Another ordinary day. After practice, Gold Legend was packing up in the training room.
"Clocking off!"
Her joy was written all over her face.
"…Seriously? You treat training like a nine-to-five job?"
Trainer stared at the gleeful Gold Legend in exasperation.
"Well, isn't it? Same hours, same drills, no paycheck—basically unpaid overtime."
Gold Legend shrugged.
"…"
Trainer had no comeback.
If he couldn't see how hard she worked once practice started, he'd swear she was some office slacker.
"Speaking of which, why are you still here?"
Gold Legend glanced at the mountain of paperwork on his desk, asking a question she already knew the answer to.
"Being a Trainer isn't as exhausting as your workouts, but don't underestimate the paperwork!"
Trainer sounded almost hurt.
In truth, the job was brutal—drawing up schedules, managing the team, endless forms and reports, booking races, requisitioning gear and tracks, networking, and keeping tabs on every Horse Girl's mental and physical health. Every Trainer was an elite multitasker.
"Besides, not everyone's checked in yet. I can't leave until the roster's complete."
Trainer was always the last one out. Unless an emergency forced him to leave Gold Legend in charge, he stayed until every Horse Girl had showered, changed, and gone, then did a final sweep of the room.
Powerful as they were, they were still minors; one accident and he'd never forgive himself. A laid-back but dependable type like Gold Legend was a rarity.
Why couldn't Gold Ship from the same Gold Family learn from her?
Just thinking of that alien life-form called Gold Ship made his stomach twinge.
"I'm not the last one tonight?"
Gold Legend was surprised—after her debut race she'd begged Trainer to ramp her workload up another notch.
To truly master her potential, she'd gone all-in.
The gains were tiny, but she believed in the power of drops wearing down stone.
"McQueen's still at it; Teio's waiting for her," Trainer replied.
"Seriously? It's this late and she's not done?"
Gold Legend looked out; the sunset had dyed the sky red.
"McQueen's been overdoing it lately. You know I can't interfere much."
Trainer believed in letting them find their own drive, yet he worried. Even for a Mejiro Horse Girl, this load was excessive—not every Horse Girl was a freak of nature like Gold Legend.
"Were you just bad-mouthing me?"
Gold Legend felt a chill.
"No. But can't any of you talk to her?" Worry crept into his voice.
"We haven't walked in her shoes. We don't know what 'Mejiro' means to McQueen. Precisely because we're her friends, we have no standing to stop her."
Gold Legend sighed. Friendship was awkward—too close and you became family; one wrong step and you were strangers.
"All we can do is believe in her and back her up."
That was her conclusion.
"Knowing you, McQueen might actually listen," Trainer said, recalling McQueen's odd deference to Gold Legend.
"Huh? Why me?"
Gold Legend blinked.
"Bad news! McQueen collapsed!"
Teio burst in, cutting them off.
Gold Legend and Trainer exchanged a glance and sprinted out… They rushed McQueen to the infirmary; Gold Legend sat outside waiting.
The door clicked open as Trainer stepped out.
"How is she?"
"Mild anemia and overtraining. She's impossible!"
Trainer massaged his temples; the medic had just chewed him out for negligence.
"Overtraining I get, but anemia? Is she cutting weight again?"
Gold Legend exhaled in frustration.
"No idea. Where's Teio?"
Trainer looked around; the filly who'd come with them was gone.
"I sent her to file your check-out and to notify the front office—this has to go up the chain."
"Is that so? Thanks, Legend, you're always so reliable."
Trainer-kun sighed.
"McQueen! I heard you collapsed—are you—"
A short-haired, bright-eyed Horse Girl rushed in.
"Shh—"
Gold Legend moved quickly and stopped her.
"Ah, sorry!"
Realizing her mistake, the short-haired girl quieted down.
"Um… hello, I'm Mejiro Ryan. And you two are?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Gold Legend, McQueen's teammate, and this is our Trainer-kun."
The four of them exchanged introductions.
"Chestnut Coat, tail-tip bloom, the name of Legend—are you the one McQueen mentioned?"
Mejiro Ryan hesitated.
"What?"
"No, nothing! Thank you both for always looking after McQueen!"
True to the Mejiro Family's poise, Ryan regained her graceful composure in an instant.
Though it felt a little at odds with her breezy appearance.
"By the way, do we know why she collapsed?"
Gold Legend and Trainer-kun exchanged glances.
Then they told Ryan the diagnosis.
"Mild anemia and over-training? I sensed she was pushing herself… I should have stopped her earlier…"
Regret tinged Ryan's voice.
Trainer-kun looked at Gold Legend; she nodded.
"I'll head off, then—mountains of paperwork waiting. I'll leave her to you, Legend."
Trainer-kun excused himself; as her Trainer, he bore responsibility, and reports were already piling up.
Besides, he trusted Gold Legend to handle things.
"Sorry for the trouble, Trainer,"
Ryan apologized on McQueen's behalf.
Trainer-kun waved without looking back.
"Don't worry, Trainer doesn't mind,"
Gold Legend said with a smile.
Watching that beautiful smile, Ryan slowly relaxed.
"You've been worried sick about McQueen."
Gold Legend remarked.
"Yes… but in the end, I couldn't do anything…"
Guilt still laced Ryan's tone.
"You can tell from the name—I'm technically a Mejiro Horse Girl. Not McQueen's sister, but we're pretty much childhood friends."
Ryan scratched her cheek, a little shy.
"She's… well, overly responsible, always competing with herself. McQueen's already amazing without doing all this."
"Any special reason?"
Gold Legend knew what kind of girl Mejiro McQueen was; even without the game's story in her past life, living with McQueen now made it clear there had to be a reason.
"We Mejiro Horse Girls have races we're born to enter—and win—depending on aptitude. I'm slated for the classics, while McQueen, gifted at long distance, is expected to take the Tenno Sho. The Tenno Sho is special for her: her mother and grandmother both have deep ties to it. Raised with that expectation, McQueen carries double the responsibility."
"I know that, but the next Tenno Sho (Spring) is ages away."
After all, it was only June; the race wouldn't come until next year.
"Part of it is my fault," Ryan said with a bitter smile. "We promised to settle things in a race, but our schedules only overlap at the Kikuka Sho. McQueen debuted late because of illness; without enough fans she can't run the Kikuka Sho, and that pressure must be weighing on her."
"So that's it."
"Yeah. And for some reason, ever since last Friday, she's been unusually tense. Probably her sense of duty trying to quell her anxiety."
That was the day of my debut race…
Gold Legend was quietly surprised.
"Anyway, I'm glad she's okay. I need to report to the family head. She's like a little sister and rival to me—please look after McQueen."
Ryan bowed to Gold Legend and turned to leave.
Aren't you going in to see her?
Gold Legend watched Ryan's back but didn't ask.
She shook her head, opened the door, and stepped into the infirmary.
The risen moon cast its light across the bed, illuminating McQueen's face; the sight left Gold Legend momentarily spellbound.
"…Where… am I?"
Sensing something, McQueen slowly opened her eyes.
"So the sleeping beauty's awake? I thought you might need a kiss."
Gold Legend grinned.
"Legend, what are you…?"
"This is the infirmary. Better stay down—you're still running a slight fever."
Gold Legend stopped McQueen, who was trying to sit up, and briefly explained the situation.
"A fever... It seems the accumulated fatigue is greater than I thought. It seems I often got fevers when I played too hard as a child too."
"You pushed yourself too hard. Also, you've been secretly dieting again, haven't you?"
"Wha—! I haven't gained weight!"
"It certainly seems like you've been secretly dieting."
Gold Legend looked at McQueen, feeling both annoyed and amused.
"...I apologize for making everyone worry."
McQueen lowered her head.
"Whether it's about the Kikuka Sho or the Tenno Sho, everyone will help you. Feel free to rely on us more for your dreams and goals."
"How do you know that..."
"Raine was very worried just now."
"Raine? That girl, even though it was a secret, she's as nosy as ever. And you call her Raine after just meeting her? Legend-san is really something!"
Where did that jealous tone come from? Gold Legend was puzzled.
"But is this really okay? Seriously helping me means taking on the Mejiro Family's mission with me. Legend, are you prepared? Prepared to become, well, like one heart and one body with me."
Why does that sound like a confession?
Gold Legend was a bit speechless, but answered without hesitation, "Of course!"
"An immediate answer. I understand. In that case, I won't hold back anymore. Be prepared, Legend-san!"
McQueen smiled, her expression different from usual, seemingly having made up her mind.
"Oh, Osu."
It must be an illusion, Gold Legend thought, looking out at the night sky.
The moonlight tonight is truly beautiful.
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