In the training room, Mejiro McQueen interlaced her fingers, striking a classic Commander Ikari pose.
"Lately, Mejiro Ardan has been asking me about Gold Legend and occasionally saying 'McQueen, I'm sorry.' Do you have any idea why, Gold Legend?"
"Huh? Did Mejiro Ardan do something to apologize for?"
Gold Legend, who was changing clothes, paused, immediately getting a gossipy idea.
"Is that the point? Why is Mejiro Ardan interested in your affairs?!"
A cross-shaped symbol, like in a manga, appeared on Mejiro McQueen's forehead.
"Even if you say that, I think it's quite normal for anyone to be interested in me, given my qualities."
It's like when you see a beautiful and charming girl on the street, you can't help but take a second look.
"Maybe it's just a whim. After all, I accompanied her to an art exhibition two days ago, which probably made her a little interested in me?"
Gold Legend tilted her head, guessing.
"You know about art too?"
McQueen looked at Gold Legend with distrust. Although this fellow's temperament and appearance lived up to the name of a prestigious family, if you really took this blonde thing for a young lady from a prestigious family, it only meant there was something wrong with your eyes.
"...I'm not that bad, am I?"
Though I really don't understand art.
"Oba-chan, there's a word called'self-awareness'."
Gold Ship sat aside, playing with her ever-present Rubik's Cube, feigning a profound look.
"Shut up, or I'll kill you."
Gold Legend, who at least had some self-awareness, was hit where it hurt.
"Speaking of which, what's wrong with Tokai Teio?"
Gold Legend looked at Tokai Teio, who had her feet on the table and was pouting with her arms crossed, feeling a bit curious.
"Hey, Gold Legend, you be the judge! The President is too much!"
Tokai Teio immediately latched onto Gold Legend once she was addressed.
"...What happened?"
Seeing Tokai Teio suddenly hugging Gold Legend's arm, Mejiro McQueen lost her composure, abandoning her pose and stepping forward to pull Tokai Teio up.
"Didn't McQueen get her victory uniform for the Kikuka Sho recently? I really want one too, so I went to the President, and the result was..."
[Those are only for G1 Uma Musume. It's regrettable, but Tokai Teio, rules are rules.]
"That's what the President said."
Tokai Teio mimicked Rudolf's tone with her hands on her hips, looking quite convincing.
"That's a fair point."
McQueen said, a hint of helplessness on her face.
"I think with my strength, I'll become a G1 Uma Musume sooner or later, so getting it a bit early is fine, probably."
Tokai Teio wasn't an unreasonable child. After calming down, she understood that she was in the wrong, but still stubbornly argued.
"Victory uniforms aren't that simple, Tokai Teio. Every victory uniform is a handmade work, full of sentiment. You can't just mess around with them."
Daiwa Scarlet, who was instructing Vodka with her homework nearby, explained with a proud expression.
"Eh? Are victory uniforms that special?"
Gold Legend, suddenly realizing something, felt a bad premonition.
"Of course. Putting aside everything else, just the fact that they are used for running makes them very special."
Ordinary clothes couldn't withstand the abuse of an Uma Musume.
McQueen sat back in her chair, resuming her elegant and dignified posture.
"Moreover, victory uniforms are completely handmade, and their materials and techniques are very high-end. Currently in Japan, only the Northern Family can produce victory uniforms. Plus, to express individuality, victory uniforms require on-site customization. And because of design and other factors, it takes at least a month to create one victory uniform. That's why they are limited to G1 Uma Musume, and even then, require advance reservations."
McQueen adopted a teacher-like demeanor, earnestly lecturing Tokai Teio.
"So, Tokai Teio, victory uniforms are not something you can just get easily."
"Oh, I see. It seems I need to go apologize to the President."
Tokai Teio nodded, humbly accepting her mistake.
Gold Legend's cold sweat increased.
Gold Ship noticed the anomaly, looked at Gold Legend suspiciously, and then had a flash of inspiration.
"Oba-chan, you, you haven't prepared anything, have you?"
"What are you talking about? Even Gold Legend should know this much. It's common knowledge, right, Gold Legend?"
No sooner had McQueen spoken than she saw Gold Legend turn her face away.
"You know, right?"
"..."
Look into my eyes, you damned blonde!
McQueen was on the verge of collapse.
"You have a race in half a month, and you haven't even prepared your victory uniform?"
McQueen couldn't take it anymore.
"I thought that was the Trainer's job."
Didn't the Trainer prepare Special Week's victory uniform in the anime?
"What does this have to do with the Trainer? You're the one wearing it!"
McQueen was clearly angry.
Gold Ship pulled Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka aside, to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
"I didn't know, no one told me."
Gold Legend looked as wronged as a young wife.
"Well, well, how about we go ask the President?"
Tokai Teio tried to lighten the mood.
"Sigh, at this point, that's all we can do."
McQueen sighed, entrusted Gold Ship to inform the Trainer, and then set off with Gold Legend and Tokai Teio to the Student Council Room... "I see, so because of your oversight, the victory uniform wasn't prepared, is that it?"
President Symboli Rudolf sat in her chair, looking down at Gold Legend with a domineering gaze.
Even though she was sitting, it felt like she was looking down from above. The pressure was so intense!
"Yes."
Gold Legend bowed her head, not daring to speak loudly.
"...The matter of the victory uniform concerns the reputation of Tracen Central and cannot afford any mistakes. Moreover, you are a member of the Student Council, Gold Legend. You understand what I mean, right?"
"...I understand."
"Very good. Remember, don't let it happen again." Rudolf nodded, retracting her intimidating aura.
You're even using your aura for this?
The perceptive Gold Legend opened her mouth, but decided to forget about it.
"Such things have happened before with you, so the Student Council has a record. The Chairman has secured a monthly priority slot for Tracen Central, allowing for a certain degree of priority in this regard. However, for the rest, you will need to contact them yourself."
Rudolf opened a drawer beside her and rummaged through it, pulling out a document.
"Take this and go find the Chairman. She should be in her office now."
"Why the Chairman?"
Gold Legend took the document, asking curiously.
"Victory uniforms have always been handled by the Northern Family, you should know that, right?"
"Yes."
"The Chairman is not only the Chairman of Tracen, but also the head of the Northern Family."
Although she essentially doesn't manage anything.
Rudolf said, sighing... "So, Chairman, can't we really add shoulder pads to the uniform? This older sister thinks adding some decorations to the uniform is completely fine."
Miss Hayakawa led Gold Legend to the Chairmans Office. Just as she opened the door, she saw Maruzensky pitching something to a short loli while holding a photo.
Ah, it's the Chairman who has never opened the door for me.
Gold Legend looked at the loli with a cat on her head, and for a moment, sadness welled up.
"Rejected. I don't object to the idea of modifying the uniform, but can you please offer some normal suggestions?"
Even an old person like me thinks your taste is terrible.
The Chairman opened her fan, which had two characters written on it: No Way.
"What? It's clearly such a trendy idea."
The trend of the 1980s, perhaps.
Gold Legend looked speechlessly toward the sky.
"Conclusion! No means no!"
The Chairman cruelly announced her conclusion, and Maruzensky reluctantly accepted it.
"And now, is it you? We finally meet. Hello, I am Yayoi Akikawa, the Chairman of Tracen Central Academy."
The Chairman turned to look at Gold Legend, reopened her fan, which now read 'Introduction'... What kind of mechanism is this?
Thinking this, Gold Legend introduced herself. "Hello, Chairman. Nice to meet you. I am Gold Legend, and I came here because..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Chairman interrupted the conversation.
"No matter. Rudolf already told me the details. Everything has been arranged. Hayakawa, please take her over there. And you, Gold Legend-san, I wish you success in your race!"
After speaking quickly and energetically, the Chairman dragged Maruzensky out the door.
"...Does she have something urgent to attend to?"
"Well, the Chairman is just like that. She probably thought of a new idea again. Now then, let's go, Legend-san."
...Just like that, Gold Legend followed Hayakawa Tazuna to an old mansion that clearly had a lot of history. Inside, she was measured, then questioned in detail about specifics, and finally, the preparatory work was completed just before dark.
"Please leave your contact information. We will deliver your Race Outfit to you in one week."
The professional service staff said this, sending the client who added to their workload back to Tracen.
"How do you feel, Legend-san?"
Miss Hayakawa drove the car, asking for Gold Legend's feelings.
"Never again! Seriously!"
Gold Legend spat out her soul, having made up her mind... "So something like that happened, huh? Legend-chan is truly a fascinating fellow."
Inside the Student Council, Symboli Rudolf the Emperor looked at the sunset outside the window while talking on the phone with Qian Ming Representative.
"But what kind of junior is keeping you from returning even now?"
You've been on leave for a week.
Rudolf asked helplessly.
"It's fine, it's fine. Anyway, my coursework was completed long ago, and isn't the Student Council work easier without me?"
The voice on the phone was cheerful and carefree.
"Indeed."
"...Even though you're telling the truth, can't you say something nice to comfort me?"
"Didn't you say that yourself?"
The Emperor replied straightforwardly.
"Never mind, I'll continue guiding my junior then."
"Alright, but what kind of junior makes you show such favoritism?"
Rudolf pulled the conversation back.
"You'll know once the race starts."
"A race? I see, is the opponent aiming for Legend?"
"...How did you guess so quickly?"
"It's quite simple. Speaking of races I would pay attention to, and races a new junior would participate in..."
There are only a few of those.
"Alright, don't tell Legend. I'm really looking forward to the moment they meet."
"Fine, I'll do as you say. But do you really think your junior is qualified to compete against Legend?"
"Rudolf, do you know? Sometimes, when I look at the performance of these juniors, I can't help but wonder if I'm getting old. That's all. Goodbye."
"...I see. Not to be underestimated, huh?"
Rudolf put down the phone, looked at the setting sun, and felt a surge of anticipation in her heart.
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