When the news of Mejiro McQueen's hospitalization spread, the entire racing circle was shaken. It wasn't until the next day, when they saw Tracen Academy's announcement that Mejiro McQueen was fine and had already returned to the academy for classes, that people finally relaxed.
What no one knew was that, from the moment she woke up this morning, the body was now occupied by Miss 'McQueen'. The super horse Mejiro McQueen, who had made history, had returned to her own world last night. When 'McQueen' woke up this morning, she was excited for a good while. It was only when her trainer and teammates came to pick her up from the hospital and mentioned yesterday's race that she suddenly calmed down.
Back in the clubroom, after hearing Tokai Teio invite her for a practice match, 'McQueen' whispered, "...She's gone." She didn't know when she disappeared. Because she was asleep at the time. Even though she was a spirit, she could still feel some of her body's senses, so she was also exhausted yesterday. By the time she woke up, the other one was gone.
"McQueen, what did you say?" Because she spoke too softly, Tokai Teio didn't hear her at all. And just as she made the suggestion, Trainer Okino immediately came over to stop her, saying that McQueen needed to rest well for a while.
'McQueen' closed her eyes. "I said, she's gone! The person who ran yesterday's race wasn't me at all!"
The entire clubroom fell silent at 'McQueen's' words. Trainer Okino took a deep breath, took out a lighter, and twirled it in his hand a couple of times. He shook his head helplessly, interrupting the others' thoughts. "McQueen, you're not joking with us, are you? Although... that would explain everything." After all, yesterday's McQueen felt completely different.
"No, I don't know what happened either. Yesterday, I found I couldn't control my body, and then... she appeared. I have no idea where she came from or why. Was it really because my performance before was so bad that she came out to show me how a race should be run?" 'McQueen' could only think of this one reason.
"No, that can't be..." As he said it, Okino suddenly thought of that McQueen's dislike for him, and the power that McQueen had shown. For a moment, he wasn't so sure. "Then again... maybe..."
"Damn it, Trainer! Will you two just explain what's going on?!" Daiwa Scarlet shouted with a fierce expression. "'McQueen', what do you mean, yesterday's 'you' wasn't 'you'?" She was already getting dizzy from their conversation.
"...That just wasn't me." 'McQueen' admitted, full of frustration.
Okino saw Daiwa Scarlet's gaze turn to him and quickly raised his hands to explain. After his explanation, Daiwa Scarlet finally understood one thing: the McQueen who had achieved that astonishing record yesterday was gone.
At this moment, Gold Ship's eyes lit up. She came to 'McQueen's' side and whispered, "Ooh, ooh, 'McQueen', are you a legendary split personality? Can you, like in the anime, perform... a transformation!"
"Shut up! I'm not in the mood to play around with you right now!"
"Tsk~ You're so cold, McQueen. Little Gorshi is sad, sad~" Gold Ship went off to a corner to draw circles.
Special Week was still deep in thought, her brain seemingly on the verge of overloading. Thankfully, Tokai Teio handed her a drink at that moment, rescuing her. And the smart Tokai Teio had already understood everything. After saving Special Week-senpai, Tokai Teio looked at 'McQueen' and said in a serious tone, "So, yesterday wasn't your real strength, right? In that case, are you really going to accept this result? From now on, the Mejiro McQueen that the audience and fans will be expecting won't be you. Or... do you think you can be like yesterday's McQueen from now on?"
"Ugh!" This was precisely what was giving 'McQueen' a headache. Honestly, she really didn't know what to do. Publicly apologize to the racing officials and fans? But what would she say? "The Mejiro McQueen who ran that day wasn't me?" How many people would believe that? And afterward, she would definitely live in the shadow of that Mejiro McQueen forever. In the future, how many of her fans would be there to see her, and not just hoping for the return of that Mejiro McQueen? 'McQueen' didn't know. She didn't know what to do anymore.
Okino also felt a massive headache over this. "I will report this to the Director. As for how to handle it, we'll see what she says." However... Okino still held a small glimmer of hope. "'McQueen', can you really not learn that running style?"
Hearing this, 'McQueen' shook her head, full of self-doubt. "I don't know." Although it seemed she had accidentally used that Mejiro McQueen's special skill once, and she could even recall some of the techniques that Mejiro McQueen used while running yesterday... she was too busy freaking out at the time. There wasn't much she could remember now. Especially that special-effect-like purple aura. She truly had no idea how Mejiro McQueen had used that move. Not a single impression.
Vodka asked, "By the way, why does everyone assume that McQueen won't reappear? Maybe next time 'McQueen' races, she'll come out again? It's not impossible, right? Or is it that everyone doesn't welcome that McQueen's appearance? I mean, I can understand that... but I really want to experience that McQueen's strength for myself."
"...Who said that? Little Gorshi likes both of them!" "No one asked you!" 'McQueen' blushed and roared at Gold Ship.
Tokai Teio also started to laugh. "Vodka-senpai is right! The great Teio thinks so too! But in the end, the one who wins will be the great Teio~" "Heh." 'McQueen' looked at Tokai Teio with disdain. She didn't think she would lose to Tokai Teio. If that McQueen were here, Tokai Teio would definitely be crushed. She was very confident about that.
Daiwa Scarlet, on the other hand, screamed in terror, "Are you guys crazy?! I don't want to race that monster! As an opponent, she's a nightmare! Didn't you see how bad the runners from yesterday's race looked at school today?!" Those horse girls were like zombies, dazed all day. Their confidence had been completely shattered by their opponent in yesterday's race!
"Ah? Is Ryan okay?" 'McQueen' remembered her sister.
"Uh... you should probably go see for yourself." If... entering a frenzied training mode doesn't count as crazy, then she's probably fine, right? Daiwa Scarlet thought to herself.
"Alright, everyone, free time for now. I'm going to find the Director and the others to explain this. I hope the fallout won't be too troublesome." Okino felt mentally exhausted. Teio and McQueen had just won their races yesterday. Shouldn't this be a happy time? How did it turn into this? Was it that Mejiro McQueen's fault? That didn't make sense. After all, according to 'McQueen's' explanation, the other person was very likely also the real Mejiro McQueen. So, it wasn't a problem for her to run the race as 'Mejiro McQueen'. Besides, they weren't sure if the other person had even initiated this. What if she was a victim of this supernatural phenomenon, just like 'McQueen'? After all, she didn't seem to gain anything. After the race, she returned 'McQueen's' body today.
As 'Mejiro McQueen's' trainer, Okino's fame and status in Tracen Academy were skyrocketing. Everyone could see from yesterday's race that Mejiro McQueen's strength was on another level. This era might no longer have an opponent for her. Her rise was a foregone conclusion. Many trainers who passed by and greeted Okino were sighing with emotion. That bastard Okino's shitty luck is too good! He accompanied Silence Suzuka to her debut race and just happened to "pick up" a General (Special Week). Then, Tokai Teio and now this Mejiro McQueen were apparently "recruited" by the horse girls on his team. This was enough to make any trainer's cell walls separate from jealousy. They all knew this bastard Okino wasn't serious about his job. Although he had changed a bit now, if they had such horse girls come to them, they guaranteed they would be a hundred times more diligent than this slacker.
Okino arrived at the Director's office and knocked. After receiving permission, he walked in. And then he saw them. All of Tracen's top brass were here. And the projector was replaying yesterday's Kikuka Sho.
"Hiss!" They're taking it this seriously. Okino felt his legs start to go soft.
"It's you, Trainer Okino. Perfect timing. Could you please explain yesterday's race to us? The running style and techniques that Mejiro McQueen used... as her trainer, you must understand them well. Please." The one who spoke was Symboli Rudolf.
"..." Okino looked helpless. "Sorry to interrupt, everyone. But I have something I need to report. It's related to the McQueen from yesterday's race..."
'McQueen' didn't know what the higher-ups were thinking. In any case, when the trainer returned, he said the top brass understood. They agreed to release a public statement to explain the situation to McQueen's fans, but whether the fans would believe it was another matter. Furthermore, regarding yesterday's race result, the top brass stated that since it had already happened, it couldn't be undone. So, it was impossible for 'McQueen' to request a rematch or have the result of the race revoked!
After all, this was the symbol of a new era for horse girls. Even if it was 'McQueen's' own request, they would not allow that Mejiro McQueen's existence to be erased. Besides, who could be sure that that Mejiro McQueen wouldn't appear again? And so, the result was final.
The fallout from this incident was still spreading. Okino looked at the list of competitors for the upcoming Japan Cup, and his whole body went numb. Why is the Arc de Triomphe winner here?! Was it just because he had replied on his account that he would consider entering McQueen in the Japan Cup? But the problem was, the current one is 'McQueen', not McQueen! 'McQueen', now recovered, had already done a test run. The result could only be described as... normal.
At this moment, Mejiro McQueen, who had returned to her own world, had no idea she had planted a super landmine for 'McQueen'. 'McQueen' will surely be delighted to meet a world-class horse girl in the Japan Cup...