"Miss Ryan, McQueen is no longer the same young McQueen you remember. She has grown up and isn't just your weak and inexperienced younger sister."
Although Imanami really wanted to say something like, "McQueen has grown enough to defeat you," to Ryan, as an old man, he still considered Ryan a "child". In the end, Imanami still chose what he considered to be the gentlest words, and said to Mejiro Ryan:
"She has now grown into a powerful Uma Musume. Although Madam Mejiro has given me some restrictions, and I have slightly restrained McQueen's limits, she is still not an Uma Musume who can be easily defeated."
"McQueen is very strong now, strong enough to go to a bigger stage—perhaps a GI is not a pipe dream for her, but an achievement that can be reached with just one more step."
"Miss Ryan, do you still think that McQueen, as my assigned Uma Musume, is still that clumsy and immature younger sister who struggled to lose weight?"
"Even if you say so..."
However, Imanami's manner of speech, which seemed as if he was merely stating facts, made Ryan very hesitant. She was suddenly caught between rationality and emotion. She really wanted to believe that what Imanami said was true, that McQueen had grown enough to go to a bigger stage.
But she was still worried that she might hurt McQueen in the race and make McQueen lose the chance to run for the Japanese Derby—in that case, not only would Ryan not be able to forgive herself, but Grandmother would probably do something as well... And for Ryan to go easy was even more impossible. It should be said that once an Uma Musume steps onto the racetrack, there is no possibility of going easy. Their reason for existence lies in victory and running. Going easy would mean dishonoring one's own strength as well as dishonoring your opponents.
Therefore, if Ryan and McQueen really encountered each other on the racetrack, these sisters would definitely not go easy on each other and would certainly unleash their full power to achieve victory. There was no doubt about this.
"Tap tap tap." Just then, a knock on the door suddenly sounded, causing Ryan and Imanami in the room to look over. Soon, Mejiro McQueen's gentle voice came through.
"Trainer, I brought some snacks and tea. May I come in?"
"...Please come in," Imanami nodded and said. Soon, with the sound of a door being pushed open, Mejiro McQueen, carrying a tray, entered the room with a smile on her face.
"Yo, McQueen—" Mejiro Ryan, seeing McQueen again, wanted to greet her gently as usual, but before she could finish her sentence, she saw McQueen walk past her as if she hadn't seen her.
"Clang." The sound of the tray being put down was neither loud nor soft. McQueen's face still beamed with a gentle smile, looking even softer than usual, but for some reason, it gave off a very subtle sense of danger.
"Imanami-san, I brought you two cups of vegetable juice from Miss Hayakawa Tazuna. I heard it's very healthy. I see you usually only drink goji berry tea, so how about you try this?"
McQueen showed a gentle smile as she pushed a cup of vegetable juice in front of Imanami, narrowing her eyes and saying, "It's very healthy and good for your body."
"Uh... Thank you... McQueen?"
However, Imanami also felt that although McQueen was smiling, her mood was not as great as the smile she was showing, and even her address had reverted to polite language. Normally, McQueen would not be so... intimate with Imanami as she was today. McQueen and Imanami's interactions were always very measured. McQueen had immense respect for Imanami, and Imanami's affection for McQueen was limited to that of a senior towards a junior, a grandchild, without any overstepping.
His relationships with his trainees were completely different from Wada's and Ikezoe's. With Wada, the situation between him, T.M. Opera O, and Meisho Doto was basically an open secret, but no one had ever broken the silence. The intimacy between the three of them was very obvious and they were almost inseparable.
The situation with Ikezoe was similar, though relatively speaking, Curren Chan clung to Ikezoe without hiding it at all, while Orfevre herself was quite reserved. Though, this was mainly because Ikezoe was worried that if he approached Orfevre without permission, she would kick him again...
"Um, McQueen?"
"Oh! Isn't that Ryan-nee? I didn't even see you there!" Only then did McQueen "notice" Ryan's presence, feigning genuine surprise as she said:
"So, Ryan-nee came to see 'my' (A/N: slight emphasis) Trainer. Is there something you need, especially with the Kyoto Shimbun Hai coming up soon?"
"Ah! I understand. Since Ryan-nee is about to compete with me, you came to declare war in advance?"
McQueen's demeanor was gentle, as if she truly meant what she said. However, Imanami immediately understood. Without a doubt, McQueen knew what was going on. She had come because she felt slighted and wanted to vent her dissatisfaction.
"W-well, th-that, ac-actually, I just came to discuss a small matter with Trainer Imanami..." Mejiro Ryan, however, didn't seem to grasp the hidden meaning in McQueen's words, but she could still feel that McQueen was not as happy as she appeared on the surface, and she said, sweating profusely.
"I see, you came to see 'my' Trainer. Should I perhaps excuse myself?"
McQueen's face also showed a gentle smile, and she said word by word, "Those who are in the way should leave as soon as possible, right? I'm just that person who's in the way~"
"..."
Never having realized McQueen had such a talent for passive-aggressiveness, Imanami now felt a bit stressed. He then said to Ryan:
"Miss Ryan, McQueen is my assigned Uma Musume. This is the result of our joint discussion, and unless she changes her mind, we will not change our decision."
"We'll see you at the Kyoto Shimbun Hai. By then, you will get the answer you want."
"—Gold Ship, stop hiding. See her out."
"Alrighty~!" Just then, Gold Ship, who had been hiding outside the door, scurried out with a mischievous grin. Upon seeing Gold Ship's appearance, Imanami sighed, immediately understanding what had just happened.
Without a doubt, Gold Ship must've been the one who had informed McQueen, which was why McQueen had rushed over looking like this. Clearly, Gold Ship had added a lot of extra nonsense during the relay of information; otherwise, with McQueen's attitude, she would never have lost her composure like that.
But what could Imanami say to Gold Ship? This mischievous Uma Musume was basically a granddaughter to Imanami, and now that she had become an Uma Musume, this feeling, which became even clearer to Imanami, made him even less able to be angry with Gold Ship.
And after Gold Ship had seen Ryan out, only McQueen and Imanami were left in the room. At this moment, McQueen finally reined in her smile and turned to Imanami, saying:
"Trainer, my determination to participate in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai will not change! So—"
"No need to say more, McQueen. I know you wouldn't give up a race over something like this."
Imanami walked up to McQueen, patted her on the shoulder, and as always, supported and encouraged her, saying, "I will train you well during this time. Even if we have to face Mejiro Ryan, we will win the Kyoto Shimbun Hai."
"Maintain yourself at your best condition, McQueen. A mighty opponent is waiting for you at the Japanese Derby."
"...Thank you, Trainer."
Imanami's unhesitating reply made McQueen's face bloom with a smile again. McQueen couldn't help but feel a little annoyed at her earlier outburst of temper. How could she doubt that her Trainer would do anything to make her give up the race? It must have been Gold Ship who spoke some nonsense again. Really, Gold Ship needs to be taught a lesson next time.
But... Ryan-nee, even if you are my older sister, you'll have to pay for underestimating me this much.
McQueen muttered to herself in her heart at this moment. She silently clenched her fists, planning to give her good older sister a truly meaningful counterattack on the next racetrack. To dare to underestimate the bond and skill between her and her Trainer, even if it was her older sister, was something she couldn't easily forgive.
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Horsemen of Ragebait, Gold Ship
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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.