The actions of T.M. Opera O and Hana Toujou, as well as Orfevre, who was hiding on the other side, were all unknown to anyone else.
The three Trainers were still intently discussing Tokai Teio with Symboli Rudolf, while Tokai Teio herself and the other Uma Musume had just finished the mock race training and were now walking towards Symboli Rudolf.
"Hey—! Prez! We're back!"
Still far away, Tokai Teio, who had plenty of energy left after the race, immediately ran up and hugged Symboli Rudolf's back, speaking like a child sharing something they did with their parents:
"Prez! I beat McQueen and Doto, I was first agai— Prez?"
However, Tokai Teio, not receiving an immediate response from Symboli Rudolf, sensed that something was amiss.
She looked up and saw Symboli Rudolf gently tracing her cheek with her finger, as if trying to hide something from a child, before turning her head and revealing a smile, saying:
"Ah, as expected of you Teio, you certainly didn't disappoint me."
"...Prez, were you crying?"
Teio was not dumb; seeing Symboli Rudolf's reddened eyes, she immediately knew Symboli Rudolf had been crying.
She instantly became anxious and looked at Imanami and the other two with an unfriendly gaze.
"Hey! Why did you make the Prez cry?! The Prez might be holding back because of her Student Council status, I'm not afraid of yo—"
"—Teio, you've misunderstood. I was just so happy to hear such high praise for you from them."
However, Symboli Rudolf immediately stepped forward and said this to Teio.
She subtly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, then gently stroked Teio's head, her gaze and actions more tender than ever before.
"Teio, the three Trainers praised you a lot, saying that you are a miraculous genius. You should thank them properly."
"Eh? Is, is that so?"
Tokai Teio hadn't expected such a possibility.
Her expression, which had been tinged with anger due to Symboli Rudolf's crying, instantly softened, becoming a little embarrassed as she said:
"Hehe, Prez... you should have told me earlier. I thought they were bullying you!"
Immediately after, Teio also apologized to Imanami, Ikezoe, and Wada:
"Um, I'm really sorry, I was too hasty. After all, it's my first time seeing the Prez cry, so I misunderstood you all, I'm truly sorry."
"But you guys actually so good at praising people? You even moved the Prez to tears! Hehe... I don't know what to do now~"
However, despite saying this, Tokai Teio's face was still beaming with a brilliant smile.
Her self-confidence and competitive spirit were already strong, and coupled with her status as Tracen's most anticipated rising star, she had always received endless praise and flattery.
But Symboli Rudolf was different; the President was her idol and the goal she wanted to surpass.
If the President could be moved by their praises, there was no doubt in Tokai Teio's heart that the praise they gave her was simply amazing; her favorability towards the three Trainers had risen once again.
"Let's stop here for today. Thank you, Trainers."
Symboli Rudolf saw that Air Groove and the others were also arriving, so she immediately composed herself and, after bowing slightly to the three, said:
"We'll leave you three on your own to train for the mock race now. We won't bother you any longer."
With that, Symboli Rudolf left the scene with Tokai Teio and Air Groove.
The three Uma Musume who had just arrived exchanged glances, and finally, Mejiro McQueen asked Imanami:
"Trainer Imanami, what did you tell the President? Why did she look as if she was about to cry?"
"Nothing much, just some things related to Teio... It seems the President is quite concerned about Teio's condition."
Imanami didn't say much more, then turned to McQueen, his gaze still fixed on McQueen's legs, and asked:
"McQueen, after running just now, did you feel any discomfort in your legs?"
"No...? Why do you ask?"
McQueen also found it a little strange.
She subconsciously looked at her legs, tried to move them, and still found no problems.
But this still couldn't alleviate Imanami's worries.
As a stableman, though he was old and didn't remember some past events very clearly, he did remember one thing about Mejiro McQueen—a problem that happened before Racehorse Mejiro McQueen's Debut Race.
Imanami slowly squatted down in front of Mejiro McQueen, and, facing everyone's somewhat puzzled gazes, said to McQueen:
"McQueen, please roll up your pants."
"Eh?! Th-that..."
McQueen hadn't expected things to turn out this way so suddenly, and she immediately became nervous.
She knew Imanami was concerned about her condition, but at this moment... it seemed a bit awkward...
She had just finished training and then ran another mock race, so she was covered in sweat.
Although Uma Musume have incredible physical prowess packed into their small frames, they are not some magical creature that exudes fragrant sweat; of course, they smell like sweat after sweating!
However, McQueen's shyness instead made Imanami anxious.
The old man, whose mental age was already seventy or eighty, suddenly changed his Aura and immediately shouted:
"Wada, Ikezoe, help me hold her."
"Yes!" x2
"W- wait—why are you doing this?! Trainer Ikezoe?! Trainer Wada, why are you two—"
Before McQueen could react, Ikezoe and Wada each grabbed one of her arms and immediately held her in place.
Old Man Imanami, without another word, rolled up the pants of McQueen's left leg and gently pressed a spot... "Ow!"
McQueen instinctively cried out, but this pain caused McQueen's Uma Musume strength to subconsciously erupt—and she reflexively kicked forward!
"Bang!"
"Imanami-senpai?!" x2
Old Man Imanami, who was kicked flying by McQueen, caused Ikezoe and Wada to immediately put down McQueen and rush over to him.
Doto and Curren Chan were also startled by this sudden scene and subconsciously gathered around.
"Imanami-senpai?! Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"...I'm fine, my bones are still quite sturdy."
Imanami, supported by Wada and Ikezoe, stood up, clutching his nose.
He got a nosebleed from the kick, but at that moment, he didn't care about his own condition at all.
He said to the still-startled McQueen:
"Just as I expected... McQueen, there's a problem with your calf. Based on my experience, it might be periostitis." (T/N: Periostitis is a medical condition caused by inflammation of the periosteum, a layer of connective tissue that surrounds bone.)
"...Eh?"
A flustered McQueen, who was still pulling her pants leg back down, not yet having time to apologize, was directly stunned by Imanami's words.
She subconsciously looked at him, her eyes flashing with an expression of disbelief.
However, Imanami, still bleeding from his nose, took the handkerchief Doto offered him, covered his nose, and said to McQueen:
"You need to go to the hospital for rehabilitation, now. Hopefully, it was discovered in time... If we're quick, we might still be able to cure it before your Debut Race."
"Um... Imanami-senpai, I think your current injuries are more serious..."
Ikezoe, seeing Imanami's unstoppable nosebleed, also said cautiously from the side.
"—It's merely a minor issue."
Imanami glanced at the handkerchief, but as soon as the handkerchief left his nose, the blood wouldn't stop flowing.
Imanami had a general understanding of his nose's condition and immediately said to Ikezoe and Wada:
"Ikezoe-kun, please help me call a car. We need to go to the hospital. Wada-kun, go to my room. I have a compiled notebook in the cabinet; please retrieve it for me and bring it to the hospital."
"I— I can just have the Mejiro Family's attending physician come. It's not that much trouble..."
Mejiro McQueen also carefully extended her hand, her face showing guilt, and stepped forward to support Imanami, saying softly:
"Trainer Imanami, you are the one who needs to rest now. If Gold Ship finds out, she'll bother me to death..."
"Ah... yes, Gold Ship. That'll be a problem wouldn't it..."
And when Imanami thought about what Gold Ship would do if she saw his current condition and learned the whole story, Imanami himself didn't even want to imagine.
He quickly waved his hand, stopping Wada and Ikezoe, and said:
"Let's go to the infirmary first. Also, don't tell Gold Ship about my injury."
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Gold Ship is gonna mail a pipebomb to the Mejiro estate if she ever finds out.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.