"...?"
It felt like someone's eyes were on her.
Mejiro McQueen paused from packing her schoolbag, glancing left and right before tilting her head in puzzlement.
"McQueen~"
Outside the classroom, Tokai Teio was energetically waving at her, calling for her to hurry over.
McQueen responded with a smile.
She gracefully finished packing her bag, picked it up, and walked out of the classroom to meet Teio.
The two little lolis walked together down the slightly noisy hallway.
"Dadada~ dadada~"
The little loli with crescent-shaped bangs walked cheerfully, humming a little tune she made up on the spot.
Her mood was clearly excellent.
"Today, I'm definitely going to make Trainer teach me how to run as fast as Fujimasa-senpai!"
Teio was psyching herself up, her eyes sparkling like stars.
McQueen, following beside her, gave a helpless smile.
"Teio, don't start fooling around again."
"McQueen, you don't want to?"
"I do... but we still have to follow Trainer's pace."
The two lolis chatted as they walked out of the school building.
At that moment, a sweet, clear voice came from behind them.
"Teio!"
A reddish-brown, twin-tailed little Uma Musume jogged up to Teio, leaning her head forward slightly.
"Are you going for training again?"
"Ah, it's Neicha!"
The socially awkward Teio blurted out her name right away.
"Yeah! Her Majesty is working hard to become the undefeated Triple Tiara horse!"
"But Neicha can't train the same way I do~"
Teio playfully wagged her finger.
"Because we haven't finished growing yet, if we can't properly grasp... grasp..."
"Grasp the training intensity," McQueen calmly filled in.
"Mhm! Yes! If we can't grasp the training intensity, it'll cause irreversible damage to our growth!"
Hearing this, the reddish-brown twin-tailed Uma Musume genuinely praised:
"Teio, you really are amazing~"
"Heh heh, of course! Who do you think I am?!" The little loli's nose was almost pointing to the sky.
But then, her tone shifted: "Still, Neicha is amazing too! You have such good grades, and so many people in the country like you! I like you too, Neicha!"
"But no matter what, first place will always belong to Her Majesty Teio!"
This string of praise made the excellent student's cheeks blush.
"Uu... being liked like that feels a bit embarrassing..."
"Neicha, are you going home?"
"Mhm, nothing much to do this afternoon."
"Then let's walk together!"
The three little lolis hopped along through Central Tracen Academy.
Until, as they passed by a training field—
McQueen suddenly stopped, gazing into the distance.
"What is it, McQueen—?"
Teio noticed her friend's pause and curiously looked toward the training ground too.
From their vantage point, they saw—
A woman in a sharp, neat suit, her expression focused and serious, tightly holding a stopwatch while watching a gray long-haired Uma Musume race along the track.
That Uma Musume was petite, yet her speed was astonishing.
She ran like lightning, each stride pounding against the ground with a thunderous crack.
In the blink of an eye, she had finished a lap.
The female trainer glanced at the stopwatch, then quickly walked over to the gray-haired Uma Musume, clearly eager to share the results.
"That looks like Tamamo Cross-senpai and Trainer Komiyama, doesn't it?"
Nice Nature thought for a moment before speaking.
McQueen quietly observed the long-haired senpai below, speaking softly:
"Tamamo-senpai even won the Spring Tenno Sho before—she's one of the strongest active Central horses right now!
They're probably preparing for the Takarazuka Kinen."
As a member of the Mejiro family, she paid close attention to each year's major races.
For this year's Spring Tenno Sho winner—Tamamo Cross—she was quite familiar.
Teio stared in a daze at Tamamo Cross's earlier speed.
"So fast... that speed just now..."
It reminded her of watching Fujimasa March and Inari One running at Mokuha's training ground—
Not because of the speed itself, but because of an indescribable quality.
Her blue eyes seemed to gleam faintly.
As one of the most gifted of the next generation, even without her True Blooming, her talent still surged within her.
"I... could I also...?"
The thought suddenly popped into the little loli's head.
But she quickly shook it away and grinned excitedly.
"Speaking of which, the Takarazuka Kinen is also a G1 race, right? Tamamo-senpai really is amazing!"
McQueen gave a light nod, her eyes still fixed on the field.
Next to her, Nice Nature spoke softly:
"But in the Takarazuka Kinen, Akitsu-senpai will be racing too—she's the queen of Medium distance. Can Tamamo-senpai beat her?"
"No matter what, that race will be incredible!"
Teio giggled, draping an arm over each friend's shoulder.
"Come on, let's go! I have to work hard too!"
"Teio, don't trouble Trainer again today."
"Got it, got it! Of course I'll listen to Trainer!"
Even as she said that, her little head was still replaying the sight of Tamamo Cross's lightning run, and her steps unconsciously quickened.
The three small figures, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, left the edge of the training field and continued toward their destination.
On the track—
Tamamo Cross slowed to a stop, lightly panting, sweat soaking her gray bangs and clinging to her fair skin.
Even from a distance, her eyes shone with fighting spirit, mingled with the satisfaction of completing a high-intensity workout.
"Tamamo, your condition's been fantastic lately!"
Komiyama Katsumi approached with the stopwatch, her face brimming with joy.
Tamamo wiped her sweat with a towel, answering with a carefree smile.
"Still a long way to go—if I don't want that monster catching up, this speed isn't enough!"
"Monster... you mean you're still thinking about Oguri Cap?"
Komiyama handed her a water bottle.
The girl accepted it and took a few big gulps, then wiped her mouth, her smile sharpening into something stubborn and determined.
"Yeah, that Oguri Cap is definitely my destined rival!"
"...Though she probably doesn't even know I think that yet."
Tamamo laughed, stretching her muscles before handing the bottle back.
As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the entrance of the training ground—
As if she could see far beyond the buildings.
"But it's fine!"
Her voice suddenly rose, as though declaring to herself—and challenging an unseen opponent.
"In the Takarazuka Kinen, I'll definitely win! I'll make everyone remember the name Tamamo Cross!"
Her clear, forceful voice, full of a young girl's tenacity, echoed across the empty training field.
Komiyama looked at the petite girl before her, packed with explosive energy. In her eyes there was pride—but also a touch of quiet concern.
She knew just how deep Tamamo's obsession ran. That kind of resolve could be a powerful engine... but also a double-edged sword.
"Alright, enough for now."
Komiyama put away the stopwatch and bottle, patting Tamamo on the shoulder with a gentle tone.
"It's dinner time. You need to relax a bit and replenish your energy."
Hearing this, Tamamo's tense aura eased slightly.
Komiyama was right—she knew her physical limits well.
But every time she thought of that ash-gray figure echoing in her memory, that sense of urgency made her want to run another lap, just a bit faster.
"Yeah yeah, you're so naggy, Komiyama."
Her words were complaining, but the corners of her mouth curled into a small smile.
"Alright—one last lap!"
Soon, the track once again held the figure of the "White Lightning" racing like the wind.
(End of Chapter)
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