"First place! Mejiro McQueen!"
An incomparable, explosive "Great Escape." After Mejiro McQueen got serious, the race was, as expected, completely dominated by her!
Looking at the words "Large Margin" starting from second place on the electronic display, the fans were boiling with excitement. The debuting horse girls, however, were filled with terror. They suddenly understood why every horse girl who had raced against Mejiro McQueen had a drastic change in expression at the mere mention of her name.
How many times has she "killed" her opponents in a race like this?
Is this kind of horse girl really beatable?
If she's already this strong, why is she still in the domestic Twinkle Series? With her strength and fame, she could have moved up to the Dream Cup long ago, right? Even if she doesn't go to the Dream Cup, she should be on an overseas expedition! Why stay in this bracket to "stomp on newbies"? Is this kind of racing really fun?
Not all horse girls are in pursuit of a higher realm. Many just want to earn prize money through races. This type of horse girl, when they remember that this is only Mejiro McQueen's second year since debuting, and that they will very likely run into her in future races, they are terrified. They start to complain about why someone so strong is still here.
But they only dare to say this behind her back. If you really asked them to submit a complaint to Chuuou Tracen, or to go "suggest" it to Mejiro McQueen, they truly don't have the guts. Besides, although they complain, they still continue to support Mejiro McQueen. As runners, they hate a monster like McQueen, but as fans, they deeply admire her heroic form. Horse girls are just that kind of creature.
Mejiro McQueen, having finished the race, found Tokai Teio, who had returned to the locker room alone. Seeing Teio's soulless expression, McQueen hesitated for a moment, but still decided to say something.
"Teio."
Hearing McQueen's voice, Teio's eyes instantly filled with terror.
"McQueen! Are you here to humiliate me again?!"
"No."
Mejiro McQueen felt a bit offended by Teio's reaction. While it's true she doesn't pay attention to losers, she doesn't go around humiliating them, does she? No, probably not. The ones she notices are opponents worthy of her attention, like Teio and Oguri Cap. As for a certain Gold Ship? Her treatment of that one doesn't count. Besides, that one doesn't care about being humiliated at all, right?
"Then what do you want? To pity me?"
Tokai Teio looked like she was about to cry.
"I already gave it my all... but the distance between us didn't shrink, it just got bigger! Are you here to pity me for that? Don't! I don't need your pity!"
Mejiro McQueen looked at Teio, who was about to let her "little pearls" (tears) fall, and her scalp went numb. This development was really not what she had expected. She just wanted to say a few words.
"I just came to tell you that I felt your resolve. But if possible, I hope next time you will use your own strength to challenge me, and not rely on this kind of heretical method."
She just wanted to say what she had to say and get out of here, to give Teio space to vent. She really couldn't stand this kind of scene.
Tokai Teio paused.
"You really are here to humiliate me, aren't you?"
"No."
"Damn it! Who acts like you? You were so awful to me before, and now you're saying this! And you don't care about me as a rival at all, do you? Everyone knows you don't have any rivals in your races!"
"Mm."
"???"
Tokai Teio had a look of pure disbelief.
Wait, I say that, and you actually dare to admit it?!!!
Mejiro McQueen said with a serious face, "You are indeed not my rival. I don't see you as one. I won't have any rivals. I'm just saying that I acknowledge your resolve to challenge me."
"Hah?!"
Tokai Teio was stunned. Does this girl even know how to comfort someone? Or does she really think saying that will make someone happy? Damn it, why am I actually a little happy?!
My status as her rival was taken away, but she said she acknowledges me!
Tokai Teio felt a thrill of excitement and really wanted to slap herself awake. I must be poisoned to be thinking this. Why am I getting excited over such a small thing
?
When did the great Teio become such a lowly character?
"I've said what I came to say. I'm leaving. You can... please, go ahead."
Mejiro McQueen finished and turned to leave.
Tokai Teio shouted after her, confused, "What? What did you even want to say? You make it sound like I'm about to do something shameful! Wait, you don't actually think the great Teio is going to cry, do you? Damn it, come back, McQueen! Don't think I'll give up just like this!"
Behind her, Tokai Teio was both crying and laughing, stopping just short of rolling on the floor. Symboli Rudolf, who had been eavesdropping from a corner, watched Mejiro McQueen's retreating back and smiled faintly. Without going to see Teio, she left as quietly as she came.
Mejiro McQueen suddenly sensed something and looked back at the spot where Rudolf had been. She thought she'd felt a gaze. To be hiding here alone at this time... She figured she could guess who it was. Only Symboli Rudolf would do such a thing. It seems Rudolf really does care about Teio. In fact, she spoils her too much. If Rudolf had been just a little bit stricter, Teio might not have gone down the wrong path.
Mejiro McQueen shook her head.
'Well, that's settled. In the future, no matter what Teio tries, I can just beat her awake in a race. Tsk... I have too much free time. Damn it, there's still that Winner's Stage. And why does it feel like the scale of the stage is getting bigger lately? Is it just my imagination?'
The moment she thought of the upcoming Winner's Stage, Mejiro McQueen wanted to skip it. But as the young lady of the Mejiro family, she couldn't do something so rude. At times like this, her "mood" status would drop a level.
If she were implemented in the game, she'd definitely be hated by all the players, right? Losing "mood" after every race... it's enough to give a player a stroke during training.
But maybe not. Mejiro McQueen felt that if she were implemented, her strength would definitely be the highest. For the sake of "strength," even if it's a little difficult, those players, who are already used to "prison" (grinding), would definitely curse her out while resetting countless times.
Thinking these random thoughts to relax, Mejiro McQueen headed for the changing room.
If she didn't distract herself, she might really just run away.
She originally thought she would get used to it, but it turns out she can't get used to it at all. Every performance is awkward. Especially after, when she sees the fans online praising her performance, she feels especially embarrassed. You guys really dare to exaggerate! Even I, the performer, can't stand it! That's why she handed her personal account over to her trainer to manage. She couldn't look at it. One glance and she'd explode.
After getting through the difficult Winner's Stage, Mejiro McQueen fled back to Tracen Academy.
The reporters trying to interview her were left empty-handed again. It seemed the only way to get a formal interview was through official channels. The female reporter looked helplessly at the departing black sedan.
She had been staking out McQueen for so long.
But Mejiro McQueen basically never goes out. Shopping is either done by the Mejiro family servants or online. The only places she goes are the racetrack, Tracen Academy, and the Mejiro estate. She travels by private car, followed by the Mejiro security detail. It's impossible to get close.
She wanted to get some photos of McQueen's private life! You can't get that stuff through an official interview request. But with McQueen's lifestyle, the reporter felt she was at a dead end. If her boss insisted on continuing, they'd have to find someone else. This job was impossible. It wasn't a question of more money.
The next day.
Mejiro McQueen arrived at the team clubroom.
Tokai Teio was back to her normal self, greeting her cheerfully, "Yo, McQueen! Did you hear? The trainer is apparently planning to take us on a hot springs trip for vacation! You're not thinking of skipping again, are you? The summer beach trip, I can understand you not wanting to go, but this is a hot spring! A hot spring! And I heard we'll be training with Oguri Cap-senpai's generation of seniors! You want to see their skills, right?"
"Where did you get that information?"
Mejiro McQueen was puzzled. Tokai Teio had just returned to the team less than a day ago, how was she more informed than her?
"Hehehe~ The info is 100% accurate. Because I got it from the Student Council!" Tokai Teio looked proud of her connections.
Mejiro McQueen looked at Narita Brian, who was sitting to the side. The student council member silently nodded, confirming Teio's information was true.
"Someone Oguri Cap-senpai knows? It wouldn't be 'White Lightning' (Inazuma), would it? I heard she isn't racing anymore."
"I don't know." Tokai Teio gave her a "what are you thinking" look. "You don't think I can get that list, do you? I mean, I could, but I don't want to bother the President (Kaichou) with something like that."
"Alright. I'm not interested."
Mejiro McQueen decisively ended the topic.
Otherwise, Tokai Teio would definitely go on and on.
"Eh! How can you not be interested?"
"Because, right now, I am the strongest."
Mejiro McQueen said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, leaving Tokai Teio speechless. She really wanted to argue, but she couldn't argue with that at
all.
...
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