Chapter 23: Just My Luck

"Here's your plushie, Teio."

"Thank you!"

Though it had been a bit of a struggle, Teio was overjoyed to receive the plushie, her earlier disappointment instantly vanishing.

"With so many plushies of the President, should we give one to her?" Teio mused, still basking in her good fortune.

"Are you sure it's okay to take so many?" McQueen asked, sounding a little concerned.

"Of course! This place is always deserted, especially since there aren't many kids around. You can see how quiet it is, even though it's the only arcade in Kasuga Town. The owner probably doesn't expect to make much money."

"How do you know the owner doesn't expect to make much money?"

"Actually, I did this once when I was little. Even then, I was a bit hesitant about taking so many. But the owner, a kind old man, patted my head and said I could take as many as I wanted—after all, it's a paradise for children."

McQueen was touched. "I never knew you were such a repeat offender."

Then, noticing there were still plushies left in the machine, McQueen asked, "Did you win anything else?"

Kousei reached into the claw machine and retrieved two plush dolls, cradling them in her arms. Her gaze softened as she looked down at them.

"This one's McQueen, and this one's Teio. Having them with me at night makes me feel safe."

McQueen and Teio's cheeks flushed slightly, creating a subtly awkward atmosphere. McQueen stammered, flustered and unable to find her words, while Teio buried her face in her Rudolf plush.

"It's a shame there aren't any Rice Shower or Bakushin O dolls. If there were, we could all be together."

"..."

Oh, so that's what she meant.

The atmosphere felt a little tense, and Kousei noticed a hint of resentment on McQueen and Teio's faces. Puzzled, she took a half-step back.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Just then, a loud shout shattered the awkward silence.

"Yo! Isn't that Kousei!"

McQueen braced herself, thinking it was another one of Kousei's acquaintances, but turned to see a towering delinquent with a menacing glare and four smaller lackeys trailing behind him.

"Huh?" McQueen's instincts flared as she realized the situation had taken a turn for the worse. "Wasn't this supposed to be a peaceful little town?"

The delinquents advanced menacingly, sensing trouble brewing.

"What's wrong, Kousei? Cat got your tongue?" the Boss sneered.

"Ah... sometimes these things happen," Kousei replied, as if just remembering, and strode directly toward the Boss. The size difference between them was striking.

"Now that you're back..."

A sharp gust of wind slashed through the air as a high side kick halted inches from the Boss's head. Kousei's eyes flashed with ferocity as she said in an icy tone, "Get out of here. Want to feel the hoof of an Umamusume?"

The force of the kick had disheveled the Boss's hair, sending shivers down everyone's spines.

McQueen panicked. "Thank goodness she didn't actually kick him! Getting kicked by a racehorse girl is no joke."

The Boss gulped nervously. "Don't attack! I'm just here to deliver a message from your uncle! He knows you brought friends back and wants you to bring them over for a proper welcome."

Kousei's expression softened as she realized the truth. "I'm so sorry! I thought you were just some punks from next door looking for trouble!"

"Punks from next door?!" McQueen and Teio exclaimed in shock.

"You know how it is," Kousei said casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Sometimes troublemakers from other places come looking for a fight. It's just part of living in a neighborhood like this. But I doubt you've ever run into anything like that."

"If you don't mind my asking," McQueen ventured, "how do you handle them?"

"Simple," Kousei replied. "I just give them a good thrashing, leave them to nurse their wounds, and send them on their way."

"All by yourself?"

"Yeah, well, I am an Umamusume, after all."

Hmm, that explains everything.

The Boss scratched his head. "Honestly, after all these years, you haven't changed a bit."

"Do we know each other?" Kousei asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I live right across the street from you!"

Kousei thought for a moment, but she couldn't place him.

"Enough. Hurry back with your friends. Don't keep your parents waiting."

"Thanks. You're surprisingly nice," Kousei said.

As Kousei led McQueen and Teio away, the Boss smiled. "Keep chasing your dreams, Kasuga Town's only idealist."

"Kasuga House... so that's the restaurant run by Kousei's parents," McQueen said.

"Mmm~ To get to taste Kousei's parents' cooking! Teio is incredibly lucky today," Teio exclaimed.

Kousei pushed open the door. "I'm home!"

"Oh, welcome back!" her parents called out.

Kousei froze at their greeting. Actually, all three of them froze.

"A frog?"

A massive frog was slurping ramen from a bowl with gusto. Only when it lifted its head did they realize it was someone wearing a frog mascot costume.

"So it's not actually a frog..." Kousei murmured, feeling a strange pang of disappointment.

"You must be Kousei's friends! Welcome, welcome! Just wait a moment—this is our last customer. Why don't you go up to Kousei's room and play while we finish up here?" Her father's enthusiasm made it clear how delighted he was that his daughter had friends.

"Okay, I'll take McQueen and Teio upstairs first."

"Hey! Don't just ignore the giant frog!" McQueen and Teio nudged Kousei with their elbows in unison.

Kousei finally snapped out of her daze. "Is this guest not from around here?" she asked hastily.

Although her father didn't understand Kousei's fascination with the frog, he explained, "Yes, he's from out of town. Kousei might not know him, but he's a very skilled doctor named Minai Takuya. He's an old acquaintance of mine—he helped your mother and me a lot back in the day."

"Minai Takuya..." Teio murmured to herself.

This is exactly the doctor I've been looking for! It was like searching high and low only to have him fall right into her lap.

Just as Dr. Takuya finished his meal, Teio eagerly approached him.

"Hello, Dr. Takuya! I'm Tokai Teio!"

The doctor seemed a bit older, taking a moment to respond. After a long pause, he finally said, "Ah, Tokai Teio. What does a talented Umamusume like you want with an old man like me?"

As expected of Tokai Teio, she thought, everyone knows me.

"Actually, I have a favor to ask! There's something wrong with my leg. The doctors all recommend rest, but I have a race I absolutely must run. Could you possibly help me?"