"One more time!" Rice Shower stubbornly demanded.
Despite Rice Shower's enthusiasm, their progress was poor. Kousei felt frustrated. Why is it like this?
Back then, Rudolf had scared her the same way. Kousei hadn't expected her attempt to imitate the technique would yield such minimal results, and she began to wonder if she was simply too intimidating.
The truth was, Kousei might not have realized that, by now, no one could match her in the domain of Gate Technique. Everything she had experienced and her unyielding fighting spirit had nourished her Gate Technique, making her its most decorated practitioner to date.
Anyone could see that Kousei and Rice Shower were polar opposites in personality. They shared some similarities, but their differences were far greater.
"Let's take a break first, Rice."
"But—!"
"It's okay. Rest is part of training."
Rice Shower's disappointment was visible, but she didn't insist. After she left, McQueen came to Kousei's side.
"It's not going well, is it?"
"Rice Shower is gentle and sensitive. She's forcing herself. The malicious gossip has taken a heavy toll on her."
Having experienced it herself, she knew how public opinion could devour a person. If even Kousei struggled with it, how could Rice Shower possibly endure?
"If only I could still run."
Rice Shower's situation was unique, and Kousei wasn't a natural teacher. If she could run alongside her to convey the technique, as she had with Narita Brian, things might be much simpler.
"Don't rush. We'll find a way," McQueen tried to comfort her.
Kousei sighed lightly. It seemed that was all they could do for now.
"What about you? Want to go see Palmer?" Kousei asked.
"No," McQueen retorted, turning her head away petulantly.
McQueen's personality could be troublesome at times, though Kousei had no right to judge—they were both equally difficult.
"Alright, then. How about a walk with me?"
"Let me be clear: don't use this as an excuse to drag me to Palmer's!"
"I won't!"
They had barely taken a few steps when they heard a commotion. Curious, they moved closer to investigate. Twilight Cloud was lounging comfortably in the shade of a tree, while Leo looked utterly defeated.
"No way!"
"I refuse!"
Sweep and Jade were arguing fiercely, and Leo's mere presence there was pitiful enough. Though Kousei didn't know the cause of the argument, she stepped forward to speak.
"Looks like things aren't going well," Kousei remarked.
Upon seeing Kousei, Leo's lifeless expression transformed as if she'd seen a savior.
"Take one. Either one. I don't care."
Leo was holding Sweep's hand with one hand and Jade's with the other, looking exactly like an adult trying to manage unruly children.
Kousei considered it carefully. Jade was the darling of the Eastern Lands, naturally spoiled. And Sweep hadn't earned her "Little Witch" nickname for nothing. The trouble those two could cause together was unimaginable.
Kousei couldn't even handle Rice Shower properly, let alone these two little terrors.
"Never mind. We're leaving," Kousei said, turning to walk away as if she hadn't heard a thing.
"Hey!"
Leo's shout startled Twilight Cloud, who had been dozing nearby. Noticing Kousei, Twilight Cloud immediately put on a bright smile.
"Oh, Senpai! Why didn't you wake me when you arrived?"
Twilight Cloud glided over, only to be shoved aside by McQueen. They stared at each other, Twilight Cloud's shock quickly turning to disbelief.
She tried to approach again, but McQueen pushed her away once more.
"Oh? Twilight Cloud, you're awake," Kousei said, finally noticing her, completely oblivious to what had just happened.
"Senpai, it seems I've come at a bad time, doesn't it?" Twilight Cloud said, pretending to sob.
"Huh? But haven't you been here the whole time?" Kousei asked, confused.
"That's not what I meant. I meant..." Twilight Cloud trailed off, deliberately glancing in McQueen's direction.
"Oh," Kousei said, finally understanding. She smiled and introduced them. "This is McQueen. It's your first time meeting, right? I suppose I don't need to give a lengthy introduction."
"I wasn't asking for an introduction," Twilight Cloud muttered, slightly exasperated. "But never mind. As for McQueen... who in the world doesn't know her?"
For a rare moment, Twilight Cloud's expression turned serious. Despite her playful demeanor, she always held a degree of respect for the strong, and before her stood the legendary Pegasus.
"Thank you for taking care of Kousei at the Northern Academy," McQueen said, her etiquette impeccable, as expected of someone from a great family.
"Oh my, to think I'd live to see the day I receive thanks from an Elite," Twilight Cloud teased.
"For Kousei, it's only natural."
"Heh~" An idea sparked in Twilight Cloud's mind. "No need for that. After all, we're the ones who are Kousei's comrades."
McQueen's smile didn't reach her eyes. It was clear Twilight Cloud was getting back at her for the earlier slight.
"McQueen..."
Sweep was still whining, "Yada, yada!" but Jade's attention had been completely captured by McQueen. With one ear finally free from the noise, Leo breathed a sigh of relief.
Sensing someone's gaze, McQueen turned and met Jade's eyes.
"Greetings, Miss Jade."
McQueen's demeanor was impeccable. Even at their first meeting, Jade already felt a favorable impression.
"Greetings," Jade replied, awkwardly mimicking McQueen's bow. Her posture felt unnatural and strange.
McQueen had heard a little about Jade from Kousei—that she was the pampered jewel of the Eastern Lands and known for her arrogant nature. So, instead of being displeased by Jade's clumsy attempt at etiquette, McQueen was pleasantly surprised.
As for Jade, she held a unique mix of feelings toward McQueen. In Rohan's eyes, Mejiro McQueen was the ideal, perfect Umamusume. Jade had lost count of how many times she'd heard Rohan praise McQueen.
In the past, she would have naturally felt a mix of jealousy and irritation toward McQueen. But after her loss to Kousei, Jade had gained some perspective, and her jealousy had long since vanished.
Now, she only wanted to understand what made this "Pegasus" so powerful. In terms of talent, Jade believed she was second to none among the Umamusume. Yet, the moment she laid eyes on McQueen, she knew instantly that she was still far from her level.
The Mejiro Bloodline was undoubtedly strong, but McQueen's strength surely stemmed from more than just that. What Jade craved was to understand that "more than just that."
Kousei had once told Jade that she had never beaten McQueen in the Twinkle Series. Jade knew exactly how strong Kousei was—a fact made clear to the world after her victory at the Arc de Triomphe.
To think that such an Umamusume could be suppressed for an entire year... In the past, people had called McQueen "another treasure of Mejiro." Now, they preferred to call her "Mejiro's masterpiece."
She was the "rival" Kousei thought of day and night, the one she dreamed of facing.
An flawless champion, the living embodiment of the Mejiro name's claim to be the strongest.