Perspective: Yawata (Trainer)
"Man... I ended up coming here again. I know I was invited, but still... sigh."
"Please do not say such things, Brother," Ardan said, walking beside me. "Everyone in this household has taken quite a liking to you, you know."
"You mean they've taken a liking to the sweets I make, right? Not me personally."
"I am sure that plays a part. However," she smiled sweetly, "thanks to your training, Brother, I have been able to achieve these results. What I have taken a liking to is not just your confectionery, but your character as well."
"...Thanks for that."
As you have probably guessed, I am currently at the Mejiro estate. Why? Because the head of the Mejiro family summoned me. I don't know the specific reason, but ten to one, it's about making sweets.
"Shall we go, then? ♪" Ardan tugged on my arm.
"Hey... are the others around?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Your 'little sisters.' Ryan and the others. I have a feeling they're lurking somewhere."
"I wonder..." Ardan tapped her chin playfully. "I do not keep constant track of their schedules. Besides, since I arrived with you, Brother, I imagine they will find something else to occupy their time."
"Hrmm... But I bet at least one is here. Like Pack-Queen."
"I see even the name 'Mac' has been completely overwritten in your mind..."
Look, my image of that girl has been solidified as a glutton. I can't help it.
Location: Administrator's Office
Knock, knock, knock.
"Grandmother, it is Ardan. I have brought the Trainer."
"Enter," came the voice from inside.
"Excuse us," Ardan said, opening the door.
"Pardon the intrusion," I added.
"Thank you for coming all this way, Trainer Hikigaya," the matriarch of the Mejiro family said from behind her desk. "You always take such good care of Ardan and my other granddaughters."
"No, I am honored to be invited," I replied formally. "However, what is your business with me today? If it is regarding the matter we have discussed previously, my answer remains a polite refusal..."
"As expected, your answer hasn't changed. But that is not today's topic. I simply found myself craving your pastries after such a long time. If you would be so kind, would you make something for me?"
"...So that was it."
"My apologies. I should have asked Ardan to inform you in advance. Is this acceptable?"
"If that's all it is, I don't mind. It will take two to three hours, though. Do you have a request?"
"I leave it to you. I can rest easy knowing it is in your hands."
Time to get to work. She said I could make whatever I wanted, but a proper cake takes more than three hours to do right. The best option is cookies or a tart. If I use a pre-made base for the tart, I just need to focus on the filling... Yeah, let's go with that.
Several Hours Later
"Phew... It's done."
"My, what a delicious aroma," Ardan said.
"What? You were waiting?" I asked, surprised to see her hovering nearby.
"Grandmother seemed to be waiting eagerly. And... well, I was looking forward to it as well."
I took the finished tart to the Head of the family. I didn't bother with the tea service—the butler would handle that. Once that was done, I—or rather, we—retired to a different room.
"Is this okay? Me using a room like this?" I asked, looking around the opulent guest area.
"Yes, of course. Besides, I am looking forward to the sweets you made, Brother."
"Then let's eat... Ah, there's no tea. I'll go grab some."
"In that case, I shall ask the butler to—ah, he's already gone."
Location: Kitchen Entrance
"I never actually asked where the tea leaves were..." I muttered to myself. "I really don't want to be snooping around the kitchen of someone else's mansion, but needs must..."
Clack.
"...Hm?"
Inside the kitchen stood a Horse Girl I hadn't seen before. She had a striking dark bay coat—Aokage. I'd never seen her among Ardan's group or the usual staff. Who was she? She looked somewhat older than Ardan and the others...
"It looks very delicious..." the stranger murmured, eyeing the leftovers I'd set aside. "I wonder who made this?"
"Ah... excuse me?" I called out.
"Hm?" She turned slowly. "Oh my, I didn't hear you approach... Good day. You are Ardan's trainer... are you not?"
"I am, but... who are you?"
"I haven't given my name, have I? I am—"
"Brother! I thought you might not know where the tea leaves were, so I—Sister?!" Ardan appeared behind me, eyes wide. "Greetings, Sister!"
"Sister?" I blinked. "Wait, don't tell me... The 'Enchanting Dark Bay'?"
"Ufufu... I suppose the world did call me that once," the woman chuckled elegantly. "Let me introduce myself properly. I am Mejiro Ramonu. Ardan's elder sister."
A genuine legend.
She was the first Horse Girl in the history of Japanese racing to achieve the Triple Tiara. I'd heard that when she entered the academy, she wasn't highly regarded due to leg issues. Yet, before her debut, she won a training race by a massive twenty-length margin. After a few races, she entered the Classic Class and underwent a meteoric rise, winning race after race.
When she crossed the finish line of the Shuka Sho in first place, she opened a new page in history. The first Triple Tiara winner. Because she also dominated the trial races, it was hailed as the "Perfect Tiara." She boasted a strength comparable to Tesco Gaby, who had been considered the strongest in the history of the Tiara route until then.
"I'm surprised..." I admitted. "To think I'd meet the first Triple Tiara achiever."
"And I am honored to meet the famous 'Heavenly Eye' trainer," Ramonu replied smoothly. "I am also grateful, in no small part, that you have enabled Ardan—who has always suffered from leg uneasiness—to run as well as she does. I had always hoped to run with my little sister someday... and it seems that day might not be too far off."
"!" Ardan gasped.
"Well, she's still in the Junior Class. The real work starts now," I said.
"Ufufu. In the near future, I would like to see my sister run with my own eyes. Would you mind if I intruded on your training sessions?"
"You'd be welcome," I nodded. "I wouldn't mind seeing the running style of the strongest Tiara winner in history myself."
Author's Note:
It's been a while since I introduced a new character—Mejiro Ramonu!
She is the racehorse who achieved the first-ever Filly Triple Crown, holding nicknames like "The Treasure of Mejiro" and "The Enchanting Dark Bay" (Mashō no Aokage). The details are in the main text, so I'll skip them here, but please note: the third leg of the Filly Triple Crown at that time was the Queen Elizabeth Cup, not the Shuka Sho, so it differs from the modern format.
Her bloodline was passed down through Mejiro Libera, and in the great-grandchild generation, Field Rouge won the Kawasaki Kinen, and Glory Vase won the Hong Kong Vase twice. perhaps the bloodline finally awakened in the great-grandchildren?
Glory Vase, in particular, looks remarkably like Ramonu.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you so much for your support!!!