Myriad Dreams' desperate cry of "job" echoed through the Student Council office, causing even the usually stoic Symboli Rudolf's eye to twitch ever so slightly.
Taking a deep breath to maintain her presidential dignity, Rudolf attempted to sway her with a sense of honor.
"Student Myriad Dreams, you must understand that joining the Student Council is a dream honor for many Uma Musume."
"Furthermore, according to tradition, Student Council members must be retired Uma Musume. We are making an exception for you— an active-duty Triple Crown winner with unprecedented achievements! This is a massive recognition of your ability and potential!"
However, Myriad Dreams shook her head like a rattle, her face full of resistance.
"No thanks, no thanks! Really, no thanks! I appreciate the sentiment, President! This precious opportunity for an exception should be left to other, more ambitious Uma Musume!"
"Like Tokai Teio— I think she has great potential!"
As she spoke, she turned around, intending to slip out the door.
But the moment she turned, she froze in place.
The office door had been silently opened at some point.
Maruzensky was leaning elegantly against the doorframe, wearing her signature smile, one as graceful and dangerous as a sport car's engine.
On the other side stood Air Groove, arms crossed, her gaze calm yet carrying an undeniable pressure.
"Oh my, little Myriad~ where are you going in such a hurry?" Maruzensky's voice was sickly sweet, yet it made the hair on Myriad's neck stand on end.
"The President's conversation is not over yet," Air Groove said succinctly, blocking her path of retreat.
Myriad Dreams let out a couple of dry laughs, trying to squeeze through the gap between them.
"Uh... I just remembered my Trainer is looking for me..."
Before she could finish, Maruzensky and Air Groove stepped forward simultaneously.
Flanking her on both sides, they gently but firmly gripped her shoulders and "invited" her back to President Rudolf's desk.
"It seems you need a clearer understanding of the Student Council's sincerity," Rudolf said, calmly pulling a pre-prepared official document bearing the Tracen Academy crest from her drawer and pushing it toward Myriad.
On the final page, Symboli Rudolf's flourishing signature was already clearly inscribed.
"Come, just press your fingerprint here," Rudolf's tone made it sound as if she were saying, "Come, have a piece of candy."
"I DON'T WANT TO—!!!" Myriad Dreams wailed, attempting a final struggle by bringing up her own honors.
"President! I'm an undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume, for goodness' sake! Can't you give me a little respect?!"
Rudolf didn't even look up, she simply tapped the desk with her knuckle. Her tone was flat but carried the weight of a mountain:
"I am the Student Council President."
Unwilling to give up, Myriad continued to struggle.
"I'm the youngest expedition racer in Japan! And a Dirt Triple Crown winner! Won't you give me even that much respect?!"
Rudolf remained expressionless, repeating herself with increased emphasis:
"I am the Student Council President."
Myriad was on the verge of tears as she threw out her ultimate trump card:.
"I... I'm the first Japanese Uma Musume to win the American Dirt Triple Crown! It's unprecedented!!"
Symboli Rudolf finally looked up, staring directly at Myriad.
Every word was heavy with absolute authority, as if it were the law itself.
"I. AM. THE. STUDENT. COUNCIL. PRESIDENT!"
As the words fell, Maruzensky and Air Groove applied a slight bit of pressure with their hands.
Myriad Dreams felt her right index finger being guided by an irresistible force, pressing precisely onto the designated spot on the final page— where a box of bright red ink had appeared at some point.
"NOOO—!!!"
Accompanied by Myriad Dreams' howl of despair, her fingerprint was clearly branded onto the agreement.
The force holding her shoulders vanished instantly.
Maruzensky and Air Groove stepped back elegantly, as if nothing had happened.
Rudolf picked up the agreement with satisfaction, checked the fingerprint, and nodded.
Myriad Dreams slumped in her chair, her eyes lifeless and hollow as she stared at the ceiling.
It was as if all the dreams and color had drained from her world. She muttered to herself:
"It's over... everything is over... My life of freedom... gone... If I'd known... I wouldn't have come today even if it killed me..."
She could already see a gray future ahead, submerged in endless documents, meetings, and paperwork.
Seeing her "done with life" expression, a faint, fleeting arc seemed to touch the corner of Rudolf's mouth.
She then pushed a copy of the New Student Council Member Handbook toward her.
"Welcome to the Student Council, Miss Myriad Dreams."