"It feels like Legend is in a great mood today."
The early morning sunlight was quiet and elegant, without any of that noisy atmosphere, making one feel peaceful and refreshed.
Tokai Teio slumped on the desk, speaking to Legend listlessly.
"Because I rested well yesterday. But what about you, Teio? Why do you look so drained?"
Legend smiled at the dejected Teio, getting her morning dose of cute Teio energy.
"It's all because of that freshman representative! She provoked me during training yesterday, so I ended up facing off against her!"
Teio straightened up, indignant.
"freshman representative?"
Legend was puzzled.
"Oh, right. Legend, you didn't make it to the opening ceremony because you were in the slammer."
Tokai Teio suddenly realized, poking at Legend's sore spot.
"...Is this already common knowledge?"
"Mhm, there's a white Uma Musume wearing a weird hat spreading it everywhere."
Gold Ship, just you wait. I'm going to execute you this afternoon.
Legend maintained a smile on the surface, but in her heart, she had already passed judgment on Gold Ship.
"So, who is the freshman representative?"
Legend changed the subject.
"Oh, right. Look, it's that one over there—the representative of the prestigious Mejiro Family. I think her name is McQueen."
Teio pointed to a figure in the front row.
Hi! Wifey!
An elegant and beautiful Uma Musume was sitting upright in her seat. With her lovely lavender hair, noble aura, ladylike demeanor, and a well-proportioned figure that radiated beauty, she was everyone's favorite heroine in the game—the eldest daughter of the Mejiro Family, Mejiro McQueen.
Wait, I'm actually in the same class as McQueen? I didn't even notice!
Legend felt secretly annoyed at her own lack of awareness.
"Really, why do you keep staring at her? Look at me, Legend!"
Teio's pouting, coquettish voice brought Legend's attention back.
"Sorry, I got a bit mesmerized. She's such a beautiful Horse Girl."
"Honestly, whether it's the President or you, Legend, why is everyone paying attention to her?"
"...She is the representative of the prestigious Mejiro Family, after all. It's not surprising that she draws attention."
Legend's explanation was completely insincere.
"Prestigious, huh? Speaking of which, the President and you are also from prestigious families, right?"
Teio tilted her head.
"...While the Gold Family can barely be considered prestigious, it's not on the same level as Mejiro or Symboli."
Those were the elite among elites.
"Is there a difference between prestigious families?" Teio asked, puzzled.
"I remember the Tokai Family is also considered prestigious, right? This should be basic knowledge."
Legend desperately searched her memories and teased Teio.
"I'm the only child in the Tokai Family, and my mom and dad said I didn't need to know any of this at all."
Teio said proudly.
"...Fine. Simply put, Mejiro and Symboli are currently the two strongest families in the Japanese Horse Girl world."
Legend pulled information from her memory.
"...That's it?"
"That's it."
"Isn't that the same as saying nothing?" Teio retorted with dead fish eyes.
"Do you expect a transfer student who just started halfway to answer these kinds of questions?"
Legend shot back.
"...Excuse me, are you two discussing the Mejiro Family?"
A slightly cold but polite voice interrupted their conversation. Legend turned to look.
It was the subject of their discussion—Mejiro McQueen.
"What of it? Is that not allowed!" Teio replied, her fur slightly ruffled.
"Sorry, Teio didn't mean to be offensive. She's just... uh."
Legend felt a bit awkward, not knowing how to explain Teio's hostility.
"It is no matter. The Horse Girls of the Mejiro Family are, as always, elegant."
McQueen ignored Legend and stared intently at Teio, emitting a sense of targeted rivalry that didn't quite match her refined lady-like aura.
The two Horse Girls stared each other down in silence.
Legend took out a handkerchief and wiped her sweat.
What's going on? ____ (Fill in the blank).jpg
"Um..."
Legend tried to struggle for a bit of presence.
"Ah, how rude of me. My apologies. My name is Mejiro McQueen. My family's long-cherished wish, the conquest of the 'Tenno Sho'—I shall surely achieve it with these legs of mine."
McQueen introduced herself in a firm tone.
"Uh, hello. I'm Legend, your classmate."
"Gold?" McQueen's expression shifted as she raised her hand and took two steps back.
Are you serious with that backward step?
Seemingly realizing her own rudeness, McQueen quickly apologized.
"Sorry, there's a person named Gold Ship who has been harassing me these past two days, so I just instinctively..."
"...It's fine, I don't mind."
Hearing the familiar name, Legend said it was okay.
Gold Ship, I'll remember this grudge!
Only then did Mejiro McQueen take a closer look at Legend.
What a beautiful person. She looks a bit familiar, she thought.
"Ah, you're the one from last night..." She suddenly stopped talking.
Yesterday, McQueen had gotten into a competition with Teio during training because she was provoked. By the time training ended, it was almost curfew.
When she dragged her exhausted body back to the dormitory entrance, she heard a burst of laughter, as wonderful as a bubbling spring, refreshing her heart.
She looked up and saw that beauty under the moonlight.
It might sound a bit vulgar, but in that moment, her heart skipped a beat.
A fleeting glimpse, yet unforgettable for a lifetime.
"Hmm? What happened last night?" Teio's question interrupted McQueen's memories.
"No, it's nothing."
Seeing Legend also cast a curious gaze her way, a blush appeared on McQueen's face.
"Cough, class is about to start. Tokai-san and Gold-san, please return to your seats quickly."
She gave a light cough and hurriedly turned back to her seat.
"...Aren't these our seats? What's wrong with her?" Teio questioned again.
"I don't know, I've never thought about that question." Legend looked at Teio with a meaningful expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Teio was confused.
"Nothing, I just feel that as expected of Teio, you're truly a sinful person."
Legend assumed the ikemen-like Teio had made McQueen blush and teased her playfully.
"...I don't know what's going on, but since it's a compliment from Legend, I'll take it."
Teio gave up thinking... The morning classes soon ended. Legend went to the cafeteria to have lunch with Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross, met Super Creek along the way, and then rushed to the training room.
"Oh, Little Aunt, you're finally her—"
"Lariat!"
"Gah, why?!"
Gold Ship, who was greeting her, was flattened by Legend the moment they met.
"So you're the one spreading rumors everywhere that I got arrested, huh?"
Legend wore an expression that a beautiful girl should absolutely never make.
"Uh..." Cold sweat broke out on Gold Ship's forehead.
"I think instead of this, you should solve that problem first."
Gold Ship pointed inside, using a diversionary tactic.
"I think you are the biggest problem..."
Legend turned to look.
"W-What should we do, Scarlet? The senior seems like a delinquent. So scary."
"I-It's okay, I'll protect you."
She saw two girls huddled together in the corner in terror.
"...I guess I should just silence you here after all."
Legend weighed social death against restoring her image and decided to deal with the black sheep first.
"Spare me, Great One!" Gold Ship clung to Legend's leg.
"What are you doing?" The Trainer, who pushed the door open, looked at the chaotic scene and asked... After another bout of chaos, Legend sat in the main seat holding the tea offered by Gold Ship and asked the Trainer.
"So, who are these two?"
"Ah, these are the two new members who came to join the team after seeing my poster yesterday, Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka."
The Trainer proudly introduced them to Legend.
"...That thing actually managed to recruit people?" Legend felt the world was absurd.
"Hey, watch your mouth! That's my masterpiece!" the Trainer protested.
Legend ignored the Trainer's powerless rage and turned to the two nervous Horse Girls to introduce herself.
"Hello, I'm Legend. Even though I only started two days before you, I'm still your senior. If you need anything, you can come to me."
"O-Okay, Legend-senpai."
Perhaps deceived by Legend's excellent appearance, the two girls also relaxed.
With Legend's intentional friendliness and Gold Ship's antics, the atmosphere quickly lightened up.
"By the way, Trainer, what about the training plan?"
Legend asked the Trainer.
"Yeah, it's done. Here."
The Trainer took out a training schedule and handed it to Legend.
"By the way, do you want to participate in a debut race?"
"Eh? Don't first-years have a long training period?"
Legend was a bit confused. After entering Tracen, Horse Girls usually have a long training period to adapt to their bodies after manifestation and to build a foundation. Generally speaking, Horse Girls at this stage wouldn't consider the debut option. Special Week was an exception in the anime, after all.
"Your stats have already reached the standard. Although it's incredible, your body is much stronger than others, and your foundation is very solid. What you lack now is just the necessary knowledge for racing. A little special training will do."
"...Well, then you arrange it, Trainer-kun."
"Alright, this is the Trainer's job after all, so it's decided."
A debut race, huh.
Legend remembered what Oguri Cap had said to her last night.
"If there's no reason, then just run, was it?"
I hope I can find my own answer.
Thinking this, Legend threw herself back into training.