At the Student Council office, Rudolf hung up the phone.
"I've done as you asked. Are you finally satisfied?" Rudolf's voice was a mix of exasperation and resignation.
Tokai Teio, her leg in a cast, chuckled playfully from the sofa. "Thanks, President! As expected, you always handle everything perfectly."
Rudolf sighed, momentarily unsure whether to take it as praise or something else entirely.
Long ago, when Teio had declared her ambition to win the Triple Crown, she and Rudolf had made a pact: if Teio succeeded, Rudolf would unconditionally grant her one reasonable request within her power.
Rudolf had imagined a thousand possible demands Teio might make, but this particular one had never crossed her mind.
"I thought you'd want more time alone with me. I suppose I was being presumptuous," Rudolf said, a hint of wistfulness in her voice.
"Hehe~ That was my original plan," Teio admitted, "but I changed my mind after meeting Kousei."
This piqued Rudolf's curiosity. "Why?"
"Probably to lend her a hand," Teio replied, her thoughts swirling. "Her dream is to surpass the peak, and that path won't be easy. Right now, people still see her as a supporting character. Unlike Leo Durban, who at least has the title of the strongest long-distance runner of her generation, Kousei has nothing to her name and receives far too little attention."
"That's why I want to use the weekly magazine to boost her visibility. Partnering her with Gold City should instantly draw a crowd. Even if people initially watch her races just because they think she's pretty, witnessing her performances firsthand will surely change their perceptions."
Rudolf gazed at Teio, as if seeing her in a new light. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Hmph~ You've grown up."
The lingering trace of melancholy vanished completely, replaced by a warm, affectionate aura that enveloped Teio.
Meanwhile, Kousei, far away, remained oblivious to Teio's intentions. She couldn't even fathom why she'd been tricked into this modeling gig.
"If I'd known, I would have just added my bounty money," Kousei lamented, tears welling up in her eyes. "If only I'd known!"
"All done. What do you think?"
Kousei glanced in the mirror and froze, stunned by her own reflection. She knew she was naturally beautiful, but this was nothing like the image she had of herself.
Regal and elegant, she wore a long silver gown studded with glittering gemstones. Her eyebrows had been subtly enhanced, and her dazzling, starlike eyes, deep and mesmerizing, drew the gaze like a celestial sea.
Kousei lifted the hem of her skirt and twirled, blossoming like a silver flower. Without prompting, few would recognize this transformed Kousei.
"A silver princess? You're breathtakingly beautiful," Gold City's voice drifted over. Kousei turned and found herself speechless. Gold City's clear, bright eyes held a hint of regal authority beneath her delicate brows. Her smooth hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her ceremonial gown, embroidered with golden threads, shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the window. Bathed in a divine glow, she exuded sacred dignity and peerless grace—a vision of golden paradise personified.
Gold City, a once-in-a-century beauty.
Damn it, your dazzling presence is making me feel a little insecure.
"Gold and Silver! To die for!"
Hearing the strange cry, Kousei followed the sound. She saw a pink-haired Umamusume in staff uniform, frantically snapping photos of Kousei and Gold City.
"It's her," Kousei recalled. "She seemed to be at the Teio Kikuka Sho as well." Kousei remembered her vividly due to her eccentric behavior.
"Do you know Digital Carbon?" Gold City asked, noticing Kousei's interest.
"Digital Carbon? Is that... a name?"
Gold City chuckled at Kousei's puzzled expression. "Of course not! She's Agnes Digital, a die-hard Umamusume fan."
Kousei could certainly sense her fanaticism.
"Don't let her appearance fool you," Gold City added. "She's incredibly skilled. She can run on any track, with almost universal adaptability."
"Really?! That's amazing!"
Kousei was deeply impressed. You really can't judge a book by its cover. Tracen Academy is full of hidden talent.
"Agnes Digital, I'll remember that."
Work began immediately. While Kousei still needed to work on her facial expressions, her other skills were flawless. The organizers decided to let her maintain her cool, aloof demeanor, finding the "cool Silver Princess" persona quite appealing.
After a long afternoon of work, the shoot finally wrapped up.
Once she removed her makeup and elaborate costume, Kousei let out a deep sigh. "This job is more tiring than I expected."
She hadn't imagined that simply taking photos could be so exhausting. At least I'm an Umamusume, she thought. Though I can't match McQueen's stamina, I still have decent endurance.
"Good work," Gold City said, approaching Kousei unexpectedly.
Kousei was caught off guard by Gold City's friendliness and didn't react immediately. "You too, Gold City-san."
Gold City smiled gently. "You're so polite~"
As expected of a beauty, her smile is dazzling.
"Thank you for the compliment~"
"But you can just call me Gold City. No need to be so formal."
The two sat at the foot of the staircase. Kousei felt a little nervous; this was the first time she had ever sat alone with someone else, especially Gold City, an Umamusume who was different from the others.
"You're Kousei, right?"
"Yes!"
"Heh~ I've heard about you. You're the freshman who declared she'd challenge Emperor the moment she enrolled."
So that story still hasn't died down.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to make fun of you. On the contrary, I envy you."
Kousei was puzzled. "Envy me? Why?"
"Because you're free. You can run whenever you want," Gold City said with a hint of wistfulness.
"Can't you participate in races, Gold City?" Kousei asked, oblivious to the deeper meaning.
Gold City shook her head with a smile. "Not exactly. My work makes it difficult to balance training. Early on, my Trainer told me I had to choose between the two."
I chose to continue modeling back then because my devoted fans were waiting for me. I was successful in my career, and they were thrilled. I'm not complaining—I was happy too.
But deep down, I'm still an Umamusume. No matter what, my heart yearns to run.
That's why I envy you. I've heard your story. It's rare for someone to resist succumbing to despair after such hardship. You're able to be an Umamusume precisely because you can focus solely on running.
Gold City's eyes brimmed with envy. It was surprising to see someone so radiant make such an expression.
It's such a waste for someone like her not to compete, not to run her heart out on the racetrack with others.
Kousei's brilliant mind was consumed by this single thought.