The Mejiro Family Estate at Night
Palmer, Ryan, McQueen, Ramonu, and other Umamusume racers from the Mejiro Family had gathered, with Grandmother Mejiro seated regally, her expression slightly stern.
"It's been a while since we've all been together. How about a round of golf? Just kidding~" Palmer quipped, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.
Though slightly awkward, it did ease the tension noticeably.
"Palmer's always so lively! Seeing her always makes me happy," Hikari said, smiling brightly as she rested her cheek on her hand.
Her slow, deliberate tone further normalized the atmosphere, building on Palmer's efforts.
Just then, Grandmother Mejiro opened her eyes, instantly reversing the progress.
"Why is everyone so quiet? Is this family dinner something unpleasant?"
The assembled Umamusume exchanged sheepish glances. Having been raised under strict etiquette within the mansion, they were forbidden from any impolite behavior. Combined with their grandmother's imposing status, it was difficult to relax in her presence.
"We were all so lively as children," Ramonu mused, observing her restrained younger sisters. "Growing up really is a nuisance, isn't it?"
"When we were kids? Running with Palmer and Ryan—those days are still vividly clear in my memory," Ramonu said, his words conjuring up those memories for McQueen.
"Ah, yes, yes! Hikari and Dober were just little babies back then," Ryan chuckled, clearly enjoying the recollection.
"Babies! That was ages ago! Stop bringing it up!" Dober protested immediately.
"Why? Even as a baby, Dober was absolutely adorable!" Ryan retorted, pressing her advantage.
"Adorable! Th-this... this..." Dober stammered, her cheeks flushing crimson.
This playful banter instantly livened the atmosphere. Everyone relaxed, chatting freely as if at a normal family gathering. Watching this scene, Grandmother Mejiro, supported by Ramonu, smiled serenely.
"Wow! As expected of the Elite! What is this food? It's a million times better than fried noodles!"
McQueen's radiant smile instantly vanished, replaced by a look of dread. Before turning around, she mentally braced herself countless times. But when she saw that familiar face, even the strongest Umamusume would have faltered.
"Yo! McQueen! Long time no see!"
"This is supposed to be a Mejiro family banquet! What are you doing here, you troublemaker?!"
McQueen's angry shout was directed at none other than Gold Ship, with whom she shared a rather complicated history.
"Don't be so harsh, McQueen. We've at least shared a mille-feuille before. Eating together isn't so strange, is it?"
That remark only infuriated McQueen further.
"Shared a mille-feuille?! You snatched it right out of my hand!"
Gold Ship shook her head with a sigh. "McQueen, you just don't understand my good intentions. Keep eating like that, and you'll gain weight!"
"What?!" McQueen panicked, quickly pinching her waistline. Good, still within the manageable range.
"Alright, Ship's ready to feast! Now, where should I start?"
Despite not being a member of the Mejiro Family, Gold Ship blended in seamlessly, even charming the other members. Grandmother Mejiro herself turned a blind eye, tacitly approving her presence.
Thanks to Gold Ship's antics, the family banquet inexplicably transformed into a full-blown festival.
The Mejiro sisters held hands, singing triumphant songs.
"Never mind," McQueen thought, watching the scene. "Just for today, you can all be as rowdy as you want."
McQueen stood to the side as Ramonu pushed Grandmother Mejiro's wheelchair over to her.
"Grandmother," McQueen greeted her with deep respect, as did every member of the Mejiro Family.
"Among all the children, you've always been the most disciplined," Grandmother Mejiro said. "Dober and Hikari often try to emulate your dignified manner."
The Mejiro Family's grandmother looked even more frail than when she had first appeared. Now, she could barely move freely on her own, her waning life force flickering like a candle in the wind, radiating the scent of decaying wood—a scent McQueen had never encountered before, the unmistakable smell of death.
"Yes, I will always uphold the Mejiro Family's principles, maintaining an impeccable posture even when no one is watching," McQueen replied with her usual earnestness.
The stern grandmother smiled faintly. "You've done remarkably well. You haven't failed his expectations. You won the Tenno Sho fair and square."
McQueen's expression flickered slightly. Though she had always been steadfast in her belief that she would win the Tenno Sho, she felt nothing toward this "father" she had never met.
Like the other Mejiro girls, McQueen had been raised by her grandmother. The only difference was that she came from the Branch Clan, carrying a so-called mission.
"McQueen, have you felt tired these past few years?" her grandmother suddenly asked.
McQueen looked up in surprise at the elder who had cared for her for so long, sensing something deeper in her words.
"No! McQueen has never felt tired! Winning the Tenno Sho isn't enough—my mission isn't over yet! The Takarazuka Kinen and consecutive Tenno Sho victories—I will inherit the Mejiro Family's glory!"
An inexplicable panic crept into McQueen's voice, causing it to rise involuntarily. Amid the festive atmosphere, no one noticed the anomaly.
Grandmother Mejiro raised a hand, her gentle gaze urging McQueen to calm down.
"It truly was a magnificent race. You defeated that genius among geniuses. If he were here, he would be so proud of you."
This never-before-seen "him" had cast a shadow over McQueen's entire life.
"You've found friends worth cherishing, so you don't have to bear the burden of your Talent alone. Seeing you so happy finally puts my heart at ease."
Over the years, McQueen, the most sensible of her grandchildren, had been the one who worried her grandmother the most. She was a child who kept her troubles bottled up, shouldering a heavy mission, and had never enjoyed robust health as a child.
It was her grandmother's meticulous care that had allowed McQueen to even step onto the racetrack. This debt of gratitude was inextricably intertwined with McQueen's respect for her, so even without fully understanding the mission's significance, McQueen had devoted herself to it without hesitation.
Her grandmother's hand slowly settled on the back of McQueen's hand, the once-warm palm gradually losing its heat.
"You've worked so hard all these years."
For the first time, that stern face broke into a smile, like a withered tree suddenly sprouting new branches. But McQueen no longer had the capacity to discern any of it.
"The mission is complete, McQueen."
The cold night wind swept away the last vestige of life, and her grandmother's smile froze forever in McQueen's eyes.
"Ramonu-san! Hurry!" McQueen pleaded frantically, turning to Ramonu for help.
But Ramonu remained remarkably calm, as if he had anticipated this moment.
"Everyone, please stop for a moment."
Ignoring McQueen's pleas, Ramonu instead called for the boisterous Mejiro girls to halt their revelry.
"What's wrong with Ramonu-san?"
Following Ramonu's gaze, the others finally noticed McQueen kneeling beside Grandmother Mejiro, her face contorted in anguish. The realization struck them like a thunderclap.
Before the Mejiro girls could succumb to grief, Ramonu swiftly announced the next piece of news.
"From today onward, Mejiro McQueen will officially become the head of the Mejiro Family. From now on, she will represent the entire Mejiro Family."
This bombshell of information bombarded the Mejiro girls' minds in rapid succession, twisting their emotions into a chaotic whirlwind. Gold Ship, among the Mejiro, cast a worried glance at McQueen; her expression had never been so grave.
"Ramonu-san, tell my Trainer to withdraw me from the Osaka Cup."
"Understood... Clan Head."
McQueen clasped Grandmother Mejiro's hand with fervent devotion, as if in prayer, but the intensity blazing in her eyes revealed something far more profound.
"It's not over yet. The noble mission must be fulfilled."