Umamusume's days are numbered

"You're not only confused, you're also bewildered and at a loss."

"You've arrived in a completely new environment, all alone, with no ties. And you don't want any of that."

"...I mean, all this talk is unnecessary. I just wanted to have my fortune told." Platinum's impression of him immediately turned hostile.

I originally thought that Fukuro Ochikan's divination would be amazing, but it turns out it's just the same old thing.

By saying vague things, doing some preliminary research, and creating an atmosphere of mystery, people will believe such tricks.

“O traveler from afar, you are still in a hurry, in a great urgency. For Hela is still watching you. This greedy goddess has raised her gluttonous knife, drooling as she waits for your soul to fall onto her table. She loves rotten food the most.”

"But there is no need to despair yet. Only when the sun rises and sets a thousand times will the traveler's soul drift across the Geoir River; until then, the goddess with her gaping maw can only wait with bated breath."

Platinum was stunned. In that instant, she felt a chill run down her spine.

"what are you saying?"

The dim candlelight flickered slightly. Platinum felt as if the inside and outside of the fortune-telling room had become completely different worlds. On the ceiling of the fortune-telling room, the curtain filled with stars swayed slightly in the wind, as if it were a real galaxy slowly rotating.

The black veil covering the crystal ball remained. However, a faint shimmer emanated from within the crystal ball, as if images were flashing by. Platinum felt a chill creep around her, and her exhaled air condensed into white mist…

Platinum seemed to see that enormous, man-sized block of ice. Before the fluorescent blue ice, Platinum saw his own face.

As if possessed, Platinum reached out to remove the black veil from the crystal ball. She wanted to see what was inside; she desperately wanted to know everything she wanted to know… she desperately wanted to drink from the fountain of wisdom…

"Guest." Just as Bai Jin's fingers were about to touch the black veil, Machigane Fukuro grabbed Bai Jin's hand. Machigane Fukuro's body was so cold that Bai Jin shivered.

"Are you ready? The future you see can't be changed."

Platinum was jolted awake by the icy touch and immediately regained her composure.

Her lips were dry, slightly parted, and she looked at Machigane Fukuro with longing in her eyes.

This is real! Platinum's most hidden secret was revealed just like that!

"I, I..."

"I know what you want."

Machika Fukuro's face, hidden beneath his long robe, smiled.

“Guest, your soul is adrift and alone. Once the chains at your anchor break, your soul will drift away with the river.”

"But fate is not static. Opportunities to deceive the weavers exist."

"Wrap the silk threads around yourself... the more the better... perhaps one day you will be able to go against the current."

"What does this mean?" Bai Jin grabbed Taikan Fukuro's wrist and asked urgently, "Could you be more direct?"

"In addition... there are three more anchor points." Ignoring Platinum, Kanefuku continued speaking on his own, his voice light and airy like a ghost.

"Grasp the existence of the anchor point. That is the opportunity to turn the tide in a desperate situation."

"One is right beside you. In the time after sunset and when it rises again, in the direction indicated by the midday shadow, behind the cross, the number is three."

"One, at the mouth of ten thousand rivers, a port of gold."

"The last one is in that land where day and night are reversed. Let us wait for the right moment."

"Why are you speaking in riddles?" Platinum's eyes welled up with tears. "You know what I mean, right? Can you explain it more clearly?"

What is a silk thread? And what is an anchor point?

Just as Platinum stood up and pressed forward, the curtain of the fortune-telling shop was lifted.

"Platinum—are you in there?" Platinum heard McQueen's voice calling out.

"I'm here, just a moment!" Platinum turned around and replied, only to find that no one was at the table.

When Kenjiro rolled over, he actually managed to crawl out through the gap between the tent curtain and the ground.

Platinum felt both angry and amused.

"Hey, Ochika Fukuro!" Platinum quickly crouched down and lifted the curtain, only to find that there was no one behind the tent.

Episode 51 Prophecy

"Come on, Platinum, ah—" Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate, holding a steaming box of takoyaki, looked eagerly at Platinum's face.

Platinum stood on the street, arms crossed, lost in thought, no longer concerned with dealing with the carp leaping over the dragon gate. She was still pondering everything she had seen at Fukuro Ochika's fortune-telling shop.

Although she originally wanted to stroll around the festival with Koi Leaping Over the Dragon Gate and Fuji Koji, the fortune-telling incident ruined her mood.

What exactly did Machigane Fukuro mean by those words? What is the thread, and what is the anchor point? Why did he say he had deceived the Weaver Girl of Fate?

Why does divination always have to be explained in such a roundabout way?

"Hey, A-Li, how can you treat her like this?" Fuji Koji was really starting to lose her composure; she regretted going to the coffee shop today at A-Li's request to leap over the dragon gate.

Even though Ah Li never fed me!

"Huh? If you want to eat, go eat by yourself. Why do you need me to feed you?" Koi Leaps Over the Dragon Gate turned back to look at Fuji Koji with a cold expression. "You've been living at Treson Academy for so long now, you don't need me to help you take care of things anymore, do you?"

Fuji Koji was suddenly struck as if by a heavy blow, staggering a few steps, staring in disbelief at the carp leaping over the dragon gate.

That gentle Ah Li... that considerate Ah Li... how could she say such heartless things...?

They used to say, "I can't do anything with you," and then turn around and feed themselves!

Fuji Koji covered his face and looked up at the sun.

It only takes one bad day to ruin a person.

Woohoo.

In just one day, the carp leaping over the dragon gate has transformed into this—

How could I blame her? No, I knew she used to be such a considerate and kind child.

Therefore, all of this is wrong, all of this is wrong because—

Platinum! You vixen!

Ignoring the two noisy guys behind him, Platinum pondered.

What does it mean to wrap the silk thread more and more?

In conjunction with the Weaver Girl's fate mentioned above, does the silk thread here represent fate?

What should I do if more and more of these things are wrapped around my body?

Win more games?

How can I get more people to know me?

Or perhaps...spending more time with the female racehorses around me?

I don't understand.

And what about those three anchor points?

And following closely behind are three more puzzles.

Do I have to go somewhere to find something myself?

That said, the art style is completely different now, isn't it? Wasn't this supposed to be a children's world where running around replaces dark duels? It's one thing to occasionally see ghosts, superpowers, or supernatural phenomena, but this divination clearly looks more like the art style of some other anime, like Arknights.

However... Platinum never doubted the validity of this divination.

The secret that one would rather die than reveal was easily spoken by someone else. This speaks volumes.

Platinum felt increasingly confused the more she thought about it, as if her mind was a tightly tangled ball of yarn.

Three anchor points.

[One is right beside you. In the time after sunset and sunrise, in the direction indicated by the midday shadow, behind the cross, the number is three.]

One, at the mouth of ten thousand rivers, a port of gold.

The last one lies in that land where day and night are reversed. Wait patiently for the opportune moment.

I don't understand.

However, of the three mysteries, one is imminent.

The first puzzle has a time limit!

"So... if it rises again after sunset, then it's tomorrow, isn't it?" Platinum muttered to himself. "So why can't they just speak like human beings?"

The first puzzle not only clearly stated the location but also limited the time. Even the subsequent puzzles were... quite beautiful, like something a primary school student would come up with.

Should I go or not?

Of course I'll go! Fukuro Ogami's meaning is very clear—these puzzles I've solved are closely related to the soul dissolution syndrome, and may even offer a chance to cure my illness!

Although I'm pinning my hopes on the level 2 shop that will be unlocked after winning the Yayoi Prize... having more options is never a bad thing.

No matter how slim the hope, Platinum will not give up as long as there is even the slightest chance.

As Platinum was deep in thought, she saw two more figures flash past her—so the festival organized by Uma Musume really is full of familiar faces.

Bai Jin's breathing quickened. The two figures before him were none other than Machigane Fukuro and the renowned general Nutsuo, who were walking side by side, chatting and laughing!

"Listen to me... I did a divination this morning and found out that today's lucky food is takoyaki." As he said this, Machigane Fukurai and Meisho Nutō stood in the shop that Koi Leaped Over the Dragon Gate had just visited.

"Eh...is that so...?"

He timidly clutched his chest, while the famous general, Fu Tao, echoed his sentiments.

The famous general Nu Tao had a very conspicuous white highlight in the center of his forehead, making him look blank.

Normally, Platinum would definitely keep a closer eye on the famous general, Raging Waves. After all, bigger is better, and better is bigger. Compared to a child like the East Sea Emperor, it's certainly better to build a bond with someone like Raging Waves.

But at this moment, Shirogane only had eyes for Fukuro Okabe!

Bai Jin strode up to the two men and grabbed Fukuro's wrist.

"Huh! What, what's wrong?" Suddenly having his wrist grabbed, Daiken Fuku was startled and looked at Baijin in panic.

Don't scare anyone else... This time, we can't let Taikan Fukuro escape. We have to make her explain what she meant by what she said before...

Thinking this through, Platinum calmed herself down a bit.

"I'm sorry, but this is really important to me... I'd like to ask you to explain the previous divination in more detail." Grabbing Fukuro's wrist, Shirogane bowed to her.

In short, no matter how much she pleads or throws a tantrum, Platinum won't listen. This time, she's determined to get Fukuro Okabe to open her mouth!

This is incredibly important for Platinum!

"Uh... ah, ah! So you're a guest!" A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead as Kanefuku chuckled awkwardly, "Looks like we're quite famous now. Indeed, today's auspicious divination has come true."

"Since you're in such a hurry, let's go back to the fortune-telling shop now, and I'll give our guest a proper reading..."

"You know what I'm talking about!" Platinum rushed closer to Fukuro, grabbing her arm. "I'm talking about the fortune telling you just did for me!"

"Please, please stop!"

Just as Platinum and Fukuro were arguing, the bewildered general, Angry Wave, clasped his hands to his chest and shouted, "We've been together the whole time. We just got back from the butler's café. How could we possibly be giving you a fortune reading?"

Bai Jin was stunned. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Dai Jianfu quickly broke free from her grasp and ran to the side of the famous general Nu Tao.

“Yes, yes, we just came back from the butler’s café. You can ask the opera if you don’t believe me,” Fukuro Okabe chimed in.

Bai Jin stared blankly at the two people, not even hearing the calls from Li Yue Long Men and Fuji Koji behind him.

So... who was the one who just did the divination for me?

Bai Jin felt a sudden chill run down his spine, his hands and feet were ice-cold, and he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Episode 52 Anchor Point 1

Anchor Point One: Right beside you. At sunrise after sunset, in the direction indicated by the midday shadow, behind the cross, the number is three.

Platinum stood at the main gate of Treson Academy. The shadows of the three goddess statues cast outwards, pointing into the distance.

It was now noon on the second day. After much deliberation, Platinum decided to follow the mystery.

We had no other choice but to try anything, even if it seemed hopeless.

Since it's right next to me, it must be near Treson College. At the very least, it should be in the same city, right?