March 29th, Monday.
The day before the final episode of "Uma Musume" Season 2 aired, Yugo Ohara finally caught up on the anime.
He had followed the first season from the first episode to the end, and the reason he hadn't watched the second season until now wasn't because he lost interest due to the change of protagonist, but because he had to prepare for university entrance exams and couldn't afford to spend his precious time watching anime.
Now that the university entrance exams were over, the results were out, and graduation from high school had already taken place, he was just waiting to start university in April.
He was under no pressure, so he could spend the entire day catching up on the series without any issues.
Actually, he could have started earlier, but considering that the final episode would air at midnight on the 30th, he chose to catch up on March 29th.
Having finished the previous twelve episodes, it was just in time to watch the finale—simply perfect.
He was catching up on the anime on his computer. Although it was being re-broadcast on TV, it wasn't starting from the first episode, nor was it aired consecutively. It was impossible to watch whenever he wanted or pick up exactly where he left off, which was quite inconvenient.
Compared to a TV, a computer screen was relatively smaller, unless he cast it to the screen. However, Yugo Ohara had often watched anime on his phone before, so a smaller screen didn't really matter, and there was no need to go to the trouble of casting it.
He sat in front of his computer, occasionally muttering to himself as he watched:
"Silence Suzuka actually went to America? I quite liked her."
"Special Week... are there no more races for her?"
"This is so painful. The first season was only sad when it came to Silence Suzuka, but this season is full of heartbreak everywhere."
It took over four hours, but I finally caught up on the first ten episodes.
Seeing Tokai Teio fracture her leg three times and plan to retire was quite depressing; I even thought about stopping for a bit. I didn't expect that at the end of episode ten, Twin Turbo would burst onto the scene and, through her own race, teach Tokai Teio what it means to persevere and never give up, reigniting in her the desire to keep running.
"Twin Turbo is the best!" Yugo Ohara shouted excitedly in his heart while wiping away tears.
Next up were episodes eleven and twelve.
Unlike episodes nine and ten, episode eleven was mostly wholesome moments—sweet scenes between Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, with the two treating each other as inspirations and full of chemistry.
Of course, it also depicted the state of Tokai Teio after she started running again: it was much more serious than expected.
Furthermore, there was Tokai Teio scouting some of her rivals and expressing gratitude to the teammates who had helped her in the past.
In short, no angst, no heartbreak.
However, by episode twelve, the angst returned, but this time it wasn't Tokai Teio being put through the wringer, but Mejiro McQueen.
While training on her own, Mejiro McQueen felt something was wrong with her leg, so she asked the Mejiro family's personal physician to examine her. To her shock, the examination revealed suspensory ligament desmitis in her left leg.
With this condition, she would basically never be able to race again.
As someone Tokai Teio looked up to, and possessing immense pride, she didn't just lie obediently in a hospital bed. Despite the rain, she went to the training track, wanting to prove she could still run. However, as she ran, she collapsed to the ground.
"I need to, I need to..."
With a pained expression, she struggled and pulled herself up using the nearby fence.
Just then, Tokai Teio, having heard about what happened to McQueen, came running in a panic to find her.
"What's wrong, Teio? Why are you in such a panic?" Mejiro McQueen feigned calmness, acting as if nothing was wrong.
Tokai Teio said she had heard about it from the butler. McQueen still insisted on putting up a front, saying there was no problem, and that she could still run—that it was just a little pain she could endure.
But forget running; as soon as she tried to take two steps, she immediately collapsed to her knees in pain.
"Don't push yourself so hard!" Tokai Teio said with deep concern.
Mejiro McQueen replied, "I'm not pushing myself!"
Tokai Teio was stunned for a moment.
Mejiro McQueen continued, "I must always be strong, never discouraged, full of confidence, always at the position of the strongest Uma Musume, waiting for you there... I've always been looking forward to it... betting the name of 'the strongest'... but..."
But she couldn't run anymore.
There was no way to fulfill the promise of racing with Tokai Teio again.
At this point, she couldn't help but burst into tears.
Tokai Teio stood frozen.
After a long while, she said with deep emotion, "Fate always loves to play cruel jokes, doesn't it? It never wants to let me and McQueen have our showdown. I thought we'd have a chance to run in the Takarazuka Kinen, but I fractured a bone and was told I couldn't run like I used to. And now, even you..." She paused, then added, "I think giving up now would certainly be easier. But, I still don't want to give up. I want to run with you again. Don't you want to?"
"I think it would certainly be easier to just give up now, but I don't want to give up yet. I want to run with you again. Don't you?"
Mejiro McQueen said, very sadly and unwillingly: "Of course I want to run too, but I can't anymore. I'll never be able to run again for the rest of my life. Unless a miracle happens, it's impossible to run like I used to, just like you!"
After venting, she realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly apologized to Tokai Teio.
Tokai Teio, however, had a calm expression on her face: "Yeah, you're right. Unless a miracle happens, it's impossible. So let's just make it happen—a miracle. I'll prove it to you: you and I will definitely run again. Watch the upcoming Arima Kinen; I will cross the finish line earlier than anyone else."
"That's impossible. How could you possibly win now..." Mejiro McQueen said, not believing her.
Tokai Teio replied, "Even so, I will win. As long as you pursue a miracle, you can definitely make it happen."
In episode ten, after Tokai Teio was encouraged by Twin Turbo, she started thinking about continuing to run. At that time, Mejiro McQueen said to her: "Miracles will happen, right at the feet of those who pursue them and rise up for them—absolutely, they definitely will." These words perfectly corresponded to what Tokai Teio was saying now.
Because it was something Mejiro McQueen herself had said not long ago, she naturally remembered it immediately.
Tokai Teio took two steps forward, approaching Mejiro McQueen, and said: "Just as I was about to give up running..."
...McQueen said to her: "Miracles will happen. They will happen beneath the feet of those who pursue them and rise up for them. Absolutely, they definitely will."
These words correspond perfectly with what Tokai Teio is saying now.
Because it was something Mejiro McQueen herself had said not long ago, she naturally remembered it immediately.
Tokai Teio stepped forward, approaching Mejiro McQueen, and said: "Just when I was about to give up running, it was you who pulled me back. When I was on the verge of giving up, you stayed by my side, always being that strong Uma Musume who was worthy of being my goal."
She held Mejiro McQueen's hand, her voice very gentle: "It was you who said you would wait for me, and this time it's my turn, so you just wait and see, McQueen."
As if responding to Tokai Teio's words, the light rain that had been drizzling earlier stopped, and the sky brightened a little.
With everything said, the butler was already bringing people from the Mejiro family over. Tokai Teio withdrew her hand, stood up, and turned to walk away silently, though her steps seemed much firmer than when she had arrived.
The content of episode twelve ends here, with only the ED left to follow.
Apart from the special episodes, the previous EDs were all the same song, sung by the voice actors for Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
It was just that previously, the voice actor for Tokai Teio would always sing first, followed by the voice actor for Mejiro McQueen, and then they would sing together. But now, the ED had switched, with McQueen's voice actor singing first...
The content of the twelfth episode ends here, with only the ED remaining.
The previous EDs, except for special episodes, were all the same song, sung by the voice actors of Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
It's just that before, Tokai Teio's voice actor would sing a part first, and then it would be Mejiro McQueen's voice actor's turn, followed by the chorus. Now, the ED has been swapped: Mejiro McQueen's voice actor sings first, and then it's Tokai Teio's voice actor's turn. The corresponding visuals have also changed, with Mejiro McQueen's visuals appearing first, followed by Tokai Teio's.
At first glance, this might not seem like much, but it actually fits the anime's plot perfectly, because previously, it was always McQueen supporting Teio, but now it's the other way around—Teio is going to be the one supporting McQueen.
It wasn't swapped randomly; there's a reason for it.
After watching the ED of the twelfth episode, Yugo Ohara let out a long sigh in front of his computer.
"Really great, this anime is really great."
"Only the final episode is left."
"A masterpiece in the making."
The content so far has been quite divine; as long as the final episode wraps up smoothly, the honor of being a "masterpiece" is basically guaranteed.
The final episode will undoubtedly cover the Arima Kinen race. Since this anime is arranged based on real-life events, combined with LSP's production quality, there's basically no need to worry about a poor conclusion.
Becoming a masterpiece should be a sure thing.
Thinking this, he was also filled with anticipation for the thirteenth episode, which wouldn't air until midnight.
Thinking this, he was also full of anticipation for Episode 13, which wasn't set to air until midnight.