Kyoto Racecourse, 51st Kikuka Sho
Mejiro McQueen sat in her lounge, quietly looking at herself in the mirror.
Finally wearing the winning uniform of a G1 Uma Musume, McQueen felt little joy; instead, only solemnity.
This day has finally arrived.
McQueen thought quietly.
Childhood aspirations, past promises, and hard work were all for this day.
Mejiro McQueen took a deep breath, suppressing her slightly trembling body, and rose to leave the lounge.
"Prepare yourself, Golshi!"
Then she saw Gold Legend using her ultimate final battle technique on Gold Ship.
What should I do when I open the door and see my wife using a super special move on my granddaughter? Asking online, no rush.
"Oh! How do you feel, McQueen?"
Teio came over, hands behind her back.
"What do you mean?" McQueen asked, puzzled.
"Of course, I mean how you feel about participating in a G1 race. You're the first Uma Musume in our team to compete in a G1 race."
Teio asked enthusiastically. For Tokai Teio, G1 races were indeed desirable, especially since this was the final leg of the classic three crowns.
"How to put it, although I was very nervous at first, now that it's really about to begin, I surprisingly feel a sense of relief."
McQueen didn't know how to describe her current mood.
"It's too early to relax now."
Legend, who had finished dealing with Gold Ship, walked over, smiling.
"Indeed. Don't worry, I will present myself as an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family should."
McQueen looked at Legend's smile, exhaled softly, and reverted to her confident self, a representative of the Mejiro Family.
"Then I wish you a great victory in advance."
Legend said with a smile.
"If you lose, I'll mock you terribly! So don't lose, McQueen!"
Teio clenched her fist and cheered her on.
Gold Ship struggled to push herself up and say something, but couldn't make it; she could only lie on the ground, trembling, raise her right hand and give a big thumbs-up.
"Hey, watch this—this is Mejiro McQueen's race!"
McQueen flicked her hair, turned with a swagger, and walked toward the tunnel. "Not a bad team at all."
Inside the tunnel, Ryan leaned against the wall and teased.
"What, feeling jealous?"
McQueen, who'd half-expected Ryan to be waiting, shot back with a smile.
"A little, I guess."
Ryan nodded, somewhat downcast. Her family and friends were all outside; with the Mejiro civil war, the sisters hadn't known whom to cheer for, so they'd stayed away entirely. The only friends close enough to get backstage were either rivals in this very race or couldn't come—namely, the still-recovering Ines Fujin.
"So, how does it feel—your first G1 stakes race?"
Ryan shook off her disappointment and asked with a smile.
"Why is everyone asking me the exact same thing?"
McQueen sighed at the familiar question.
"Oh, don't sweat the small stuff."
Ryan waved dismissively, then looked at McQueen, dead serious.
"You're ready, right? You've made up your mind?"
"What kind of dumb question is that? I'm already standing right in front of you!"
McQueen fired back.
"Really? Well, don't go crying if you lose."
Ryan turned and strode off, every step firm and strong.
"That's my line!"
McQueen called, setting off as well. "Oh, the Mejiro ladies are all here,"
Up in the stands, the Trainer caught sight of that cluster of unmistakable Horse Girls.
"What, planning to go harass them?"
Gold Legend—who'd come straight from talking with McQueen—answered with dead-fish eyes.
"A Trainer's work can't be called harassment. It's appraisal."
"By fondling their legs?"
Tokai Teio, another victim of those wandering hands, glared at him like he was trash.
"It's the optimal method."
The Trainer showed no shame, chest puffed out.
"Ugh, this guy's hopeless."
"Totally hopeless!"
Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet said it right in front of him.
"Hey, I can hear you! Golshi, back me up here!"
the Trainer protested.
"Golshi's off selling yakisoba."
She took my finisher and bounced back already—gotta hand it to her.
Gold Legend figured she'd need to invent an even nastier move.
"…Whatever. Ah, they're off."
The starting bugle cut short the Trainer's grumbling.
"Still, McQueen's amazing—fourth favorite in her very first G1."
Teio lay on the rail, tail flicking.
"Well, she's from the prestigious Mejiro line, and the top pick is Ryan."
Legend stood beside Teio, eyes on the track.
"Heavy going today—McQueen gonna be okay?"
Vodka fidgeted.
"She'll be fine. Heavy ground is McQueen's specialty."
Daiwa Scarlet reassured her.
"They're off!"
Gold Ship, back from nowhere, dropped her usual clowning and stared at the field, dead serious.
"So this is G1 level? Incredible."
Watching the girls explode from the gate, Daiwa Scarlet marveled.
"…"
Gold Legend said nothing, simply watched.
"They're calling the positions."
The Trainer listened to the announcer.
"McQueen's seventh."
Teio added.
"Smart choice; in heavy going you've got to save something early."
Gold Ship, scion of a top stable, could see that much.
"So for now the order won't change much. Where d'you see the race turning, Legend?"
The Trainer kept his eyes on the track.
"…After the third turn."
Legend answered after a pause.
"Oh? Why so sure?"
The Trainer was curious.
"If I were McQueen, that's where I'd go."
Legend said it like it was obvious.
"Here it comes."
Teio, eavesdropping the whole time, alerted them.
"Mejiro Ryan's making her move!"
Out on the turf, Ryan was already accelerating.
"What about McQueen?"
Vodka asked.
"No sign of her yet."
Daiwa Scarlet didn't blink.
"…"
The Trainer held his breath, face tense.
Ryan swung wide in the turn and, in a blink, had seized third.
"McQueen's ramping up."
Gold Ship, who'd never lost sight of her, spoke.
"Beautiful!"
Teio shouted.
McQueen burst out of the pack, and by the time they straightened she was three-wide with Shiroishi and Ryan.
"Go, McQueen!"
the Trainer roared.
"Go!" x3
Teio, Vodka, and Daiwa Scarlet joined the cheer.
The two from the Gold clan kept silent, playing the cool experts.
McQueen shot out of the turn, grabbed the lead, and now it was a straight fight to the wire.
"It's over."
Watching McQueen dash for home, Gold Ship lowered her head and went back to her Rubik's cube.
"Yeah, it's over."
Gold Legend watched McQueen flash under the wire.
"One and a quarter lengths—huge win."
Teio read the board, equal parts envious and thrilled.
"3:06.2… that time…"
the Trainer murmured.
"Third-fastest in Kikuka Sho history."
Model student Daiwa Scarlet rattled off the fact.
"Amazing. And in heavy going, too."
Vodka's admiration was plain.
Gold Legend said nothing; she watched the two Mejiro girls embrace on the track, then turned and walked away.
"Where're you going, Legend?"
Teio asked, watching her leave.
"To congratulate her. Coming?"
"…I'll pass."
"Mm."
Teio watched Legend go, then turned back to McQueen waving at her, sighed, and waved back.
…Mejiro Ryan walked down the dark tunnel and stopped.
"Lost. McQueen's gotten so strong."
She leaned against the wall, lifted her arm, and covered her eyes.
"She's been working nonstop to keep her promise to you,"
I've been watching the whole time.
Gold Legend stepped in front of her.
"…Aren't you supposed to politely pretend you didn't see that?"
Look at me—I'm a total mess.
Ryan forced a tired smile.
'I was going to pretend I didn't see you, but someone wants to talk to you.'
Legend tossed the object in her hand to Ryan.
Ryan fumbled the catch—it was a phone.
'Give it back when you're done.'
With that, Legend brushed past Ryan.
Ryan stared at the phone, bewildered.
'Ryan! Long time no see—how've you been?'
A familiar voice came through the speaker.
'Huh? Aenis? How did you—'
'Hehe, surprised?'
'Surprised is one word...'
The voices faded until they were inaudible. Only then did Gold Legend stop walking.
'Guess I just did a good deed.'
'I'd say so.'
Mejiro McQueen stood before Gold Legend; even splattered with mud, her beauty was undimmed.
'Congratulations on the Kikuka Sho, McQueen.'
Gold Legend offered the words sincerely.
'For a Mejiro Uma Musume, it's expected. Still—thank you.'
'For what?'
'For Ryan. I was at a loss over how to comfort her.'
'It was nothing. Just...'
'Getting a bit full of yourself, aren't you?'
Legend tilted her head at the haughty McQueen she hadn't seen in ages.
'I've simply reaffirmed my purpose as a Mejiro Uma Musume!'
McQueen placed her left hand to her chest and declared proudly.
'For the glory of the Mejiro Family, I will bring back honor, reputation... and you.'
She looked straight at Gold Legend, as though taking an oath.
'Wait and see, Legend-san. I'll prove it in the name of Mejiro McQueen!'
Her resolve shone like gold.
'...I'll be watching.'
Whatever had gotten into McQueen, Legend had felt that resolve.
Gold Legend answered with a smile.
'...Then I'll go prepare for the Winner's Stage.'
Flustered by Legend's smile, McQueen fled.
'...Was there some hidden meaning in what she just said?'
Gold Legend watched McQueen leave, lost in thought.
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