Uma Musume: Why Do We, Horse Trainers, Still Have To Train Uma Musume? Chapter 5 5: Mr. Imanami Wants To Help Mejiro McQueen

Even though Gold Ship fools around most of the ti and rarely participates in races or even training, almost everyone at Tracen Academy knew of Gold Ship's "notoriety." It was just that only a few actually knew that Gold Ship, as an Uma Musu, was not weak in ability at all; it was simply that few people had ever seen her run in the first place.

Were there any Uma Musu who could enter Tracen Academy that were weak? (T/N: Haru Urara...) Almost every Uma Musu at Tracen Academy, after receiving systematic training, tactical adjustnts, and targeted training by excellent Trainers, had the potential to compete for a GI championship in the future. However, winning a GI required not only diligent training and patience, but luck, health, and various factors of the racetrack were also very important.

And because of that, the reason why Gold Ship was infamous at Tracen Academy but no one ever thought she was strong was simply because she never trained and rarely raced. However, this did not an that she was a truly weak Uma Musu or lacked talent.

"Ha, ha…"

"How was it, old man? I ran pretty well, didn't I?"

"Hmm, this speed is completely fine for winning a Debut Race." Imanami glanced at the stopwatch results. Of course, her speed was still far from Gold Ship's pri in his mory, but for an Uma Musu who hadn't even run her Debut Race, it was undoubtedly enough.

What? Why would Imanami know that Gold Ship hadn't run a Debut Race? — Because when Imanami saw Gold Ship's current personality and McQueen's reaction next to her, he could guess that this child must not have been on a racetrack much.

No, it should be said that she definitely hadn't even done much training in the first place. But even so, being able to achieve such results over a 2000-ter distance clearly indicated that Gold Ship's talent was by no ans inferior to her Racehorse self.

It was just that she was way too lazy.

"As expected, you're good at dium and long distances. But it would be too much to ask you to run 3000 ters right after finishing 2000 ters. Let's stop for today."

"Yay, I'm tired from running too, it's ti to go back to my dorm and sleep soundly!" Although Gold Ship said this, apart from slightly heavier breathing, she hadn't even broken a sweat. After resting for a bit, she was effortlessly smiling again.

Before leaving, Gold Ship seed to suddenly rember sothing and quickly turned her head to say,

"Oh, old man! Rember to wait for here tomorrow! Gold Ship-sama will run a beautiful 3000 ters for you to see, so don't miss it!"

"Hmm, see you tomorrow." Imanami also gently smiled and waved goodbye to Gold Ship, watching until the child's figure disappeared from his sight before retracting his gaze.

McQueen, who was also seeing Gold Ship actively participate in a race for the first ti, had already opened her mouth wide in surprise, completely forgetting to hide her reaction. For an Uma Musu of the jiro Family who always upheld elegance and grace, this was a mistake McQueen would never have usually made.

"Gold Ship… is actually that amazing… With such results, isn't her Debut Race basically secured?"

"How could this be? As an Uma Musu of the jiro Family, having undergone systematic training, I'm actually… only similar in ability to Gold Ship, who never trains?"

At this mont, jiro McQueen even began to doubt her own talent and ability as an Uma Musu. As an Uma Musu of the jiro Family, although strictly speaking she was from a branch family, ever since her aptitude as an Uma Musu was revealed, she had always enjoyed the best treatnt provided by the jiro Family, started training much earlier than ordinary Uma Musu, and avoided many detours and pitfalls.

Although jiro McQueen had not yet debuted, as the rising star of the jiro Family, she had been a highly anticipated existence ever since her enrollnt at Tracen. Although her personality was gentle and she was not the type to get into conflicts with others, deep down, jiro McQueen still had her own pride—the pride of being an "Uma Musu of the jiro Family."

jiro McQueen firmly believed that her starting point was higher than most Uma Musu. She just needed more training, training… that would allow her to flawlessly win first place in her Debut Race.

However, this pride of hers was greatly shaken by Gold Ship's incredible performance this ti.

"Could it be… that I'm not that strong? My talent and ability as an Uma Musu aren't that good?"

jiro McQueen couldn't help but murmur to herself. She had seen Gold Ship's speed earlier and believed that Gold Ship might be slightly inferior to her, but if it were a real race, jiro McQueen also admitted that she couldn't 100% guarantee a win against Gold Ship. After all, training and an actual race were two different things, and there were too many influencing factors in a race.

Wouldn't that an that she, who had undergone systematic training by the jiro Family, was not as good as Gold Ship, who never trains? How could this not shake jiro McQueen's self-confidence?

And at this mont, Imanami's voice pulled jiro McQueen back from her stupor, just before she almost reached the point of self-deprecation.

"Don't be so modest, Miss jiro. Your talent is evident from your surna alone. Almost every Uma Musu of the jiro Family is a hope that can continue its glory."

Imanami had clearly noticed McQueen's silence and self-deprecation. Imanami wasn't a block of wood; he had been a Racehorse stablehand for so long that he could quickly detect if a real Racehorse—let alone jiro McQueen with a human face—fell into a low mood.

As Imanami said before, he had been a stablehand for so many years and could detect all kinds of situations and sudden circumstances that a Racehorse faces, let alone a being with a human face that could speak and make expressions. The ability to communicate made Imanami feel that it was very convenient; he could detect the emotions of each Uma Musu faster and make more accurate adjustnts.

"Miss jiro, you are the pride and glory of the jiro Family. Don't doubt yourself. Although you may not have even participated in your Debut Race yet, I have great confidence in you."

"Is, is that so?" jiro McQueen, seeing her emotions detected, smoothed her beautiful hair with a hint of embarrassnt, then forced a calm expression and said,

"I, I wasn't feeling self-doubt. Although Gold Ship's performance this ti did surprise a bit, I am an Uma Musu of the jiro Family."

"For , only equally strong Uma Musu can be considered my opponents, and only by challenging strong opponents can my potential and ability be stimulated."

"I am also preparing for my Debut Race. With just a little more effort, I am confident I won't lose to Gold Ship…"

As she spoke, jiro McQueen bowed slightly to Imanami with a respectful attitude. The worry and unease on her face slowly dissipated, and she regained her composure as the young lady of the jiro Family.

Imanami, upon hearing this, blinked slightly, seeing through the young lady's excuse for not running her Debut Race. So, with a gentle smile, he asked,

"Then, Miss jiro, may I ask a question?"

"Please tell . As an Uma Musu of the jiro Family, why have you not participated in a Debut Race for so long?"

"…"

However, Imanami's rhetorical question made jiro McQueen's cheeks visibly redden rapidly. Then, the young lady, still feigning composure, coughed dryly and stamred,

"It, it's just that the timing isn't right, desuwa! As long as I try a little harder, I can overco this small obstacle, desuwa!"

Even her verbal tic was becoming hard to hide. jiro McQueen felt Imanami's gaze beside her, as if he had seen through everything, and her cheeks were also feeling a burning sensation from embarrassnt.

Could it be… that he even saw through that thing?!

That shouldn't be. She had been controlling herself very well recently; at least it shouldn't be obvious on the surface. How could it still be exposed…?

"I, I'm going to train now, desuwa! I need to catch up to Gold Ship's pace and then get a definite win in my Debut Race."

"S-so, I, I'll be taking my leave!"

Finally, jiro McQueen slipped away from Imanami's sight as if fleeing. Imanami watched jiro McQueen's retreating figure, confirming his suspicion.

Indeed… is it because of weight issues? (T/N: Rippppp, completely exposed)

"The jiro McQueen I rember was very striking; it was obvious at a glance that he was overweight. But I didn't expect that in this world… such a seemingly petite Uma Musu would also be troubled by this issue?"

"It seems that Uma Musu truly cannot be thought of with common sense…"

Through today's events, Imanami also gained a new understanding of the existence known as Uma Musu. He not only t Gold Ship but also the legendary jiro McQueen, which was worth the trip… If he had ti, he should go watch jiro McQueen train. He hoped she would be able to lose weight this ti. If he, as a stablehand, could do sothing, he would do his best to help this legendary Uma Musu, who still hadn't gone through her Debut Race.

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Rip to McQueen's ntal state this chapter.

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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.