Copano Rickey's story

(It happened when I was little. I got injured while running with my friends.)

(I was put on doctor's orders, totally banned from moving. All I could do was sleep for aaages. But during one of those rests...)

Where... am I? I'm underwater... Did I go swimming in a river... and get carried away by the current?

What if I can't get out? What if I drown at the bottom of the river?!

Rickey. Listen to me.

Huh? Who's there?

Do not fear misfortune. Learn the way of fortune.

Understand? Learn how to bring about fortune.

Is that you... Dragon God?

(Yes, that was the day I opened my eyes to feng shui, and I've been hooked ever since. And now...)

Fool! Proposal dismissed.

Please reconsider, Air Groove! Don't you want every student to feel stronger and happier? Then...

Putting feng shui in the curriculum is a no-brainer! Rickey! ☆ Lucky! ☆ Everyone's happy!

Not happening. What we need is study and training, not superstition. Now get out!

Hey, wait! Why won't she understand? Feng shui isn't a superstition. There's nothing to be so distrustful about!

Oh, you there. You must be a trainer, right?

Would you like to do some feng shui with me? You're interested, right? Right? Right?!

No, I'm sure you could do with some more good luck! ☆ Now, come with me. I'll teach you everything, starting from the basics! ♪

You know how people say they're lucky or unlucky? And when something goes wrong, they blame it on bad luck?

Well, the truth is, they don't have bad luck. They just don't understand auspicious directions and how the five elements compete, or how to use those things to their advantage. For example...

When you redecorate your room, doesn't it feel like the air gets fresher as well? That's because of the way you changed your furniture.

It's because you've both reduced the overhead pressure you feel while sleeping and blocked the channels where wealth could escape! You just didn't know it!

So? Aren't you impressed? Now that you've heard my explanation, I bet you can't wait to know more!

What? Even after I explained it so well?

Hm... Was it too complicated? If only there was a quick and easy way to explain the appeal of feng shui...

Ah, wait! Don't go!

Tomorrow's tryouts!

Come watch me at tomorrow's tryouts! I'll show you the power of feng shui there! Once you see it, you'll believe it!

Aha, I knew you'd come watch! You acted all disinterested, but deep down, you were curious about feng shui, weren't you?

My race is coming up soon. In the meantime, why don't you get a nice, hot cup of oolong tea to soothe the soul? ♪

You're going to need it! Once you see me running with the power of feng shui, your heart might start pounding out of your chest! ☆

Huh? Hold on. The power spot at this training track is...

The atmosphere feels a bit off. I wonder... has the flow of qi changed?

What was it that moved, the visible landform? Or the invisible compass?

In any case, something's about to happen in the next race! I have a bad feeling about it!

No, it's not just in my head. The girls about to race look uneasy too.

What's causing this? Where is it stemming from?

Come on, hurry up! This way!

Good! From here, I can...

Because when you want to see the whole picture, the best way is to get a bird's-eye view from above! This is geographical feng shui in action!

Let me see if I can find what's causing this qi disruption...

Oh, over there! In that corner! A lot of trainers are gathering in one spot. But why?

Is it because of the renovations on the track? Oh, I know, the next race has a lot of front runners, so they probably want to watch the fight for position. The two just so happened to coincide!

Trainer, it's not safe for them to run like this! We have to stop the race from happening!

Ah... Can't we shout?! I don't know if they'd believe us over the phone.

At least the disruption doesn't look like it'll get any bigger. Hopefully, the five elements can ward off misfortune long enough to see them through...

Hey, run straight! Are you even looking?! Out of my way!

You're the one who needs to move! Ugh!

Phew, I'm so glad nothing disastrous happened. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad.

Instinct? Not at all! Feng shui isn't something wishy-washy like that! It's a well-established discipline!

Remember when we looked down from the roof? Well, that's when I realized.

In the qian direction... that is to say, the northwest, a group of trainers had gathered to watch the race.

Their presence pulled the racers' attention towards the qian direction, and when everyone's qi is in the realm of do-or-die competition...

It's only natural for racers to miss small things, like being careless while turning the corner in front of them, or even crashing into another racer.

In other words, you have to always be on the lookout for inauspicious turns and the borders of the eight trigrams.

I could see all of that through feng shui. Not just me, but anyone could've seen that coming if they had the proper knowledge.

Feng shui isn't superstition. It's an ancient practice that has been honed over 3,000 years, a study of environmental luck!

See? Now you understand how amazing feng shui is, right? It lets you see into the future! I bet you can't wait to tell everyone about it!

What?! You're a tough nut to crack, huh?

Well then, I'll give it one last push! I'm in the next race, so watch me run!

I'll show you the power of feng shui in action! ☆ After this, you won't be able to deny it anymore. It'll be the best proof yet!

The qi of the earth is always with me. When I get really into my running, I can even hear its voice! Here I go! Rickey! ☆ Lucky! ☆ Great victory!

(It's started! Okay, no problems so far, and the formation is as expected. If I imagine the eight trigrams lying over the track, it's easy to read my place.)

For the moment, I'll keep up this pace. ☆

(Here! Right before the last corner! This is where it comes down to reading. I've got to pay attention to the qi around me...)

All that's left is to listen to the earth's voice and run toward the flow of qi...

Now, where will it lead me today?

Wait, what? Huh?! What's going on?!

I can't hear the earth's voice today! No, this can't be happening! Aaaaah!

No, I'm telling you, that's not how it usually goes! Normally, the earth's voice guides me across the finish line in first!

Something was off today. The balance of the elements? Or the influence of the wind? Maybe I was thrown off by the trouble in the last race.

Rickey, you were a mess out there... But I guess it was inevitable. Predictable, even.

You've got to stop going on and on about feng shui. Wake up and put that energy into training!

Oh, Tarumae... So you saw my race, huh?

Hello, I'm Hokko Tarumae, a friend of Rickey's. I come from Tomakomai, where I perform as a local idol.

Rickey constantly pushes her feng shui onto me, and frankly, I'm tired of it. I hope she comes to her senses soon and stops.

You mean you still don't believe me? Feng shui really is powerful! That said...

I don't know what went wrong today. Oooooh, I just don't get it!

Huff! Puff! Wood, fire, earth, metal, auspicious sign! Wood, fire, earth, metal, auspicious sign!

Whew... phew... That should be enough. Next up is the woodchip track!

Oh, hey! Yeah, since I put up such a pitiful fight in the tryouts, I thought I should pour even more qi into my training!

What? No, of course not. I'm not training harder just because she told me to.

This is my everyday routine! ☆ Feng shui doesn't grant you wishes. It shows you where to channel your effort!

My big loss in the tryouts hasn't changed my willingness to train hard, but it did get me thinking... And I've realized that I've got to change some things up!

I'm still shocked I couldn't hear the earth's voice. If this keeps up, how am I supposed to be useful to anyone?

Yeah, sure! I've got plenty. ♪ I was just about to take a break anyway.

Oh, Rickey! It's great to see you! Thanks for your advice last time!

Hi! How's the Chinese restaurant doing? Did the advice work?

Oh, business is booming! After I moved the trees in the garden and got orange ramen bowls like you said...

The ambience must have improved, because customers started flowing in. Thanks to that, I finally got my bedridden father on board.

I understand that he wants to keep the shop looking the old-fashioned way, but it's also important to have the courage to change sometimes.

I'm glad I can continue the shop he passed down to me. Even a long-time customer who's known me since I was a kid shed a tear of joy for us.

Wow, that's great news! The shop closing down wouldn't have made anyone happy.

Blowing wind is better than sitting and waiting! If I gave you even a little bit of courage, then I'm glad!

You did! I'll come to you again for more feng shui advice for my old man and my regulars!

So, as you can see, feng shui can pull you out of tough spots and help you make decisions.

It's worked for me, and I've seen it work for lots of other Umamusume too. A gentle push from feng shui can be all it takes for things to go smoothly.

That's why I want more people to know about feng shui, I want everyone to be happy! It empowers you to avoid misfortune and invite happiness!

That's why I've got to win races and prove how powerful it is to everyone! ♪

That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but of course I want to see everyone happy. Don't you?

But nobody will be convinced if I can't win. I can't believe I couldn't hear the earth's voice during such an important race.

Oh, that? Well, I call it a voice, but it's not like I actually hear a voice. That's just what it feels like.

I was in elementary school the first time I heard the earth's voice. It was sports day, and I was in the middle of a race...

It was like the earth was telling me how to run from its perspective. I could feel the flow of qi and predict my opponents' next moves. Thanks to that...

I went on a winning streak. By having my body become one with nature and all of creation, I knew exactly how to race and finished first every time!

But I couldn't hear that voice in the tryouts the other day. Maybe I was too nervous, or maybe I didn't prepare the space enough beforehand.

Feng shui is about becoming one with nature, but for some reason, it felt distant. I couldn't do it...

Huh, a trip? Where do you have in mind?

Yay, a picnic! ♪ I needed this change of pace! Mind if I shout into the mountains?

Rickey! ☆ Lucky! ☆ Super happy!

Yeah! In places like this, it's easy to see the dragon veins. The flow of qi feels so full of life!

Yeah! Can't you feel the qi flowing along the mountain ridges? Those are the dragon veins!

The exit of a dragon vein is called a dragon hollow. When the qi from the mountains comes down to the beach and erupts, that location becomes a power spot.

If I concentrate...

I can sense it strongly today... The dragon hollow's qi is swirling with energy, enveloping everything.

Even if I close my eyes. I can see the whole shore. And the earth's voice is as clear to me as ever.

Hmm, I feel nature right now, so there's nothing wrong with my senses. So why couldn't I hear its voice during the tryouts?

Trainer? Is something wrong?

Cracked what?

What?! Really?

Okay, well, here I go!

Let's see, the next tryout race is... Oh, look, it's Copano Rickey.

She ran on turf last time, but today she's running on dirt. I wonder if she's cut out for it.

Rickey, what's this about? Why are you suddenly taking on a dirt race?

Don't tell me. You've come to sell me on feng shui, even on the track?!

Not this time! A trainer helped me decide, is all.

We realized that dirt might suit me better, considering my running form and build. But most importantly...

I think that dirt might be more compatible with feng shui! I won't know until I try racing on it though! ♪

There you go with the feng shui again... Rickey, don't underestimate the dirt. It takes steady effort day after day to run these races.

You can't rely on silly superstitions. You've gotta work really hard, as if you're plow'n the earth in the depths of a Hokkaido winter, or you'll get nowhere.

I know. I really have been putting in the work. Besides...

As long as I can hear the earth's voice...

(Yes! I'm off to a great start! The bracket color is harmonious with my direction. And the dirt feels...)

(Yup, it feels good! When I run with everything I've got, the track's condition is plain for me to read!)

(But that's not the main thing. The big question is whether or not I'll be able to hear the earth's voice.)

(I can't run an auspicious race unless I feel the qi flowing. So please... Please!)

(I've gotta position myself closer to the outside! And make sure I don't get covered in sand!)

(I can't get a good grip on the track today... I've got to regulate my breathing and preserve my stamina.)

(I can see it... I can feel it... The flow of qi! The earth's voice is telling me what's happening on the track!)

(That trainer was right. I should've known, feng shui and dirt go hand in hand!

Look at Rickey... She's so much livelier than last time... Trainer, what happened?

Hm? Are you talking about the sand on the dirt track?

(Leave it to me, Trainer! Where should I position myself? Dui, zhen, gen... Right, it's zhen! I'll be able to run more freely if I get out to the east where the qi is weaker.)

(This is just like the generative cycle! Wood gives birth to fire, and fire returns to earth! So I need to make my move after I pass that big tree.)

(The final straight! The landform and the compass are aligned. Luck is on my side. From here on...)

The fastest racer wins! Now to direct all the effort I've put in toward the lucky direction! YAAAAAH!

She surged ahead of everyone?! H-how is she doing this?

Whoa, her running's completely different from last time! What's gotten into her?!

Thank you, Trainer. I ran amazingly thanks to you! ☆

I was only able to figure out why I couldn't hear the earth's voice because you believed in both me and feng shui!

And as you know, I want to share the wonderful power of feng shui with everyone and help make the world a happier place!

So, will you help me? As my trainer, I mean! You wouldn't turn me down again, would you?

Yippee! It's rare to find someone like you, someone who fully believes in feng shui and wants to make the world happy! ☆

Together we make a generative cycle! I'm so happy I was lucky enough to meet you! ♪

Hrm-mhm... I never imagined the day you'd run on dirt. But after seeing you in action...

I'm more worried about facing your running than your feng shui! You still won't beat me, though!

Why yes, I have to agree. I'll have to get serious when we're playing together.

Tarumae! Acute! I'm so excited to run with you two! ♪

Just you wait, I'm gonna make both of you happy with feng shui! ☆

Trainer, are you feeling a bit worn out?

You look kind of unwell, like you have a headache. You've been leaning forward with your hands holding up your head for a while now.

You don't have an idea? Hm, if you're unaware, then it must be due to... a pillar in the landform.

Your office feels okay, so the problem must be coming from your room!

Well, there's no time like the present! I'll do an impromptu feng shui check! Let's go!

Hmmm, I see...

Aha, there's definitely something wrong! Especially with the bedding, I'd say. Oh, but I'm not saying it's dirty or anything! The place looks clean! ☆

But in terms of feng shui, there are areas that I think we could improve on to enhance your luck!

To be more specific, I see you're using a towel as your pillowcase. It might be convenient, but it negatively affects your luck in work matters.

It's also not great that both the curtains and the bedcover have a patterned design. It makes the yang in the room overpower the yin.

Is that your nightwear? It looks like you're using old clothes to sleep in. It's good to reuse things, but you should probably buy pajamas.

There's more I could comment on, but let's start with this for now!

Put this here... and done!

Haha! I know. It's hard to put into words, but something feels different. The power you feel subconsciously, that's feng shui!

Keep your room like this, and... Rickey! ☆ Lucky! ☆ We'll be happy! Teehee!

Really? I'm so glad! You see, what we did in your room was remove the overhead pressure!

Oh, by overhead pressure I mean the things that cause you tension while you're sleeping.

For example, too many patterns around you scatter your energy, and sleeping on a real pillowcase is better for your sleep than a towel.

By making these small changes, we corrected the distortions in your room, and now you can sleep better, which leads to better luck for you!

This is the power of feng shui, the study of environmental luck!

When your surroundings change, your thoughts do too. And when your thoughts change, so do your actions, and even your personality too!

So if you want to be happy, start with your surroundings! Anyway, putting the luck talk aside for now...

Tell me, how are you feeling? Isn't your head feeling clear and refreshed? I bet you're just bursting with energy, aren't you?

Wouldn't you like to put this feeling into words and share it with the world? You do, right? Right?

Well, why waste any more time! We've got to spread feng shui far and wide! Let's go!

Good morning! The flowers you had on display were wilted, so I replaced them with new ones!

Oh, and that there on your desk is a lucky handkerchief my dad makes. It's good feng shui and made of really soft material, so you should have it! What else...

The windows are closed, so open them up! Air circulation is the basis of feng shui, you know? And now your day's set to be super lucky! ☆ Well, see you at training!

Huh? Oh, it's you, Trainer! What a coincidence! ...Right, do you have some time now? There's somewhere I'd like to show you!

So here we are, the zoo! Hehe, outings like this are great for getting your qi flowing, so it might just bring you some luck!

The key is to go in your auspicious direction! And this zoo just so happens to be in that direction, so I've been meaning to bring you here for a... while...

...Is someone crying? Sorry, I have to check if something happened!

Where did... everyone go? Sniffle...

Are you okay? What are you doing out here all alone?

I... I... Waaah! I dunno where they went!

Okay, so she got separated from her family... Figures, with the landform around here being this damp and all.

For now, let me take you to the lost kids center! It's a nice place filled with fun things to do!

Oh, there you are!

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let go of your hand! Mom and Dad are looking for you, so let's hurry back! Um... thank you!

No problem, I just stayed with her, that's all. I'm glad you found each other! Take care!

Oh yeah! On your way back, go down the big path in the middle! It's the most auspicious path, so it's also the safest!

Auspicious path? Um... are you into, like... occult stuff?

No, it's nothing to do with the occult, but I suppose it does often get mistaken for it. Why do you ask?

Well, at school, they told us not to go with people who say suspicious things, because you could get kidnapped! So... Oh!

D-didn't you just say you would take my sister somewhere nice?!

Oh, that? What I meant is, the landform around here is making the qi stagnant. Doesn't the humidity make you feel a bit sluggish?

That means you have to be careful of the stagnant qi on the borders of the eight trigrams, so I thought she should be somewhere more lucky...

Stagnant qi? Trigrams? I don't know those words. Oh, you must be... Mooommyyy!

S-s-s-sorry! I'm sorry! I was just so scared, and I... I... Forgive me!

Ahhh, I messed that up! Thank you for working things out! I guess feng shui must sound kind of scary to children.

I probably should have waited for the little girl to calm down before I started explaining things. People always tell me that I come on too strong. Well, lesson learned!

What? Yep, never better! I'll take care not to make the same mistake again, and I definitely won't let it get to me!

...Huh?

Oh... Yeah. Maybe you're right. You know, my dad told me something similar once.

He said I try too hard to solve everything with feng shui, and I tend to avoid facing my feelings... especially when I feel weak.

Feng shui works subconsciously, so you shouldn't put a lid on it. I thought I knew that, but... heh, looks like I messed up again.

So, um... what now? How am I supposed to solve my problems without feng shui?

Huh? How'd I feel? Well, let's see... When the girl screamed, I felt a tightness in my chest and my mind went blank...

Sad? Oh, I think that's it! But I get misunderstood all the time, so that part wasn't a surprise.

It's just... I know I can do better than that...

Y-yeah! I don't usually make people scream! I know I can tell people how to improve their luck more effectively!

...So, yeah. That's what I was thinking.

Whew, I'm feeling better already! It's like a weight's been lifted off my chest! ...Guess I really was ignoring my feelings.

Thanks for the talk. ...You're the best, Trainer!

Huff, puff! Finished today's training! Whoa, time flies! I've got to hurry!

That's everything... Okay, see you later! I'm off to the committee meeting!

So it turns out the person in charge of the local summer festival is a fan of mine, and she'd like me to advise the committee on feng shui!

To be more specific, they'd like me to attend their meetings a few times a week and give my advice on the feng shui of the setup!

They said they want me to help make the event luckier! I could really feel their passion, and I'm really happy they came to me!

So, if it's okay with you, I'd like to accept their request. What do you think? It's a yes, right? Right?! C'mon!

Yay! Thank you, Trainer!

Yawn... Good morning, Trainer!

Yeah, well, you know! I was up all night getting a document ready for the next committee meeting. And before I knew it, the sun was up and Tarumae was telling me off.

Lack of sleep invites misfortune, so I'm usually careful about it... but I must've gotten carried away!

Ah... actually, I was thinking of holding a special meeting today...

Well, you know how I'm always eager to raise my hand and suggest ideas? I kind of ended up going from feng shui advisor to vice-chair of the committee.

I got involved in lots of places, and before I knew it, I had lots of stuff to prepare!

Oh, but don't worry! I'll still do all my training! And I'm an Umamusume, I can tough it out!

And you know what, I am busy, but I'm enjoying it! Just thinking about everyone smiling at the upcoming festival gets me filled with energy!

And guess what! They've made a new design for the happi coats! They used my feng shui advice to design them, and they turned out lovely!

The portable shrine will be covered in auspicious colors, there'll be lucky decorations on display, and we've prepared an elaborate stage, so it'll be different from your usual summer festival!

What's this, breakfast? For me? Wow, you made a lucky meal! Clam miso soup, boiled spinach, and look at that shiny rice!

Miso soup improves your luck, clams feed your intuition, and the green in the spinach is the color of health! The white rice improves luck with money too! Trainer, you knew all that?!

Pant, pant! Finished my running! Trainer, what's up next?

Huh, again? Is it just me, or are we taking more breaks than usual?

Really? Well, okay!

Phew, another meeting done! But there's still more to do. Once I get back, I've got to wash the display items on each tent one more time!

Whoa, Trainer?! What's with the car? Are you here... to pick me up?

...You sure about that?

...Right, of course! Well, what good timing! Hehe!

Yes, this is fantastic! It's so lively, everyone's smiling... I'd call this a huge success!

I placed lots of lucky items around so we're covered on both the landform and compass sides! Hehe, this makes all the hard work worth it!

Thanks! But, um... I could say the same to you.

Haha! Still playing dumb? You were looking out for me so I wouldn't overwork myself, weren't you?

You made me food, adjusted my training, and picked me up in your car. I noticed, you know. Thanks for making time for me.

But that's not all! What made me happiest was knowing you were always watching over me.

I was able to work as hard as I did because I knew you had my back... So thank you!

I knew that if I got close to my mental or physical limits, you'd stop me. And even if I fell from exhaustion, you'd catch me! I had full faith in you!

You may not have noticed this yet, and I only realized it recently myself... but you're my lucky charm!

I'm lucky when you're with me! And from here on out, I'm sure my life will only get more and more wonderful!

So... Well... I want you to keep on supporting me. Stay by my side, okay?

...Promise? Hehe!