Horse Racing Had No What-Ifs

Zhou Yuang pushed back against Gold Ship's claim. She made it sound as though he had set out to raise Uma Musume destined for tragedy... Though maybe she had a point.

After all, didn't Zhou Yuang want every Uma Musume to avoid a terrible future?

Once he finished speaking, the screen changed again.

The scene shifted to Sirius Team Five's Clubroom.

McQueen looked miserable. Her hands rested in front of her, and her head hung low.

Her demotion in the Tenno Sho Autumn was no small matter. It had left her in such pain that she didn't know how to face Grandmother.

So many people had placed their hopes in her, and she had ruined everything.

How can I explain this to Grandmother? I let so many people down. I didn't even heed my Trainer's warning.

Remembering what Zhou Yuang had told her at Summer Training Camp, McQueen was overcome with regret. She should have paid more attention to what was happening around her.

Instead, she had been too foolish to notice her surroundings at all.

I wanted to be my Trainer's pillar, but how can someone like me...

Could she still support her Trainer?

"McQueen, are you all right?"

Worried about McQueen, Ryan had brought Dober and Bright to see her at Sirius.

The sight of McQueen sitting in silence only deepened Ryan's concern.

"...Of course I'm fine."

But some of the other Uma Musume weren't. And then there was...

McQueen glanced up at Zhou Yuang, apology in her eyes.

Not only had she failed to communicate with him before the race, she had caused him considerable trouble. An Uma Musume's rule violations went on her Trainer's record, too.

What hurt most was that she could no longer bring Zhou Yuang home to the Mejiro Family.

"Cheer up. You're