"The Debut Race is next month… Time is indeed very tight."
Faced with Mejiro McQueen's invitation, Imanami was also filled with emotion for a moment. He was one of the few witnesses who saw the Mejiro Ranch go from prosperity all the way to eventual bankruptcy. He was much older than a Racehorse, and he had witnessed the countless ebbs and flows of horse racing: the rise of many incredible Racehorses, and then their retirement, or their collapse on the track, eventually becoming tombstones, remaining only as memories.
The man called Imanami Kenichi was oh so very old; even if he became younger after transmigrating, mentally, he was just like Gold Ship said, an "old man." He had experienced so much in his long years, whether as a Jockey, horse trainer, or stablehand.
In terms of emotions, Ikezoe and Wada were akin to children in front of Imanami. He was truly someone who had spent his entire life in this industry. His feelings for Racehorses, and now as a Trainer, his feelings for Uma Musume in this world, were incomparable to Ikezoe's and Wada's.
Therefore, facing Mejiro McQueen, the glory of the Mejiro Family, although Imanami had never really interacted with Mejiro McQueen when she was a Racehorse—Gold Ship was the grandson of Mejiro McQueen. And thus, he was quite attentive to her in this world.
—Actually, Imanami was initially only interested in Gold Ship, with him considering McQueen to just be a bonus. But now, it seems he can no longer treat this Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family with such a casual mindset.
"I will go, Miss McQueen." Imanami didn't think for too long, and quickly nodded, saying, "I look forward to you winning the Debut Race."
"Thank you very much!"
McQueen was also overjoyed and immediately bowed deeply to Imanami, her heart becoming even more motivated to win the Debut Race!
Because McQueen herself knew that the only way for Imanami to become her Trainer was for him to become her exclusive Trainer, as her grandmother would absolutely not accept her Trainer to be distracted training others, especially when that "other" would most likely be the notoriously chaotic Gold Ship of the Gold Family.
McQueen was originally still hesitating whether to do this, but several days of training made McQueen realize that excellent Trainers were truly game-changing for an Uma Musume. As an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, she should cast aside all her doubts and just do it!
So, early that morning, she asked her roommate Dictus to help her stall Gold Ship, so that she wouldn't bother Imanami at least for today, and it seemed Dictus was indeed reliable! Gold Ship hadn't appeared all day!
And she had already basically finalized Imanami as her exclusive Trainer! McQueen felt a huge sense of relief from being one step away from completing a grand task.
"M-McQueen is already going to participate in her Debut Race?"
Meanwhile, Doto, after receiving her daily head-pat reward from Wada, also walked over with Curren Chan, timidly saying,
"As expected of McQueen, she's so strong! Being able to participate in a Debut Race after only a month of training is simply amazing..."
"Hehe, though Curren Chan's Debut Race is still a long way off, Onii-chan did say that after the Debut Race, we can immediately reserve a spot in a few sprint races, so Curren Chan isn't worried at all~" Curren Chan then hooked through one of Ikezoe's arms, and said to McQueen:
"Good luck, McQueen. Curren Chan will post messages on my channel and have all my fans cheer you on~"
"No… that won't be necessary…"
The three Uma Musume, who originally were just acquaintances, had also become good friends because of their Trainers' good relationship, and encouraged each other. They all knew that they each had their own grand goals, and their prospects were undoubtedly bright.
But at this moment, a familiar female voice from not far away interrupted them.
"You three, long time no see. I am very pleased to see that you have all gotten on track."
"President?" X3
The arrivals were Symboli Rudolf, Air Groove, and Tokai Teio. The three Trainers had not expected Symboli Rudolf to specifically come to see them, and immediately stood up and walked over with their respective Uma Musume.
"Indeed, President. We have all started to train our Uma Musume."
"I see. Though your choices did not match what I initially thought, I can tell that you are all very responsible." Symboli Rudolf replied with a smile, her gaze sweeping over the three slightly reserved Uma Musume, and then she actively stepped aside, allowing everyone to see the petite Uma Musume behind her.
"Three of you, I would like to introduce someone to you, though Trainer Ikezoe has already met her. This is Tokai Teio, one of the brightest rising stars of Tracen Academy."
"Hello everyone~" Tokai Teio, holding her honey drink, greeted the three with a very lively tone, and then her gaze turned to McQueen, and she said in a teasing voice as sweet as honey:
"McQueen~ Long time no see. It looks like your diet was very successful~"
"Teio…"
McQueen had, of course, paid attention to Tokai Teio early on, as she was someone she had regarded as a rival. Yet, McQueen's gaze kept unintentionally looking at the honey drink in Teio's hand, occasionally swallowing, as if she really wanted a sip.
For the sake of her diet, she hadn't touched any sweets for a long time. The meal plan Imanami designed for McQueen was very reasonable; its only drawback was that it couldn't satisfy McQueen's innate desire for sweets…
So carrots and bananas became the only substitutes McQueen could eat as "sweets." Although McQueen wasn't very fond of honey— especially Teio's honey drink which was simply too sweet and cloying, even for her. But after not tasting her beloved sweets for several days, McQueen was a bit tempted to take a sip of Teio's honey drink. (T/N: McQueen's gonna become a second Biwa Hayahide by the end of this.)
Thinking this, McQueen unconsciously looked up at Tokai Teio, only to meet the mischievous gaze of Teio, who was drinking her honey drink slowly and meticulously, before she immediately blushed, grabbing Imanami's sleeve beside her.
She was definitely drinking it in front of me on purpose!
"Tokai Teio… it's actually Tokai Teio."
On this side, Wada was also surprised by Symboli Rudolf's introduction, his gaze repeatedly comparing Tokai Teio and Symboli Rudolf several times before he secretly nodded and murmured, "They really do look alike…"
"?" Symboli Rudolf heard Wada's words and was a bit puzzled, though she didn't ask further.
After all, even she herself found it strange that Tokai Teio resembled her so much. If it weren't for their different surnames, people might've really mistaken them as mother and daughter. There was even a rumor that grew large enough that she herself had to come forward to dispel it.
But… it seemed that Trainer Wada didn't find it surprising that they looked alike, but rather that it was natural?
As an inhabitant of this world, Symboli Rudolf couldn't understand the meaning of Wada's words. However, Ikezoe and Imanami both understood implicitly and secretly nodded.
"Tokai Teio huh, seeing truly is believing." Imanami also nodded, expressing his admiration for this Uma Musume who represented a "miracle," and then turned to Symboli Rudolf and asked, "I just wonder, President, what do you intend to do by bringing Tokai Teio here? You're not thinking of having one of us be Miss Teio's Trainer, are you?"
"—I have no such ideas for now." Symboli Rudolf also smiled lightly, using a tactful way to say, "This child, Tokai Teio, has yet to participate in her Debut Race, so it's still too early to have her find a Trainer."
"I brought her here to meet the three of you because I hope that you give your opinions regarding her. I asked Trainer Ikezoe this question before, and now, I want to know what you two think."
"Finally, I wish to hold an event which I hope that you three will support."
At this point, Symboli Rudolf also slightly reined in her smile, releasing her imperial dignity as the "Emperor," and said calmly to everyone, who gradually became serious:
"I want to hold a mock race within Tracen Academy for the newly enrolled students. I hope that the Uma Musume under your care can all participate; Teio will also be participating in this mock race too."
"I believe this mock race will stimulate our students' enthusiasm to train, while also letting the public know the overall strength of our new generation of Uma Musume. Therefore, I hope to receive the help of the Trainers of Tracen Academy."
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Imagine this mock race devolves into Blue Lock levels of insanity,
FORGET ABOUT RACING... IT'S TIME TO KILL EACH OTHER!!!
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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.