"How are your shoes, McQueen? Goldship didn't put gravel in them, did she?"
"Can you not be so suspicious of me, trainer? I have a limit to my pranks, you know?"
"You gave me a pipe bomb for Valentine's, bitch. Either way, if you have something that is feeling a little bit weird, just tell me."
"Fufufu~~ No. Everything is working perfectly fine. The only thing wrong is that I'm not standing on the track."
"Heh! Alright. We'll be going to the viewing area. Go out there and win your second crown."
"Umu! I will!"
.
.
.
"Haaah… Fuuuh…"
McQueen is walking alone in the tunnel to the turf. She was so engrossed in her pre-race routine that she failed to notice a group of umamusumes eyeing her.
"So that's this year's potential winner, huh?"
"Someone from the Mejiro family…"
"Regardless of who she is, we have our tasks to–!!"
The group of umamusumes' eyes quickly dart away from Mejiro McQueen when another umamusume comes into view. She is Gold City, the umamusume who is renowned for her unbeatable beauty.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Ah!! No–Nothing!! We were-Nothing at all!!"
Gold City had inserted herself between them and McQueen intentionally. She is here for one thing and one thing only: to make McQueen win. If McQueen wins, then the young man would take Gold City away from her current relationship and claim her for his own. There's nothing that Gold City wants more than for that to happen.
"Nice face you got there, Mejiro."
"Ah… Gold City. I'm sorry, but I'm not holding back."
"Words are cheap, and I don't take you as a cheap woman, Mejiro."
"Heh! Damn straight!"
The pair walks into the sunlight and is immediately greeted by the sound of cheers and fanfare. The gate is being pulled out toward its place, and several umamusumes can be seen stretching. They spin their necks, roll their shoulders, and kick the air as they make their way to the gates.
"McQueen is on gate four, and Gold City is on gate ten. Keep your eyes open for them, Teio."
"I know~~ I know~~ It's kinda hard to miss Gold City when she is so beautiful."
"That she is."
"Hey!! How dare you fawn over anyone else other than me?!"
"I'm going to drink your hachimi dry."
"Trainer, don't you think it's more beneficial for me to race as well? If McQueen is going to get grouped up, I can at least help her, and I don't have any aspiration to becoming an Undefeated Triple Crown like Teio. I can take a loss with no problem."
"You're a Front Runner, Suzuka. Most of the cagers will be Pace Chasers. You will have a few options to help McQueen. Besides, I don't think McQueen would appreciate me putting you on the chopping block. It's her upbringing and all."
"Hahaha… I can see that."
"Thank you for trying, Suzuka. It's nice to know that there is at least another kind person in the team other than me."
"Hey!! I'm nice!!"
"No, you're not, Teio. You're tolerable."
"Mmmh!! Meanie!! Hate!!"
"WELCOME EVERYONE!! WE ARE GOING TO WITNESS THIS YEAR'S TOKYO YUSHUN!!! WHO SHALL TAKE HOME THE SASH OF VICTORY!??!?! THE NUMBER ONE FAVORITE, MEJIRO MCQUEEN, OR THE TWO, GOLD CITY!!!"
"Let us wait in anticipation as the umamusumes enter their respective gates!!"
Umamusume, after entering the gate, waits for the moment the door in front of them bursts open.
McQueen will win. I will make sure of it. I don't care how far back I finish as long as she wins, then it's also my win.
The umamusumes enter the gates with their own selfish desires, but none was more selfish than Gold City. If she were to tell anyone what she is going to do, they would most likely consider her selfless. An umamusume sacrifices her race so that her friend can win. There's nothing more selfless than that.
If she wins, I'll get to be trained by him again. I want it. I want him!! I want him to look at me!! I WILL make him look at me!!
The truth was that she was fighting for McQueen's sake because of a string of words a certain young man had said. He said that if McQueen wins, then he'll train Gold City again, and there's nothing that El Dorado wants more than that.
We'll be one again soon enough, my prince.
"Haaa… Fuuuh…"
Gold City taps her shoes on the turf to nudge it into a better position. She has simulated the race for the last few days, preparing herself for every situation. Her job is to get the attention of the others and create a pathway for McQueen to move forward.
*Beep*
*Beep*
*BEEEEP*
*BAM*
"AND THEY'RE OFF!!!!"