"McQueen-nee, what are you doing so early in the morning?" Dober asked, yawning endlessly, her eyes heavy with sleep.
In front of the full-length mirror, McQueen tried on one outfit after another, yet none seemed to satisfy her.
"Are you going to a banquet, McQueen-nee?" Dober asked casually.
"Huh?" McQueen seemed to have only just noticed Dober was awake. "Sorry, Dober! Did I wake you?"
"It's fine. But you still haven't answered my question."
"What question?"
"Umm... are you going to a banquet?" Dober wondered inwardly, McQueen-nee is acting really strange. Did she hit her head in her sleep last night?
"A banquet? No, not at all. Perfect timing, Dober! Come help me choose!"
Though utterly confused, Dober let McQueen drag her along. Despite the circumstances, she took the task seriously—her fashion sense was among the best in the Mejiro family.
"There! This is perfect. You're amazing, Dober!"
After all the commotion, McQueen admired her reflection in the mirror, looking thoroughly pleased.
"You're flattering me. By the way, McQueen-nee, you still haven't—"
"I'm heading out!"
Before Dober could finish her sentence, McQueen bolted out the door and vanished. Watching her strangely acting sister, Dober tilted her head. "Is today some kind of special day?"
She couldn't recall anything. Stretching lazily and yawning, she prepared to go back to sleep.
Then, she caught sight of Ramonu in her peripheral vision.
"Ah, Ramonu-san, good morn—"
But Ramonu seemed not to notice her, rushing out the door in a hurry, leaving Dober standing there in a daze.
"How strange... What's going on today?"
McQueen and Ramonu's unusual behavior completely chased away Dober's sleepiness. As a doujinshi artist, she possessed an exceptionally keen "sense."
Something big is about to happen.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
The doorbell suddenly rang loudly. Puzzled, Dober watched as a butler approached with hurried steps.
"Miss Dober, may I ask where the Clan Head is at this moment?"
"McQueen-nee? She just left. Didn't you see her?"
"And... Miss Ramonu?" the butler asked again, his face etched with worry.
"Ramonu-san left too. What's going on? Why do you look so agitated?" Dober asked, confused.
"Well, you see, representatives from the Central Committee just arrived. They seem extremely urgent and insist on speaking with the Clan Head, no matter what."
"The Central Committee?" Dober's suspicions were now confirmed.
The Mejiro Family had always maintained a strict policy of non-interference with the Academy's internal affairs, keeping a clear distance from the Central Committee. Yet, just as McQueen and Ramonu were acting so strangely, the Committee had come knocking. Though Dober was the youngest, she was far from naive.
"Butler, please show them in and tell them to wait a moment. Say that McQueen-nee is currently washing up."
"Eh? But Miss Dober, didn't you just say the Clan Head had already left?"
"Just do as I say. Leave the rest to me."
"As you wish."
Sleep was now the furthest thing from Dober's mind. She looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh.
-
Inside Tracen Academy...
T smiled knowingly as he read the urgent summons from the Central Committee. Just then, the Sakura Family Head pushed the door open and entered, a rare smile gracing the old man's face.
"Looks like they got the message," T said, waving the letter in his hand. He seemed to be in a good mood.
"What do you mean, 'got the message'?" the Sakura Family Head replied, clearly pleased. "You're the one who leaked it. Normally, I'd warn you not to get carried away, but..."
"Speaking of which, thank you for the Sakura Family's assistance."
"Don't mention it. My girls have been restless ever since I first forbade them from joining the resistance. Especially Bakushin—she's all heart, acting on pure impulse. With Laurel and Chiyoda O by her side this time, there shouldn't be any trouble. Besides, I doubt those Committee fools will have the time to worry about them."
The two men exchanged a knowing glance, and T let out a cheerful whistle.
"Come on. Let's go see the looks on the Committee's faces."
On the surface, Central remained calm, but beneath the placid exterior, a storm was brewing.
-
On the rooftop, Narita Brian gazed into the distance, a greedy smile slowly spreading across her face.
"That temper of yours... You'll never change, will you?"
"Stay out of my business."
Sirius appeared behind Brian. Ever since she'd promised Kousei she'd keep an eye on Brian, she'd been tailing her almost daily, much to Brian's irritation.
"I was going to share some good news, but it seems you've already sensed it. I suppose that's to be expected. After all, you two are the most attuned."
Narita Brian gripped the chain-link fence. Sirius lowered her head, a cryptic smile playing on her lips. Her gaze followed the stretching shadows until they converged on the far wall, forming the silhouette of a monster.
"I've been waiting for you for so long!"
-
In a nearby activity room, Rice Shower and Sweep were having a blast, led by Palmer. As a natural party animal, Palmer excelled at livening up the atmosphere, though she usually did so with Helios.
For two of the main instigators of the internal conflict, their current mood was far too relaxed. Leo and Black Bullet weren't in the room; they were in another activity room nearby.
Before them, Tokai Teio leisurely sipped honey water, looking utterly content.
"Shouldn't we be catching up with the plan?" Leo asked, unable to stand Teio's carefree attitude any longer.
"Don't be so hasty, Leo," Teio replied, her voice calm and composed. "You can't rush perfection."
Black Bullet chortled. "Leo, you always worry too much. We've waited this long; what's a little longer?"
Leo pouted. Seeing this, Teio reassured her, "The first rule of the racetrack: impatience reveals your weaknesses."
Leo knew this, of course, but she couldn't help worrying whenever she thought about the current situation at Central.
Teio set down her cup, her expression sharpening. "All the actors are in place. It's our turn to take the stage."
She leaped to her feet, her face breaking into its usual confident smile. Time had passed, but she was still the same proud, self-assured super genius.
"McQueen and Kousei have had their time in the spotlight. It wouldn't be right for me to keep lazing around."
The Empress herself would lead the charge. Teio was back.
-
Amid the day's turmoil, McQueen's heart was filled with joy. Why? Because Kousei had messaged her the night before, saying she would return to Central today.
Two of life's greatest joys: encountering an old friend in a foreign land and reuniting with a long-lost companion.
McQueen couldn't contain her impatience. She checked her pocket watch again and again, feeling as if time had slowed to a crawl.
Suddenly, her brow unfurled in delight. The figure she had longed to see gradually came into focus in her eyes. She was back.
"Kousei!"
Kousei looked up and waved at McQueen, her smile just as radiant. McQueen stepped forward, and Kousei quickened her pace to meet her.
Carefully, they navigated through the crowd until they stood beside each other.
"Have you gained a little weight?"
"Shut up."
Kousei's teasing, McQueen's playful retort—it seemed as if nothing had changed between them.
But time always pushes young girls to grow. Both Kousei and McQueen were subtly different from who they once were.
These subtle differences were merely proof of their growth; their sincere friendship hadn't faded with time or distance.
"Welcome back."
McQueen opened her arms and gave Kousei a gentle hug, a quiet expression of how much she had missed her. Kousei had thought she would have so much to say to McQueen, but the moment she saw her, it felt as if they had only been apart for a week. All the conversations she had rehearsed on the plane vanished from her mind.
"I'm free today. Want me to walk you back to the Shopping District?" McQueen offered.
Instead of answering, Kousei's gaze shifted to the space behind McQueen.
"My apologies for interrupting, Miss McQueen."
McQueen turned to see Kashimoto Riko approaching with a group of people, her eyes fixed on Kousei.
"Acting Director!?" McQueen exclaimed, about to explain on Kousei's behalf. After all, so much time has passed, and Kousei is no longer a Central competitor.
A hand pressed down on McQueen's shoulder, silencing her. Kousei stepped past her, head held high, and advanced. Kashimoto Riko and her group tensed as if facing a formidable enemy.
Perhaps overwhelmed by the joy of their reunion, McQueen hadn't realized that Kousei no longer being a Central competitor meant they were now on opposing sides.
As McQueen watched Kousei's back, she failed to notice the Umamusume on either side who began to follow Kousei's lead.
[Chaotic Fox] Twilight Cloud.
[Executioner] Speedstar.
[Final Leg Hero] Tenmile Cloud.
...[King of Killers] Morgan, and [Young Dragon] Jade Rouge Dragon.
A dangerous red glint flickered in Kousei's eyes—
Foreign Invasion! The Strongest and Fiercest in History Have Arrived!