That was hasty.
At the agreed meeting point, a cafe in the shopping plaza near Tracen, Gold Legend thought silently.
The layout of this cafe was surprisingly good. The sun-drenched terrace offered views of people coming and going below, many of whom were beautiful Uma Musume. The clean and simple decor, complemented by a few green plants, created a harmonious atmosphere.
Ordering a cup of coffee and spending the day here might also be a good choice.
Gold Legend's thoughts wandered.
The reason was the several Uma Musume sitting next to Gold Legend.
Around a small round table, several Uma Musume gathered, forming a beautiful sight.
But Gold Legend didn't feel comfortable; instead, she felt uncomfortably constrained.
If you asked why, it was because among the six Uma Musume present, everyone except Gold Legend had the surname Mejiro!
Picking up her coffee and taking a small sip to calm her nerves, Gold Legend quietly tried to reduce her presence.
The taste is good. I should bring Oguri to try it next time.
She thought to herself.
"Do you need this?"
A delicate hand offered a handkerchief.
"Ah, thank you."
Legend took it, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, and then realized something from the faint fragrance on the handkerchief.
"Ah, this…"
Gold Legend froze.
"Hehe."
A gentle voice eased Gold Legend's embarrassment.
"Hello, I am Mejiro Ardan. You must be Legend-chan, I've heard McQueen and Oguri Cap talk about you."
With blue hair and an elegant, gentle demeanor, Miss Ardan, the jewel of the Mejiro Family, gently introduced herself.
"…Hello, Miss Ardan."
Holy crap, Chinese Daughter-in-law!
Miss Legend was a little, tiny bit nervous.
"No need to be so formal. Since you are McQueen and Ryan's friend, there's no need to be so reserved. Just call me Ardan."
Seeing Gold Legend's discomfort, Ardan chuckled softly and said gently.
"Me too, me too! I'm Mejiro Palmer, just call me Palmer."
A lively voice cut into the conversation. Palmer-san said with a sunny smile.
"That's too rude, Palmer. Hello, I'm Mejiro Bright."
The brown-haired Uma Musume sitting next to Dober also spoke up.
"Um, my name is Gold Legend, hello everyone."
Awkwardly scratching the back of her head, Gold Legend deeply felt how out of place she was among these young ladies.
"But you are the famous Gold Legend, aren't you? You're completely different from what I imagined."
Palmer spoke bluntly, her natural and sunny demeanor helping Gold Legend relax quite a bit.
"Famous is an overstatement, but what did you imagine I was like?"
Since someone had started, Gold Legend didn't mind taking over the conversation. It was much better than being an awkward third wheel.
"Rumor has it you've been to the Police Station several times, haven't you? I thought you'd be some kind of intimidating gang Big Sister, exuding a delinquent aura."
The outspoken Palmer said sincerely and naturally.
"…I'm sorry to disappoint you."
How am I supposed to respond to that?
"It's okay, not that disappointed…"
"Cough, cough."
Ryan interrupted Palmer's thoughtless remark with a tactical cough and took over the conversation.
"However, Legend is indeed completely different from the rumors."
"…May I ask, what am I like in the rumors?"
To avoid social suicide, Gold Legend chose to proactively face it.
"Eh?"
Ryan was momentarily at a loss for words, while Mejiro Bright, with a mischievous smile, took over the conversation.
"According to rumors, the Uma Musume of the Gold Family with the legendary name is a delinquent girl who would hit and scold others at the slightest disagreement."
Dober, sketching in her notebook, casually continued.
"Rumor has it she has eyes as venomous as a viper, and her beautiful appearance completely fails to conceal her arrogant nature, always looking down on everyone."
Palmer chimed in with a grin.
"She's like a demon lord, ruthlessly crushing every opponent, and all opponents who have raced against her have been left with psychological trauma."
Miss Ardan also felt a bit mischievous and slowly
said.
"Legend says she plunders the souls of the vanquished and transforms them into her eternal puppets."
"…"
Legend was stunned, as if she had been hit by a triple combo.
"Well, well, it's just rumors, after all. Anyone who's met Legend knows it's unreliable."
Ryan said with a wry smile, acting as a peacemaker.
"Indeed, she's completely different from the rumors."
Ardan's smile remained.
"Enn, Legend-san is much prettier than the rumors say."
Palmer genuinely agreed.
..."Thank you for the comfort."
Gold Legend thanked her weakly.
"Sorry, I'm late... Huh, why is Legend-san here?"
The familiar tone revived Gold Legend's dying spirit. Gold Legend looked up.
McQueen had arrived.
"Oh, good morning, McQueen."
"Good morning... No! You haven't answered me yet, Legend-san, why are you here?"
Gold Legend's appearance momentarily confused McQueen.
"I invited her, you know, and it's a good chance for everyone to meet Legend-san, whom you've been thinking about so much."
Lion said to McQueen with a mischievous smile.
"I haven't been thinking about her at all!"
McQueen instinctively retorted, then realized.
"Wait, when did you become familiar enough with Legend-san to invite her to a family gathering?"
"Don't mind the details. But this child is indeed as you said, a very interesting child."
Mejiro Ardan spoke up.
"Mejiro Ardan..."
McQueen wanted to say more, but was brushed off.
"Alright, since everyone's here, let's go. McQueen, where is the makeup store you booked?"
"...I understand."
I'll listen to your explanation carefully later, Legend-san.
McQueen's gaze at Gold Legend seemed to say just that.
I really shouldn't have come.
Gold Legend's face was ashen... "So that's how it is."
On the way to the makeup store, Gold Legend explained the whole story to McQueen.
"Well, sorry for disturbing your family gathering."
"It's alright, you were going to come sooner or later anyway. It's just that Lion, tsk, he definitely did this because he wanted to see me lose my composure."
McQueen whispered.
Did I just hear something incredible?
Legend, who hadn't heard clearly, was a bit confused.
"McQueen, is this it?"
Ardan asked softly at the entrance of the destination.
"Yes, this is it."
McQueen, having snapped back to reality, replied.
"Wow, it's amazing."
Palmer exclaimed, looking at the dazzling array of cosmetics inside the store.
"Indeed, just looking at it gives off a very girlish feeling."
Lion agreed.
"How is it? Not bad, right? I saw it in a magazine two days ago, and it's endorsed by Senior Gold City."
McQueen puffed out her chest and said proudly.
"...What did you just say?"
Gold Legend, who had been carelessly following behind McQueen, suddenly reacted.
Senior City said she was going to shoot an advertisement for an endorsed cosmetics store this weekend, right? It wouldn't be this one, would it?
For some reason, Gold Legend felt a little nervous.
"This place is endorsed by Senior Gold City, why?"
McQueen was confused.
"...It's nothing."
"Then let's go in."
Mejiro McQueen led everyone into the store.
Gold Legend, having recovered, finally realized that she probably didn't need to be nervous, shook her head, and followed them... Fate is indeed a wonderful thing.
Looking at Gold City, who was unsurprisingly in the store, Legend lamented the unpredictability of fate.
"Oh, Legend? Why are you here?"
Gold City, on break, also noticed Gold Legend and approached with some surprise.
"Good afternoon, Senior City, you've worked hard."
"It's alright. But you, why are you here? Could it be you're stalking me?"
Seeing a friend arrive during a work break, Gold City even made a rare joke.
"...Do you two know each other?"
McQueen looked back and forth between the two Chestnut Coat Uma Musume with some surprise.
"Who are you?"
Gold City looked at the Gray Coat Horse Girl who suddenly interrupted, confused.
"She's Mejiro McQueen, my good friend. I came with her this time."
Legend introduced.
"Mejiro? I see." Gold City nodded, then said with a teasing tone, "But you'd actually come to a place like this with a friend, even though last time I offered to do your makeup, you refused to the death."
"...Times are different now."
"Hmph~" Gold City raised an eyebrow. "But it's good you came. Let me do your makeup. You're not allowed to refuse."
"...I understand."
After assertively securing the right to do Legend's makeup, Gold City turned her gaze to McQueen.
"Miss Mejiro, you come along too."
"...I understand."
Although I don't know what relationship this person has with Legend, this woman is a formidable rival.
McQueen followed seriously.
"Wow, will they fight?"
"No, it's not like a Shuraba."
"But it certainly has that vibe."
The Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, who were pretending to pick out cosmetics but had actually been paying attention since the beginning, whispered excitedly... "Legend, how do you usually take care of yourself?"
Gold City wrapped Legend's hair and lightly touched her cheek, speaking in an almost admiring tone.
"Huh? What care?"
I always go bare-faced.
Gold Legend said indifferently.
"Eh? Legend-san, do you mean you've never worn makeup? Not even basic light makeup?"
McQueen said in surprise. In Japan, a girl's makeup is a fundamental courtesy.
"Makeup is too troublesome. Anyway, others can't tell, and I think with my looks, I don't need such things at all."
Gold Legend said righteously.
Although it was true, it was still infuriating!
Fists clenched, the girls present who were paying attention quietly tightened their fists.
"Although it's true, Legend, you should still learn to put on makeup. It's basic etiquette."
Gold City, also affected by the AoE, started applying makeup to Legend with a forced smile.
"Ow, Senior City, be gentle!"
"Grin and bear it."
Gold City let out a sigh for the girls present.
She obediently closed her eyes, letting Gold City work on her face.
A little sleepy.
"Wow"
A few suppressed gasps sounded around, as if they had seen a sleeping work of art and couldn't bear to wake it.
"...You really are a rough diamond."
Gold City exclaimed.
"Are you done?"
"Yes, you can open your eyes now."
She gently opened her eyes.
"...I guessed I'd be beautiful after makeup, but I didn't expect to be this beautiful."
Gold Legend couldn't help but say, looking at herself in the mirror.
"Truly, you're too beautiful, Legend-san."
McQueen gazed at Legend's face, muttering.
"How greatly the gods favor her."
Ardan exclaimed.
"I think I understand McQueen's thoughts a little now."
Lion murmured, unable to take his eyes off her.
Dober and Koharu watched, mesmerized.
"No, Palmer, she's a girl, you can't step into that world."
Palmer said something nonsensical, yet couldn't tear her eyes away.
"It seems the effect is a bit too much."
Feeling the enthusiastic gazes around her, Gold Legend rubbed her arms.
"...Seriously, Legend, have you considered being a model with me?"
Gold City, being worldly, was the first to recover.
"Then let's not bother."
Gold Legend quickly shook her head.
"Senior City, please help me remove my makeup. I don't want to become Narcissus."
"That's a pity."
Gold City sighed and took out makeup remover.
"Wait!"
McQueen, having recovered, immediately stopped Gold City's sinful hands.
"Just for my sake, okay? Don't remove the makeup, let me look a little longer!"
McQueen's face was flushed.
"...McQueen, be normal, you're scaring me."
"Ahem, I mean, it's such a waste to remove such beautiful makeup after going through the trouble of putting it on."
McQueen's eyes darted around, completely unconvincing.
"...What did she say?"
Gold City said teasingly.
"...I understand, just this once."
Gold Legend chose to compromise.
"Nice McQueen!" by Mejiro Family Uma Musume.
"But since we're already here, want to go shopping for clothes together?"
Gold City suggested with a smile.
"Eh? Ardan and the others haven't put on makeup yet."
"...Do you think anyone would still want to put on makeup after seeing yours?"
Nobody wants to be a comparison object.
McQueen said blankly.
Then the group of Uma Musume headed straight for the clothing store.
As for being dressed up like changing dolls by everyone due to their outstanding looks and figures, that's another story.
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