2nd, and Meiner Love the 3rd.]
[King Halo, who had lost time and time again, was only the 4th favorite. Even as the 4th favorite, his odds were more than double those of the 3rd favorite, it could be said that almost no one believed in him.]
[The race was full of intrigue because King Halo's jockey for this race was Yoshitomi Shibata, while his old partner, Yuichi Fukunaga, was also present, riding another horse, Divine Light. One wonders what Fukunaga felt when he saw King Halo at the start, and what King Halo felt in return.]
[After all, racehorses and jockeys do share deep emotional bonds.]
[Soon, all horses were in the gates. A 1200m race tests a horse's power and explosiveness, it is a full-speed contest from the start. The start is crucial, and everyone in the crowd held their breath.]
[As the gates snapped open, the horses leaped forward into a chaotic battle, and the crowd erupted in cheers.]
[King Halo started well but chose an End Closer strategy, conserving energy at the back of the pack.]
[Mejiro Darling emerged from the leading scramble to set the pace, while Meiner Love kept a close eye on her from the leading position, ready to spurt at any moment.]
[But 1200 meters is extremely short and intense. By the time they reached the middle of the third and fourth corners, only 33 seconds had passed. Mejiro Darling accelerated further, maintaining her advantage all the way to the final straight.]
[As they entered the straight, the pack bunched up, but King Halo was still nowhere to be seen among the leaders.]
[Then, in the next instant, a bright green figure suddenly burst forth from the extreme outside!]
[With burning fighting spirit, he closed the gap step by step. With a monster-like terminal speed, he overtook the other horses one by one.]
[Finally, by a neck's margin, he fended off the 1st favorite Black Hawk and the 2nd favorite Agnes World to win the G1 title he had dreamed of for so long.]
[The JRA announcer shouted "From the far outside, the far outside, King Halo is indeed flying in!"]
["King Halo is catching up! Will it be King Halo?"]
["King Halo cuts down his opponents!"]
["King Halo! King Halo slaughters the competition in an instant!"]
["That fearsome closing speed has finally captured the G1 title!"]
[The jockey of the second-place horse was none other than Yuichi Fukunaga. He witnessed from a close distance as King Halo achieved the G1 victory that the young Yuichi Fukunaga could not give him.]
[What could Fukunaga say at that moment? Looking at his former partner, his heart must have been filled with complex emotions.]
[Meanwhile, as King Halo celebrated his victory...]
[The white-haired trainer, Masahiro Sakaguchi, was in tears. All the accumulated emotions and insults were finally released at this moment. Perhaps he had imagined this scene countless times.]
[Is the moment a dream is achieved truly this happy? Is it truly this overwhelming?]
[Ten consecutive G1 losses, and finally on the 11th challenge, the championship was won. The long night had passed, and the warm dawn had finally arrived.]
[He and King Halo proved themselves, and proved that King Halo's bloodline was indeed strong enough to win a G1.]
[In 2012, the JRA used this as a basis for commemorative merchandise, with the following text:]
[2000, Takamatsunomiya Kinen.]
[That horse, spanning over ten defeats, proved his pedigree.]
[Even if he lost, even if he failed, even if he was struck down, he would never bow his head.]
[The green hood, the unyielding spirit. The name of this horse is "King Halo."]
[...]
[Indeed, even after facing defeat ten times, a chance to prove oneself will eventually come. King Halo's story is deeply moving.]
[After the 2000 G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, reporters interviewed King Halo's jockey, Yoshitomi Shibata, asking about his feelings on the win.]
[Shibata expressed that he was very happy. He felt they were falling behind midway through, but King Halo didn't give up.]
[He believed King Halo was an incredibly strong horse with a powerful pedigree, and he just hadn't performed to his potential previously for various reasons. This victory might be a good omen for the spring season.]
[It was clear that this race gave King Halo's camp a surge of confidence. After all, they had finally won!]
[Regarding this race, many years later, someone asked Yuichi Fukunaga: "Which race do you regret the most?"]
[Fukunaga answered: "The 2000 Takamatsunomiya Kinen won by King Halo. Not because I only took second place, but because the winning horse, King Halo, was one I used to ride. Why couldn't I be the one to let him win a G1?"]
[Fukunaga added: "But thinking about King Halo, I also felt 'He finally won a G1, that's great.' My state of mind was very complicated at the time."]
[In fact, Fukunaga was very grateful to King Halo. In 2011, he publicly spoke about his feelings for him.]
["If he were a human, I would call him my benefactor. To me, King Halo is a 'Benefactor Horse.' I am deeply grateful to him."]
[It is truly a pity for King Halo, because his closing speed was exceptionally strong and his bloodline was excellent. Even looking back at the 2000 Takamatsunomiya Kinen now, his short-distance explosive speed was second to none.]
[If his physical training had been strengthened earlier, or if they had found his optimal track suitability sooner, he definitely would have won more than just one G1.]
[If he hadn't won the 2000 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, such a good horse might have been a runner-up for his entire life.]
[Furthermore, King Halo's luck was quite poor. He was the only horse from the Golden Generation who failed to make it into the "Top 100 Horses of the 20th Century," while even Air Jihad, the 1999 Yasuda Kinen winner, ranked in the 70s.]
[Why was his luck poor? Because the JRA's timing back then was absurd. They were supposed to evaluate the Top 100 of the 20th century, but before the 2000 racing season was even finished, the organizers started the voting early to meet a deadline.]
[Therefore, King Halo's victory in the 2000 Takamatsunomiya Kinen wasn't even counted.]
[T.M. Opera O, the Overlord of the Century's End, was even more of a victim. He won 5 G1s in the year 2000, including the Autumn Triple Crown, yet ranked 27th. If the organizers hadn't been so hasty, even Meisho Doto could have made the list.]
[Cygames making King Halo and Haru Urara roommates was actually a very heartwarming arrangement. Both are incredibly inspirational figures. Haru Urara is a little angel, and in truth, King Halo is a little angel too— it's just that Urara is straightforward, while King Halo is very tsundere in certain ways.]
[Furthermore, they are both synonymous with "persistent effort" and "never giving up." Together, they radiate the light of perseverance and kindness.]
[...]
[Haru Urara's running inspired many people, and King Halo was the same.]
[After dozens of defeats, King Halo finally achieved his long-cherished wish of a G1 conquest. This redemptive race inspired not only the hearts of regular fans, but also many who were lost in life.]
[It is said that after King Halo won the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, his camp received a fan letter addressed to "Mr. King Halo, Rittou-cho, Shiga Prefecture." The sender's address was— Osaka Detention House.]
[He wrote in the letter: "This race truly moved me. I too will reform myself as soon as possible, return to society, and cheer for King Halo again."]
[Haru Urara and King Halo are different. Sometimes it is painful to keep failing and keep trying, but with Urara, everyone understood she lacked natural talent.]
[But King Halo's losses were seen as the "Fall of a Genius," and the insults he faced were sharper and more terrifying. In a way, the two of them inspired each other.]
[Speaking of King Halo being tsundere, she largely inherited it from her mother, Goodbye Halo. Her mother was often extremely strict and harsh with her words, but while her tongue was sharp, her heart could never let go of her daughter.]
[On King Halo's birthday, despite not being good at cooking, her mother forced herself to make a birthday cake for her beloved daughter. She ended up blowing up the kitchen.]
[In the end, she had to hide this from King Halo, buy a finished cake from a shop, and eat the entire failed attempt herself. If that's not hereditary, I'll eat my computer screen.]
[One can only say this is King Halo's mother— stubborn and strong-willed to the end. Though blowing up the kitchen is quite extreme, for her, cooking might be more stressful than racing in a G1.]
[What can I say?]
[If you're bad at it, practice more! If you don't know how to do it, don't do it!]
[I suddenly remembered that during a parent-teacher meeting at Tracen Academy, both Eishin Flash's and King Halo's parents attended. Eishin Flash's parents are master chefs and were making cakes. King Halo's mom kept watching from the side... was she trying to secretly learn?]
[She looked like she wanted to try her hand at it, but stopped as soon as she saw King Halo coming. She probably didn't want King Halo to see her.]
[I can only say that King Halo arrived just in time.]
[Otherwise, with her cooking skills, she would have blown Tracen to pieces.]
At this moment, inside Team Spica, everyone was silent, immersed in the log. The stories of Grass Wonder and King Halo had them focused and deeply moved.
Even little Rice Shower, the brat Tokai Teio, the simple-minded Special Week, and the naive Buena Vista were all shedding tears.
However, when they reached the end about King Halo's mom blowing up Tracen, they couldn't help but burst out laughing.
In an art exhibition hall in Tokyo.
Goodbye Halo had a bright red face. The fact that she blew up the kitchen making a cake was only known to a few people, mostly because of the loud commotion that day.
'Had it reached Trainer Mizuki's ears?'
Today, she just wanted to browse an exhibition, wearing elegant casual clothes while checking the log. When she initially saw King Halo winning the championship, she was touched.
As King Halo's mother, she felt happy, but mostly a sense of relief. Winning first place would make her daughter happy, and she wouldn't have to see that frustrated, sad expression anymore.
But being tsundere, she didn't plan to congratulate her immediately. She intended to wait a while before replying once King Halo contacted her, making it seem like she didn't care that much.
However, while she was still thinking about how to reply, the story of her in the kitchen was exposed.
She couldn't believe she was being outed like this. And Trainer Mizuki's writing was getting more and more ridiculous— "blowing up Tracen"?
She felt faint. With this exposure, how could she face her colleagues? It made her look like some clumsy kitchen airhead.
"Curse her... this is too embarrassing."
Goodbye Halo's face was flushed, her heart was racing with shame, and her toes were practically curling into the floor.
She truly wanted to say "Goodbye" to this world. She knew King Halo would see this log, and she dreaded what her daughter would say.
She was a successful woman, usually majestic and imposing, but right now she didn't know what to do, feeling as flustered as a young girl.
Regardless, she decided she wouldn't be replying to anyone's messages for a while.
Meanwhile, in Team Spica.
"Gained 18kg... Big Yellow Cow... Why is my nickname 'Big Yellow Cow'..."
Grass Wonder looked very concerned. She hadn't expected to be the "Thousand-Pound Horse."
Was it because she was so happy after beating Spe-chan that she ate too well?
Grass Wonder felt she needed to research weight loss. She used to just eat and train naturally without worrying about her weight, but she decided she would eat a little less tonight.
She still found the nickname hard to understand. Why did being fat mean being a "Big Yellow Cow"?
It was strange.
She didn't actually picture herself as a cow— nicknames often had various explanations. She decided to keep following the log, maybe there would be an explanation one day.
However, she didn't know that the "Big Yellow Cow" nickname really was based on the real horse's physical appearance.
Once she had the chance to see the real horse version of herself, she would understand.
Grass Wonder also found another point strange: what did "mare resources" mean? She knew "mare" meant female horses, or girls, right?
"Why would the reason for me not retiring be to avoid competing with El Condor Pasa and Special Week for 'girl resources'? Do we have to do something with girls after we retire?"
Grass Wonder asked with a serious face.
Nice Nature was curious: "Hmm? Does that mean when I retire, I'll be assigned girls too? How strange."
Gold Ship laughed: "Haha, I get it! Is it like an assigned dating partner?"
Kitasan Black's face turned red. "You mean... like falling in love? That's impossible, Gold Ship, don't talk nonsense!"
Equinox asked: "Dating? Is that fun?"
Mejiro McQueen didn't know how to answer: "This... you'll understand when you grow up."
Tokai Teio snorted and put her hands on her hips: "As for romance, Equinox, you're asking the right person— Teio-sama! I could easily date two or three times if I wanted!"
"You don't even know what romance is, Teio," Nice Nature retorted.
Kitasan Black: "It's so strange. If I could visit the real-horse world one day, maybe I'd understand. I need to remind the real-horse version of myself to stay safe, some things shouldn't be broken again."
Satono Diamond: "But wouldn't that be considered acting like a creep?"
Kitasan Black: "It... it's possible. What should I do then, waaa."
Gold Ship: "Hahaha! Personally, I hope the Gold Ship in the real-horse world can become the fastest man in the world!"
As Gold Ship spoke, her gaze moved toward King Halo.
All those things were minor, right now, everyone was happiest that King Halo had finally achieved her long-cherished G1 victory.
Haru Urara said happily, "This is wonderful, King-chan! You finally got a G1. When Urara gets back, I'll buy you something to celebrate!"
King Halo nodded seriously. Her expression was heart-wrenching. When she was failing, she always confidently called herself a "first-rate Uma Musume," but now that she saw herself winning the G1, countless emotions flooded her heart.
She couldn't keep up her usual front, and tears began to well in her eyes.
She didn't want to cry, but she truly couldn't help it. She had fulfilled her promise, she had captured her own G1 championship.
"Congratulations, King Halo-san. Your serious side is truly impressive. You are an important representative of our Golden Generation," Special Week said sincerely.
"Yeah, being that strong even without the 'correct' training— it's truly amazing," Seiun Sky sighed. She wished she had a powerful pedigree too, but she was content.
Her grandfather had called her a genius, and even that old man couldn't think of a better word. Since she had won two G1s, she felt it was enough.
However, Seiun Sky couldn't help but wonder if it would have been better if she could have secured a few more victories in the year 2000.
After all, it would have been a big help to Nishiyama Farm. She knew that in the real-world, old man Nishiyama truly, truly loved Seiun Sky.
'A beautiful girl like Seiun-chan is popular everywhere after all', she thought.
"Thank you... but I'm not crying, okay? See? This is what a first-rate Uma Musume looks like! Ah~~hahahaha~~"
King Halo waved her hand, returning to her traditional laugh.
But this time, her laugh was no longer a forced smile to hide her pain, it was a genuine, heartfelt expression of joy.
"Still, I wonder if it's a trick of fate. Yuichi Fukunaga was actually in second place, watching you take the championship," Meisho Doto remarked.
"I don't know, but it's a pity I couldn't win the G1 with him. I don't feel like I deserve the title of 'Benefactor Horse' either, since I didn't bring him much success. But the good news is, he still has chances."
"His dream is the Tokyo Derby, right? I hope to see him fulfill that dream one day."
King Halo was remarkably gentle. When mentioning Yuichi Fukunaga, there was no blame.
After all, a race isn't just one person's responsibility. If you claim all the credit for a win but blame your teammate for a loss, the competition loses all meaning.
If you win, you celebrate together, if you lose, you analyze and reflect together.
That is the true meaning of "first-rate."
Furthermore, King Halo declared that this was only her first championship. Perhaps there would be more to come in the future.
While King Halo started out moved, she couldn't keep her composure when she saw the part about her mother. A wave of warmth rose in her heart.
She and her mother fought constantly, and both were sharp-tongued, but reading Trainer Mizuki's words filled her with heat.
She truly hadn't known that such things had happened behind the scenes.
"Honestly... even on my last birthday, she told me I shouldn't bother racing, yet she spent all that time preparing."
King Halo grumbled, but her eyes were red. She had always chased her mother's approval, but perhaps her mother wanted something from her too— gratitude, companionship, or maybe just the approval of her own daughter.
Communication between parents and children is often like that, separated by a layer of hazy silk.
However, when King Halo saw Mizuki say her mother could blow up Tracen, she nearly burst out laughing.
'Honestly, Trainer, it's not that exaggerated!'
King Halo took out her phone, wanting to send her mother a message, but she felt shy.
"Mother, thank you for the birthday cake you prepared for me. Let's make one together next time. It doesn't matter if we fail a few times, we'll succeed eventually."
King Halo sent the message, assuming that given her mother's busy schedule, it would take a while to get a reply— or she'd receive some indifferent remark.
However, this time, her mother replied almost instantly.
"Fail many times? I'll succeed on the next try. I'm busy, let's talk later."
King Halo was surprised by the speed of the reply, but she knew that was just how her mother was.
She turned off her phone, a happy expression lingering on her face, eager to see if she would achieve any further breakthroughs in the logs.
Soon, Mizuki's log updated again.
[In the year 2000, Grass Wonder and King Halo continued their battles. However, by this time, after a medical check-up, Seiun Sky required further rest, potentially for more than a year.]
[Thus, during this period, Seiun Sky remained at Nishiyama Farm to recover from his injuries.]
[Grass Wonder was still preparing for the G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup in May 2000, a 1400m left-handed race.]
[King Halo was the same, also choosing to participate in the 2000 G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup.]
[This time, it was a duel between King Halo and Grass Wonder.]
[However, both King Halo and Grass Wonder performed poorly. Grass Wonder failed to accelerate effectively on the final straight and finished 9th, the lowest finish of his career.]
[King Halo finished 11th, also suffering a crushing defeat. The winner was a horse named Stinger.]
[After the race, Grass Wonder's jockey was replaced by Ebina Masayoshi, who had been El Condor Pasa's jockey.]
[This change was later criticized by fans: Matoba handing over El Condor Pasa to Ebina during the Mainichi Okan was a huge loss, leading to the saying: "Matoba's clever plan settled the world, but he lost the Condor and broke the Grass."]
[Despite this, Grass Wonder entered the Takarazuka Kinen based on fan votes. The race was billed as a battle for supremacy between Grass Wonder and T.M. Opera O.]
[By 2000, T.M. Opera O's strength needed no introduction. He had already won the Tenno Sho Spring and the Kyoto Daishoten back-to-back, aiming for a third straight victory.]
[Although Grass Wonder showed a trend of overtaking the lead pack, including Opera O, during the race, he ultimately couldn't sustain the sprint to the end. He lost to time, and he lost to the rising Overlord, T.M. Opera O.]
[The era was handed over at this moment, Opera O struck down last year's Takarazuka winner, Grass Wonder, to ascend as the new King.]
[Grass Wonder finished 6th. After the race, he was diagnosed with a fracture in his left metacarpal bone. It was determined he could no longer compete.]
[Once hailed as the "second coming of Maruzensky" and the strongest three-year-old, Grass Wonder's moment finally came. After careful testing, his retirement was announced.]
[From then on, the Golden Generation was left with only King Halo fighting alone, and Seiun Sky still in recovery.]
[In truth, compared to El Condor Pasa's retirement after the Arc de Triomphe or Special Week's bittersweet 2nd place retirement at the Arima Kinen, Grass Wonder's injury-forced retirement at the Takarazuka Kinen felt much more lonely.]
[On the very turf where he had twice been crowned King, facing the aggressive Overlord, he was powerless to catch up to his younger self. No matter how much effort he put in, he could not defeat time, and ultimately left the stage in solitude.]
[The miracle of the Golden Generation, Grass Wonder, completely exited the stage of history.]
Inside Team Spica.
"The year 2000 was the era of T.M. Opera O's dominance, wasn't it? I didn't expect my finale to be a 6th-place finish, but that's okay. I fought until the very last moment, and that's enough."
Grass Wonder spoke calmly, but her tone betrayed a hint of lingering regret. She truly wanted to have run a bit better.
Looking back at their prime, the races featuring the Golden Generation covered almost every G1 title. But now, they were being overtaken by the new generation one by one.
Still, she was happy, the purpose of Tracen Academy was to foster more and more powerful Uma Musume. Watching them step onto the world stage, they would only get stronger.
Grass Wonder also believed that one day, the JRA would fulfill its long-cherished wish and win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"Next, leave it to me and Seiun-chan. I know I'm not the strongest, but for the glory of our generation, I will give it my all."
"We won't let the next generation overtake us so easily!"
King Halo declared, a spark flashing in her eyes.
Yes, everyone in their generation was a rival, but also a friend. You can't become strong if you're all alone.
She was proud of her generation, and even if it was the end of their era and others thought they were past their prime, she would push herself to the limit.
King Halo smiled, wondering what her own finale would look like.
At that moment, Mizuki's log continued.
[King Halo did not participate in that Takarazuka Kinen. Later, he chose to enter the Yasuda Kinen on June 4th, achieving a solid 3rd place finish, which gave his camp confidence.]
[However, King Halo was at the end of his tether. Aside from a 3rd place in the Yasuda Kinen, where he lost by a neck to the overseas challenger Fairy King Prawn, he had no more standout performances.]
[In the G1 Sprinters Stakes on October 1, 2000, he finished 7th, out of the money.]
[In the G2 Swan Stakes on October 28, 2000, he finished 12th.]
[In the G1 Mile Championship on November 19, 2000, he finished 7th again.]
[At this point, King Halo's team announced that he would retire after the Arima Kinen on December 24, 2000.]
[However, the 2000 Arima Kinen is known to everyone as a legendary battle.]
[It was the Arima Kinen where T.M. Opera O fought back against fate.]
[The 2000 Arima Kinen featured a gathering of famous horses: T.M. Opera O, Meisho Doto, Narita Top Road, King Halo, and more.]
[It can be said that by December 2000, the Golden Generation was barely mentioned anymore, the era had already shifted.]
[And King Halo, as a remnant of the old era and a member of the Golden Generation, participated in this, his final Arima Kinen.]
[What happened after the race began was something no one expected.]
[Beside King Halo was the Overlord of the Century's End, surrounded by the pack. An undefeated G1 run in the year 2000 and the unprecedented feat of the Autumn Triple Crown were right before him. Everyone's eyes were fixed on him.]
[Amidst the frenzied cheers of over 100,000 spectators at Nakayama Racecourse, the genius Overlord broke through the encirclement with a young deadweight on his back.]
[However, in a corner where no one was looking, King Halo finished his career in noble fashion, clocking the fastest closing speed of the field to finish only 0.2 seconds behind T.M. Opera O.]
[King Halo, the unyielding King of eternal glory, chose a proud way to take his final bow.]
[The Overlord of the Century's End, T.M. Opera O, achieved godhood after this battle.]
[Meanwhile, Seiun Sky witnessed the departure of everyone in the Golden Generation.]
[October 3, 1999, Paris: El Condor Pasa's dream of winning the Arc de Triomphe was crushed by the European Horse King Montjeu. He finished 2nd and retired.]
[December 26, 1999, Nakayama: Special Week lost the Arima Kinen by a 4cm nose hair. Carrying the lifelong regret of never defeating Grass Wonder, he retired.]
[June 25, 2000, Hanshin: Grass Wonder lost speed at the final turn of the Takarazuka Kinen and finished 6th. A fracture was discovered, and he retired.]
[December 24, 2000, Nakayama: King Halo, on the final straight of the Arima Kinen, had the fastest sprint in the field, dueling with a junior Seiun Sky didn't recognize. He took 4th place with dignity in the darkness and retired.]
[Then came 2001. After being away from the track for over a year, Seiun Sky returned from injury.]
[His comeback race was the Tenno Sho Spring on April 29, 2001.]
[The last member of the '98 Golden Generation, Seiun Sky, entered the race in excellent condition despite the long absence.]
[It was raining at Kyoto Racecourse, and the turf was muddy.]
[T.M. Opera O, Narita Top Road, Meisho Doto, and Seiun Sky were all in good shape.]
[After the race began, in the first 1000 meters, an excited Seiun Sky ran his personal best of 58 seconds... but he lost speed at the final turn and could no longer finish the sprint like he used to.]
[Despite giving it his all, he was overtaken by horse after horse, watching the Overlord of the Century's End cross the finish line.]
[It was a full 16 seconds later that Seiun Sky, dragging his old and heavy steps, crossed the line in 12th place. Dead last.]
[After that, Seiun Sky never participated in another race. No member of the Golden Generation ever raced again.]
[On August 19, 2001, Seiun Sky retired.]
[And with that, every member of the Golden Generation exited the stage of history.]