"Yo, isn't that McQueen? Why are you back covered in dust and looking so miserable~?"
The moment McQueen returned, she was greeted by Teio's gloating expression. McQueen was furious, but since she had indeed lost, there was nothing she could do about it.
"I swear on the name of Mejiro, I will bring victory back! Hmph~ Who do you think I am?" Teio began posturing dramatically, mimicking McQueen's mannerisms, which made McQueen tremble with rage.
"Damn you! You'd better not let me catch you losing a race!"
"Too bad~ I am the invincible Emperor, you know~"
"You literally lost to me at the Tenno Sho!"
"In the world of Umamusume, victory and defeat are commonplace. Dwelling on a humiliating loss will make the name 'Emperor' weep."
"You weren't saying that just now!"
Teio spread her hands, sighed slightly, and adopted a senpai-like demeanor. "See? Dwelling on such things proves you're still just a child, McQueen."
"?!", McQueen involuntarily clenched her fists.
The adults act childish, while the children try to act mature. Truly a 'Royal Road Legacy'~
Kousei watched the scene silently, relieved that McQueen seemed unaffected by her defeat. This was the best possible outcome.
After all, McQueen came from such a proud and elite lineage. In the past, many athletes from similar backgrounds had started strong but faltered after setbacks like penalties or losses, never recovering their momentum. The more prideful a Umamusume was, the more susceptible she became to this kind of slump. For Umamusume, a "Shattered Heart" could severely impact their performance.
But for Kousei, Urara, and Twin Turbo, failure was never a reason to have a Shattered Heart.
"Damn it! That 'Ghost' actually won! Turbo's not giving up!" Twin Turbo suddenly burst out in a fit of frustration.
Ghost? Was she referring to Vice President Air Groove?
"Ah!" Teio clearly understood what Twin Turbo meant. "Well, Turbo does get caught by Air Groove Senpai all the time. She's really strict!"
At the mention of Air Groove, Twin Turbo shuddered, clearly bearing a vivid memory.
"I think Air Groove Senpai is very gentle," McQueen countered, disagreeing with Teio's assessment.
"Only McQueen thinks Air Groove Senpai is gentle. I find her super strict! Every time I go to see the President, Air Groove Senpai's stare makes me so uncomfortable," Teio complained.
"By the way, McQueen, is your leg injury okay? You're pushing yourself too hard again," Kousei asked.
"Are you worried about me?"
"Must you always answer a question with another question?"
McQueen pursed her lips, a subtle upturn at the corners hinting at hidden amusement.
"I'm fine. It stings a bit, but the Mejiro Family doctor is taking good care of me. It's not just the Umamusume who are fighting, you know."
A doctor, huh? McQueen had the support of the Mejiro Family, and Teio had Miss Fujino, but Kousei herself didn't have a personal physician overseeing her health.
She wasn't too concerned, though. She rarely got injured, and the Central doctors were highly skilled.
"Enough about me. Shouldn't we start thinking about what comes next?"
Kousei glanced at Urara and Twin Turbo. Kashimoto Riko hadn't fielded Little Cocon or Bitter Glasse, opting instead for Air Groove. Looks like I was fooled by Acting Chairman Kashimoto's bravado too, Kousei thought. To be honest, I never imagined McQueen would lose. The current score stood at one win and one loss.
"Don't worry! Urara will give it her all!"
"Just leave it to Turbo!"
Kousei smiled in agreement, but her heart remained anxious. "We don't know how strong those two are... Can Urara and Twin Turbo really win?"
A heavy hand clapped her on the back, startling her. She turned to see Teio standing behind her.
"Don't make that face," Teio said sternly.
Urara and Twin Turbo couldn't grasp Teio's meaning, but Kousei understood instantly, her expression freezing. Hadn't her thoughts become the same as those others?
"What's wrong? Feeling unwell? You should eat more carrots~" Urara blinked innocently.
"Turbo will definitely win the next race! You don't need to worry!" Twin Turbo puffed out her chest proudly and thumped it for emphasis.
Kousei smiled again, this time without the forced agreement. "Of course, we're Sirius, after all. Just a friendly reminder: whoever wins will have defeated Mejiro McQueen~" Kousei glanced pointedly at Twin Turbo. "You know, Mejiro McQueen, the one who rivals Tokai Teio~"
"Tokai Teio!" As if triggered by a keyword, Twin Turbo froze in astonishment.
"Yes, Tokai Teio. So, if you win this race, it's the same as defeating Tokai Teio."
The devilish whispers seeped into their ears. Mejiro McQueen wore an expression of helpless resignation, but Twin Turbo, clearly easily deceived, had already fallen completely for the trap.
"Full throttle! Turbo must beat Tokai Teio!" With that, Twin Turbo suddenly bolted off.
"Urara wants to beat McQueen too! Go, go, go!" Urara followed Twin Turbo, charging off.
McQueen's expression was complex. Gate Technique Fighters are truly despicable, she thought.
"So, shouldn't we discuss our tactics now? After all, they just outmaneuvered us," McQueen tentatively suggested.
"Even if we strategize, it wouldn't matter," Teio countered. "We'd just end up running however we feel on the track anyway. That's just how we are."
"If it were you, Teio, would you lose?" Kousei asked.
"Nah, I'd win! No matter who the opponent is," Teio replied without a moment's hesitation, as always.
It seems we don't need to worry about the Emperor's side anymore.
"Besides the race, there's something else I'm curious about. Why would the President side with the Acting Chairman? Teio, do you know anything about this?" McQueen asked, turning to Tokai Teio.
"I'm not sure either. After all, the President wouldn't tell me anything. But I have a pretty good guess."
"Really?"
"Of course! Who do you think loves the President more than anyone else in the world? Me, of course!" Teio said, looking quite proud of herself.
"Alright, tell me your theory then," McQueen interrupted, cutting off her boasting.
"Who holds the most power right now?"
"Individually, it would be Acting Chairman Kashimoto. Institutionally, it's Central, right?"
"Exactly! Little and Cocon mentioned that ever since Acting Chairman Kashimoto visited Central, her usually stubborn personality has become even more extreme. Combine that with the Chairman's sudden business trip, and Acting Chairman Kashimoto's seamless takeover... the answer is practically staring us in the face."
McQueen understood Teio's point. "But you just said this is Acting Chairman Kashimoto's doing. What does it have to do with President Rudolf?"
"The Student Council already has some authority, but it's not enough compared to the Chairman and Central. If the Student Council shows its stance and defeats us, solidifying the Central's support for the Acting Chairman, the Management Education Program will take effect. The Student Council will then be directly connected to Central, and the President will gain even more power. Even if Acting Chairman Kashimoto goes rogue, Central can still use the Student Council to handle things."
"What if both sides go rogue?"
Teio scratched her head. "They probably have some countermeasures in place, but I don't really understand those details. I may be a Genius, but only when it comes to running. These matters are far too complicated for me. Let the adults handle the adult stuff."
As Teio spoke, she glanced at Kousei, who suddenly recalled T saying something similar.
"Our battlefield isn't there. If we want to cause some chaos, let's tear up the racetrack instead!"
Kousei and McQueen exchanged a knowing look.
"You're right," McQueen agreed. "Umamusume should settle things the Umamusume way—on the track."
"I suddenly feel like my running has gained a sacred purpose. Is this what it feels like to carry hope on your shoulders?"
Teio extended her palm. Kousei and McQueen hesitated for a moment before covering it with their own.
"If they think we'll just surrender quietly, they're sorely mistaken! We'll give those self-righteous adults a 'punch' they'll never forget!"
"Yeah!"