Uma Musume: Pretty Derby story · Character stories
Aston Machan's story
7 scenes, 399 lines
1. Hello, I'm Aston Machan
58 lines
Well then, let's properly introduce ourselves.
Hello, I'm Aston Machan. Nice to meet you.
As she looks at me with a shy smile, I notice my reflection in her glistening, round eyes.
We met a few days earlier...
Another trainer and I had come to tryouts looking for new racers to scout. There was more of a bustle among the audience than usual...
This is the newcomer special, New Paka! Today we're at Tracen Academy to introduce all of you at home to the most talented up-and-coming Umamusume!
The TV crew really came! The racers must be excited... No, actually, they all look pretty nervous.
The only one who looks calm is Aston Machan. Wow, she's got nerves of steel.
Who's Aston Machan?
I follow my colleague's gaze to find a certain racer. Despite the tense atmosphere, she's softly smiling as she enters the gate.
Now, the moment of truth! They're coming into the final straight! Who will be first to make a move?
Hup!
It's Aston Machan! With her unique short stride, she takes the lead! Aston Machan, with a margin of half a length... She wins it!
Wooooo!
Huff... puff... Whew... Hehe, peace!
Okay, let's interview them as they come off the field. Starting with the winner, Aston Machan.
Hi everyone, I'm Aston Machan. Nice to meet you!
A-Aston Machan! Um, hello! I'm from New Paka. Congrats on a fantastic race!
Did you see me? I kind of went all out. ...Oh, this is a Machan doll. Hellooo!
...Oh, um, what a cute doll! So, have you decided on a trainer?
Unfortunately, I haven't. No one's turned up yet.
Oh, really?! After that race, though, I'm sure you'll get plenty of offers!
As if on cue, a crowd of trainers gathers around Aston Machan.
Aston Machan! Please allow me to train you! I'll make the best training plan to suit your running style!
P-please consider me too! I won't let that natural talent of yours go to waste. I'll help you reach your full potential!
I knew it! Okay, make sure we're getting this. We might be about to witness the moment she makes a contract!
Now the ball is in newcomer Aston Machan's court. How will she respond to the many trainers before her?
...Huh? Ah... well, of course, mine is to win G1 races with you!
My dream is to make you Umamusume of the Year! I'll help you rise to the top of your generation!
W-wait! I mean, of course I want to get to know you too! What's your dream?
My dream... is to become a mascot.
...A mascot?
Not just any mascot. I want to be a super mascot known all over the world.
I want to appear everywhere, by everybody's side, and be a super, no, a super ultra mascot!
R-right...
Yes, now you see. Well, I'll be going then.
As Aston Machan walks away, the crowd is left standing there in bewilderment.
(She's a strange one...)
I sensed a special talent when I saw her quick stride, but it's her fascinating aura that leaves the biggest impression on me.
As I'm on my way home from the tryouts...
Hi, there. Would you mind holding the camera for me, please?
Oh, um, me?
Yes, please. Could you take a video of us singing here in the central plaza? I completely forgot to bring my tripod.
Now, hold on just a second, I never agreed to this! What's the point in singing Umapyoi Legend here, of all places?!
The more videos we have, the better.
There's already plenty out there! Besides, why are you so hell-bent on taking a singing video anyway?!
Because I've never taken one before, so.
Ughhh, c'mon... You're not gonna give up, huh?
She gets pretty stubborn, doesn't she... Fine, let's hurry up and record it so we can go home.
Sorry to bother you, but would you mind? She's really... you know, she just likes this kind of thing.
No problem.
Wow, thank you! Here, please use this phone.
Um, let's see... If you could capture from here to around there, that'd be great.
She's peculiar, at home in front of a camera, and outstanding on the racetrack. Those are my first impressions of Aston Machan.
2. Name One Friend a Day
65 linesIt's been a few days since I met Aston Machan and took a video for her. I'm on my way home from a shopping trip, when...
Little Floofy, you're so floofy. You're so floofy, you make me feel all floofy.
I happen to bump into her, and for some reason, she's sitting down talking to a white pigeon.
Oh... I've met you before. You're the trainer who took a video for me, right?
You remember me.
Yes, Machan never forgets. Once I meet you, I remember forever.
She sounds like she genuinely means it. The white pigeon next to her coos in agreement.
Is that your pet?
Oh no, this is my friend. Well, I say friend, but we've only just met.
I was taking a nap, and when I woke up, Little Floofy was here sleeping next to me. That's how we got to talking.
(A wild pigeon just decided to sleep next to her? Is that a thing?)
Well, I'm not sure, but since Chloe Harvard lives around here, she might've told Little Floofy about me.
(Chloe Harvard?)
Oh wait, it could've been Hattori Shinobimaru. Or Antley maybe?
(Who are these people?!)
Would you like to meet them?
She takes me down to the end of the shopping street to meet the first of her friends.
Hello, Chloe! You look well as always! How is your baby doing?
Caaaw!
(Chloe's a crow?)
Hattori Shinobimaru! Hehe, it's the perfect weather for a nap in the sun, isn't it?
Mrrreooow.
(That's a feral cat...)
You're so hardworking, Antley. Have you found any more food?
...
(Come on now, ants?!)
Oh, really? Maybe you should take a little break, then.
Oh yeah! There's something I want to show you, Antley. It's Machan's special surprise. Want to see it? Okay.
Well then, let's get going.
Where to now?
It's a secret.
Carrying the ant on one hand, she takes us to the Umamusume merch store in town.
Ouch.
What's wrong?
They still don't have any Machan dolls. Not only that, they don't have any merch of me at all. I wanted to show Antley...
I thought I made a big impression at tryouts the other day. I guess it's not that easy to become a super ultra mascot.
It's a bit early for merch considering she hasn't even debuted yet, but putting that aside... This isn't the first time she's brought up the subject of being a mascot.
My dream... is to become a mascot.
I want to appear everywhere, by everybody's side, and be a super, no, a super ultra mascot!
Watching her scan the store, I'm starting to believe she was actually being serious about becoming a mascot.
(But why would that be her reason for running?)
Most Umamusume do it because they love running or dream of winning a specific race. For some, it's about working hard and fulfilling their potential.
But debuting in the racing world for the sole purpose of having merch is really unusual. I don't get what's behind it.
Why is your goal to have merch?
It's my number-one mission, an Aston Machan in every house. I'd love to make that a reality someday.
I'm starting to notice a pattern... She never really seems to give a straight answer.
Okay... and what sparked the idea?
The idea? That came to me... a few years ago. When I was just a little smaller than I am now.
There's something mysterious about her facial expression as she starts recounting her story.
I was stuck with a problem. I had just finished making my Machan dolls, but I didn't know how to get them out to the public.
I wonder how I can get them into everyone's hands. I could give them out one by one, but there has to be a more original and efficient way of doing it.
All press is good press! I'll cause a scandal to get myself all over the tabloids! ...No, wait. I don't want to be known as Mischievous Machan.
I'll study business instead! Yes, that might work. That way I can learn the best strategy while I come up with my plan.
I couldn't come up with any good ideas. But then one day, I just so happened to go into an Umamusume merch shop.
And what I saw was... miniature Umamusume dolls, flying off the shelves one after another!
It was eye-opening! Until then, I had no idea that active racers could be such popular mascots!
They're mascots loved by all... So, maybe, that means... I could be one too!
And so, that's how Machan entered Tracen Academy and set her sights on the Twinkle Series!
I've gathered that she entered Tracen to get her own merch, and how much that merch means to her, but what I still don't understand is...
(Why does she want her own merch in the first place?)
I can't tell whether she forgot to share the most important part of the story, or if she dodged the question, but either way, she hasn't answered it.
The dream is to expand nationwide, and then worldwide. So outside of racing, I'm also studying bookkeeping. Hehe.
Thankfully, I've been lovable ever since I was born, so I'm sure it'll all go well as long as I debut and win my races.
(...Maybe she just likes attention and that's all there is to it.)
Being the only explanation that seems to make sense right now, I draw that conclusion by the end of our encounter.
3. Machan Never Forgets
55 linesOh, we met the other day. Have you, um, seen Machan?
No, why?
Well, you see...
Huff, puff... Whew... Okay, laps done! Let's get back onto campus, Machan.
...
Machan? What's up with the white pigeon? Wait, is it...
...Machan?
The pigeon was lifeless. I didn't know what to do. I looked away for a second, and the next thing I knew, she was gone.
She's a strange girl, always wandering off alone. She might have just gone off to bury the bird somewhere, but still...
She seems like the type to just mysteriously disappear someday, so I'm kind of worried...
Do you really think she could have disappeared?
I've talked to Aston Machan a couple of times over the past few days, but I can't say I ever felt that from her.
In any case, I'm sure she must be in shock. I agree to look around for her and leave campus.
And... there.
I find Aston Machan at the same overpass that she and Little Floofy had napped under together.
She stands up, and in front of her is a mound of earth that looks freshly made.
Since you're a white pigeon, are white flowers your favorite? Or maybe red? I saw some yellow ones over there too.
I should've asked your favorite color at the very least. Machan failed there.
(She's doing better than I thought...)
It doesn't look like she's been crying at all. Instead, she's facing the tiny gravestone head-on and talking calmly to it.
Don't worry, I took lots of photos and videos of you. I promise I'll never forget you, Little Floofy.
Your memory's safe and sound with Machan. You'll soar around the sky forever in my heart.
...Oh? I didn't see you there.
You're so strong.
Well, I'm an Umamusume, so I'm more muscular than humans.
That's not what I meant...
She disappeared along with her friend Little Floofy's lifeless body, so I thought she might've been overcome with grief. I explain that's what I meant.
I see, that kind of "strong." I've seen a lot of people get sad when others died.
But I have a different view. Life always follows the same flow. That's what I learned in the hospital.
You were in the hospital?
My mother is a doctor, so when I was growing up, my playground was the hospital. The hospital is a place where life flows.
It flows from upstream to downstream. All life is born, then it flows, and inevitably goes to sea.
...?
There are no exceptions. Little Floofy, you, and me, we'll all go to sea.
In the same way that we need oxygen to breathe, the clouds are out of reach, and the sun sets in the evening, it's a normal part of reality.
So that's why it's not sad.
I'm at a loss for words. Unaware of my confusion or simply unconcerned, she goes on.
What is sad is being forgotten. It'd be sad if you and I forgot about Little Floofy.
So what's most important is the mark you leave behind. A trace that lives on even after you're gone.
(The mark you leave behind...)
This reminds me of what she said the other day.
My dream... is to become a mascot.
I had jumped to the conclusion that her reason for wanting to be a mascot was the attention.
But now I'm convinced that I got it wrong. The real reason is simple, humble, yet gut-wrenching...
What's wrong? Did you turn to stone?
I can't help but want to get to the bottom of this.
I must ask.
Yes?
Why do you want your own merch?
...
Well, Machan, you see...
Machan's taking part in the Tracen Meet tomorrow, and she's going to be a big deal, so you should come and watch.
After that, we look for flowers for the gravestone together. I've still yet to hear her put the answer into words.
4. I Want to Be the World's Best Mascot
59 linesI've come to the Tracen Meet that Aston Machan told me about. A lot of trainers are here to see her after her performance in the recent tryouts.
Oh, is she running today too? Look at that, she's always got a smile on her face.
...True.
She's smiling just like always. She looks so normal, you wouldn't even be able to tell anything happened yesterday.
I still wonder why she invited me to come and watch her at this competition. No answer seems to make sense.
(Is she trying to show me the answer, or does she just want me to watch?)
The race is starting, so I'll just have to wait and find out.
Off with a clean dash, Aston Machan makes her start!
Huff, huff, huff!
She looks cool and collected as she waits for the right time to push ahead.
Now we're into the homestretch! In third position, Aston Machan!
...Now!
She kicks up dirt with her short and quick stride. It feels like she's getting faster and faster every time I blink.
Aston Machan approaches from the outside! From the outside, it's Aston Machan! Aston Machan!
She closes in on the leader, passes them, and still continues to gather speed.
Taaaaah!
The moment she crosses the finish line is so intense, vivid, and fleeting...
"What's most important is the mark you leave behind. A trace that lives on even after you're gone."
I don't know why, but something tells me I shouldn't let her pass me by.
Hah... Hah... Whew! Hehe!
She wins by a margin of a whole five lengths! What's more, she's set a new record time!
Not only that, her, huh? Her cleat fell off?!
Murmur, murmur...
F-for real?! She still managed that speed while missing a cleat?! She's on another level!
...!
Before I realize it, I'm on the move.
She's an incredible talent. I need to try and scout her one more ti... Huh? That's weird. You were here just a second ago.
I push my way through the sea of people toward the green turf.
Out of breath, I make it to the finish line, where I find Aston Machan with her usual smile.
Hehe, I did a pretty good job out there, didn't I? Go, me!
I want to make sure the world never forgets you.
Huh?
I meant to say "I want to make a training contract with you," but that's what came out of my mouth.
Never forgets me...
She probably won't understand what I'm getting at. I start to fret, wondering how I can put it into words, but the right words don't come.
That's what I thought when I saw you race.
Now I understand why she told me to come watch. It was to prove to me that, in a race, she can leave the most profound mark on the crowd out of anyone.
The intensity of her running just now was enough to make that instantly clear. It's burned into my memory, unlikely to ever be forgotten.
And I don't think I want to forget it either.
...When you saw me race, you wanted to make sure I'd never be forgotten?
Yeah, so that's why I...
Hm. Hmm...
Um...
Um... Yeah?
Are you sure? Have your eyes properly captured her image?
Since she's emphasizing it, I think I understand. She's not talking in a physical sense.
Her ambition is to leave a profound mark behind. To be known far and wide. Not just in Japan, but throughout the whole world.
She's imprinted firmly into them.
And she will continue to be. Not only in my eyes, but the eyes of the whole world, forever. I manage to put that into words.
In the eyes of the whole world, forever...
Hehe! I like that idea.
I've decided. I will turn your eyes into a lens fixed exclusively on me.
...!
Is that all right? It is, right? I'm assuming it is. Well then, let's properly introduce ourselves.
Hello, I'm Aston Machan.
She enters into frame. The image is light and fleeting. I strain my eyes to capture it in its entirety.
...Nice to meet you.
5. Does the Sea Reflect the Sky?
39 linesI bring my lunch up onto the roof one day.
Hehe, over here! Hello, I'm Aston Machan!
I find Aston Machan waving at the sky. What's she doing? I look up in the direction she's waving and see...
Is that a helicopter? It looks like it just flew over Tracen Academy.
It's a press helicopter. I heard from a friend that they take photos of Tracen Academy from way up above.
She notices me and turns to explain.
I guess she wanted to get into their photos. Even if they did spot her, though, they might not necessarily have zoomed in on her.
But that didn't stop her from smiling up at the sky. The small chance that they might capture her was all she needed.
My dream... is to become a mascot.
Not just any mascot. I want to be a super mascot known all over the world.
I want to appear everywhere, by everybody's side, and be a super mascot! No, a super ultra mascot!
The helicopter looks like it's swimming, doesn't it? Gliding along... Ah, the sky is kind of like the sea.
Her dream is to remain in people's memories.
But racing amongst all the most talented runners, it's not going to be easy to stand out and make a deep, lasting impression.
I wonder if the faraway sky will ever get closer someday. Then maybe we'd all go there, just like the sea.
I gaze up at the sky with her and wonder... What can I do as her trainer to make her dream come true?
Hah... Hahhh... Whew...
One more lap!
Okaaay! Here Machan goes!
As I watch her run, I think about how to plan her training from now on.
How do we improve from here and make the most of her abilities...
I ponder what we should do and what we must. What we want to do and what it'll take.
So what's most important is the mark you leave behind. A trace that lives on even after you're gone.
Her dream is so big that we'd have to win an awful lot of races and achieve some real feats to make it happen.
...
Wha?!
Excuse me, my lens. Who are you focusing on right now?
The light in your eyes is orange. Rather than the sky, please focus on me.
I was thinking about training.
Mm-hmm. So about Machan, then.
Yeah, and how to make sure you're remembered.
Hehe, good. We have to make sure I'm remembered just like you remember me.
There is so much life in this world. And each living thing has its own way of being.
If I'm going to leave a mark on all of them, I'm going to need much more myself.
She looks straight into my eyes, with a look that says she's willing to put in all the effort it takes.
I trust you'll help me get there.
I will!
No more thinking, only doing. All for the dream, all of the time, no matter what.
I vow to do everything I can to help Aston Machan leave a deep impression on as many hearts as possible.
6. What Color Is Your Lens Now?
65 linesHm... On the right? Left? At the back? Where are the Machan goods?
That's strange, I don't see any. Maybe the new products are somewhere separate?
I've come to the Umamusume merch shop with Aston Machan to see if they've made any merch based on her, but...
Hm... Guess they haven't made them yet.
But I appeared on that special TV show, and I've made my debut, so it shouldn't be long before I'm on all the shelves.
I look forward to that day.
Yeah, I can't wait. I'll be Merry Machan.
To be honest, I don't think it'll be hard for her to get her own merch. But to have it sold front and center in a shop like this...
Don't worry, it'll be okay. Let's make sure I get better and stay active in races. If I we keep it up, I'm sure I'll show up in lots of people's eyes.
And when I do, boop! My loveliness will reach everyone in the audience, and everyone in their living rooms, and snuggle up in their hearts.
Although her speech and mannerisms make her seem soft and gentle on the outside, her determination is steadfast and gritty.
What is sad is being forgotten.
No matter what it takes, I want to make her wish come true. She will be remembered.
Hm? What's that?
Trainer, it's about time to go home. What are you looki...
Sorry, go on without me!
I wave goodbye to a puzzled Aston Machan and hurry toward the object that caught my eye.
Huh? It's rare to see Trainer so worked up. Hm...
I'd seen a poster for a local craft shop which said "Make your own DIY fragrance pouch!"
I look down at the small pouch I've made, its design and colors based on Aston Machan's image. At the moment, there's still no fragrance inside it, though.
But I appeared on that special TV show, and I've made my debut, so it shouldn't be long before I'm on all the shelves.
People who don't know her might think that her obsession with merch is frivolous, but at the core of her wish is something much deeper.
I became her trainer to make that wish come true. And so I'll grab on to any sliver of hope, no matter how fleeting it may seem.
This pouch is my prayer. It's not made well enough to call merch, and there's only one of them, but still...
Your dream will come true.
...Are you talking about Machan's dream?
I was so curious where you were going, I couldn't help but watch you. So I happened to see you enter that craft shop.
I saw you choose a fabric and some thread and then sit down, plop. You asked the staff for lots of advice. You were a bit nervous, weren't you?
Y-you saw all that?
Yep. Your face looked so serious from the side. You snipped away... snip, snip. Before I knew it, I'd watched the whole thing.
I wonder why. I don't know. But the whole time, I stood there as if I was listening to the waves.
That fragrance pouch is the same color as Machan. It looks just like me.
It's like you created a whole new Machan.
It's just a... little something I made a wish on.
Far from impressive enough to qualify as Machan merch, it's more just a reminder of my own wish.
You made a wish on it? Was it so you wouldn't forget me? If you didn't have that pouch, would you forget about me?
Well, that's no good. We'll have to do something about that.
I can't tell if she's joking or not, but she stares at me as if waiting for an answer.
Of course I wouldn't forget you.
...Really?
I couldn't be more certain. Every day, several times a day, even, I think about her training and how to achieve her dream.
How could I possibly forget about her? When I look back over all the memories from our days together, and think about the future...
You already remember, but still you look back...
Remembering... looking back... recalling...
Machan?
They're different things. Being remembered and being recalled. They seem similar, but they're totally different.
You've committed me to your memory, and you also recall me again and again.
That doesn't stop. It continues, it repeats, just like waves coming ashore. Again and again.
Hmm?
A-are you okay?
I feel... restless. Fidgety and wriggly. But it's not a bad feeling.
That's strange. What is this? Wriggle, wriggle. Hmmm?
She tilts her head in confusion, and I find myself tilting mine too.
She gets closer and looks intently at the empty pouch in my hand. Then, suddenly, she pokes a finger at it.
I don't mind, but...
I give it another good look. I really don't think it's good enough to be a gift. If she wants it, I should probably make her a new one.
You don't have to. The first one you made is special. Heh, I've got the wrigglies again.
Looking at it gives me that wriggly feeling. Wriggle, wriggle. I wonder what that's about?
I hand over the fragrance pouch.
With a look of curiosity and a hint of delight, she fixes her eyes on it.
She tilts her head a few times, examining it, then turns to me. Her gaze sinks deep into my eyes.
Your lens always turns the color of the sky.
And with that, she turns her back and walks away.
7. Some Answers Have to Wait
58 linesI'm at summer camp with Aston Machan. After a long day of training, I'm making detailed records as I do everyday.
During summer camp alone...
She's made a lot of progress. Looking back at her past records, I'm pleased to see such steady improvement.
Trainer, are you talking to Mr. Computer? ...Hm? Are these records about me?
Yep.
Daily records... Lap times, running form, habits. There's even stuff here I hadn't noticed myself.
You've recorded so, so much about me.
That's part of my job as your trainer.
So this is the Aston Machan that you'll remember...
She seems unusually taken aback. I try saying something positive to break the awkward silence.
You're becoming a new Machan every day.
A new me every day...
...
(In that case, what will the Aston Machan that stays in everyone else's minds look like?)
(If I change every day, then each new memory of me is a new Machan.)
(That means there are lots of different Aston Machans.)
(Ah. Then, in a way... "remembering" doesn't seem to do it justice.)
It feels so, so colorful and vivid.
Machan?
Hehe.
Trainer, the sky. Any minute now, flowers will blossom in the sky. And when they do, they'll bloom in the sea, too.
Let's go... to that place we'll all end up some day. Just to look this time.
It's much cooler at night, isn't it? And so very quiet, too. I can hear the waves loud and clear.
This is nice.
Yeah.
We stare out at the sea and listen to the waves. In this comfortable moment, no words are needed to fill the silence. Eventually, a thought comes to me.
By the way...
Remembering the fragrance pouch I gave her a while ago, I ask what she put inside it.
I haven't put anything in it yet. But I always carry it with me. Even now.
What should I keep in there? Which fragrance should I choose?
I actually hadn't thought about what would go inside the pouch when I made it. It doesn't even necessarily have to be a fragrance.
What about a photo?
Folding it up would be a no-no. Photos are best kept in pristine condition.
Please give me some other ideas.
I um and ah for a while, looking up at the sky, then at the sea, and all around for inspiration. She stares quietly the whole time.
...
Do you have any ideas?
I do. It's in there already.
Wha?
Oh, look. The flowers are about to bloom.
Fireworks burst into life across the night sky, breaking the silence as the sea sparkles with their reflection.
From this angle, you can't see the flowers in the sea. But I'm sure you could see them from inside the sea. Yeah, no doubt.
My lens, you're very brightly colored right now. Reflecting the sky, just like the sea.
The time we spent thinking about what to put in the pouch, and the time we spent watching the fireworks... I've committed it all to memory.
So every time I look at the pouch, I'll remember. This moment shared between only you and me.
Hm... But wait, that would make it a memory pouch. I should probably put a fragrance in there too.
Look for one with me. A scent as warm and vivid as our memories of tonight.
Now that she's basically spelled it out for me, I finally understand what she put in the pouch.
I want the whole world to remember Aston Machan. I want to make my mark.
But I also have one more wish. A new one, hehe.
Trainer, please remember every Machan from now on.
The me from today, the me of tomorrow, all the mes that will never be seen by the world, burn them into your lens, so they'll never fade.
Of cou...
Shhh.
I'll test you myself to see if you still remember, someday far, far in the future.
And if you've forgotten, we'll open the fragrance pouch together. Then I'm sure it'll all come back to you...
What expression I had on my face in this moment, and what color you had reflected in yours.
On that faraway day, we'll compare answers. Okay?