A week has passed since McQueen made a contract with a young trainer named Igo Heita. Their first meeting wasn't exactly what McQueen had envisioned. Hearing tales from her upper-class women about their fated meetings with their trainers has filled McQueen's heart with hope and dreams. She thought that her meeting with her fated trainer would be similar to how a princess meets her hero, like in the fairy tales.
Alas, that wasn't what happened. Her first meeting with her current trainer can only be described as a disaster. She tripped right in front of him, and worse, she flashed him her underwear. Just remembering it caused McQueen's face to be flushed red.
I swear there wasn't anything for me to trip over there, so why did I fall in front of him?
The young Mejiro Lady gets out of her bed. The Uma dorm room is shared between two occupants, and McQueen shares her room with another Uma, Ikuno Dictus. A brown-haired that can be distinguished by her long braided ponytail and circular glasses.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
When McQueen woke up, her roommate was diligently working on her race shoes, keeping them at tip-top condition.
"I hope I didn't wake you up."
"No. It's already my usual get-up time anyway."
Ikuno Dictus had just hammered the nails on her shoes. Even though she did it with extra care, it still caused some noise when the metal hammer hit the metal bottom of the shoes.
"Are you preparing yourself for this week's mock race?"
"Indeed. How about you? Since you have already found your trainer, would you join the mock race too?"
"Uuh… I don't know about that."
To McQueen's unsure answer, Ikuno raises one of her eyebrows in question. Ikuno had known McQueen since they enrolled in Tracen Academy together, and the young Mejiro Lady had rarely shown uncertainty in her answer. She always answers with either yes or no and nothing in between. Even when she was buying desserts, she wouldn't pick, she would just buy and eat everything.
"I can't claim that I know exactly what my trainer is thinking…"
She had spent several days now training under him, but even now, McQueen isn't sure if he is even sane or not. That man could be one of the most mature beings she had ever met, or a childish manbaby that would cry because a bird stole his ice cream. At least his training menu isn't as inconsistent as he is.
I have to find a better trainer. Please goddesses! I need someone who befits the name of Mejiro!
McQueen clenched her fists and made a promise to herself. If she ever found a promising trainer other than him, she would break their contract and change trainers. She can't imagine explaining to the rest of her family about Igo Heita. She can't even explain him to her own roommate, let alone her extended family.
Yes! I have to!
"Hmm?"
Ikuno Dictus could only tilt her head, confused at the sight of her roommate clenching her fists.
XxX-XxX
"Hmm? The mock race?"
"Yeah… What are you two doing exactly?"
"Isn't it obvious? Changing the light."
That afternoon, McQueen had no more classes for the day, so she decided to visit an empty room that the student council president had given to them. When they asked for said room, they really weren't expected to be given one, but the tired, pale, and depressed president just gave them willy-nilly.
"McQueen, hands me the new bulb!"
"Yeah…"
When McQueen opens the door, Teio is standing on her trainer's shoulders while the trainer stands under a light fixture. She has to give both of them some credit for being able to pull that off, as even a trained cheerleader still needs some help.
"Teio, are you not afraid that Trainer Igo might look under your skirt?"
"I already did. She wears a spat."
Why did I even ask?
McQueen feels silly for even asking a question that was already too late to even think about.
"Don't worry, McQueen. Your panties are cuter than Teio's."
"I didn't ask!!"
This man is insufferable!!
McQueen questions the fairness of this world. Why was such a powerful talent born into such a weirdo? Why such a handsome face be plastered into such a perverted? Surely the three goddesses must be playing some kind of sick joke on the world for bringing him here.
"Done! Humph!!"
After fixing the new bulb into the light fixture, Teio jumps off the trainer's shoulder and spins 3 times before landing perfectly on her feet.
"Tada!!"
"You should think about joining a circus, Teio."
This place already is one.
"Oh yeah, what do you want to ask about the mock race, McQueen?"
"Ah… Will we be participating in the mock race, Trainer?"
"Of course you will, isn't that obvious?"
Sometimes, his unnatural confidence is an annoyance, and sometimes, it's a charm, like this time. McQueen couldn't help but smile at her trainer's confident answer. McQueen placed her bag on one of the empty seats and walked to the tea-making sets at the corner of the room.
"What? Are you sick? If you don't want to run, then I'll just let Teio."
"No, I was simply asking for clarification."
McQueen flipped the switch on the electric kettle and prepared the tea set on a silver tray. McQueen had personally bought these items using her own money, as the 2 other members of her team aren't exactly heavy tea-drinkers like her. Teio enjoys Hachimi while her trainer chugs down energy drinks like they're water to him.
"Why do you want us to run in the mock race, Trainer? Aren't those for girls that doesn't have a trainer yet?"
Nice job, Teio!
*HHHHIIIIISSSSSSS*
McQueen turns the electric kettle off before pouring the contents into the prepared teapot. McQueen's tea-making skills are simply divine, she can even make the poorest quality of tea leaves into a delectable one with her skills. She had learned said skills from her sister Ardan, who in turn was taught by a Chinese man with the title of 'Liberator of Ba Sing Se'. McQueen had never met this man before, but he surely is a powerful man to be bestowed such a title and a wise one from his refined tea-making techniques.
"Well, it's obvious to test you girls. All you had was just simple training race between the two of you. I don't have data about how you girls fare in actual competition with people wanting to win instead of wanting to train. Training and competition are two different things, and you should think of them as that."
McQueen silently agrees with her trainer. In training, people's main focus is to try to improve themselves and others. As such, people would hold themselves back because they want to train one aspect of their body. In races, people's main focus is to win. There is nothing but winning in their mind. They would use absolutely everything in their arsenal to gain an advantage over the other racers, which doesn't happen during training sessions.
"Here's your tea."
McQueen gives Teio and Igo a cup of tea each before serving herself one.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
McQueen's image of her trainer slowly improved after his insightful answer. A rookie trainer would definitely not let their trainees join the mock race and would rather continue training them. This is not the wrong answer, but having them join the mock race is the more correct more. You can train a trainee all you want, but how does one know how much a Uma has improved? It's not like there is a user interface that displays people's stats.
To know how much Uma has improved is to have her enter a race and do her absolute best to win. A test of motivation, skills, talent, and hard work. Only then does a trainer know what they need to focus on.
"Also, I want you girls to crush every single Umas that has rejected my offer. Cover them in dust and shine so brightly that no trainers would bat an eye at them. Be a tool for my revenge for the humiliation those Umas have brought to me!!"
"Kuck!!"
Give me back my admiration for you!!!!!!