...
Kikonai Special.
"Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro McQueen! Mejiro McQueen breaks through the encirclement and keeps pulling away!"
"The final straight... and it's decided, Mejiro McQueen!"
...
Onuma Stakes.
"Mejiro McQueen is coming up! Overtaking the runners ahead, 200 meters left... race over! Mejiro McQueen!"
...
3000-meter Arashiyama Stakes.
"The final turn... Mejiro McQueen is boxed in!"
"The current front-runner Adams, Adams! Can she hold off the charge from behind... Mejiro McQueen seizes the chance and surges forward!"
"Still Mejiro McQueen! She shows terrifying control at the end of this long-distance race!"
"Is it Adams!? Or Mejiro McQueen?"
"The two horse girls cross the line almost simultaneously!"
...
Inside Tracen Café, Mejiro McQueen was elegantly sipping coffee while the wall-mounted TV replayed her recent races.
At her table sat Lucian, Tokai Teio, Special Week, Rice Shower, and Doto.
Lucian was stealing a rare moment of leisure, comfortably drinking coffee.
For some reason, watching Mejiro McQueen like this, he felt her calm was put-on—she was probably beaming inside.
After all, having her personal highlights broadcast in a café full of people, even the proud Mejiro heiress would find it hard not to feel proud.
"That Arashiyama Stakes was a photo finish—amazing." Special Week marveled. "That makes McQueen on a four-race win streak now."
"McQueen, after school, let's have a race!" Tokai Teio's voice was always sweet when addressing Mejiro McQueen. "Short distance!"
Lucian: "No fooling around."
"Where's the fooling? I'm formally challenging McQueen!"
Rice Shower sipped her coffee. "McQueen-senpai is really amazing."
Rice Shower was now scheduled to train with Mejiro McQueen; in the same 3000-meter races, she could only watch Mejiro McQueen pull away at the finish.
Repeated losses had left Rice Shower down, but even more, they fueled her determination to surpass Mejiro McQueen.
Rice Shower always pursued beautiful things relentlessly.
"Rice Shower, I believe you can do it too."
During training, Mejiro McQueen could feel the black-haired little horse girl behind her growing steadily.
She wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but when singled out by Rice Shower, she sometimes felt a sense of imminent danger.
"Your next race is the Kikuka Sho. McQueen, after today's training, I'll give you a new plan. Same rule—no secret practice."
Mejiro McQueen nodded; her victories were inseparable from Lucian's guidance and encouragement.
Through these races, she trusted Lucian even more.
"Yo~ Little Lu, drinking coffee here too?"
A familiar voice rang out. Nishizaki Ryo walked over with the "Spica" team.
"Ryo-senpai." Lucian looked behind Nishizaki Ryo—there was Mejiro Ryan, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka. "You all too."
"Trainer Lu, hello~" x3
"Scarlet, I haven't forgotten the promise I owe you. Just need a bit more time." Lucian said to Daiwa Scarlet.
It had been a long time since the training camp ended; owing it this long, Lucian worried Daiwa Scarlet thought he was unreliable.
"It's fine, it's fine. As long as Trainer Lu remembers." Daiwa Scarlet showed her sharp tiger teeth, very polite—completely different from how she acted around Nishizaki Ryo.
Even Vodka beside her was confused—why did Daiwa Scarlet suddenly get all prim when seeing Lucian?
"Eh, our Scarlet actually doesn't want it that much." Nishizaki Ryo butted in, then added verbally.
"Who said that! Idiot Trainer!" Daiwa Scarlet raised her fist.
"Speaking of which... Trainer, you still haven't given McQueen and the others their team welcome gifts!" Tokai Teio suddenly said. "Your own team members don't have them, but when you see someone else's..."
"Exactly, Little Lu. Not that I'm saying it, but don't you think that's unfair?" Nishizaki Ryo fanned the flames, eager for chaos. "I know to keep things even—for example, when punishing Scarlet, I punish Vodka too because they're good friends."
"Ha!? Who's good friends with this girl!" Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka said in unison.
Mejiro McQueen and Doto, hearing this, quietly turned their gazes to Lucian.
They had been looking forward to it for a long time but still hadn't received anything.
"Of course I haven't forgotten. They're in preparation—should be ready before year-end." Lucian quickly explained. "Understand, they're custom gifts for you."
Mejiro McQueen and Doto simultaneously lowered their heads to sip coffee.
Nishizaki Ryo: "Little Lu, just heard you talking about the Kikuka Sho?"
"Yes." Lucian looked again at Mejiro Ryan behind Nishizaki Ryo. "McQueen will win."
They were all acquaintances anyway; a little pre-race bravado was fine.
Nishizaki Ryo raised a brow. "Ha? Little Lu, are you picking a fight out of guilt? The winner will be our team's Ryan!"
Lucian: "Who knows~"
Nishizaki Ryo: "Now you know?"
...
No one paid attention to these two childish bickering.
"Not trainer-like at all..." Mejiro Ryan grumbled. Her eyes met Mejiro McQueen's—fighting spirit surged, sparks faintly flashing in the air. "McQueen, give it your all."
"Mm, I'll give my full strength."
This year's Satsuki Sho and Japan Derby—Mejiro Ryan hadn't missed either, taking third and second respectively.
In the following Kyoto Shimbun Hai, Mejiro Ryan even broke the record to claim victory.
Without a doubt, for Mejiro McQueen to win the Kikuka Sho, she had to get past Mejiro Ryan.
...