Having trained real horses, why are we now training racehorse girls after time-traveling?

"As a junior, you did very well, Megumi McQueen. I will remember your name, and I will also remember... your strength today."

As he said this, a rare, encouraging smile appeared on Ji Zhao's usually expressionless and cold face. Not only McQueen was startled, but even Tanino Misaki, who was standing next to him, was taken aback—this expressionless man actually smiled?!

This was a scene that Tanino Misaki had never seen before. Kichijo, who usually only had one person who could make him show such an expression, was now being made to look like this by another person?

Although it was only for a moment, Ji Zhao's expression quickly returned to its usual cold, expressionless state, but no one would believe that her smile at that moment was fake. It was Ji Zhao's recognition of McQueen; she had high hopes for McQueen and believed he could go far into the future.

"Be proud of yourself, Megumi McQueen. You deserve it. In any case, you have earned honors and proven your abilities."

"...Honor means nothing to me; I only hope that I can surpass stronger opponents."

Now, having cleansed the dark side of her heart, McQueen's soul has become incredibly pure. She no longer focuses on victory, but in doing so, she can achieve even more victories, because she has become someone who wants to challenge the stronger. As such, as long as she surpasses herself, victory will naturally follow.

Just like her now, McQueen, who should be celebrating her consecutive victories in the Spring and Autumn Emperor's Award, is now oblivious to all of that—she only cares about whether she can surpass Gigi if given another chance.

"Do I still have a chance to compete against you?"

"...Perhaps there are, but perhaps in this era, you are more likely to be the one being challenged."

Ji Zhao slowly closed his eyes and walked in the other direction, no longer paying attention to McQueen behind him. After a heavy breath, Tanino Miyu slowly stood up from the ground and patted McQueen on the shoulder.

"Hehe, not bad, junior. I'm not like that guy Ji Zhao. If I lose, I lose. I have nothing to say."

"You've already broken through your own limits, so try to achieve even higher goals—I have a good suggestion: how about trying to win the Imperial Award for two consecutive spring and autumn seasons?"

"With this honor, you're guaranteed to be a Hall of Fame racehorse girl! You'll be the only racehorse girl to win the Spring and Autumn Emperor's Prize for two consecutive years, a feat that is unprecedented and will likely remain so!"

"Keep up the good work, junior. Remember, you have already surpassed your previous limits. You are now a completely new being."

After leaving a word of advice, Tanino Miyu slowly left the scene. Only later did McQueen turn her gaze toward the audience, but not long after, she was tackled to the ground by a sudden figure!

"Ouch!"

"Hehe—congratulations, McQueen! You've achieved consecutive victories in the Spring and Autumn Imperial Awards!" The East Sea Emperor, who pounced on McQueen and hugged him tightly, completely disregarded McQueen's feelings. She was even more excited than McQueen himself, exclaiming:

"Today! We'll be hosting a really, really big feast for you, McQueen! Your Majesty, I'll order a mountain of melon parfaits for you! We'll all eat together!"

"Stop it! McQueen will really turn into a fat horse if you do that!" Upon hearing this, Golden Ship, who was following closely behind, was so frightened that she almost jumped up. She couldn't help but recall the scene after she made McQueen "Bakubaku drop his stockings" and was severely punished by Jin Lang. She couldn't help but feel a wave of fear.

She was genuinely afraid that McQueen would gain weight again, and Jin Lang would drag her and McQueen to extra training again! Every time McQueen had extra training, Jin Lang would use excuses like, "Golden Ship, your training process is the same as McQueen's, so you should join in," to get her to train. There were some things she didn't like even if the old man did them!

"Really? Oh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I still need to lose weight..."

"Can you let me get up first? Your Majesty, I can't breathe because you're pressing down on me."

"Hehe, okay." The emperor chuckled and immediately stood up, helping McQueen to his feet as well.

At that moment, McQueen immediately turned her gaze to Jin Lang, who had been standing beside the golden ship. She bowed deeply to Jin Lang and said with utmost sincerity:

"Trainer - thank you so much. Only now do I understand your good intentions."

"So, the real me is someone who doesn't pursue victory but strives to become stronger. You've made me realize that there are things in this world more important than victory, and as racehorse girls, we have things we need to pursue even more than victory."

"Thank you, trainer. I finally understand now, and I've finally... let go of my obsession."

"...Honestly, McQueen, I had already given up at that time. I wasn't as capable as you said." However, Jin Lang, feeling unworthy of McQueen's gratitude, shook his head and did not accept the thanks.

“McQueen, I don’t know how to help you break through your limits. This path... is one you forged yourself, and has nothing to do with a trainer like me who can’t fully unleash your potential.”

"When I saw you couldn't hold on in this game, I had already given up. McQueen, what broke through your limits was your own will, you conquered yourself."

"But without your influence over me all along, I would never have escaped this misconception." Megumi McQueen, upon hearing this, did not rush to refute as before, but gently expressed his views to Imai.

“Trainer… Perhaps I really do think you are a bad trainer sometimes, because you can sacrifice yourself for the wishes of others, and as racehorse girls who pursue victory, your personality always makes us lose some chances of winning.”

"But perhaps... my single-minded pursuit of victory and strength is not the way that truly suits me. Trainer, what I need is someone like you, someone who can guide me in the right direction, rather than someone who just keeps pushing me forward."

"Trainer, you made me realize the direction I should be heading... and showed me what the real reason is to keep running."

"For example, like now... Trainer, the consecutive victories of Shunju and Akira would have made me cheer with joy in the past, but now... I am no longer moved by this honor. I only feel regret that I could help Suzuka and break through my own limits, but I was unable to defeat Kitcho-senpai in the end."

"Trainer, these are the most precious things for me now. Now I finally understand."

A beautiful smile appeared on McQueen's face. At this moment, she truly seemed to have been reborn, becoming a McQueen who surpassed her original self.

Chapter 359: Suzuka: There's a kind of pain where everyone thinks you have a broken bone.

"...You've really grown to a point where everyone can be proud, McQueen."

Even Jin Lang didn't expect that McQueen could grow to this level. Racehorse girls, beings born to compete for first place and victory, their careers represent running, and running is to pursue victory. Now, McQueen has actually overcome his own thirst for victory as a racehorse girl and reached a more profound level.

At this moment, McQueen was so pure that even Jin Lang had to admit his shame. Such an excellent racehorse girl had encountered so many setbacks at the beginning, and had almost fallen, but she got up again and again. Obviously, she had taken the first step of the "Indomitable Emperor" and became the "Indomitable Queen".

And today's McQueen can undoubtedly reach a higher position than the "Mejiro McQueen" that I remember today - just as Tanino Misaki said earlier, she may become an outstanding racehorse girl that is unprecedented and unparalleled. It is not impossible for her to win the Spring and Autumn Emperor's Shoes for two or even three consecutive years.

Megumi McQueen now is fully capable of reaching that level, and she can do it better than ever before.

"By the way, how is Suzuka-san?" McQueen, having recovered from the small joy of his victory and the slight shyness after revealing his secret to Imanami, quickly began to worry about his teammate's condition.

"Don't worry, Suzuka is fine. She withdrew from the competition in time and is probably being taken to the hospital to rest now." Jinlang nodded. This time, whether it was McQueen's sudden outburst or Suzuka's final outcome, it was already the best result, resolving many of the problems that their team had been worried about at once.

Jinlang had originally planned that if the blockade plan really needed to be implemented, he would pretend that the matter had been exposed just as the public opinion was starting to stir up after the game, and finally admit his mistake. He would hold a press conference as the team leader, then bow and apologize in one go, and his qualification certificate would be revoked. That would be the end of the matter.

However, it seems that this tactic is no longer needed. Everything has developed in a way that was initially difficult to predict, and the final answer is—every racehorse girl is a master of creating miracles.

"...Let's go see Suzuka-kun, Trainer." McQueen was relieved to hear this and asked Duzi and Jinlang.

"Aren't you going to do a post-match interview later?" Jin Lang asked.

"...No, rather than being mobbed by reporters, I think we should call Grandma and let her know the good news in advance."

This time, Jinlang and McQueen had already discussed the Autumn Emperor's Award with Madam Mejiro. Madam Mejiro didn't say much about McQueen and Jinlang's decision, only that if it really came to the point where it was necessary to do so, the Mejiro family would not give up on Jinlang, but would find an opportunity for him to make a comeback. During this period, the Mejiro family would take full care of him.

Therefore, Madam Mejiro made no move regarding this race, which she should have attended with all the Mejiro family's horse-racing girls, just like the Spring Emperor's Slam. Since she hadn't intended to win from the start, it was better not to attend, avoid being photographed by reporters and having her face publicized, and thus avoid being mobbed by them.

But now that McQueen has won the Autumn Emperor's Prize, this good news should be shared with Madam Mejiro so that everyone can be happy too.

"In that case—everyone, let's hurry and find Silent Suzuka before our reporters arrive." Seeing that McQueen had spoken, Jinlang immediately waved his hand and, unusually, regained some of his youthful charm as he addressed the crowd.

"Oh!" The response to Jinlang was the shouts of everyone. The group, in a grand procession, intending to even skip the winner's stage, ran towards the hospital that Silent Suzuka should be heading to.

……

Some time later, in a hospital in Tokyo that specializes in treating horse racers, Silent Suzuka, dressed in a hospital gown, was surrounded by people. However, she looked very healthy and showed no signs of injury. In fact, she was still in shock at the fact that she had just run to the edge of the racetrack when a group of medical staff carried her onto a stretcher and took her to the hospital.

"Um, everyone?" Suzuka looked at the group of people around her. Yamato, Akaki, and Vodka all looked worried, and Special Zhou had even been crying for a while. Even her trainer looked like he was about to cry with self-reproach. Suzuka waved her hand nervously and said:

"I'm really fine, I'm not just bragging, it's true."

"Little Te, trainers, please don't cry like this as if my legs can't run anymore. I'm fine."

"How can you be alright! Suzuka-san! Don't force yourself, tell me if it really hurts!" However, Special Week, who cared most about Suzuka, was sobbing uncontrollably, while Okino, looking at Suzuka with a guilty expression, said:

"It's all my fault... Suzuka, if only I had listened to them back then, you wouldn't be like this now."

"But I'm really fine." Suzuka looked at everyone, unsure how to explain. Apart from feeling very tired, she was perfectly fine. If she hadn't been taken to the hospital and given a strange injection by the horse doctor without explanation—something that was probably a special medicine to relieve the fatigue of racehorses—she really wanted to run a mile race on the spot to prove that she was truly alright.

But when Suzuka made a move to stand up, it startled the tense group. Yamato Akaki and Vodka immediately pressed Suzuka back down, and Yamato Akaki immediately shouted:

"Are you crazy, Suzuka?! How can you stand up in your current state?! Lie down properly!"

“Yes, we need to rest properly. Now is not the time to be reckless!” Vodka said, and together with Yamato Akaki, they held Suzuka down.

Suzuka was truly at a loss for words. With her usually calm personality, she felt annoyed for the first time as she looked around at all the people who cared about her.

It's like your parents who keep telling you to wear more clothes and eat more even when you're perfectly fine. Even if you understand that they mean well, the feeling of being misunderstood still wells up inside you.

Fortunately, just then, a knock on the door interrupted the grieving group in the ward. Before anyone could ask anything, Jin Lang's voice slowly came through:

"Excuse me? I am Takatoshi Imanami. Is Ms. Silent Suzuka inside?"

"It's Jinlang and his team..." In an instant, everyone in the Chongye team felt a pang of anxiety. They all remembered that before the start of the competition, the members of the "Miracle" team had warned them more than once. However, it still happened. Without asking any further questions, everyone in the Chongye team believed that Jinlang and his team had come to demand an explanation.

Seeing this, Chongye immediately chose to confront Jinlang and the others. After taking a deep breath, he spoke:

"The door is unlocked, please come in."

"Click." With the opening of the ward door, Jinlang and his group entered in a grand procession. However, the moment they stepped inside, they saw Chongye suddenly kneel down on the ground with a "thud," a gesture that would elicit a professional dogeza from any Japanese person. He addressed Jinlang and his group, saying:

"I am so sorry! I am a trainer who has failed in my duty!"

"I'm sorry everyone. You all made so many efforts and gave so many warnings for Suzuka, but because of my stubbornness, Suzuka still got hurt!"

"I am willing to bear all the consequences! I am prepared to have even my trainer's license revoked!"

"...Trainer Okino, what are you saying?"

Okino's expression, as if he wanted to commit seppuku on the spot, gradually brought the startled group of Jinlang to their senses. However, with a laugh from Jinlang, Okino, who was prepared to be scolded, raised his head somewhat blankly.

"Suzuka is fine, this is the latest result. She does need to rest for a while, but her career is undoubtedly saved."

In the group, Fumino Naze quietly stepped out from the crowd. She was the first person in the team to arrive at the hospital, along with Okino and the others. She had been waiting for Suzuka's test results, and now she seemed much more relaxed because of them.

When Fumino Naze handed the report to Okino, she smiled and said:

"You deserve some credit for this, Trainer Okino. Before the Autumn Emperor's Award, you didn't make Suzuka train extra, but instead made her focus on resting. This relieved a lot of pressure on her legs, which is a major reason why Suzuka is safe and sound now."

"You are a qualified trainer, Trainer Okino, so hold your head high."

Chapter 360: Next Stop, Chrysanthemum Appreciation, The Complete Formation of the Gold Master

"Suzuka-san is alright?! Really?!"

Special Week was the first to react among the group. After receiving the news, Special Week, who was tearfully thinking that Suzuka's professional career was about to end, rushed to Naze Fumino's side with joy and took the report from Naze Fumino's hand.

Upon seeing the words "No abnormalities in bone condition" clearly written in printed font on the medical report, Special Weekly's expression instantly brightened, and she burst into tears of joy, saying to Okino:

"Trainer! Thank goodness! Suzuka is alright!"

“So I already said it…” Suzuka’s face also showed a rather helpless expression. Although she was very troubled, she still answered gently, “Takumi and everyone else were too nervous. Although I was really embarrassed to be on stage, I waved to show that I was fine.”

"If I had really broken my leg and was in unbearable pain, I would have been lying on the grass clutching my leg, right? How could I have asked for help then?"

"Yay, that's great!" Yamato Akachi nodded happily at first, then said to Suzuka with feigned arrogance, "Really, Suzuka-kun, you gave me quite a fright."

"I told you I was fine... but nobody listened to me," Suzuka said helplessly. However, when she turned her gaze to Naze Fumino and her group, she still smiled gently and said:

"Thank you, thank you everyone from the 'Miracle' team. Without you... I might have really collapsed on the field with a broken bone. If it weren't for everyone's help all this time..."

“McQueen… Raging Waves, thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, I might have been driven by my own impulses and done something that would have completely ruined my career.”

"No, it's okay, Suzuka-san. McQueen and I both understand how you feel." Nutao, hearing this, stepped forward timidly. Looking at Suzuka, who was now unharmed and had a healthy, rosy complexion, she couldn't help but ask softly, "Um, Suzuka-san, how are you feeling now? You mean, that... you know..."

"...I don't know either. I can't hear my inner voice anymore." Suzuka shook her head, subconsciously placing her hand on her chest, and whispered: