A few days had gone by since the [Queen Elizabeth II Cup]. As expected, my new status as a holder of the Undefeated Triple Tiara had sent another shockwave through Japan. And combined with Oguri's victory at the [Kikuka Sho] not too long ago, it was safe to say that Team Kitahara was now a team of legends.
Of course, things weren't over just yet. The [Japan Cup] was just a week away, and since I'd just ran, I'd be spending the entire week resting. Normally I'd spend all that time trying out new activities in hopes of finding a hobby or going out with Oguri.
But things were different this time.
I laid at my couch in the clubroom, staring emptily at the ceiling. Today's newspaper remained on the table, completely untouched. I hadn't done anything today, and yet I felt more tired and anxious than I'd ever felt in a while. I couldn't even bring myself to look through today's newspaper to see what was trending.
The reason was simple.
Obey Your Master had effectively disappeared. After I'd finished my Winning Concert, I'd tried to see if I could find her, but she was already gone. And to make it worse, no one knew where she was staying. She had gone completely dark, and the only reason I even knew she was still in Japan was because she'd also be running in the [Japan Cup].
I laid my arm over my eyes. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd been too hasty back then, if I'd maybe scared her off. I knew she told me that she'd think about my offer, but that whole conversation had been shrouded in mystery. Both of us knew too much and too little about each other; both too similar and yet too different.
But, whatever the case, I truly wanted her to stay in Japan. I wanted her to be able to smile without relying on her persona as a Wild Joker. I wanted her to look back at the people who'd spited her and genuinely smile back.
…Well, there's no point in being idle anymore.
I swung my legs from the couch, and mustering all my energy, I stood up and left the clubroom. I began making my way straight to the Student Council, politely greeting the occasional student I met along the way. Soon enough, I made it to that ornate wooden door, and I cleared my throat as I knocked.
"Come in." A familiar voice said from inside, and I gently pushed the door open.
Inside, Symboli Rudolf blinked as she saw me enter. "Blossom Star?"
"Good morning, Rudolf." I greeted mildly, my expression determined.
Rudolf raised an eyebrow at the odd state I was in, but she didn't explicitly question it. "It is rare for you to make a direct visit." She said, smiling slightly as she brought her hands together. "What do you need, Blossom-san?"
I took a small breath. "How hard is it for a foreign umamusume to become a student of Tracen Central?"
Rudolf blinked. She certainly hadn't expected a question like that. "What brought this on, Blossom-san?"
I looked down for a moment, before I began explaining. Naturally, I didn't disclose most of the sensitive details we shared during that talk; I only mentioned how Obey Your Master felt like she was much more suited to Japan's turf compared to America's Dirt tracks.
After I finished explaining, Rudolf had a complicated look. "Is that so…?" She whispered, sounding somewhat troubled.
I narrowed my eyes. "Is there a problem?"
Rudolf went quiet for a moment. "Registering Obey Your Master as a new student in Tracen Central is no impossible task. In fact, it's been done a few times before. It's just…" She sighed as she gazed out the window. "Have you heard about Maruzensky's situation before?"
I paused at her words, before my eyes widened. Of course, I knew exactly what Rudolf was talking about. Maruzensky was another foreign umamusume, and the URA had completely barred her from entering the most prestigious races they had. It was this that caused Maruzensky to miss out on the Classics entirely.
But then my eyes narrowed. "But Obey-san is a Senior." I tilted my head. "Will the URA remain as…obstinate in regards to a Senior racers like her?"
Rudolf's ears drooped. "I'm afraid so." She closed her eyes. "Races such as the [Spring Tenno Sho] and the [Arima Kinen] would be inaccessible."
. . . . . .
"Blossom Star?"
"Yes?"
"I…truly apologize." Rudolf carefully said. "Even if Obey-san becomes a student of Tracen Central, I'm afraid her experience will be less than you and I desire." Her voice remained soft, gentle. As if she was making sure that nothing catastrophic would occur.
"There's no need to worry, Symboli-san."
Rudolf flinched. "Star-san-"
"It is no fault of yours." I smiled. It was not the usual playful smile I gave. "You are but one umamusume, after all. You cannot change the rules of an entire nation at a whim."
I felt something wet trail down my fingers.
A drop of red fell onto the carpet.
"There are still options I can take." I continued, still smiling. "Our team's motto is to 'Take over the world', after all. If we are to accomplish that fantasy, then it would be natural that we would soon expand beyond the confines of one singular nation."
Rudolf's eyes widened. "You plan on leaving?" She asked, sounding almost panicked.
"Not now, of course." I said. "But in the future? Who knows." My smile widened. "This world is vast, after all. If Obey-san cannot remain in Japan without being held back, then all I must do is to come to her myself."
"...I see." She nodded slowly. "If that is your plan for the future, then I wish you good luck."
I nodded. "Well, that's all." I bowed to her. "Thank you for your time, Symboli-san." And without any further words, I turned and left the Student Council room. I closed the door behind me as I left, though I accidentally put too much strength, causing the door to slam shut.
Now alone, I finally realized that I could feel something wet in my left hand. I brought it up to see what it was.
It was blood.
"...huh." I said mildly. I suppose I'd been clenching my hand so hard that my nails had drawn blood.
Oh well.
…
How unfair.
I didn't truly blame anyone in Tracen Central, of course. Rudolf had no power to overrule the URA, and Director Akikawa was still trying her hardest to change the ways of old. If anything, Tracen Central was the bastion of progress, constantly pushing to improve.
In the end, the issues laid with the URA itself, and the nationalistic pride that had bound the country for decades. It wouldn't be until the Golden Generation came around that these rules would be loosened.
…it didn't make me any calmer.
I took a deep breath, and then slowly let it go. Right. Okay.
First things first, I needed to go to the infirmary and get my hand bandaged. My nails hadn't dug too deep, but a wound was still a wound. Musaka would probably scream at me until I'm deaf if I left the wound open for any longer.
And after that, I'd be heading to the gym.
I needed to make good use of the sandbag to clear my thoughts.
.
.
.
"And that's how it is, Akikawa-san."
"Shock! I didn't think Blossom Star would react so strongly!" Director Akikawa said, holding an opened fan that somehow had the word 'Shock' written across it in ink. "Question! Did she explain any further?"
Rudolf gently shook her head. "No, the details she gave me were sparse at best." Her brows furrowed. "I believe things aren't as simple as she's making it out to be."
"Exactly! Things cannot be as simple, or else Blossom Star would not have reacted so strongly." The director then hummed. "Confusion! Why are you so concerned about her plan on going overseas? Did you not desire to do that yourself?"
Rudolf went silent. "I'm merely…worried, that's all."
Both true and not. She feared what Star's reaction might be when she saw how strong foreign umamusume were. As shameful as it was, Japanese umamusume paled in comparison to those that came from outside. In fact, the [Japan Cup] remained a race that was mostly won by foreign umamusume.
But more than anything, it just brought too many memories. It reminded her too much of that umamusume she once called a dear friend, someone who she had betrayed.
It was her own selfishness, in the end.
Akikawa frowned for a moment as she saw the complex look in Rudolf's eyes, but she chose not to pry. "Trust! Blossom Star is not weak in the slightest!" She smiled confidently. "She and Oguri Cap are special. If they truly desire to head overseas, then I am sure their strength would be no lesser compared to them!"
Rudolf sighed. "I hope so."