Some time later, in Tracen Academy's internal infirmary... Though rather than an infirmary, it looked indistinguishable from an actual hospital.
Due to the injuries Uma Musume and Trainers could sustain at any time, Tracen Academy has an infirmary specifically for Uma Musume and Trainers to rest when they feel unwell, as well as medical facilities and equipment capable of urgently treating various injuries, such as fractures.
After Mejiro McQueen and her group helped Imanami to the infirmary, Mejiro McQueen quickly went for an X-ray.
After the Mejiro Family's attending physician arrived, a series of examinations and tests were performed.
"Hmm..."
"—How is it, Doctor?" Mejiro McQueen asked somewhat nervously.
Beside Mejiro McQueen, Wada and Ikezoe, along with their assigned Uma Musume, Curren Chan and Meisho Doto, all waited for the Mejiro Family's attending physician's judgment with serious and anxious expressions.
"Periostitis, just as Mister Imanami said." The serious-faced attending physician nodded gravely, uttering words that made everyone present feel a pang of worry.
However, the next second, the attending physician's tone took a sharp turn, and he said lightly:
"Fortunately, it was discovered in time and is not too serious. It only requires one injection, some medication, and no strenuous exercise for a week. I believe she will recover very quickly."
"R-really?"
Upon hearing this news, the most excited were Trainer Wada and Ikezoe.
As former Jockeys and now Trainers, their greatest fear, besides a Racehorse fracturing its leg while galloping on the track, was a Racehorse suffering from illness during daily training.
The bloodline of thoroughbred Racehorses runs fast, but they were also more likely to get injuries and illnesses.
Racehorses that can retire safely and live to eight or nine years old were already very lucky.
Cases of premature deaths on the track like Silence Suzuka, Rice Shower, and others were not exactly uncommon.
Neither Ikezoe nor Wada could ignore such precedents, even after transmigrating to this world where Racehorses had become Uma Musume.
Especially since they realized that Uma Musume were not much different from the Racehorses they knew after spending some time with them.
Although they have human forms and can speak, their physiques were basically the same as the Racehorses they were familiar with, having similar speeds and constitution, including... legs that are prone to various problems during strenuous activities.
But now, they could relax; Mejiro McQueen was not in any serious danger.
"T- that's great, McQueen!" Meisho Doto was so anxious that tears were about to fall, but upon hearing that McQueen's condition was not serious, her expression immediately cleared, and she smiled.
"It's great that it's nothing serious..." Curren Chan also patted her small chest and smiled with lingering fear, "In that case, you won't have to worry about your Debut Race and might even be able to run in the mock race next week, McQueen!"
However, regardless of the comfort or relief from the others, Mejiro McQueen's focus at this moment was not on her own condition at all, but on someone else...
"Um, Doctor, how is Trainer Imanami?" McQueen asked cautiously, a little nervous and embarrassed.
When she and Imanami arrived here, Imanami's nosebleed still hadn't stopped, and even so, he insisted that McQueen get an X-ray first while he went to lie down for a bit.
Now that McQueen's condition was confirmed and not serious, McQueen was naturally more concerned about Imanami's situation.
"Hmm, Mister Imanami's results are out." The attending physician said without hesitation:
"There's nothing serious. It's just a fractured nasal bone. After a small corrective surgery, measures against infection along with proper rest, he'll be fine. It's already under control."
"A fractured nasal bone... that's a familiar injury." Ikezoe, who was nearby, shivered inexplicably upon hearing this.
Clearly, a fractured nasal bone was nothing new to them, whether they were Jockeys or stablehands.
Although most Racehorses, when startled, will kick the person behind them in the abdomen with their hind legs, there are also some special circumstances, such as a stablehand brushing a Racehorse's coat while bent over, who might suddenly be kicked in the face by a horse that acts up.
Being kicked in the face is no small matter because it's the head, but as long as the brain and skull are fine, losing a few teeth or fracturing the nasal bone is already something to be very grateful for.
"Then, will there be any problems? Will he suffer from anything after? What about his sense of smell...?" McQueen, however, did not possess such knowledge unlike the three Trainers.
This young lady clearly lacked experience about such injuries and quickly asked nervously.
"Don't worry, Miss McQueen, this kind of injury, as long as it's treated properly, won't have any aftereffects." The attending physician said professionally, "We will closely monitor Mister Imanami's recovery; you don't need to worry."
"Tracen Academy's infirmary is open at all times. If you are worried, you can visit anytime. At the average jogging speed of an Uma Musume, you can make a round trip in five or six minutes."
"—Please take care of him with the best treatment you can give him, I beg you."
However, even so, McQueen was only half relieved, and the guilt in her heart made her want to make up for the series of events she had caused as much as possible.
She asked worriedly:
"Then, where is Trainer Imanami now?"
"He's in Ward Seven." The attending physician said lightly, "We plan to schedule the surgery for tonight. His condition is now under control, and he is not in serious danger."
"So, if you want to, you could visit him right now."
"Thank you for your trouble."
Without another word, McQueen immediately turned and walked towards Imanami's ward.
Ikezoe, who was nearby, was about to follow, but Wada pulled him back.
"Ikezoe-kun, you should read the room at a time like this. Don't disturb them." Wada said with some helplessness.
He respected Ikezoe as a senior, but he still gets frustrated with Ikezoe's wood-like emotional intelligence.
"Hehe, Onii-chan, Trainer Wada is right. At a time like this, you should give the Uma Musume and her Trainer some private space."
Curren Chan looked at the bewildered Ikezoe and said with a chuckle, "Onii-chan, being so dense isn't good, you know? You might even find yourself in a basement someday without even knowing it ~" (T/N: Yup omega cooked)
"?" However, Ikezoe remained bewildered, and Wada, seeing this, helplessly rubbed his forehead.
He had a premonition that with Ikezoe-kun's current situation with his Uma Musume, his future days would not be easy...
McQueen walked straight to the ward, and soon, in the private room, she saw Imanami in a hospital gown—and, of course, noticed his nose, which was covered with gauze but still showed a hint of blood seeping through.
"Trainer Imanami..."
"Ah, McQueen, I was just thinking of coming to find you."
Imanami also saw McQueen immediately.
Although his nasal bone was fractured, Imanami seemed unconcerned.
He had McQueen sit in a chair beside him and then said:
"How's your leg? I should not have misjudged, but is your condition alright?"
"Yes... Thanks to you discovering it so quickly, my condition is not serious. If I rest for the rest of the week, I can make it to the mock race." McQueen paused slightly, and the words of apology that had reached her lips were swallowed back, and she replied with some unease.
"That's good, but you should still not participate in the mock race. Even if you can recover in a week, it's best to rest longer to make sure." Imanami breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, then handed McQueen a form from beside him.
McQueen took it, bewildered, and then heard Imanami say:
"This is the week's training schedule I've arranged for you. Considering your periostitis, you are not suitable for high-intensity training right now, so it has been modified."
"Miss McQueen, your weight should no longer be a major issue, and you will definitely make it for your Debut Race. As for the mock race, my suggestion is not to participate; just focus on recuperating and some basic training."
"Also, even without my supervision, I hope you can continue to curb your desire for sweets..."
However, while McQueen's ears were filled with Imanami's incessant arrangements, and as she looked at the list, for some reason, a feeling of bitterness suddenly welled up in McQueen's eyes.
No, she had to say it; at the very least, she had to express her apology and respect...
"Trainer Imanami, I..."
"Bang!"
And at this moment, McQueen's words, which were about to come out, were interrupted by the sound of a door being kicked open.
When Imanami and McQueen both looked, they saw a gray-haired girl rushing in, her voice unprecedentedly panicked and anxious as she cried out:
"Old man! Are you okay?!"
-----+-----
Insert the Gold Ship flying kick gif
-----+-----
If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.