"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I've disgraced you again, Trainer! I'm truly very sorry!"
It was already nightfall, the Winner's Stage had long since concluded, and in the backstage area, Meisho Doto was practically in tears, bowing frantically to Wada, as if unable to express her apologies otherwise.
On the other side, Mejiro McQueen, still in her stage outfit after the Winner's Stage, was also in a poor state. She huddled in a corner, muttering to herself:
"What a disgrace, to have forgotten about the Winner's Stage… No, I should say there was no notification about a Winner's Stage in the first place… According to the normal race procedure… Winner's Stage… I should have thought of it."
"Ah… I'm sorry, Grandmother, and my sisters. As an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, to have lost my composure so completely on the Winner's Stage… I've shamed the Mejiro Family…"
Compared to Doto's shock, Mejiro McQueen was even more impacted. She also had no idea about the Winner's Stage—no, she knew there was a Winner's Stage after winning a race, but she hadn't expected this "Friendship Race," which claimed to have "no ranking but all procedures follow a regular race," to also have a Winner's Stage.
At this point, Mejiro McQueen, who had been entirely focused on dieting and training, was caught completely off guard. After stepping onto the C-position of the Winner's Stage, she couldn't recall the dance she had only practiced a few times long ago, and she couldn't even remember the lyrics… As a result, McQueen, who should have been the most dazzling C-position, lost the most face. Her movements were stiff and unnatural, she even messed up several parts of the dance, and couldn't remember the lyrics at all. In the end, she could only shout "Your beloved Racehorse" during the chorus… As for Doto, she was even more of a heavyweight. She couldn't dance, and she forgot the song even more thoroughly than McQueen. If McQueen could be said to have danced a little, Doto was in a "dumbfounded" state the entire time she was on stage, and then she heard laughter from the audience… Thus, McQueen and Doto, who placed first and third, ended up looking more embarrassed on the Winner's Stage. In contrast, the second-place Tokai Teio was quite well-prepared. Not only did she dance her own part, but she also actively saved the day several times.
However, unfortunately, Tokai Teio alone couldn't save the stage for two people. Fortunately, this Winner's Stage finally concluded with the three girls' frantic efforts and the cooperation of the other Uma Musume… This hellish ordeal was declared over.
Meanwhile, compared to the Uma Musume who were wallowing in self-pity, the three Trainers exchanged bewildered glances. None of them had expected such a thing.
"Winner's Stage… Do you have to perform on stage after a race in this world? Isn't that like an idol? Are Uma Musume actually idol-level existences?"
"I just found out myself." Facing Ikezoe's confusion, Wada, while naturally stroking Doto's head with his hand to help her calm down, replied, "We never heard about a Winner's Stage during our exams. This probably isn't part of our job, is it?"
"Mr. Imanami, what do you think?"
"Hmm… I hadn't paid attention to it before either." And quite rarely, even the experienced Imanami was completely clueless about the Winner's Stage. His nose bandage hadn't been removed yet, and Gold Ship was still sleeping soundly, hugging one of Imanami's arms—she was truly exhausted today.
"Hehe, although I lost to McQueen on the track, the Winner's Stage is Teio-sama's victory!"
Tokai Teio, on the side, was cheerfully trying to cheer McQueen up, though her method of encouragement was clearly not very effective. However, it seemed she had already forgotten her failure from earlier in the day.
"Phew… I didn't expect Karen-chan to be so lucky. Even Karen-chan couldn't have saved the day in that situation, you know." Curren Chan, next to Ikezoe, also smiled, feeling truly lucky. Although she ran a race she couldn't possibly win, for her, failure wasn't a loss at all. Instead, it garnered her many fans, making her almost the Uma Musume with the biggest gains, apart from the winners.
"Oni-chan, look, look! The number of followers on my platform is almost 4 million now! It's just as you thought, everyone knows that Karen-chan is an Uma Musume who excels at short distances!"
Curren Chan also shared her joy with Ikezoe, holding her phone. Although she was an Uma Musume, Curren Chan always felt she wasn't the type who excelled at racing, so she never mentioned being an Uma Musume on her platform.
But in this race, Curren Chan's lead in the first turn made everyone aware of her identity as an Uma Musume. Although Curren Chan ultimately didn't win the race, she still generated a lot of buzz.
"It's a pity Curren Chan specializes in short distances, otherwise she would have won."
"She even surpassed Tokai Teio in the first turn, Karen-chan is so strong."
—Such comments made Curren Chan's defeat quite spectacular, and she was exceptionally delighted inside.
As expected of Oni-chan, to be able to gain so many benefits even from a destined-to-fail race. Karen-chan didn't even place, yet she still managed to achieve such an effect.
Curren Chan was truly growing fonder of Ikezoe now.
"This is good, I'm much more relaxed too." Ikezoe also nodded, quite pleased. His team's results weren't bad either. Although they didn't win outright like McQueen from Mr. Imanami's side, nor did their relationship improve like with Wada's side—but he had peace of mind.
If it weren't for peace of mind, wouldn't Ikezoe want to compete? As a Trainer, and a former Jockey, Ikezoe's competitive spirit was not low—but wasn't Gold Ship absent?
"Speaking of which, I thought Gold Ship would participate in this Friendship Race, but the President told me Gold Ship declined this Friendship Race. The reason is still unknown for now."
"I haven't seen her recently either… What has she been busy with lately?"
Ikezoe was also a bit worried. Ever since that day Gold Ship and he expressed their feelings for each other, and she said she would talk to him after winning her Debut Race, Ikezoe had yet to find out which race Gold Ship's Debut Race was, and she hadn't told him.
"Ah, everyone, you're here."
And at this moment, a gentle female voice was heard, without warning. Everyone looked over and saw a female Uma Musume with light blue long hair, who was clearly a gentle and elegant woman, approaching them with a smile. She greeted them gracefully:
"McQueen, are you well? I saw your performance on the Winner's Stage, you still need to work harder."
"Ardan-nee…"
McQueen immediately recognized the newcomer. It was her sister, Mejiro Ardan, also an Uma Musume born into the Mejiro Family, who was initially highly regarded but ultimately not given the heavy responsibility of the Tenno Sho due to her "glass-like fragile legs."
"Ardan-nee, why are you here? Grandmother… Is Grandmother still here?"
"No, Grandmother and the other sisters have already returned. I just waited here specifically for the Winner's Stage to end." Mejiro Ardan clearly had the demeanor of a young lady, gently covering her mouth with her hand when she smiled. Then, her gaze shifted to Imanami.
Finally, under everyone's watchful eyes, Mejiro Ardan performed an elegant courtesy to Imanami, then sincerely said:
"Trainer Imanami Takatoshi, the head of the Mejiro Family requests your presence. I, with the etiquette of a Mejiro Family guest, invite you to visit."
"Go to the Mejiro Family?"
However, as soon as Mejiro Ardan spoke, both the Trainers and the Uma Musume all looked towards Imanami—and at this moment, Imanami, whose hands and feet were still restrained by Gold Ship, certainly knew he couldn't refuse such generous treatment, but he showed a troubled expression and said:
"The Family Head's invitation, I should naturally gladly accept, but this child, Gold Ship…"
"Please rest assured, we will make proper arrangements for the Gold Family's child." Ardan had naturally done her homework before coming. Moreover, Mejiro McQueen often mentioned Gold Ship in her letters home, so they knew a thing or two about the relationship between Gold Ship and Imanami.
But such a good Trainer couldn't be given to those boisterous fellows from the Gold Family—this was the intention of the Mejiro Family Head, so Ardan had come with determination.
"Mr. Imanami…"
And Mejiro McQueen also looked at Imanami with an expectant gaze. Imanami silently looked at McQueen, then turned his head to look at Gold Ship, and finally relented.
"Then, shall we depart now?"