"This looks so good!!!"
In one of the malls in Tokyo, a luxurious tailor stands out amongst the many stores. For once, it's because it's the only one of its kind in the rows and rows of stores. There are numerous clothing stores, a handful of arcades, and several electronics stores. But there is only one tailor in the whole mall.
"It even goes beyond my imagination."
The main reason as to how this tailor shop was able to pay the rent on the mall is that its regular customers are amongst the richest Uma Musume in Japan. Plenty of legends have come here to get their racewear created, fixed, or modified. The shop has put replicas of all the racewear it had created on the wall, as if to say.
"We are the best one."
"What do you think, trainer?"
"Hmm… Turn around and bend for me."
"Don't ruin this moment for me!!"
"You will be running, McQueen. Your skirt would be fluttering in the wind. I need to check the view of your panties and make sure it is good."
"I won't be wearing panties during the race!!"
"Oooh!! You're going commando!?! That's a high-tier fanservice!!"
"No!!! I'll be using a spat, dummy!!"
"Ah~~ Only a high-class individual would understand the allure of spats. You're aiming for them, eh? Quite the sly one, you are."
"AAAHH!! I could never win with you!!"
McQueen was standing proudly in her racewear and twirling around happily, while her trainer was looking at her. Seeing it right in front of you is different from seeing it on the screen of your phone, so the young man is taking his sweet time to burn the sight into his mind. Including the sight of what a pervert would have by lowering his face to near ground level and looking up McQueen's skirt.
"Wearing a short skirt is basically asking it to be flipped, McQueen."
"I am not!! You're just a perverted bastard!!"
"I am not the only perverted bastard in this world, McQueen. Someone else will follow my path."
"Sniffle… Sniffle… Please stop… I give up…"
"Mister Trainer, don't you think you're teasing her a little bit too much?"
The old Uma Musume, who is the tailor for McQueen's racewear, speaks up. The wrinkles on her skin indicate her age, but her posture makes it look like she is younger than she truly is. All those physical activities have helped her retain some of her health in her old days.
"There will be perverts who act like me. I'm just making sure McQueen knows how to deal with them."
"By calling the security!! I know what I'll do!!"
"No. You stomp their faces, McQueen. You can vow that it is in self-defence."
"Your trainer has a point, young Missy. I do hope you know what to do when dealing with troublesome fans."
"I can ask Big sis Ramonu for advice. I heard that she had a lot of experience dealing with those kinds of people."
"That she does. I have to remodel her racewear so her skirt will hug her body more to prevent people from peeping up her skirt."
"That's terrible, but at least it gives birth to Big sis's famous racewear."
"Do you want me to remodel it as I did for your older sister?"
"No. I'm fine with this. I have a scary-looking trainer that will deter incoming weirdos."
"I'm taking more cut from the prize money."
"Fufufu~~ I'm glad you have someone you can depend so much, Missy. Now for your shoes. We try not to mess too much with it to make sure it won't cause discomfort."
The old Uma brings out a pair of boots and extends them toward McQueen. The young girl inspects the boots on her hands. Her complicated expression tells the old Uma what the Mejiro lady is thinking about the boots.
"We apologise if it doesn't fit you. We have to remodel your boots, so they'll fit with your racewear."
"I suppose that is inevitable."
"Did you create the boots from scratch, Granny?"
"No. We received the boots from the young lady and then remodelled them to fit with the racewear."
"You buy a custom pair of shoes, McQueen?"
"No. I bought one from Nikke. The one with the Goddesses of Victory as their symbol. It's their best one."
"Hmm… There will inevitably be some drawbacks. You can still wear it, right?"
"Yeah. The reduction in performance is minimal. Thanks, Granny. Don't worry about it. The racewear you tailored is amazing."
"We're glad to be of service to you."
The trainer and trainee finish their business at the tailor shop. Paying the shop, folding the racewear to store it for the big day, and bidding the old granny farewell.
"McQueen, follow me. I know somewhere we can buy a custom pair of shoes."
"Eh? But they wouldn't match with my racewear."
"When I say custom, I mean in terms of everything. Even the appearance."
"Uuumm… Ookaay… Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"You want to make the old woman cry?"
"I don't think she would cry, trainer. She already did her job. I would need to pay for the shoes regardless of whether we're buying a new one or not."
"Fair point. You can use that pair as your training shoes."
"Depends on how good this custom shop is."
"Don't worry. I can guarantee their quality."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Trainer, why did you bring me here? You know I can't drink yet."
"We're not here to drink, McQueen."
McQueen was wary when her trainer brought her to a wine shop. And it wasn't just any regular wine shop, it's a proper high-class wine shop. McQueen knew that her Ramonu frequented some of them, but she never went with her since McQueen was still under 20 years old.
"If I came here to drink, I wouldn't be bringing a headache like you here."
"How rude!"
The pair walked up to the counter, and a young, lively woman greeted them.
"Welcome~ How may I help you?"
"We like to do a personal tasting. A personal choice to create a personal memory."
What's going on? Why is he saying all of that?
"Of course. Follow me."
McQueen instinctively grabs onto her trainer as they follow the young man behind a secured door. The door is flanked by some burly bouncers, so McQueen knew they were going to be in deep trouble if she messed up. The young woman brought them to a big storage room filled with shelves of wine barrels.
"Apologies for invading your privacy, but what are you looking for in your wine, mister?"
"I like something light, refreshing, bold, and perhaps a little crisp."
"You shall not be disappointed."
"I never have."
McQueen feels left out when the young man and the young woman are clearly talking in some secret lingo. She wants to be invited in, but she isn't going to cause trouble for her trainer.
The young woman led them deep into the storage room before stopping abruptly. McQueen was about to ask why she stopped, but shut her mouth when she saw the young woman open the tap of a wine barrel and let the red liquid pour onto the floor. The liquid is instantly absorbed into the crack between the floor tiles, not letting a single drop behind.
A loud clack can be heard several meters away, which startled the Uma. The group walked toward where the clacking sound was coming from, and they met with a wooden door etched onto the wall. It is so deep into storage and is surrounded by wine barrels. You would never meet this unless you are specifically looking for it.
"My apologies, but I have to return to the counter. This is as far as I can guide you. Take care."
The young man doesn't respond to the young woman's words as he walks forward and grabs the handle of the door. With a firm twist, the door's lock is undone, and he opens the door with ease.
"Wha…"
McQueen doesn't know what she expected, but she wasn't expecting a lavish room. Dimly lit, yet everything can still be seen clearly. Deep inside the storage room, yet the air was fresh as if they were on the top of the mountain. And most importantly, the shelves inside the room weren't filled with wine bottles, but running shoes.
What is this place?
"Good morning, Mister Heita. It's been quite some time."