Tracen Academy. The pinnacle of Japanese Umamusume education and training. A dream of many Uma's in the country is to qualify to be a student there. This surprisingly did not include Maruzensky, who hadn't really aspired for such a thing and was content where she was. The umamusume in question gazed curiously at the massive facility she and her father arrived at. Her father, meanwhile, wore a slightly stiff smile as he gazed at the massive building, his worries building up over the week until this moment.
Both were dressed casually, with Maruzensky in a white dress and red scarf, while Vincent was in a black coat, blue jeans, and a brown newsboy cap.
"Ah, hello there! Welcome to Tracen Academy." Their gazes were moved onto a woman walking towards them, wearing a dress-suit in colors of green, yellow, and black. "It's a pleasure to meet you both finally. My name is Tazuna Hayakawa. I'm the director's assistant, and your personal guide today." She wore a relaxed smile, her hand clasped firmly over her heart as she bowed lightly, greeting the duo.
"Yahallo! Nice to meet you, Tazuna!" Maruzensky wore a bright smile as she flashed a peace sign at Tazuna.
"It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Miss Tazuna. Thank you for meeting us." Vincent bowed more formally, his nerves momentarily calmed. "You mentioned on the phone that you had an urgent meeting for us?" He stated, drawing a surprised look from Maruzensky.
"Yes, the director and her guest are waiting for you in her office. Please follow me." She bowed lightly with a smile before beckoning them to follow her. Maruzensky glanced curiously at her father, who met her look sheepishly. He gave her a nod before following Tazuna, Maruzensky quickly following after.
"The overall tour will wait till after the meeting, but as we walk, you'll see various classrooms and facilities available to Maruzensky during her time here." Tazuna gestured with her hands to the left and right as she walked, Maruzensky following her gestures curiously. Vincent followed along, but didn't match Maruzensky's enthusiasm. Their walk carried on for a few minutes before they reached the Director's office. A polished wooden door, with a plaque hanging on the outside, bearing the letters, "Director Akikawa".
Tazuna gave a brief pair of knocks on the door and waited for a moment. A muffled "Come in" resounded before Tazuna opened the door for them. Greeting them inside were the seated forms of two individuals, a man in a grey suit, and a short woman holding a fan, sitting on opposite couches from one another. Standing behind the man were two Umamusume dressed crisply in black suits, wearing black sunglasses.
The woman gave a jaunty wave, snapping her fan shut as she fully turned towards them with a smile. She stood from where he sat, standing at a tall 140 cm, or 4 feet 5 inches. She wore a white dress with blue sleeves and a matching white hat, with a small black kitten sleeping on top of it.
"Welcome to Tracen Academy! Please, be seated! Tazunaaa, please have some snacks brought in." The woman gestured with her fan towards them, then towards her previous spot on the couch. She marched over to the desk adjacent to the couches and seated herself. " My name is Yayoi Akikawa, Director of Tracen Academy! It's a pleasure to meet you, Maruzensky, and Trainer Vincent!" She covered her mouth with her fan and let out an exaggerated, "Ohohoho," laugh.
Maruzensky and Vincent shared a look before moving and taking a seat after giving short bows. Maruzensky looked curiously at the man sitting across from them, who had not spoken, nor had the two Umamusume behind him. The man wore a dark grey and black suit, with messy brown hair and brown eyes behind thick-framed glasses. At a glance, he seemed to be the same height as her and a few inches shorter than her Papa.
"What's your name, Mister? You look pretty important with those cool-looking Uma behind you!" Maruzensky tilted her head curiously, her finger poking her chin as she asked, while her father gave her a look at her bluntness. He also turned to look at the man, before he turned pale in shock at the sight of the pin on the man's suit. Director Akikawa used her fan to cover her smile of anticipation.
The man in question blinked at being addressed, giving a small chuckle before giving a short wave to the two. "My apologies, I missed my opportunity to introduce myself as well." He made a dismissive gesture as he stood before the two. "My name is Riku Yoshida, Chairman of the URA. Pleased to meet you." Riku smiled brightly as Maruzensky looked him up and down in disbelief. Vincent chose that moment to step out of his shock, speaking for the first time.
"You're the Chairman?! What happened to Mr. Yoshida?" Vincent couldn't believe his eyes. This young man, barely older than his daughter, was the Chairman? Another thought occurred to him. "Wait. You were the one I spoke to over the phone a week ago?" He blinked as his mind connected that thought.
"Yep, that's me." Riku pointed a thumb at himself as he spoke, bending down to pick up the suitcase he had left on the table, shoving a few papers back into it. Maruzensky didn't miss the movement, her eyes catching the writing on some papers as he grabbed them. "My grandfather retired recently, and I've taken over for him. And yes, it was me you spoke to. It's nice to see you both in person." Riku smiled warmly, his eyes closed as he finished filling his suitcase and closed it. He moved towards the door, his Umamusume guards moving to take up positions behind him.
"Ohhh? Leaving so soon, Riku? You don't want to stay and talk to your new favorite Umamusume?" Director Akikawa teased as she closed her fan and pointed it at Riku. The man in question stopped, but did not turn around. Maruzensky's eyes glittered as she waited for his answer.
"We'll continue our discussion next time about your proposal, Director Taste." Riku smiled menacingly, his eyes closed as he briefly turned back towards them. Director Akikawa, narrowing her eyes playfully at him for the name. His eyes opened as he looked at Maruzensky. "I don't know about you being my favorite yet. You have a ways to go to be my favorite over Tokino. But I'm definitely excited to see your career, Maruzensky. Do your best." Riku gave a jaunty wave as he walked back out the door, walking past Tazuna, who wore an embarrassed flush on her face.
Both Maruzensky and Vincent blinked at his quick exit, Maruzensky in particular wearing a disappointed frown at his words. Their thoughts were interrupted by Director Akikawa speaking up.
"Bah! Don't let that man's words fool you." Yayoi Akikawa gave a huff as she crossed her arms, tapping her fan on her left arm. "With how hard that man campaigned for you to make the Classics, he's definitely your number one fan." She winked towards the duo before standing back up and moving to the couch opposite them, holding a bundle of papers as she did so. "Now, Maru, what are your thoughts about joining our academy?"
"I'd love to! Everything seems so nice here. The academy uniform is so cute, too!" Maruzensky cheerfully held a peace sign towards the Director. "We live pretty far away though~." Maruzensky's eyes sparkled at her next thought. "Does that mean I can drive here every day!?"
Vincent spoke up before she could continue that line of questioning. "Now now, there's no need for that, Maru. They have dormitories for you here." Vincent held up his hands frantically, sweating at the thought of his daughter driving.
"Ah, you're right, Papa." Maruzensky pouted at not being able to drive yet. "But aren't you going to move in too?" She tilted her head curiously at her father, noticing his inability to make eye contact with her.
"I'm... not licensed to train here, Maru. I won't be able to stay." Vincent shook his head regretfully, his daughter's eyes widening in shock. Before their conversation could continue, though, Akikawa cut in.
"You're not a central trainer yet, Mr. Vincent. But thankfully, our URA Chairman thought ahead and brought a fix in for you. A temporary one at least." She smiled cheekily at the shocked duo, holding up one of the papers she brought. "You'll have to pass the test to become a central trainer, but you're being given a grace period of two months, and a temporary license so you can continue to be a trainer here." Her smile turned warm as she noticed Vincent begin to tear up, and Maruzensky vibrate in excitement.
"Thank you. Thank you so much." Vincent covered his eyes with his hand, as his worries drained out of him. Maruzensky latched onto him like a Koala, hugging him.
"Thank you, Director!" She smiled softly, her eyes misty.
"Of course! This amazing Director is willing to help you with all you need!" Yayoi puffed her chest up. "Now let's get you two signed up officially, so we can order your uniforms and get you your rooms!" She waved her fan around energetically as she pushed a pair of papers towards them.
SCENE BREAK
"Bang." The sound of a car door closing resounded as Riku reclined in the backseat of a black SUV. He lightly patted his chest as he exhaled, the day's events draining out of him. He had not expected to run into Maruzensky at the academy. He recalled the moment she stepped in, he had been starstruck for a second, seeing her in person. If anything, the race footage he watched did not show her presence and beauty well enough. That Uma was abnormally attractive for sure.
His eyes narrowed as he considered the fact that Maruzensky's visit coincided with his planned meeting with Director Akikawa, or Northern Taste, as he teased her. The woman had heard all about what went down in the URA with his subsequent promotion to Chairman. She was also someone with whom he had limited correspondence through his grandfather. She very likely planned to have him meet Maruzensky to embarrass him. What a sly woman, she played him well.
Still, it was a very productive day. The Director was firmly on board with his ideas, and they even discussed some things she herself wanted to put forward. Maruzensky seemed to be doing well and would be moved into Tracen soon if he had to guess. He had remembered that trainers moving up from their regional areas into central was very difficult, due to a difference in licensing. Kitahara Jones, Oguri Cap's trainer, suffered from the same problem when deciding to move Oguri to the central circuit. Thankfully, with his position, he could pull some strings and get a temporary license for Vincent. The rest was on him.
"We're approaching the building now, sir." Buckshot, an American Umamusume who was among his first recruits for his new security force, called out from the front passenger seat. Riku glanced briefly at her, taking in her bright crimson hair and prominent freckles, her green eyes hidden behind her sunglasses as she made eye contact with him.
"Thank you, Buckshot." Riku gave a smile towards the Uma before turning his focus to the Uma driving. Opal, an Umamusume from Australia. Her bright white hair matched her unique silver eyes. She was shorter than Buckshot and himself, but was far stronger physically than her fellow Uma. Comparable to even Kitasan Black.
The SUV came to a gradual stop outside a bright yellow building, several stories tall, with the letters URA emblazoned on the outside in green letters. Buckshot hopped out first, and after a glance at their surroundings, opened the door for him. Riku gave a nod of thanks to her before turning his gaze to the building, seeing his secretary, Hiromi, standing outside. Riku briefly froze upon seeing the cold smile on her face, his smile turned slightly sheepish as she made a beeline for him. His two guards took a brief step away from him, and his gaze briefly glanced at them in betrayal.
"Chairman, I see you're back from your trip to Central Tracen Academy. Perhaps now you'd like to schedule your first conference with the press?" She smiled almost angelically, if you ignored the sheer menace behind her smile directed at him.
"Ahaha.." Riku let out a brief chuckle, knowing he had delayed long enough, to the ire of his secretary. He does not like to put off work, wanting to be the complete opposite of his grandfather. However, speaking to the press, who would take his word anyway they'd want, wasn't something he'd enjoy doing. He procrastinated and did everything else he could to avoid talking to the media about his promotion to Chairman and the situation at the URA.
"You're right. Please schedule a meeting as soon as possible, Miss Hiromi." He gave a nod towards her, getting a grateful smile in return. Before her aura changed, turning far more menacing than before. He suddenly had a bad premonition, and was proven right shortly after.
"That's wonderful to hear, sir. They're waiting for you in the next room and are ready to live broadcast in thirty minutes." Her smile and words caused him to whiten comically; his body felt like his soul had left his body. They're here already?!
"Ah. I see. Wonderful. Thank you." He answered robotically. His guards gave him pitying looks as he was escorted back into the building and led to a dressing room. An eager team was there waiting for him, and escorted him to a chair where they gently "manhandled" him. They removed his coat, his glasses, and began tidying up his hair while applying makeup to his face. He glanced around, nearly blind as they moved around him quickly. Before he knew it, they had stood him back up and put some finishing touches of makeup on him, before putting his glasses back on. He was then shoved back out of the room, meeting the amused gazes of his two bodyguards.
"Not a word." He said stonily, the impact lessened by how embarrassed he looked. He gave a muffled growl before fast-walking towards the media room. His steps were easily matched by the physically more able Umamusume, who wore smirks but said no words to him as they followed him. They quickly arrived in front of a side door, with muffled speaking of many different voices being heard through the door.
"Hooo. Alright. Let's do it." Riku closed his eyes as he prepared himself. He looked at Buckshot and Opal before nodding towards the doors—no more putting it off. It's time.
CHAPTER END
Quick note here: I intended to make this chapter a bit longer, but I plan to include a decent amount of dialogue in the media meeting, including multiple media outlets. The next chapter will be longer.
The next chapter will include the first media day for Riku as Chairman, and will branch into the start of Maruzensky's Classic Career, so expect a small timeskip for her first race.
We'll also visit some of the plans Riku had put into motion while her career continues, so stay tuned.