Kyoto Turf 3000m. Turf, Sunny. The Kikuka Sho.
The white figure, wreathed in a shockwave, crossed the finish line like lightning. At that moment, the entire stadium went wild, because in that instant—Mejiro McQueen had successfully claimed the final crown of the Undefeated Triple Crown!
Mejiro McQueen had now undoubtedly become the hottest star in this world. Even some horse girls and trainers from overseas had begun to pay attention to her, and reporters wanting to interview her were everywhere. Now, she basically didn't go out. Even if she had to, she would take the Mejiro family's private car. If she didn't, she would be trapped by enthusiastic fans and reporters the moment she stepped outside.
At this time, Mejiro McQueen was thinking about one thing: How exactly does one clear the "Story Mode"? Could it be that this mode required her death to end? After all, if the Story Mode only required her to achieve honor, it seemed she had already done that. An Undefeated Triple Crown. In reality, that was already the highest honor.
This matter was weighing on her mind, not because she wanted to clear the Story Mode quickly, but... she was wondering how much longer she could stay in this world. Would she one day just suddenly disappear? But these were not things she could control.
"McQueen, you're here."
When Mejiro McQueen arrived at the clubroom, someone was already there.
"Teio, are you alright now?"
"Of course! No problem at all! If you don't believe me, ask Trainer."
Seeing Mejiro McQueen's gaze shift to him, P nodded and said, "That's right. The doctor said Teio has fully recovered. I'm currently considering what kind of training method to use to get Teio back in form. Right now, she can't run her previous times."
"Geez, Trainer! The great Teio can take care of a little thing like this in a snap! You don't have to say it in front of McQueen," Tokai Teio looked at her trainer, displeased.
"...I'm thinking about whether to invite McQueen to join your rehabilitation training."
"Okay, Trainer, I forgive you."
P looked helplessly at the easy-to-read Tokai Teio. She's grown a bit, but she still has a long way to go. He then looked at Mejiro McQueen and asked, "How about it, McQueen? Do you have time?"
She had time, of course. Because she only needed simple training to ensure she didn't regress. Since she couldn't break her limits through exercise, she was actually very free. But to agree so easily... she felt a bit dissatisfied.
"I have one condition."
Mejiro McQueen stated her demand.
"I see. You want to have a serious race with Oguri Cap."
P wasn't surprised at all that Mejiro McQueen would make this request; he had noticed it during their previous training sessions.
"Alright. I can accept on Oguri Cap's behalf." That one can be bought with a single meal. Thanks to Mejiro McQueen's success, P's wallet was full. P felt that letting Oguri Cap have a luxurious feast every now and then wasn't a problem. Although a buffet would probably be enough to convince her, P, as a trainer, couldn't bring himself to do something so shameless.
"What do you need me to do?"
Since they had an agreement, Mejiro McQueen would complete it with all her effort. She put on an "I'll follow your arrangements" expression.
"Mm, let's head to the training grounds first."
The Tracen Academy training grounds were massive. Not only did it have fully equipped racetracks, but it also had courses of various distances. The training efficiency was different from small, local training centers. This was the class gap between horse girls!
But sometimes, talent could break this ladder. For example, Oguri Cap was a monster who had fought her way up from a small region. Although Oguri Cap had a period of poor form when she first arrived at Chuuou, Mejiro McQueen had heard that Oguri Cap-senpai had now regained her original form, and might even be stronger than before.
In other words, compared to other worldlines, the Oguri Cap-senpai of this worldline had completely emerged from her slump and broken through her limits once again. If the "ZONE" still existed in this worldline, she felt that Oguri Cap-senpai's current strength must be incredible!
That's why she wanted to witness it. Although she was called a monster now, she knew very well she wasn't. After all, she didn't even have the mark of a monster horse girl—the "ZONE."
However, she didn't really have too many thoughts about the "ZONE" anymore. Because she already knew that even if she couldn't awaken the "ZONE," as long as she raised her stats to S or even SS rank through "Training Mode," she could still defeat these monster horse girls who had opened the "ZONE" through stat-checking and skills.
The reason she was still hung up on it was just curiosity about the specific effects of the "ZONE" skill. —Actually, if she could learn it, she still wanted to.
"Alright, you two run a lap and let's see. McQueen, you can just keep your usual pace. Teio, you try to catch up." P decided to first see what Tokai Teio's current limits were before considering a detailed rehabilitation training plan.
Tokai Teio watched McQueen as she started preparing and whispered to the trainer, "Trainer, is this really okay? I don't know if I can control myself... What if it's like the Satsuki Sho again..." As she spoke, she started to become afraid.
But P's expression was calm. He said, "Don't worry. You definitely can't enter that state right now."
Forget about Teio's current regressed condition; even if she were her old self, P didn't think Tokai Teio could enter that state so easily.
According to what he had learned from Symboli Rudolf, Tokai Teio had entered a state similar to the "ZONE." Although she hadn't met the requirements to "open the door," her intense desire at that time had attracted the power from behind the "ZONE's door." That power then spontaneously manifested in her. In the end, that state's efficiency was nowhere near the real "ZONE," and its side effects were even more severe. But that state was indeed very strong.
But this power clearly wasn't something she could use just by wanting to. McQueen, who had already earned the qualification, hadn't even found a way to enter the "ZONE," let alone the current Tokai Teio.
So, upon hearing Tokai Teio's worry, P didn't feel any pressure. Instead, he wanted to laugh.
"Hmph! How dare you look down on me, Trainer! Just you wait and see my performance!" Tokai Teio was provoked by her trainer's underestimation.
P nodded to himself.
Tokai Teio's body had fully recovered. The reason she couldn't get good times, he surmised, was likely her subconscious resisting going all out. Although Tokai Teio looked like she had no psychological burden, she was probably still afraid of running at full power.
This kind of reaction was actually very normal. Many athletes have this kind of psychological trauma after recovering from an injury. That's why P had thought of having McQueen train with Teio. The current Teio needed a stimulus.
"Are you ready?"
Tokai Teio looked at the cold and proud McQueen before her and silently clenched her small fists.
"I'm ready!"
The two took their starting stances. As the trainer's whistle blew, they both dashed out.
Although they started at the same time, the gap between Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen was quickly exposed. Even though Mejiro McQueen wasn't even using any skills, Tokai Teio still fell far behind.
In the eyes of the onlookers, Mejiro McQueen wasn't showing the invincible form she had in races. Many horse girls, seeing the speed McQueen was currently displaying, even subconsciously felt they could win against her. But the moment they thought of the Mejiro McQueen from the race recordings, they immediately shook their heads and threw that thought away.
Symboli Rudolf, after receiving P's text message, also hurried over to observe this practice race. Her partiality towards Teio was obvious.
"Just as I thought. Is it a psychological problem?" She looked at Tokai Teio's current pitiful performance and felt it was rather tricky.
After thinking, she realized she had no good way to help Teio overcome this psychological trauma. For now, she could only choose to believe in Teio, in Trainer P, and in the horse girls of Team Sirius.
One lap ended.
Tokai Teio was panting, her face covered in sweat. But on the other side, Mejiro McQueen hadn't even broken a sweat.
Mejiro McQueen looked at Tokai Teio. Feeling her gaze, Tokai Teio just silently hung her head, not daring to look at McQueen.
'My performance... was terrible.' Even she couldn't accept her own performance just now. She was even worse now than she had been in her debut race.
Mejiro McQueen said nothing. She just walked over to the trainer to ask what to do next. P glanced at the silent Tokai Teio and shook his head. "Let's call it a day for now."
He hadn't expected this result either. He had originally wanted to use McQueen to stimulate Teio. While it had an effect, Teio's condition had actually gotten worse.
Mejiro McQueen didn't pay any attention to Tokai Teio. She packed her things and left the training grounds. She couldn't bear to look at the current Teio, but she didn't have any good solutions either.
After all, she wasn't thoughtful and gentle like the 'original Mejiro McQueen', nor could she say any encouraging words.
'Seriously, why am I worrying about Tokai Teio? In the end, she's just a rival who is destined to be defeated by me!' Mejiro McQueen swished her tail in annoyance. Her gloomy aura was so intense that even the other Mejiro horse girls didn't dare approach.
Tokai Teio's rehabilitation training showed no improvement. Even with Mejiro McQueen punctually coming to train with her every day, it was no use. Seeing that this wasn't working, P decided to stop the training for now and let Tokai Teio relax. So, he invited everyone to attend a nearby festival.