Ever since Tokai Teio was brutally crushed by Hayakawa Tazuna, she had started holding a grudge against her.
Every time Tazuna trained with Shirayuki, Tokai Teio would run over to provoke her, then get brutally crushed all over again. Eventually, even Shirayuki could not bear to watch anymore and pulled Teio aside.
"Teio, it's good to become braver the more you fight, but at this point, you're already entering the stage of self-destruction. Don't come running over to race after only half a day of training. In half a day, your stats might not even increase by one point."
"Shirayuki, if I don't beat her at least once, I really won't be able to swallow this resentment!"
Tokai Teio clenched her fists.
As Rudolf's successor, when had she ever suffered such humiliation? That woman had actually made her run around the training ground while shouting that she was an idiot. And Rudolf had even seen it!
If she did not avenge this humiliation, she would not even be able to sleep peacefully.
Shirayuki understood what Teio was thinking.
But even so…
"You still can't outrun her…"
Hearing those words, Tokai Teio's ears immediately drooped.
Indeed, with her current strength, no matter what she did, she could not defeat that person.
But after racing her these past few days, Tokai Teio could clearly feel that her resistance to pressure was growing stronger and stronger.
It was not only her resistance to pressure. Now, even if she was left far behind by someone, she could calmly chase after them. Her originally impatient temperament had gradually been tempered by the increasing number of defeats. She was far more rounded than before.
Although my strength hasn't grown much, my heart has become far stronger than before!
The failures of these past few days had allowed Teio to fully understand what it meant that there was always someone better out there. She had already lost every race she could possibly lose in this lifetime. Tokai Teio believed that the next time she raced an uma musume from her own generation, she would appear with a completely new attitude.
Looking at Tokai Teio, whose eyes were shining, Shirayuki could not help applauding her.
That arrogant little girl had actually been turned into someone indomitable by Hayakawa Tazuna. She had indeed grown quite a lot.
"More importantly, Shirayuki, when did you get an older sister? Why didn't you tell me? What class is she in? Why does she always wear a mask and sunglasses? Does she have something shameful to hide?"
"Older sister?"
"Yeah. Isn't she your older sister? She said so herself."
"…That's right. She's my older sister. But her identity is quite mysterious. Only noble people are allowed to know. Even I don't really understand it."
"Even Shirayuki doesn't know? And noble people… Could that mean the President?"
"The President… hm?"
Hearing that, Shirayuki thought for a moment, then suddenly understood.
As Tracen's top figure and Central's special invitee, Rudolf possessed extremely high authority. She could basically look through all information related to uma musume. If it was Rudolf, she might know Hayakawa Tazuna's true identity.
Thinking that, Shirayuki's heart began beating rapidly.
Although Hayakawa Tazuna had dodged the topic last time, Shirayuki was still extremely curious about who she actually was. She wanted to know which legendary figure Tazuna truly was. The fact that she refused to say anything made Shirayuki's heart itch unbearably.
But Tazuna separated her work and personal life very clearly. If Shirayuki asked her to go to a hotel, she would agree without a second word. But when asked about her true identity, she became evasive and deliberately changed the subject.
In that case, Shirayuki could only start with someone else.
For example, Rudolf.
Or Akikawa Yayoi.
The latter was a bit too difficult, so it would be easier to draw information out of Rudolf. After all, Shirayuki was also an important member of the Student Council.
Rudolf was nine times out of ten going to give her position to Teio someday, and Shirayuki would one hundred percent become Vice President.
Relying on that connection, maybe it could work.
"That's right. The President," Shirayuki said. "Aside from the President, only people wearing office-lady uniforms would know."
"Office-lady uniforms? Could Tazuna-san know too?"
Shirayuki sucked in a breath.
This girl had said the correct answer out loud!
Fortunately, this child was simple-minded and would never connect the human-looking Hayakawa Tazuna with the mysterious uma musume.
"I don't think she would know. After all, this is about an uma musume. President Rudolf would definitely know more."
"That makes sense… Then I'll go ask the President!"
"I'll go too."
After training ended, Shirayuki and Teio went to the Student Council room. Rudolf happened to be out, and only Air Groove was there.
Seeing Shirayuki enter, Air Groove's icy-beauty expression immediately melted. She brought Shirayuki to the sofa, took out snacks, and began asking about her recent condition like a kind elder.
As for Tokai Teio, she had originally wanted to sit beside Shirayuki, but Air Groove moved her to the opposite side.
Looking at Air Groove and Shirayuki, who looked so harmonious they seemed like family, Tokai Teio ate her cookies with dead-fish eyes.
Why do I feel like an outsider?
I have no problem with the big Empress and little Empress interacting, but as Teio, am I not allowed to join in too?
I'm Shirayuki's friend, you know!
When Rudolf entered the room, Tokai Teio finally seemed to find where she belonged. She directly pounced into Rudolf's arms and rubbed her head against her, almost saying, "Air Groove won't let me play with Shirayuki."
After acting spoiled for a while, Teio told Rudolf her question.
Rudolf was silent for a moment.
"Sorry, I don't know either."
"How could there be something the President doesn't know!"
Tokai Teio slapped the table.
In her eyes, Rudolf was omnipotent. Even that mysterious uma musume who had been humiliating her for days on end could surely be defeated easily if Rudolf made a move.
"I do not know everything."
Tokai Teio opened her mouth, her eyes rolled white, and she collapsed as though the sky had fallen.
No, isn't that normal?
Shirayuki looked at Teio lying on the floor.
But Tokai Teio did not think it was normal. In her heart, the myth of the President's omniscience and omnipotence had collapsed.
She lay on the floor and blinked. Then, by chance, she caught sight of a flash of white.
Wait.
From this angle, I can just about see…
Just as Tokai Teio began inching toward Shirayuki's skirt from the floor, a figure appeared above her, looking down from a superior height.
Air Groove's eyes were fixed firmly on Teio.
Cold sweat poured down Tokai Teio's back. She did not dare delay for even a moment and immediately jumped up from the floor.
Unaware of the little episode happening there, Shirayuki went to Rudolf's side and quietly asked,
"President, do you know Hayakawa Tazuna's true identity?"
Hearing that, Rudolf smiled.
"Shirayuki, why are you so concerned about this matter?"
"I suppose it's a knot in my heart. If I know who she is, whether she is the person I imagine or not, I'll be able to settle something in my mind."
"A knot in your heart, hm… Unfortunately, this matter has already exceeded what I am allowed to answer."
Hearing that from beside them, Air Groove was just about to come over and say a few words for Shirayuki, but Rudolf interrupted her.
"How about this, Shirayuki? Race me. If you can win, I'll make an exception and tell you. What do you think?"