After a night of discussion, it seemed both parties finally reached a satisfactory outcome. After Gold Ship allowed Gold Ship and her companions to return home and stated she would be staying overnight, everything finally settled down.
Imanami neither joined the Mejiro Family nor gave up anything; he merely accepted the established fact that Mejiro McQueen would become his Uma Musume. In truth, Mejiro McQueen could have invited Imanami to be her Trainer right after the Friendship Race, but she stubbornly insisted on winning her Debut Race first.
After the discussion with Imanami concluded, the Mejiro Family Head specifically called Mejiro McQueen for a talk. No one knew what they discussed, but it seemed McQueen barely slept all night after leaving... until the morning of the second day when the sun rose. Imanami, as usual, woke up early—though his body was much younger, his routine remained very much like an elderly person's, sleeping early and waking early.
In reality, most Trainers, Jockeys, or stablehands wake up earlier than the Racehorse. They need to maintain their physique and thus require exercise, especially Jockeys, whose weight can affect a Racehorse's performance.
As a stablehand who retired from being a Jockey, Imanami maintained this habit; morning exercise was a must.
"Mr. Imanami?"
Just then, a female voice came from the side. Mejiro McQueen, dressed in Tracen Academy's sportswear, seemed to be on her morning run as well. Upon seeing Imanami, she slowly stopped and asked gently:
"Mr. Imanami, did you sleep well last night?"
"Not bad, just a little unaccustomed to sleeping in such a large room." Imanami looked around after seeing McQueen before asking, "Where's Gold Ship? Didn't she come for morning exercise?"
"No, Gold Ship rarely does morning exercise. She's probably still sound asleep right now." McQueen smiled slightly, wiped away her sweat with a towel she carried, and then said to Imanami:
"Mr. Imanami, if you've just woken up, how about we go have some breakfast now? I've had them prepare it. I'm going to take a shower first and will be right there."
"No need. How about we talk, Miss McQueen?"
Imanami waved his hand and slowly walked towards an outdoor courtyard. After a slight hesitation, McQueen followed him and sat down in front of Imanami.
Neither of them spoke. There were no teacups or desserts in front of them; they just sat there, facing each other. After a long while, McQueen couldn't bear the atmosphere any longer and took the initiative to ask:
"Mr. Imanami, Grandmother... didn't she make things difficult for you?"
"Not at all, she just told me a lot about you and the Mejiro Family." Imanami shook his head and replied, "I had only heard rumors about many things concerning Mejiro Ranch in the past, but it wasn't until yesterday that I finally understood how difficult it is to manage a ranch, a family."
Imanami wasn't talking about the Mejiro Ranch in this world, but the Mejiro Ranch from his original world. The Mejiro Ranch in Imanami's original world had declined, and Imanami had heard many rumors, most of which revolved around "poor management" and "no good Racehorses." But now, in this world, Imanami experienced firsthand the current predicament of Mejiro Ranch.
It was no wonder that Old Mistress went to such great lengths to secure him... Imanami could certainly understand, after all, this was crucial for the prosperity of a family.
"Old Mistress told me many things, including about you, Miss McQueen."
"...Grandmother must have spoken a lot about the Mejiro Family's mission." McQueen smiled, not trying to hide anything, when she heard this. "Yes, like other Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, I am aiming for the Tenno Sho."
"To dominate all long-distance races, and conquering the Tenno Sho represents our Mejiro Family's continued legendary dominance in long-distance races—I have always aimed for this, and therefore, I absolutely cannot fail."
"The Mejiro Family's predecessors... Mejiro Asama and Mejiro Titan, they were proud Uma Musume. They dominated the Tenno Sho of their time, making the Tenno Sho our Mejiro Family's goal."
"'If Titan's child can also win the Tenno Sho, I will have no regrets.'—These were the words spoken by a predecessor of our Mejiro Family, her last wish before she passed away."
"But as time passed, this hope became increasingly slim... And I, though only from a branch family of Mejiro, have also inherited this bloodline."
"And if even I cannot succeed... then Titan's bloodline, I fear, will truly be unable to achieve the dream of the Tenno Sho..."
At this point, Mejiro McQueen showed no resentment towards her predetermined destiny and mission. She had carried this mission for many years and had never questioned why she had such a mission.
Since she inherited this bloodline, this innate mission was, of course, the responsibility her bloodline should bear. Mejiro McQueen had no complaints about this, only persistent dedication.
"That's why I went to such lengths to have you as my Trainer, even using some... unfair methods." Mejiro McQueen frankly explained her initial wariness towards Gold Ship and many subsequent actions she took. She knew these things couldn't be hidden from Imanami.
"Mr. Imanami, please forgive me..."
"—That sentiment isn't for me, but for Gold Ship." However, Imanami didn't blame McQueen. After all, McQueen hadn't done anything to wrong anyone; she was just too eager—and besides, she later proved her strength.
"But I think, whether it's Mejiro Asama or Mejiro Titan, as Uma Musume, they wouldn't want to see their descendants exhaust themselves trying to win first place in the Tenno Sho." Imanami added at this point:
"If your wish is to keep running, then you should focus even more on your body, instead of betting everything on one race. After all, honor cannot be judged by the outcome of a single race."
"Mr. Imanami..."
However, this was the first time Mejiro McQueen had heard a Trainer not so intensely pursue victory, and that person was Imanami, whom she had always held in high regard.
But then McQueen recalled how, before the Friendship Race, Imanami had advised her to give up the Friendship Race and heal her injuries first. McQueen then felt that everything seemed understandable.
"Mr. Imanami... you are truly unique. No wonder Gold Ship calls you 'Old Man'." A different smile appeared on McQueen's face. She then stood up solemnly and, in front of Imanami, formally knelt down.
"Although this is a bit different from our agreement, Mr. Imanami, I have thought it through now. I want to become your Uma Musume, for the Mejiro Family's goal. Please acknowledge me." Mejiro McQueen's etiquette was impeccable as she formally stated:
"I will win honors and protect my body, Mr. Imanami. Please, may I become your Uma Musume?"
"—Absolutely, McQueen." Imanami replied without hesitation. He had already planned to accept Mejiro McQueen as his Uma Musume from the beginning.
McQueen, having received the desired outcome, smiled slightly and then pondered how she should respond in this situation... But soon, McQueen found a suitable phrase from her vocabulary. She bowed deeply and said, word by word:
"This humble one is not talented; please guide me."
"..." Should I remind this child that she used the wrong phrase for the occasion? Imanami felt like laughing. Although he knew that the younger generation generally didn't understand the meaning of such formal phrases, one couldn't just say them carelessly.
However, what Imanami didn't know was that although Mejiro McQueen didn't understand the meaning of that phrase, it was the Mejiro Family Head who had taught it to McQueen.
As for the purpose... perhaps Madam Mejiro had her own ideas.