Having completed Air Groove's requirements, Fujiwara Shirayuki successfully entered the student council. Standing before Symboli Rudolf, she introduced herself with solemn seriousness.
Fujiwara Shirayuki, female, middle school student, hobby: Uma Musume, dream: to become a "central air conditioner" (someone who showers everyone with equal warmth and attention).
Although there were certain issues with parts of her answer, the flaws did not outweigh the merits. Symboli Rudolf accepted her very happily. Whether judged by grades or by ability, Shirayuki was fully qualified to become a member of the student council, and the council just so happened to need some fresh blood as well.
Just as the two of them were talking, a lively voice with a hint of childish sweetness rang out from outside the door, followed by an energetic figure pushing it open.
"President!"
Calling as she ran, the newcomer rushed straight to Symboli Rudolf's side. The moment she saw who it was, a look of helpless fondness appeared on Rudolf's face.
"Teio, what brings you here?"
"I came to play with President." Tokai Teio ran over cheerfully, then her eyes caught sight of Fujiwara Shirayuki standing in front of Rudolf.
"Ah! Shirayuki!"
She shouted so loudly that Shirayuki had to rub her ears.
"Why are you here?"
"Fujiwara Shirayuki officially became a member of the student council today, so you need to get along with her too, Teio," Rudolf said, instructing her.
"What, the student council?" Hearing that, Tokai Teio circled around Shirayuki a few times. "Then that means I'm your senior. I was already here before you came, so you should call me Teio-senpai!"
Tokai Teio puffed out her chest proudly as she declared this to Fujiwara Shirayuki.
"Teio… you're not actually in the student council." Air Groove finally spoke up, unable to watch this any longer.
"Huh?" Tokai Teio blinked.
"Teio, even though you're always hanging around the student council room, you're not actually a member. Your name isn't on the roster," Symboli Rudolf said.
"I spend all day with President helping out. Even if I don't have merit, I've at least got hard work! Why don't I count as part of the student council!?" Tokai Teio clenched her fists, visibly indignant.
"To join the student council, you have to pass the entrance test. And every council member has their own assigned duties. Teio, all you do is orbit around the President all day. You don't actually do any work. If anything, President Rudolf spoils you too much. She lets you stay here even when you're getting in the way."
"Ahaha…" Symboli Rudolf laughed awkwardly.
Tokai Teio puffed her cheeks helplessly, then turned to look at Fujiwara Shirayuki.
"Even if I'm not your senior, I'm still your rival. Listen, Shirayuki, in my debut race I won by two lengths. Amazing, right!" Tokai Teio proclaimed grandly while thumping her own chest.
"That is pretty amazing."
"Right? Right? If you want to catch up to me, you've still got a lot of work to do. The day you finally meet me, the great Tokai Teio, on the track, I'll show you what real running looks like."
Wasn't it a little early to be issuing a challenge? She had only just finished her debut race.
"Competition is what drives growth. You two are both Uma Musume of the same generation, so there's no one more suitable for each other to treat as rivals," Rudolf said, glancing toward the plaque hanging on the wall. On it were written the words: Eclipse first, the rest nowhere.
"The strong obscure the light of the weak. Strength will always be the highest priority for a Uma Musume. I hope that both of you will carve out your own brilliance in the races to come."
Rudolf gave the newest student council member a lesson. Tokai Teio had already heard the same speech several times and knew it by heart.
"That's enough for today. Think of it as just officially reporting in, Shirayuki. Tomorrow, we'll assign you some student council work. If there's anything you don't understand, ask Air Groove."
"Alright." Fujiwara Shirayuki nodded. "Then I'll be going now, President Rudolf."
"Mm. Thanks for your hard work."
After saying goodbye to everyone, Fujiwara Shirayuki turned and left the student council room. Tokai Teio hurried after her from behind.
"Shirayuki." She stepped in front of her. "President said we're rivals now, right? In that case, how about we train together?"
"Train together? What kind of training…"
"Obviously joint training. We can do mock races together and see the gap between our abilities. What do you think? Our duel can start right in our daily training."
That actually was not a bad idea. It would let her observe her rival's changes at any time. But for Shirayuki, there were both good and bad sides to that. If they trained together all the time, it would be very easy for Tokai Teio to completely see through her level, which would make it difficult to hide tactics.
"What's with that hesitation? I, Tokai Teio-sama, came all the way here to invite you personally. Just accept it already!"
"Fine, let's train. If we die, we die together."
"Hah?? Why did that suddenly turn into that? It's just training. What are you even saying?"
"It's nothing. When do we start?"
"I'll go tell my trainer. If she agrees, we can even start today."
Having said that, Tokai Teio ran off at a trot.
That afternoon, Tokai Teio found Nase Fumino and explained the situation. After thinking for a moment, Nase Fumino nodded and agreed.
Just as well. She had also wanted an opportunity to talk with Chiya a little more.
At the training grounds, the two groups stood together while Fujiwara Chiya explained the rules of joint training. Once he finished, he lowered his voice and spoke to Nase Fumino.
"It's alright if I handle the directions, right?"
"Of course. Why would there be a problem?"
"I just thought this kind of thing should be handled by the more senior one…"
The moment she heard that, Nase Fumino's expression shifted.
"Chiya, I'm younger than you."
"I know, by one year. I wasn't talking about age, I meant seniority." Having no idea what nerve he had just stepped on, Fujiwara Chiya hurriedly clarified himself when he saw the displeased look on her face.
Nase Fumino brushed a hand through her hair.
"We're both rivals from the same year. What seniority is there to talk about? You can handle the directions for the joint training."
"Alright, then." Fujiwara Chiya cleared his throat and began issuing instructions to his Uma Musume.
Elsewhere, Special Week spotted Tokai Teio running side by side with Shirayuki and immediately ran over to her own trainer.
"Trainer Kiryuin!"
"What is it, Special Week?"
"Look, look over there!"
Following Special Week's finger, Kiryuin Aoi saw Nase Fumino standing opposite Fujiwara Shirayuki, right beside Fujiwara Chiya.
The two of them looked thoroughly at ease together.
"That woman…"
"This can't stand! This absolutely can't stand, Trainer!"
"…You're right. She's even stirring things up during training now… Is she seriously acting like I have no temper at all!?"
"Trainer, let's go too! Let's do joint training too!"
"You're right. I can't let her get away with this. Let's go, Sky, Meek!"
Bringing her Uma Musume along, Kiryuin Aoi headed over as well.
A few minutes later, Fujiwara Chiya rubbed his brow as he looked at the more than ten Uma Musume now under his watch, along with the two trainers standing behind them.
All of these people… I'm the one who has to direct all of them?