Meanwhile, Mr. Imanami, on the other side, was clearly unaware of the tragedy that had befallen Ikezoe.
He had already found his way to Tracen Academy's training ground—a massive track about 3000 meters long.
Here, numerous Horse Girls in sportswear were training and participating in friendly races, and Imanami was able to feast his eyes.
Don't get the wrong idea; Imanami was focused on the Horse Girls' stride and speed.
"Hmm... it seems that even in human form, Horse Girls still possess the speed of Racehorses.
It looks like they've become Racehorses that can converse."
Imanami clutched the stopwatch he carried with him; he had already measured several sets of data from Horse Girls participating in friendly races.
As a seasoned Trainer, although he had been retired for a long time, he was now rejuvenated by his transmigration.
Imanami could finally return to the track he once loved, to the Racehorse career he was passionate about.
Although he became a stableman in his old age, Imanami was different from Ikezoe.
Ikezoe was physically and mentally exhausted by various problem Racehorses; although he liked the Racehorses deep down, that was only under the premise that his own life was not threatened.
It was somewhat shameful to admit, but old man Imanami, despite his advanced age and a lifetime of working with Racehorses, had seen at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, Racehorses with peculiar temperaments.
Yet, an experience like Ikezoe's… even he couldn't truly empathize with it.
"Being able to talk to Racehorses… that's truly something I never imagined before.
If I could really talk to Racehorses, then I might have known what Gold Ship was thinking back then."
As Imanami pondered, he couldn't help but think of the Racehorse he cared about most—that somewhat peculiar, rambunctious, but ultimately endearing Racehorse named Gold Ship, which he couldn't bear to part with.
After he grew old, Gold Ship was his greatest concern; she was his pride and his honor.
Imanami loved that child as if she were his own, and perhaps the bond between a stableman and a Racehorse was just like that.
"I was so lost in thought that I forgot to time it.
This group of girls ran quite well, but it's a pity I didn't time them accurately.
Otherwise, I might have asked for their names."
Another set of friendly races for Horse Girls concluded.
Imanami looked at the stopwatch still running in his hand, reset it to zero once more, and prepared to measure the data for the next group…
Just then, a clamor attracted Imanami's attention.
Two Horse Girls not far from Imanami were conversing about something…
"McQueen, have you heard? It's been circulating on the Academy forum that a pervert snuck into the Academy."
"Really? That's terrible.
The Academy's security definitely needs to be strengthened… Was he caught in the end?"
"He was caught! Look, it says Big Sister Orfevre has already subdued the pervert, and she even used grappling techniques!"
"…Is he really okay?"
The conversation between the two passing Horse Girls caught the attention of Imanami, the veteran Trainer.
The focal point of the conversation was not anything else, but the mention of "McQueen" in one of the Horse Girl's words.
McQueen, this was not a common name, and according to Imanami's memory, there was only one Racehorse with this name, the famous glory of the Mejiro Family! Mejiro McQueen!
Imanami would not overlook the name of this Hall of Fame Racehorse, who was as renowned as Tokai Teio at the time.
He quickly turned around and saw the two passing Horse Girls with white hair, who appeared to be roan.
And coincidentally, the slightly taller roan Horse Girl's gaze had just moved from the girl beside her, and by a twist of fate, met Imanami's eyes as he looked over.
"Tap."
"…Hmm? What's wrong, Gold Ship?" The Horse Girl in front, seeing her companion suddenly stop, turned to look at the roan Horse Girl named "Gold Ship."
Upon noticing Gold Ship's gaze fixed in another direction, she followed Gold Ship's line of sight and also saw Imanami's figure.
Who was this?
Was he an acquaintance of Gold Ship?
Was he visiting Tracen Academy?
Many possibilities flashed through McQueen's mind.
The next moment, she only saw Gold Ship, as if possessed, walk straight towards that person.
"—Wait, Gold Ship?" McQueen also took a few steps to catch up with Gold Ship, feeling that everything was a bit strange.
McQueen was quite familiar with Gold Ship.
Since their first meeting, Gold Ship had often played pranks on her.
When others were training, she was always doing things completely unrelated to training, yet her performance was surprisingly good.
She was a Horse Girl with a very peculiar personality.
But even so, McQueen admitted that although Gold Ship seemed to have a somewhat erratic thought process, she was still an existence that could be called a rival.
Although their relationship wasn't particularly good, it was still harmonious.
But… this was the first time she had seen Gold Ship show such… a serious expression?
McQueen didn't know how to describe Gold Ship's emotions at the moment, but she just felt that at this time, it was better not to disturb Gold Ship.
However, she was also very curious about the answer, so she decided to be an observer and listen to the whole process.
At this moment, Gold Ship had already walked in front of Imanami.
Her height of 170 centimeters allowed her to be almost at eye level with Imanami.
After a long pause, Imanami was the first to break the silence.
"—Gold Ship? That's your name, right?" Imanami looked at the roan Horse Girl in front of him, an almost involuntary expression of paternal affection appearing on his face, and said gently:
"Hello, my name is Imanami Takatoshi, the new Trainer at Tracen Academy, and I am looking for a suitable Horse Girl to be my charge."
"Eh? You're the new Trainer?" McQueen, who seemed somewhat familiar with Imanami's name, stepped forward proactively and asked with a hint of surprise in her tone:
"I heard before that there was a new Trainer who took first place in the latest Central Trainer exam and was promoted as the most outstanding chief rookie Trainer of this class…"
"Imanami Takatoshi, I remember that name? Is that you?" McQueen only realized it belatedly, that the man standing in front of her was actually the chief of this year's rookie Trainers.
She then belatedly performed an elegant young lady's bow and smiled, saying:
"That was truly rude of me.
Allow me to introduce myself, I am Mejiro McQueen, and this is Gold Ship."
"Is Mr. Imanami looking for a suitable Horse Girl to be his charge? I believe our Mejiro Family definitely has suitable candidates for you…"
Mejiro McQueen's thoughts were simple: if a new Trainer like Imanami, who was evaluated as the most outstanding of his class, could join the Mejiro Family and become their exclusive Trainer, then Imanami's talent could surely be maximized.
The Mejiro Family had the best resources and training conditions, and even their Horse Girls were undoubtedly among the top tier.
If suitable, it might even allow the Mejiro Family to have a few more Horse Girls who could conquer the Tenno Sho, extending the Mejiro Family's honor.
Mejiro McQueen had such expectations for Imanami.
"I'm still looking around, thank you for your concern, Miss Mejiro, I will consider it," Imanami said subtly, then quickly turned his gaze to Gold Ship beside him, and asked with a smile:
"So, Miss Gold Ship, could you run a lap so I can test your abilities?"
"Eh? Gold Ship?" Mejiro McQueen was also surprised by Imanami's polite refusal of her invitation and his choice of Gold Ship.
However, she quickly composed herself.
She thought that Gold Ship, with her aversion to trouble and dislike of training, would definitely refuse, right?
Then, as long as she performed well, she could persuade Imanami to become the Mejiro Family's Trainer.
—"Can't be helped, I suppose."
However, the next moment, something shocking happened to Mejiro McQueen: after a slight pause, Gold Ship accepted Imanami's suggestion with a smile, even feigning an indifferent expression as she said:
"Although I don't know why, your tone of voice is just like an old man, so I'll just call you 'Old Man'."
"If Old Man wants to see the magnificent running of Gold Ship-sama, then I'll run a lap for you.
Is 2000 meters enough?"
"Alright, that's exactly the Satsuki Sho distance," Imanami said, nodding in agreement with a smile.
"If possible, let's do another 3000 meters.
You're better at long distances, aren't you?"
"You even know that? It seems you pay a lot of attention to me." Gold Ship was a little surprised to hear that.
She herself didn't know why she had such a strange feeling towards this man, who spoke like an old man, even though they had just met.
However, Gold Ship knew that she didn't dislike the other party, and moreover, she seemed to have a feeling that they got along very well.
"No choice, even though it's troublesome, I'll run two races for you to see.
Remember to engrave Gold Ship-sama's magnificent running in your memory, Old Man."
With that, Gold Ship, without another word, excitedly ran towards the track.
Imanami, without any unnecessary words, started his stopwatch, beginning to record Gold Ship's current speed.
All of this, however, stunned the neglected Mejiro McQueen.
Mejiro McQueen looked at Imanami, then at Gold Ship who was on the track, and subconsciously touched her head, wondering if she was ill and experiencing hallucinations…
But soon, McQueen snapped out of her shock and looked at Imanami with a slightly complex expression, muttering to herself in her heart:
To be able to even subdue Gold Ship… this man… is quite extraordinary.
If he is someone who can even control that child, perhaps… if his skill level is even more excellent, my Trainer might be…
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