"So that's it, you're Trainer Ikezoe Kenichi, the second of the three new Trainers. I've heard about you."
Inside the Student Council room, Symboli Rudolf had returned to her seat, while Tokai Teio curiously observed Trainer Ikezoe Kenichi, speaking with her usual confident demeanor.
And as Tokai Teio was observing Ikezoe, Ikezoe was also curiously observing Tokai Teio, speaking with a mix of curiosity and surprise in his tone:
"You're Tokai Teio, aren't you? You're even more… spirited than I imagined."
It took Ikezoe quite some time to rephrase "petite." While Tokai Teio was already a good deal smaller than other Racehorses when she was a Racehorse, now that she had become an Uma Musume, Ikezoe hadn't expected her to literally have the physique of an elementary school student.
However, the heroic Presence in her brows, and the similar streaked hair and appearance she shared with Symboli Rudolf, completely confirmed that this was Tokai Teio, the legendary Racehorse known to almost every Jockey, a being who brought them all Miracles and hope, as well as regret.
Now seeing Tokai Teio the Horse Girl herself, Ikezoe felt a pang of emotion. Watching the Racehorse, he might have only felt pity, but now looking at the Horse Girl Teio, and thinking of her later misfortunes… a feeling of reluctance welled up from Ikezoe's heart.
Seemingly noticing the change in emotion in Ikezoe's eyes, Symboli Rudolf's heart skipped a beat, then she quickly composed herself and spoke: "She is a highly anticipated new star at Tracen Academy. Although she hasn't debuted yet, she is extremely talented."
"I also plan to select a suitable Trainer for her after her debut race—Trainer Ikezoe, based on your professional expertise and first impression, what do you think of Tokai Teio?" Symboli Rudolf wanted to hear Ikezoe's assessment of Tokai Teio.
"She is undoubtedly a being who commands universal attention. My assessment is that she has a complete chance to achieve the honor of an Undefeated Triple Crown. Currently, it seems that, apart from the 3000-meter Kikka Sho, there are no races in the Classic Triple Crown that Tokai Teio would find threatening."
Ikezoe gave Tokai Teio an extremely high evaluation without any psychological burden, and Ikezoe's evaluation was quite pleasing to Tokai Teio. Teio puffed out her small chest and said proudly:
"That's right, that's right, I am the invincible Lord Teio! I can definitely become someone who surpasses the President!"
"Hehe, Trainer Ikezoe, you have good taste! Of course, I'm going to win the Undefeated Triple Crown! Even the Kikka Sho is nothing in front of my invincible Lord Teio!"
"…That's wonderful, Teio."
But Symboli Rudolf clearly didn't think so. She noticed Ikezoe's hesitant tone. Clearly, Ikezoe had another half-sentence he hadn't spoken—was it inconvenient to speak because Teio was present?
Could it be that he saw something they didn't know about Tokai Teio's characteristics and weaknesses? Or perhaps… a hidden danger?
Is that possible? Symboli Rudolf felt a bit nervous for a moment, but she had never been careless about anything concerning Tokai Teio. She had to know everything.
Of course, not now; at least she had to ask after Teio left.
"Ahem, well then, regarding Trainer Ikezoe, about your 담당 Uma Musume, Curren Chan."
Symboli Rudolf coughed dryly, quickly adjusted her state, and refocused her gaze on Curren Chan and Ikezoe, the two who had come to apply for the agreement, and she also fell into an awkward silence.
After all, the small actions at Tracen Academy were indeed pushed by Symboli Rudolf behind the scenes, with the aim of allowing Gold Ship and Ikezoe to become true partners. However, she never expected the person who broke this situation to be Curren Chan—a new Uma Musume who had recently joined Tracen Academy.
Curren Chan's case was not special at Tracen Academy, as many new students at Tracen Academy transferred from other regions. Any Uma Musume with obvious talent could join Tracen Academy. Curren Chan was one of them. The only special point, perhaps, was that her "fan base" was quite high on some level, but Tracen Academy did not interfere with students' personal hobbies.
But she never expected that in this matter, Curren Chan actually affected the Emperor's overall plan—Symboli Rudolf had only asked a few somewhat representative Uma Musume to announce her arrangements, and Curren Chan's "fan base" caused the Uma Musume conveying the message to be apprehensive, fearing that some news unfavorable to Tracen Academy would spread, and thus did not notify Curren Chan.
Now this was a mess. Curren Chan, unaware of the news, found Trainer Ikezoe, who needed comfort and healing, and now there was no stopping it.
But even so, Symboli Rudolf still wanted to make a final effort, asking tentatively: "Have you really thought it through? Trainer Ikezoe, and Curren Chan? Curren Chan's talent is certainly worth cultivating, but I think perhaps you have a better choice…"
"—I will help Curren Chan step onto the GI stage and win the championship, please rest assured, President!" Ikezoe, upon hearing this, immediately replied without hesitation: "Please believe me, President, this is my best choice!"
"Hehe, Karen-chan, although I'm not very good at racing, I'm willing to trust Oni-chan~" And at this moment, Curren Chan also seemed to have figured out a little, and asked with a smile:
"Or do you think, President, that Karen-chan and Oni-chan are not a good match? Is Karen-chan's ability insufficient?"
"—Of course not, I misspoke."
Symboli Rudolf's eyelids twitched when she heard this, fearing that her behind-the-scenes machinations would be exposed, so she had no choice but to reluctantly take out the agreement from the drawer.
Since things had come to this, if Symboli Rudolf still didn't agree, she would truly become an "overbearing President who thinks Curren Chan's talent is not worthy of Trainer Ikezoe's guidance." It could only be said that Curren Chan's words directly destroyed Symboli Rudolf's retreat, forcing her to accept the current situation.
This junior… is unexpectedly difficult to deal with. Symboli Rudolf narrowed her eyes slightly, but now she handed the agreement to Ikezoe and Curren Chan, saying with a smile:
"Just sign your names in the respective places, and after I stamp it, Curren Chan will be Trainer Ikezoe's official 담당 Uma Musume."
"We each have a copy of this agreement. We hope you will dedicate yourself to your 담당 Uma Musume."
"Of course!"
Ikezoe and Curren Chan also quickly signed their names and handed them to Symboli Rudolf. And just as Symboli Rudolf had stamped the seal representing Tracen Academy and handed the agreement to the two of them.
"Thump, thump, thump."
"—President, I brought Gold Ship. She said she's willing to talk to us—Trainer Ikezoe? What are you doing here?"
However, the next moment, the Student Council door opened once again. Air Groove walked in with a hint of joy in her voice, and upon seeing Ikezoe there, she paused slightly and asked subconsciously.
And behind Air Groove, Gold Ship, wearing a mask and with drooping ears, looking rather dispirited, pushed her way into the Student Council room. Immediately, she and Ikezoe and Curren Chan made eye contact.
And closely following, Gold Ship's eyes immediately saw the red-stamped agreement in Ikezoe's and Curren Chan's hands. After her pupils slightly froze for a moment, a wild Presence instantly surged from her body.
"Tsk—" A slightly displeased tone escaped Gold Ship's teeth. Instantly, Gold Ship's extremely aggressive gaze glared at Ikezoe.
"Woah?!"
Ikezoe, of course, also noticed the gaze from Gold Ship's eyes. Instantly, it was as if some PTSD in his body was awakened, and he quickly took a step back, only to bump directly into the Student Council President's desk, letting out a cry of pain subconsciously.
Tokai Teio and Curren Chan on the side both subconsciously helped Ikezoe, but from the expressions of the two little Horse Girls, they were clearly also a bit startled by Gold Ship's sudden change in Presence.
"—Gold Ship, calm down."
And at this moment, Symboli Rudolf, as the Emperor, finally made her move. Instantly, a whistling wave of "Emperor's" majesty enveloped the entire Student Council room, suppressing Gold Ship's Presence.
Before Ikezoe and Curren Chan could react, Gold Ship's and Symboli Rudolf's auras dissipated, as if nothing had happened. How could the immature "Tyrant" be a match for the already accomplished "Emperor"? Gold Ship was immediately suppressed by Symboli Rudolf's Presence.
The aggressive facade was breached, followed by the revelation of inner timidity. Gold Ship's emotions took another sharp downturn, and she cried out with tearful eyes:
"This guy already found a 담당 Uma Musume! Why are you still looking for me?! I'm not, I'm not an Uma Musume that you can just toy with!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Gold Ship rushed out the door without looking back. Air Groove seemed to want to stop her, but ultimately chose to give up, turning around and silently looking at the slightly stunned Symboli Rudolf with a reproachful gaze.
That look was very easy to understand; it was clearly, "Look at what you've done."
"So… what exactly is going on?" Tokai Teio, realizing later, quickly turned her gaze to Symboli Rudolf, asking uneasily:
"President, what exactly is going on? Why did Big Sister Orfevre come and then leave crying? And she was so angry at first?"
"…About this matter, please allow me to apologize to you, Trainer Ikezoe."
However, Rudolph, seeing that everything had already been revealed, decided to step forward and proactively take responsibility for her mistakes and the misunderstandings she caused, speaking to the bewildered Ikezoe with a look of guilt on her face:
"I'm truly sorry, my personal wishes seem to have made all of this unmanageable… Please give me a chance to explain."