"Hmm?"
Mejiro McQueen 'woke up'. The unfamiliar bedding before her gave her a feeling of temporal displacement. But she checked and found that this was indeed 'her' body. Her roommate hadn't changed either. She glanced at her still-sleeping roommate. But why had only her bed and blanket changed?
"McQueen?"
Ikuno Dictus, who woke up automatically due to her biological clock, saw her already-awake roommate. A hint of surprise appeared on her emotionless face. The McQueen in her memory rarely woke up at this time. And she didn't know if it was her imagination, but today's McQueen seemed a little different from usual.
"Dictus, I feel like someone... touched my things?"
Mejiro McQueen's expression was uncertain. She suddenly reached out and touched her own stomach. As she expected, she felt a soft touch. Although it was just a little, she had already noticed this very wrong sense of incongruity.
"I... don't think anyone touched your things?"
Ikuno Dictus didn't know what to make of the current McQueen. Doesn't she have a race today? Why is she messing up at such a critical time? If people outside saw this, her "perfect young lady" persona would definitely collapse.
Mejiro McQueen's expression instantly returned to calm.
"Sorry, Dictus. Forget what I just said. It seems I was half-asleep. Do I have anything important today? I feel like I've forgotten something."
"...Aren't you running in the Kikuka Sho today?" Seeing McQueen like this, Ikuno Dictus started to worry.
"Kikuka Sho? I think I remember now. Thanks." A strange smile appeared on Mejiro McQueen's lips.
Ikuno Dictus blinked. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but did she just see McQueen's expression look... off?
"It's still early. I'm going to the training grounds to warm up. You can go back to sleep."
Mejiro McQueen opened the closet, glanced inside, and took out a set of sportswear to change into.
Hmm, the clothes inside are really different from my own taste. It feels very much like a 'girl's' wardrobe. These clothes must have been chosen by the 'original Mejiro McQueen' herself. In contrast, all of my clothes are custom-made by the family brand. I almost never buy clothes outside. This is one difference.
After changing her clothes and putting on her horseshoes, she left the dorm.
Even though we have the same roommate, the 'me' here is very different from me. It's better to avoid too much contact with Ikuno Dictus.
"Interesting. What exactly is going on with this phenomenon? Is it because we are both Mejiro McQueen? I'm here, but I wonder where you are right now?" Mejiro McQueen muttered to herself.
After waiting a while, there was no response.
"Not here? Did we temporarily swap bodies?"
Mejiro McQueen felt uneasy at this thought.
The Arima Kinen in her world was only a few days away. If they didn't swap back before then, she was afraid that girl would leave a stain on her racing record.
After all, the competition level in my world is quite high. And because races are held almost all year round, if you're unlucky, you'll run into an upper-year horse girl 'smurfing' in a G-grade race. Even with my body, if she can't use its full potential, it's possible she'll be defeated by an opponent.
"First, let me test it."
She arrived at the training grounds. Since it was only 6:30 AM, there weren't many people, but it wasn't empty. She saw a horse girl she hadn't seen in her world—Mihono Bourbon. In her world, this horse girl hadn't entered Tracen Academy yet.
Since Mihono Bourbon has appeared, that means the "Black Assassin" will probably show up soon too.
She was very curious if Rice Shower's state in the anime was actually ZONE. She had already confirmed that the horse girl world she entered was a "mixed worldview," but she didn't understand the situation in this world yet. And she had a question: which world was the one she crossed into during the [Race Event] last time? In any case, it shouldn't be this world.
Because this world's 'Mejiro McQueen' was only running the Kikuka Sho today, but she had already crushed another 'Mejiro McQueen' in the Kikuka Sho before. (She didn't know yet that that race had been "corrected" in reality, becoming just a dream in this world.)
With no intention of greeting the other horse girls training, Mejiro McQueen first did a set of warm-ups. Then she went to a 2000m middle-distance track and got into a starting stance. After a mental countdown, Mejiro McQueen dashed out. Her expression was serious, because the starting speed was a bit slow.
'Next, try the skills.'
She focused her mind. Although she felt some resistance at first, the blockage was quickly forced open. A blue light flashed in Mejiro McQueen's eyes. The skill successfully activated in this body. A shockwave instantly dispersed the wind resistance in front of her.
'As expected, it's possible.'
Mejiro McQueen could now confirm that the system's skills could be taught to other horse girls. Because she had successfully used a skill even in this body, which had not undergone the relevant training. However, this body's power was a bit weaker than she expected. The highest stats were around B+, not quite A-rank. But the stats were very balanced. No weaknesses, but no outstanding strengths. In short: mediocre!
'So this is what other horse girls' bodies are like. But—'
The moment McQueen came out of the corner, her body leaned forward and sank. Her front legs stomped down hard. Along with this heavy step, her body accelerated again, and a deep purple aura erupted from her.
'It really wasn't my imagination. For some reason, this body has more vitality than my body, and it's easier to enter this state.'
She had to admit, in her original body, she hadn't fully mastered this state. In training, she might not even pull it off once in ten tries, let alone use it in a race. But she never expected that this 'self', despite having inferior stats, could enter this state so easily.
Is this the difference between an 'original body' and a 'system horse girl'? Or is there some other reason I don't know?
On the other side, Mihono Bourbon and Admire Vega were both captivated by the figure on the track. They also recognized her. Although this world's Mejiro McQueen was not unknown, compared to the supernova horse girls, the Mejiro McQueen who now had three losses was no longer as high-profile as she was at her debut. The horse girls at the academy had some understanding of Mejiro McQueen's strength, but at this moment, watching the "art style" of Mejiro McQueen change so drastically, Mihono Bourbon and Admire Vega were both shocked.
"So strong."
"..."
After one lap, Mejiro McQueen had gradually adapted to this body.
'Mm, this is about the feel of it. It should be fine. I don't recall any strong opponents in this Kikuka Sho. And if the original 'her' could win, there's no reason I would lose.'
Mejiro McQueen left the training grounds after just one lap. She needed to go back, take a shower, and prepare her racing outfit and horseshoes for the official race. Although 'I' should have already prepared them, it's better to go back and check, just in case. And I need to try them on to get used to them.
On the training grounds, Mihono Bourbon and Admire Vega retracted their gazes. They both silently increased their training load.
We can't stop yet!
"McQueen, are you ready?"
When it was time, Trainer Okino arrived at the school gate on a small electric scooter. Mejiro McQueen looked at the trainer, expressionless. Even so, Okino felt McQueen's expression was a bit rude, as if she were looking at trash.
But that's impossible. I'm her trainer, after all!
"Trainer, you don't actually plan to take me to the racetrack on this, do you?"
"Of course not. I'm taking you to the train station."
McQueen didn't speak. She took out her phone and dialed a number from memory. Even if it's a different world, the family butler's number should be the same. The call connected quickly, and a familiar voice came from the other end.
"Miss McQueen?"
"It's me. I'm at the academy gate. Send a car from nearby to take me to the racetrack. Can you do that?"
"Yes. Please wait. A private car will be there to pick you up in ten minutes."
"Good. That's all."
Hanging up, Mejiro McQueen looked at the trainer before her with cold eyes. "Mr. Trainer, you don't need to see me off."
"No problem."
Although he had many questions, facing that icy gaze, Okino shamefully backed down and left, fleeing on his little scooter.
'My apologies to you and your trainer, but I really can't accept this.'
Ten minutes later.
A black luxury sedan arrived at the Tracen gate.
When Mejiro McQueen arrived at the racetrack gate, she soon saw Trainer Okino. Trainer Okino saw the luxury car and wanted to make a snarky comment... but one glance from Mejiro McQueen silenced him.
Today's McQueen was so domineering it left him at a loss.
Is it because she's nervous about this race? That can't be.
Because he noticed McQueen's strange condition this morning, he had just temporarily changed plans with the other team members, telling them to go cheer for Teio's debut race, while he himself came to watch McQueen's G-grade race. Normally, by Tracen Academy tradition, a horse girl's debut race would definitely be attended by her trainer.
But this wasn't set in stone. For example, if another horse girl was in poor condition, the trainer could change the plan. In Okino's view, Teio's condition was perfect, and with her skill, she should have no rivals in her debut race. Compared to that, McQueen, who was running her first G-grade race, needed more attention.
However, the two races started at different times. Teio's debut race was in the morning; it had probably already started. McQueen's race was in the afternoon. They were just entering the venue now. Teio and the others wouldn't be able to make it in person, but they should be able to watch the race live on TV or online.
Okino thought McQueen's strange state was due to being affected by past events, making her lack confidence in this G-grade race. So, he spoke up to encourage her:
"McQueen, don't worry. As long as you run like you did in practice, there won't be a problem. Just follow the plan we arranged. Trust me, your trainer."
Trainer Okino had a sharp eye and could roughly tell a horse girl's condition. He had investigated the competitors for this race in advance. And McQueen's strength was definitely the greatest among this group of participants. Plus, McQueen had even used that skill yesterday.
If she can use that in today's race, it should be a sure victory.