After completing her speech, the chairwoman hopped neatly down from the wooden crate.
She raised her chin, waved her folding fan, and strode confidently from the podium before returning to her seat among the academy representatives.
As master of ceremonies, Ms.
Hayakawa addressed the assembled Uma Musume.
“Next, we invite the representative of Tracen Academy’s student committee, Student Council President Symboli Rudolf, to deliver the welcoming address.”
Before she even finished, excitement swept through the students.
Many could not suppress their delighted whispers.
The Emperor’s popularity was obvious from their reactions.
For these new students, this was an opportunity to see Symboli Rudolf—the racer who had dominated the track after her debut the previous year and who was currently regarded as the academy’s most promising competitor.
Their admiration was only natural.
“Oh!
Here she comes!
The Emperor, Symboli Rudolf!”
Even through the window, Koji shouted excitedly from the wall ledge and whistled.
Kazuomi stared nervously toward the rear of the stage.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Slender heels struck the wooden floor with crisp precision.
A tall silhouette slowly appeared from behind the curtain.
Under the gaze of everyone present, a girl possessing an overwhelming aura stepped onto the podium.
She stood straight and confident, her bearing gallant and commanding.
Her tall figure, streaked hair, and flawless beauty were striking.
Yet even more impressive was the solitary dignity surrounding her, like an orchid blooming alone in a remote valley.
She possessed the lofty presence of a sovereign.
Without displaying anger, she inspired awe.
A single glance from her was enough to shake the heart and create an instinctive desire to submit.
Every student present engraved her appearance into her memory.
Kazuomi held his breath.
Her presence was overwhelming.
With only one look, he felt unable to meet her eyes.
An involuntary sense of inferiority and defeat rose within him.
She seemed utterly beyond reach.
That pressure—
That presence—
“Wow.
I noticed her when she first enrolled, but to think she would grow this much in barely a year.”
Koji sounded genuinely impressed.
“Terrifying.”
Unlike Kazuomi, who had been rendered speechless merely by seeing her from a distance, Koji maintained his usual careless demeanor.
As Kazuomi watched her, a question rose naturally within him.
What kind of trainer was capable of standing beside someone like her?
The Emperor came to a stop before the podium.
Her every movement held the attention of the audience.
Not only the students, but even the trainers standing nearby unconsciously straightened their backs.
“To all the juniors newly entering this academy, allow me first to offer sincere congratulations on behalf of the Tracen Student Committee.”
“Welcome to Tracen Academy.”
A smile appeared on the Emperor’s face.
Her voice was unhurried, and her manner was surprisingly gentle.
An indescribable warmth and charisma immediately won over everyone present.
This was the art of rulership—the bearing of a sovereign and the perfect control of an aura that could be released or restrained at will.
After a brief silence—
“It really is the Emperor!”
“She’s really here!”
“Kyaaah!
She’s so handsome!”
The students were instantly captured by her personal magnetism.
One after another, they began shrieking like infatuated fans.
Despite possessing a breathtakingly beautiful face, every expression and smile she displayed was enough to make not merely men, but women themselves swoon.
Looking at the excited students, Kazuomi began to sweat.
Koji only chuckled.
“That’s the Emperor’s charisma for you.
Even when it came to trainers, she was the one who made the selection.”
“Rather than being guided by others, she is the one naturally suited to guiding everyone around her.”
Those few words astonished Kazuomi.
The Emperor, meanwhile, was already accustomed to such scenes.
The remainder of her appearance consisted of leading the students through their oath, introducing the Tracen Student Council, and sincerely inviting the newly enrolled girls to join.
The entire process lasted fewer than fifteen minutes.
After the Emperor’s speech came an address from a representative selected from among the academy’s teaching staff.
Both Kazuomi and Koji recognized the woman who stepped onto the stage.
It was Hana Tojo.
There were clearly employees with more seniority than her, yet Ms.
Tojo stood at the forefront.
Perhaps noticing Kazuomi’s confusion, Koji grinned and shook his head.
“She may not look it, and I hate admitting it, but she’s currently our academy’s ace trainer.”
“What?
Seriously?”
She looked only five or six years older than Kazuomi.
Yet this cold, merciless, excessively serious senior possessed such influence?
Now that he considered it, had the old man changed Kazuomi’s supervisor from Koji to Ms.
Tojo for Kazuomi’s own benefit?
No.
He had surely placed Kazuomi beside her so she could monitor him.
“Team Rigil is the team she leads.”
Koji smirked.
“Which team do you think the Emperor belongs to?”
Kazuomi fell silent.
Ms.
Tojo was evidently an extraordinary trainer.
That also explained her attitude toward him during the interview.
“Oops.
Looks like she’s about to begin speaking.
If I remember correctly, the welcoming ceremony is nearly over.”
Koji began moving.
“We should return to our original position while we still can.”
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”
Kazuomi lowered his gaze.
The narrow ledge stood more than four meters above the ground.
The ladder they had taken from the athletic equipment storehouse had vanished at some point.
“How exactly are we supposed to get down?”
Koji looked below.
“…Ah.”
His expression stiffened.
“This is bad.”