"Please just tell me what you want, I shall buy them for you."
"Don't worry, dear McQueen. We're adults. We can pay for ourselves."
"No. No. No. I insist. You're honored guests after all. These are the least I could do for everything Trainer Igo has given to me."
The group secured a table in the food court section of the festival. McQueen was concerned about whether they would find an empty table with how many people there were, but luckily, as if the 3 Goddesses had blessed them, they found an empty table. A clean, long, empty table with a parasol shading it from the sun.
"McQueen, what's wrong? Why are you eating so little? Are you okay? Are you hurt? Are you running out of money?"
"Oh my~~ What are you talking about? This has always been my portion."
The young man couldn't believe his eyes. The portion that is in front of McQueen is the same as his. The real McQueen would be dying from starvation if she only ate that much.
"Who… who are you?"
"Big brother, Aaaa~~"
"You should eat too, Equinox. It's not every day you visit the big city, right?"
"Ah… Who cares? I can always visit using the train, but I can't always feed you now that you have become a central trainer."
"Alright. *Nom* By the way, how's the old man and the others?"
"They weren't happy at all. The old fart would be having a hard time calming things down if it weren't for me."
"Good work. They won't survive in Tracen anyway. They're strong in local, but not even at the door for central."
"Eeeh… Is that so? For even Big Brother to say that. Are you saying that because you don't feel your skills are adequate or because you don't have me as your trainer?"
"Even I think you'll be having a hard time in Central, Equinox. Don't laze around, or you might not even be able to enter Tracen."
"Kufufufu~~ Your threat makes me want to enter faster, big brother."
"Those are some nice eyes. I'm glad that the hags haven't corrupted that side of you, yet."
"Ah! Equinox wants to enter Tracen, too, huh?"
"Not want, I will."
McQueen couldn't help but see the similarities between her trainer and Equinox. The absolute confidence she exudes really has Igo Heita's mark all over it. A complete duplication of the person she loves.
"You act exactly like him. Are you sure she is not actually your little sister?"
"No. I'm just the little cousin since you can't legally marry your sister in Japan."
That's a weird angle to take… I guess trainer's weirdness also rubbed off on her.
"Ah… This might be invading some privacy, but has trainer had a girlfriend before?"
"What a stupid question! Of course he has!!"
"Why are you the one being offended, Equinox? The question was for me!"
"Because it's stupid to think that any woman could resist your charm!! It's only common sense to think that someone like you had girlfriends before!!"
"Ahahaha… Sorry for my question. I was just curious since trainer Igo never told much about himself before. He never says that he has a girlfriend."
"Not has, had."
"Ah… Sorry… Am I bringing back bad memories? We could find another topic to talk about!"
McQueen was panicking when she heard Equinox's tone. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin the mood when it was her first time being with his family.
"No, it's not. Every meeting has its ending, and so does every relationship."
"Uuhmm… Sorry…"
"It's not your fault, Miss Mejiro McQueen. It's just that our brother isn't so lucky when it comes to romance."
"It's his ever desire to grow. That's the main reason why he couldn't hold onto relationships that much."
Actually, it's because the 3 Goddesses cursed me. Every girlfriend I had always died to give me a major power boost in my many previous jobs. But I never told anyone because they would probably call the police, and I would be blamed for it instead.
"I don't understand…"
"Little Mejiro, between the president of a nation and your average office worker, which one do you think would have more friends?"
"The average office worker."
"Indeed. The world is a pyramid, and the higher the position, the less space there is for people. People make friends with those who are on the same level. You don't see millionaires making friends with someone from the street, right?"
"Not normally…"
"Indeed. That's how it is in other areas, too. Pro become friends with pro because those are the people you'll be surrounding yourself with. The more you interact, the more likely you'll be friends, but how will you interact if you won't meet them?"
"..."
"It's not that deep, McQueen. It's just how real life works. Nothing lasts forever."
"But you still have friends, trainer. That man, Dya Betels, if I remember correctly, isn't he your friend?"
"I suppose we can be considered as one. The reason why I can consider him the closest thing to a friend of mine is that we both want to improve. We are similar. That's how we become close."
"Similar, yes…"
"Indeed, Similarity is how people make friends. So don't be afraid to be who you are, McQueen. You'll attract like-minded people, who'll become your friends. It's how you and the others are such good friends. You all wanted to improve."
"So you're saying that whether I did become your trainee or not, we'll be fated to each other eitherway."
"I guess…?"
"For now."
Equinox wasn't having any of this lovers bullshit when it didn't involve her. If anyone is going to be the young man's fated one, it'll be her.
"Big brother! Did you forget the motto that you told me?!? Princesses are for princes, and Kings are for Queens."
"That's a new one… Where did you get that, trainer?"
"I made that on my own. It's just something I used to motivate my trainees before. Just replace the position with the amount of effort you're putting into stuff. Someone who put the work of a king deserves a queen-level reward. While someone who only put in the work of a prince shouldn't complain when they get a princess-level reward."
"Kings are for Queens, yes…"
A king like him deserves a queen… McQueen…