Maruzensky observed the training of several Umamusumes from TCB. They were mostly training on their own, not following any textbooks or anything like that.
But Mejiro McQueen was different. Judging from her current appearance, she was clearly training according to the instructions in that booklet.
"What is that thing, and why is she specifically avoiding her Trainer to look at it?"
Maruzensky wondered, so she walked over to where Mejiro McQueen was.
What Mejiro McQueen was looking at was, of course, the strategy guide for the Japan Cup that Sakura Baimu had prepared for her.
It detailed various scenarios and how Mejiro McQueen could defeat the Golden Crown Eagle.
Mejiro McQueen had previously mustered the courage to indicate to Sakura Baimu that she wouldn't mind if she wanted to pat her head later, but she had been met with Sakura Baimu's oblivious reply.
Then, enraged, she delivered a powerful over-the-shoulder throw to Sakura Baimu.
However, Sakura Baimu later approached Mejiro McQueen, explaining that she had gone to great lengths to obtain the guide and hoped Mejiro McQueen would diligently practice according to its contents.
Mejiro McQueen had long since calmed down, but she still felt it was somewhat embarrassing to look at the guide Sakura Baimu had created for her in front of her.
So, when Sakura Baimu wasn't around, Mejiro McQueen would secretly take it out and glance at it, checking what she needed to practice next.
While Mejiro McQueen was keeping an eye on Sakura Baimu's movements as she trained Tokai Teio with a megaphone in the distance, she suddenly felt a strain in her neck.
She looked up, her head bumping right into Maruzensky's chest, who was leaning over her from behind.
Mejiro McQueen, feeling the soft touch on her head, jumped back in fright.
"Maruzensky-senpai... is... is something wrong?" Mejiro McQueen gasped for breath, clutching her chest, which contrasted sharply with Maruzensky's, before finally calming down.
"Oh dear, you've caught me." Maruzensky chuckled and straightened up. "McQueen, what are you looking at?"
"Uh… this is a strategy guide for the Japan Cup," Mejiro McQueen said.
"Would you mind if I took a look?" Maruzensky asked with a smile.
"Uh, this…" Mejiro McQueen stammered, a little embarrassed.
While Maruzensky's words were undoubtedly driven by curiosity, given her abilities,
it was still something Sakura Baimu had prepared for her. Showing it to an outsider made her somewhat hesitant.
"It's alright if you don't want to; I apologize for being so abrupt," Maruzensky said with a smile. "But after taking a look, I've already guessed what's inside. It lists the Golden Crown Eagle's reactions and psychological responses based on different situations you might encounter while running, right?"
"Huh?! Maruzensky-senpai, how did you know? Could it be that this strategy guide is your…"
Mejiro McQueen was utterly astonished to see that Maruzensky had actually guessed the strategy guide's contents.
Based on what she'd witnessed over the past two days—the seemingly close interaction between Maruzensky and Sakura Baimu—she instantly began to suspect that Maruzensky had helped Sakura Baimu create the strategy guide.
"It wasn't me; it has nothing to do with me. That strategy guide was indeed created by Ms. Sakura herself," Maruzensky said with a smile.
After reviewing the strategy guide, Maruzensky realized that Sakura Baimu, while racing against Golden Crown Eagle, had actually been thinking about creating a strategy guide for Mejiro McQueen.
"She actually thought about all this before even running against Golden Crown Eagle? What a good older sister, so considerate of her younger sister!"
Maruzensky thought to herself, increasingly finding Sakura Baimu's behavior to be in line with her own.
At first, she simply thought that Sakura Baimu had retaliated against Golden Crown Eagle because Golden Crown Eagle had repeatedly hurt Umamusumes in the academy.
It now seemed that a large part of Sakura Baimu's actions stemmed from the woman before her—a beautiful young woman with long, light purple hair!
Most importantly, Mejiro McQueen apparently didn't know Sakura Baimu's identity.
Maruzensky thought to herself, a slight smile gradually curving her lips.
She asked softly.
"McQueen, when you joined TCB, was it Sakura-san who invited you?"
"That's right."
"Did Teio join at that time?"
"Not yet. I was the first Umamusume she took over after joining the academy," Mejiro McQueen replied.
"No wonder~" Maruzensky said with a smile.
She now understood why Sakura Baimu, after being suspended, didn't choose to go abroad but instead joined Tracen Academy as a trainer under a different identity.
In Maruzensky's view, Sakura Baimu hadn't joined Central yet at that time.
Therefore, the only Umamusumes Sakura Baimu knew at Central, besides Oguri Cap and Belno Light, who were also from Kasamatsu, were the Umamusumes from Mejiro's team.
If Sakura Baimu didn't choose to go abroad now because she had developed feelings for her current team...
Then Sakura Baimu's decision to become a trainer after her competitive career in Japan was ruined must have been because of Mejiro McQueen.
The fact that Mejiro McQueen was the first Umamusume Sakura Baimu took on after joining Tracen Academy proves Maruzensky's guess was correct.
"This is so interesting. McQueen hasn't even recognized Sakura Baimu as her sister yet. It's really fascinating."
Maruzensky found that the more she dug into Sakura Baimu's identity, the more interesting things she encountered.
"Maruzensky-senpai—?"
Mejiro McQueen felt a chill run down her spine looking at Maruzensky with the same look she was giving her as a parent.
"McQueen, you'd better cherish this guide. You have no idea how much Ms. Sakura went through for it."
Maruzensky said with a smile.
"Of course, the biggest price I paid was finding out your identity, Mejiro Sakura," Maruzensky thought smugly.
Mejiro McQueen's expression suddenly changed upon hearing Maruzensky's words.
"The price she paid for this strategy guide was high? Indeed, such a detailed guide could only have been created by someone like an Umamusume who outran the Golden Crown Eagle…"
Mejiro McQueen suddenly realized something.
"Could it be that this strategy guide was written with the help of the Umamusume who sent Golden Crown Eagle to the hospital?"
Maruzensky, hearing Mejiro McQueen's question, smiled and replied:
"That's right!"