"And she crosses the finish line! Mejiro McQueen has successfully won the Ayame Sho! The distance between her and second place was one whole length! Undeniably securing her win!"
—On the television, two Uma Musume from the Mejiro Family were watching the replay of Mejiro McQueen's victory. As Mejiro Ryan and Mejiro Palmer watched McQueen waving after her victory in the replay, Ryan couldn't help but smile and say:
"That Trainer Imanami is really something, isn't he? McQueen is already starting to show her potential."
"Mmh, McQueen won both her Debut Race and the Ayame Sho dominantly," Mejiro Palmer replied gently. "It seems that Trainer has taught McQueen very well."
"But even so, she'll have to run more races to qualify for the Japanese Derby. The Japanese Derby requires at least three wins or top finishes in races to qualify; otherwise, she'll have to win the Aoba Sho or get top four in the Satsuki Sho."
"McQueen has already missed the Satsuki Sho and definitely won't make it for the Aoba Sho now. This means that, if nothing unexpected happens... her next race will be the Kyoto Shimbun Hai."
"Eh? Won't that mean she'll clash with me?"
Mejiro Ryan then belatedly realized that her race schedule overlapped with Mejiro McQueen's. She was also about to participate in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai. Not for the Japanese Derby, but for the Kikuka Sho.
Mejiro Ryan had originally planned to participate in the Japanese Derby, but because McQueen was also going to compete, she quickly shifted her goal to the Kikuka Sho. She hoped that her sister, who was more talented than her, could quickly secure her first GI and mature as soon as possible.
But now, Mejiro Ryan found that she seemed incapable of avoiding a competition with her sister. Suddenly, Mejiro Ryan showed a pained expression and said:
"To run against McQueen—ugh, that's really not good!!! I really want to win, but McQueen has a better future than me, and she's more likely to win the Tenno Sho—but if I don't participate in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai, my race schedule will be all messed up! What about the Kikuka Sho?!"
"Ryan-nee, even if you don't participate in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai, you will still face McQueen in the Kikuka Sho later," Mejiro Palmer said with a slight smile. "And not just McQueen, but also the two other Uma Musume from that Trainer called Wada Ryuji who is also a part of Trainer Imanami's team."
"You'll have to meet eventually anyway, so why not test how much McQueen has grown during the Kyoto Shimbun Hai? Isn't this a good opportunity?"
"No, it's not good at all! How can McQueen beat me now!"
Mejiro Ryan immediately shook her head and stood up. She had a clear understanding of her own strength. She had debuted earlier than McQueen, and currently, she was the main Uma Musume promoted by the Mejiro Family. It could be said that Mejiro Ryan was the most promising Uma Musume to win the Tenno Sho so far.
With such strength, Mejiro Ryan could naturally achieve good placings even in the Classic Triple Crown races. Mejiro McQueen, on the other hand, had only been racing for a few months since her Debut Race, participating in only two actual races. To Mejiro Ryan, McQueen was still very green.
And if she won against McQueen in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai... wouldn't McQueen be unable to participate in the Japanese Derby?!
"There's still time, I can still make it! I need to go back to Tracen Academy. I'm going to find McQueen's Trainer and make him change his mind quickly!"
Mejiro Ryan acted immediately, grabbing her bag and running out of the Mejiro Family mansion, heading towards Tracen Academy...
"Hmm, let's see... If you debut next year, you'll clash with Orfevre. But missing this opportunity won't do either, so Gold Ship, you must debut by next year at the latest."
"No problem, no problem~. With my strength, winning races is a piece of cake, right~?"
"Speaking of which, I didn't expect Orfevre-nee to be so difficult to handle. She's even more troublesome than me! McQueen is really going to have a headache, hehehe."
In the Team building, inside Imanami's own room, Imanami was currently discussing Gold Ship's upcoming race schedule while McQueen had already gone for self-training early. During this time, Imanami had been having McQueen and Gold Ship train side-by-side, helping to improve Gold Ship's strength while also training McQueen's own abilities.
During this period, Imanami didn't have many other tasks, but there was a massive headache going on, which was the situation with Ikezoe. Orfevre simply had way too many problems, and Ikezoe alone was somewhat helpless, so he had to constantly go to Imanami for advice.
Imanami was also trying his best to help Ikezoe, though ultimately, the problem can only be handled by Ikezoe himself in the end. "Orfevre is also about to start her first real race. Although she is aiming for next year's Classic Triple Crown, we need to quickly help Orfevre find her form and reach a state similar to her Debut Race period."
"But this is something only Ikezoe-kun alone has to worry about. There's only so much we can do."
Imanami was helpless about this. At this moment, he felt like he was basically Ikezoe's father. After Ikezoe started training Orfevre, he encountered more troubles every day than even Wada. Wada at least knew how to handle minor things, but Orfevre... even Ikezoe couldn't understand her.
Fortunately, Imanami's experience was rich, and he could still help Ikezoe in many aspects while also keeping McQueen's training progress on track. During this time, McQueen's progress was quite significant.
"Gold Ship, please go call McQueen back. The Kyoto Shimbun Hai is coming up soon; she'll need to do some more targeted training."
"Okay, leave it to me!"
Gold Ship immediately walked out of the room without a word. However, just as she reached the door, an urgent knocking sound immediately rang out.
"Trainer Imanami! Imanami-san! Please let me in! I am Mejiro Ryan!"
"...Miss Ryan?" Imanami hesitated, wondering why Mejiro Ryan would suddenly arrive, but under Gold Ship's questioning gaze, he still nodded, intending to let Mejiro Ryan in.
"Click."
"Trainer Imanami! McQueen told me your team's meeting point was here!" Mejiro Ryan immediately sat down calmly in front of Imanami. Facing this Trainer, whom even her grandmother treated with great respect, Mejiro Ryan was quite well-behaved.
"Miss Ryan, long time no see. I thought our next meeting would be at the racetrack; I didn't expect you to suddenly visit us," Imanami made a gesture for Gold Ship to come back, then turned his gaze to Ryan and asked:
"So, Miss Ryan, are you here to see McQueen? She should be at the training grounds right now; I'm having her prepare for the Kyoto Shimbun Hai..."
"No no no, I'm here to see you. I'm here to ask you if you could change McQueen's race schedule."
Mejiro Ryan directly stated her purpose. However, her words immediately put Gold Ship, who was nearby, on alert, and her Uma Musume ears twitched slightly.
She just heard something potentially fun?
Mejiro Ryan of the Mejiro Family actually wanted to persuade McQueen's Trainer not to participate in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai? Was this some kind of under-the-table dealing? Gold Ship's wild thoughts immediately went to a different place. Soon, she quietly walked towards the door... She couldn't miss this! At this time, she should definitely call McQueen to come and watch too! Gold Ship, who loved a good spectacle, thought so.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Imanami was slightly stunned by her words, then asked: "Miss Ryan, may I ask why? You should be very clear that the Kyoto Shimbun Hai concerns McQueen's qualification for the Japanese Derby. If she wins this race, her Japanese Derby and Kikuka Sho are basically guaranteed. Why do you still want McQueen to avoid the race?"
"Because I don't want to personally ruin McQueen's chance at the Japanese Derby!" Mejiro Ryan said anxiously. "If I win, wouldn't it be very difficult for McQueen to participate in the Japanese Derby? It's better to choose other races while there's still time. That way, as long as she wins two more races, she can definitely participate in the Japanese Derby."
"I don't want to ruin McQueen's chances myself; she would be very sad..."
"..." However, Imanami's eyebrows twitched slightly upon hearing this, and a funny feeling suddenly emerged in his heart.
These sisters of the Mejiro Family... their bond was truly strong. But Mejiro Ryan didn't seem to realize that the current Mejiro McQueen was no longer just her inexperienced and weak younger sister.
All Imanami wanted to say now was: Miss Ryan, snap back to reality. Otherwise, you might think you're dreaming in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai.
The current Mejiro McQueen was no longer the same McQueen who just won the Ayame Sho. If you underestimate her like this, you might end up being taught a severe lesson by your own sister.
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I dunno what to say here. Also, remember to drink lots of water guys.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.