"It seems everything is going smoothly. The next step is to persuade Gold Ship to join Trainer Ikezoe's team. Can you handle this, Air Groove?"
"...I apologize, I cannot guarantee success, but I will do my best."
Meanwhile, in the Student Council office, Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove were discussing the arrangements for talented but unmanageable students at Tracen Academy while handling daily Student Council affairs. Now, with the addition of three new Trainers, many of their problems seemed to have solutions. The biggest issue was whether these students would accept.
Among them, most of the previously intractable problems, even for the Student Council, such as Gold Ship, now had solutions. However, the biggest remaining problem was Gold Ship—another troublesome Horse Girl from the Gold Family.
"Sigh... Is there not a single Horse Girl from the Gold Family who can give me a moment's peace?" Symboli Rudolf felt a headache coming on at the thought. One Gold Ship was troublesome enough, and she was finally somewhat under control, but what to do about Gold Ship, Symboli Rudolf truly didn't know.
"Gold Ship has been called a 'Tyrant' since she was young in the Gold Family," Air Groove said while refilling Symboli Rudolf's coffee.
"Gold Ship was timid by nature as a child, but her temper was very stubborn. It was difficult to dissuade her once she made up her mind. To hide her timid nature, she adopted a rough exterior as a disguise."
"She has a beast within her, Air Groove. Once unleashed, she will be invincible on the racecourse," Symboli Rudolf replied, sipping her coffee. "Currently, Trainer Ikezoe seems to be the most suitable person to unleash her potential, but we need some time to get both of them to accept this."
"When the time comes, take Shirahito with you. See if you can persuade her. You could also try having Gold Ship persuade her through Trainer Imanami."
"...I will do my best." Air Groove didn't hold much hope for this but still nodded in agreement.
But just then, a sound of running quickly came from outside the Student Council office. Amidst Amazon's faint reminder, "Don't run so fast," the Student Council door was thrown open with a "bang," and a sweet, yet panicked, childish female voice immediately rang out.
"President! Something terrible has happened! Everyone is acting so strange! Everyone at Tracen is sick!"
A petite Horse Girl rushed directly towards Symboli Rudolf. Before anyone could react, she threw herself into Symboli Rudolf's arms, panicking as if a flood or a fierce beast were chasing her.
Both Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove knew exactly who the newcomer was. Symboli Rudolf's face showed a gentle expression for the first time, other than her usual "Emperor's dignity," and she asked very kindly:
"What happened, Teio? What's wrong with everyone at Tracen?"
"Everyone is acting so strange! President, listen to me!"
The Horse Girl called "Teio" by Symboli Rudolf finally looked up, revealing a white streak of hair very similar to Symboli Rudolf's. Her hair color and appearance were also very similar to Symboli Rudolf's, as if a miniature version of Symboli Rudolf had suddenly appeared.
This Horse Girl was Tokai Teio, whom Symboli Rudolf had always doted on. She was the darling, and mascot, of the entire Student Council and even Tracen Academy.
Although Tokai Teio's Debut Race was still far off, she had already garnered much attention within Tracen Academy and externally. Everyone was looking forward to her achieving the "Emperor's" accomplishments, perhaps even surpassing Symboli Rudolf's, to become a new benchmark for Tracen Academy and the entire Horse Girl world.
—Of course, none of this had begun yet. The current Tokai Teio was merely an immature rising star Horse Girl who hadn't even participated in her Debut Race.
"Listen to me, President! Today I saw McQueen and Gold Ship actually training! Doto was also beside them, training with two new Trainers I'd never seen before!"
Tokai Teio mysteriously told Symboli Rudolf, "I know McQueen has been on a diet, but Gold Ship too! It's the first time I've seen Gold Ship training! And with McQueen!"
"...Perhaps they suddenly had a change of heart? Maybe their relationship improved," Symboli Rudolf said, her heart already knowing the answer, but still trying to soothe Tokai Teio's emotions. "That's not so strange, is it?"
"But, but!" However, Tokai Teio still said in a panic, "I also saw Big Sister Orfevre at the track! She looked super angry! She was running while angry! No one dared to go near her!"
"I've never seen Big Sister Orfevre so angry before. Everyone is so strange today, President. I think some weird sickness is spreading at Tracen! Could it be some strange medicine from Agnes Tachyon's lab has gotten out again?!"
"...Normally, I would agree with you, Teio, but this time it's not Agnes Tachyon's fault, Teio."
Symboli Rudolf found it a bit amusing, but inwardly, she was quite pleased with Teio's discovery. After exchanging a glance with Air Groove, Air Groove understood and voluntarily left the Student Council office, allowing Teio and Symboli Rudolf to be alone for a while.
"Teio, you should know about the three new Trainers who recently arrived, right?"
"Hmm? I know, yes. They're the top three in the comprehensive scores for this year's new Central Trainer exam, right? I heard they're representatives of the most outstanding Trainers in recent years." Tokai Teio, of course, knew these well-known facts at Tracen Academy. Then she tilted her head and asked, "Why are you asking this, President?"
"Actually, from what I know, Mejiro McQueen and Gold Ship seem to have found the same Trainer, who is this year's chief, Trainer Imanami. Although they haven't signed agreements yet, I think it's pretty close."
"Meisho Doto is also now Trainer Wada's in charge Uma Musume, and as for Gold Ship's matter... we will know later." Symboli Rudolf kept them in suspense. Gold Ship's situation was still unclear, and she didn't dare to speak too definitively.
"Ah, McQueen has already found a Trainer? I can't fall behind either!"
But Teio didn't care about any of that. Her main concern was that Mejiro McQueen, whom she had always considered a rival, had acted so quickly, snatching up this year's best Trainer. She absolutely couldn't fall behind.
"Alright! I've decided! I'm going to compete with McQueen in this Debut Race! If I win against McQueen, I'll be one step ahead and go find Trainer Imanami to be my new Trainer."
"...Not so fast, Teio. Your Debut Race is still a long way off. McQueen will definitely debut before you. You still need to wait."
"Aww—how can this be?!"
Teio let out a cry of unwillingness. She didn't want to be a step behind McQueen. Although she wasn't particularly clear about the true value of Imanami as this year's chief rookie Trainer, she just didn't want to be slower than Mejiro McQueen.
What Mejiro McQueen could do, she definitely had to do too! There was nothing the invincible Teio-sama couldn't do! So, the Trainer McQueen chose, Teio definitely couldn't have one worse than her!
And looking at the restless Teio in her arms, wasn't Symboli Rudolf thinking the same thing? She was currently very concerned about Tokai Teio's Trainer. She also wanted to choose the best Trainer for Teio, to let her continue her legacy, and even surpass it.
That's why she was so attentive to the three new Trainers. She was choosing, choosing the Trainer most suitable for Teio, so this child could gallop freely on the racecourse and fully display her talents.
But currently, it seemed that all three Trainers had their unique characteristics and strengths. Each could choose a path suitable for Teio, which made Symboli Rudolf somewhat indecisive.
So she wanted to wait a bit, while Teio's Debut Race was still some time away, to verify whether these three Trainers truly had the substance she valued so much... "Actually, Teio, I..."
"Tap, tap, tap." Just as Symboli Rudolf was about to say something, the Student Council door was suddenly knocked, drawing the gaze of both Teio and Symboli Rudolf. Symboli Rudolf opened her mouth without thinking, "Come in."
"Click." The door opened in response, revealing Ikezoe's face, unable to hide his joy. Without a second thought, he walked in and said,
"President, I've found my in charge Uma Musume! She's here to register!"
"...What?"
However, Ikezoe's words made Symboli Rudolf slightly stunned, instinctively feeling a bit incredulous.