Night had fallen, and the moon hung high in the sky.
If this were a normal student dormitory, the lights would have been turned off long ago, and everyone would be asleep.
But the slender, tall high school girl standing in front of him—wearing tight-fitting black stockings—clearly had no intention of leaving.
In the past, the mere thought of having a high school girl in black stockings glaring at him in his room would have felt like a rare, unimaginable reward to Akira.
But right now, looking at the freezing expression of Symboli Rudolf, Akira only felt cold sweat dripping down his cheeks.
(What exactly does this mean?
Why the sudden change in attitude?
Why is she doing this?)
Could she actually have good intentions?
Impossible.
According to the game, her ‘conscience’ was only supposed to truly surface after Tokai Teio appeared.
But right now, she’s only a first year high school student, and there isn’t a single trace of Tokai Teio anywhere.
How could she possibly have a conscience right now?
The current Symboli Rudolf was a true fanatic who would do absolutely anything to keep Uma Musume running.
For someone like her to throw a textbook at him…
did it hold some deep, hidden meaning?
Was she subtly telling him he wasn’t fit to be a Trainer?
(Damn it, I have no idea what she’s thinking.
If only I could read minds.)
Watching Symboli Rudolf standing there with her arms crossed, Akira secretly gritted his teeth.
He completely failed to understand what this arrogant, overwhelming high school girl was trying to do.
Rudolf stood there naturally.
Seeing Akira staring blankly at the textbook without moving, she frowned.
After glancing around the room, she finally let out a soft snort and stepped closer to him.
“…Tch.
Put another chair in this room tomorrow.”
Sitting on the edge of his bed and leaning forward in a slightly awkward posture, Symboli Rudolf’s expression darkened as she pointed at the open Trainer’s textbook.
“Tracen Academy Trainer Reference Book, Series 1: The Records of Symboli Rudolf.
Right now, you should be reading Chapter 17, covering the American Expedition period.
This chapter explains the chaos that ensued when non-Trainer personnel interfered with Symboli Rudolf’s pre race procedures.
This section will absolutely be on the exam.
You need to memorize it.
Write it down.”
“…Eh?”
“Truly foolish.”
Looking at Akira, who was making a monotonous, confused sound like a goose, Rudolf—now sitting on his bed—let out her signature scoff.
“Do you not understand?
This will resolve all our current complications.”
“…????”
Was she possessed by the gentle in-game version of Rudolf?!
How could this person actually be gently teaching someone how to study?!
Did Mr.
C.B.
use some summoning magic to swap this Rudolf with the mild mannered one?!
Seeing Symboli Rudolf sitting stiffly on his hard bed, tapping her tail and revealing cheeks that were more slender than round, Akira couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“Pardon me for being blunt, Rudolf-san, but you’re an Uma Musume…
right?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you know so much about the Trainer’s exam?”
“When I proposed the establishment of the Trainer system to the Central administration, the contents of these books and the exam curriculum were entirely based on my input.”
Seeing Akira’s baffled expression, Symboli Rudolf seemed extremely satisfied.
She revealed a rare, proud look, gently placed a hand on her chest, and spoke with utter seriousness:
“A respected teacher values their own teachings.
In a way, I understand the profession of a Trainer deeper than anyone else, and I desire a different outcome more than anyone else.
Kato Akira-san.
It is precisely because I am a victim of the old system that I desperately wish for other horse girls to have someone holding an umbrella for them when the heavy rain falls.”
“…Isn’t it just because you feel a disconnect between the old and new generations?
You just want to use the Trainers to keep them running, right?”
“What do you take me for?
I am merely a high school girl whose dream is for all Uma Musume to run freely on the turf.
Tragic, unforeseen accidents are exactly what I do not wish to see.”
“Are you sure you didn’t just want to monopolize them?”
“…”
“Okay, okay, I fully understand your dream!”
Seeing Symboli Rudolf’s face instantly turn freezing cold as she flicked her ears back aggressively, Akira repeatedly gestured his understanding.
He finally had a rough idea of what Symboli Rudolf was thinking.
In short, she felt that the current state of Tracen Academy heavily contradicted her expectations, and the system was only gradually being reorganized.
If a massive scandal involving a staff member like Akira broke out right now, it could severely damage her plans.
Furthermore, Mr.
C.B.
clearly didn’t want him exposed either.
So, preferring to go with the flow, Rudolf had ultimately reached a compromise between all parties.
That being said, is this really a high school Student Council?
Isn’t this straight-up internal political warfare?!
Having thought it all through, Akira felt he finally understood Rudolf’s true intentions.
“Now that you know I won’t do anything to embarrass your plans, and since it would look bad if you were seen here in public…
you should probably head back now, right?”
“Stop joking.
Do not make me laugh.
Do you honestly believe I trust you that much?
Kato Akira-san?”
Rudolf crossed her arms and sneered coldly, staring at the man in the chair while crossing her long, straight legs wrapped in black stockings.
“I do not trust your words.
Only actions can separate truth from lies, Kato Akira-san.
If you truly wish to earn my trust, only your actions will suffice.
Therefore, study for me right now.”
“No, I mean for the sake of your reputation—”
“You must be joking.
I am an Uma Musume, Kato Akira-san.”
The smile on Rudolf’s face grew even colder and more terrifying.
“Humans cannot resist Uma Musume.
Instead of worrying about my reputation, you should be worrying about whether you can pass the Trainer evaluation in three months.
Since Mr.
C.B.
has decided to place her trust in you, you will study for me now.
And I will supervise you.”
(At the very least, you will not betray C.B.’s trust.)
Crossing her legs, she watched the man who seemed to have finally accepted his fate.
He lowered his head and began to memorize the textbook—a textbook that was literally written about her own history.
Looking at the man’s back, Rudolf sneered coldly.
Her plans allowed for absolutely no flaws.
Trainers, janitors, Uma Musume—everyone had to play their proper roles.
Otherwise, tragedies like hers would only repeat themselves endlessly.
Clearly, everyone shared the same feelings, yet due to a lack of proper training, they kept interfering with one another, ultimately leading to failure.
Symboli Rudolf knew the pain of that storm all too well, and she refused to let it happen again.
Absolutely not!
Glaring at the trembling Kato Akira with eyes burning with intensity, Symboli Rudolf thought for a moment before whispering coldly:
“Have you memorized it?
I will test you now.
Three chapters a day.
You will finish this in three months.”