Magic, Feathers, and the Sea
Gabriel Covernius

23 April - The next two rounds of the Formula Holo championship will be the most emotional yet, as three from across the roster are set to go their separate ways. First to drop her bombshell was Aku-Ken Exodia's Shion Murasaki, doing so mere days before the 6th FES, on March 6th. With this announcement, this made it very emotional for the attending Shiokkos. Next to drop her bombshell was Mumei, some weeks after FES on March 28th. It was night where Mumei announced her departure so eastern hemisphere Hoomans and Holo fans in general woke up to sad news. And this will repeat with Gura's shock announcement on April 16th, making it more emotional for Chumbuds who do observe Holy Week, as this went out on either Holy Wednesday or Maundy Thursday, depending on timezone. Fans already pointed a red flag with her disappearance in the Tokyo Ambassasor program, which she shares with fellow Myth-Watson teammate Calliope Mori and reigning FHWC champion Miko Sakura of Scuderia Genesi. This last announcement weighed heavily on the entire vtubing world, a testament to the impact the little sharkgirl has made since the first "a" on debut.
Shion and Gura both were racing in VTRP since the first season. For the former, she ended season 1 in above average 14th, then dipping to 25th next season. Her best season would see her finish 12th, in Season 5, while her worst was in World Series 2023, right at the dawn of the machinery shift. She currently sits at 48th at the time of this article. Going now to Gura, she, along with Myth and ID2 were the newest girls at the time the Vtuber Racing Project launched with Formula Holo. For her part, she had a humbler first season, finishing 33rd. She will then see her highest of 16th in Season 5, while her lowest was at Season 2, finishing 43rd, barely avoiding that season's cellar by one place.
Mumei, along with what was then Council Grand Prix, debuted in Season 4. Her first season was also her lowest point, finishing plumb last. Fortunately, it can only go up for the owl of the team, upgrading to 47th next season. Season 6 would be her career's highest point, finishing 5th in Driver's, topped off with a win in Rd4 at Cleveland, in Burke Lakefront Airport. She will go on to win again in World Series 2023 at Marina Bay for Round 15. She has been on the podium for Season 7 and 9, in 3rd, along with most recent return to the podium this season in Miami Holo Prix.
Various racers and fans alike have given their thoughts about these departures. Murasaki's teammate Subaru Oozora revealed that she didn't wanna tell the fitness trainer about the matter but ended up doing so anyway being her teammate. Kiara Takanashi, teammate to Gura and close friend to Mumei expressed sadness over the two announcing that they're hanging up their helmets soon, but expressed too that "it was inevitable." Another of Myth, Calliope Mori, has expressed that Myth-Watson will always be 5 in her heart. She has also warned fans about "pot-stirrers"; those that will spread rumors regarding Tanigo Motoaki's management of Formula Holo, putting confidence in them much like her senpai over at Red Heart Plasmagic, Fubuki Shirakami.
For their part, Chronus Design Labs has done some alterations to all 3 cars, with Shion and Mumei's cars being first to receive the modifications. Shion's was seen in Barcelona while Mumei's was in Montreal. The former finished a respectable 16th while the latter was one of the many that fell ill to the dastardly pit glitch that has since reignited with gusto plans of the FH split series. All three are expected to appear for the final time for round 7 and 8 of the Formula Holo World Championship at Spielberg and Silverstone respectively.
Catch the action at: https://www.youtube.com/@vtuberracing