Inside the Tracen teaching building. Nakayama Festa froze when she saw her name. She never expected the person featured in the diary to be herself.
"Wait... what's going on...?"
She remembered what Trainer Mizuki wrote last night and a terrible possibility crossed her mind.
"Could it be... the teacher Mizuki wrote about is my... teacher?!"
Her pupils dilated. She ignored the info about her real-life horse counterpart and instinctively reached for her phone to check on her teacher. But in the next instant, her hand stopped.
She realized a sudden inquiry would be meaningless. Trainer Mizuki only said the teacher would meet with an "accident" but didn't provide specifics.
She decided to calm down and see what actually happened. If it was just an accident, there was still a chance to change it.
"Right. It must be an accident. Teacher taught me how to live, so this time, I will be her hope."
Nakayama Festa was glad she saw the log. Her heart was beating faster than ever before, and her breathing grew shallow. As her entry appeared, Gold Ship, Tosen Jordan, Sirius Symboli, and El Condor Pasa gathered around her to see what was happening.
"Hey, Festa-san, did you see the log?"
Tosen Jordan was pale with shock. She had just been chatting about the teacher last night. She was scared because Mizuki's diary already mentioned the teacher's fate— that she might meet misfortune due to health issues.
Jordan was already on the verge of tears.
"I was shocked too. It's okay, there's a chance to fix it. I promise."
Gold Ship wasn't even joking around anymore.
Mizuki's log had stirred up a massive storm, making everyone incredibly tense.
"...Ah, thanks." Nakayama Festa nodded, her voice suppressed with tension. To her, the teacher was the person who gave her hope and changed her life. She couldn't let anything happen to her.
In the hallways of Tracen, Oguri Cap saw the entry and froze for a moment.
She felt a deep connection to this. As a girl from the regional circuits, she also had a teacher-like figure in her life named Kitahara.
Kitahara raised her from the local circuits, but he lacked the qualifications to enter the JRA. Carrying both Kitahara's hopes and the expectations of the local tracks, Oguri Cap arrived at Tracen Academy, determined to win races here as well.
If Oguri Cap knew that something had happened to Kitahara, she would find it impossible to control her emotions. Even though she was now in the Central circuit, her feelings for the regional circuits remained incredibly deep.
"Nakayama Festa... I hope her teacher is alright."
Elsewhere:
Special Week was already on the verge of tears upon seeing the entry.
"Eh? Nakayama Festa's teacher? How can this be happening?"
Special Week's mother had left her when she was a child. Her desire to become the "Number One in Japan" and stand at the peak of all URA Uma Musume was fueled by the wish for her mother to see her— it was the source of her drive.
Just reading the diary had already made her imagine that Festa was in a similar position.
'But if things followed what Trainer Mizuki wrote yesterday... by the time Nakayama Festa was running with all her might, her teacher would already be gone...?'
Thinking of this, Special Week's eyes reddened. Becoming Japan's number one was a dream shared by her and her two mothers. If her mother weren't there, she might lose all motivation to keep running.
'It'll be okay. It must be okay.'
She silently continued to read. At that moment, Mizuki's log updated, revealing a fact that struck a chord of grief in everyone's hearts...
[Today is unusual. I haven't just obtained some real-horse world knowledge.]
[I got some knowledge about Nakayama Feta's story in this world.]
[In the world of Uma Musume, Nakayama Festa was actually very aimless as a child. Back then, her only dream was to chase excitement. Like a desperate gambler, she hung out with delinquents, constantly doing dangerous and meaningless things just to feel her heart race.]
[At that time, she didn't understand what it meant to truly live.]
[If it weren't for Nakayama Festa's teacher, she might have spent her entire life in that haze.]
[It was Teacher Nobuko who, with selfless love, guided Nakayama Festa back to the right path.]
[However, the tragedy is that when Nakayama Festa entered the URA wanting to repay Teacher Nobuko, her teacher passed away unexpectedly due to esophageal cancer.]
[Nakayama Festa didn't know what to do.]
[She had intended to run for her teacher. She wanted her teacher to know that she had finally found a goal and direction in life, but her teacher was already gone.]
[Nakayama Festa looked at the letter left by her teacher. In it, the teacher simply thanked her, saying that seeing her run in the final days of her life gave her the courage to fight her illness.]
[However, Nakayama Festa knew that shouldn't be the case. The person who should be giving thanks wasn't the teacher— it was her.]
[In that moment, Nakayama Festa told herself she had to do something more.]
[Her teacher's most beloved city was Paris, and her favorite theatre troupe was the Takarazuka Revue.]
[She believed her teacher would be watching her. Nakayama Festa was a girl of few words— clumsy and foolish, unable to express herself. All she could do was run with everything she had, using the sound of her desperate stride to tell her departed teacher "Teacher, do you see? I... really am a G1-winning horse, just like you said."]
["I finally... understand the meaning of living."]
[And she... Nakayama Festa, would carry her teacher's dream to complete a race that staked everything— a race that transcended the bond of teacher and student.]
[The story begins at the turn of the 21st century.]
At this point, almost everyone in Tracen was completely stunned. Nakayama Festa, in particular, looked utterly bewildered, her pupils trembling violently. Her eyes didn't register anything else, they were fixed on the news of her teacher's departure.
It felt like a bolt from the blue. Even though she had tried to prepare herself mentally for bad news when she first saw her name, that preparation proved pathetic and fragile against the cruel reality.
Her mind went blank, her face etched with disbelief, and her teeth clenched so hard her lower lip turned bruised and purple.
She stood there in total confusion. She didn't understand why it turned out like this.
She had already come to Tracen Academy, she had already promised her teacher that she would come watch her race. She had planned to find hope for life on this track, but now, an accident had occurred.
"How can this be..."
Festa didn't know what to do for a moment, but then she snapped out of it. Now wasn't the time for grief— she realized there was still a chance to change things.
She pulled out her phone to message her teacher... but when she dialed the number, no one picked up.
She immediately sent a text, urging her to go get a physical checkup immediately.
She even wanted to find a motorcycle right now, rush to her teacher's building, drag her out of the classroom regardless of the consequences, and throw her into a hospital for a full head-to-toe examination. She fumbled through her pockets, frantically calculating:
'How much is a full checkup? How much are health supplements?'
She didn't have enough money, so she'd have to borrow some.
Festa's head was in a whirl, but she forced herself to stay calm. Her teacher had helped her, and now she had to help her teacher.
Beside her, Tosen Jordan was already crying. She had been praying fervently in her heart. Though she was a bit of a delinquent who liked to skip class, she was deeply kind-hearted, and this news devastated her.
"Festa-san, did your teacher reply yet?" she asked, "It's a good thing we saw the log early. We can get her to go for a checkup. If it's found early, we can eliminate the danger!"
"Don't worry about the money, I have some here. If it isn't enough, we can ask McQueen or the school for some later." Gold Ship added, her playful side completely gone.
Nakayama Festa nodded. There was no time for gratitude now. She was about to leave, but then her phone buzzed.
It was her teacher.
Frantically, Nakayama Festa sent a barrage of texts, doing her best to explain what she learnt to Teacher Nobuko.
After spending a few moments reading through the texts, Nobuko responded, saying that she just so happened to be at the hospital today for a checkup anyway and that she'd also do a full physical exam.
The truth was, Izumi Nobuko had already been in the hospital for a while and her health was already failing. She knew the girl's personality best— if Festa knew how bad her health was, she'd worry to no end.
But now that Festa knows something is wrong, Nobuko knows that she won't be able to hide her condition for long...
Festa, unaware of how serious her teacher's condition already is, breathed a sigh of relief. She asked Nobuko to tell her the results later and said she'd head over soon.
Before she could leave, Gold Ship told her to wait and finish reading the log first, just in case there were other details to prevent. Festa agreed and began reading with intense focus, not daring to miss a single word.
Elsewhere, Buena Vista was heartbroken by the news. She was on the verge of tears but believed the teacher would be fine.
Buena Vista bears a resemblance to Special Week and is often considered her proudest daughter. In reality, she was a mare, identified in the game by a red bow on her left ear.
Buena Vista was a contemporary of Nakayama Festa, possessing immense strength with a career total of 6 G1 wins and 7 G1 runner-up finishes. Because she often lost races in inexplicable ways, fans called her the "Choked Idol."
Her unluckiest moment was the 2010 Japan Cup, where she was demoted by the JRA stewards due to a jockey error and outdated rules. Her foreign jockey famously shouted: "Let the world see how bad the Japanese stewards are!"
If it weren't for that, Buena Vista would have been the "General of Japan" in 2010, just like Special Week. She won the Japan Cup in 2011, which indirectly meant she missed the chance for consecutive wins.
Many believe if she had reached 7 G1s, she would be an undisputed Hall of Fame mare.
In Tracen, Buena Vista often hangs out with Special Week, though she is mischievous and often leaves Special Week dazed.
Coincidentally, as Special Week's daughter, Buena Vista also likes to race against Eishin Flash (the son of Grass Wonder), with Eishin Flash usually winning while Buena Vista took second— completing the special Grass Wonder vs. Special Week family legacy achievement.
But Buena Vista wasn't thinking about that, her focus was entirely on Nakayama Festa and Teacher Nobuko. As Festa's peer, she wanted to comfort her. With reddened eyes, she looked to see how the story would unfold.
In France, Victoire Pisa was also moved by the scene. She murmured: "Teacher Nobuko, it seems you are a worthy educator. You kept this Nakayama Festa running... I wonder what regrets you still had at the end?"
"And Nakayama Festa... just what heights can your all-out run reach?"
Victoire Pisa didn't know yet that Nakayama Festa's final opponent in her desperate struggle at the Arc would be her.
Mizuki's log continued:
[At the beginning of the 21st century, a foal was born at the Arai Farm in Mukawa, Hokkaido. That foal was Nakayama Festa.]
[The newborn Nakayama Festa didn't show extraordinary talent. Being born at an obscure farm, horse owners were disinterested, no one wanted a foal with such average potential.]
[This continued until, under the recommendation of trainer Yoshitaka Ninomiya, owner Shinichi Izumi purchased him at a low price.]
[He thought at the time— "Since I didn't pay much, I won't feel regretful even if he doesn't become a racehorse."]
[However, Shinichi Izumi didn't know then that this act would send shockwaves through the Japanese racing industry.]
[The story of Nakayama Festa and Ms. Nobuko begins here.]
[After buying him, Shinichi Izumi didn't register him under his own name. Instead, he gave the horse to his daughter, Nobuko Izumi, who had just become an owner that year. He joined the stable under the name "Nakayama Festa."]
[Nobuko Izumi was overjoyed when she first saw Nakayama Festa. She thanked her father excitedly and went to the farm immediately to see her very own horse.]
[She didn't care about his price or his stats. She loved this developing foal from the bottom of her heart.]
[Seeing his daughter so close to Nakayama Festa, the eighty-year-old Shinichi Izumi smiled, even joking that he was getting jealous. It was a truly beautiful time.]
[Nobuko would often visit Nakayama Festa, hand-feeding him carrots, telling him stories, and taking photos together while petting him.]
[She told Nakayama Festa about her love for the Takarazuka Revue, for Paris, and everything she liked. Every time she spoke, she brought fresh carrots.]
[The staff said Nobuko treated Nakayama Festa like her own child.]
[Indeed, she didn't love Nakayama Festa because he could take first place or win races, she loved him simply because he was Nakayama Festa.]
[Even though she loved the Takarazuka Revue, she never demanded that he achieve the Graded results necessary to run in the Takarazuka Kinen. To her, it was enough as long as Nakayama Festa ran hard.]
[All she wanted was for him to run hard on the track and then live a happy life.]
Seeing this, Tosen Jordan was moved to tears again.
"Waaaah! Even in the real horse world, Ms. Nobuko was so good to Festa-san. Even though she wasn't favored at first, she gave her all her love!"
Nakayama Festa's expression shifted.
"Yeah... it seems that way..."
Festa's chest hurt when she read this entry.
She had met Ms. Nobuko in the real horse world and the world of Uma Musume, and in both, she was cared for meticulously. The thought of Nobuko's eventual fate in the diary caused her heart to ache.
She vowed that she would work hard. She'd get rewards from the diary, and she wouldn't wouldn't take them for herself— she would give them all to Ms. Nobuko.
She silently begged her real-life counterpart: 'Please, win more races for Ms. Nobuko. If she's happy, maybe she won't get sick.'
Her contemporaries, Buena Vista and Eishin Flash, also watched the log tensely.
[However, Ms. Nobuko likely never expected that her love for Nakayama Festa would be repaid beyond her imagination.]
[In November 2008, Nakayama Festa made a smooth debut under jockey Hiroyuki Uchida. In the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes, he started as the 9th favorite but surged ahead on the final straight with the powerful late stretch kick of the Gold bloodline to take the win, becoming a rising star of the Classic generation.]
[Afterward, the team aimed for the G3 Keisei Hai. However, affected by an injury to a horse named Sunrise Quill, Nakayama Festa narrowly lost by a neck, taking second.]
[But this result already had the team immersed in joy. Though his wins were narrow, proving his strength by conquering a graded race so soon after debut was impressive.]
[Many thought he was underestimated afterward, but in truth, he was an excellent horse capable of leaving a mark on the Triple Crown route.]
"Good, keep it up! But wait... 'Gold bloodline'? What does that mean?"
Nakayama Festa was happy about the win, but the mention of "Gold bloodline" made her pause. It couldn't be that she was part of the Gold clan, right? Didn't they say everyone in that clan had a weird temperament? Surely she didn't have one.
However, she clearly misunderstood one thing: Her future temper was actually quite significant. As a progeny of Stay Gold, she was prone to being utterly wild in certain aspects.
But she didn't have time to ponder that now, she simply continued reading. At that moment, Mizuki's log continued:
[However, the expectations of the team were beautiful, but the cruel reality threw a bucket of cold water on them.]
After the Keisei Hai, Nakayama Festa's physical condition plummeted. The team, busy trying to adjust his form, had to hurriedly prepare at the last moment and rush into the subsequent Classic races.]
[When the Satsuki Sho arrived on April 19th, Nakayama Festa was still in poor condition. He entered with only the 6th popularity support. Although he stayed near the lead group for a while during the race, he failed to unleash his signature late-stretch kick and sank into the pack, suffering a crushing defeat in 8th place.]
[At the end of the next month, Nakayama Festa prepared for the Tokyo Derby. In this race, he clocked the fastest final three furlongs of the entire field, but unfortunately, there was still a significant gap to the lead. He finished in 4th place.]
[However, during the Derby, Nakayama Festa's form showed signs of recovery. Everyone saw that he was a horse who ran with all his heart, doing his best to complete every race.]
[His hard work yielded results. Before the Kikuka Sho, he participated in the G2 St. Lite Kinen in late September and secured a victory.]
[This victory was the best outcome of their collective efforts.]
[And this was linked to Ms. Nobuko's affection. "Nakayama Festa will run with everything he has"— that was the impression he left on everyone, and a major reason for that was Ms. Nobuko's encouragement.]
[But shockingly, Ms. Nobuko stopped appearing after that.]
[Nakayama Festa was confused. He would often stand and wait, but from dawn until dusk, there was nothing.]
[He might have been thinking... 'Did Ms. Nobuko abandon me?']
[However, that wasn't the case.]
[At that time, Ms. Nobuko had developed severe esophageal cancer and was hospitalized, barely able to look after herself.]
[When he could no longer see Ms. Nobuko, Nakayama Festa's temperament changed drastically. He was no longer the hardworking Nakayama Festa, he became irritable and began to loathe training.]
[The team believed that if Ms. Nobuko were still there, such a thing would never have happened.]
[When the Kikuka Sho arrived, the Nakayama Festa who had sprinted desperately in the Derby was gone. The Nakayama Festa who had won easily in the St. Lite Kinen was gone.]
[Nakayama Festa finished in 12th place, a humiliating defeat in the Kikuka Sho.]
[The fans were baffled. What happened to Nakayama Festa? Why did he become like this?]
[Had his potential reached its limit?]
[But in reality, his team knew: it was because Nakayama Festa could no longer find Ms. Nobuko's figure.]
[Then, even worse news arrived. A few weeks after the Kikuka Sho, Ms. Nobuko passed away from esophageal cancer.]
[Shinichi Izumi could not bear the pain of losing his daughter. At the age of 80, this elderly father encountered the most heartbreaking thing in the world.]
Seeing this at Tracen Academy:
"I didn't expect the Ms. Nobuko of the real horse world to be the same."
Nakayama Festa remained silent for a long time.
She vowed in her heart to prevent this tragedy. Whether it was the Teacher Nobuko of the Tracen world or the Ms. Nobuko of the real horse world, she would save them both.
Tosen Jordan hugged Gold Ship tightly, tears streaming down her face. Though she had never met Teacher Nobuko, the love she showed Nakayama Festa was so pure.
In truth, if Teacher Nobuko could see Nakayama Festa's current resolve, she would surely shed tears of joy. She would never regret her choice to help a student like Nakayama Festa.
The log continued:
[Shinichi Izumi recalled everything Nobuko had loved. She loved France, and she loved the Takarazuka Revue. In the final years of his life, he wanted to do something more for his beloved daughter.]
[He transferred Nakayama Festa to his own name, but in his heart, this was his daughter's racehorse.]
[He wanted to win the Takarazuka Kinen with Nakayama Festa and travel to his daughter's favorite city, Paris, to contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.]
[Upon hearing this, Nakayama Festa finally understood everything.]
[From that moment on, everyone realized that the Nakayama Festa who ran so hard when Ms. Nobuko was by his side had returned.]
[He would use his full strength to comfort Ms. Nobuko's soul in heaven. Every step forward was his voice, he believed that when he ran with everything he had, the Ms. Nobuko who had always praised him since she was small would surely see him.]
[He desperately wanted to do something for Ms. Nobuko.]
[Nakayama Festa's team didn't know his exact mental state, but they could only bet everything on him.]
[They flipped a coin. If Nakayama Festa remained in the same slump as he was during the Kikuka Sho and couldn't win a single race, participating in the Takarazuka Kinen would be nonsense, let alone the Arc.]
[Was there no hope at all, or was there a chance? They only had one shot.]
[The coin had been tossed, all they could do was pray.]
[However, as a gambler, Nakayama Festa would never lose a bet like that.]
[Carrying Nobuko's dreams, Nakayama Festa burst out in the Metropolitan Stakes (OP). With a 2-length victory, he declared his successful revival in his senior year.]
[The team then set their sights on the G1 event— the Takarazuka Kinen.]
[For others, this Takarazuka Kinen might have been just a Grand Prix to decide the strongest of the first half of the year, but for Nakayama Festa, it was much more. To honor Nobuko's memory, he stepped onto the track with absolute determination to win.]
[However, for Nakayama Festa, the lineup for this race was nothing short of despairing.]
[His opponents included Buena Vista, a 4-time G1 winner and one of the strongest of the era, the heavy favorite Eishin Flash, and last year's Tokyo Derby winner Unrivaled.]
[But Nakayama Festa had a reason why he could not lose. Despite starting as the 8th favorite, he was prepared to fight to the death.]
[The Takarazuka Kinen began.]
[Eishin Flash, Unrivaled, and Nakayama Knight fought for the lead early on, locked in a fierce battle. Nakayama Festa stayed at the back of the pack to conserve energy, waiting for his chance to strike.]
[Entering the 4th corner, Unrivaled, who had been in the lead group, faded due to loss of speed. Taking his place was Buena Vista, who had maintained a forward position throughout, gradually pulling ahead with her leg power.]
[With only 200 meters to the finish, Nakayama Knight also faded from exhaustion. Buena Vista held a firm grip on the first-place position. She seemed destined to win.]
[But at that moment, a scene that shocked everyone unfolded.]
[Nakayama Festa surged from the outside, showcasing his terrifying late-stretch speed. He chased from far back, every desperate stride narrowing the gap between him and Buena Vista.]
[All Nakayama Festa could do was run, knowing that his death-defying posture as he gave his all would surely be seen by Ms. Nobuko.]
[Nakayama Festa and Buena Vista battled in the final 50 meters, and in the end, Nakayama Festa had the last laugh. He overtook Buena Vista, pulling off a stunning upset victory by half a length, securing a victory that was the most meaningful of his life.]
[When the race ended, performers from the Takarazuka Revue— Ms. Nobuko's favorite troupe— took the stage to personally present the trophy to Nakayama Festa.]
[Seeing this, Shinichi Izumi couldn't help but burst into tears.]
[In his 60 years as an owner, this was the only G1 victory he ever achieved.]
[Following this, Nakayama Festa's camp announced something that shocked everyone: They were heading to France for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.]
[October 3, 2010.]
[Longchamp, France.]
[The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe arrived as scheduled.]
[The team was fully prepared, they were the same team that had handled El Condor Pasa, who had nearly conquered the world with a second-place finish.]
[Nakayama Festa's hard work combined with the team's active preparation and training— this time, they weren't just pursuing a dream, they wanted to dedicate the Arc trophy to Ms. Nobuko, who loved France so much.]
[The race began.]
[From the start, Nakayama Festa showed immense strength. No one could block his path. He held a position on the outside of the mid-pack. Although he was briefly blocked by multiple runners at the final turn, he found an opening in the pack upon entering the straight and broke through successfully.]
[He locked into a relentless duel with that year's Epsom Derby winner, Workforce, and briefly took the lead.]
[The live broadcast had everyone's heart in their throats.]
[The commentator screamed in excitement at the finish!]
["Nakayama Festa! Workforce!"]
["Who will take the crown?!"]
["Nakayama Festa is in second!"]
["Workforce leads!"]
["Is there still a chance for Nakayama Festa? He's in second!"]
["Will Nakayama Festa finish in second after all?"]
"Nakayama Festa has worked incredibly hard to take second place in the Arc!"]
[Perhaps many would sigh, thinking it a great pity that Nakayama Festa didn't win. But at the time, everyone believed it was almost impossible for him to achieve any result at the Arc.]
[While many Japanese fans hoped he would win, they didn't hold much hope, his popularity as the 9th favorite made that clear.]
[Thus, Nakayama Festa's second-place finish was a shock to the entire JRA.]
[He narrowed the gap between Japanese racing and the Arc to a mere neck's distance. He was the second Japanese horse since El Condor Pasa to take second in the Arc, causing a massive sensation at the time.]
[As a result of running in such a tough race, Nakayama Festa only managed 14th in the Japan Cup upon his return and was forced to miss the entire spring season to recuperate. Nevertheless, his dominance in the Takarazuka Kinen and outstanding performance in the Arc earned him the honor of Best Older Male Horse that year.]
[In fact, if Nakayama Festa had won the Arc, that single victory would have undoubtedly inducted him into the Japan Racing Hall of Fame.]
[The JRA would have elevated him to a supreme status among Hall of Fame horses.]
[Even though he failed to win, he did everything he possibly could. I believe Ms. Nobuko Izumi, watching this, would have considered Nakayama Festa her life's greatest pride.]
[In September 2011, Nakayama Festa returned to France, but he was no longer as valiant as before. Finally, on that French soil that her original owner Nobuko loved so dearly, he ended his racing career.]
[I can only say that the story of Nakayama Festa and Teacher Nobuko moved me deeply.]
[The Arc remains a lifelong pain for countless JRA generations.]
[In 2009, Buena Vista was also supposed to participate in the Arc, but she wouldn't have stood a chance, because the 2009 Arc champion was named Sea The Stars.]
[I just received information on Urban Sea, Sea The Stars, and the World Horse of the Year.]
[I'll write about them later.]
[Their stories are touching, and I'm going to go remind Nakayama Festa's Teacher Nobuko to take care of her health. Knowing these things, I can't just sit by and do nothing.]
[I wonder what reward I'll get today...?]
Mizuki finished writing her log, her heart filled with emotion. In the next instant, she uploaded it. Soon, a notification appeared.
[Log uploaded successfully.]
[Congratulations! Reward obtained: One Kawasaki Ninja H2 motorcycle.]
The Kawasaki Ninja H2 is valued at 9,538,779 Yen. The host may not sell it but may drive it personally. All necessary driver's licenses have been provided.]
Mizuki was stunned. She was now a vehicle owner! Moreover, this motorcycle wouldn't make excessive noise, so it wouldn't disturb those nearby. She could go for thrill rides whenever she went out now.
At that moment, a pitch-black motorcycle appeared outside the Spica clubroom. No one noticed its arrival until Maruzensky, having just finished class, let out a cry of surprise.
Outside Spica:
Maruzensky walked around the bike, looking it over with shock.
"Oh my god! Whose motorcycle is this? It's so cool! I really want to drive it."
Sakura Chiyono O said seriously, "Using the process of elimination... it's not mine."
Yaeno Muteki stared blankly. 'Is that how elimination works?'
Mayano Top Gun said, "Speaking of which, could it be Trainer Mizuki's? It is parked near Spica, after all."
Maruzensky immediately said, "Hey, does anyone have a traffic police uniform I can borrow?"
"Why do you need a traffic police uniform?"
Mayano was confused, then a realization dawned on her. "I get it! Is this what adults call 'cosplay'?"
Maruzensky was stunned— where did Mayano learn that?
She shook her head and said with a giggle: "I'm going to pretend to be a traffic cop. If it belongs to Trainer Mizuki, I'll pull her over and tell her, 'The person can go, but the vehicle stays!'"
"Uh... isn't that a crime?"
Yaeno Muteki was stunned, she hadn't expected such a move from her senpai.
However, right at that moment: "Make way, everyone."
Mizuki walked out slowly, and she realized the Kawasaki Ninja H2 was indeed incredibly cool. She stepped over it, turned the key, and the bike roared to life with a low, rhythmic hum.
She pulled on a helmet— now a member of the vehicle-owner club— looking exceptionally dashing.
"Wow, Trainer Mizuki-san, can I take a seat too? It looks so stylish!" Sakura Chiyono O said excitedly, her eyes sparkling like stars.
"Trainer Mizuki, where did you get this?"
Gold Ship had just arrived with Nakayama Festa. Seeing the motorcycle, Gold Ship was instantly dumbstruck. Mizuki's bike was way better than her Segway...
She suddenly felt like her Segway wasn't "cool" anymore.
"Sakura Chiyono O, you want a ride too? But I have one question: Can those short legs of yours even reach the footpegs?" Mizuki asked a soul-piercing question.
"I can reach them!!!" Sakura Chiyono O was fuming.
'What kind of question was that?!'
Though, thinking about it carefully, it did seem like it might be a bit of a struggle.
Mizuki stated her destination. She made up an excuse about going to buy some things near the hospital, as she had seen the messages regarding Nakayama Festa and knew that the Teacher Nobuko of this world was already there.
Nakayama Festa quickly spoke up, saying she was going that way and asked if she could give her a lift.
Mizuki tossed her a helmet. "No need to explain, get on."
"Coming!"
Mizuki sat in front with Nakayama Festa behind her. With a confident grin, she kicked the starter and they flew off.
And then just a few moments later, before they could even start to gain speed, the bike tipped over onto its side.
Nakayama Festa was fine— she had good cushioning in front of her to break her fall, and Trainer Mizuki wasn't hurt that bad either.
As it turns out, this was Mizuki's first time on a motorcycle. Driving it was a lot different from a car, and the System didn't give her any knowledge on how to actually drive it.
Gold Ship's feelings of inferiority died just like that.
In the end, Nakayama Festa and Mizuki had to call Vodka and have her drive. The moment she heard that Trainer Mizuki had a brand new motorcycle she could drive, Vodka rushed over with speeds far beyond anything she had shown on the track.
This made Mizuki wonder— 'If I put this new motorcycle at the finish line of Vodka's next race, will she be guaranteed to win?'
She'd have to talk with the race organizers and see if its allowed.
Soon, they arrived at the hospital.
Festa found out where Teacher Nobuko was and headed up first, and Mizuki quickly found a reason to follow and find her together. As thanks for Vodka's help, Mizuki lent her the motorcycle and told her to go on a solo-ride.
The words had barely left her mouth when the screeching of tires filled the air. By the time the smoke cleared, Vodka and the bike was nowhere to be found.
Gold Ship and Tosen Jordan had actually followed the three to the hospital as well, but since they couldn't fit on the bike, they had to share Gold Ship's Segway.
They could have run, true, but considering Jordan's recent foot injury, the Segway was the choice.
"So slow, Gold Ship!" Jordan complained.
"It'll be faster if you get off!" Gold Ship shot back.
The two had no choice but to trundle along at a snail's pace.
Meanwhile, Nakayama Festa realized by chance that she hadn't claimed her Training Rewards after finishing her debut race earlier.
As she claimed them, she received a set of painkillers for herself, while simultaneously reducing Teacher Nobuko's pain by 50%.
The same happened in the real horse world: The horse received some carrots, and Ms. Nobuko's pain was also reduced by 50%, giving her the strength to keep going.
This reward came as an immense relief to her. It proved that all hope isn't lost for her teacher.
Soon, the two reached Teacher Nobuko's room. But as soon as Nakayama Festa entered, she froze.
"...Teacher?"
Teacher Nobuko was in a hospital gown, connected to various tubes, and looking significantly thinner than before.
However, Nobuko held a gentle smile and calmly said, "Thank you for coming to see me, Festa. And you too, Trainer Mizuki-san. I promised Festa I'd tell her the results of today's checkup."
"Wait, Teacher, the way you look... those tubes are—"
"Listen to me, Festa." Izumi Nobuko interrupted.
She didn't intend to hide the truth anymore. Keeping her promise, she told Nakayama Festa the true status of her health:
"With my current condition, I might only have less than a year to live. Maybe I can survive a little longer if I go through a few surgeries, but I'll be in constant pain."
Nakayama Festa was stunned into silence. "What... what exactly happened?!"
Izumi Nobuko replied, "I've felt it since last year— that I wouldn't live long. This diagnosis just confirmed the time I have left. That's all."
Mizuki was also surprised:
'So we didn't... make it in time?'
Izumi Nobuko laughed. "Ah, there's no need for sadness. Instead of struggling pointlessly with needless surgeries, I'd rather cherish this one year so I don't leave with regrets."
"And I don't plan to hide this from you, Festa. My body is in a state where it wouldn't be strange if I left today or tomorrow."
"Don't... don't say things like that. There must be a chance..." Festa said urgently.
"Festa, I know my own body best," Nobuko said. "Though it's a short life, being your teacher and guiding you has been my pride, so, I asked you here to say this: Don't come to the hospital anymore. You must move forward without hesitation. You will surely find your own meaning in living."
"I... I don't want you to see me becoming someone who doesn't look like your teacher."
When the words left her mouth, a heavy silence fell onto the room...
...Only to be broken moments later by a loud voice.
"No, Teacher! Don't say that!"
"You once told me your favorite flower is the violet, because it represents strength, right!? So please don't give up hope! Be as strong as your favorite flower!"
"You love the Takarazuka Revue and your favorite place is Paris, isn't it?!"
"Then please watch me! At the Takarazuka Kinen and at the Arc de Triomphe, I will win the championship! I will make the violets bloom at Longchamp, and I'll have your favorite theatre troupe perform at my victory celebrations!"
"My running will surely give you the strength to survive! Don't you feel better already?!"
Nakayama Festa spoke with more passion than she ever had in her life. Her sincerity could be clearly felt through her words.
With the diary, Nakayama Festa was going to take a gamble. She would complete all the Training Rewards to give her teacher a chance at life.
As a gambler, she was putting all her chips on the table this time. She absolutely could not lose.
"...Festa, I didn't expect you to be the one comforting me at a time like this." Nobuko was momentarily dazed.
"Sometimes, children grow up without us noticing and learn a lot. Perhaps listen to her." Mizuki added. "She's going to fight with all her strength on the racecourse. You should do the same here."
"Trainer Mizuki, you... are right. If even I can't do that, how can I educate my students?" Nobuko said. "No matter how painful it is, I will try to continue with the surgery."
She was relieved, this kid Nakayama Festa had finally grown up. She reached out and patted Festa's head.
After a few more words, Mizuki and Festa left the room so Nobuko could rest.
Outside the door, Festa asked: "Trainer Mizuki, tell me... if I participate in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe now, is there any chance of winning?"
Mizuki shook her head. "Right now? Definitely not. You wouldn't even place in the top five."
Hearing this, Nakayama Festa wasn't discouraged in the slightest. She knew her counterpart had achieved second place, and she would work hard to ensure the violets bloomed at Longchamp.
On their way back, they ran into Gold Ship and Tosen Jordan, who had finally arrived. Those two had truly taken their sweet time. They also went in to see Teacher Nobuko to reassure her, promising to keep a close eye on Nakayama Festa.
Gold Ship claimed she was one of the most reliable people at Tracen. Tosen Jordan was dumbfounded— she had never seen an Uma so thick-skinned.
Back at Tracen Academy:
Nakayama Festa announced she wanted to hold a press conference. She needed to tell the world that within the next year, she would definitely compete in the Arc.
Mizuki didn't stop her, that was just her personality. She then returned to Spica.
Meanwhile, all over the world, countless Uma Musume were unable to find peace after learning of this.
In France:
Workforce was shocked after seeing the log. She hadn't expected her real-life counterpart to win the Arc de Triomphe. Her heart was a whirlwind of emotions.
'Was I the one who had destroyed the dream between Nakayama Festa and Teacher Nobuko...?'
She fell into a state of deep confusion.
"What's wrong, Workforce? Overthinking again?" Montjeu walked over and asked. Workforce shook her head, saying nothing was wrong.
"It's about Nakayama Festa, isn't it? You're such a big idiot. Do you think she'll blame you? Do you think everyone will?"
"On the contrary, that girl Nakayama Festa is probably working harder than anyone right now to beat you. And here you are, wallowing in self-pity!"
"Remember, those results and all of that glory belong to your real-life counterpart. What right do you have to take that achievement and think you'll automatically win?! If you don't work hard, that Nakayama Festa will definitely overtake you."
"So give it your all and fight her with everything you have— that is true respect for her, and for your supporters. Don't you have things you are carrying too?" Montjeu said with a smile.
"I..." Workforce was stunned.
She realized she was wasting time. She also carried the dreams of countless people. Instead of feeling bad for stopping that beloved dream, she should learn from Nakayama Festa's spirit of giving everything.
Everyone has a reason why they absolutely cannot lose. Workforce's hard work with her Trainer and everything she carried could not be wasted.
"Come at me, Nakayama Festa! I look forward to our contest!"
The confusion in Workforce's eyes vanished, replaced by a surge of energy. She began to sprint towards the track, she had to win, and her effort now would be vital.
"What an idiot, just like that messy Treve," Montjeu laughed.
"Hey, I heard that!" Treve blushed.
She looked refined, but she had a secret: She was a bit of a slob in private. Montjeu had nagged her about it many times.
She secretly feared that Trainer Mizuki would write about that when it was her turn. If people found out she was a slob, she'd rather die— but not before taking Trainer Mizuki down with her.
However, Treve, Montjeu, and Workforce were all wondering about one thing: Who exactly was the "World Horse of the Year" that Mizuki mentioned at the end of the log?
Could that be the strongest Uma Musume in the world, or perhaps in all of history?
Treve was very confident in herself. If anyone wanted to race her, she would show the strongest fighting spirit.
But as for being the "strongest in the world," she didn't quite have the courage to claim it would be her.
Naturally, Montjeu felt the same. She, too, considered herself one of the strongest in the world, but as long as Trainer Mizuki remained silent, she would never truly know who that person was.
"An Uma Musume standing at the absolute peak of the world... just what realm does her strength reach? It's truly hard to imagine..."
Montjeu's expression turned solemn. Just thinking about that title brought an invisible pressure. Who could possibly claim the name of "The Strongest"?
She looked forward to it immensely.
And she wasn't alone. Across the entire globe, almost every Uma Musume swallowed hard, desperate to know that person's name.
USA:
Flightline's expression became incredibly intrigued.
'World's Strongest?'
That was a title she couldn't simply ignore— it was far too alluring. She expected to see her own name there.
Even if Nakayama Festa had lost to Workforce, Flightline didn't believe for a second that she would lose to the likes of Workforce or Treve. They were strong, yes, but she was an existence that defied common sense.
"Haha! Why don't we have a worldwide race to decide who the true World Horse of the Year is?"
Her heart raced with excitement at the thought of a final showdown against the world's elite.
In the UK:
Baaeed was also wondering: Who held that top spot, and did she have a chance? Similarly, Frankel watched with an intense gaze.
"The position of World's Strongest?"
Frankel's eyes shone. She wasn't even thinking about herself, rather, she had finally found a lead on the opponent she desired most.
She loved running more than anything. If she could compete against the world's number one Uma Musume, it would be spectacularly interesting.
She decided that the moment the "World Horse of the Year" was revealed, she would go find her. Racing her every day would be the best thing ever.
However, since Mizuki hadn't written the details yet, everyone could only continue their training while they waited.
Soon, it was afternoon at the Spica clubroom. Mizuki was following her plan for Spica's welcome activity, introducing Hokko Tarumae to the group. Everyone, including Special Week, gave her a warm welcome.
"Hokko Tarumae-san, I'd like more of that specialty Tomakomai ramen!"
Special Week was eating happily. Whenever a new member arrived, they had a party— it was truly a joyous tradition.
Hokko Tarumae had brought her laptop and was recording every moment. After asking permission, she uploaded clips to the internet, since many people were curious about the daily lives of Uma Musume, the view count was already skyrocketing.
However, right then, someone unexpected appeared. It was our lovely Tokai Teio.
"Everyone! Teio-Sama is here! And I have some huge news for you all!" Teio skipped through the door.
"Oh? Huge news?" Mizuki saw her and, though she had an idea of what Teio was here for, played along with a look of great surprise. "What's the good news?"
"Hehe! Don't just start cheering the moment you hear it!" Teio lowered her voice, acting mysterious.
Special Week, Vodka, Daiwa Scarlet, Hokko Tarumae, McQueen, and Gold Ship all leaned in tensely.
"What is it, Teio?" Special Week asked cutely.
"Hehe! Trainer Mizuki-san, I've already told President Rudolf that I'm joining Spica!"
"Well? Aren't you super happy?! With the invincible Teio-sama joining, Spica is definitely going to take flight!"
Teio put her hands on her hips, practically begging for praise.
"Really, Teio-san?!" Special Week was delighted. "No taking it back, okay?"
"Really! I've already submitted it. No regrets! I'm just waiting for Trainer Mizuki to agree!" Teio laughed.
"That is indeed very good news," Mizuki said.
She felt a surge of genuine joy at the news, but seeing Teio's "praise-me" expression, she forced himself to stay calm just to tease her.
"Hey! Trainer Mizuki-san! Why aren't you more excited?!"
Teio felt something was wrong. This wasn't how the script was supposed to go! Shouldn't Trainer Mizuki be hugging her legs and crying tears of gratitude?
After all, countless people wanted to sign the great Teio-sama!
Mizuki started laughing, this little gremlin was just too cute. She decided to drop the act. With Tokai Teio joining, Spica was officially quickly becoming a rising star.
"Teio, welcome to the team! We're happy to have you!"
Mizuki congratulated her while inwardly praising her own good fortune. In such a short span of time, she had gathered quite the roster of all stars.
"Hehe! That's more like it!" Teio stood tall, signaling everyone to cheer for her.
"Wow, so Spica now has dirt races, turf races, the Classics, and the Tiara route all covered!" Special Week was thrilled.
They trained together until evening. Coincidentally, tomorrow was the rehearsal for the Fan Festival, and the day after was the Fan Appreciation Day itself. After training, they planned to experience the various event flows together.
'It's a pity the weather is cold', Mizuki thought, 'Otherwise we might have seen Nice Nature in a cheerleader outfit.'
Tomorrow, many younger Uma Musume would also be visiting— Kitasan Black, Satono Diamond, Titleholder, Equinox, Panthalassa, Liberty Island, and more. It was going to get lively.
Mizuki smiled, finished the training session, and returned to her room to write. Today, she intended to write about the absolute top-tier racers in the world.