Nearl's tone was so certain, so utterly convinced, it stirred a strange discomfort and speechlessness within Symboli Rudolf herself.
'It's true I consider Teio's talent superior to my own, but Nearl, your unwavering certainty like this somehow provokes a rebellious feeling in me, as if I'm being looked down upon.'
Shaking her head to dispel that flicker of defiance, she still felt happy for Teio.
"If you're that certain, Nearl, then that's excellent. I have confidence in my own judgment, but I've been wrong about people before. You're different. If it's you saying it, it can't be wrong."
Reaching out to ruffle little Teio's soft, fluffy head, Rudolf smiled gently.
"Teio, I'll be looking forward to your future."
"Mm! I'm going to become an Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume like you, Prez!"
"If you can achieve it, then even when you do, you mustn't become arrogant. Because there will always be new peaks waiting for you to conquer."
As she spoke, Rudolf turned Teio around, facing her toward Nearl.
"The one standing there will be the new finish line for all of you in the future."
"Mmm~~"
Tokai Teio pouted, but she was, after all, an Uma Musume. How could she not know about Nearl's competitive record? Race results shattered all stubborn arguments and slander.
"Teio, you really admire President Rudolf, don't you?"
Suddenly, Nearl posed such a question. Could there possibly be any other answer?
"Of course! The Prez is my idol!"
"So, is the President your finish line, or your starting line?"
A serious expression and demeanor pressed down on Teio, a teacher-like authority that made the young filly instinctively stand up straight.
"Starting line? Finish line?"
"That's right. If you only worship the President's achievements, then your ceiling might just be reaching her level. The world would rejoice at the appearance of a second Symboli Rudolf. But I hope you can go even farther."
"…"
Teio looked at Rudolf, her face full of hesitation, feeling utterly at a loss.
Surpass Prez? Surpass the seven-time champion crowned with so many honors? Perhaps Nearl was confident she could do it, but what other Uma Musume would dare say such a thing?
Moreover, the Emperor was the inspiration for Teio's dreams, the one and only sun in her heart.
Had the thought of surpassing her ever truly existed?
Yes, it had. It must have.
Innate talent and pride meant Tokai Teio would never admit defeat.
She had a clear premonition that she would leave her name in history, a feeling so strong it was as if she had inherited this destiny the moment she received her name.
But her fondness and admiration for Prez had suppressed such thoughts.
Otherwise, wouldn't it seem like her admiration was just a ploy to use Prez as a stepping stone? How despicable would that be?
Internal conflict, major internal conflict.
"I don't know! What kind of weird question is this…"
Her ears drooped powerlessly as Teio clutched her head, wanting to escape. For her, this was all too much, too soon.
"You're right. This question is a bit premature for the current Teio."
Rudolf stepped in to smooth things over.
"She has two years to think about this question. She has time until she steps onto the racetrack."
"President, right now you're acting like a doting, foolish mother. Has this child affected you this much?"
Seeing Rudolf holding the kid before her, Nearl simply couldn't connect her to the wise and majestic Emperor she knew. The contrast was too great.
"Don't tease me. It's because of you. How could I not comfort her now?"
Rudolf shot a helpless glance at Nearl, then looked back at the little filly she had placed her attention and hopes upon. A sudden thought struck her.
"Nearl, I recall you're already a Central trainer, right? Could I entrust this child's future training to you?"
"!!!"
"!!!"
"Eh?!"
"Absolutely not!!!"
Along with Teio's confusion came another familiar scream, and the student council door burst open.
--+--
Let's rewind the clock a few minutes.
Back then, Maruzensky was humming a Showa-era golden oldie, sauntering leisurely toward the student council. She really was in a good mood today.
But just before pulling open the door, a sense of déjà vu washed over her, just like the two previous times she'd accidentally overheard secrets.
"…"
Silently, she pressed her ear against the door. Fragmented words, not entirely clear, drifted to her ears.
"President… you foolish mother… child affecting you this much…"
"…all because of you… I have to soothe… this child in the future… you'll be responsible…"
"!!!"
A jolt like an electric shock ran through her body, making the fur on her tail stand on end. The words in her ears left no room for deep thought.
"No way!"
--+--
"Maruzensky-senpai, you really are…"
Nearl was speechless. She didn't know what expression to wear facing this senior whose thoughts were so mysterious.
"I can't be blamed! Anyone hearing a conversation like that would get the wrong idea, let alone since I've heard before…"
Maruzensky stopped mid-sentence, hurriedly covering her mouth. Anxiety had made her accidentally reveal a hint of things she'd been keeping hidden.
But no matter how fast her movements, she couldn't take back the words already spoken. Everyone present was an Uma Musume, and the sensitivity of their ears went without saying.
Except for the still-young Teio who hadn't caught on, the others—Nearl, Rudolf, and Air Groove—understood something.
"Heh, haha, hahahaha!"
An unusual laugh erupted from Symboli Rudolf. She was laughing heartily, completely disregarding decorum.
Yet, why did the temperature in the Student Council seem to drop alongside her mirth?
"Nearl, please look after Teio for a while. Bring her back another time. I have some matters I'd like to have a good, long chat about with Maruzensky."
A brilliant smile plastered on her face, the Emperor waved the two off. Beside her, Air Groove, understanding the situation, grasped Maruzensky's arm.
Though she didn't fully understand what was happening, a child's intuition is often accurate. Tokai Teio instinctively knew she should run far, far away.
"President Rudolf, please don't go overboard."
Nearl, holding Teio's hand, walked to the door. Before leaving, she took one last look at the trembling Maruzensky and left these words.
"Whatever do you mean? It's just that some things concern my reputation, so I'd like to have a little chat with Maruzensky-senpai. Don't worry, no Uma Musume will be ending up in the river. Wait, an Uma Musume at the bottom of the bay? That's just a bay mare! It's not a threat, it's a bay-sic fact of marine biology!"
"Eek!!"
Maruzensky trembled even more violently.
"Teio, we should go. What comes next isn't for children to see."
Picking Teio up, Nearl slowly but firmly closed the student council door, shutting out all the ensuing cries and words inside. Only fragments remained.
"Senior, now I'd like to know a few things. For instance, what else have you been fantasizing about before?"
--+--
T/N: That joke at the end was a chinese joke i tried to make english, keyword 'tried'.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.