Meanwhile, in the Tokyo countryside:
"What? Kitasan Black-san never once defeated Duramente? But she was the champion of the Kikuka Sho...?"
Equinox was stunned. In her eyes, Kitasan Black was already incredibly powerful and had won 7 G1s. She assumed Kitasan would be the strongest Uma Musume of that era, but she never expected that Kitasan never once beat Duramente in her career.
But Equinox was smart. She was considering a possibility:
'Did Duramente retire due to injury before the Kikuka Sho?'
If both had been healthy throughout their careers, perhaps Kitasan Black's G1 count would have been lower, but he would have still had the chance for revenge. Perhaps both felt a sense of regret. One was unable to keep running, and the other forever was unable to complete her vengeance.
Equinox didn't know what to say, but she understood one thing: Duramente's strength was beyond her imagination.
She wanted to know what happened to Duramente to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Furthermore, Equinox didn't believe Duramente would win against Kitasan Black in every race, as Kitasan had achieved a high-value G1 double in long-distance races.
Although she suffered a bitter loss in the Arima Kinen in her first year, she might have taken it later.
She wondered if Duramente's injury was severe. She didn't want such a thing to happen, but logically, it seemed the most likely scenario.
Equinox was right. Duramente retired early, while Kitasan Black was a late bloomer. If they had continued competing, Kitasan definitely had a chance to win, though his G1 total might have decreased because a healthy Duramente at medium distance was too terrifying.
"Duramente... she took the Satsuki Sho?"
Titleholder was shocked. She remembered the first time she saw Duramente. She had stood there, her blue eyes neither sad nor happy, radiating a powerful aura. That calm, unshakeable demeanor was as cool as could be.
In Titleholder's heart, Duramente was the type who would have no emotional fluctuations regardless of the race or training, just pure, crushing strength. Such a dominant posture was exciting just to think about.
However, Titleholder would soon find out she was wrong. Duramente was more nervous than anyone before a race. She usually did a round of "Goose Steps" to regulate her inner self, which created quite a gap in her personality.
Many real-life horses had "tells" before a race. For instance, if Tokai Teio did HIS "Teio Step" before entering the gate, she was in peak condition. If Duramente started his "Goose Steps," he was actually very nervous.
Then there's Meisho Doto. His groom said that when he was in great shape, he would... well, let's just say "stand at attention."
"But it seems she got injured. That's not good news. She even protected me that day," Liberty Island said. She couldn't find any other reason for Duramente to miss the Kikuka Sho.
If that was the case, it was too terrible. Titleholder felt a deep sadness. She suspected Duramente's injury was grave, and the reason Kitasan Black never beat her was simply because they only raced a few times.
She pursed her lips, wishing things had been different.
On a track in Tokyo, Duramente also saw this.
"Hm. I won? 33.9 seconds... that's not enough."
Duramente's expression didn't change. To her, winning was only natural. Her bloodline was the strongest, and as a descendant of noble blood, she had to prove its value.
In her eyes, her opponent wasn't any specific person. She had to push her own limits so the whole world could see the power of their lineage.
However, she noticed she didn't participate in the Kikuka Sho.
'Did some unfortunate accident occur?'
She planned to keep reading. If that was the case, she was grateful to Trainer Mizuki for exposing this so she could take preventative measures.
Just then, Duramente received a text from Air Groove. In reality, Air Groove was Duramente's grandmother.
Air Groove's daughter was Admire Groove, who inherited the strength of her father, Sunday Silence, and Air Groove.
She showed extraordinary talent, winning the Queen Elizabeth II Cup twice in 2003 and 2004, becoming the second mare after Mejiro Dober to achieve consecutive wins in that race.
Admire Groove and King Kamehameha sired Duramente. Tragically, Admire Groove passed away from illness sometime in October, 2012, following her mother, Air Groove, to heaven.
Air Groove herself passed away on April 23, 2013, due to internal bleeding after giving birth, at the age of 20.
One could say this bloodline was incredibly strong but not long-lived. Fortunately, Titleholder and Liberty Island were healthy and hoped for long lives.
Air Groove's text told Duramente to stay safe and not to push her body too hard while running. Safety first, no recklessness.
Duramente didn't see it that way. She was born to run. She would rather die in a duel with a strong opponent than die of boredom in old age.
For a warrior who craved the run, dying due to old age was a disgrace. She could only promise to protect herself as much as possible, but not racing was out of the question.
When she replied to Air Groove, the latter nearly had a brain hemorrhage.
'Are these kids all idiots?'
In Air Groove's eyes, safety was obviously paramount.
Actually, Air Groove understood the desire to run. If someone like Symboli Rudolf said she'd protect herself, Air Groove would be relieved because Rudolf was reliable. But she felt that with Duramente's "do-or-die" personality, her "protecting herself" meant nothing.
Air Groove decided to go spy on Duramente later to see exactly how she was "protecting herself."
"Sigh. Everyone I know is a bit strange. One only likes telling dad jokes, another won't speak at all and is impossible to communicate with... why is it like this?" Air Groove shook her head, her headache worsening the more she thought.
Elsewhere:
"I was mentioned too? Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, Satono Crown! You can definitely break the Satono family curse and get a G1 victory!"
"But... I was 6th in the Satsuki Sho? The Kikuka Sho champion is Kitasan Black... do I have a chance in the Japanese Derby?"
Satono Crown claimed she wasn't nervous, but her fair face was clearly panicked. She was more nervous than when she accidentally wrote an order for 10,000 instead of 100. She was a young lady of the Satono family, a super-rich woman, so she could fix a few extra zeros.
But the Classic Triple Crown only happens once in a lifetime.
Her heart was pounding. She was even praying. 'Please, please let me win.'
However, once she calmed down, she saw Duramente's final 3-furlong speed: 33.9 seconds. She swallowed hard. That was way faster than her.
'Could I win against that?'
She immediately shook her head.
'No, no! How can I boost her morale and lower my own? I can do it!'
Crown really wanted someone to talk to, but Satono Diamond wasn't around. She suddenly remembered Verxina and Vivlos were having a family gathering nearby, but Cheval Grand wasn't there—she'd probably declined out of shyness.
Crown always wanted to have a good talk with Cheval. There was no need for her to be so shy.
Actually, if Cheval Grand met someone like Satono Crown, she'd be completely broken. One meal with Crown and Cheval would lose her soul.
An introvert like her stands no chance against someone like Satono Crown.
Mizuki's log continued:
[How strong was Duramente? In that Satsuki Sho, his victory was complete domination. His final sprint trampled Kitasan Black and Real Steel. In an instant, he charged from the far outside, making the other horses look like they were standing still.]
[Almost everyone's jaw dropped. The commentator cried out in disbelief "Is Duramente really this powerful?!"]
[Everyone knew a legendary horse was about to be born!]
[The rating for this Satsuki Sho reached 119, the highest for the JRA at the time. It was truly astonishing!]
[Through this race, Duramente proved he was a worthy descendant of noble blood, the crystallization of JRA racing. His "King's Road" had officially begun.]
[However, the Satsuki Sho is different from the Japanese Derby. The Satsuki Sho is only 2000 meters, while the Derby is 2400 meters. Kitasan Black's team didn't think they couldn't beat Duramente.]
[On May 31, 2015, Kitasan Black entered the Japanese Derby, intent on avenging his shame.]
[In this Japanese Derby, besides Duramente and Kitasan Black, the famous horses included the aforementioned Real Steel and Satono Crown. Duramente was the 1st favorite, and Kitasan Black was the 6th favorite.]
[As the Derby began, Duramente started "Goose Stepping." This was actually a sign of his nervousness. His trainer said that if he was nervous, he'd start high-stepping, proving he cared deeply about the race.]
[Speaking of which, the real Duramente has a nickname: "The Sledgehammer", because he once used his head to smash a drone and other objects. The scene was... well, brutal. Kids should watch with parental supervision to avoid being corrupted by The Sledgehammer.]
[Naturally, his two offspring inherited this, hammering drones with their heads.]
At Tracen:
"Hahaha... That's so funny, Duramente!"
Tokai Teio laughed until she couldn't breathe. She imagined the scene and found it hilarious. She wondered what the real scene looked like. Was she startled by the drone or just excited?
Moreover, Teio always saw Duramente as cold and steady. She never expected her to be so wild.
"Her head is indeed very hard. I can testify to that," Matikane Tannhauser added. She'd accidentally bumped into Duramente that day, and as a result, she had seen stars and got a bloody nose, while Duramente didn't feel a thing.
"Mm... and I didn't expect the normally cool and quiet Duramente would be like a child, so nervous she'd do high-steps before a race," Gold Ship remarked.
She had the nerve to laugh at others. Gold Ship's own behavior before the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was even more ridiculous. He started doing a "crab walk" and corrupted several other horses, making the owners sweat and beg Gold Ship to just go away and not ruin their horses.
Elsewhere:
"The Sledgehammer..."
Duramente felt the nickname was a bit too weird. She didn't think she'd do something like that. Was there a misunderstanding? Maybe the drone went out of control and accidentally hit her?
What she cared about was that her two children seemingly inherited this. She rubbed her head. Things had become complicated.
But she felt it was fine, she'd help correct them later. At least her bloodline had been passed down.
If she eventually couldn't run the Kikuka Sho due to injury, the chance to prove their bloodline would be left to her children. She would accompany them well.
But Duramente felt that if they didn't want to race, she wouldn't force them.
However, she didn't know that the real horse didn't live to see his son successfully take the Kikuka Sho.
The Kikuka Sho dedicated to a deceased father.
That 2021 Kikuka Sho, which set the world on fire, remains unforgettable to this day.
Of course, Duramente didn't mind the secret of her Goose-Stepping being exposed. She felt that if it helped her win, she'd do a full split before the race.
However... the dangerous look she had in her eyes when Trainer Mizuki wrote about that was hard to hide. She probably did care a little.
Mizuki's log continued:
[After the Japanese Derby began, Kitasan Black, Satono Diamond, Duramente, and the others charged out together. They had only one goal: To win this epoch-defining Derby and ascend the throne of the era. Every horse gave it their all.]
[After the gates opened, Kitasan Black joined the lead group. Duramente also had a good start. Breaking his usual strategy of staying behind, he remained in the middle of the pack. Real Steel and Satono Crown stayed in the rear. During the race, Kitasan Black once sprinted into first place. However, after the grueling pace, Kitasan ran out of stamina and completely stalled, being overtaken by the pack.]
[On the 400-meter final straight, Duramente once again showed his ultimate final sprint under everyone's gaze. He quickly pulled away from the other horses. With over 200 meters to go, he successfully took the lead. His speed was still increasing. Those powerful strides seemed to make the entire Tokyo Racecourse tremble. Duramente was unstoppable!]
[Real Steel, Satono Crown, and Satono Rasen chased desperately, but Duramente gave his rivals no chance, crossing the line in first. He had succeeded in conquering the Japanese Derby.]
[Duramente became the 23rd Classic Double Crown horse in JRA history. Simultaneously, he broke the record of 2:23.3 set by King Kamehameha and the undefeated Triple Crown horse Deep Impact, finishing in 2:23.2.]
[Second place went to Satono Rasen, third to Satono Crown, fourth to Real Steel, and Kitasan Black stalled and sank, finishing only 14th.]
At Tracen, everyone was stunned.
"Oh my God, Duramente is that strong? Trainer Mizuki said Deep Impact was said to be 'flying' when she raced, but Duramente even broke Deep Impact's record!"
"2:23.2, with the whole crowd thundering... that's terrifying."
Winning Ticket was amazed. As a "hot-blooded idiot," she was immediately excited by reading this.
She wanted to go run in the Japanese Derby right this second.
However, she also noticed Kitasan Black. This Kita-chan was a bit tragic. She thought there would be a life-or-death struggle between the two, but Kita-chan just played the role of a bystander, finishing 14th.
'If I got 14th in the Derby, I'd probably lock myself in my room and never want to run again in my life.'
"Duramente really is strong. I want to know the rest of her story. Why didn't she run the Kikuka Sho? Was it injury?" Biwa Hayahide asked.
"By the way, my dream is the Japanese Derby. Taishin, Hayahide, do you think I won the Derby and ran even faster than Duramente?" Winning Ticket looked at the two with a grin.
"Are you an idiot? Judging by our ages, we're from an earlier era that Duramente. That means that even if you won the Derby, you wouldn't be faster than Duramente. She is a record-breaker—at least in 2015," Narita Taishin analyzed.
"Oh, right. But it doesn't matter! I can be faster than her now. When it comes to the Derby, I won't lose! Der—by—!" Winning Ticket roared.
"Say, Hayahide, Taishin, you both believe I can beat Duramente, right? Come on, tell me the truth." Winning Ticket grinned.
"Sigh. Well, of course I support you. As a member of BNW, you can't lose to these juniors."
Biwa Hayahide adjusted her glasses and offered a gentle smile.
"I feel the same way, Ticket."
Narita Taishin gave Winning Ticket a light punch on the shoulder, choosing, naturally, to believe in her.
"Waaaah! Hayahide! Taishin! I definitely won't let you down!"
Winning Ticket started wailing again, sending the other two into an immediate panic.
'Why is she crying over this, too?!'
Good grief, there was just no winning for Hayahide and Taishin. If they told Ticket she couldn't win, she'd start crying, and when they told her she could win, she also started crying.
Meanwhile, in the Tokyo countryside:
"I... 14th place? How could this be? The Japanese Derby is a supreme honor, and I ran such a result..."
Kitasan Black found the truth hard to swallow. For her, this was a devastating blow. It meant that in that race, she was effectively the worst-performing horse, and there was no excuse to be found.
She gritted her teeth. She could handle defeat, but this was a total collapse. She lowered her head, struggling to compose herself.
"I ran so poorly this time. I was thinking of the Triple Crown, I wanted Teio to be proud of me... but I ended up with a result like this. But Dia-chan, my dream won't change!"
Kitasan Black's expression flickered with sadness, but she quickly spoke with renewed resolve:
"Even though I ran poorly this time, no matter what, I believe I will eventually provide the best festival for everyone."
Satono Diamond looked at Kitasan Black and said softly, "Mm. Kita-chan, I'll always be by your side, and we'll grow together."
Deeply moved, Kita-chan raised her fist. "Alright, Dia-chan! Let's work hard together!"
Then, Kita-chan remembered: She was a 7-G1 winner. She could definitely do it. She knew that the race she wanted most, besides the Triple Crown, was the Arima Kinen.
In the anime, she wanted to win the Arima Kinen with Tokai Teio's encouragement, but Kita-chan herself always had a personal pursuit for that race.
She wanted to personally offer everyone the most perfect festival to make everyone happy—and the stage of the Arima Kinen was essential for that.
Piedra de Luna added, "I'll cheer for you too, Kitasan Black-san. Here, this is for you."
She handed over a cute lucky charm. It was one of many Equinox had given her, hoping she would recover well from her injuries.
In reality, Piedra de Luna and Equinox have a sibling-like connection. Piedra de Luna was born on January 31, 2019, and Equinox on March 23, 2019— they would have been of the same generation. However, because Piedra de Luna couldn't race, they had little interaction on the track, but Equinox took great care of her behind the scenes.
Kitasan Black took the charm and nodded firmly. Piedra de Luna felt a ripple of emotion in her heart; she wanted to be an inspiring figure just like Kitasan Black. She believed she could do it.
At the Satono household:
"This Duramente... she's a bit too strong."
Satono Crown had to admit it. She thought her greatest rival was Kitasan Black, but it turned out they were both just staring at the back of a legend named Duramente.
Once again, the Satono family had missed out on a G1. They still hadn't broken the curse.
However, Satono Rasen teased: "By the way, Crown, you're not doing so hot. It feels like you get glossed over in every race. You barely get any screen time compared to Duramente and Kitasan Black."
Crown blushed. "Hey! You have some nerve! Your part is even shorter! I at least got a few sentences; you only got one."
Satono Rasen grinned. "But I got second, and you got third."
"Hmph! You want to race right now?!" Satono Crown was itching for a run. She was an Uma Musume, after all. She wouldn't back down from anyone.
Verxina laughed. "Now, now. Love and peace. Let's not always think about fighting."
Secretly, Verxina was envious. She wasn't much older, yet she hadn't been mentioned at all. While she preached "love and peace," she internally wanted to know her own results.
"But Duramente got injured in the end, right? If she hadn't, would she have been an Undefeated Triple Crown winner?" Vivlos asked curiously.
"No, Duramente must have lost before. Otherwise, Trainer Mizuki would have specified," Satono Crown analyzed.
She was right. Before the Satsuki Sho, Duramente had participated in the G3 Kyodo News Service Hai and lost to his first great rival, Real Steel. At the time, all eyes were on Real Steel as a son of Deep Impact, but his light was eventually eclipsed by Kitasan and Duramente.
Elsewhere:
"Duramente, you've taken two crowns. Any thoughts?"
Gold Actor asked. It was Gold Actor who would defeat Kitasan Black to win the Arima Kinen in 2015.
"I don't have anything to say. These results are only natural," Duramente replied flatly. She held her head high, her blue eyes deep and beautiful.
Born of noble blood, she took supreme pride in her lineage and sought only to prove its value. She felt winning two crowns was simply what she was supposed to do. Her only goal now was to avoid injury and take the third.
"You... talking to you is like reading a book with all the pages blank," Gold Actor sighed. She didn't press further, but she wondered what happened next.
'Duramente's record was terrifying. Who could ever break it?'
Soon, Mizuki's log continued:
[Mirco Demuro won the Japanese Derby again after a twelve-year gap. He did his 'airplane' pose again and wept with emotion, saying: 'I'm so glad I became a JRA jockey.']
[I have to say, Demuro is a walking variety show. He celebrated prematurely while crossing the line in the Satsuki Sho, got chewed out afterward, and earned himself a 9-day suspension.]
[Honestly, I'm speechless. Duramente did all the running, but Demuro did all the showboating.]
[With the Double Crown achieved, Duramente had two paths: First, head for the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho. Second, head to France to challenge the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. However, fate played a cruel joke on the highly anticipated Duramente.]
[During his rest period at the farm, bad news arrived. Duramente had suffered radial fractures in both front legs. Recovery would take a full nine months. It was a tragic repeat of history, and Duramente was forced to miss both the Triple Crown and the overseas expedition.]
[Meanwhile, on September 21, Kitasan Black entered the St. Lite Kinen G2 at 6th popularity and won, securing priority entry for the Kikuka Sho.]
[On October 25, 2015, Kitasan Black switched back to a Front Runner strategy. At 5th popularity, he defeated his rival Real Steel to win the Kikuka Sho, finally securing his first G1 victory.]
[However, many said at the time: "If Duramente had participated, the Kikuka Sho champion would definitely have been him."]
[Given the circumstances then, that's a fair point. But looking at Kitasan Black's later performances in long-distance races, he definitely would have put up a fight against Duramente in a 3000m race. It's a shame Duramente missed it, otherwise, it might have been a legendary classic.]
[Satono Crown, however, did not participate in the Kikuka Sho. He chose the Tenno Sho Autumn on November 1st instead, but suffered a crushing defeat, finishing 17th out of 18. Lovely Day took the championship.]
[Ultimately, Satono Crown finished the Triple Crown season without a single victory.]
[The date moved to December 27, 2015. Kitasan Black challenged the Arima Kinen as a three-year-old at 4th popularity. With Norihiro Yokoyama taking the reins, he attempted a pace chaser tactic for the first time, hoping to steal the win.]
[Kitasan Black led the whole way, but in the final sprint, his stamina failed. He was overtaken by Gold Actor and Sounds of Earth, ultimately finishing 3rd. The winner was Gold Actor, and the runner-up was Sounds of Earth.]
[Kitasan Black's first year of racing ended like that. Overall, it was exceptionally successful. Given his purchase price was only 3.5 million yen, this was undoubtedly the most successful transaction of Saburo Kitajima's career.]
At Tracen, the reactions were varied.
"Sounds of Earth? Isn't she that violin-playing girl who wanted to join Canopus? I didn't expect her to be able to beat Kitasan Black. Looks like Canopus is getting a powerful new member!" Matikane Tannhauser said happily.
"Eh? That Sounds of Earth is that strong?" Twin Turbo was baffled.
In reality, Sounds of Earth started at her peak. After debuting in 2013, he secured two wins—a beautiful start. But after that, he became allergic to the winner's circle, constantly taking 2nd place in graded stakes.
He took seven 2nd places in a row, a record worse than even Nice Nature. By the 2015 Arima Kinen, he was already on his 5th graded 2nd place.
But beating Kitasan Black, even if it was a first-year Kitasan, was a highlight of his career. Sounds of Earth's attitude was: "You think I'm losing by coming in 2nd? I'm just farming prize money! When the 'Sounds' of the announcer ring out, I'm already on the podium. You think I'm playing around?"
Elsewhere in the Tokyo countryside:
"So that's how Duramente got hurt. It's such a shame she couldn't go for the Triple Crown," Liberty Island sighed.
"But it's okay. Doesn't Duramente have children? If she wants to prove her bloodline, she can just leave that task to her future kids," Titleholder said solemnly.
"Leave it to her kids? What do you mean?" Panthalassa asked.
"Think about it! Duramente's bloodline is inheritable. If she can't run the Kikuka Sho herself, she can count on her children to become legends."
Titleholder was dead serious. She felt that Duramente's children must be incredible, and she really wanted to see them.
She held a deep admiration for Duramente ever since being saved by her. Her own goal was the Triple Crown, to complete the legacy Duramente left unfinished.
"You... actually have a point," Liberty Island nodded.
"Haha! Duramente's kids, huh? If they are Uma Musume, they'll definitely be strong... though probably not as strong as me. Hehe!" Equinox put her hands on her hips with her usual smug confidence.
"Hmph. I'm the strongest," Titleholder grunted.
"But regardless, I'm glad we found out early. I just heard some news: Rice Shower-san completed her training rewards. Her real-life counterpart's bone injury from the 1995 Takarazuka Kinen has been completely cured. That means her real-life self can finally retire in peace."
Liberty Island had learned this good news from the Tracen group chat. Rice Shower had finished the Dream Trophy races and earned the reward to heal her past self.
A brief look at the real-life Rice Shower's legacy now:
After the 1995 Takarazuka Kinen, his legend didn't end in tragedy like it was supposed to. He became a gentle sire, beloved by tourists for carrots and photos. In 2017, he passed away peacefully at age 28. His jockey, Hitoshi Matoba, visited him many times.
In 2023, Matoba announced he would ride one of Rice Shower's descendants to challenge the Spring Tenno Sho again, feeling the same spirit he did while riding Rice Shower...
Back at Tracen Academy:
"Eh?! 17th place?! Trainer Mizuki, you didn't have to write that part!"
Satono Crown was completely red in the face. She buried herself under her duvet, kicking her legs and pounding the bed.
Taking 17th was painful enough, but having it written in a log for the whole world to see was a public execution. Her toes curled in sheer embarrassment. She felt she had never been this humiliated in her life.
"Satono Crown-san, time for dinner!" Verxina called out.
"You guys go ahead!" Crown shouted from under the covers.
"Um, are you okay?" Verxina asked, worried.
"Hahaha! Why wouldn't I be?! I'm just... handling some business! Don't worry, there's no problem!" Crown's mouth remained stubborn, but her tears were already forming a line.
'17th place... 17th place...'
Above her head, a dark cloud gathered. She wasn't going to be cheered up anytime soon.
Mood: Awful!
Of course, "Awful" is just the lower limit for mood settings in the game by Cygames—it wasn't the lower limit for Satono Crown. Her eyes had almost completely lost their sparkle.
'Pain. Too much pain.'
She wanted to create a world where "17th place" didn't exist.
"Hmph, Trainer Mizuki, you better write some of my highlight moments soon, or I'll be staring at you with a look of pure resentment day and night!"
Satono Crown continued reading. If she could win a G1 later, she'd call it even.
Mizuki's log continued:
[The year moved to 2016. Kitasan Black's main jockey was changed from Hiroshi Kitamura to Yutaka Take. Rumors circulated that Kitamura's pessimistic comments about Kitasan's prospects had angered the camp.]
[One can only say that Yutaka Take and Kitasan Black used facts to slap Kitamura in the face. Boosting others' morale while destroying your own is completely unacceptable.]
[However, their first battle together wasn't smooth sailing.]
[On April 3, 2016, Kitasan Black challenged the Sankei Osaka Hai and lost by a nose. On May 1, as the 2nd favorite, he challenged the Spring Tenno Sho. On the final straight, he engaged in a brutal duel with Curren Mirotic, ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe.]
[Kitasan Black was overtaken at one point but exploded forward near the end to win by a nose. Ikezoe later recalled that he had done his best to stick close to Kitasan to compress Yutaka Take's maneuvering space, but the genius Japanese jockey seized a tiny opening and gave Kitasan a single crack of the whip to help him secure his first senior G1 title.]
[It is worth mentioning that the 3rd place in this Spring Tenno Sho went to Cheval Grand, who is of the same age as Kitasan but didn't participate in any of the Classic Triple Crown races. He will continue to challenge Kitasan Black in the future, causing no small amount of trouble.]
[Meanwhile, at the start of 2016, Satono Crown chose the G2 Kyoto Kinen on February 12 as his comeback race. Starting as the 3rd favorite, he stayed at the front and unleashed the fastest sprint of the pack to win by 3 lengths over Touching Speech, becoming the first Kanto-based horse to win that race in 28 years.]
[Afterward, Satono Crown went on a foreign expedition to Hong Kong for the International G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on April 24. This time, however, he was back to his "stable performance," finishing 12th out of 13. The race was won by the Hong Kong horse Werther.]
At the Satono household:
"Stop insulting me!"
Satono Crown had completely broken down. Why was it always "second to last" in G1 races?! She was happy at first, overjoyed that she had broken the 28-year curse for Kanto horses in the Kyoto Kinen.
She really did it! One curse down, one to go!
But her joy didn't last. Trainer Mizuki just had to write about her finishing second to last in Hong Kong. She couldn't take it anymore.
'Can we just not write about these results?!'
"Uuuu..." Crown withdrew into her self-imposed exile. Her head felt dizzy, her cheeks were burning, and she looked like she wanted to cry but had no tears left.
She felt targeted.
'Why not just write who was last? Why write my name?!'
Elsewhere at Tracen:
"Ikezoe, you're useless too. Can't you show this Yutaka Take a thing or two?"
Sweep Tosho shook her head, thoroughly disappointed in Ikezoe. She was ready to give him a sharp critique. However, she also wondered: 'Did Curren Mirotic have any relation to Curren Chan?'
She thought about it for a while but couldn't figure it out. She just decided that if she ever saw Ikezoe, he'd better be prepared for her "divine punishment." B
Besides magic spells, the thing the little witch remembered most was Ikezoe saying "No, that'd be rough" when asked if he would want sweep Tosho to be his girlfriend.
If Sweep got the chance, she planned to give him a good thrashing.
In another corner:
"Is Yutaka Take really that amazing? You have to work hard too, Wada!"
T.M. Opera O laughed. As the jockey for the Overlord, one couldn't be knocked down by hardship. No matter what difficulties life threw at them, they had to believe that before them lay not a dead end, but an infinitely extending road to supremacy.
They had to deliver the greatest Opera the world had ever seen.
"Awa-wa-wa-wa! I wonder who my jockey is?" Meisho Doto asked curiously. She wondered if her jockey could compare to Yutaka Take.
In reality, Doto's jockey was Yasuhiko Yasuda.
Yasuda was incredibly talented, but back then, he was traumatized by Opera O. After taking his fourth G1 runner-up spot behind her, he miserably stated, "I never want to run against Opera O again."
"Also, seeing Satono Crown's two second-to-last finishes, I suddenly feel like my streak of G1 second places is actually pretty good," Doto muttered to herself.
If Satono Crown heard that, she'd truly self-destruct. Truth is a sharp blade indeed.
Elsewhere:
"The Spring Tenno Sho... how would I run it if it were me?"
Duramente knew she was destined for injury, but she still simulated the race in her mind. She would stay mid-pack, and after coming down the Kyoto slope for the second time, she'd unleash her full sprint toward the glory of the "Spring Shield."
For once, her expression showed a hint of regret. She was stronger than Tokai Teio, who had wept when she couldn't run the Kikuka Sho, but the regret was still there.
Had she not been injured, her rivalry with Kitasan Black would have been legendary. It would've been a true era of Two Heroes. The noble-blooded Duramente vs. the hardworking genius Kitasan Black.
In the Tokyo countryside:
"I didn't expect my win to be so close. That makes two G1s for me, right? I wonder if I won the Arima Kinen later..."
Kitasan Black swallowed hard, getting nervous. She only knew her results up to a point; the rest was a mystery.
"And Cheval Grand... I remember meeting her at the Fan Appreciation Festival. She seemed like such a cheerful and interesting girl!"
Kitasan was completely mistaken. Cheval was a hardcore social introvert; it was only because Kitasan was so passionate that Cheval was forced to just go along with her pace.
Mizuki's log continued:
[On June 26, Kitasan Black challenged the Takarazuka Kinen as the 2nd favorite. The 1st favorite was the returning Duramente.]
[Also in the field were Cheval Grand and Satono Crown. However, the race was won in an upset by the 8th favorite, Marialite. Duramente chased hard to take 2nd, while Kitasan Black took 3rd, losing to Duramente yet again.]
[Duramente's defeat was tragic. During the race, jockey Mirco Demuro felt the horse was off. He felt like he was losing his balance. Demuro dismounted immediately after the race. Doctors confirmed a left front leg injury. On June 28, the final verdict came: Duramente had completely lost the ability to race and retired.]
[Duramente left the JRA with a brilliant record of 9 starts, 5 wins, and 4 seconds. He broke the Derby record and his JRA rating of 121 surpassed Orfevre's 120 and Deep Impact's 119.]
[With Duramente retired, the late-blooming Kitasan Black lost his chance to seek revenge against his rival at his full maturity. If Duramente hadn't been injured, he likely would have dominated the Takarazuka Kinen. He was like a bolt of lightning, brief, but leaving everyone in awe. He retired having conquered his own 'King's Road.']
[Even more tragic: On August 31, 2021, Duramente died of acute colitis. Even on the track of life, he crossed the finish line before Kitasan Black.]
"Not only can I not race... I... I died? I see..." Duramente said quietly.
"Hey! What kind of reaction is that?! I told you to be careful! We're going for a check-up right now!"
Air Groove stopped hiding. She hadn't even eaten dinner; she went straight to find her granddaughter.
"Air Groove-san, why are you here?" Duramente was startled by her intensity.
"I... I happened to be passing by! What of it?!" Air Groove snapped.
This was bloodline suppression. I'm your grandmother; do I need a reason to scold you?
"Mm. I'll go for the check-up. Whether it's to take on the world... or..." Duramente didn't finish.
She was thinking of her future children mentioned in the log. If she died early, who would care for them?
Beneath her cold exterior, she was gentle.
Mizuki's log continued:
[In 2016, Satono Diamond also made his debut. When talking about Kitasan Black, you have to mention her childhood best friend, Dia-chan.]
[Legend has it that Kitasan Black once said: "Dia-chan, if I choke you out, I'll be an 8-Crown King!"]
[Whoever made that meme of Kitasan and Diamond is a genius!]
[Satono Diamond was born on January 30. He was purchased for 230 million yen by Satomi Hajime, who named him "Diamond" in the hope he would shine brightly.]
[After early wins, he entered the 2016 Satsuki Sho but was hindered by a horse drifting into his path, finishing 3rd. The 'Satono Curse' loomed large.]
[In the Japanese Derby, he was the 2nd favorite, but tragedy struck again. Mid-race, he threw off a horseshoe. Despite unleashing a field-fastest sprint of 33.4s, he lost by a mere 8 centimeters. Was the curse unbreakable?]
[After resting, he won the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai. Then came the Kikuka Sho on October 23. As the 1st favorite, he made no mistakes. With the fastest final sprint, he secured the first G1 for his owner, Satomi Hajime. It was also the first G1 classic title for his jockey, Christophe Lemaire.]
[Lemaire arrived in the JRA in 2017 and was like a god descending from the heavens. Only the likes of Yutaka Take could keep up.]
[However, after being spoiled by automatic horses like Almond Eye and Equinox, he's become a bit of an auto-pilot jockey himself. If you get carried for too long, your skills decline.]
[In the Uma Musume world, Satono Diamond recreated Narita Top Road's famous scene after the race, weeping like a rainclowd.]
[But she was stronger than Top Road; She didn't cry when she lost, only when she won.]
Inside Tracen, Mejiro McQueen roared with joy, losing all her Mejiro elegance. "Dia-chan! Fantastic! You finally got a G1! That's it, that's it— beat them all!"
She quickly caught herself and returned to a refined posture, blushing.
McQueen only acted this way because she had felt nervous for Dia-chan from the very beginning. She was blocked in the Satsuki Sho and threw a shoe in the Japanese Derby.
If those accidents hadn't happened, perhaps Satono Diamond could have taken one crown, or even two, early on.
Fortunately, in the final Kikuka Sho, Satono Diamond finally broke the curse.
McQueen deeply understood Dia-chan's crying. Under such immense pressure, she must have carried the weight of the entire world on her shoulders.
She didn't lament the unfairness of fate. Instead, she forged ahead and ultimately achieved her goal.
To be honest, McQueen felt like she was about to cry just watching it.
"Hahaha, but... what does this 'choke Dia-chan out' mean? Kita-chan would never do something like that. It must be another joke by Mizuki. But it does reveal something... maybe it means Dia-chan managed to defeat Kita-chan at least once later on?"
Tokai Teio wondered, hands on her hips. "However, just because that happens to our juniors doesn't mean it'll happen to us! I definitely won't be defeated by McQueen, ni-shi-shi!"
Hearing this, McQueen tossed her hair. "Teio, if you lose to me, don't you dare go crying like a baby."
Elsewhere at Tracen:
"Narita Top Road-san, you don't mind if I laugh, right?" Gold Ship happened to be out playing when she ran into Top Road, and she was dying of laughter.
"Ahem! Of course not. I'm the Class Rep! A Class Rep must be open-minded. Besides, it's perfectly normal to cry a little!"
Top Road's face was beet red. She had tried to resist earlier, but now that there was no way out, she just leaned into it.
'I cried, I cried, I cried— so what?! It's hard enough to win even once, what's wrong with crying a bit?'
"Gold Ship-san, Valentine's Day is coming up, right? That thing you mentioned... the chili and wasabi chocolate? Could you teach me how to make it? I... I have a friend who wants to learn." Top Road walked up to Gold Ship, puffing out her cheeks.
"That 'friend' wouldn't happen to be yourself, would it?" Gold Ship, ever sharp and mischievous, quipped.
"It's not! It's really a friend! Just tell me!" Top Road stamped her feet in frustration.
It seemed she did care after all.
"Alright, alright, I'll teach you!"
Gold Ship didn't care. As long as Trainer Mizuki was the one eating it, she'd even provide the raw wasabi ingredients.
This was going to be hilarious. If she could get Top Road to make a few extra, she wouldn't have to bother making them for McQueen or Nakayama Festa herself.
However, Top Road wasn't actually that malicious. She planned to swap the chili for onions; she'd just make one or two so they could all cry together.
In the Tokyo countryside:
"I... I won! I won, Kita-chan!" Tears shimmered in Satono Diamond's eyes as she grabbed Kitasan Black's hands. A surge of irrepressible emotion filled her chest. Since she was a child, she had told herself she had to achieve this dream.
At this moment, her eyes trembled as the dream became reality. She didn't mind at all, she was ready to burst into tears right here.
"Eh? Dia... Dia-chan..." Kitasan Black was at a total loss, unsure of how to comfort her, but she hugged her close with all her heart. It took a long time for them to recover, but they were both incredibly happy.
"But what does 'choke Dia-chan out' mean? I'm so curious." Dia-chan turned back into her usual curious self.
"You shouldn't be curious about that! And I never said that sentence!" Kitasan was terrified. Who was spreading these rumors? She wanted to handcuff them all and haul them away.
"And look, Equinox's name appeared too." Piedra de Luna spotted her brother's name immediately. She realized that Equinox might be incredibly powerful to be called an "automatic" racehorse.
"I saw it too! Equinox... Is her jockey Christophe Lemaire? I wonder what Equinox's record is..."
Kitasan grinned. She was already a 7-crown winner, and she wondered what heights Equinox would reach.
She actually had some memories of Equinox.
Equinox had run faster than other Uma Musume since she was little, showing extraordinary talent. One memory stood out vividly to Kitasan Black: Kitisan was once helping to move watermelons, carrying five large crates at once while sprinting at full speed. When Equinox saw her, she wanted to play.
Kitasan had just said, "What? Play? Wait a bit, I have to deliver these five crates first!" Then she sprinted off.
But Equinox said she'd help too. To Kitasan's surprise, Equinox actually caught up to her while she was at full speed! Equinox dashed up and accidentally grabbed her leg.
In that instant, Kitasan slammed into the ground, seeing stars and crying out in pain. Equinox was scared to death, crying and asking if Kitasan was about to die.
From that day on, Kitasan remembered Equinox's terrifying explosive power. Of course, they ended up apologizing to the shop owner together, but he didn't mind at all. The melons weren't damaged much, and he even treated them to non-alcoholic draft beer.
"Equinox will definitely be strong. I believe de Luna-chan can recover, too." Dia-chan gently patted Piedra de Luna's head.
However, Kitasan Black suddenly realized something. The log said that if she "choked out Dia-chan," she would be an 8-crown king. Does that mean she lost to Dia-chan later?
'Only you... it was always you, Dia-chan... was I the loser in our final battle?'
Kitasan decided to keep reading.
Elsewhere:
"Almond Eye... that name sounds quite pretty." Equinox rubbed her head and pondered.
In reality, it was quite a name. Almond Eye was the first mare Equinox was bred to after retirement. A "first love" of sorts.
However, everyone was looking forward to seeing how strong the child of Equinox and Almond Eye would be. They hoped their child would take the first Japanese Derby for the lineage.
"Equinox is already out. Does that mean we're about to show up too?" Panthalassa was excited.
"Look at how nervous you are. I don't care at all," Titleholder said calmly.
"Is that so? I saw you peeking at the diary for ages, searching for your own name," Liberty Island ruthlessly exposed her.
Mizuki's diary continued:
[After her summer rest, Kitasan Black welcomed his next race—the G2 Kyoto Daishoten. This time, Kitasan finally secured the 1st favorite of his career and won smoothly.]
[One month later, in the Japan Cup, Kitasan Black again raced as the 1st favorite, easily winning by 2 1/2 lengths to secure his 3rd G1.]
[On December 27, Kitasan Black entered the Arima Kinen at 2nd popularity. The 1st favorite was Satono Diamond, fresh off his Kikuka Sho victory.]
[The race began with a slow pace of 61 seconds for the first 1000 meters. Entering the final straight, Kitasan Black and Gold Actor took the lead and charged for the finish.]
[But Satono Diamond unleashed a fierce assault from the outside, overtaking Kitasan Black by a neck at the very last moment. As a 3-year-old, he snatched the biggest crown of the year-end.]
[This is also the origin of the Satono Diamond SSR card's flavor text: "Today's Kita-chan is no match for me."]
[At this point, Kitasan Black had participated in the Arima Kinen twice, finishing 3rd and 2nd, still unable to grasp that final year-end trophy.]
[In this race, Satono Noblesse, who shared the same owner as Satono Diamond, put heavy pressure on Kitasan Black at the third corner, disrupting his rhythm. This led to controversy after Satono Diamond's victory.]
[After the race, Katsumi Ando noted that Satono Noblesse's jockey had just arrived in Japan and might not have realized that "support horse" tactics aren't common in Japanese racing. Regardless, Satono Diamond's strength was undeniable.]
[Furthermore, on December 11, 2016, Satono Crown stepped onto the turf of Sha Tin Racecourse again for the International G1 Hong Kong Vase.]
[This time, as if aided by the gods, Satono Crown took the first G1 victory of her life in the Hong Kong Vase.]
[As the saying goes: "One Hong Kong Vase, a lifetime of Hong Kong grace." It's not just a slogan.]
[In 2017, with the Osaka Hai officially upgraded to a G1, the "Senior Spring Triple Crown" was established, offering a 100-million-yen bonus just like the Autumn Triple Crown.]
[On April 2, Kitasan Black easily won the G1 Osaka Hai.]
[On April 30, he challenged the second leg of the Spring Triple Crown—the 3200m Spring Tenno Sho.]
[Facing Satono Diamond, who had defeated him in the Arima Kinen, and his old rival Cheval Grand, Kitasan Black won easily, successfully seeking his revenge. He broke the race record with a time of 3:12.5. Cheval Grand and Satono Diamond took 2nd and 3rd.]
[At this point, Kitasan Black became the third horse in history (after Mejiro McQueen and Rice Shower) to win the Kikuka Sho and two Spring Tenno Sho titles. Some even argued he had surpassed his predecessors as the strongest long-distance horse in Japanese racing history.]
[However, in the Takarazuka Kinen on June 25, Kitasan Black suffered from the massive physical toll of the Spring Tenno Sho and suffered a crushing defeat, finishing 9th. His lifelong rival Satono Crown claimed victory, which also caused Kitasan to lose his chance to participate in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.]
[Actually, if Kitasan had gone to the Arc, his chances of winning wouldn't have been high. I wonder if Equinox will have a chance. Back at Tracen, I often saw Equinox cheering for her "dad." She was very cute, full of energy—a very lovable Uma Musume.]
[Also, there are other powerful young Uma Musume, like Contrail. She's quite cheeky, but Equinox and Contrail are similar. If those two met, it'd be a battle of eight hundred schemes.]
[Speaking of which, I wonder what Contrail is up to. Her bangs are very flowy. If you look closely, she actually looks like a telephone receiver. Last time I saw her, I almost couldn't hold back a laugh. Haha.]
In the Tokyo countryside:
"Huh? What do you mean? Do you have a problem with my hairstyle? So what if it looks like a phone? Can the world live without phones? That just means the world cannot live without me, Contrail!"
Contrail punched the air. Her short arms looked completely harmless; she looked fierce but had no real power. After a few swings, she gave up, it was better to save her strength for running.
She really wanted to defeat Deep Impact.
At the Satono household:
"I... I got two G1s?! Fantastic!" Satono Crown was trembling with excitement. She had been full of resentment toward Trainer Mizuki, but now she was so happy she wanted to hug her.
She got a G1, and she got two, just like Dia-chan.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" Satono Crown rolled around in joy, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes. Her persistence finally had meaning.
For a moment, she looked like a joyous madman, but it was understandable. The long-term pressure, the family's bad reputation, her own self-doubt, and previous failures... it was all released in this moment.
She was over the moon.
However... Vivlos and Verxina saw the door was ajar and thought Satono Crown had already come out. They pushed the door open only to see Satono Crown having a fit of joy, rolling around on the floor.
"What do we do... Verxina..." Vivlos swallowed hard.
"Let's pretend we didn't see anything, or we'll be in danger of being silenced," Verxina panicked. Both prepared to bolt.
"Oh! Vivlos and Verxina! You... you didn't see what just happened, did you?" Satono Crown had regained her elegance, walking toward them step by step.
"No... no... I really didn't see you rolling around on the bed acting like a brat and screaming."
"Me neither! I didn't see you rolling on the floor at all! Really!"
"AAAAHHHHH!!!!"
In an instant, Satono Crown's face turned bright red, burning from head to toe. She immediately chased after them.
"Wait right there, you two! Delete those memories right now!!"
At this moment, a Support Card Event occurred.
Energy-5, Speed +20.
Elsewhere:
"Hm? I'm at Tracen cheering for my 'dad'? What does that mean? At Tracen, I only cheer for Kitasan Black-san." Equinox's CPU was fried, she couldn't figure it out at all.
"Oh, I know! Is it possible, Equinox, that Kitasan Black is your dad?" Panthalassa said confidently.
"Hey, stop talking nonsense! Kitasan Black-san is a girl!" Titleholder was completely exasperated.
"Alright, stop teasing Kitasan Black. She's our senior, after all."
Liberty Island remained polite.
"But Kitasan Black really participated in so many races. She must have trained so hard every single day. She surely wanted to give everyone a year-end festival to remember. Even though it was just glossed over here, Kitasan Black-san must have been incredibly frustrated."
Equinox knew Kitasan Black well. She was helpful to everyone she met, and one of her favorite things to do was sit below the stage, listen to her dad sing, and see everyone's smiles. That was what satisfied her most.
Back then, when everyone found out she wanted to be an Uma Musume, they said they would definitely support Kita-chan and that they'd all hold the biggest celebration together when the time came.
The Japanese Derby, or the Arima Kinen.
Kitasan Black had named those two races back then because they are the most grand events in all of Japan—especially the Arima Kinen, which gathers all the strongest horses of the year for the final carnival of the season.
She surely wanted to bring victory to everyone.
She had already failed twice. Was there still a chance?
"There will be. Don't underestimate a promise," Titleholder said with a smile. In her eyes, whether it was Duramente, who wanted to prove her bloodline, or the constantly striving Kitasan Black, they were both undoubtedly top-tier Umas, and she wanted to be just like them.
"Yeah, Kitasan Black has always been as good as her word. She'll definitely complete it."
Equinox actually always believed in Kitasan Black, it was just that for a moment, she had gotten nervous too. She believed Kitasan Black would fulfill her dream, becoming a person like her father and bringing everyone the best festival.
And Equinox felt the same way. She had to do it too, because the person she admired in her heart was Kitasan Black.
Mizuki's log continued:
[On October 29, Kitasan Black welcomed the first leg of the Senior Autumn Triple Crown: the Tenno Sho Autumn.]
[As the gates opened, the usually lightning-fast Kitasan Black lunged forward, but the gate malfunctioned. After opening, one side of the gate suddenly snapped back, striking Kitasan Black squarely in the face as he exited.]
[Faced with this accident, jockey Yutaka Take had no choice but to steer Kitasan Black to stay behind in the pack, waiting for an opportunity to use a Late Surger strategy.]
[The inner track at Tokyo Racecourse was slippery after the rain. Stuck deep in the pack, Yutaka Take spotted his chance. At the fourth corner, while everyone else moved outward looking for better turf, he lunged through the inner rail, overtaking the field in one go to seize the lead.]
[The veteran Yutaka Take immediately moved away from the inner rail after taking the lead, swerving outward to avoid the poor ground while simultaneously suppressing the sprint of Kitisan's rival, Satono Crown. While successfully taking his revenge, he also took the first step toward the Autumn Triple Crown.]
[At the post-race celebration, Saburo Kitajima—who was in his eighties and preparing for retirement after a serious injury from a fall at home—stated plainly that Kitasan Black's hard work moved him and inspired him to want to return to the stage once more.]
[Later, on November 26, Kitasan Black entered the Japan Cup as the 1st favorite. However, this race was no longer Kitasan's home turf. His old rival Cheval Grand, whom he had defeated twice in the Spring Tenno Sho, finally stood up.]
[Cheval Grand was the 5th favorite in this race, partnered with Australian jockey Hugh Bowman. On the final straight of the Japan Cup, he caught up to the leading Kitasan Black with a once-in-a-lifetime final sprint, held off the pursuit of Suave Richard, and took the first G1 title of his career.]
[After this defeat, Kitasan Black's camp decided that his retirement race would be the Arima Kinen—the race where he had suffered two previous setbacks.]
[He had already been hailed as the JRA's strongest long-distance King, but no matter how hard he tried, he hadn't secured that final long-distance championship.]
[This was the biggest stage of the year-end. The 2500m Arima Kinen!]
[Soon, the time came to December 24, 2017. Kitasan Black's retirement race, the Arima Kinen, officially began!]
"Trainer Mizuki, our video is finished!"
In the Tracen Academy cafeteria, while Mizuki was eating, Twin Turbo suddenly ran over giggling. She looked very happy and wanted to show Mizuki the content of the video.
By this time, Machan was already a big internet celebrity. Everytime a new video was posted, people would crowd in to watch.
Currently, everyone in Spica doted on Machan. They all wanted to give her more screen time so that everyone would remember her and she wouldn't be forgotten.
The video posted this time was another absurd comedy.
It started with Daiwa Scarlet and Trainer Mizuki discussing race tactics in the Spica Clubroom. After a few moments of this, an elegantly-dressed, purple-haired Uma Musume walked over.
It was Mejiro McQueen, looking extremely overweight.
She quickly joined in on their conversation, telling Mizuki that she had been "eating a lot of sweets lately" and asking for the toughest, most soul-draining training regime she can whip up.
Mizuki was obviously confused, but started working on a weight-loss program for "McQueen."
In the middle of their conversation, another elegantly-dressed, purple-haired Uma Musume walked over.
It was a second McQueen. She wasn't anywhere near as large as the other purple-haired Uma.
In a calm tone, she asked what they were talking about. Meanwhile, the first McQueen, noticibly taller than the second, slowly starts to inch away.
When Trainer Mizuki started to explain, the first McQueen made a run for it, shedding her disguise (which included a fatsuit) to reveal herself as Gold Ship.
While McQueen chased after and eventually strangeled Gold Ship, the camera slowly panned over to Trainer Mizuki.
Then, just before the video ends, Mizuki reached up and pulled off a face mask, revealing that she was Machan the whole time.
Mizuki was genuinely stunned when she saw this video. She didn't do any of the acting for the "Mizuki" in the video, it was genuinely Machan wearing a costume.
She was even more shocked when she saw the view count. For whatever reason, this video was a smash hit, and Machan's follower count was shooting up at a visible rate.