Imanami Takatoshi, having accepted Mejiro Ardan's invitation, also got into the luxurious car arranged by the Mejiro Family and drove along a road leading away from the city, which was the so-called Mejiro Ranch.
"Mr. Imanami, have you ever been to Mejiro Ranch before?" Mejiro Ardan sat opposite, while McQueen and Imanami sat on the same row. Ardan asked curiously.
"It's my first time, but I am somewhat aware of the great name of Mejiro Ranch." Imanami answered honestly. Gold Ship had already detached herself from him and was probably sound asleep somewhere in Tracen Academy now, wasn't she?
That girl was really tired today. Not only did she carry him running all the way, but she was also exceptionally energetic during the Winner's Stage, only burning out after the Winner's Stage ended. She finally burned out.
Imanami had no intention of waking Gold Ship, after all, the Mejiro Family was looking for him. As for why the Mejiro Family was looking for him... Imanami felt he could handle it.
"Is that so? Then I believe this time you will be greatly enlightened." Ardan smiled gently.
"McQueen has written to us more than once, saying she found an excellent Trainer. So, for this Friendship Race, all of us came specifically to watch, and the outcome was truly unexpected."
"McQueen won beautifully, and this is certainly thanks to your guidance, Mr. Imanami—of course, next time, please pay attention to the Winner's Stage!"
"Ardan-nee..."
However, Ardan's gentle teasing made McQueen, who was sitting next to Imanami, a little restless. She had never told Imanami about writing to her family, after all, her wording in that letter... might have been a bit inappropriate.
After all, stealing Gold Ship's favorite Trainer... she couldn't say that in front of Mr. Imanami. McQueen could tell that Imanami doted on Gold Ship considerably, and Gold Ship was very dependent on Imanami. If she wasn't decisive enough, she might lose such a good Trainer.
Therefore, the content of the letter was more or less poorly worded. McQueen didn't want Imanami to know how much effort she had put in behind the scenes to win the position of this Uma Musume in charge and to convince her Grandmother to trust her.
"McQueen is really shy, isn't she? Ah, we've arrived." Ardan smiled gently, and then, as the car slowly stopped, she took the lead in opening the door for the two of them.
"Welcome to Mejiro Ranch—Mr. Imanami, please come this way."
Mejiro Ranch. However, what appeared before Imanami at this moment was not so much a ranch as it was a manor. It completely lacked the ancient and rustic feel that Imanami associated with old properties. The entire manor exuded a strong sense of charm, and the fountain in the center was carved with a statue of an Uma Musume—probably a famous Uma Musume from the Mejiro Family, wasn't it?
"Let's go, Mr. Imanami." At this moment, McQueen also stepped forward. As an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, she was highly regarded within the family and had the right to play the host for her Trainer. She said with a smile, "Grandmother is waiting for us."
"No, no, McQueen, you stay with us." Ardan, hearing this, waved her hand and said with a smile, "Grandmother wants to see Mr. Imanami alone."
"Is that so..." McQueen also felt a little strange upon hearing this, but she didn't suspect anything. She just apologized to Imanami, saying, "Then, Mr. Imanami, I will take my leave first."
"Mr. Imanami, please come this way. The Mejiro Family Head is waiting for you." Ardan led Imanami towards the Central villa. There, waiting for Imanami Takatoshi, was the true head of the Mejiro Family... "Imanami Takatoshi, the top scorer in this year's Central Trainer examination, with a perfect written test score, and he achieved such results within a month."
After some time, led by Ardan, Imanami finally met the Mejiro Family Head—an Old Mistress who was clearly a roan Horse Girl at first glance. As for whether she was an Uma Musume, Imanami dared not speculate.
"Truly a heaven-sent talent, Mr. Imanami, as expected of the Trainer even McQueen thinks highly of."
"The Old Mistress overpraises me." Facing the Mejiro Family Head, Imanami didn't feel nervous at all, merely showing his respect.
Imanami's composure also surprised the Mejiro Family Head. Although she, as the head of the Mejiro Family, didn't often receive guests, who among them, apart from the younger generation of the Mejiro Family, wouldn't be respectful and deferential upon seeing her?
After all, the Mejiro Family is renowned in the Uma Musume world, and in this world, what else is more worthy of everyone's attention besides Uma Musume races?
It's a pity that Imanami didn't know the Mejiro Family Head's thoughts, otherwise, he would probably have burst out laughing.
For one thing, Imanami Takatoshi's mental age might be a decade or so older than the Family Head in front of him; he wasn't one of those easily startled young people. What's more, Imanami was also a highly respected figure in the Racehorse world. Although he was just a stableman, he had worked his way up from Jockey and Horse Trainer.
Even high-ranking officials from Shadai would respectfully call him 'senior.' If it weren't for his passion for Racehorses, Imanami's qualifications would have long been enough for him to become a high-ranking official at Shadai. Why would he still be a stableman?
"I just wonder, Old Mistress, why have you gone to such great lengths to receive me? Is there an important matter to discuss?" Imanami asked calmly, "I am but a humble Trainer, and I don't believe there is anything about me that the Old Mistress would value."
"No, Mr. Imanami, your talent is the priceless treasure I value most," the Mejiro Family Head immediately retorted. "The Mejiro Family currently lacks talent like yours."
"I've read all the letters McQueen sent. There were many praises for you. I initially thought McQueen was just lucky, and that your personality simply suited her, so I didn't pay much attention at first."
"—But it wasn't until a week ago, when you realized McQueen's hidden ailment even earlier than our Mejiro Family's chief doctor, that I truly realized you are a great talent."
"...That was just luck."
Imanami, upon hearing this, finally knew what the problem was and suddenly felt a headache. How could he diagnose illnesses? Even if he was an experienced old stableman, if a human or Horse illness could be spotted at a glance, it must at least already pose a threat.
Imanami also suddenly recalled things about McQueen's Debut Race period. Periostitis was diagnosed after pressing McQueen's leg, but to say he could spot McQueen's hidden ailment at a glance was truly overestimating him.
One could only say that if every stableman could spot early symptoms of some Horses at a glance, then the world wouldn't need veterinarians. They could just make the stableman qualification exam a hundred times harder, allowing them to switch to veterinary medicine at any time.
—But Imanami couldn't say these things. How would he explain? That he already knew about McQueen's periostitis? That he, a Trainer, had sharper insight than the Mejiro Family's chief doctor? Wouldn't that be ruining someone's livelihood?
"Luck only comes to those who are prepared, Mr. Imanami, please don't be so modest." The Mejiro Family Head clearly didn't believe Imanami's words and immediately stood up, saying,
"Mr. Imanami, your talent is the support the Mejiro Family needs most right now, and this time, I hope to gain your approval."
"...If the Old Mistress means for me to be Miss McQueen's Trainer, please rest assured, Miss McQueen and I have already made an agreement." Imanami suppressed a slight feeling of unease in his heart and said, "As long as Miss McQueen wins her Debut Race, we will immediately sign the contract."
"No, Mr. Imanami, you've misunderstood my meaning."
However, the Mejiro Family Head silently clasped her hands, staring at Imanami, and said word by word,
"I hope you can become the Mejiro Family's exclusive Uma Musume Trainer, staying with the Mejiro Family from now on to provide targeted training for the Mejiro Family's rookie Uma Musume."
"From now on, you will be a member of my Mejiro Family, and also the Mejiro Family's Chief Trainer, receiving the same treatment as core members of the Mejiro Family. My only requirement for you is one thing—to have more of the Mejiro Family's rookies step onto the Tenno Sho arena."
"..."
At this moment, even Imanami's experience made him slightly stunned, but the Old Mistress's subsequent words made his expression a little strange.
To become a member of the Mejiro Family... did she mean for him to marry into the family?