"I refuse."
Tsutsumi answered instantly, cutting Rudolf off mid-sentence.
At first, he had been willing to hear her out. He was curious, even mildly interested. But after just a few words, her intention became clear enough that there was no point in letting her finish.
An Uma Musume's career is terribly, terribly short. Even compared to athletes in similar fields, their time at the top was among the briefest.
Like a shooting star, they burned bright for a single, dazzling moment before vanishing just as quickly. That was the fate of an Uma Musume.
So brief that even their most glorious victories left behind a trail of regret. And it was precisely those regrets, the miracles that flashed like comet tails and disappeared in the blink of an eye, that captivated people, pulling them in and refusing to let go.
Tsutsumi understood this all too well.
He had asked Azu to look into Uma Musume history and physiology for him. From what she gathered, most Uma Musume inevitably entered a state of decline during their senior years. Many retired in their early to mid-twenties, some earlier than that.
As someone who technically can't die, and is a literal walking cheat. A being who didn't age the same way, didn't break down the same way, didn't end the same way.
Putting him on the track alongside them would be nothing short of unfair.
"Care to tell me the reason?" Rudolf asked.
The warmth in her voice vanished instantly, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
The Uma Musume part of him enjoyed running just as much as any other Uma Musume. But the rational, human side won out every time.
"You already know the phrase," he said calmly. "'Eclipse first, the rest nowhere.'"
He calmly met her gaze without hesitation.
"Other Uma Musume are like shooting stars. They shine brilliantly, then fade just as fast. I'm the Eclipse that blocks out all their light, putting me to race with any one of them is just bullying."
Rudolf's magenta eyes hardened.
"Well, aren't you full of yourself," she said coldly. "Second only to the sky itself, is that it?"
Symboli Rudolf was an undefeated Triple Crown winner, yet she had never once placed herself on the level of legends like Eclipse. And now this young Uma, who hadn't even debuted, was calmly claiming such a position.
"You haven't won a single race," she continued sharply. "Yet you talk like a legend. Even your sister wouldn't dare say something like that."
Her glare pressed down on him like a weight.
Frustrating.
It was all so frustrating.
Damn it! Why does she have to firmly oppose!? Calm down! Rudolf, calm! There is still an opportunity!
She clenched her fist briefly, suppressing the twitch at the corner of her eye.
She wasn't about to let an ultra-rare, tier-zero must-have card slip away like this.
"Since we clearly disagree," Rudolf said, rising from her seat, "why not settle this the Uma Musume way?"
Her eyes locked onto Tsutsumi with dangerous intensity.
"The Uma Musume way…" Tsutsumi tilted his head slightly. "Like Russian Roulette?"
Everyone: "..."
"What kind of dark, twisted duel like that is supposed to solve?!" Rudolf snapped. "Running. It's a running race!"
She pointed toward the racetrack visible through the window.
"This track is 1000 meters. Three laps," she said evenly. "Whoever wins gets their way. How about it?"
Air Groove, Maruzensky, Mr. C.B., and Narita Brian: "..."
President… you can't be serious.
A seven-time G1 champion challenging an Uma Musume who hadn't even debuted?
Did she hear herself?
Their expressions grew complicated.
On paper, it would be child's play for Rudolf.
Although Symboli Rudolf wants to just throw Tsutsumi over her shoulder and carry him off without a second word, and make him run in races.
She knew that even if she did so, Tsutsumi'd resist in the most passive way possible, deliberately placing last, just like he always did.
So she has to tackle this with a different approach.
"Sure," Tsutsumi said casually, leaning back in his chair. "I'm bored anyway."
Everyone stared at him in shock.
...
The current Symboli Rudolf had grown considerably milder compared to her earlier days.
That much was true.
But at her core, nothing had really changed.
When she said complete collection, she meant complete collection, no exceptions, no omissions.
I'm going to master the Uma Musume.
Both Oguri Tsutsumi Ryoko and Symboli Rudolf stood side by side on the track, dressed in Tracen's familiar red-and-white tracksuits, facing the stretch of racetrack ahead.
The track looked ordinary enough. Straight, clean, well-maintained.
Around the outer fence, Uma Musume had already begun to gather. Word had spread fast: the Student Council President herself was about to race the troublemaker who had outrun the Green Devil.
For the younger Uma Musume, who doesn't have classes, this was practically a festival. They cheered loudly, eyes shining as they watched their idol prepare to run.
The other members of the Student Council, however, felt something very different.
Despicable.
That was the word floating around in their minds.
Challenging a junior who hadn't even debuted? One who was infamous for placing dead last in mock races? Even with today's incident, it left a bad taste.
Meanwhile, a smaller group stood on the opposite side, Uma Musume who actually knew Tsutsumi.
His older sister was with them, arms crossed, eyes sharp, watching Rudolf like a hawk. She intended to jump over the fence if Rudolf decided to pick on her younger brother.
It's because Oguri never saw her brother run before, so she didn't try to stop them. Wanting to see her brother run for the first time in so long.
Noticing the looks her own council members were sending her, Rudolf cleared her throat and coughed lightly.
"Ahem. Of course," she said, straightening up, "I won't be a bully."
She turned to Tsutsumi, eyes narrowing slightly.
"You'll get a ten-second head start. I won't move until the count is over. Is that acceptable?"
Tsutsumi glanced at her, then smiled.
"You sure? How about I give you the ten-second head start instead?"
Rudolf shot him an annoyed glare.
"That won't be necessary," she replied flatly. "But if I win, you will listen to me, and you will race properly from now on."
"Sure," Tsutsumi said without hesitation. "In return, if you lose, you'll continue to entertain me."
Rudolf paused.
Her lips pressed together.
For a brief moment, the image of her grandmother, Speed Symboli, flashed through her mind, smiling calmly as she watched young Rudolf fumble, trip over her own confidence, and embarrass herself again and again.
Rudolf exhaled slowly, regaining her composure.
The two Uma Musume took their positions.
Strangely, neither of them looked like they were about to race.
They stood casually, relaxed, almost bored, more like spectators waiting for something interesting to happen.
Yet the confidence radiating from both of them was unmistakable.
Symboli Rudolf's confidence came from her uninterrupted victories, from being the undisputed number one in the nation. Call it arrogance, call it pride, this was the bearing of the Uma Musume known as The Emperor.
Tsutsumi Ryoko's confidence came from something far simpler. He knew, without a shred of doubt, that the power he held eclipsed everyone else in this world.
Then, right at the ten-second mark, both Rudolf and Tsutsumi moved at the exact same time.
Their feet struck the racetrack almost in sync, dirt scattering as they surged forward side by side. For the first few seconds, Rudolf ran calmly, eyes forward, posture steady. She glanced sideways and saw that Tsutsumi was matching her stride perfectly.
She increased her pace, smoothly and without hesitation. Tsutsumi did the same, still right there, close enough that she could hear his calm breathing.
They took the first corner cleanly, neither slowing down more than necessary. Then Tsutsumi accelerated.
One moment they were even, and the next, he was slightly ahead. Three meters. Five. Seven.
Rudolf stayed calm. This was fine. This was still within expectations.
At ten meters, she began to feel uneasy.
At fifteen, her brows furrowed.
At twenty meters, she couldn't keep pretending everything was under control.
This was supposed to be a long race. Three laps. A 3000-meter race. Her original plan had been simple, stick close, conserve stamina, and push hard at the end. But that plan only worked if she could see her opponent.
Tsutsumi's back was getting smaller by the second.
She clenched her teeth and accelerated.
But the gap didn't close. It only widened.
By the time she reached full speed, Tsutsumi had already disappeared from her field of vision.
Around the track, the watching Uma Musume had fallen completely silent. All eyes followed the purple blur tearing past them as Tsutsumi completed the first 1000 meters.
Narita Brian shifted her gaze toward the stopwatch in her hand, as Rudolf had instructed them to keep note of Tsutsumi's race record before their race.
35.72 seconds.
Rudolf blasted past the 1000-meter mark, refusing to slow down, lungs burning as she pushed herself forward. Her opponent was nowhere to be seen.
She kept accelerating anyway. Her stamina was dropping faster and faster, but Tsutsumi hadn't shown even the slightest sign of slowing.
Another blur passed the stands. Narita Brian clicked the stopwatch again.
1:12.5 seconds.
At this point, the crowd wasn't cheering anymore.
They were just staring.
These numbers weren't just good. They weren't even excellent. They were wrong.
These records... weren't something a normal Uma Musume could pull off.
Rudolf's breathing grew heavier as sweat streamed down her face. She pushed herself harder, legs screaming in protest.
She had already broken her personal records for both 1000 and 2000 meters.
And it still wasn't enough.
Losing to a younger, stronger Uma Musume wasn't shameful. She understood that. Time moved on, generations changed.
But losing by nearly an entire lap?
That stung.
As she approached the final stretch to reach her third lap, heavy footsteps suddenly echoed behind her.
Before she could react, a shadow fell over her. Tsutsumi looped over her from behind.
For a brief instant, many watching caught a glimpse of him, face darkened by shadow, expression unreadable, a single purple eye looking down at her.
Tamamo felt a chill run down her spine. Remembering the time Oguri chased her down.
Tsutsumi surged ahead and crossed the finish line, slowing to a stop only after several more steps.
An entire 1000 meters ahead.
Narita Brian shifted her gaze toward the stopwatch in her trembling hand.
1:48.5 seconds.
A 3000-meter race in under two minutes.
That wasn't just abnormal, it was monstrous.
How can an Uma Musume finish a 3000-meter race in under two minutes!?
Tsutsumi turned back, hands on his hips, watching Symboli Rudolf stagger forward, panting heavily, sweat-soaked and clutching her chest.
She had pushed herself beyond her limits. And she still hadn't even been close.
Eclipse first, the rest nowhere.
Rudolf lifted her head, finally understanding that Tsutsumi's words earlier hadn't been arrogance.
They'd been an understatement.
"See?" Tsutsumi said lightly, smiling down at her. "Told ya."
Rudolf grit her teeth.
Not in anger, but in resolve.
This only made her more determined to make him race and become the new face that represents the Japanese Uma Musume.
If brute force wouldn't work, then she'd simply have to change tactics. After all, in the bet, he didn't tell her to stop if he won, meaning she still had a chance.
His talent and power did reach and probably surpassed the level of Eclipse, as she can't even see him once he builds up momentum and passes her.
"Not bad," Tsutsumi added, stretching his arms. "That was kinda fun."
He reached up, tugged down the zipper of his tracksuit slightly, revealing a small camera hanging inside. With a casual click, he snapped a photo of the exhausted Emperor.
Then, Oguri Cap's stomach growled loudly.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"…I'm hungry," she said calmly.