After confirming Tokai Teio's situation, Symboli Speed had only one matter left to address on this trip.
"I see. She's staying there? Mm, understood."
Ending the call, Symboli Speed finally confirmed Rudolf's location.
This time, when meeting Rudolf, Symboli Speed didn't intend to scold her as she had when Rudolf was younger. After all, that sort of reprimand wouldn't work for someone who was practically an adult.
And besides, if Rudolf truly had the maturity of an adult, then by now…
Thinking this, Symboli Speed followed the address sent by Symboli Sirius, moving forward step by step.
Eventually, she arrived at the old school building.
When she had graduated from Tracen Academy, this building hadn't yet been abandoned, so Symboli Speed found the path still familiar.
Yet…
"It's gotten quite run-down, hasn't it…?"
Her voice carried nostalgia as she observed the neglected surroundings.
After all, back in her day, the old building wasn't in such a sorry state.
Still, seeing it this way wasn't entirely bad.
Shifting her gaze slightly, Symboli Speed spotted the entrance to the old building.
The sunset painted the old campus in fiery orange, vividly reminding Symboli Speed of Ultraman Jack, a popular show from her younger days, and giving her the feeling something dramatic might unfold.
Taking a slow, deep breath, Symboli Speed approached the entrance.
At the door hung a lock—already opened.
She knew Rudolf was inside.
Pushing open the door, Symboli Speed stepped in. After circling the first floor once, she easily located Rudolf's room by the patterns in the dust on the floor.
Looking at the closed door, Symboli Speed didn't bother knocking.
She just pushed lightly.
The door opened easily, neither locked nor fully shut.
Inside stood Symboli Rudolf.
Speed looked at Rudolf, and Rudolf stared right back at her.
For a long moment, the two simply stood there, silently gazing at each other.
Finally, Symboli Speed sighed softly. "You already know what I'm about to say, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Then come back with me and meet Natural."
"No."
"…Reason?"
Another heavy sigh escaped Rudolf's lips, her expression twisted with complicated emotions.
"I'm… not yet ready to let go. I still want to try and fix things."
Symboli Speed froze momentarily, surprised by the depth of her granddaughter's determination.
Quickly regaining her composure, Symboli Speed looked away. "Fine. Then we move on to the other matter. You're prepared, right?"
Symboli Speed had always maintained strict standards regarding her family. Being her granddaughter was no excuse to avoid discipline.
And now was precisely the time for Rudolf's lesson.
"I'm ready."
...
Afterward, Symboli Rudolf didn't return to Tracen Academy as scheduled.
According to an announcement by Symboli Sirius, Rudolf had suffered an accident during routine training at home and wouldn't return to Tracen Academy for two to three months.
Likewise, Sirius herself would remain away for some time to care for Rudolf.
"So, you seriously didn't use any protective gear at all?"
Sitting by the hospital bed, Sirius set down the Tracen Academy newsletter she'd been reading, turning to look at Rudolf.
Symboli Rudolf's condition wasn't exactly good.
When Sirius received Symboli Speed's call earlier, Rudolf had practically been at death's door.
Although Rudolf was recovering now, Sirius's expression still twisted slightly when recalling that earlier conversation.
Yet Rudolf didn't notice Sirius's reaction at all.
She simply sat silently before finally replying briefly, "More or less."
Her response was simple, but…
Remembering the snapped tree trunks at the scene, Sirius knew things definitely hadn't been that simple.
But…
After a prolonged silence, Sirius finally stood up. "By the way, your condition is quite serious. From now on, you probably—"
"Can't race anymore, right?"
Rudolf calmly interrupted Sirius, her voice emotionless. Her current physical state was something Rudolf had long since anticipated.
The gaze Rudolf directed toward her made Sirius turn away, quietly leaving the hospital room.
Watching Sirius leave, Rudolf turned her head slightly.
Only half her vision allowed her to see the scenery outside the window.
It was already mid-February, and the cherry blossoms outside the Symboli Family's private hospital had started blooming.
Petals drifted gently, spinning in the air.
Watching this scene, Rudolf eventually turned her gaze back to the blank, colorless ceiling.
That empty whiteness seemed to tell Rudolf exactly what she should do next.
Yet, just as she'd told Speed before, Rudolf wasn't ready yet.
She still clung desperately to hope.
During her years as Tracen Academy's Student Council President, Rudolf had clearly seen what happened when someone held onto even the faintest hope.
Many Uma Musume had fallen into darkness precisely because of their refusal to let go.
And yet Rudolf had never intended to cling to hope.
She simply lacked the courage to loosen her grip.
Only now did she finally understand those Uma Musume who had desperately held onto that tiny thread of hope.
That dangerously irresistible thought tortured Rudolf, pushing her toward Tokai Natural again and again.
If only I had the courage to let go.
That faint, painful wish lingered in Rudolf's mind.
...
"I'm home!"
Hearing Natural's voice, Symboli Speed glanced at the clock while holding Mochizuki.
It was already nearly five, slightly later than usual.
Noticing this, Speed released Mochizuki and let her wander off to play. Turning toward Natural, Speed spoke up, "Business has improved, hasn't it?"
"It's thanks to that Uma Musume from before."
"You mean the girl whose dad had to leave because of a work emergency, so you let her stay at the restaurant?"
"Yeah. After that day, her dad brought some friends to eat at my place."
As Natural spoke, her expression visibly brightened. "Since then, more and more people have been coming. Soon, I'll probably have to consider closing as soon as ingredients run out, otherwise things might drag too late."
"It won't affect your time with Mochizuki, will it?"
"It won't."
"Aw~ But I can take care of Mochizuki too…"
"I'm her mother."
"…Alright, alright. You're right."
---
T/N: LMAOO SPEED FUCKED UP RUDOLF
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