November 7th, XXXX
"Yes. Yes, I understand. Thank you." Riku hung up the phone quietly before placing his hands on his face with a groan. Things had gotten far busier since the Kikuka Sho, with Riku spending a majority of his time doing paperwork and making calls. If being the Chairman meant he had to deal with this so often, especially towards the end of the racing season, then he could understand why his grandfather was all too happy to pass the job off to him. Doing 30 - 40 years of this sounded like pure hell, if not for the good parts of it.
Riku reclined back and took a look around, the gesture more to distract himself rather than checking out the room that hadn't changed at all. His eyes only briefly glanced over Opal, standing by the wall with her eyes closed, but her ears were constantly twitching. She remained alert despite her relaxed posture. He sent a smile her way, even if she wouldn't see it. She had definitely been in a better mood as of late, her conversations with Haiseiko probably being the cause.
While pinching his brow, Riku thought of plans going forward. The phone call he had finished up was regarding the final members of the Japan Cup arriving. All foreign members were accounted for, with just the decision on who Japan would send being up in the air. That ultimately was the biggest question plaguing him, as both Tosho Boy and Ten Point had decided to forgo the Japan Cup this year. There were whispers about Maruzensky entering, but he was still unsure of that. She had given no confirmation yet, but many in the public remained hopeful for her representation. Riku personally didn't know. The Japan Cup was shrouded in mystery for him until the year that Katsuragi Ace competed and won against Rudolf and CB.
The decision would ultimately be with her. He's curious what she would end up deciding on. Hm?
Ring… Ring… Ring. Riku raised an eyebrow, as he wasn't expecting another work call yet. "Hello, Hiromi? Okay… I'm sorry. Who did you say was on the other line?" Riku's light confusion morphed into absolute shock as he stared at his phone. Opal's eyes opened and looked at him in slight concern, as Riku froze while staring at his phone. "Okay, Okay. I'm ready. Thank you." Riku glanced over at Opal with wide eyes before looking back at his phone line. He hadn't been prepared for this. At all.
Tracen Academy - Later in the Day
"Time! Maruzensky wins!" Deep huffs of breath were taken as the two runners rested after yet another mock-race. One of said runners was Maruzensky, who greedily took gulps of water from a bottle before smiling at her friend. Her opponent was fellow front-runner Katsuragi Ace, suffering her fifth straight defeat. Ace huffed lightly while gritting her teeth before sighing as she looked at Maruzensky.
"You're too damn fast, you know that," Ace grumbled even as she smiled, a competitive glint in her eyes. She had been learning a lot in her mock-races with Maruzensky, seeing what a peak frontrunner was like. While she hadn't won yet, she was improving every race. She'd already used this experience to take a couple of wins off CB, and she was determined to keep improving.
"Eh~? I wasn't going that fast, was I?" Maruzensky teased, gasping in mock-astonishment. Ace, understanding that she was joking, still had a brief, annoyed look at her friend and rival. Maruzensky continued as she glanced briefly at Ace and CB, who were on the sidelines, before continuing. "Still, thank you for running with me. It's nice to have another front-runner to train with."
Ace nodded with a huff as she looked at Maruzensky, before raising an eyebrow as something clicked in her mind. "You're preparing for our seniors, Ten Point and Tosho Boy, huh?" Ace asked dryly, seeing the slightly embarrassed flush on Maruzensky's face. Ace gained a curious look as she looked at Maruzensky. "Have you decided if you're running in either the Japan Cup or Mile Championship yet?"
Maruzensky's ears briefly stood up in shock at the question before she rubbed her arm anxiously. "To be honest… with how close the Kikuka Sho was, I don't know." Maruzensky glanced away with a frown, her thoughts running tumultuously. The Japan Cup would be against some of the strongest Uma from outside the country, the Mile Championship and Arima Kinen against older Uma that she had yet to compete with. She felt confident she could run in any of them, but deciding was the hard part.
Her eyes traveled to her foot, still holding strong, but still giving phantom aches. She had been warned extensively about too much strain, and running in any of these races consecutively could be dangerous. Her father would undoubtedly veto her if she said she wanted to run in all of them, which she had considered. Not just him, but the URA itself might even step in, with Riku at the helm.
Ace stared, noticing Maruzensky's silence, and decided to try to help. "You still have time to think it over. I think we should get another front-runner's input, and what do you know… we have one right here!" Ace said cheerfully, gaining Maruzensky's attention as she marched past CB, getting a confused look, until she stopped right by Akitsu Teio. Akitsu, having taken a knee to tie her shoes, looked up confusedly. Her expression went white, seeing the devilish smile on Ace's face. "Hey, Akitsu! Wanna do some running!?"
"Uhm.. well." Akitsu attempted to speak, only to feel an iron-claw-like grip from one of Ace's hands. She looked back and forth between it and Ace's menacing expression. She glanced around to see that the other Umamusume had vanished, all of them getting as far away as possible from Ace. "S-s-sure. I can run." Akitsu cleared her throat as she stood, dusting off her knees.
Akitsu hadn't been following what was going on, but upon meeting Maruzensky's eager eyes, she had gotten the gist of it. Maruzensky was someone who intimidated her a bit. Her senior was the strongest Umamusume she had encountered yet, and despite how friendly she was, a barrier was still felt between the two. A barrier that the older Umamusume loved to ignore, as it turned out.
"Ohh! It's Akitsu!" Maruzensky enthusiastically called out as she ran forward to hug the taller Umamusume. Akitsu grunted, feeling the sheer strength with which Maruzensky was hugging her. That and her overall social awkwardness didn't really tell her how she should act here. Thankfully, Maruzensky pulled back after a short moment with a smile. She then walked around Akitsu Teio with a hum, glancing at her up and down as she did so. She then placed her fist into her open hand with a light pop sound.
"Ah ha!" Maruzensky said while looking at Akitsu Teio with a cheesy smile, the other three Umamusume present, giving her confused looks. "Akitsu really is beautiful, huh?" CB and Ace looked at her flatly, their disbelief evident. Akitsu, though, felt her face turn a burning red, her brain absolutely short-circuiting.
"Maru… what?" Ace gestured towards Akitsu, trying to understand what was going on.
"Ah? I mean, she is!" Maruzensky tried to defend herself with a huff, looking sheepishly towards Akitsu Teio. "It's my first time actually seeing her up close! She's so pretty!" Maruzensky swooned as she pointed towards Akitsu. "The way her makeup makes her red eyes shine, her hair! I want to trade beauty tips so badly!" Maruzensky huffed as she crossed her arms. Katsuragi Ace and Mr CB both traded looks before looking at Akitsu, scrutinizing her carefully. They stepped closer, making Akitsu blush slightly as she had finally calmed down from Maruzensky's words.
Ace and CB looked at Akitsu Teio with the utmost seriousness until they spoke. "You know. She does have a point." CB remarked, sending a teasing grin Akitsu's way.
"The hell, why are you so damn pretty, Akitsu?" Ace frowned as she looked Akitsu Teio over, the Umamusume stiffening with her tail straight up at their words. They were doing an excellent job of making her very self-conscious. She huffed upon noticing the teasing grins sent her way.
Maruzensky clapped her hands, distracting the trio as she walked up to them. "Sorry about that, I wanted to say that for a long time upon first seeing you, Akitsu." Her words were received with a light blush as Akitsu looked away from her slightly. "Still, would you like to run with me? Ace has told me a lot about you, and I'm excited for the chance to run with you." Maruzensky's words were said earnestly as Akitsu looked down slightly to meet her eyes.
"Yes. I will." Her words were short as she nodded resolutely, a competitive gleam in her eyes. She still felt the earlier embarrassment from Maruzensky's words, but in a way that embarrassment helped. It had completely dissolved the image that her intimidating senior had left in her mind, inadvertently.
SAME TIME - Tracen Academy
As the two runners set up for their race, a figure was making his way towards their practice track in Tracen Academy. He was a familiar face around the academy, many Umamusume sending waves in the way of the short man as his two usual bodyguards followed behind him. However, many stared openly at the face they did not recognize, following along with the familiar group.
A towering Umamusume walked alongside them, dressed casually in a striped blouse and jeans, and moved alongside the lone male of the group. Her stature stood clear above all of them, even Buckshot, by a good margin. Her bright red hair carried hints of a strawberry blonde, her nose scrunched with a slight hint of freckles as she grinned at something the man was saying. A few of the older students watching thought that she'd looked familiar, but were unsure why.
Their steps quickly carried them to the main practice track, a large crowd standing outside as they watched a race. A few students stood in their way and turned around when they heard a cleared throat behind them.
"I'm trying to watch… who.. CHAIRMAN!?" A senior Umamusume exclaimed, her ears and tail standing up in shock at seeing the URA Chairman standing just behind her. Her words caused her fellow students to turn around in shock as well.
"Hi there. Could we be let through, please?" Riku smiled warmly, despite the assault on his ears from the Umamusume screeching. They quickly bowed apologetically as he and his group walked past, their eyes starry as Riku's group passed. His eyes lit up as he noticed the race concluding, the Umamusume he was looking for having just finished against Akitsu Teio.
Thankfully, with the excellent hearing of Umamusume, they quickly opened a path for him and his group all the way to the track. Riku's eyes quickly noticed CB standing near the edge of the track along with Ace, both perking up as they noticed him, before their eyes widened at his guest. He merely gave them a quick wave as he reached the edge of the track.
"Oi! Maru!" He called out, remembering to use her more casual address, at her insistence. Maru paused in her conversation with the slightly despondent Akitsu Teio, perking up with a smile as she saw him. She covered the distance quickly, standing just before the group with her infectious energy.
"Chairman Rikuuuu~!" Maruzensky leaned close, just a short distance away from Riku's face. "What are you doing here? Did you see my race? How are you doing?" She listed off questions rapid fire, her excitement palpable.
Riku was initially flummoxed by Maruzensky's enthusiasm, Opal covering her mouth with a titter, as Buckshot remained strangely silent. He regained his composure quickly while pushing Maruzensky's forehead lightly to gain some distance.
He completely ignored her pout as he answered. "Hi there, Maru, I'm doing great, thank you. I saw the race, excellent job, but please don't bully Akitsu Teio." His words caused Maruzensky's pout to increase further before her eyes widened at his follow-up. "As for why I'm here… A special guest is visiting, and they have asked to meet you." Riku gestured with his right arm towards the tall Umamusume next to him, whom Maruzensky had just now noticed.
Maruzensky went to speak, her eyes wide at the Umamusume, before she froze. An immense aura was felt from the Umamusume, a suffocating and stifling presence, despite the warm smile on the stranger's face. Maruzensky couldn't take her eyes away, feeling a primal urge to fight against the aura, to beat the Umamusume right in front of her. "Who..?" Maruzensky began, only for the guest to break out into laughter.
"Ahahaha!" Her laughter captured the attention of everyone, a tense silence having come over the many people watching the group. "I was right to come here after all, you're unbelievably interesting, Maruzensky." Her canines glinted sharply as she stepped forward, staring down at her fellow Umamusume. "The name's Secretariat. Wanna race?" A pin drop could be heard in the silence that followed, only for the audience to speak the thoughts they were all thinking.
"EHHHH!?"
CHAPTER END