Rounding the corner, they ran straight into McQueen and Gold Ship.
Just a Way's expression was less one of surprise and more one of sheer terror.
"McQueen? Aren't you supposed to be training? Who's that next to you?" Kousei asked, her attention immediately shifting to McQueen the moment she appeared.
"Kousei, this is Gold Ship. We're... somewhat acquainted," McQueen replied.
"Somewhat acquainted? McQueen-chan~ Those cold words break my heart~" Gold Ship retorted, clinging to McQueen in front of Kousei and Just a Way.
"Huh?!" Gold Ship stole a glance at Kousei only to find her staring intently at Just a Way.
"Way, did you just call Gold Ship by name?"
Realizing Kousei was as dense as a brick, Gold Ship felt a twinge of disappointment. But when she turned her gaze to Just a Way, the latter immediately averted her eyes.
"Oya? Oya oya?" Gold Ship's interest was immediately piqued. "Why are you looking away?"
Seizing the opportunity, Kousei quietly sidled up to McQueen.
"I never knew you'd become so cunning."
"What do you mean?"
"Of course, the way she's shifting the blame onto Just a Way."
"No, I really did hear Way call out Gold Ship's name."
"Hmm~" McQueen's expression turned peculiar. "Like how she always manages to call out our names so accurately?"
"Exactly. But judging by her reaction, she doesn't seem to get along well with Gold Ship."
The two stood side-by-side, watching to see how Just a Way would handle Gold Ship.
"What kind of relationship do you mean by 'somewhat acquainted'?" Kousei suddenly asked.
"What? Are you curious?"
"Ah... No... Maybe... Hmm."
A faint curve at the corner of McQueen's mouth revealed a hint of amusement. "Just a karmic entanglement, like the one with Teio. We grew up together. Gold Ship is mischievous, unpredictable, and her most troublesome trait is her astonishing impulsiveness. If she thinks of something, she'll immediately act on it. She's like a mischievous grandson, and I'm the doting grandfather who cleans up her messes, that's pretty much our dynamic."
"A doting grandfather? How gentle of you, McQueen."
"Hmph."
She now turned her attention to Just a Way and Gold Ship.
"Ship thinks you look familiar. Have we met before? Maybe somewhere in France?"
"I don't think so. I've never even been abroad," Just a Way replied evasively.
"Yeah, Ship hasn't been abroad either."
Kousei frowned. "Is Gold Ship being serious?"
McQueen shrugged. "Maybe she's telling the truth, maybe not. If I could guess what Gold Ship is thinking, I wouldn't have to work so hard."
"Oh, right! Let's play Detective Ship!" Gold Ship suddenly suggested.
"Why would we want to play that game?" McQueen clearly wasn't interested.
"Don't be like that, McQueen~ We play it all the time."
"Liar! This is the first time I've ever heard of this game."
"Then how about this? Our first case will be to uncover what Just a Way is hiding."
"Huh?" Just a Way had thought Gold Ship would steer the conversation off course, but she never expected it would circle back to her.
Kousei and McQueen exchanged a glance.
"Alright, we're in."
Gold Ship pulled a burlap sack out of nowhere. "Three minds working together will get this done faster!"
Kousei and McQueen nodded in understanding and grabbed Just a Way from behind.
"Wait! I don't want to go through this again!"
Just a Way's protests were drowned out as the sack was forced over her head.
When Just a Way woke up, she found herself in complete darkness.
Pfft!
A sudden interrogation light blazed to life, the blinding glare forcing her to squint.
"Alright, Miss Just a Way. Given your situation, confessing early could save you some... physical discomfort." The trio, now dressed in black suits and sunglasses, looked every bit the part of a sinister force.
"Hey, McQueen," Kousei whispered. "I thought this was supposed to be a detective game?"
"If you believe a single coherent word that comes out of Gold Ship's mouth, you're sorely mistaken," McQueen replied dryly.
"Hey, hey! What are my two helpers whispering about back there?!" Gold Ship interrupted their hushed exchange.
"How did you manage to get all this gear?"
"What's the question? We rented it, of course," Gold Ship replied matter-of-factly.
"Do you have enough money?"
A good question. Both sides fell silent.
Outside the Training Room gate, the Trainer lit a cigarette with a sigh. "Perhaps I should consider how to improve my Trainer Rank," he muttered.
"Alright! Don't change the subject! Miss Just a Way, Ship's sharp intuition has already sensed that you're hiding something from us."
"Not this again? I have answered this countless times! There's really nothing!"
Gold Ship waved her hand, and McQueen and Kousei dumped a pile of photos in front of Just a Way.
The photos showed McQueen and Kousei's races and daily interactions, starting from their Debut Race. Normally, there would be nothing remarkable about them. But in these photos, a hooded Umamusume with sunglasses concealing her face frequently appeared.
Before meeting Just a Way, Kousei might not have recognized her. But after their encounter, Kousei could never mistake her again. Even without her signature headwear or visible eyes, the faint smile that occasionally peeked through the shadows betrayed her identity.
"Can someone actually take photos like these?" Just a Way was the first to voice her skepticism.
"Speaking of which, where did you even get these photos?" McQueen added, equally puzzled.
"Oh, these? Tachyon has a roommate, you know?"
"Yeah, what about her?"
"Agnes Digital is obsessed with Umamusume. You can find her wherever Umamusume are involved, and she loves collecting anything related to them. Remember when I released a small batch of my dolls after the Japan Cup? Digital snagged five of them."
"Seriously? Those crane games are notoriously difficult! I wasted so much money trying!"
Agnes Digital: For the sake of Umamusume, I am invincible! (Reverently)
"So, how did you two meet?"
"Since she's Tachyon's roommate, I was bound to run into her. Plus, her observational skills are remarkable, she's pointed out many flaws in my running form. Before this, she even worked as the photographer when Gold City and I were modeling together."
"Wait a minute!" McQueen sensed something was off. "You and Gold City modeled together? As in, the 'once-in-a-century beauty'?"
"Huh?"
Kousei realized her mistake and quickly covered her mouth, but it was too late. Her suspicious action only deepened McQueen's suspicions.
"I didn't know you were secretly dating Gold City behind my back."
"I thought you'd already seen the magazine."
"If you found the clues so early, why didn't you ask Just a Way sooner?"
"I did ask, and then you and Gold Ship showed up."
"Really? You weren't deliberately hiding it?"
"Speaking of which, why weren't you at training today? Why were you hanging out with Gold Ship instead?"
"We just ran into each other by chance! I was on my way to training!"
"Really?"
"Don't you believe me?!"
The two locked horns, neither willing to back down.
"I've never seen Kousei say so much at once," Just a Way remarked from her seat.
"Want some popcorn?" Gold Ship asked, settling down next to Just a Way.
Though Just a Way had no idea where Gold Ship had conjured it from, she happily accepted.
While Kousei and McQueen bickered, Just a Way and Gold Ship enjoyed their leisurely snack.
Even though she wasn't entirely sure what was happening, Just a Way had narrowly escaped trouble.
A cause for celebration!