...
The autumn wind rustled, golden leaves swirling through the air.
At the end of October, Mejiro McQueen faced the Autumn Tenno Sho.
On the spectator stands, support boards reading "McQueen Must Win" sparkled brightly under the sunlight.
In this race, strong opponents such as Mejiro Ryan did not attend, and Mejiro McQueen also secured a landslide first place in popularity votes.
After Lucian's pre-race analysis and with Mejiro McQueen's strength obvious to everyone, the entire "Dream" team felt this would be a match with no suspense whatsoever.
"Why have you three already started eating?" Lucian looked at Haru Urara, Twin Turbo, and Rice Shower's shiny little mouths and smiled helplessly.
"I believe McQueen will definitely win! Because McQueen is super amazing~" Haru Urara's cheeks puffed out like a hamster's. She took the lollipop out of her mouth. "Trainer, do you want one?"
"No, no. And you shouldn't eat too many either." Lucian shook his head, looking at the pile of candy wrappers clutched in her hand. "Also... the pre-race analysis was to make you stay vigilant, not to let you lower your guard. Until the race is over, you must not underestimate the opponent."
These words were not only for the three little ones but for all the other team members as well.
However, Twin Turbo clearly had not taken them to heart.
Chocolate was smeared at the corner of her mouth and she was still holding half a piece of sachima. "Got it, Trainer. What flavor do you want? Tannhauser still has some. I can go get it for you."
"Onii-sama..." Rice Shower obediently chewed and swallowed the candy in her mouth. "I won't eat any more. I'll watch properly until the very end."
"Rice-chan is still the most obedient." Lucian gently rubbed Rice Shower's head.
...
"About to exit the bend and enter the final struggle!"
"Mejiro McQueen has burst forward!"
"Almost the instant she entered the straight, Mejiro McQueen overtook her opponents and took the lead position!"
...
The purple figure streaked across the track like lightning. Her hind hooves kicked up a cloud of dust, her stride suddenly lengthening. The hoofbeats "Bang! Bang! Bang!" grew faster and faster, like war drums pounding!
"The opponents behind are chasing desperately, but the gap is visibly widening—three lengths, five lengths, seven lengths!"
The commentator shouted excitedly, but the audience's screams surged like waves and drowned him out.
Mejiro McQueen claimed the championship in an overwhelmingly dominant and nearly perfect elegant manner!
After winning, Mejiro McQueen walked to the turf area facing the audience and slightly raised her head.
Her long purple hair shimmered with a satin-like soft luster under the sunlight, and the hem of her winning outfit fluttered dramatically in the wind.
"My queen! That was incredible!" Tokai Teio was the first to run out of the exit passage, offering her congratulations.
Haru Urara counted on her fingers. "How many wins is this now? Ah, I've already lost count!"
Silence Suzuka smiled and nodded, very happy to have such a powerful junior like Mejiro McQueen.
Of course, she might also become a sister to her in the future.
Lucian followed closely behind. Ever since the previous race, everyone had grown fond of running out from the exit passage to celebrate.
The organizers did not say anything about it, and the vast racetrack along with the audience's cheers seemed to support this behavior.
Therefore Lucian did not stop them.
"McQueen." Lucian did not know what to say. He slowly raised his thumb in front of his chest.
Camera flashes burst brightly. Reporters who had rushed over captured this moment.
...
When everyone returned to the lounge, the air still carried the joy of the recent victory. Haru Urara had already begun discussing what to eat after the winner's stage.
At that moment, the lounge door was suddenly knocked on.
It was not the usual "thump thump" knocking sound from the horse girls, but a light, business-like rap.
Lucian first looked for the big lazy one, Meisho Doto. She was lounging lazily on the sofa. Doto had not wandered off, and the rest of the horse girls were all present. So who could be knocking?
With some doubt in his heart, Lucian opened the door.
Standing outside was a staff member from the event.
Lucian frowned. An unpleasant premonition rose in his chest. "Hello? Is there something wrong?"
"Mr. Lucian, it is like this. Due to Mejiro McQueen's severe violation of 'veering' during the race, the judging panel has decided to disqualify Mejiro McQueen's placement."
The staff member's cold voice struck the quiet lounge like a heavy hammer.
Meisho Doto sat up straight abruptly; the cushion rolled to the floor. The apple in Haru Urara's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," the dull sound especially jarring in the silent lounge.
All the horse girls wore expressions of shock and disbelief.
Veering? How could there have been veering?
The same question filled Mejiro McQueen's heart. She tried to recall, but her mind held no image of it.
"Could it be a misjudgment?" Lucian asked.
The staff member's expression remained unchanged. "The judging panel has repeatedly reviewed the footage and even replayed it for the audience. We now ask Mr. Lucian to come with me to the meeting room."
Lucian turned around and saw that Mejiro McQueen had somehow already stood up. Her slender fingers were tightly gripping the hem of her winning outfit. She looked like a lost child, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Lucian gave her a reassuring look. "I'll go take a look. It's fine. McQueen, rest well for now."
"Torena-san..."
Lucian did not turn back. He simply waved his hand behind him and left the door open.
...
Inside the racetrack.
The race had already ended, yet the audience members unusually remained in their seats, holding their breath as they stared at the large central screen—where the controversial footage of Mejiro McQueen's final sprint was being replayed on loop.
When exiting the bend, Mejiro McQueen had been in the outer position, while Sakura Bakushin O, who was battling her for first, was in the inner lane one length away.
From the side view, their positions almost overlapped as they exited the bend.
But from the front view it became clear—another horse girl named Stellar Shine had been tightly following right behind and to the left of Mejiro McQueen.
As the race entered the final straight, Mejiro McQueen naturally began drifting inward. The gap between her and the leading Sakura Bakushin O slowly disappeared.
Yet in doing so, she unintentionally blocked Stellar Shine's sprinting path, causing the latter's speed to drop sharply.
After the footage ended, many of Stellar Shine's supporters stood up from the stands, angrily denouncing the action.
The gamblers who had been confident of victory and had bet heavily on Mejiro McQueen winning now had ashen faces. Negative emotions spread like a plague.
Meanwhile, those who had bet on Sakura Bakushin O suddenly began shouting loudly, their mouths twisted in ecstasy, their frenzied appearance stabbing into everyone else's hearts like poisonous needles.
...