The sound of the door opening broke the silence of the training room.
"Good afternoon, thanks for your hard work in training."
Gold Legend greeted McQueen, who had returned to the training room after finishing training.
"Good afternoon... What are you doing?"
McQueen looked at Legend's actions and tilted her head in confusion.
"Hmm? As you can see, I'm painting."
Legend put down the palette and paintbrush in her hands and explained to McQueen earnestly.
"I know you're painting. I mean, why so suddenly?"
Weren't you learning the piano two weeks ago?
"By the way, hasn't the speed at which you change interests been getting faster lately?"
A three-minute attention span won't do.
McQueen said with concern.
"Learning when interested, giving up when bored—isn't that human nature?" Legend blinked, "And for Uma Musume, these are just interests."
Just learning for fun.
"That may be so, but Legend-san, you don't seem to be putting much heart into your training either."
I'm really worried that one day you'll lose interest and stop being an Uma Musume.
McQueen retorted speechlessly.
"Not to that extent, probably?"
"At least give me a definitive sentence!"
After loudly retorting to Legend, McQueen looked around the training room.
"Where is the Trainer? Didn't he come back to the training room early to prepare for post-training matters? Why don't I see him?"
"He just asked me about the press conference, and then he left in high spirits."
Legend shrugged and picked up the paintbrush again.
"A press conference? Legend-san, did you actually agree?" McQueen said with surprise.
"I saw the Trainer looking so pitiful, almost hugging my leg to beg me, so I had no choice."
Legend's tone revealed helplessness.
"You actually agreed? That's rare!" McQueen made no effort to hide her surprise, "And you should be considerate of the Trainer too; it's a very troublesome matter when an assigned Uma Musume is unwilling to attend a press conference."
If it's misunderstood that the assigned Uma Musume is being benched, it would have a significant impact on an active Trainer.
"So I agreed." Legend looked at the canvas and scratched her cheek with the brush handle, "Besides, I didn't attend the previous few times, and there wasn't any problem, right?"
"That caused quite a few media outlets to act recklessly; the Trainer blocked a lot of criticism for you." McQueen said helplessly.
"So that's what happened..."
"You should thank the Trainer properly." McQueen rolled her eyes.
"Fine, I'll cover the costs of his wedding ceremony with Sister Hana when the time comes."
Legend said confidently.
"Uh..."
McQueen was speechless.
"Training is over! Huh? McQueen? You're already back? Legend is here too? What are you doing?"
Teio pushed open the training room door and walked in.
"Good afternoon, Teio, thanks for your hard work in training."
"Oh, thanks. As you can see, I'm painting."
Legend turned to the side to show Teio her painting.
"Hmm, hmm, I don't get it!"
Teio squinted at the canvas as if she understood, then said generously.
"Teio..." McQueen looked at the lively Teio helplessly, then also leaned over to take a look, "Is this... The Starry Night?"
Although some parts remain unfinished, the majority that has been completed has already revealed the true identity of the painting.
"It's just a copied fake, but to think you could recognize it? You know about these things too, McQueen? That's amazing," Legend said, sounding a bit surprised.
"As an Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family, one must have at least this much appreciation, especially for such a well-known work. But that's all there is to it. If it were Mejiro Ardan, she would certainly be able to say much more." McQueen accepted Legend's praise calmly, then changed the subject, asking, "With this level of completion, Legend-san, how long have you been learning to paint?"
"Hmm? About a week or so."
"Hmm, you're imitating 'The Starry Night' after only a week?" McQueen was shocked.
"Nani nani? Is this painting very difficult?" Teio asked, poking her head out.
"It's not a question of difficulty. Even an amateur like me knows that the techniques and challenges hidden in a masterpiece like 'The Starry Night' are not something a beginner can handle, even if it's just copying."
"If I'm going to learn, I'll learn from the best. There is no teacher better than the work itself," Legend said nonchalantly.
"Are you sure that's okay?" McQueen said worriedly.
"It's fine, as long as Legend is happy. By the way, I heard the cold drink shop has a new special drink. Want to go check it out together? McQueen, Legend?"
Tokai Teio looked at the two with expectant eyes.
"I'll pass. You two go ahead; I want to finish this painting," Legend declined Teio's invitation with a soft chuckle.
Teio focused her gaze on McQueen.
"Ahem, I also..."
"I heard it's a super sweet special, you know," Teio added.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem! As it happens, I don't have anything else to do, so I'll generously go and try it with you," McQueen said with a straight face.
"Yay! Let's go! Legend, be quick!" Teio happily linked arms with McQueen and dragged her away.
"Such an impatient one," Legend sighed helplessly as she watched their figures disappear in the blink of an eye.
Looking back at the painting before her, the helpless expression deepened; "If I could, I would hope that this painting would take a little longer to finish..."
Picking up the paintbrush again, the training room returned to silence.
...
Finishing the painting, Legend cleaned up the training room and locked the door.
Looking up at the sky, the moon was already hanging in the branches.
"I'll just head back to the dormitory tonight."
She sent a message to Mr. C.B., ignored her wailing voice message, and walked toward the student dormitory.
While passing by the training ground, she saw a familiar figure.
"Sister Maruzensky?"
"Hmm? Oh, it's Legend."
Maruzensky greeted Legend.
"It's quite rare to see you here at this time."
"Shouldn't your nightly spawn point be Mount Akina?" Legend teased.
"Although that's a fact, it's still quite annoying to hear you say it like that," Maruzensky clicked her tongue in annoyance and said helplessly.
"Then, what brings our Student Council member here at this time of night?"
"It's nothing much. See that child?" Maruzensky pointed to the Uma Musume in the training ground.
"...An Uma Musume I've never seen before," Legend narrowed her eyes.
"She's from the United States. Her goal is this year's Japan Cup," Maruzensky explained.
"The United States? I recall the reception for the American contestants is in a week, right?" Legend recalled the documents she had processed. "The venue and accommodations for the American contestants haven't been prepared yet."
"This child came alone, a week early," Maruzensky covered her face.
"I see. But to have Maruzensky personally host her, is this child special?" Legend asked.
"...In terms of age and seniority, she is older than you," Maruzensky corrected. "As for being special... she is the main contestant for the US team this time."
"Main contestant?"
"Golden Phoenix, that's her name," Maruzensky said. "I've seen her data. In terms of pure strength, she's definitely in the upper echelon of this generation."
"Because they couldn't keep her in check, they sent the'Supercar' to deflate her ego? The Association really is boring."
"Right? Seriously, why did they make me come? It's so boring," Maruzensky agreed.
"Bang!" The sound of the turf being ripped up was like an explosion.
"...That finishing kick, and this aura... is that a 'Domain'? How strong," Legend shifted her attention to the Uma Musume on the training ground.
"After all, she is an American Uma Musume. These are the two things they are most proud of," Maruzensky said.
"Oh?" Is that so? Legend became a bit interested.
"But isn't it said that a 'Domain' is very hard to awaken?" Why does it feel like every Uma Musume has this thing?
"How could an Uma Musume who can participate in international competitions be weak? And don't use us as a standard. Look at those around you; not many can compare, okay?" We are legendary-level Uma Musume who have been famous for a long time! Maruzensky retorted.
"Besides, the base number of American Uma Musume is there. It would be rare for one who makes it out to not have a 'Domain'."
"Yes, yes, yes," Legend replied perfunctorily, looking closely at the Uma Musume on the training ground. "...She's just average. Feels about the same as when I ran the Derby."
"..." Using yourself as the standard is even more absurd, okay? Wait!
"You just said, 'just average'? Like when you ran the Derby?" Maruzensky grasped the key point.
"Yeah."
"Can I interpret that as you being able to easily defeat her right now?" Maruzensky asked.
"If that's all the strength she's shown," Legend answered nonchalantly.
"Ho..." Maruzensky's eyes sharpened, and she quietly activated her 'Domain'.
The sound of an engine roared to life, and something invisible enveloped Legend.
"...I say, what are you doing all of a sudden, Sister Maruzensky?" She neutralized it with a light touch.
Maruzensky narrowed her eyes. "You, you've gotten stronger again?"
"Isn't that obvious? I'm currently in the golden period of an Uma Musume's growth."
"..." That may be so, but this is still too abnormal. To do it so easily... Maruzensky felt conflicted.
"Let me confirm, you haven't reached the third stage yet, right?" Maruzensky asked.
"You mean 'Overflow'? Not yet. I keep feeling like something is off, so I haven't tried it," Legend said.
"...Do you mean you could do it anytime you wanted?"
"It's not that hard anyway," Legend waved her hand and smiled.
"...You can get lost. I'm tired, and I don't want to see you right now," Maruzensky pointed to the exit of the training ground and said expressionlessly.
"Huh?" What's wrong suddenly? Legend was dumbfounded.
"It's so late. Do you intend to stay here and keep me company?"
"...Alright then, goodnight, Sister Maruzensky."
"Go, go," Maruzensky waved her hand in disgust.
Women are truly unreasonable, and Uma Musume are the same.
Legend left, feeling puzzled.
Leaving behind a conflicted Maruzensky in place.
Meanwhile, watching from afar, Golden Phoenix sighed: "Is that the 'Domain' of a legendary Uma Musume? I can feel it clearly even from this far away."
What kind of training could achieve such a refined 'Domain,' and what kind of confrontation could burst forth such a powerful aura?
Strong and powerful, strong and powerful! Indeed, there is still so much I need to learn!
As expected, Obey Your Master didn't lie to me. Here, I can definitely advance further!
But who was it? To make that Uma Musume senior who is hosting me release her 'Domain' to this extent.
I really hope to meet her again.
However, before that...
"Yosh! One more lap!"
I still need to keep training.
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