Tokai Teio's smile at this moment was in no way inferior to how she looked when she won the Kikka Sho before, earning the title of undefeated Triple Crown Horse Girl.
She raised her hands, waved a few times to the cheering crowd around her, and then came to Mejiro McQueen, who was still slightly panting, hands on her knees.
She imitated Mejiro McQueen's gesture after she had lost to her in the Arima Kinen, and extended her hand towards her.
Mejiro McQueen grabbed Tokai Teio's outstretched hand, the momentary disappointment on her face having vanished, and showed a gentle, serene smile to Tokai Teio, who was grinning at her.
"Miss Teio!"
"Miss McQueen!"
Just as Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen were smiling at each other, they heard someone call their names.
They turned their heads and saw Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond running quickly towards them.
"Huh? I remember you two are Miss Kitasan and Miss Satono, right?" Mejiro McQueen asked in surprise.
"Yes, I'm Satono Diamond, and she's Kitasan Black. Miss McQueen, you've already remembered our names!"
Satono Diamond was very happy that Mejiro McQueen had called out her name.
"So it's you two! It seems you've successfully enrolled, congratulations!"
Tokai Teio gave Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond a thumbs-up.
"We've already joined Miss McQueen and Miss Teio's team!" Kitasan Black said.
"Huh?"
Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio exchanged glances.
"Have you two already met Trainer-san?"
"That's right, she's already agreed to let us join TCB."
"I see. Well, congratulations then."
Mejiro McQueen smiled at the two again.
"Welcome."
"Trainer-san told us you were racing here, so she sent us to find Miss McQueen and Miss Teio," Satono Diamond said.
"She probably wants us to show you around the campus, right? Although we've already toured it during the open house, since you two have also joined TCB, we'll have to give you a more detailed introduction."
Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio led the two new recruits towards the starting position where they had begun their race.
They had met Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond many times and naturally took great care of these two juniors.
"Speaking of which, how did you two join the team? Did Trainer-san actively seek you out?" Tokai Teio asked curiously.
"No. An upperclassman told us to wait for Trainer-san in the Chairwoman's office, and then when she came to report to the Chairwoman, we asked her to join the team," Satono Diamond replied.
"Oh, so that's how it was..."
Tokai Teio said, averting her gaze and scratching her cheek.
"Didn't Miss Teio join the team that way initially?" Kitasan Black asked curiously.
"No, Trainer-san had just joined Tracen Academy at first, and she didn't have any Horse Girl under her. She came to find me herself."
"Then why did Miss Teio accept Trainer-san's request?"
"Actually, it's a bit strange... At that time, although I hadn't joined a team yet, I was always helping the Spica members with singing and dancing as an external support. I was already a bit tempted to join Spica..."
"Indeed, I remember Gold Ship was also constantly bothering me, trying to get me to join Spica," Mejiro McQueen interjected, tossing her long hair.
"Then why did Miss Teio ultimately choose to join Trainer-san's team?" Satono Diamond asked.
"Because... Trainer-san promised me the moment we met that she would help me win the Triple Crown and achieve accomplishments like the President's."
Tokai Teio recalled her first meeting with Sakura Bakushin O, and even now, thinking back, it still felt a bit incredible.
"What?!"
This time, not only did the two juniors, Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black, exclaim, but even Mejiro McQueen's eyes widened in shock.
This was the first time she had heard about this.
"Tr-Trainer-san promised the Triple Crown the first time she met Miss Teio? At that time, she was just a rookie Trainer, right? She hadn't taken on any Horse Girl yet, right?"
Kitasan Black was incredibly surprised. She had thought that Sakura Bakushin O's promise of two Triple Crowns to them both upon their first meeting stemmed from her confidence in having nurtured two outstanding Horse Girl, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
She never expected that Sakura Bakushin O had already set such an impossible goal from the very beginning of her career as a Trainer.
The most crucial thing was that she actually achieved it!
"Isn't it incredible? I thought so too at the time. My goal was indeed to become an undefeated Triple Crown Horse Girl, strong and beautiful, just like the President, but I had never mentioned it to anyone."
"So Trainer-san's words touched your heart, Teio, and that's why you joined TCB, right?" Mejiro McQueen said with a smile.
"Exactly. I discovered that Trainer-san had the same goal as me, so I had a very good first impression of her."
Tokai Teio nodded.
"At the time, I was actually still a bit skeptical that she was bragging, but I never expected her to actually do it. Although the undefeated goal failed, I'm already very satisfied."
After listening, Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black turned their attention to Mejiro McQueen.
"My reason is quite simple. Trainer-san gave me a very warm feeling, much like the older sister I used to play with often when I was a child, so I joined her team."
"McQueen is really carefree," Tokai Teio said with a laugh.
"W-Well, of course!"
Mejiro McQueen's cheeks suddenly flushed when she heard Tokai Teio's teasing.
She tossed her long hair again, saying haughtily:
"Anyway, I'm so strong, it's the same no matter whose team I join. Rather than being bothered by Gold Ship every day, I'd rather just join a team where I feel comfortable. Fewer people means less trouble too."
"McQueen, you really dislike Gold Ship that much?" Tokai Teio asked in surprise.
"It's not that I dislike her, it's just that sometimes I get really annoyed by her bothering me..."
Mejiro McQueen recalled Gold Ship crying profusely while clinging to her clothes after hearing she was joining TCB, and a huge sense of guilt rose in her heart.
Tokai Teio was used to Mejiro McQueen's tsundere behavior and, after a laugh, looked at Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond.
"What about you two? Did she promise you any achievements?"
"Yes..."
Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black exchanged glances, then replied:
"Trainer-san set a small goal for us..."
"What small goal?" Mejiro McQueen also became interested.
"Diamond and I, one Triple Crown each..."