Uma Musume: Why Do We, Horse Trainers, Still Have To Train Uma Musume? Chapter 42 42: The Chief Trainer Of The Mejiro Family?

Takatoshi Imanami, having accepted jiro Ardan's invitation, also got into a luxurious car that was arranged by the jiro Family and drove along a road leading away from the city, towards the so-called jiro Estate.

"Trainer Imanami, have you ever been to jiro Estate before?" jiro Ardan sat opposite, while McQueen and Imanami sat in the sa row. Ardan asked curiously.

"It's my first ti, but I am sowhat aware of the great na of the jiro Family," Imanami answered honestly. Gold Ship had already detached herself from him and was probably sound asleep sowhere in Tracen Academy now, wasn't she?

That girl was really tired today. Not only did she carry him running all the way, but she was also exceptionally energetic during the Winner's Stage. It was only after the Winner's Stage ended that she finally burned out.

Imanami had no intention of waking Gold Ship; after all, the jiro Family Head was looking for him. As for why they were looking for him... Imanami felt he could handle it.

"Is that so? Then I believe this ti you will be greatly enlightened." Ardan smiled gently.

"McQueen has written to us more than once, saying she found an excellent Trainer. So, for this mock race, all of us ca specifically to watch, and the outco was truly unexpected."

"McQueen won spectacularly, and this is certainly thanks to your guidance, Trainer Imanami—of course, next ti, please pay attention to the Winner's Stage!"

"Ardan-nee..."

However, Ardan's gentle teasing made McQueen, who was sitting next to Imanami, a little restless. She had never told Imanami about writing to her family; after all, her wording in that letter... might have been a bit inappropriate.

After all, stealing Gold Ship's favorite Trainer... there was no way she could say that in front of Imanami! McQueen could tell that Imanami doted on Gold Ship considerably, and Gold Ship was very dependent on Imanami. If she wasn't decisive enough, she might lose out on getting a good Trainer.

Therefore, the content of the letter was more or less poorly worded. McQueen didn't want Imanami to know how much effort she had put in behind the scenes to win the position of being his Uma Musu and to convince her Grandmother to trust her.

"McQueen is really shy, isn't she? Ah, we've arrived." Ardan smiled gently, and then, as the car slowly stopped, she took the lead in opening the door for the two of them.

"Welco to jiro Estate—Trainer Imanami, please co this way."

As they arrived, what appeared before Imanami at this mont was not so much a house as it was a mansion, with it completely lacking the ancient and rustic feel that Imanami associated with old properties. The entire manor exuded a strong sense of charm, and the fountain in the center was carved with a statue of an Uma Musu—most likely a famous Uma Musu from the jiro Family.

"Let's go, Trainer Imanami." At this mont, McQueen also stepped forward. As an Uma Musu of the jiro Family, she was highly regarded within the family and had the right to be the host for her Trainer. She said with a smile, "Grandmother is waiting for us."

"No, no, McQueen, you stay with us." Ardan, hearing this, waved her hand and said with a smile, "Grandmother wants to see Trainer Imanami alone."

"Is that so..." McQueen also felt a little strange upon hearing this, but she didn't suspect anything. She just apologized to Imanami, saying, "Then, Trainer Imanami, I will take my leave first."

"Trainer Imanami, please co this way. The jiro Family Head is waiting for you." Ardan led Imanami towards the central villa. There, waiting for Takatoshi Imanami, was the true head of the jiro Family... "Takatoshi Imanami... The top scorer in this year's Central Trainer examination. You managed to get a perfect written test score, and all of this was achieved within only a single month."

After so ti, led by Ardan, Imanami finally t the jiro Family Head—a Madam who was clearly a gray-haired old lady at first glance. As for whether she was an Uma Musu, Imanami dared not speculate.

"Truly a heaven-sent talent, Trainer Imanami, as expected of the Trainer even McQueen thinks highly of."

"The Madam overpraises ." Facing the jiro Family Head, Imanami didn't feel nervous at all, rely showing his respect.

Imanami's composure also surprised the jiro Family Head. Although she, as the head of the jiro Family, didn't often receive guests, who among them, apart from the younger generation of the jiro Family, wouldn't be respectful and deferential upon seeing her?

After all, the jiro Family is renowned in the Uma Musu world, and in this world, what else is more worthy of everyone's attention besides Uma Musu races?

It's a pity that Imanami didn't know the jiro Family Head's thoughts; otherwise, he would probably have burst out laughing.

For one thing, Takatoshi Imanami's ntal age was most likely a decade or so older than the Family Head in front of him; he wasn't one of those easily startled young people. What's more, Imanami was also a highly respected figure in the Racehorse world. Although he was just a stableman, he had worked his way up from Jockey and Horse Trainer.

Even high-ranking officials from the JRA would respectfully call him "senior." If it weren't for his passion for Racehorses, Imanami's qualifications would have long been enough for him to beco a high-ranking official at the JRA. Why would he still be a stableman?

"I'm just wondering, Madam, why have you gone to such great lengths to receive ? Is there an important matter to discuss?" Imanami asked calmly, "I am but a new Trainer, and I don't believe there is anything about that the Madam would value."

"No, Trainer Imanami, your talent is the priceless treasure I value most," the jiro Family Head imdiately retorted. "The jiro Family currently lacks talent like yours."

"I've read all the letters McQueen sent. There were many praises for you. I initially thought McQueen was just lucky, and that your personality simply suited her, so I didn't pay much attention at first."

"—But it wasn't until a week ago, when you realized McQueen's Periostitis even earlier than our jiro Family's doctors, that I truly realized you are a great talent."

"...That was simply just luck."

Imanami, upon hearing this, finally knew the reason he was summoned and suddenly felt a headache. How could he diagnose illnesses? Even if he was an experienced old stableman, sothing like noticing illnesses at a glance was impossible for him; the horse would need to at least show obvious symptoms for him to notice.

Imanami simply just recalled things about McQueen's Debut Race period. Periostitis was diagnosed after pressing McQueen's leg, but to say he could spot McQueen's hidden ailnt at a glance was truly overestimating him.

One could only say that if every stableman could spot early symptoms of so Racehorses at a glance, then the world wouldn't need veterinarians. They could just make the stableman qualification exam a hundred tis harder, allowing them to beco a veterinarian at any ti.

—But Imanami couldn't say these things. How would he explain? That he already knew about McQueen's periostitis? That he, a Trainer, had sharper insight than the jiro Family's doctors? Wouldn't that be ruining soone's livelihood?

"One also needs to know how to seize the chance luck gives you, Trainer Imanami; please don't be so modest." The jiro Family Head clearly didn't believe Imanami's words and imdiately stood up, saying:

"Trainer Imanami, your talent is the support the jiro Family needs most right now, and this ti, I hope to gain your approval."

"...If the Madam ans for to be Miss McQueen's Trainer, please rest assured, Miss McQueen and I have already had a prior agreent." Imanami suppressed a slight feeling of unease in his heart and said, "As long as Miss McQueen wins her Debut Race, we will imdiately sign the contract."

"No, Imanami-san, you've misunderstood my aning."

However, the jiro Family Head silently looked him in the eyes, changed how she addressed Imanami, and said word for word:

"I hope you can beco the jiro Family's exclusive Trainer, staying with the jiro Family from now on to provide targeted training for the jiro Family's Uma Musu."

"If you accept, you will be an official mber of the jiro Family, and also the Chief Trainer of the jiro Family, receiving the sa treatnt as core mbers of the jiro Family. My only requirent for you is one thing—to have more of the jiro Family's Uma Musu win the Tenno Sho."

"..."

At this mont, even Imanami's experience made him slightly stunned, but the Madam's subsequent words made his expression a little strange.

To beco a mber of the jiro Family... did she an for him to marry into the family?

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I've been listening to Studio Eim's Limbus music lately and damn is it good.

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If you spot any errors, feel free to comnt about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.