Umamusume's days are numbered

She seemed to hear nothing else, yet she also seemed to hear all the sounds. She seemed to hear only the lyrics, yet she also seemed to hear the boundless, surging power contained within them. The song spread from the stage like a gentle breeze, flying with seagulls to the vast South China Sea, to the Sea of ​​Japan, and to the endless Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Hai Dushi's slender fingers danced across the piano keys, the sound flowing like waves to the con artist, only to be shattered by her fluttering leather jacket. The con artist swung her hammer, the drumhead vibrating like ripples, sweat rising from her hair and falling onto Alice Digital's shoulder. Alice Digital strummed the bass, its low, husky sound seemingly intertwining with the piano and drumbeats. A strand of Alice Digital's hair, as if plucked by the strings, drifted into the air, not floating far before clinging to Golden Gun Sixty's arm. Golden Gun Sixty's fingers swept across the guitar strings, his azure eyes fixed on the white figure standing in the center of the stage.

"Still free and true to myself, forever singing my song."

"Travel thousands of miles —"

Unconsciously, Bai Jin grasped the microphone in front of her, her silver earrings trembling with each vibration of her vocal cords.

"—Forgive me for my untamed, unrestrained, and freedom-loving life."

"—I'm also afraid that one day I'll fall."

"—Anyone can betray their ideals."

"—Why would I be afraid of a day when it's just you and me?"

The chorus returned. But this time, it was even noisier and spread much wider than before, as if it weren't just the voices of five people coming together, but the voices of hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people.

A galaxy of lights unfolded before Platinum. It was a fervor and heat capable of illuminating a black hole. Around the stage, tens of thousands of spectators waved flags, flashlights, and glow sticks.

Originally, this was just an ordinary winners' stage.

Now, it's more than just a post-match performance. It's as if eras have converged, and even the stars seem to pause for a moment.

This is the combined voices of everyone present. The singing carried far and wide, even surpassing the volume of the microphone speakers. Perhaps tonight, the entire city of Hong Kong can hear this miraculous chorus.

Like a dream. There was no way the racehorses could have gathered together, no way the races could have taken place, and no way the songs could have been sung.

Tonight, Hong Kong is a true city of miracles, a true city of the night.

Episode 121 See You There

Tonight, Hong Kong is a true city of miracles, a true city of the night.

Fluttering starlight, drifting songs, floating lights.

The echoes of the old era, the rising sun of the new era.

Even seagulls paused to admire it, and even the clouds listened intently.

Forgive me for my untamed, unrestrained, and freedom-loving life.

The voices of Platinum, the voices of swindlers, the voices of Haidu City, the voices of Aili Digital, the voices of Golden Gun Sixty, and countless other voices converged into a surging tide.

"I'm also afraid that one day I'll fall."

Bai Jin wasn't sure if her singing was good or bad. Her previous appearances on the winner's stage had all been the same old routine of singing and dancing to the same fixed songs. Not only were there few viewers, but everyone was also tired of it; probably only die-hard fans like those at Aili Digital would bother to watch it again.

Even if there were slight off-key notes or voice cracks, the audience would just laugh it off.

But today is different. Platinum can't even hear her own voice now; she's been swallowed up by the waves of harmony. All she hears through the headset is a muffled sound; Platinum can only tell she's still making a sound by the vibration of her vocal cords.

Anyone can betray their ideals.

At this point, whether the singing is good or bad is no longer important.

This is no longer a song sung with the throat, but a song sung with the soul.

Tens of thousands of souls sang together.

Why would I be afraid of a day when it's just you and me?

The soul present at the scene, and the soul absent from the scene.

A vibrant soul, a dead soul.

A soul that is still dormant, a soul that bursts forth like lava.

A soul that transcends time and space.

A grand piece of music, seemingly stretching from the 1970s to the present day.

"—Forgive me for my untamed, unrestrained, and freedom-loving life."

The swindlers were singing, and it was as if they were melting away.

Born in the best of times, yet it seems as if I was born in the wrong era.

They encountered the most formidable opponent, resulting in achievements that were disproportionate to their strength.

Even if you break through your own limits every time, it's meaningless. So what if you break a record? The secretariat is already waiting for you ahead.

The con artist stubbornly hasn't held a retirement ceremony yet. Is it because she still harbors illusions that she will one day meet the Secretariat on the field again, and that she will still have a chance to defeat her?

—In any case, she has no regrets. She has never regretted being born in the same era as the Secretariat.

It's wonderful to have the Secretariat as a role model to strive for.

"—I'm also afraid that one day I'll fall."

Hai Dudu pursed his lips, his pupils seemingly containing countless stars.

Love, love is the main theme that accompanies Haidu City throughout its life.

Love for family, love for lovers, and a passion for running.

The love of family is like a gentle stream, clear and warm. The love of lovers is as fiery as a torch, as swirling as a whirlpool, captivating and intoxicating. And the passion for running is like the high-hanging sun, like the law of all things.

It was with a will tempered by love that Hai Du City was able to achieve a remarkable and astonishing performance at the Long Shang Racecourse on a rainy day, in extremely unfavorable weather and on such a challenging terrain.

And today, this love can still be passed on to future generations.

"—Anyone can betray their ideals."

A satisfied smile spread across Aili Digital's face. Tonight's scene would be unforgettable for her forever.

The collision of thousands upon thousands of souls takes place on the winners' stage of this special competition.

What could be more dreamlike than this?

Who else could be closer to the true meaning of Uma Musume than her right now?

Alice Digital, she has always, always, always—loved Uma Musume Girls the most.

It's simply because the race of the horse girl brings her the most genuine emotions. This emotion has nothing to do with the importance of the race, nor with the horse girl's ability.

In the face of dreams, everyone is equal.

"—Why would I be afraid of a day when it's just you and me?"

Jinqiang Liushi sang passionately, his waterfall-like hair dancing in the wind.

Every era eventually comes to an end.

Being overly sentimental about the passing of time makes one seem unlike oneself.

Doubting yourself because of a little failure...

This is truly a farewell to the old Golden Spear Sixty.

A true Golden Gun Sixty should be both arrogant and dazzling, like a sparkling diamond, forever capturing everyone's attention.

I am Golden Spear Sixty —

—I am the king of kings!

Forgive me for my untamed, unrestrained, and freedom-loving life.

Finally, the song reached Platinum.

"I'm also afraid that one day I'll fall."

This is the curtain call of the old era and the prelude to a new one.

Anyone can betray their ideals.

From this day forward, we will carry the torch passed down from our predecessors—

Why would I be afraid of a day when it's just you and me?

Run forward!

A reporter standing below the stage straddled the railing and, just as security pulled him down, raised his camera high, taking a glittering photo from the closest possible position to the stage.

In the photo, the stage is brightly lit, with a drummer waving his arms, a keyboardist playing softly, a bassist playing gently, and a guitarist playing energetically.

The four veteran players were scattered around the stage, leaving the center position to the young champion.

Platinum stood in the very center of the stage, holding the microphone in her right hand, taking a step forward with her left leg, her hair swept back, and her shimmering silver earrings sparkling.

The photos were taken so clearly that the eyes and expressions of everyone on stage were so vivid, as if time and space had been frozen at that moment.

Perhaps time will continue to roll forward, but what we see before us is definitely not a dream. The photograph is the best proof of this old-fashioned revelry.

This marked a turning point in history. From then on, the once-glorious racehorses eventually retired from the stage, leaving only a faint echo.

But the stage is never empty. Before people could even feel nostalgic about the passing of the old era, the dawn of a new era arrived as promised.

Anyone can betray their ideals.

Sweat clung to her platinum-colored face as she passionately captured the last rays of this era.

Why would I be afraid of a day when it's just you and me?

Golden Gun Sixty followed behind Platinum, singing softly in unison. The music gradually faded from the stage, leaving only the audience's cheers.

Thus, an era came to an end.

Perhaps this is the ironclad rule, the ultimate truth of the world, which no one can defy.

———But there are still people who are willing to go against the tide.

Go against the tide in this era.

Two months later at the Hong Kong Mile Championship, Jin Qiang Liushi won the championship.

The following year, in the Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup, Golden Gun Sixty defeated its opponents to win the championship.

Perhaps one day, Golden Spear Sixty will be defeated by someone else.

Perhaps one day, Golden Gun Sixty will also retire from the race and hand over the stage to others.

But at least for now, at this moment, Golden Gun Sixty will continue to run until it reaches its limits.

Golden Spear Sixty, King of Kings!

Episode 122 I Really Love You

Platinum puffed out his chest, almost pointing his nose to the sky.

"How about it, am I awesome?"

Alice rolled up a newspaper and slammed it onto Platinum's forehead: "You won a game and you won't even look at people properly."

"Golden Gun Sixty was letting you off easy, didn't you realize that? You still have a long way to go before you can compete with the top female racehorses."

Even so, from an angle that Platinum couldn't see, Alice's lips kept curving upwards, and she couldn't stop them from turning down.

"Go change your clothes, it's time to get ready to go back."

"Go back?" Platinum, with the rolled-up newspaper still stuck to her forehead, blinked at Alice.

"Are you still trying to stay at the racetrack? The race is over. You came to Hong Kong to participate in the race by disrupting the schedule. Now that it's over, you should be thinking about your way home."

Platinum's face immediately fell. After all, she came to Hong Kong hoping to relax. But instead of resting, she had to push herself to the limit and run another really tough race, even more tiring than Alice's training.

Then I came all this way for nothing, didn't I?

Bai Jingang was about to say something when there was a knock at the door. Aili Digital's head popped in.

"Golden Gun Sixty said that as the host, he's going to treat all the athletes and their families to a celebration banquet. I'm going to inform the others."

After speaking, Aili Digital's head retracted. Halfway back in, as if remembering something, Aili Digital poked its head out again, giving Platinum a thumbs-up.

"A fantastic run! Digital Carbon and its fans are absolutely thrilled!"

As Alice Digital disappeared, Platinum didn't laugh; instead, Alice Souko laughed.

"My roommate is truly a one-in-a-million experimental subject. Her reactions always exceed my expectations."