This Is Mejiro McQueen!

The collective instincts and need for company among Uma Musume were far stronger than among humans.

Most Uma Musume inherited racehorses' herd instincts and liked socializing. Many mares especially liked resting together.

Only a small minority probably felt at ease alone.

After what happened, a family of Uma Musume like that must have felt uneasy about its sisters going their separate ways.

"Once I've trained every Uma Musume in the Mejiro Family, then... Let's focus on training them first."

Zhou Yuang muttered to himself, then watched McQueen prepare to race, brimming with confidence.

McQueen murmured about living up to her family's honor and her opponents' expectations, then turned and left the Preparation Room.

Zhou Yuang realized the story sequence wasn't over and hurried after her.

McQueen had only just reached the competitors' passageway when she ran into another Uma Musume.

The newcomer wore a Victory Outfit with rather little fabric: a short top and shorts that showed off a body made strikingly sturdy by diligent training.

This spiky-haired tomboy was Mejiro Ryan, one of the Mejiro Family's young ladies and, like McQueen, a member of the 87 Group.

Ryan was kind and good at reading people. Her only misfortune was a hairstyle that didn't appeal to the masses. She was a lovely girl, but Cygames had seized on her real-life counterpart's skin irritation from overly long hair and stubbornly given her a spiky cut people disliked. Even alternate outfits kept the hairstyle.

It had left her with little popularity.

"Hey, McQueen!"

Ryan came over to greet her as soon as she saw her, and McQueen greeted her fellow Mejiro in return.

"Ryan. I'm here."

The two Mejiro Uma Musume naturally got along well, but they were still rivals. After exchanging greetings, they began trading a few appropriate challenges.

After they