With a flex of her right arm, she slapped her bicep firmly with her left hand, trying to show off her strength in this way.
"The Yayoi Sho, and then the Satsuki Sho… Ryan, your path ahead is quite tough."
Ardan analyzed the challenges her younger sister might face.
"The opponents you're up against are no pushovers, especially Nearl and Ines Fujin. You know as well as I do—Ines Fujin is already a Uma Musume whose strength rivals your own, and the public rates her just a touch higher than you."
"Yeah, I know. We're roommates, after all. No one understands her power and grit better than I do. Honestly, when it comes to sheer willpower, I have to admit I fall a bit short."
"It's not just her daily training—she even works part-time outside class. That's just life for her. No personal time, no hobbies… It's a kind of hardship I can hardly imagine."
"But even so, her passion and intensity in training never lag behind mine. If I had to face Ines Fujin as an opponent, I truly can't say I'd be confident of winning."
Mejiro Ryan readily admitted her own shortcomings. She and Fujin were both roommates and rivals—she knew all too well how strong Fujin was.
"And as for Nearl… Ryan, I don't want to discourage you, but as your sister, I don't think you stand much of a chance against her."
"Hey! Ardan-nee! I get it, I really do, but did you have to put it so bluntly? Your little sister's genuinely hurt here!"
Ryan pretended to complain, but wasn't there a hint of frustration hidden beneath that protest?
Nearl—her very existence was like an impassable chasm for the Uma Musume of this generation. They all knew facing her meant having no real chance at victory.
Even though none of her races so far could be considered major stakes, her unmatched spirit had been made utterly clear through her results.
No Uma Musume dared claim they could beat her—not even the proud Mejiro family.
Truth be told, when Ryan heard that Nearl had missed the entry deadline and couldn't compete in the Triple Crown classics, somewhere deep down, she'd felt a flicker of relief.
'Thank goodness she didn't make it in—otherwise, I wouldn't even have a sliver of hope to win.'
Of course, that dark thought only lasted a moment before Ryan squashed it herself, replacing it with pity and regret.
"I was just telling the truth."
Ardan smiled softly along with her sister.
"Even though you won't meet Nearl in the Triple Crown races, she will be running in the Yayoi Sho. That'll be your first head-to-head clash. Are you mentally prepared? Losing isn't something to fear—as long as you learn from it, you'll have a better shot at winning the Satsuki Sho."
"Yeah, I know. You don't have to tell me, Sis."
"That's good, then. Go for it, Ryan. The honor of the Mejiro family is with you."
Ardan stretched both hands out flat in front of Ryan, looking at her with nothing but encouragement. Ryan understood immediately—she placed her own hands against them.
Clap!
Four palms met.
"Alright, Ryan. Go on and focus on your own preparations now."
"Mhm! I'll get going then, Sis!"
Waving her off, Ardan watched her sister leave. It was only then that the maid who'd been waiting quietly behind her spoke up softly.
"Miss, the family head has asked to see you in the study."
"Grandmother?"
Ardan turned back, puzzled. The study was usually reserved for serious Mejiro family business—they wouldn't normally meet there without good reason.
Casual talks happened in more relaxed spaces like the living room. Unless, of course, someone had made a major mistake.
But she hadn't done anything wrong lately…
Holding that question in mind, Ardan arrived at the study door and gave it a few gentle knocks.
"Come in."
An aged yet intensely commanding voice came from inside, making Ardan's heart tighten just a little.
Steeling herself, she pushed the door open and saw her grandmother seated behind the desk with a grave expression.
"Ardan. Come in, take a seat here."
The elder's tone was still fairly even. Though her brow remained furrowed, it didn't seem like anything was terribly wrong.
"Grandmother, did you call me here because there's something you need me to do?"
Almost as soon as she sat down, Ardan asked why she'd been summoned.
The old lady fell silent for a moment.
"There's nothing in particular, actually. It's just that I've received an invitation, and I feel it's necessary for you to know about it."
"And… what might that be?"
Ardan replied cautiously—her careful demeanor was so endearing that even the family head couldn't resist joking.
"An arranged marriage."
"…"
Ardan's eyes went dead!
"Hahaha! Oh, child, you actually believed that? Do I look like some rigid parent out of a TV drama to you?"
Seeing Ardan's utterly vacant expression, her grandmother couldn't help but laugh.
Maybe it was because she usually appeared so serious around the younger generation—this joke had genuinely startled Ardan.
"Whew…"
Once she realized it was just a tease, Ardan finally let out the breath she'd been holding. Her hand moved instinctively to her chest, feeling her still-racing heartbeat.
"Grandmother, how could you joke about something like that? That was mean!"
"Haha, my apologies. But the conversation from here on out is no joke."
After a few more chuckles, the family head's expression and voice turned serious again. Joking time was over.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Ardan set aside her small grievances and sat up straight.
"Ardan, you know that here in Japan, our Mejiro family is considered elite. 'Endurance of Mejiro, Speed of Sakura'—that's the widespread saying, and it carries the public's acknowledgment of our standing."
"But to say we dominate completely would be misleading. There are a few other families whose scale doesn't fall far behind ours—like the Symboli family, who approached me recently for talks."
"The Symboli family was always influential, but there was still a gap between us and them. However, the rise of Symboli Rudolf has narrowed that distance considerably. So this collaboration proposal they've sent requires careful thought on my part."
"Grandmother, what kind of proposal is it?"
Ardan asked, curious.
"Reforming the URA."
In just those few words, Ardan could taste the scent of bloodless conflict lurking beneath.
"The Emperor believes the current URA has grown corrupt—that it's time for a change in leadership. But the Symboli family's support alone isn't enough, so they've come to us seeking an alliance."
"But the URA isn't an easy institution to shake. Has President Rudolf made any preparations?"
"Of course. Her first move is already on the board. What she lacks now is sufficient backing—and that's precisely why I called you here."
Looking at Ardan's puzzled face, the head of the Mejiro family sighed inwardly.
"If this move succeeds, all the better—gaining influence within the URA is a rare opportunity for our family. But if it fails, the backlash could mean significant losses. That's why I haven't been able to commit."
"However, after seeing you today, Ardan… I no longer have any reason to hesitate."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.