At this moment, 'McQueen' was watching her own body move on its own from a third-person perspective, while she herself could only float nearby like a guardian spirit.
'McQueen' tried all sorts of methods to regain control of her body, but nothing she did seemed to work. She was like a ghost, unable to touch anything, and her voice couldn't be heard. Even the person who had come from who-knows-where and stolen her body couldn't detect her presence.
'McQueen' floated in front of her body, looking at her own face, angry and confused, asking, "Damn it, what is going on?"
"McQueen?"
Her roommate's voice snapped the depressed 'McQueen' back to reality. She excitedly floated over to Ikuno Dictus and said, "Dictus, you have to notice! That person isn't me! I believe you, of all people, can tell, right?"
"Dictus, I feel like someone... touched my things?"
'McQueen' was stunned when she saw 'herself' call out her roommate's name so familiarly. Wait, who are you? Why are you so practiced!
By the time the conversation between (the new) Mejiro McQueen and Dictus ended, 'McQueen' was in a daze. This thief was just too good at acting. Her roommate hadn't noticed anything wrong at all. Who is this person? Is it an inside job? But who? And how did they do this?!
"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?"
Hearing the thief's muttering, 'McQueen' froze. But she didn't overthink it. She wasn't sure if the other person was deliberately misleading her. She wasn't stupid. The other person clearly knew her information, but it seemed they didn't know her current situation. So, even if that sentence held a lot of information, she couldn't be sure if it was true. However, 'McQueen' wasn't scared. After all, she had been making all these small movements, and the other person hadn't discovered her. This meant that even if the other person was responsible, her current state was not within their control. Thinking this, her spirits lifted again.
"Not here? Did we temporarily swap bodies?"
Heh. I'm not listening, I don't believe you—
'McQueen' crossed her arms, floated up to the ceiling, and looked down at her body with disdain.
After that, the other person really did head to the training grounds.
When 'McQueen' saw the other person actually arrive at the training grounds and prepare to warm up, she felt terrified. No! This bastard isn't really going to use my identity to run in today's G-grade race, is she? This Kikuka Sho is a turning point for my career. If I lose, I'll be really depressed. 'McQueen' shouted at her body.
"Get out of my body, you body snatcher!"
But the other person couldn't hear her at all.
'McQueen', a bit tired from yelling, floated to the side, watching the other person prepare to run. She was curious. Was this thief also a horse girl? She started searching her mind for suspects. But 'McQueen' didn't think the other person could perfectly copy her running form. As long as this thief started running, she would surely reveal a flaw. I have to watch carefully and find out who she is!
The run began.
"So beautiful..."
'McQueen' watched the other's perfect start and was amazed. That start is too beautiful. No, no, wait. This isn't the time to be impressed. Think carefully! Is there anyone I know who has such a beautiful start? No... No one? No, wait! A dream-like figure flashed in her mind. Her expression instantly became one of horror.
"This is the running form of the 'other me' from that dream?!"
'McQueen' was passively pulled along with her body. The body ran in front, and her spirit floated behind. While she was still having an existential crisis, she saw a blue light flash in 'her' eyes. The appearance of this special effect made her even more certain that this was the 'other me' from the dream. Because in that dream, the other person had shown this power. Could it be that she's been in my body all along? Was that why I was able to use that skill yesterday? 'McQueen' began to concoct a series of "truths" in her head.
Could it be... I've had a split personality all this time?!
'McQueen' thought of the protagonist from that King of Games (Yu-Gi-Oh!) anime Gold Ship was watching. That protagonist had a split personality. When it was time to duel, another personality with a different "art style" would take over and show unbeatable strength. What was happening to her now was so similar! But why hadn't this personality come out before? Why now, right at this G-grade race? Was it because I lost too much, and she couldn't stand it anymore, so she came out to take my place?
Damn it! I was just in a slump before! I was 100% confident I would win this race! Don't you dare come out and interfere with my race at a time like this! 'McQueen' angrily slammed into her own body. Just as she thought she would pass right through, she suddenly... returned to her body. Before she could feel happy, she felt her body was about to burst into flames. A powerful force instantly dominated her.
"Wh-What is this power?!"
'McQueen' was stunned. She never knew such power was hidden in her body. Feeling the strong, powerful steps, even though she wasn't the one running, even though she couldn't control her body and could only experience it passively, she had to admit... the feeling was intoxicating. Her steps felt so light!
The lap was finished.
'McQueen' didn't know what the 'other me' was thinking, but she was still savoring the experience. It was a feeling she had never had. She thought of Suzuka-senpai. She didn't know if this was the "special view" her senior always talked about, but she was certain that just now, running with the 'other me', she had seen a different landscape.
"Damn it! I'm so frustrated!"
Although the experience was wonderful, the moment 'McQueen' thought it was the 'other me' who let her see it, she felt like she had lost. This feeling was terrible, even worse than when she lost those two races.
"I will not give up!"
'McQueen' said fiercely to herself.
Even though she knew the other person couldn't hear, she couldn't help it. She didn't know why the other person had come out to replace her, but if they thought this would make Mejiro McQueen give up, they were seriously underestimating her.
But this fighting spirit didn't last long. When she saw the 'other me' was really going to run the Kikuka Sho in her place, she panicked. She did want to win today's race, but she didn't want it to be the 'other me' winning for her. The thought of watching 'herself' climb the podium and lift the Kikuka Sho trophy, while she was just a third-party observer... it gave her the urge to kill herself. No! Stop! Don't do this!
"I'm begging you!"
If the other Mejiro McQueen could see this scene, she would surely sigh at how "cute" her other self was. But then she would probably want to bully this "self" even more, to cruelly persecute this soft, moe 'McQueen'.
After her first hope, her roommate, failed her, 'McQueen's' second hope was her trainer, Mr. Okino. When she saw him at the gate on his little scooter, 'McQueen' got excited again. Since he's my trainer, he'll definitely be able to see my current situation, right?
"Hurry up and notice, Mr. Trainer!"
'McQueen' saw 'herself' show disdain for the trainer, and her mood became wonderful. Although she was a little disdainful of the trainer's scooter, she had forced herself to accept this side of him out of politeness. But now that the 'other me' had pointed it out, she had to admit she felt a bit vindicated. At the same time, she was thrilled. The 'other me' had finally slipped up! The trainer would definitely notice something was wrong, right? After all, she would never be so impolite!
But soon, 'McQueen' watched Trainer Okino flee with his head down. Her expression froze, buffeted by the cold wind. Her eyes looked broken. Although she didn't like her trainer's usual unreliable style, in her heart, she did respect him. She even held a special, brother-like affection for him. But now, that affection had been completely burned away. Murderous intent rose in her eyes. Right now, she just wanted to rush over and kill the trainer to vent her anger!
You really deserve to die, Trainer! You can't even recognize your own horse girl! A trash trainer like you should just go die ten times over!
"You're dead, Trainer. This won't be over so easily. Just wait for your wallet to be completely wrecked!" She decided that after she got her body back, she would force the trainer to treat her to the most expensive limited-edition cake box set.
That's right. She was giving up. Only binge-eating sweets could heal her wounded, tattered heart.