Takatoshi Imanami, having accepted Mejiro Ardan's invitation, also got into a luxurious car that was arranged by the Mejiro Family and drove along a road leading away from the city, towards the so-called Mejiro Estate.
"Trainer Imanami, have you ever been to Mejiro Estate before?" Mejiro Ardan sat opposite, while McQueen and Imanami sat in the same row. Ardan asked curiously.
"It's my first time, but I am somewhat aware of the great name of the Mejiro Family," Imanami answered honestly. Gold Ship had already detached herself from him and was probably sound asleep somewhere in Tracen Academy now, wasn't she?
That girl was really tired today. Not only did she carry him running all the way, but she was also exceptionally energetic during the Winner's Stage. It was only after the Winner's Stage ended that she finally burned out.
Imanami had no intention of waking Gold Ship; after all, the Mejiro Family Head was looking for him. As for why they were looking for him... Imanami felt he could handle it.
"Is that so? Then I believe this time you will be greatly enlightened." Ardan smiled gently.
"McQueen has written to us more than once, saying she found an excellent Trainer. So, for this mock race, all of us came specifically to watch, and the outcome was truly unexpected."
"McQueen won spectacularly, and this is certainly thanks to your guidance, Trainer Imanami—of course, next time, please pay attention to the Winner's Stage!"
"Ardan-nee..."
However, Ardan's gentle teasing made McQueen, who was sitting next to Imanami, a little restless. She had never told Imanami about writing to her family; after all, her wording in that letter... might have been a bit inappropriate.
After all, stealing Gold Ship's favorite Trainer... there was no way she could say that in front of Imanami! McQueen could tell that Imanami doted on Gold Ship considerably, and Gold Ship was very dependent on Imanami. If she wasn't decisive enough, she might lose out on getting a good Trainer.
Therefore, the content of the letter was more or less poorly worded. McQueen didn't want Imanami to know how much effort she had put in behind the scenes to win the position of being his Uma Musume and to convince her Grandmother to trust her.
"McQueen is really shy, isn't she? Ah, we've arrived." Ardan smiled gently, and then, as the car slowly stopped, she took the lead in opening the door for the two of them.
"Welcome to Mejiro Estate—Trainer Imanami, please come this way."
As they arrived, what appeared before Imanami at this moment was not so much a house as it was a mansion, with it completely lacking the ancient and rustic feel that Imanami associated with old properties. The entire manor exuded a strong sense of charm, and the fountain in the center was carved with a statue of an Uma Musume—most likely a famous Uma Musume from the Mejiro Family.
"Let's go, Trainer Imanami." At this moment, McQueen also stepped forward. As an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, she was highly regarded within the family and had the right to be the host for her Trainer. She said with a smile, "Grandmother is waiting for us."
"No, no, McQueen, you stay with us." Ardan, hearing this, waved her hand and said with a smile, "Grandmother wants to see Trainer Imanami alone."
"Is that so..." McQueen also felt a little strange upon hearing this, but she didn't suspect anything. She just apologized to Imanami, saying, "Then, Trainer Imanami, I will take my leave first."
"Trainer Imanami, please come this way. The Mejiro Family Head is waiting for you." Ardan led Imanami towards the central villa. There, waiting for Takatoshi Imanami, was the true head of the Mejiro Family... "Takatoshi Imanami... The top scorer in this year's Central Trainer examination. You managed to get a perfect written test score, and all of this was achieved within only a single month."
After some time, led by Ardan, Imanami finally met the Mejiro Family Head—a Madam who was clearly a gray-haired old lady at first glance. As for whether she was an Uma Musume, Imanami dared not speculate.
"Truly a heaven-sent talent, Trainer Imanami, as expected of the Trainer even McQueen thinks highly of."
"The Madam overpraises me." Facing the Mejiro Family Head, Imanami didn't feel nervous at all, merely showing his respect.
Imanami's composure also surprised the Mejiro Family Head. Although she, as the head of the Mejiro Family, didn't often receive guests, who among them, apart from the younger generation of the Mejiro Family, wouldn't be respectful and deferential upon seeing her?
After all, the Mejiro Family is renowned in the Uma Musume world, and in this world, what else is more worthy of everyone's attention besides Uma Musume races?
It's a pity that Imanami didn't know the Mejiro Family Head's thoughts; otherwise, he would probably have burst out laughing.
For one thing, Takatoshi Imanami's mental age was most likely a decade or so older than the Family Head in front of him; he wasn't one of those easily startled young people. What's more, Imanami was also a highly respected figure in the Racehorse world. Although he was just a stableman, he had worked his way up from Jockey and Horse Trainer.
Even high-ranking officials from the JRA would respectfully call him "senior." If it weren't for his passion for Racehorses, Imanami's qualifications would have long been enough for him to become a high-ranking official at the JRA. Why would he still be a stableman?
"I'm just wondering, Madam, why have you gone to such great lengths to receive me? Is there an important matter to discuss?" Imanami asked calmly, "I am but a new Trainer, and I don't believe there is anything about me that the Madam would value."
"No, Trainer Imanami, your talent is the priceless treasure I value most," the Mejiro Family Head immediately retorted. "The Mejiro Family currently lacks talent like yours."
"I've read all the letters McQueen sent. There were many praises for you. I initially thought McQueen was just lucky, and that your personality simply suited her, so I didn't pay much attention at first."
"—But it wasn't until a week ago, when you realized McQueen's Periostitis even earlier than our Mejiro Family's doctors, that I truly realized you are a great talent."
"...That was simply just luck."
Imanami, upon hearing this, finally knew the reason he was summoned and suddenly felt a headache. How could he diagnose illnesses? Even if he was an experienced old stableman, something like noticing illnesses at a glance was impossible for him; the horse would need to at least show obvious symptoms for him to notice.
Imanami simply just recalled things about McQueen's Debut Race period. Periostitis was diagnosed after pressing McQueen's leg, but to say he could spot McQueen's hidden ailment at a glance was truly overestimating him.
One could only say that if every stableman could spot early symptoms of some Racehorses at a glance, then the world wouldn't need veterinarians. They could just make the stableman qualification exam a hundred times harder, allowing them to become a veterinarian at any time.
—But Imanami couldn't say these things. How would he explain? That he already knew about McQueen's periostitis? That he, a Trainer, had sharper insight than the Mejiro Family's doctors? Wouldn't that be ruining someone's livelihood?
"One also needs to know how to seize the chance luck gives you, Trainer Imanami; please don't be so modest." The Mejiro Family Head clearly didn't believe Imanami's words and immediately stood up, saying:
"Trainer Imanami, your talent is the support the Mejiro Family needs most right now, and this time, I hope to gain your approval."
"...If the Madam means for me to be Miss McQueen's Trainer, please rest assured, Miss McQueen and I have already had a prior agreement." Imanami suppressed a slight feeling of unease in his heart and said, "As long as Miss McQueen wins her Debut Race, we will immediately sign the contract."
"No, Imanami-san, you've misunderstood my meaning."
However, the Mejiro Family Head silently looked him in the eyes, changed how she addressed Imanami, and said word for word:
"I hope you can become the Mejiro Family's exclusive Trainer, staying with the Mejiro Family from now on to provide targeted training for the Mejiro Family's Uma Musume."
"If you accept, you will be an official member of the Mejiro Family, and also the Chief Trainer of the Mejiro Family, receiving the same treatment as core members of the Mejiro Family. My only requirement for you is one thing—to have more of the Mejiro Family's Uma Musume win the Tenno Sho."
"..."
At this moment, even Imanami's experience made him slightly stunned, but the Madam's subsequent words made his expression a little strange.
To become a member of the Mejiro Family... did she mean for him to marry into the family?
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I've been listening to Studio Eim's Limbus music lately and damn is it good.
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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.