Thankfully, after everything Kitano had been through, he had at least improved in one area.
His poker face.
So when he saw Rudolf again, he managed to look perfectly calm.
Like nothing had happened.
Like this was just another ordinary first meeting.
“An honor to meet you, President Symboli Rudolf.
The name ‘Emperor’ certainly lives up to its reputation.” Standing before the most familiar stranger in his life, Kitano offered a gentle smile and extended his hand with steady confidence.
“Hello, Trainer Kitano Ryuichi.” Two other Uma Musume stood behind Rudolf.
One had sharp eyeliner, light makeup, and a dignified beauty that made her presence hard to ignore.
The other wore a cool, detached expression, a white strip across her nose, and a blade of grass between her lips, giving off a wild, gallant air.
Air Groove and Narita Brian.
Old acquaintances, both of them.
Of course, “old acquaintances” in Kitano’s case came with several extra layers of weirdness.
He had known them across multiple loops, though their relationship had always stayed fairly normal.
He avoided seeing Rudolf whenever possible, but some matters could only be handled through the student council, so Air Groove and Narita Brian had often helped him pass along messages.
In one of his earliest loops, he had even watched the two of them grow up.
Well—watched them debut, make names for themselves, and eventually join the student council.
Kitano could still remember how sweetly they had called him Senpai when they first entered the council.
Pure bliss.
Then, in the second loop, he had become their junior instead.
The whiplash had been brutal.
At this point, though?
He was used to it.
“I heard you were the only person this year to graduate successfully from the Central Trainer Academy,” Rudolf said.
“Not only that, you are also the youngest trainer Tracen Academy has hired to date.” Rudolf had always had a natural fondness for people wrapped in the aura of genius.
And right now, Kitano happened to be wearing exactly that.
A completely fake genius aura, sure.
But an aura was an aura.
So when Kitano offered his hand, Rudolf smiled and accepted it.
“On behalf of Tracen Academy, I welcome you, Kitano Ryuichi-san.” Their hands touched.
And in that instant— Zap.
A strange current shot through Rudolf’s mind.
Her body stiffened.
Fragments of memory flashed behind her eyes, bright and jagged as broken glass.
“Good morning, Trainer-kun.” “Trainer-kun, please don’t let the rumors bother you.
You are my trainer.
Never doubt that.” “Trainer-kun… I really did it.
An undefeated Triple Crown.
Just like you said.” “Trainer-kun… I’m sorry.
I still couldn’t take that step toward the world stage.
I should have listened to you sooner.” “Trainer-kun… I was able to become president because you supported me all the way.
Thank you.” Then the memories vanished.
Rudolf’s breath caught.
What was that?
She had no idea what those sudden flashes were.
But within them, she had seen someone.
A man.
Middle-aged, perhaps.
Much older than her.
His features carried a faint weariness, yet there was still a trace of handsomeness beneath it all.
Who… was that?
Why did merely seeing his blurred silhouette fill her with such warmth?
Why did it make her feel… happy?
And sad?
No.
More than sad.
Somewhere deep in her chest, there was even a flicker of anger.
Before Rudolf could untangle any of it, her mind snapped back to the present.
The young man standing in front of her came back into focus.
Kitano Ryuichi.
And for one brief, impossible moment, the weathered face from her memories overlapped with his youthful one.
The resemblance was faint, but unmistakable.
As if she were looking at Kitano Ryuichi twenty years from now.
Rudolf’s pupils narrowed.
Only for a second.
Then she recovered.
Her reaction just now had been too obvious.
Too emotional.
So she smiled.
“My apologies.
I think that was static electricity.
It startled me for a moment.” She adjusted her expression, calm and regal once more.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Trainer Kitano Ryuichi.
I am Symboli Rudolf.” Was this really their first meeting?
Or was it a reunion after far too long?
Rudolf did not know yet.
But one thing was certain.
The young trainer standing before her felt strangely similar to someone terribly important.
Someone she had somehow forgotten.