"Sllluurrrrppp… Aaaahhhh… Such a peaceful morning."
"Indeed."
In the student council office, Symboli Rudolph is enjoying a cup of tea alongside her vice presidents. Usually, Rudolph would be covered head to toe in paperwork, but she gets to take a break during the new academic year. The reason is that with the new influx of trainers, most girls are focused on finding an excellent trainer to guide them to the peak of the racing world. Of course, some of them have more sinister intentions, but those are few and far between, the student councils barely need to keep tabs on them. Those kinds of individuals usually surface after spending some time with their trainers, so Rudolph can breathe a sigh of relief for now.
"It's always a joy seeing the academy bustling with such positive activities."
"Don't jinx it."
One of her vice presidents, Narita Brian, quickly retorted to her. The girl appears to be more suited to a delinquent gang than the student council, given her composure and sitting posture. Her back is fully leaning against the cushion of the sofa, and one of her legs is above the other, with her ankle resting on the other's knee. The plaster on her nose and the piece of grass on her mouth don't help with her image either.
"Ahahaha… You're right…"
Rudolph isn't some new rookie Uma Musume to make such a mistake, as she was known for 'Emperor' for a reason, but the atmosphere around the academy had somewhat rejuvenated the retired Emperor. The Emperor twirled her chair to look through the clear glass window behind her.
Uma Musumes are running around the track in dozens. Preparing themselves for mock races that will be held sometime in the future. To facilitate the meeting between trainers and Umas, the student council has prepared mock races of various lengths. These mock races are held in the hope that the meeting between trainers and Umas can happen in a more controlled and safe environment.
"This safe and positive environment… I hope it can linger longer."
The Emperor twirls back to meet her vice presidents and finds out that only one of them remains in the room with her, Air Groove.
"She left because she doesn't want to experience the fallout of your jinxes. Her words, not mine."
The Empress calmly told the Emperor before she even asked her. Air Groove, one of Rudolph's most trusted companions, who is named 'Empress', is said to be a strict girl. Putting herself and those who are worthy under a mountain of expectation. Her words might be harsh and her gaze might be sharp, but all understand that just her way of expressing her care.
"I may not be superstitious, but you ought to learn from your years at the top of how the world works, Rudolph."
"Ahaha… Sorry."
The Emperor shrank under the Empress's sharp gaze. She herself may be the Emperor, but she can't do anything when she doesn't have a good basis to retort. Flailing wildly would just ruin her image and reputation.
"I will help you if it were student council work, but the same obligation can't be said if it was trouble that you yourself invite, Rudolph."
"Please, Air Groove, Tracen is a safe place for trainers and Uma alike. Surely all of our hard work will have bear fruit and Tracen Academy will no longer have any bad actors in it."
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
Rudolph froze for a moment. Surely jinxes are not real, right? It can't be that all her words from earlier have come back to bite her. If it did, it can't have happened so quickly, can it? Surely the receptionist of Karma HQ would need several days to fill out the paperwork for it to come back to Rudolph.
"Well then…"
"Air Groove!! Please don't leave me!!"
Air Groove had placed her teacup down and prepared herself to leave, but Rudolph quickly begged her not to.
"I'm sorry for not being able to control my mouth!! Please don't leave me!! I'll give you more land in the garden, how about that?!"
"Good grief, woman. Sigh… Fine…"
Air Groove may look scary, but her heart is more tender like a medium-rare steak. She couldn't, in the goodness of her heart, leave the panicking Emperor to her demise.
"Cough… Cough… Come in."
After regaining her composure, Rudolph allowed the visitor to enter the office.
"HELLO PREZ!!!"
Oh, thank the three goddesses!!
Rudolph audibly let out a sigh of relief when the person who came out of the door was Tokai Teio, a junior that has gotten herself attached to Rudolph for some reason. Not that Rudolph rejects it. Tokai Teio's cheerful demeanor was what Rudolph had needed after the heavy anticipation of her demise.
"Oh, McQueen is here too with her trainer."
A trainer? So early. None of the mock races that we arranged have been done, and yet, McQueen has already found a trainer.
Rudolph starts rummaging through her mind. Who is this trainer that has caught the eye of a lady from the Mejiro family? For such a noble and powerful family, she surely has contacted a talented and veteran trainer. Is it a planted trainer from The Mejiro Family? Not entirely unheard of, but if said trainer can enter Tracen Academy, then it is within their right to do so.
"Ex-excuse us."
McQueen weakly pushes the door open and enters the room with a young man in tow. Red hair, crimson eyes, and a smug smile. Certainly a brand new experience for The Emperor. Normally, new trainers would be fidgeting when they enter her office, but this one is different. Straight back, broad shoulders, and he stares directly at Rudolph instead of looking away. Surely, he isn't some mere rookie trainer if he is this confident, Rudolph thought.
"We… We would like to make a contract, ple–please."
"I–I see…"
The other weird thing here is that McQueen isn't looking at anyone. She is looking to the side like she is ashamed or something. Her cheeks are flushed red, and she is hugging her body like she is trying to protect it. Rudolph notices that something is wrong with McQueen, as she herself knows the young Mejiro lady. McQueen is Teio's best friend and, by proximity, Rudolph's acquaintance. Not only that, the Mejiro Family and the Symboli Family are renowned families in the racing world, and both are quite close to each other. Rudolph has attended parties and balls that were held by the Mejiro Family before, where she met McQueen. She can't believe that this person in front of her is the same McQueen she met before.
Maybe she isn't too sure about this. I should buy her some time to rethink her decision. Maybe she's too kind that she can't tell her trainer that she doesn't think the relationship between them is working out.
"Uuh… I understand. Can you come back this afternoon? We want to wait for other trainers and Umas to come and register themselves. It's best if we give all applicants papers to the chairwoman at one time."
"Oh, don't worry, we'll just sign the paper now, and you can hold onto it for us. Isn't that right, McQueen?"
"Mmh! Ye–yes!"
The trainer put his hand on McQueen's waist, and the young lady's body jolted as she answered his question.
"We want to do i-it right away, President."
"I–I understand…"
Rudolph reluctantly opens her drawer and pulls out the contract paper. Her eyes never leave the weird pair in front of her as she slides the paper toward them. In all her years of becoming a student council president, this pair might be a contender at being the top scorer of her leaderboard of weirdos.
McQueen is from the Mejiro Family, surely, she knows how to take care of herself. Not only that, if she is being forced into this contract, surely her family won't let it happen without a fierce legal fight. I might be reading too much into this, and this pair is just like that.
"Please sign here for the trainer and here for the Uma."
Rudolph watches as McQueen, in despair, picks up the pen, writes her name, and signs the contract. It's like someone signing their death warrant, Rudolph thought. It's time for the trainer to sign the contract. Rudolph, make sure to remember thoroughly who this trainer is as he writes his name on the paper.
Igo Heita… I've never heard of his name before. He must be a next-generation trainer under the Mejiro Family. I should remember him.
"And with this, we're officially a pair, McQueen."
"Nh! Ye–yes…"
After signing the contract, the pair bid their farewell to the president and left the room. On their way out, Rudolph couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the pair. She doesn't dare to pry, as it is the relationship between a Mejiro Uma and a Mejiro trainer. She might be the president of the Tracen Academy student council, but that means little to the whole world at large. Sticking her nose in the Mejiro Family's matter might sour the relationship between the Symboli Family and the Mejiro Family, something that Rudolph wants to avoid at all costs.
Rudolph needs to have a very solid lead if she ever wants to intervene between this pair, but she can't gather any because of her work as the student council president.
"It must be nice to be able to find a good trainer like that…"
Rudolph's attention immediately shifted to the brown-haired Uma Musume beside her, and an idea formed in her mind.
"Teio, do you want to hear some advice from me?"
There's absolutely no way Tokai Teio, who in the future would be known as 'Monarch', can refuse anything said by her idol, the Emperor. Absolutely no way.