Before their official debut, the life of an Uma Musume could be quite boring and lonely.
Some horse girls wanted to gather around an instructor and train in a group, but others did not.
Currently, Tracen Academy was in a chaotic period of reform, and even the ratio of academic classes to physical training wasn’t clearly defined yet.
Because of this, as long as a horse girl was still in the pre debut phase, she had plenty of free time.
Orfevre and Deep Impact might seem like they were doing nothing but lazing around all day, but in reality, both of them were exceptional in their academic studies.
Since they hadn’t debuted yet, they didn’t need to take dance or vocal lessons, either.
During this time, newly enrolled horse girls like them either wandered around the academy or trained under the guidance of instructors.
Because of the innate running instincts of Uma Musume, the vast majority chose an instructor, engaging in concentrated group training and side by side running practice.
Just like in the past, large-scale mock races were still held occasionally.
This was basically common sense within Tracen Academy.
But for those with more eccentric or independent personalities, this wasn’t the case at all.
Some naturally hated being around other horse girls, while others were so overwhelmed by crushing expectations that they just wanted to run away and hide.
In Tracen’s vast forests and the abandoned areas around the old school buildings, you could often find horse girls establishing their own secret bases.
Tracen Academy was simply too massive.
Completely different horse girls were living completely different lives here.
Everyone was the protagonist of their own story.
Sometimes these stories blossomed into friendships, which then evolved into rivalries or deep bonds praised by outsiders.
But right now, during this chaotic pre-debut period, any genuine friendship was incredibly precious.
That was exactly why, when Orfevre stared at the horse girl in front of them with high alert, Deep Impact immediately stepped forward without hesitation to protect her.
“Just so you know, we found this place first.”
“Hmm~ Really?
The dryer inside is still running, you know?”
“I-I haven’t even used it yet…
Wait, no, that’s not the point!”
Deep Impact, who had suddenly stepped out from behind Orfevre, glanced at the horse girl casually walking toward them.
She narrowed her eyes, observing her carefully, then suddenly clapped her hands together in realization.
“You’re Mr.
C.B.!
The Triple Crown Uma Musume and Student Council member!”
“Hm?”
The newcomer smiled faintly and leaned in toward the nervous Deep Impact.
“And?
Did you have something you wanted to say?
Or is there something wrong with this room?”
“Well, as you can see, this is our secret base, and no one else is here.”
Staring at the smiling Triple Crown Uma Musume with a strange sense of familiarity, Deep Impact felt a sudden surge of nervousness.
She started gesturing awkwardly.
Deep Impact had actually grown somewhat attached to the janitor, but she also knew the academy’s strict rules.
Seeing a Triple Crown Uma Musume standing here with a smile instantly filled her with a sense of crisis.
“We’ve been using this room the whole time!
There were some things inside, but we don’t know whose they are.
If you want to punish someone, punish us!”
“…There’s no need for that.
She already knows.”
Reaching out to stop the flustered Deep Impact, Orfevre’s pale purple eyes locked onto the Triple Crown Uma Musume, who had maintained her smile the entire time.
“Besides, you already found Ojisan last night, didn’t you?
You already know his situation.
You just came here today to watch us make fools of ourselves.”
“You smelled it?”
“Yeah.”
Staring coldly at the Triple Crown winner, a flash of crimson light streaked across Orfevre’s eyes.
“It was a very, very strong scent—and there was another one besides yours.
Who exactly was that other woman?
Do you know?”
“Hmm, you’re actually a much better kid than I imagined.
You’re not just a wounded stray looking for a fight like the rumors said.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Symboli Rudolf.
The Emperor of the Student Council.”
“…”
Pinning her ears completely flat against the back of her head, Orfevre’s pale purple eyes were almost entirely swallowed by crimson streaks of raw hostility.
Standing behind her, Deep Impact didn’t ask nearly as many questions as a normal person would.
Instead, her quick mind rapidly pieced the whole situation together.
Based on the question about the dryer and the room, it was obvious Mr.
C.B.
had discovered this place a long time ago.
And if she knew exactly what the two of them were doing here, there was only one logical conclusion.
Ojisan was in trouble..
He had likely already been summoned and confronted by the Student Council.
“So, what is C.B-senpai doing here now?
I don’t think you came all this way just to tease your juniors.”
Deep Impact looked at Mr.
C.B.
Unlike Orfevre, who was trembling with suppressed rage, Deep Impact remained calm and asked directly.
“If there is anything we can help with, we will do our best.
The three of us broke the rules together, neither of us can allow Ojisan to take the punishment alone.”
“Of course.
After all, neither of you wants him kicked out of Tracen Academy, right?”
C.B.
winked playfully, but it only drew cold, guarded glares from the two horse girls.
“…What exactly are you planning to do?”
“It’s simple.
I need you two to keep a secret from him, and help me out with a few things.”
Snapping her fingers, Mr.
C.B.
looked into the woods with an unpredictable gaze, her playful expression gradually turning deeply sincere.
“Rudolf has already lost her way.
Right now is the only time we can still save her.
If no one wakes her up, she will only become more extreme and stubborn, eventually driving herself into a dead end.
Just like all the emperors in history who tried to force radical reforms, she will push herself to her own destruction.”
“And this is our chance.
Rudolf didn’t directly expel your prospective Trainer, instead, she’s trying to make an example out of him.
This is my chance, and your chance as well.
A chance to free Rudolf from her obsession.”
“She no longer sees Uma Musume as companions.
To her, they are just components, cogs in a machine.
So I have to help her wake up from this delusion.
I must.”
“So, could you lend me your Trainer for a little while?
If we want to wake Rudolf up, my words alone won’t be enough.
Can you accept that?”
“…That is his problem, what does it have to do with me?
It’s not like I’m even his responsibility yet,” Orfevre muttered defensively.
“Hmm~ You’re really quite something.
Well then, let’s all add each other as friends.”
Seeing the struggling Orfevre trying to act tough, Mr.
C.B.
laughed brightly and waved her smartphone.
“If there’s any news, I’ll let you know directly.
Also, do not tell Ojisan about this.
Humans don’t have the kind of emotional control we do.
If Rudolf finds out we’re plotting something, it will become a very real problem.”
“…Fine.”
Facing Mr.
C.B.’s smile and given no room to argue, Orfevre gritted her teeth and pulled out her phone, feeling an unprecedented sense of humiliation and pain.