Work Text:
FROM: Mejiro McQueen ([email protected])
TO: Tokai Teio ([email protected])
DATE: 20XX/03/26 19:47
SUBJECT: A Proposal Regarding April
Hello, my dear Teio.
You may be wondering why I’ve decided to email you, instead of texting or calling like we usually do. It is because I have a proposal.
Starting next week, we will find ourselves isolated from each other—myself at the Shadai Rehabilitation Center to receive specialized treatment for my ligament desmitis, and you at the monthlong Dream Series training camp at Kyoto Racecourse.
While we will both gain something fruitful from our respective endeavors, I also find myself hesitant to spend so much time away from my new girlfriend. So I’d like to propose the following: that we begin an email correspondence to document our experiences on a weekly basis.
I believe that recounting our schedules and successes will help us to find solace in the potential isolation that we may experience. Furthermore, by doing this over email, it will be possible for me to save a copy of our messages to easily read in the future. It might even be nice to compile into a small book.
Please respond if you’d like to do this.
DATE: 20XX/03/26 21:09
SUBJECT: Re: A Proposal Regarding April
Queenie why did you send this to my personal email??? I use my school email for nearly everything nowadays you can just send it there 😆
But of course we can send each other emails!!! It sounds so sweet and I’d love to hear about everything that happens while you’re at rehab! And this way you can hear about all my races too!
AND sending emails makes everything feel super official too. But a book is very high commitment isn’t it? It’s like you’re already thinking about the long term with our relationship… Not that there’s anything wrong with that!!! It’s very sweet!!! But I’ll have to use good grammar and punctuation and stuff then… I usually only use that stuff with Prez but if it’s for my Queenie it’ll be worth it!
Oh and you’re still good for the date we have planned on the day before we leave right? I’ve got a very fun surprise planned!!!
I’ll be looking forward to sending you more emails hehe!
Mwah mwah mwah!
DATE: 20XX/03/27 8:11
SUBJECT: Re: Re: A Proposal Regarding April
Do you not use your school email for official communications only? I apologize for not knowing. I’ll direct future messages to that address.
Now that you’ve mentioned it, the idea of putting everything into a book is making me blush. Perhaps it’s presumptive of me to think so far ahead with our relationship. But I find the idea compelling anyway, so I’m glad you appreciate it.
However, I may ask that you keep the physical affection to a minimum inside these emails. I find it very embarrassing to read over text.
I will send my first email on the day I arrive in Hokkaido. I hope to hear from you soon.
My schedule has been cleared for our date. I am looking forward to it.
FROM: Mejiro McQueen ([email protected])
TO: Tokai Teio ([email protected])
DATE: 20XX/04/05 22:17
SUBJECT: Weekly Email Correspondence, April 5
Hello, Teio. I’ve finally settled into my room after a long day. I am currently resting my leg in bed and decided that now would be a good time to begin writing this email.
It’s been a while since I’ve crossed the strait to visit Hokkaido, and I haven’t been to Abira since I was a young child. It is quite cold compared to Honshu, but I will confess that the first thing I did upon arriving was seek out an ice cream parlor that Special Week suggested. The depth of its creaminess truly astounded me. Don’t worry about my diet, though: I also was able to sit down and try some soup curry, which was wonderfully flavored.
I then took a taxi to the Shadai Recovery Center. It’s in the countryside away from the town, and stepping out of the car felt like wading into a sea of grass. I suspect I’ll become very fond of the view.
The staff was incredibly friendly. I’ve already been assigned a specialist who has comprehensive experience with past cases of suspensory ligament desmitis. Some of his suggestions from our initial consultation have already helped me to alleviate pain in the short term.
Much like Tracen, we are given roommates when possible to help alleviate social isolation. I have not been assigned one yet, but I believe I will get one in the coming days. I wonder who it will be.
I am probably overdue to go to bed now. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
FROM: Tokai Teio
TO: Mejiro McQueen
DATE: 20XX/04/06 14:21
SUBJECT: I’m in Kyoto!!!
I finally made it to Kyoto! Not that I haven’t been here before, haha. This was where we got to face off in the Spring Tenno Sho, after all. I still remember that race like it was yesterday. It sure sucked to lose, but now that it’s been a while, I’m real glad I got to compete with you. That was the greatest feeling in the world.
Prez actually took me down to Kyoto, since me and Sirius Symboli are going to be roomies at the Dream Series camp together. She even treated us to a hoity-toity kaiseki ryori! There were so many little plates and bowls that I could barely keep track of it all, and I know I used my chopsticks wrong at least twice. But the sashimi and egg custard were really, really good!
We’re staying at a training camp owned by the URA. Honestly, it feels way similar to the Tracen dorms, so not super special or anything. But it is nice to have Sirius as my roommate!!! It’s been forever since we’ve been able to hang out, and Sirius is super duper cool. Although she keeps saying she’s not happy about it, saying I’m loud and annoying and that she would rather be flying a propeller plane right now. But I think she’s just saying that.
I’d love to try some of the ice cream and curry you got, McQueen. Maybe I should head up to Hokkaido when my camp is done so we can get some together!!!
Oguri and Tama are here too, and they invited me to do some karaoke with them. I’ll send some pictures with the next email. It’s no big deal, Ryan wanted me to get some snaps of the Heisei girls anyway.
Training starts up tomorrow. I’ll message you all about it, although I guess you said weekly emails, so I’ll do it then haha.
Love you Queenie!!! I'd say XOXO but you don't want me to so I'll just say I'll see you soon!!!
FROM: Mejiro McQueen
TO: Tokai Teio
DATE: 20XX/04/11 14:41
SUBJECT: Weekly Email Correspondence, April 11
Hello, Teio. I’m writing this in the break between my morning physical therapy session and an afternoon social event, so I apologize if this email is shorter than I would like it to be.
The facilities at Shadai are incredibly impressive. While the Mejiro sanatorium is well-staffed and equipped to fulfill most of the needs I have, the specialized machines and knowledge here are incredible. It’s incredible that a facility dedicated specifically to umamusume can have the kinds of cutting-edge ultrasonographic devices that they’ve used. It’s a blessing in many ways.
I will confess that Ardan’s frequent praise of hospital food is not a trait that I share, but since the dietary plans are customized for each patient here, I’ve found it to be surprisingly acceptable, and I think Rice Shower would've liked the bread. I will still miss the ability of our trainer to accommodate sweets into my plans, though.
Since this is an inpatient facility, the Shadai staff has organized many opportunities to socialize with our fellow umamusume. There are weekly book clubs, video game nights, and even collaborative events with the local Ainu umamusume to educate us about their culture. I’ve attended as many of these as my schedule has allowed, and I’ve found much of it to be enriching.
However, I must confess a second motive for my attendance: to avoid extended contact with my roommate, who arrived earlier this week. She is an African-American girl named Sunday Silence, with hair black as coal and eyes that wander whenever she walks into a room. When she first arrived in our room, she set her luggage along the middle of our room like a blockade. I was too shocked to do much other than state my name and that I would be looking forward to rooming with her. In response, she gave me a stare so withering that I almost felt myself sink into my bed.
Her behavior has been similarly hostile since. I do not find myself offended—after all, all of the people who go to physical therapy likely have at least some regrets and fears that accompany their injury. However, I am not certain if I will be able to get along with her. I find myself envious of your ability to make fast friends with people. If you have any advice, it would be appreciated.
DATE: 20XX/04/11 17:05
SUBJECT: Re: Weekly Email Correspondence, April 11
I’m glad the food is good!!! Bad food always sucks when you need to match up with specific nutrient requirements. I’m totally dreaming of the Korean fried chicken they had on every other Tuesday at Tracen. The regular fried chicken isn’t the same at this cafeteria. 😔
As for your roommate… That is a real tough one. I think it’s always important to respect someone’s boundaries and not talk to them if they don’t want you to. But at the same time, it’s hard when you want to help them. I think for now you should just wait it out. Maybe try to learn more about her to see if you have anything in common? That way you can talk about something she likes if she wants to do that.
Good luck McQueen!!! I know you can do it!!!
FROM: Tokai Teio
TO: Mejiro McQueen
DATE: 20XX/04/13 07:54
SUBJECT: Training is Hard…
This Dream Series training stuff is so intense! My calves are SO sore right now. Obviously part of that is that it’s professional stuff, I’m used to that. But it’s also just so wild to be around the best of the best. There’s so many classic crown winners here like Super Creek and Seiun Sky and I’m training right next to them so that I can race with them someday! I keep pushing myself too hard during practice and falling asleep before I can think about emailing you. I even missed Mayano’s livestream last weekend, I almost never do that!!!
It’s still really fun though! It’s even fun when we’re not running. I’ve been playing lots of poker with Sirius and Creek and Sei and Inari. Don’t worry, we haven’t been betting money or anything, it’s just for fun or sometimes to decide who’s going to clean up after practice. I’m not very good at it and Creek keeps calling out when I’m trying to bluff, but I mostly like listening to the conversations everyone has, it’s pretty relaxing!
Oh here comes Sirius actually, she says that Tama is making us breakfast but she won’t let Sirius eat without me, so I guess I gotta run! But I will attach those karaoke pictures!
Let’s call tonight after my training and your pace work okay? XOXO
[14 images attached]
FROM: Mejiro McQueen
TO: Tokai Teio
DATE: 20XX/04/18 18:22
SUBJECT: Weekly Email Correspondence, April 18
I’m glad your training is going well, Teio. I am hopeful that you can gain significant experience from it.
I did look into American racing publications to learn more about Sunday Silence. As it turns out, she was a Double Crown winner five years ago! But she seems to have some resentment towards her home country. Whenever someone else brings it up while she’s around, her ears bristle and her teeth seem to sharpen. It also seems that she wasn’t popular in America. Even after obtaining a victory in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic, the articles speak of her as a polarizing athlete, with doubters still questioning her capability even in retirement. If I was in a similar position, I would likely consider moving abroad as well. She almost reminds me of Rice Shower.
My treatment has been moving apace. The center has a special contract with a podiatry shoe manufacturing company, and I have just received exercise shoes with custom horseshoes and insoles. Walking has not been this easy for me for some time.
On the other hand, the other aspects of treatment have been more frustrating. I’ve already had to receive one session of stem cell injections and at least three hours of lower body acupuncture. And the exercises I’ve been asked to do for physical therapy have been incredibly… unsatisfying. So many knee extensions and calf raises. I still feel the unending urge to run, and yet I am confined to the earth.
But I shouldn’t bother you with my own worries. I hope you are doing well.
DATE: 20XX/04/18 19:50
SUBJECT: Re: Weekly Email Correspondence, April 18
Oh Goddesses acupuncture??? I’m so sorry McQueen, they shouldn’t put anyone through that!!! I would literally die!!! I hope you don’t have to do it much more…
It sucks that nobody liked Sunday… Maybe you should tell other people to not talk about America around her if it makes her so unhappy? But she might not want someone to be protective of her like that… I don’t know, hard to say.
I’m really sorry the treatment is so frustrating Queenie… 😓 I hope it goes better soon!!! Let me know if I can do anything okay?
FROM: Tokai Teio
TO: Mejiro McQueen
DATE: 20XX/04/20 14:27
SUBJECT: Scrimmages Are Harder!!!
AAAARGH THESE SCRIMMAGES ARE SO DIFFICULT!!!
Now that we’re deeper into the training camp they’re having us run them every other day now. And they’re really fun! But they’re really difficult!!! Everyone is so good, so even when they’re not going all out it’s so hard. You know how well Oguri runs, and Tama’s acceleration is unreal. It’s ridiculous!
But Sirius is the really scary one. She’s been treating every scrimmage we’re in together like it’s a real race, and always leaving me in the dust. She got really close to bumping me yesterday too! And when I asked her about it she said it was an accident, but she said it like she did it on purpose. I’m a little worried, honestly. She seems more angry than usual. I hope she doesn’t hurt herself.
It’s all still really fun though! But not as fun as I was expecting… I feel like I don’t have the same drive that I had back in the Twinkle Series. I’m not totally sure why. I wonder if you have any ideas, McQueen?
FROM: Tokai Teio
TO: Nice Nature ([email protected])
DATE: 20XX/04/20 14:39
SUBJECT: thank you for the package!!!
Omg that package was so great Nature!!! You really knew all of my favorite sweets and snacks and everything! 🥺 Let me know how I can pay you back okay?
But also I wanted to ask you about ideas for making my own gift box! Queenie is definitely a little down right now in rehab and I wanted to send her something like you sent me. But I know she’s got dietary restrictions and stuff. So if you have any ideas I’d love to hear them!!! 🙏
DATE: 20XX/04/20 18:22
SUBJECT: Re: thank you for the package!!!
I’m glad you liked the package, Teio! Everyone in Canopus helped me put it together. I hope the hearts weren’t too much, they were definitely Tannhauser’s idea and not mine, ahahaha.
I’m surprised you’re emailing me, though. You’re always such a texting girl. But I prefer email because it reminds me of all the letters my grandma used to write, so it works out.
But gift ideas for McQueen, huh? I know sweets are kinda out of the question with her diet right now, but you could look into some low-sugar snacks? There’s dark chocolate and candies made with zero-sugar sweeteners and stuff like that. I bet anything with fiber would help with her recovery too, I know you have to eat a lot of fiber for ligament desmitis recovery.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
DATE: 20XX/04/20 19:04
SUBJECT: Re: Re: thank you for the package!!!
Whoa, those are awesome ideas, Nature! I’ll definitely use some of those.
And sorry about the email, haha! I’ve been sending Queenie emails recently about my routine and stuff and they’ve been really nice to write, so I guess emails have been on my mind recently.
Thanks again for the package!!! 😄
FROM: Mejiro McQueen
TO: Tokai Teio
DATE: 20XX/04/25 19:30
SUBJECT: Weekly Email Correspondence, April 25
Firstly, thank you dearly for the care package you sent me. I am surprised you were able to get it put together and sent so quickly, and my dietitian has managed to approve all of the treats that were inside. The dark chocolate and cream puffs in particular were wonderful. I hope the expedited shipping didn’t strain your budget.
I will confess that your care package and texts may have been the only bright spot in my week. Somehow, my time at rehab has made me incredibly restless. Even with chances to visit the sweeping plains and stimulating hot springs of Abira, I find myself wishing for more freedom than I’m allowed. It’s as if there is a louse inside my bone marrow that refuses to leave it alone.
I also am afraid to say that things have not gone well with Sunday Silence since we last called. In the time before the start of the book club, a few of the other patients were gossiping about Sunday, and the things they said were beyond the limits of decency. I asked them to stop immediately. Unfortunately, as I said this, she happened to walk into the room. Immediately she ran off, and now she refuses to acknowledge my presence in our shared room.
I will confess I am at a loss in many regards. Any advice you have would be appreciated.
DATE: 20XX/04/26 14:22
SUBJECT: Re: Weekly Email Correspondence, April 25
I’m really really sorry Queenie… 😔 I’m glad you liked the care package, but I wish I could help with everything else.
I’m sorry to hear about what happened with Sunday Silence. I do think she will open up eventually though… She seems scared and lonely more than she seems angry. Maybe you should talk to one of the counselors at the rehab center, they probably know better than me.
I really hope you figure it out…
FROM: Tokai Teio
TO: Mejiro McQueen
DATE: 20XX/04/28 00:51
SUBJECT: I Think I Screwed Up…
So Sirius has actually been angry about me this whole time.
We did another practice race today in preparation for the big Dream Series race next week. And as we hit the fourth corner, Sirius actually cut in front of me. The trainers cut the race immediately and asked Sirius what she was doing, and she said that she was trying to teach me a lesson. And I was confused, so I asked what she meant, and—well, she started yelling at me. She said I was a spoiled brat who didn’t understand how lucky I am, and that not everybody got to come back from an injury and win a G1. She told me I didn’t have a right to slack off and take this camp for granted, and that she’d take every win from me unless I got into shape.
Everybody just kind of stood there in shock. I knew a lot of terrible stuff happened to Sirius in Europe, of course, and I knew she was angry about it. But I didn’t understand that she felt so resentful towards me specifically. I thought she was just teasing when she said she didn’t want me around sometimes.
The worst part is, I wonder if she’s right. I haven’t been doing well at practice this week, and I got seventh out of twelve in the scrimmage before this one. I swear I’m not trying to be lazy or anything!!! But I just don’t feel any motivation at all. I don’t know why.
My head hurts. I think I need to go to bed. I hope I can talk to you soon, Queenie…
FROM: Mejiro McQueen
TO: Tokai Teio
DATE: 20XX/04/29 23:37
SUBJECT: A Confession
I believe I have a confession to make, Teio. But first I have to explain something.
I was sitting in my room before bed last night. Sunday Silence was turned away from me in bed, as she has been for several days now. But as I finished reading an article from a sports magazine, she turned to me and asked me to talk about Rice Shower.
I wasn’t sure what she meant at first, so I asked her to clarify. She said, “You’re the one who was kind to Rice Shower after she beat you. Tell me about her.”
So I told her about how Rice Shower worked so hard to win the Kikuka Sho, only to be rejected by the Japanese public. I explained how she was called a “heel” by the racers, even though she was the kindest girl I knew, someone who desired to be a hero that people admired. I explained how you and Bourbon were able to convince her to keep running, and how she beat me in last year’s Tenno Sho through her incessant training and fearsome determination. And I told her how I had to be the first person to clap when the audience would not.
Sunday was quiet for a long time. Then, she told me about her career in America. How she couldn't remember all the racist names she'd been called. How no one thought she’d succeed except her trainer. How they still called it all a fluke until she won the Breeders’ Cup. And how after her retirement, they refused to accept her application to the American trainers’ academies, saying that her running style was "too unconventional" to teach to others.
She’d come to Japan to escape those voices. But her reputation had followed her here, too. Even with her injury, she’d been terrified of coming to Shadai because she knew everyone here would know her name. But then she saw my name, and remembered hearing about the Spring Tenno Sho. And so she insisted to the staff that I had to be her roommate.
We spent the rest of the night talking about our careers and our regrets, and about how much we hated the slow grind of orthopedic therapy, and about why we were still going. Sunday is currently studying to join the URA so that she can eventually revolutionize the way every umamusume is instructed in Japan, so that everyone can be given a fair chance in the races.
As for me… Well, this is the confession.
I want to race. But specifically, I want to race against you. And seeing you at your training camp, racing against so many incredible people… I’ve worried that you’ll become so used to running with them that you’ll forget me. And this has kept me from responding to your emails as much as I ought to.
It’s selfish and rude and not something you’d ever do. But I’m sorry anyway. I hope you can forgive me.
FROM: Tokai Teio
TO: Mejiro McQueen
DATE: 20XX/04/29 23:37
SUBJECT: I’m really, really, really selfish!!!
I spent a lot of time thinking about what Sirius said. And while I still wish she’d been less mean, I realized that she was a little bit right.
I’m not trying to take the training camp for granted. I’m not trying to slack off. But because you’re not around to be my goal or keep me motivated, I can’t put my heart into everything.
Yes, I want to race in the Dream Series. But I only want to race against you!!! Am I just being selfish, or am I super lovestruck, or what is it? I don’t know! But I wish I could kiss your face and hold your hand and race you right now! And I don't want to run if I'm going to leave you behind!!!
Text conversation between Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio
20XX/04/29 23:43
MM: Teio, did we just…
TT: i think we just emailed each other about the same fears
TT: without planning it at all
MM: Fate is strange, isn't it?
TT: it sure is!!!
TT: but you shouldve told me earlier you were feeling that way! i couldve focused on the non training stuff more in the emails!!!
MM: I considered it, but… I was worried about appearing clingy.
TT: nah you wouldnt have been clingy at all! im the clingy one!
TT: speaking of clingy
TT: as soon as this training camp is over
TT: i will be taking the train to hokkaido
TT: and visiting you!
TT: and even if we can't run i will come up with as many ways for us to compete together and spend time together as i can!!!
TT: …unless that’s a little too clingy?
MM: Teio…
MM: I can’t think of anything I’d want more.
TT: AWW YEAH!!!
FROM: Tokai Teio
TO: Mejiro McQueen
DATE: 20XX/05/12 16:17
SUBJECT: Official Record of Our Competition!!!
Tastiest Homemade Ice Cream—Teio
Words Per Minute on a Keyboard—McQueen
Poker (suggested by Sirius!)—Sunday Silence
Finding Four-Leaf Clovers—Teio
Rhythm Games—Teio
Eating A Massive Ramen Bowl The Fastest—Teio
Chess—McQueen (3-1-1)
Tamagotchi Raising—McQueen
Milk Caps (suggested by Natie!)—Teio
Cup Stacking—McQueen
Paper Football—Teio
Craps (suggested by Sirius!)—Sunday Silence
Quickest At Making a Necktie Knot—McQueen
Best Treats for Natie’s Gift Basket—McQueen
Final Result—TIE?! (6-6-2)
Rematch—Next Month!!!
XOXOXOXO,
Tokai Teio