| As the light shines, and grows! | |
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| Kanji | ヒカリ射し、芽吹くとき！ |
| Korean | 빛이 비치고, 싹이 틀 때! |
| Chapter Information | |
| Date Released | March 21st, 2024 (JP) |
| Major Races Depicted | |
| '00 Takamatsunomiya Kinen | |
| Previous | Endless Glitter |
| Next | Midsummer's Star, Late Autumn's Flower |
As the light shines, and grows! is the first chapter of Main Story - Act 2 in the mobile game's story.
Story
Episode 1
The story starts off into the future, with Cesario talking to a small child at a racecourse. She is telling this child a story from years ago, back when her and other legendary Tiara Umamusume competed with each other.
After this short sequence, the scene cuts to the entrance of Tracen Academy. The trainer and King Halo are helping their group-Team Ascella-gather their luggage so that they can depart. As King is making sure everyone is ready, she then diverts her attention to the two latest members of the group, Rhein Kraft and Cesario. Ascella is making this trip for Kraft, since she's set to compete in the G1 race Hanshin Juvenile Fillies soon.
King then talks directly to the trainer, and asks them if they're feeling alright considering the eye bags on their face. As the trainer is the one to drive for eight hours to the inn closest to Hanshin Racecourse, King offers to sit by them so they don't fall asleep from exhaustion. The scene then cuts to Ascella in the van, where all of the members except King have fallen asleep.
As King and the trainer talk, the trainer has a flashback, which reveals that they became the trainer of Ascella after their father. Compared to now, the team used to be smaller ever since the trainer took over, and there was even a time where them and King were the only ones in Ascella. King, after feeling nostalgic remembering it with the trainer, looks forward to how fast the team is growing, with Kraft and Cesario being promising members.
The scene then cuts to a flashback from when the trainer first met Kraft and Cesario. The trainer was spectating a mock race, in which Umamusume were competing to be scouted by trainers. The race begins with Kraft getting off to a good start, and the trainer keeps note of her speed and concentration. At the final 400 meters, Cesario begins to charge from behind her, and the trainer takes note of her stamina and racing form. Kraft and Cesario are both reaching for the finish line, as they both widen the gap between them and the other Umamusume. After the race, Kraft introduces herself to the trainer. Cesario, in her serious tone, also introduces herself, and both of them request to join Team Ascella.
With the flashback coming to the end, Ascella has finally reached the inn. King asks the trainer if they believe that Kraft can win the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, and both of them comment on how resilient she is. After the brief conversation, the scene cuts to the day of the race, and Kraft is preparing herself in the locker room. Kraft vows to prove to them that she has the strength to be in Ascella, and the scene switches to a cutscene.
With Kraft being the overwhelming favorite, she enters the starting gate, preparing to start. Kraft starts off with a good position, and settles for 7th to 8th place throughout. As she begins to concentrate, Kraft nearly trips before catching herself, remembering King's advice on not rushing. Kraft begins to surge forth at the third to fourth corner, before she nearly trips again. Despite continuing to accelerate, she falls short and places a close 3rd. Despite her loss, both Cesario and King take note of Kraft's strength, and the episode ends with Kraft staring pensively at the sky.
Episode 2
Kraft is frustrated after her loss, and she takes note of her many mistakes. The trainer tells her that 3rd place is still a fantastic spot, but still acknowledges her dissatisfaction. Kraft then talks about how she wants to become an Umamusume that people look up to, and mentions how much she admires her upperclassmen that took on the Triple Tiara route.
After her talk, Kraft tells the trainer to also focus on Cesario, since her debut is coming up. Weeks later, on December 25th, Cesario makes her debut, where she begins to take the lead at the 200 meter mark. Winning her first race, the trainer congratulates her, before Cesario reminds them to keep their training strict and that this is only the beginning. The trainer takes note of her stoic figure, before the scene cuts to a Christmas party, where Cesario is smiling and her voice is noticeably higher. King stares in shock at this sudden change in tone, as Cesario joyfully talks about the sweets she baked.
The trainer also comments on Cesario's change in tone, in which Kraft explains that Cesario has an "on-off" switch-like personality. As the party comes to a close, King fell asleep, in which the trainer had to move her to the sofa to lie down. Cesario asks if the trainer has a blanket that King could use, only for them to offer up their coat instead. As Cesario goes over to grab the coat, she notices a goodie bag inside, and the trainer reveals that they were going to give these all to the members after the party.
Thanking the trainer, Cesario and Kraft talk amongst themselves, as the trainer wonders why they chose to join Team Ascella when it was already on the decline. Later, during training, the two of them answer the trainer's question, where they both say that it's because there was no one better than them to be their trainer.
Episode 3
Continuing from what was left off, the trainer once again questions why the two chose them. Cesario then reveals that both of them knew about the trainer even before they were enrolled in Tracen, and that they knew about the trainer taking after their father. The trainer then remembers how their father became a famous trainer at a young age, and they remember forming a contract with King after becoming the new trainer. Because King's mother was also very famous, both the trainer and King are called the "second generation duo".
During this flashback, King is being interviewed on what route she'll take during her time at the Twinkle Series. She confidently exclaims that she will take on the Triple Crown route, and win all three of the races there. The trainer also has confidence in King, as they believe that she is first-rate.
However, despite this, the journey for the both of them is a massive hurdle, as King struggles throughout the classics. The scene cuts to the day of the Japanese Derby, where King is completely uneasy in the locker room. Trainer begins to struggle giving advice to King, and King starts to notice the worried look on their face. Before she can confront them properly, she's called over to the paddock, as the race is about to begin.
As the race begins, King runs erratically, before noticing that she's running in the front instead of her usual late surging style. Losing steam, she places 14th as Special Week wins the race. People from the stands begin to talk about King's performance, and they start to look down on her and her trainer. As the scene fades to black, the trainer recalls how they couldn't live up to expectations during the classic year.
King looks through the newspaper, noting that there's been no talk surrounding Team Ascella. Not wanting to give up, the trainer asks King if it would be alright to enter her in the Yasuda Kinen, as speed is her strongest suit. Trainer assures her that she can do this, and that she should keep going even if people consider it impossible. King begins to tear up, and yells that she also doesn't want to give up. They both proceed with their plan, despite people not having high hopes for either of them anymore.
Continuing to run, King goes through a string of losses in G1 races, but never gives up. However, that all changes in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, where King breezes through the rest of the pack, and achieves her one and only G1 victory. Breaking through the wall of defeat, King lets out a triumphant roar, as the trainer tears up watching the race.
Cesario explains that the post-conference after the race is what moved her and Kraft to join Ascella. Both her and Kraft happened to be next to each other while watching it, which is what brought them together. King walks into this conversation, and states that the trainer was the reason she kept her head up high for so long. Giving a bitter smile to King, the trainer turns to Kraft and Cesario, thanking the two of them for joining the team. Though they aren't as great as their father, they vow to support them as much as they can.
Episode 4
Later, Kraft wakes up after taking a nap on the track by accident. Cesario hands her a cup of hot cocoa, and Kraft drinks it. Cesario then asks her if she enjoyed her sunbath, in which Kraft says yes. Cesario then notifies her that she has to get changed, since they must go to the shrine soon. It was now the new year, and Kraft and Cesario were now headed for the classics.
Wrapping up their shrine visit, Kraft and Cesario continue to train. King asks the two of them what races they will be aiming for, and they both say they will compete in the Oka Sho, the first leg of the Triple Tiara. Cesario states that she was aiming for the Triple Tiara route from the start, exclaiming that the Tiara Umamusume aren't just strong, but they've also blessed the racing world with grace and beauty. She, alongside Kraft, long to be apart of that sort of racing history.
Cesario also explains that Tiara Umamusume have gone on to train the next generation of Umamusume, which is what she wants to do as well. As Kraft and Cesario happily discuss the Triple Tiara, the trainer reminds them that the Triple Crown route draws more attention than the Tiara, and that Crown Umamusume typically have better results in comparison. Considering the general consensus that Crown Umamusume are stronger, the trainer questions if they still want to go down the Tiara path.
In response, Kraft says that she believes that notion will change soon, and that strong Umamusume are strong regardless of what path they take. She states that she knew a certain Umamusume who said this once, and that she believes it because of her. Kraft vows to become strong enough so that she won't lose against Crown Umamusume, and the trainer apologizes for their initial statement.
While they're talking, Air Groove can be seen watching from the sidelines. She takes note of how those two are aiming for the Tiara, and how despite the popularity of the Crown, more Umamusume have been aiming for the Tiara instead. She then says that despite everything, there are some things that can only be achieved via the Triple Tiara route, and this year will be brilliant for the stage of the Tiara.
Episode 5
New Years' has come to a close, and Cesario won the Kanchiku Sho. After the race, Kraft, Cesario, and the trainer return to Tracen for discussion. The trainer assesses Cesario's abilities, stating that she seems suited to longer distances. The trainer enters Cesario into the Flower Cup (G3) before the Oka Sho so that she can prepare for the shorter distance, while Kraft is entered into the Fillies' Revue (G2) as speed is her strong suit.
On the track, as Kraft is about to prepare for training, she spots Special Week and Cesario training in the distance. As she watches Cesario keep up with Spe, she worries that she won't be able to counter Cesario's strong spurt, considering that she's a pace chaser. Kraft then comes up with a plan, where she'll also find a strong Umamusume to train with.
Meanwhile, in the front yard of the academy, Sweep Tosho is trying to find materials for her magic. Kraft then approaches her from behind, and requests to do parallel running with her. Sweep refuses, as Kraft continues to beg. However, after a while of pestering, both Kraft and Sweep are in the garden. In exchange for mentoring, Kraft must help Sweep gather materials for her magic.
After finishing up, the two talk to each other, and Kraft remembers when Sweep said that she'd "change this boring world" around the time of her classic year. The scene then cuts to a flashback, where Sweep is at a race conference. In response to the notion that "Crown Umamusume are stronger than Tiara Umamusume", she calls it out as a boring viewpoint, and she wishes to change that belief. As she declares that she'll challenge Crown Umamusume and win, she says that "strong Umamusume are strong". This line spoke deeply to Kraft, and she's watched the conference over and over. Because of this, Sweep gets interested in Kraft, and gets motivated to train with her.
After training, Kraft begs Sweep to continue. This is because she feels like it's not enough, as she struggles to overtake Sweep during laps.
Episode 6
While the trainer is assessing Kraft's potential rivals in the Fillies' Revue (G2)-Messiah and Heart-Kraft is watching Cesario's previous races. Kraft can hardly focus on the upcoming race at all, so the trainer orders to take a break tomorrow and observe her next opponents instead.
The next day, Kraft is at the racetrack, where she is thinking about Cesario again before averting her focus to Heart, who is showing off her racewear to her friends. Soon after, she begins to run at a powerful speed, and her friends take note of how much she's been improving in her physique and strength lately. While Kraft is assessing Heart as a strong pace chaser, Heart comes up to her, and startles her in the process. While Kraft tries to assure Heart that she wasn't spying on her, Heart welcomes this, and allows her to ask any questions regarding her abilities. However, she vows to beat her, as she's gained more strength the past few months, and the two shake hands.
Meanwhile, Messiah is at a conference. In response to a reporter asking her if she is prepared for the upcoming Triple Tiara, she states that she will work hard to improve her physical condition. Kraft takes note of the fact that Messiah's mother also challenged the same route, though she placed top three in all three races without winning. To avenge her mother in the Tiara route, Messiah vows to compete in all three races so that she could win. After the conference, Messiah has a brief conversation with Kraft.
The day after, Kraft shows to train, only this time she is motivated and focused. Kraft relays what she's learned about both Messiah and Kraft, and continues her training with ease. The scene then cuts to the day of the Fillies' Revue, and Kraft vows that she will beat both Messiah and Heart. During the race, Kraft takes advantage of her strong spurt, and wins, ending off the episode.
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 12
Episode 13
Gallery
Characters
Rewards
Trivia
- In episode 1, Special Week can be seen after Rhein Kraft and Cesario's mock race, watching and pointing in awe. This is a reference to how in real life, Special Week is Cesario's sire.
- In episode 3, the trainer is watching King Halo's Takamatsunomiya Kinen victory on television instead of in person. This is a reference to how Yuichi Fukunaga, his usual jockey, didn't ride him during the race in real life, and Yoshitomi Shibata rode King instead. Fukunaga was riding the second-place horse Divine Light, which explains the jockey change.
- King Halo crying during the post-race interview in episode 3 is a reference to how Masahiro Sakaguchi, King's real life trainer, cried in front of the cameras after King's victory.
- The connection between Sweep Tosho and Rhein Kraft in episode 5 is a reference to the real life pedigree of the two horses, in which they were both sired by End Sweep.
- Air Messiah's mother, mentioned in episode 6, is meant to be a reference to Messiah's real life dam, Air Deja Vu, who lost all three Triple Tiara races.