After watching Oguri Cap's "eating show," Sakura Chiyono O and the others suddenly found their own food tasting a little better.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Mejiro Ardan's eyes lit up, as if she had spotted something.
After placing the last carrot from her bowl into her mouth, she finished her meal, bid her friends farewell, and headed off in a certain direction.
In the corner of the cafeteria, a small purple-haired filly sat alone at a table.
Today, she had purposely not come with Tokai Teio for lunch.
Once she cleared away the modest portion in her bowl, Mejiro McQueen delicately wiped her mouth, then pulled a slice of cake closer.
"Mmm, dessert after a meal helps digestion. That's good for physical development!"
"Today's will be the last one—absolutely the last! It should be fine, all my desserts are zero-calorie, totally without any calories!"
"Unless Trainer gives me something this afternoon… if it's from Trainer, it definitely wouldn't be a problem…"
With her hands clasped as though praying to the gods and after convincing herself thoroughly, McQueen happily picked up her fork and knife, ready to taste today's little happiness—
"McQueen? Have you put on weight again?"
A gentle, familiar voice sounded from her side, making the little purple-haired filly's body stiffen in guilt.
"Eeeek—!!"
Startled, McQueen shoved the dessert away, then quickly turned to face the voice.
Standing there was a long-haired sky-blue Uma Musume, smiling warmly at her.
"A… Ardan!"
McQueen's fluster was clear in her voice, her small face instantly turning red like a ripe apple.
She instinctively pushed the "zero-calorie" dessert even farther away—nearly flipping the plate in her haste.
"W-What are you doing here?"
Ardan tilted her head slightly, her serene, knowing smile never leaving her face.
Her gaze fell squarely on the dessert McQueen was trying so hard to hide, then drifted over her sister's slightly rounder cheeks.
"I recall a certain someone saying yesterday she would strictly limit her sugar intake."
She stepped forward, gracefully sitting opposite McQueen. Her long, sky-blue hair swayed gently with the movement.
"And just now, I think I heard something like… 'last one'?"
McQueen gave a small squeak, her tiny horse ears drooping nervously.
Her amethyst eyes darted around guiltily, avoiding the gentle yet penetrating blue of her sister's gaze, her little hands fidgeting in her lap.
"T-This is… for digestion! Yes, digestion! And it really is the last one! I promise~!"
The little heiress tried to straighten her back, aiming for a proper lady's composure.
But with her slightly puffed cheeks and the incriminating dessert sitting right there, the effect was rather weak.
Ardan chuckled softly. She had only come to tease her little sister, but seeing McQueen's eyes spin like that put her in an even better mood.
"Speaking of which… your trainer—what's the story there?"
It reminded Ardan of something.
Not long ago, "The Emperor" himself had personally promised the Mejiro family that McQueen had tremendous hidden potential and that he would help find her a suitable trainer to aid her growth.
A promise and endorsement from "The Emperor" carried great weight.
The family had only done a cursory check into McQueen's new trainer, then let her go.
While the family didn't interfere further, Ardan—being McQueen's sister—still wanted to know the details.
McQueen glanced at the cake longingly, then looked back up and answered primly,
"He's a trainer from Oi Tracen Academy, Kuroha. He's also Teio's trainer!"
"His training ability is… um… really… really… really outstanding!"
She repeated "really" for a while, struggling to find a stronger word with her still-elementary vocabulary, until finally landing on "outstanding."
"Outstanding?"
Ardan's voice lifted slightly, curious.
"And in what way, exactly?"
Oi Tracen… that was a local Tracen Academy in Tokyo, wasn't it?
So, he was a local trainer?
Ardan wasn't the type to look down on local trainers—she was simply curious. What made this particular trainer so special that "The Emperor" himself recommended him?
Was it an unorthodox training plan? Or an exceptional ability to see potential?
"Hmm…"
McQueen tilted her head along with Ardan, recalling scenes from training with Teio.
—The targeted drills, the precise and sometimes harsh demands, and those moments when he looked at them as if he could see the exact limits of their bodies…
But how could she put that into words?
"Trainer… his plans are… very tailored! He doesn't just focus on speed and stamina like the school trainers do."
She remembered how Kuroha patiently explained the purpose of each exercise.
"Trainer says that for Uma Musume like me and Teio who haven't entered True Blooming yet, pure intense training isn't reasonable."
"Things like upper-lower limb coordination, landing impact absorption when running, reflexes and body control during stride changes, cardiovascular endurance, and joint flexibility—all these can be developed through fundamental training!"
"?"
A big question mark popped up in Ardan's mind.
She'd only seen such terms in books—and some not even related to sports science.
If he could actually integrate all that into a training program tailored to McQueen's body… then what did that make the other trainers at school?
Ardan quickly shook her head to clear the thought. She didn't fully understand, but if her sister's trainer was that capable, she was happy.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she smiled.
"Then your trainer really is impressive."
"Trainer Kuroha is suuuper amazing!"
A cheerful voice suddenly joined in with undeniable presence.
A small figure with her signature crescent bangs bounded into the seat beside McQueen—it was Tokai Teio.
Plopping down without hesitation, she ignored McQueen's wide-eyed glare and desperate attempt to hide the dessert.
"Ardan-senpai! Trainer might be scary during practice and super strict, but he knows so much!"
"And his cookies are waaay better than the cafeteria's! Last time after training, he secretly gave some to me and McQueen—right, McQueen?"
Teio jabbed her elbow into the frozen purple-haired filly.
Teio, what are you saying?!
Ardan glanced between her sister—who looked like she wanted to sink into the floor—and Teio's beaming "I'm just telling the truth" smile.
Unable to hold back, Ardan covered her mouth and laughed.
Her eyes softened with fondness and a teasing glint.
"I see… so you even have snacks during training~ And this cake?"
"I-It's fine!" McQueen's voice jumped an octave—but only a little.
"I diet regularly! My daily calorie intake is strictly controlled!"
Seeing her start to get flustered, Ardan decided not to tease further. She was just about to speak when a voice called from across the cafeteria.
"Ardan, heading back together?" It was Sakura Chiyono O.
Ardan turned, answering with a wave.
"Coming! See you later, McQueen—and you too, little Teio."
"See you, Ardan-senpai!" Teio waved energetically, watching her leave.
When she turned back, she was met with McQueen's resentful stare.
"What? What's wrong, McQueen~?"
(End of Chapter)
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