"And that's how it is. I dragged Legend-san over to join the tea party."
Guangming said slowly.
"Hi~ Did you miss me?"
Legend greeted them with practiced ease.
"Hahaha, welcome, welcome! Long time no see, Legend."
Ryan said with a hearty laugh.
"No, I see you often. It's just that you're usually walking with Ines Fujin, so I didn't say hello."
Legend's tone carried a hint of teasing.
"Eh? Really?"
Ryan said, flustered and losing her composure.
Dober and Guangming looked askance.
"By the way, is the tea party the activity for the Mejiro Family's Great Thanksgiving Festival this time?"
A tea party and an activity—they really were two things that didn't seem to go together no matter how you looked at it.
"Rather than a tea party, it's more of a fan meet-and-greet."
Ryan said helplessly.
"After receiving the invitation from the Chairman, Grandmother enthusiastically gathered all the currently debuted Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family to hold a fan interaction event under the guise of a tea party."
"By the way, since Dober and I haven't debuted yet, we're just here to observe."
Guangming added.
"Oh~ sounds interesting." Legend nodded.
"It's not interesting at all!"
The usually carefree voice sounded displeased today for some reason.
"Honestly, I already said I wouldn't be acting as a Mejiro Family Uma Musume for the time being."
Mejiro Palmer grumbled to herself.
"This is Grandmother's order."
Guangming said slowly.
"That's why I'm here." Palmer's reply was filled with various emotions.
"Hmm, greetings, Legend. Long time no see."
Although she had just been grumbling, Palmer still performed a graceful curtsy to Legend.
Contrary to her carefree personality, Palmer was the most skilled at etiquette in the Mejiro Family.
This elegance, etched into her bones, was the complete opposite of a certain Fat Horse.
"Hmm, greetings."
Legend returned the greeting.
Guangming blinked: "Legend-san's etiquette is very standard."
"Well, I did systematically learn female etiquette."
Legend said helplessly.
"That means you're not good at the male version, which explains why your gentleman's bow is so awkward."
The teasing, accompanied by an ethereal voice, came from behind.
"Let's not bring up those dark histories, Ardan."
Legend turned around helplessly.
"These are precious memories to be cherished forever; I'm going to talk about them for the rest of my life."
Ardan walked up to Legend with a smile and reached out to straighten Legend's clothes.
"Hmm..."
Dober, who had long heard of her, frowned, feeling restless for some reason.
"Ara..."
Guangming looked thoughtfully at the overly close distance between Ardan and Legend.
"Say, aren't Mejiro Ardan and Legend a bit too close? And their atmosphere feels oddly familiar."
Ryan tiptoed over to Palmer's side and asked quietly.
"Indeed, it feels just like when you and Fujin are together."
Palmer nodded seriously.
"What are you talking about!"
Ryan panicked.
"Alright! Enough chatting, it's about time we went on stage." Ardan clapped her hands, taking control of the situation. "By the way, where is McQueen?"
"McQueen said she'll probably be a little late."
Ryan raised her phone to answer.
"What's going on? She's a key player, honestly."
Ardan was somewhat displeased.
As the current acting head of the Mejiro Family, and as a long-distance runner for the Mejiro Family who had successfully achieved the Spring Tenno Sho, Mejiro McQueen was undoubtedly the core of the Mejiro Family right now.
This event was even prepared with her as the core.
And now she's saying she might be late?
Legend looked away, feeling guilty.
"...Legend, do you know something?"
Ardan, whose gaze had been fixed on Legend, asked sharply.
"Ah, well..."
"It seems you really do know. Speak, what's going on?"
Dober, inexplicably restless, spoke with an unfriendly tone.
"Dober."
Ardan's ethereal voice turned cold.
"...Sorry, I was too excited."
Dober shivered, stepped back in fear, and then apologized properly.
Guangming, Ryan, and Palmer also shivered.
Although, in a strict sense, Mejiro Ardan was of the previous generation, the same as Mejiro Ramonu.
However, due to Ardan's poor health and Mejiro Ramonu's outstanding achievements, she is actually considered part of McQueen's generation.
Therefore, she became the eldest sister of this generation of Mejiro Family Uma Musume.
And because she resided at the Mejiro Family main house for a long time to recuperate, she basically watched this generation of Uma Musume grow up.
As the saying goes, the eldest sister is like a mother; for this generation of Mejiro Family Uma Musume, Ardan's authority is absolute.
"It's fine, it's fine, it really was my fault."
Legend hurriedly stepped forward, blocking the space between Ardan and Dober, and explained the sequence of events to everyone.
"Ha, Legend, you… Never mind."
Upon hearing how Legend had tricked McQueen, Ardan sighed helplessly.
"And also, Dober."
"Yes!"
"As an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, maintaining elegance is the most basic etiquette. Do you understand?"
Ardan turned her target toward Dober.
Legend wanted to say something.
"This is the Mejiro Family's private business. Legend, you have no room to interfere right now," Ardan said in an unquestionable tone.
"Ahaha."
Essentially a pushover, Legend backed down.
"…Yes, I'm sorry."
Dober bit her lip in frustration.
"Very well. As punishment, Dober, you and Bright go up and chat with everyone first."
Ardan nodded.
"Ah, eh?!"
"Ardan-nee-sama means for the two of us to go up and carry the stage first," Bright explained with a smile.
"No! I can't do it!"
Dober hurriedly waved her hands.
Communicating and chatting with everyone in public was still too difficult for Dober.
"Ardan-nee-sama, how about we forget it?"
Ryan said worriedly.
"Yeah, Ardan-nee-sama, you know what Dober's personality is like…"
Palmer also said worriedly.
"That's exactly why she needs training. It's okay, Dober; Bright and Legend will go up and help you."
"That's right, that's right. Bright and I… Hmm?"
Legend only noticed the point halfway through.
"Um, Ardan, I'm not from the Mejiro Family," Legend cautiously reminded.
"It doesn't matter. It's only a matter of time," Ardan continued smiling, her tone unquestionable. "Besides, Legend, can you bear to let Dober face the fans' enthusiasm all by herself?"
"Isn't Bright there too…"
"Legend-san?"
"It is my duty!"
Legend readily agreed.
"Then, Dober, what is your decision?"
Ardan asked Dober with a smile.
"…"
Dober looked at the composed Ardan, then at Legend on the side, who was looking at Ardan with an expression that said, "I really can't do anything with you." For some reason, something seemed to ignite in her heart.
"I understand, I'll do it!"
Mejiro Dober made up her mind.
"Dober…"
Ryan's gaze at Dober was filled with relief and a hint of sadness.
"She's grown up," Palmer praised with a chuckle.
"Hehe."
Mejiro Bright continued to smile leisurely, not knowing what she was thinking.
---------------------------------
I hope you enjoy this fanfiction! If you're having fun and want to read 30 chapters in advance, feel free to check out my Patreon: patreon.com/TLScarlet
Your support means a lot so if you like the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone.