Chapter Text
Tokai Teio had two homes. One was with her parents, modest for a Double Crown winner and all the more comfortable for it. The other was Tracen Academy, and in some ways it was more of a constant. Between classes, training, scrimmages, and races, it was easy to settle into a rhythm of tasks done and faces seen day by day. Of those constant faces, two stood out the most. Mejiro McQueen, her rival, made every day brighter and every training session brilliant, and not a day passed after her miracle run at the Arima Kinen where she was not grateful to see McQueen work through her rehab with a smile.
Symboli Rudolf, though, was a cornerstone of the academy itself. However much Teio looked up to her, however much time Rudolf spared just for her, the student council president was devoted to every umamusume who attended the academy. It had stung somewhat in her junior year to share Rudolf’s attention in such a way, but she grew used to it in her classic year when Rudolf had visited her hospital room privately after her first fracture. It had been a brief visit, but enough to know that her support was unwavering.
Such was her presence at Tracen that when, at the start of Teio’s third senior year, Rudolf announced that she would be among the students graduating that year, it sent no less than a tsunami through the student body.
“It’s far overdue,” Rudolf told Teio soon after the announcement. They sat together in the dark evening, alone in the seats overlooking the tracks. “I’ve put off a proper graduation in favor of my work, but it’s time.”
“Who’s taking your place?” Teio asked, ears drooping in spite of the lightness of Rudolf’s voice.
“Director Akikawa and I have things worked out,” Rudolf replied. “I’ll be taking up the position of assistant director at the academy with a focus on the student council for my first year or so.”
Her ears perked up promptly. “You’re going to work at the academy?”
“I won’t be far,” Rudolf chuckled.
“Why didn’t you announce that at the same time as your graduation?”
“To put a challenging thought in everyone’s mind.” She looked up to the sky, Teio following her lead. “We allow students to continue studying after their racing retirements, but there will come a time when every umamusume here will graduate, and working here isn’t an option for everyone. I want them to sincerely think about what they’ll do after their time here comes to an end.”
“O-oh. That makes sense.”
“Is it something you’ve given thought to?”
Teio turned away from the sky, finding Rudolf facing her. She smiled sheepishly and looked down. She said, “I haven’t. Kind of weird, isn’t it? I was ready to retire after my third fracture, but I haven’t thought about what to do after leaving the academy.”
“You have some time,” said Rudolf.
“Yeah, but not a ton. We’re going to graduate together now.” She laughed, a brief, disbelieving sound. “Wow. I can say I graduated with Symboli Rudolf.”
“Be proud, Teio. I know I am.”
She looked at Rudolf again and asked, “You are?”
“To graduate with you? Of course I am.” Smiling, she said, “I’m sure anyone would be proud to graduate with you after what you’ve accomplished.”
“Even if I technically retired after that fourth fracture?”
“I retired long ago,” said Rudolf, a wry smile on her face. “Does that make you less proud to graduate with me?”
“No, not at all!” Teio said, holding up her hands. “That’d be like saying I’m not proud to graduate with McQueen when she retired a little while after me!”
Rudolf’s chuckled. “Fair enough. How is McQueen?”
“Good! She probably knows what she’s doing after graduating.”
“And have you told her the truth about what you feel?”
Teio’s face began to burn. Had it been anyone else, she would’ve feigned ignorance as sincerely as possible. With Rudolf, it was pointless to try to hide what she had already admitted in a confused rush soon after she had won her one-on-one rematch race with McQueen. The rivalry was secondary; she had fallen for McQueen as hard as she had fallen for running itself.
“Not yet,” she admitted. “I mean—what if she doesn’t feel the same way?”
“We go through this every time, Teio,” Rudolf said. “It’s clear even to me that McQueen feels more for you than a simple rivalry. Even if it’s ultimately unrequited, I doubt you would lose her as a friend.”
“It’s still scary,” Teio mumbled.
“More than running in the Arima Kinen or the Japan Cup?”
“A little bit, yeah.”
“All you stand to truly lose is the uncertainty that’s plaguing your relationship with McQueen currently,” Rudolf said, setting a hand on Teio’s shoulder. “If nothing else, you owe it to a friend to be honest with them.”
“You’re right, I know.” She put her hands together to twiddle her thumbs. “I’ll tell her. Not tomorrow, but I will.”
“You’ll be fine, Teio.”
“Yeah,” Teio said, but her heart was not in it.
————
Deep down, Teio blamed the Mejiro estate itself. It was a constant, gnawing reminder that, despite her accomplishments, there was a gap between her and McQueen. There was no comparison between her parents’ home and the estate; standing on the estate’s grounds was enough to make her confidence slip in that uncommon, uncomfortable way. It made the academy grounds a neutral space where words would, hopefully, come more freely.
Despite it, weeks passed from her conversation with Rudolf with no successful conversations with McQueen. True to form, McQueen was constantly busy even after her retirement, putting herself deep into her studies alongside her maintained training regimen. Worst of all, she began to spend less time in the dorms as the summer approached and instead spent more time at the Mejiro estate.
“My grandmother is looking to pass the leadership of our house to the next generation,” she told Teio over lunch one day. The cafeteria was alight with conversation all around them, new students discussing races and their seniors discussing what came next.
“Oh,” Teio said, forcing her ears to stay upright. “So you already know what you’re doing after school.”
“It’s not set in stone,” McQueen replied. “Leadership could still fall to Ryan, Dober, or Palmer, depending on Grandmother’s decision. But I have had an idea of what lies ahead for me for quite some time now. I’m confident my path lies with my house.”
“Really?”
“Naturally,” McQueen said with a smile. “The Mejiro house must continue to stand out, after all. If I am able to assist with that in any way, I’m happy.” Her eyes settled enviously on the large cup of pudding on Teio’s lunch tray for a moment before she focused on Teio again. “Have you given any thought to what you’d like to do after graduation?”
“Not as much thought as you just gave my pudding,” Teio said with a grin. Because McQueen began to pout, she said, “We can split it if you’d like.”
“You’re certain?”
“Splitting it’s better than seeing that pout on your face.” It was the truth, in a way, as the smile that McQueen gave her was infinitely more lovely to see than the pout was cute. They shared the pudding in spoonfuls, splitting it as evenly as possible before Teio passed the last of it over. It gave her a moment to admire McQueen’s blissful smile as she finished the pudding, and she made sure to take the wistfulness out of her own smile when McQueen looked at her.
“Would you like to discuss what you could do after training today?“ McQueen asked. “Perhaps I can be of some assistance.”
“I’d appreciate it. I really have no ideas right now.”
McQueen gave her a curious look. “None at all?”
“Yeah,” she said with a faint laugh. “Pretty bad, right? I’m just not sure about stuff.”
“Better to be honest about being unsure than to have delusions of grandeur. You’ve heard that Gold Ship wants to replace the head of the URA, haven’t you?”
“She told me that she wants to replace the chairman overlooking the Dream Series, not the URA head!”
They stared at each other in disbelief before breaking down into giggles. The bell for afternoon classes chimed when they finally stopped laughing, and as McQueen began to tidy her tray, Teio sat still and watched her. It was a habit she had fallen into, taking time to watch McQueen’s casual elegance. The sight of McQueen’s hands, nimble and delicate, was enough to make her smile even as her chest tightened.
“You’ll be late to class if you dawdle,” McQueen said, smiling as she stood up.
“I’ll be fine,” Teio replied, standing up quickly after tidying her tray. “See you at training?”
“Of course, Teio. Until then.”
Teio watched her walk away, caught up in the way her hair caught the light and the way her tail flicked in a faint wave goodbye. It left her with a smile on her face, but it was not quite enough to keep that smile in place when she spotted Gold Ship looking at her with a raised brow from across the cafeteria. She beat a hasty retreat then, half running to return her tray and get to class before Gold Ship could chase her down.
Though her first inclination was to spend afternoon classes staring out a window, Teio paid close attention in the hope of finding some inspiration before meeting with McQueen again. It was something of a futile effort, classes still focusing on races and their history. Hearing Rudolf’s history again did not help, instead making her too excited to be able to focus on her own future. She went to training none the wiser about what to do, and her lap times suffered for her lack of focus.
“Come on, Teio!” their trainer called from beside the track after another lackluster time. “Retirement’s no excuse for slacking if you’re set on training today!”
“Right!” she shouted back as she picked up her pace. She caught sight of McQueen on the other side of the track, running at a slower pace to account for the brace on her left knee. Only a moment of thought was needed before Teio grinned and increased her speed even further. She rounded the corner at a tight angle and, minding her position, passed McQueen at a full dash. It drew a disbelieving laugh from McQueen, sending a thrill through Teio strong enough to make her tail quiver.
“That’s more like it,” their trainer said when she crossed the goal line and slowed to a stop. “That was on pace with your time at the Japan Cup.”
“Showin’ off?” Gold Ship asked, smirking as she worked on a Rubik’s cube beside their trainer.
Teio laughed and replied, “C’mon, I don’t need to. You were all at the Cup and that was way more impressive.”
“Sure, sure,” Gold Ship said, her smirk remaining strong. As McQueen began her approach, Gold Ship passed the Rubik’s cube to one hand to reveal the stopwatch she had been holding. She caught McQueen’s time and hummed when McQueen looked at her expectantly. “Well, it sucks compared to your best, but it was your best today.”
“Would you like me to time your starts with that kind of attitude?” McQueen asked with a raised brow.
“Shut it.”
“In any case,” McQueen said, turning to Teio, “would you like to start our discussion? I’ve finished my regimen for the day.”
“Yeah! Trainer, I’m done for the day, too!”
“All right,” he said. “Just mind your cooldown.”
“We’ll take the long way to the cafeteria,” said Teio, and she took McQueen by the hand to lead her away. They went to the showers after that, Teio finishing first as she always did with how McQueen took time to properly oil and brush her tail.
“One of these days I’ll convince you to oil your tail after every shower,” McQueen said once she had dressed.
“Maybe when I don’t have homework to worry about anymore,” Teio replied. “We still have dinner too.”
“Still,” McQueen sighed. “Your tail deserves the best kind of care.”
“Come on, it’s not like it’s as pretty as yours.” She nearly stopped walking when McQueen looked at her with wide eyes, rushing to say, “A-anyway! Let’s talk about what to do after graduation!”
“All right,” McQueen said, smiling as they started off. “Have you thought of anything since we spoke at lunch?”
“I was hoping to get an idea during class, but nothing came to me.”
“Shall I assume that something like ‘teacher’ isn’t in the cards for you?”
“I’d be a terrible teacher,” said Teio. “I’d just want to teach Prez’s history all the time.”
McQueen laughed. “I can see that happening, unfortunately. Perhaps you could lead tours at a museum?”
“I’d get bored if that’s all I did, even if it was for her history.”
“Now now, don’t just shoot down ideas. This is meant to be productive.”
“I know, sorry.” She put her hands behind her head as they walked, eyes on the evening sky. After a time, she said, “Do you think it’s dumb to do something like training?”
“You mean becoming a trainer yourself?”
“Yeah. Even if I can’t train the way I used to, it’s mainly what I think about all day.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea, Teio!” McQueen said. “You have so much experience to pass on to future racers!” Putting her hands together, she added, “Just imagine being a racer who can tap into the knowledge of a Double Crown winner, the Japan Cup winner, and the winner of the miracle run at the Arima Kinen! Goodness, the confidence that would bring is amazing!”
“Come on, don’t tease me!” Teio said, face burning as she lowered her hands and her ears drooped.
“I’m not at all,” McQueen replied. “Had I run in the Classics, I would have wanted to get your guidance with how well you performed. Honestly, I feel silly for the suggestion I had.”
“What was it?”
“Physical therapist.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I would have suggested it with how well you’ve recovered after your fractures, but your idea of becoming a trainer is much better suited for you.”
Teio’s ears began to perk up. “You really think so?”
“I really do,” McQueen said. “You would be a brilliant trainer.” Smirking, she said, “And if you work hard enough, you could even work at Tracen with the president.”
“I could! That’d be great!” A grin on her face, she asked, “Would you recommend new Mejiro racers to join my team?”
“Over any other trainer,” McQueen said, and the smile on her face was so sincere and gorgeous it made Teio freeze up and stop walking.
When McQueen stopped and looked at her curiously, everything in Teio screamed for her to speak up and tell the truth. McQueen was silhouetted by the sunset, her lilac hair shining in the sunlight. Her ears and tail swayed in a breeze that brushed by them, and the way McQueen smoothed down her skirt was horribly distracting and shockingly elegant all at once. She was beautiful then, as she always was, and Teio tried in vain to swallow the lump in her throat to be able to speak.
“Teio?” McQueen said, still smiling. “Is everything all right?”
All she wanted was to look at McQueen’s smile, to go up and see what her smile felt like with her own lips. Everything in her continued to scream for her to be honest in what was, by all rights, a perfect moment. Then, a small, cutting voice in the back of her mind asked what good a trainer was to the potential heiress of the Mejiro house. A chill rose in her stomach, nearly making it impossible to return McQueen’s smile. She managed it anyway, grinning with absolutely no strength in her.
“Yeah!” she said. “Everything’s fine now that I know what to do after graduation!”
“I’m glad to hear it,” McQueen said. “Shall we get dinner?”
“Are you staying on campus today?”
“I am. I’m all yours for the evening.”
“I’d say ‘race you,’ but that’d be mean when it’s a brace day for you,” Teio said.
McQueen laughed. “It would be, so thank you for minding my knee.” Smiling sweetly, she said, “Thank you for being gentle with me when I need it, Teio.”
“You’re welcome,” Teio replied, and for the rest of their walk she wished she was holding McQueen’s hand.
————
“You want to know about how I got my job here?”
Teio, standing in the trainers’ office in her free period in the morning the next day, nodded. She said, “I want to get into training other umamusume after graduating.”
Her trainer hummed, the stick to his lollipop swaying as he rubbed his jaw. After a moment or two, he said, “And you want my advice?”
“Hey, you trained Team Spica!” Teio said. “Who else would I go to?”
“Team Rigil’s trainer, to start with. She’s done very well for herself, you know.”
“I do, but I’m asking you. Where do I start?”
“Well,” he said, “by getting into a trainer’s licensing program. The license for Central trainers is fairly intensive. Oguri Cap’s original trainer was able to self study, but he had several years of regional training under his belt.”
“Do I need a recommendation or anything?”
“It’s not necessary, but it’ll help.” He smiled, pointing at himself with his thumb. “Leave that to me. I can probably get a letter of recommendation from the student council present if you’d like even more help.”
Teio shook her head. “It’s one thing to get it from another trainer, but I want to get a license on my own merit, not because of Prez.”
“Oh? You’re really serious about this, then.”
“I want to be a trainer that McQueen can send new Mejiro umamusume to,” Teio said. “A trainer that can raise the next Triple Crown winner!”
Her trainer grinned outright. “You wouldn’t be Tokai Teio without a major goal already.” His grin turned to a bemused smile when he asked, “But why the focus on the Mejiro house?”
“Because McQueen helped me figure out what to do in the future and I want to pay her back.”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that in case Golshi asks,” he said. “The last thing you’ll need with all the studying you’re in for is her teasing you.”
“Thanks,” she laughed. “So is it just a license I need, or was there anything else you did to get hired here?”
“There’s a national exam Tracen hosts, similar to the exams it requires of students,” he replied. “The number of open positions is pretty low, so it’s on par with getting into Tokyo University in terms of difficulty.”
“I guess I’m not surprised. When is the exam held?”
“In March, so you’d start with the next term in April.”
“Wait, then I only have a few months to prep?”
“The license program is a graduate program, Teio. It’s at least a year long unless you test out, and likely longer if you’re coming into the program without focusing on training in your schooling.”
“Which I haven’t,” Teio said, entire body sagging.
“Which you haven’t, so don’t expect to get hired right after graduating.”
“Where do you have to be to take the program?”
“Here in Tokyo.”
“Oh man, I need to talk to my parents about staying here off campus.” She sighed heavily, rubbing the back of her neck. “I should try to get a part time job, too, so they’re not paying for everything.”
“I could help with that if you want,” her trainer said. “We do accept a couple of assistant trainers that don’t need licenses every year and I can make a recommendation. You’d be shared across the trainers, so you wouldn’t just be with me all the time.”
“Really? Why did I never see an assistant helping you before?”
He sighed, mouth twisted, and grumbled, “Because Golshi scared them off and other larger teams needed them more.”
“Come on, Golshi’s not scary.” She thought. “Maybe a little scary sometimes, but that’s not fair that you didn’t get help from the assistants.”
“Ah, it’s all right. I could handle myself. But it would be nice next year if I could get help with a brand new team.”
“‘Brand new’?”
“All of Team Spica is graduating,” her trainer said, voice low as a remorseful smile came to his face. “Spe’s off to Hokkaido with Suzuka, Vodka and Scarlet are going to work in Tokyo, Golshi’s off to Europe—”
“I thought she was overthrowing the URA.”
“One day she’ll pick something and stick with it. And you and McQueen have your own goals. I’m going to be all on my lonesome since Kitasan already withdrew.”
“Then I hope I get hired,” Teio said. “Is there an application I need to fill out for the license program?”
“There is. I can find a copy in here if you give me a minute.” He stood from behind his desk, going to rummage through a tall filing cabinet. Eventually, he retrieved a slim packet of papers from a drawer, and he handed it to Teio. “This is the application and a pamphlet about the program if you want to go over it with your parents.”
“Thanks!” she said. “I’ll call them tonight.”
“Is there anything else you wanted to ask me about?”
“No, this is great. Thank you for the help.”
He gave her a grin and a thumbs up. “Do your best, Teio. I’ll be expecting you in a year or two.”
Teio nodded, holding the packet to her chest, and left the trainers’ office with a smile on her face and cheer swelling in her heart.
————
When Teio dreamed, it was of three things. First and most often was McQueen, sweet and hopeful dreams of a life together in the future. Second was the miracle run at the Arima Kinen, dreams that filled her with energy for the following day with the memory of the crowd’s roar in her mind. Those dreams were unfailingly positive, letting her wake with a smile each day she had them.
When she dreamed of the Japan Cup, though, she was left quiet and sober for the day. The memory of the race was too great, too weighty to raise her up in the same way as the Arima Kinen. She had been favored in Japan, but not in the ranks of the world given the competition. In her dreams of the race, she remembered the presence of the other umamusume that day. It was as if a dozen copies of Symboli Rudolf had surrounded her, monarchs in their own right and ready to dominate.
Reporters had said that her competition was beyond anything seen on Japanese soil, beyond even what Symboli Rudolf had conquered years before. On that day, in that moment that always played out in her dreams, Teio knew it was true. It hung over her head as much as her past injuries haunted her left leg. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the race would be as challenging as her miracle run, and she was ever mindful of her left leg as she paced the paddock.
In the crowd were her friends and teammates. In the crowd was Symboli Rudolf. In the crowd was Mejiro McQueen. On the track were umamusume who were ready to take home the cup, and on the track was Tokai Teio.
The race started as many did before, with Teio settling mid-pack. Even this was a struggle, less a pace chase and more a dash to keep up with the leaders. In her dreams, Teio saw the race as though from on high, seeing herself struggle to break free of the pack. But break away she always did, fueled by the desire to meet Symboli Rudolf’s legacy and Mejiro McQueen’s hopes.
Crossing the finish line had felt like a dream at the time, and when Teio woke moments after her victory she felt as if she were floating on her bed. She lay there, breathing slow and deep as the memory of McQueen congratulating her played back in her mind. McQueen had nearly been in tears at the time; Teio imagined what it would have been like to wipe her tears away and tell McQueen how she felt.
“One day,” she whispered to the dark, quiet room. “Soon.”
She sat up slowly, a pang shooting through her left leg as she did. It killed her desire for a morning run in an instant, and she sighed softly as she moved to lean against the bed’s headboard. Across the room, Mayano Top Gun slept deeply and did not wake when Teio turned on her bedside light. It was too early to consider getting ready for the day, and so Teio settled with her blanket over her legs. She looked at the ceiling, rubbing her thighs as she thought of the Japan Cup and how, soon after, she had broken her leg a fourth time.
It had been enough, winning the Japan Cup. It had been enough, winning against McQueen in a private race before the Cup. She had retired properly then, with one last arena-shaking “Teio” chant to her name, and at last she had no regrets about her career.
When the first light of dawn peeked through the window, Teio got out of bed and went to her desk. The packet of papers from her trainer sat on its surface, the application empty and waiting. She sat down and began to fill out the application, humming quietly to herself as she worked. Once it was done, she picked up her phone and began to look at apartments near the academy.
“Wait for me a little while, McQueen,” Teio whispered. “I’ll be a great trainer, and I’ll tell you soon.”