"Yay! McQueen won! McQueen won!"
In the stands of the Spring Tenno Sho, alongside the overwhelming applause and cheers of the audience, Tokai Teio also offered her joyful applause to Mejiro McQueen, who had succeeded in obtaining her long-desired victory.
This victory was truly hard won. Watching McQueen stumble and stumble again to the point she almost gave up before finally rising again almost moved Teio to tears.
Although she hadn't actively participated, seeing McQueen, her best friend and most respected rival, at long last reach her goal made Teio genuinely happy inside.
Perhaps in the past, she might have thought McQueen winning a GI was a given— after all, she used to think that she could easily win a GI.
But she had long since discarded that way of thinking; GIs truly deserved the reputation of being the stage for the best of the best.
"...McQueen is very strong, but she still struggled to win a GI. Perhaps T.M. Opera O is the true outlier."
"Will I also have such a hard time winning a GI in the future...?"
Murmuring this to herself, it was evident that Tokai Teio had accepted the fact that she was in the lowest tier of power within the team.
And accepting this fact held extraordinary significance for Tokai Teio; she now understood that in order to win, she truly had to work harder than others, to the point she even forgot her own talent, categorizing herself as 'mediocre.'
Simply put, after being brutally beaten by those stronger than her over and over again, she felt that Symboli Rudolf and the others were just exaggerating about her talent.
Now, though she still put on some airs, she mostly trained hard in silence, trying not to be left behind by her friends.
—Still, being able to bully the newly joined Sweep Tosho was a great source of entertainment and comfort for Tokai Teio. It really made her feel a surge of joy whenever she thought of her new 'little sister.'
'No, no, what am I thinking? Let's go celebrate with McQueen.'
BANG!
However, just as Teio was thinking this, a loud bang suddenly sounded out behind her, accompanied by many glittering ribbons and confetti falling from the sky, startling everyone who was unprepared.
Immediately following the sound, the Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family excitedly descended from their private room, with the Mejiro Family Head being supported by Mejiro Bright and Mejiro Ardan, walking towards the track.
Though the steps of the Uma Musume remained steady and elegant, it was apparent that they carried a hint of impatience and excitement.
From this, it was clear that the celebratory confetti had been prepared beforehand, indicating the Mejiro Family Head's expectation for McQueen— of course, if she had lost, these celebratory items would likely not have been used.
Fortunately, this awkward scene did not occur, and McQueen lived up to the expectations placed on her, granting the Mejiro Family the achievement of dominating the Tenno Sho for over three generations.
With McQueen's victory, it signaled that she had truly become the brightest star of the Mejiro Family, officially taking over Mejiro Ryan's place.
"Let's go celebrate."
Turning away from the Mejiro Family for now, Imanami clapped his hands, signaling to Tokai Teio and Gold Ship beside him.
"We'll wait in the tunnels first; it'll be best to let McQueen celebrate with the Madam and her sisters for a bit. Once they're done, we'll go over."
"Okay." X2
Gold Ship and Teio showed no objection to Imanami's decision; after all, it was perfectly normal to let someone celebrate amongst their own family members on such a joyous occasion.
Moreover, their joy was heavily tied to the mission of the Mejiro Family; as outsiders, it was best to leave them alone for now.
...
"McQueen!!!"
"McQueen-nee!!!" X2
"Everyone..."
McQueen, still in a slight daze after realizing she won, snapped back to reality upon hearing the familiar voices from not far away.
Before she could even react, McQueen felt herself being hugged by a strong pair of arms, her face buried in someone's chest.
Judging by the sweat and warmth emanating from the person... it must have been Mejiro Ryan, who had also just finished the race.
"You did it, McQueen! You really did it! You're the true star of the Mejiro Family!!"
"Ryan-nee..."
Belatedly returning the hug, McQueen recovered from her initial excitement and once again showed her inherent gentleness.
"Don't say that. If Ryan-nee hadn't always supported me, I wouldn't be where I am today."
"At the Kikuka Sho, when you gave up chasing victory for me... after the Hanshin Daishoten, when you comforted me... without you, I wouldn't have been able to fulfill the family's long-cherished wish."
"Ryan-nee, this honour is something we achieved together. Thank you... thank you for everything you've done for me."
"McQueen…"
Hearing these words come out of McQueen's mouth, Ryan, who had seen her grow up from when she was a baby, became deeply moved.
The McQueen of the past, though gentle and maintaining the elegance befitting that of an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, held a very strong pride deep inside her.
She firmly believed that she was the destined Uma Musume who would fulfill the Mejiro Family's long-cherished wish, even despite being born from a branch family.
This pride and persistence were the things that had brought McQueen to where she was today, but they were also the things that held her back.
However, now that she had managed to break free from those restraints, she had undergone a subtle, but huge transformation.
"McQueen, you've really grown~ sniff..."
"?"
Seeing tears well up in her sister's eyes, McQueen wondered what was wrong.
Fortunately, the arrival of the rest of her sisters quickly made McQueen forget about her confusion.
"McQueen (McQueen-nee)!" X3
Turning to see that her sisters— Dober, Bright, Palmer, Ardan, as well as some other staff members and branch family members— came to support her and had prepared to celebrate her victory, she would've cried from joy if she hadn't already done so earlier.
"...Thank you all for your support. Thank you."
"Who we should really be thanking is you, McQueen. We are all proud of you."
At that moment, the Mejiro Family Head slowly walked in front of McQueen, and in her hands, was a red, seemingly sash like item embroidered with gold, which she personally placed on McQueen's shoulder.
As an Uma Musume from a branch family, as well as a granddaughter, McQueen did not disrespect her Grandmother, immediately bowing a near perfect 90 degrees, gracefully accepting the gift.
And when this sash, imprinted in gold letters with 'Spring Tenno Sho,' was personally placed on Mejiro McQueen's shoulder, McQueen would've cried for the third time today if her tears hadn't already run out.
Just then, a group of reporters, who had been hanging back, slowly walked towards the Mejiro Family Head and cautiously asked,
"Excuse me, esteemed Madam, may we take photos now?"
"You may."
In high spirits, the Mejiro Family Head nodded and said with a hint of glee.
This victory at the Tenno Sho was of immense significance to the Mejiro Family's fame; having these reporters publicizing it was essentially free publicity.
"Children, come over for a photo."
"Okay!"
At the call of their Grandmother, all the beautiful young girls of the Mejiro Family swiftly stopped chatting and came over.
With the Mejiro Family Head in the center alongside Mejiro Ryan and McQueen on each side beside her, the photographer prepared to take the shot.
But, just as everything was ready, Mejiro McQueen seemed to notice a group of people not far away.
"...Trainer?"
Almost instantly, once Mejiro McQueen registered the presence of Imanami and her two close friends, her tail began wagging rapidly like a helicopter.
McQueen's movements were so sudden that they caused the Mejiro Family Head, who was startled by it, to instinctively recoil, her eyes widening as she began to lose her balance.
"Grandmother?!!"
Fortunately, Ryan and Ardan reacted almost instantly and supported their Grandmother, coincidentally lining up with the moment the photographer captured the photo, immortalizing this scene forevermore.
Thus, in the newspapers the next day, a picture of a certain elderly Uma Musume almost falling down would appear on the front page, becoming an even bigger sensation than the Mejiro Family's victory over the Tenno Sho for three consecutive years.
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Boutta get obliterated by my math exam tmr.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.