That morning, while Mizuno and the others were shopping in the city, Mejiro McQueen was riding in a private car back to her family estate.
It was a quiet place far removed from the city's noise, with several Western-style mansions. The overall scale and training facilities were no worse than Tracen Academy's. On top of that, there were all kinds of leisure spaces for the Mejiro clan members: gardens, a golf course, swimming pools, and more.
The head of the family—McQueen's grandmother—lived here year-round.
Already before today, McQueen had asked her grandmother to summon all her sisters of the same generation for a family meeting, because she had something important to announce. Something tied to the future of the Mejiro family.
The time was set for Saturday morning, the place was the Mejiro dining hall. That was why McQueen wasn't going to Urara's celebration party today.
Pushing open the three-meter-high sandalwood doors, McQueen entered the family dining room.
On the long dining table, the servants had already laid out a lavish breakfast. As befitting members of a great household, the quality and cost of the food were naturally the highest grade—one meal here could equal half a year's income for an ordinary family.
McQueen sat at her seat, eyeing the expensive breakfast in front of her.
Though these were all painstakingly crafted by five-star chefs, guaranteed to be first-class in taste—dishes she had once loved, often eating so much that her weight went up (strike that—slightly increased)…
Now, McQueen found them all incomparable to Mizuno's honey drink.
If it were simply about dieting, she could restrain herself, keep from eating delicacies for days in order to reach her goal.
But if she didn't have even one glass of Trainer Mizuno's honey drink each day, McQueen felt as if something essential to life itself was gone. Like a fish without water. Like a tree without soil. Like the West without Jerusalem. Like Trainer Mizuno stripped bare of his clothes…
Hm? Why did that last example feel a little strange?
Forget it. The point was: unbearable.
Gulp… Just the thought of Trainer Mizuno's honey drink made McQueen swallow her saliva.
She looked warily around. The dining hall was empty except for herself. Perfect timing for some secret wrongdoing. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝓷𝓮𝓽
A thought struck her.
Since no one was here yet, and she just happened to have one of Trainer Mizuno's honey drinks stored away, sneaking a sip to satisfy her craving should be fine.
Though it was risky—if someone suddenly appeared from behind, the secret Mizuno had told her, not to let anyone else know about the honey drink, would be exposed…
"Mm…" McQueen checked around again.
"I won't be that unlucky… right?"
After hesitating for a long while, she couldn't resist the temptation. She took out the honey drink.
But just as her lips touched the straw, about to savor that sweet ambrosia—
A horse girl with long black hair, purple eyes, slender ears, and a frosty aura suddenly leaned in from behind.
"McQueen, what are you drinking?"
"Pfft!" McQueen nearly sprayed the honey drink across the room.
"Glup—cough, cough, cough—Dober?!" She hurriedly swallowed, staring at the girl in front of her.
It was her fellow Mejiro, her sister: Mejiro Dober. Ever since childhood, Dober had only been around maids and other horse girls; she became extremely nervous under public eyes, especially bad at dealing with men.
"What's wrong? Sneaking something delicious again?" Dober asked curiously.
"N-no such thing!" McQueen shook her head, hiding the honey drink behind her back.
"Then what's that behind you?"
"McQueen…" Dober froze, then facepalmed.
"You think I wouldn't recognize the smell of black tea?"
"Guh…" McQueen turned her face aside awkwardly.
She had forgotten—Dober was an expert in teas. One sniff and she could tell.
"Wait… are you drinking alcohol?!" Dober's eyes went wide. "underage Uma aren't allowed to drink!"
"This…" McQueen looked torn.
If Dober really thought she was drinking, and Grandmother heard, she'd be severely scolded—and forced to hand over the "alcohol." It would be exposed anyway. Better to tell Dober the truth and have her keep the secret.
Last time she had told Gold Ship, and Mizuno hadn't been angry. This time it was just her dear sister. Surely Trainer Mizuno wouldn't be angry either…
"Dober, I can tell you. But you must never tell anyone else, okay…" McQueen whispered.
"Okay." Dober nodded.
"So it's …" McQueen leaned close, whispering the truth in her ear.
After hearing, Dober's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Eh?! It's really that delicious?!"
"I'll give you some, then you'll know." McQueen poured a bit into Dober's cup.
"Thank you…" Dober blinked at the colorful liquid.
She sniffed it—the aroma was peculiar. Honey's sweetness mixed with the refreshing scent of tea. For a tea-lover like her, it was already irresistible.
"I wonder how it tastes?" Expectantly, she took a sip.
"!" The instant it touched her tongue, Dober froze in shock.
"Delicious…" The words slipped out before she even thought.
Though she had only taken a little, she could never forget it now.
This flavor, this texture—it surpassed every dessert she had ever tasted! Worthy of being called the best in the world!
Anyone with such supreme skill absolutely had to be hired as Mejiro's personal patissier!
"Right?!" McQueen felt a twinge of pride, seeing Dober's stunned face.
Because when she had first tasted it, she'd reacted exactly the same.
She too had wanted to abduct Trainer Mizuno, lock him away in the Mejiro estate, and turn him into a machine that produced nothing but honey drinks for her.
But alas, Mizuno was also a master of training equipment, a title they had to respect. They couldn't just send a van of thugs to snatch him…
Just as the two were savoring the drink, a horse girl with spiky short hair and a bright, sunny aura burst in.
"Yo, morning McQueen, Dober, what're you drinking?"
"Ryan…" McQueen stiffened, forcing a smile.
Why another one now?!
Helpless, she poured some for Mejiro Ryan too.
But as she was pouring, yet another sister stormed into the dining hall—a stylish older-sister type, with brown bangs covering one eye and a streak of white in the front. Mejiro Palmer. Her gaze locked straight onto the honey drink in McQueen's hand.
"Morning, everyone~ Eh? McQueen? What are you holding?"
"Palmer…" McQueen's lips twitched.
Why did Palmer have to show up now?!
That made three already. If another came…
"Good morning~" A gentle voice floated from behind.
McQueen turned stiffly.
Standing there gracefully, sky-blue hair flowing, was Mejiro Ardan. She smiled softly at McQueen, her eyes full of curiosity about the honey drink.
McQueen's expression was about to collapse.
All she had wanted was one sip of honey drink. Why had all four sisters appeared at once?!
"Remember, you must keep this secret, don't ever—"
Halfway through, McQueen lowered her head in despair.
Uuugh… all four sisters already knew. What was there left to keep secret?
At least… at least Grandmother didn't know…
"All of you are here, I see."
The doors opened. Grandmother walked in.
"Ugh…" McQueen hung her head in hopelessness.
"I'm sorry, Trainer Mizuno…"