Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Trees swayed as cold air blew past Tracen Academy. Spring was supposedly right by the corner, but the chill of winter still lingered. This should be around the time plum flowers started to bloom, and too early for the sakura. In recent years, flowers tend to bloom earlier. It was the same with plum and Air Groove reckoned the sakura season would also follow the trend this year. Getting the right timing to start planting the spring flowers was getting harder. She could only hope that there would be no sudden frost wave throughout Japan after she started planting the seed. It should be alright now. She could only hope she got the timing right.

The soil was great today. Early-year planting was always quite enjoyable despite the chill because the bugs were not around. She could spend the time processing the flower bed slowly without the need to be cautious of bugs and possible students walking by. It would not be empress-like to shriek when a praying mantis jumped on you.

Several students passed by, greeting her. 

Nishino Flower offered to help, which she welcomed. Nishino Flower certainly was one of those who tended the flowers together with her. At times Daiwa Scarlet came and helped out too, but this time Air Groove could see from the side of her eyes that Vodka had taken her away… or rather, agitated Scarlet enough to start chasing her.

If they were not so far away, Air Groove would have told them not to run down the hallway. They probably brought whatever reason that caused them to bicker down to the race track. That was always how the two solved their problems, somehow. Good for Air Groove, as the student council had enough problems around the Academy that required mediation. They do not need additional ones.

After a while, Nishino Flower excused herself since she remembered some seeds she got from home. Air Groove agreed that more variations would be lovely, and the flower bed on the center side would be perfect for it.

After the girl went away, Air Groove was left alone again. Just her, the soil, and the quiet work. The work was therapeutic, if she might say so. It gave her room in between her hectic schedule. She could breathe slowly. Perhaps for now, there was still no scent of flowers to color her days, but even the chilly wind relaxed her overworked nerves.

Another chill wind swept by. Air Groove looked up at the sky. The sky was clear and clouds were sparse. Today would be a good day. It might be the perfect day for an extra training. She might suggest that to the new trainer of hers.

With the plum blooming, it meant that person’s birthday is coming. She must think of something to give.

“Air Groove.”

A calm, kind voice called her from behind. She could recognize that voice from miles away. What surprised her was how she did not even hear her walking closer. The President was not even the smallest of Uma Musume in the Academy but Air Groove totally missed her footsteps. Probably being lost in thought made her less cautious.

“President.”

Air Groove straightened herself. Symboli Rudolf nodded, acknowledging her greetings. Wrapped in the navy blue coat of the academy, it appeared she had just finished her first round of morning patrol. Right when Air Groove was about to take off her gardening gloves, she gestured for Air Groove to ease herself. It appeared she was not there to inform her of any work or anything related to it.

“Is it already time to sow the seed? It felt like yesterday when we still have snow.”

“The weather has been quite unpredictable, but the timing should be right. I hope these flowers would bloom in time with the coming of the new students.”

“These flowers would certainly make the students’ smiles bloom as well. Thank you for everything, always.”

“... It’s my pleasure, President.”

The President seemed to be in a good mood. Her ears perked up and her tail swished excitedly. Good for her. Unfortunately Air Groove was not in the mood to praise her, not now at least. Not for that sentence.

“I believe it would soon be time for the plum to bloom,” Air Groove continued the conversation, eager to just move on. “The nearby shrines might open their park for viewing again soon.”

“Now that you mentioned it… We can spare some space for the shrine’s posters by the announcement board near the school gate.”

“Are you sure? There will be a lot of student activities in spring.”

Rudolf laughed. She smiled warmly.

“We have the entire indoor school boards for the student activities, we can spare a spot or two for the boards near the outside gates,” Despite folding her arms, the President still looked welcoming with her warm smile. “The plum flowers can be a positive boost to everyone’s mood. Promoting the shrine’s park would be favorable for us and the shrine.”

There was always something about her calm, kind smile. Her eyes often brimmed with warmth, but Air Groove knew how those warmth could turn to fire, or that they hid a strong ember. It always made Air Groove quite annoyed at herself when she realized those same eyes gave her a sense of security that she could not explain.

Symboli Rudolf was always watching. Over her, over the students, over the entire academy. She would be there to protect them if anything were to happen. She would always be there to be relied on. She would always be there to make sure everything goes well and everyone well cared for.

… And that irritated Air Groove somehow. She did not want to be someone to be protected, yet she could not help but feel safe knowing Rudolf was there. Air Groove knew her own capabilities and knew what she could accomplish herself, alone, without the President. But with Rudolf, her heart always felt—believed—that the Emperor would catch her if she fell. It was encouraging and reassuring, but that was exactly what she did not want Rudolf to do. She wanted to be the one who catch the Emperor when she fell, not the other way around. Wasn’t that what an Empress was supposed to do? At this moment, no matter how much she tried, she always felt like it was never enough.

Now, with the President standing near her and looking at the trees and the cloud with a serene expression, Air Groove could feel the wind swept those complicated feelings away as well. At the end of the day, the President’s company was always pleasant and calming. Steady. Safe. The day would be all right.

Air Groove sighed then said with a smile, “I will ask the nearby shrines about it personally myself.”

“You seemed surprised though,” Rudolf raised her eyebrows. “Was it uncharacteristic of me? Or was it too much of a burden for you? I can handle that if you could not.”

“No, President. I just did not think you would think that far about the posters, especially with how hectic spring time would be..”

“It is you who always remind me about the importance of seasonal festivities, Air Groove. I learned.”

That was true. Air Groove would always be the first to remind the student council about the seasonal events. Rudolf at times was too busy to always remember day after day while Brian probably just never really thought about it. Rudolf seemed to read what passed through her mind because her eyes and smiles changed.

They were tender and soft. Air Groove somehow felt even the rustling of leaves left them upon seeing the change in the President’s expression.

“I want to have the same level of care for what you hold as important.”

That might be a statement she said to any Uma Musume. Air Groove knew that very well. Symboli Rudolf was, after all, someone who held an ambition to make a paradise for Uma Musume. She cared deeply for everyone. Air Groove was just one of them. She knew. She knew, yet….

Why did her voice make Air Groove wish that was not so? And the vice president loathed how it even passed her mind at all.

“I am honored to receive those words, President.”

Rudolf seemed to read something in Air Groove’s eyes. Again. Somehow, the President’s smile looked a bit sad.

“It is simply the truth. You are my right hand. We share the same dreams.”

Indeed, they did. There was not a single speck of doubt in it.

“Certainly. I am forever grateful for that, President.”

“... So I believe.”

Air Groove did not understand why Rudolf still appeared a bit sad. She raised her eyebrows but before she could say anything else, the sadness that she saw at the back of Rudolf’s eyes disappeared as if it was never there. Instead, she had her usual calm and composed demeanor. Rudolf’s voice turned steady, as it always had been.

“Thank you for reminding me about the plum. I am sorry for adding yet another task to your schedule. Or should we leave it to Brian?”

“And risk her intimidating the shrine priests? I would insist against it, President.”

“If you say so, then. Do contact me if you need assistance.”

“I will. Thank you, President.”

Symboli Rudolf nodded, then excused herself. They would meet each other again in the student council room anyway. Watching her back as she walked away, Air Groove could not help but to wonder what passed the President’s mind in the very short conversation they had. Air Groove always thought she understood Symboli Rudolf well, at least more than the average Tracen Academy students. She knew the depth of Rudolf’s dreams, ideals, and kindness. She knew the extent of her care and observation. However, there were still depths that she could not grasp… and although usually that never bothered her when it was about others, she could not help but to feel bothered when it was the President.

All that she knew, the short flash of sadness was certainly not because of any missed pun. At least Air Groove believe it was not.

Taking the cold air deep into her lungs, Air Groove looked up at the sky. The sky was clear and the breeze was wonderful. She would go to the shrine after this to ask about the plum… and now she was reminded that she did not know what to give for Symboli Rudolf’s birthday. If she just took a detour to the shopping district on the way to the shrine, she might get an idea.

She wanted the item to be something that would help the President relax at least. Maybe the plum viewing itself would be a good present. Forcing the President to let go off her work suddenly seemed like a viable option.Rudolf said she would like to hold the same level of care for what Air Groove held important. Air Groove wondered if that applied to herself. Many times, she wished the President would care for Symboli Rudolf just as deeply.

"The plum..."

Symboli Rudolf looked outside the window, to the row of now still leafless sakura trees. After the plum season, the sakura season would come. Sakura season means that a certain person's birthday will come as well. She could never fathom what she should give. They were always busy during spring, and there might not even be any time to give her a present at all. As clueless as she was about this custom, even Symboli Rudolf knew that just passing the present to the person would not be appropriate. She might need time, and an appropriate place... but before that, she needed to know what to give her.

She should have pressed to go to the shrine instead... though that might end up in vain in the end. Air Groove would never add any more tasks to her plate. Especially if it was merely to look for a present for her.

No matter how busy Rudolf was, she knew she could count on Air Groove for what she missed. Air Groove complemented what she could not do. While Rudolf's own status as the Emperor, the one everyone would chase for, isolated her from the rest of the Academy students, Air Groove embraced those whom she could not touch, nurtured those who shied away. The Earth would be nothing but an arid land without the warmth of the Sun. Air Groove provided that warmth aplenty. More than anything, despite being alone in her throne, Rudolf knew Air Groove would stand beside her and Narita Brian behind her. Air Groove's presence eased the griping loneliness of her ambitious road. She was both strong enough to help Rudolf step firmly on her road, yet gentle enough to support the Emperor's every step.

Rudolf had a lot to thank Air Groove about. She knew the extent of Air Groove's capabilities, and the Empress's sacrifices for the sake of her health and dreams. She knew how overworked Air Groove was, yet somehow Rudolf felt like her hands were always too small to scoop up what Air Groove shouldered. She wished she could do more. She wished the Empress would rely on her more. She wished this tug of war between entrusting, depending, and relying, would one day resolves itself. She wished Air Groove would take care of herself.

Symboli Rudolf wished, many times, that Air Groove would care about Air Groove just as deeply as Symboli Rudolf did.

Chapter Text

“You know, probing people isn’t really your speed. You make it too obvious.”

“That’s not what I—”

“Are you worried she won’t follow you if you don’t keep an eye on her?”

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind. Congrats on the Triple Crown.”

“... How dare you look down on me?”

“Air Groove?”

“Is that all we are to you? Dreams for you to shepherd?!”

“...”

“You tell me not to apologize. You say it’s all your fault.”

“Don’t you see? You’re treating us like children!”

“You’ve got it all wrong, President. You don’t… understand at all…”

“I am… We are…”

“Haaa….”

“That’s a long sigh you did there, K. Are you okay? Things going well?”

Symboli Rudolf’s young trainer, Trainer K, was right outside the trainer’s office with his back flat on the wall. His colleague, Air Groove’s young female trainer, Trainer C, came right in time to hear the sigh K did. Trainer C had several coffee cans among the files she kept pressed to her body. Probably seeing the rather tired look on her colleague’s face, C offered one of her canned coffees wordlessly. K stared at the canned coffees for a while before taking it.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

For a while, they just stood there in silence. The sight of the leafless sakura tree lining up beyond the window, and the absence of cheerful Uma musume running around the yard, made the winter chill even colder in the corridor. Despite the cold, though, Trainer C did not need that many canned coffees herself. Not unless…

Several seconds later, their eyes met and almost at the same time,

“Want to talk for a bit?”

“Do you have time to talk?”

It appeared they read each other’s thoughts. They knew that their problems are connected in one way or another.

—--

Sitting outside at the end of winter probably was not ideal, but the two trainers agreed to stroll around a little farther from the main building, hopefully out of the earshot of the many Uma musume, especially their Uma musume. Given the sensitive Uma musume ears and the somehow all-knowing nature of his Uma musume, Symboli Rudolf, somehow Trainer K felt that even sitting here in the cold might be futile. They sat by a bench overlooking the river. Usually, some students would run around this track after school, but it was still school hours, so no one would be around. Perfect.

K looked at the woman beside her, who had three canned coffee lined up in the bench between them both, placed on top of a pile of documents. Trainer C already had a coffee in her hand, and K had one he got from her. The woman bought five cans of coffee. Totally healthy.

“You’re going to pull an all-nighter, C?”

“Kind of…” The woman smiled. She looked like she had missed a lot of sleep. But that didn’t add up. After all, her Uma musume, Air Groove, was…

“... How dare you look down on me?”

“Air Groove?”

“Is that all we are to you? Dreams for you to shepherd?!”

“But wait, isn’t Air Groove…?”

“Oh…. Yeah.” C’s smile looked quite sad and apologetic. “Right. You knew. Yeah, she’s still in the infirmary. She needs ample amount of rest. That is why I took over her other work.”

“Work? The student council work?”

“No, no!” C chuckled. “Air Groove supervises many other students’ training, especially those who aren’t comfortable with a male trainer or have no trainer yet. I am completely taking over the supervision while she is resting.”

The way Trainer C talked about it, it was clear that she was extremely proud of her racer’s feat yet had complicated feelings about it. K understood that very much. It was exactly what clouded his mind at the moment, after all.

The Emperor and the Empress took their student council duties, or even things beyond those duties, seriously. It was a part of their personality, a part of their ideals. For them it was just as important as racing. It was not even a matter of choosing between racing and duties, it was how to make both give flawless results in and out of the race track at the same time. This part was non-negotiable. It was so for the Emperor and K assumed it must be so for the Empress as well.

Being Rudolf trainer, K had seen first hand the amount of work Rudolf had and by association, he had also glimpsed what Air Groove had in hers. The fact that above that Air Groove also supervised other students surprised him. All of those actually sound almost impossible to pull.

“... I guess I know one of the reasons why she’s hospitalized, then.”

Trainer C chuckled again. She pursed her lips as she juggled with words and eventually said, “Well… yes… and no.”

“ And no? ”

“Yeah. It’s… a yes and a no.”

“So you have other problems.”

“Well, K, I am sure you understand. Don’t you have yours yourself? With Symboli Rudolf? Other than about racing or, say, student council “work”?”

C certainly hit the nail on the head with that. K let out a long defeated sigh and slumped from his previously straight sitting pose. C gave a sympathetic smile.

“You know, K? I thought you did well with all the crowns you have now. I guess even the Emperor stumbled.”

“About that…” K ruffled his hair. “... She… She did well in racing but I don’t know… Something just isn’t right.”

“How so?”

When the result is satisfactory, it was even harder to pinpoint the problem that lies underneath the surface. K could sense something was terribly wrong with Rudolf but he could not exactly put a finger on it. She still won her races. She did her training flawlessly. She finished her student council work just as unblemished. All that he knew was that this feeling started to get stronger and stronger in major events that involved Air Groove, and that last encounter in the infirmary had ripped something open. What it would end up to, however, K could not really say. Rudolf did not give him any room to probe about it. Or rather, there was never any time for it. Rudolf had no time for herself.

C just waited for his answer, which in the end never came. Instead of answering, K looked to the trainer beside him and asked, “How’s Air Groove? How’s she doing?”

“She’s recuperating. She will be out of the infirmary soon.”

“No, I mean… well…”

“Oh…”

C bit her lips. She clearly caught what K meant. It was never about her physical condition.

“... I think she is a bit out of it too…” C said slowly, grimacing. “She's not in the best shape mentally.”

K nodded reassuringly. C must have felt guilty about all of this, but K could imagine C must have tried her best to make Air Groove rest, if that was possible at all. Moving on, K continued, “Could you tell me more about her? I think it might help me if I know more about her.”

“Help you ? So I guess your problem has something to do with Air Groove?”

“Quite. At least, I think so. Rudolf… has never been the same after that day when Air Groove collapsed.”

C narrowed her eyes. She seemed to have an idea. She closed her eyes for a while. Slowly opening her eyes, she said, “... very well. To be honest, Rudolf has been hounding me about Air Groove, even before I became her trainer.”

That was the first time K heard of it.

“She did?”

“Yeah, and even after. She’s like that supervisor from the human resource department, making sure you do well in your job and all that. She still pops up time and time again and often drops words like “It seems my fear is unfounded” and all that. It’s like she’s worried about something. Like wants to make sure that Air Groove is well. That I did my job well. She’s like this overprotective lion. She kind of intimidated me.”

From what K could see from the side as Rudolf worked around her problems in the student council, that C’s impression seemed to match.

“I get what you mean.”

“Right?” C chuckled. “To be honest, I was quite surprised she did not pop up in front of me when Air Groove collapsed. The first thing she hound me about when I became Air Groove’s trainer was whether or not Air Groove was pushing herself too far. With Air Groove down from overexertion, I thought I would get a mouthful of that. Yet somehow, she was nowhere. That’s… kind of the reason why I think I know something is up when I saw you in the corridor.”

Something might have occupied the Emperor’s mind, so much that she did not even come to warn the one most responsible for — or most involved in — Air Groove’s physical health. There was a possibility that Rudolf might even think the responsibility was on her . Heck, it was not even a mere possibility. Rudolf did apologize back then in the infirmary, and that made Air Groove snap.

“... Ridiculous.”

K remembered that sharp gaze Air Groove threw at Rudolf after the race. She also remembered Air Groove’s look of frustration as she lashed out at Rudolf in the infirmary. K had the impression that the Empress and the Emperor worked well together, with the Empress trying to make the Emperor not overwork herself—at the expense of her own schedule. What K remembered the most from the Empress is her furrowed eyebrows. The only time she actually saw her exhilarated with a soft expression was when Rudolf won the Derby, but even then, that did not last long.

“How’s… the Empress like, actually? I get the impression she is always grumpy and full of pride...”

Trainer C laughed out loud. She chuckled, a look of fondness flashing in her eyes. She must have really loved her racer.

“I’m not surprised. She would come off like that. She’s very dignified after all.”

“That’s probably a better word.”

“But she is actually very gentle, caring, and kind. She can be a pushover too.”

“A pushover? Her?”

“Oh, you should have seen her with Teio and Fine Motion.”

“I’ve seen Rudolf with Teio.”

“... Not as bad as Symboli Rudolf, no. But yeah. Like that.”

Trainer C smiled. She took a deep breath.

“I know of Rudolf’s dream from Air Groove. She told me in one of our training sessions. It’s something about building a paradise for all of Uma Musume, right?”

“... You don’t look surprised or doubtful.”

“Neither do you. You don’t think that it’s impossible for Rudolf, right? You think it’s a dream worth having. Unless you think so, you won’t be Rudolf’s trainer. Am I right?”

K was taken aback. That was exactly right. C laughed.

“Well, it’s the same with me and Air Groove. If I think what she’s doing is impossible, I won’t be able to be her trainer.”

“And that is?”

“Be the Empress to all Uma musume. The Sun that the Earth would yearn for.”

“... Excuse me?”

Trainer C did not elaborate. She instead looked deep into K’s eyes.

“Listen, I don’t know what kind of trouble you’re having with Rudolf, especially when you can’t describe it yourself. But what I know is that, I believe in Air Groove and I will stick with her to end. Aren’t you the same with Rudolf?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Because I almost don’t feel that from your Rudolf.”

“... Excuse me?”

“Your Rudolf remains alone in her throne and spares no one to stand beside her. Despite her saying otherwise.”

“That’s…”

K also felt like his body reeled in for defense. That hurt him. Did she mean Rudolf does not trust him? That can’t be. After all, Rudolf…

… Rudolf…

“Once again, this is my fault not yours. I’m sorry.”

“I can only apologize. I take full responsibility.”

“Do you truly have so little faith in me?”

Rudolf took everyone's work, everyone's pain, all of them as hers. She said it was her responsibility. Yet at the same time, that robbed them of their own accomplishment and cooperation. She took all of the burden alone. Always alone. She thought she alone should be the one to shoulder everything.

Rudolf did ask him to stay. Rudolf did ask him whether he believed in their goal. He always answered so. But all the time, it always felt like Rudolf doubted his devotion and belief. Like the one who doubted her own dream the most was herself.

“Air Groove has an unwavering belief in Rudolf. That is why she’s so devoted, that is why she’s chasing after the same dream, that is why she walks the same path. She doesn’t want to chase after Rudolf’s tail; she wants to walk beside her. That is her choice. Yet your Rudolf robbed her of that choice. I just want you to know I don’t appreciate that.”

Trainer C looked so frustrated. Of course, her Uma musume is now hospitalized. She probably had a lot she wanted to say to Rudolf, yet Rudolf did not appear. Without any confrontation, there was no space for her to squeeze in, especially when it was about the personal relationship of Air Groove.

“K, I know it’s hard to talk to her. I know that firsthand. I am sorry that instead of listening to you, I need to ask something of you for my own uma musume’s sake. But, really…”

Trainer C leaned closer.

“Tell Rudolf she doesn’t have to be alone in her throne. Stop pushing people away. Please.”

Rudolf did not mean to push people away. K knew that. He understood that. Rudolf never meant to do that. He knew she wanted only to protect them. She wanted only to shelter them from pain and hurt. But…

“Her dream is not hers alone. Not when so many believed in her.”

But K knew that Trainer C was right.

Chapter Text

“Excuse me, President…”

“Oh, Air Groove. Rudolf is absent for the moment.”

What answered Air Groove when she opened the door was not the person she thought it would be. It was not even Brian. It was Rudolf’s young trainer, sitting by the sofa and reading what Air Groove assumed to be a training menu.

“I see. I will leave the documents by her desk, then.”

“I will inform her once she is back.”

“Thank you, Trainer.”

The trainer nodded. Air Groove walked past the sofa and placed the documents on Rudolf’s already document-filled desk. With the Fan Fest so close, Air Groove knew Rudolf barely had time for anything. Seeing the state of the desk made it so hard for Air Groove to let go off the papers she had in her hand. If she could just take at least half of those away… but she could not. She had just been released from hospital care. It frustrated her more than anything.

But stalling served nothing. She had other things to attend to as well. She could also feel Rudolf’s trainer’s eyes drifted to her over and over. This would not be good for both of them. Just when Air Groove was about to say her farewell, the trainer suddenly broke their silence.

“I am glad to see you are well, Air Groove.”

Right. He was there in the infirmary that day.

“Thank you. I apologize for troubling you and the President with my lack of self-discipline.”

“No, no,” Trainer K gave an apologetic smile. “You know I did not mean it that way.”

“My apologies.”

“You and Rudolf are alike, in that part.”

The disapproval from Air Groove hung in the silence between them. Being told to be like Rudolf in this timing, after what happened in the infirmary, chipped on Air Groove’s ego. Perhaps those feelings leaked into her expression since Trainer K smiled sadly again.

“Air Groove, I hope you can forgive her.”

“... Yes?”

“Rudolf did not look down on you. She did not mean to make you feel that way.”

“...”

Trainer K seemed to sense how his words merely drifted between them, not finding their destination. With him sitting and Air Groove standing in the middle of the room, on her way to the exit, they had plenty of space between them. It felt like their conversation sank in the air, heavier than the space between them.

“It is not because she did not trust you either.”

“It’s hard to feel trust when nothing is being entrusted.”

“Air Groove…”

“Is that all you have to say? I am sorry, but I have other matters to attend.”

Just thinking about it all already made her head hurt. Trainer K’s shoulder dropped. He must have known it was not something he should prod further. After all, only the President who could…

“Did you not trust Rudolf, when you tried to lessen her duties?”

Air Groove stopped on her track. She looked back at the trainer. 

Outrageous. Of course not.

“That’s…”

“Wanting to help her does not mean you do not trust her. It’s exactly the same for Rudolf. She tried to take most of your work, not because she thinks you are incapable. It’s far from that. I know you feel the same about her.”

The silence that came after relayed to Trainer K that his words finally got through. The man’s smile slowly softened.

“Air Groove, I think Rudolf is simply not used to relying on others. It’s exactly because she can do everything so well, she cannot lean on someone else. She has been standing alone on her own two feet so long and so well, she might not even know how to use a scepter.”

Trainer K placed the papers he had in his hand onto the table.

“Her dream reaches further than mere races, and her presence alone might appear to push everyone off her… but the mere fact she reached out to you means she never wished to be alone. She simply did not know how not to be.”

The young trainer smiled and looked deep into Air Groove.

“Please, stay with her.”

His words were sincere and earnest. His eyes did not waver as they clashed with Air Groove’s directly. Somehow, they remind Air Groove of her own trainer’s eyes. Straight and unwavering, with boundless trust in their umamusume. Both of these trainers knew very well the destination their uma musume seek were far or even “impossible”. Reaching “ideals” and “paradise” were such an obscure concept to aim for. It was not as simple as winning the Derby or Arima Kinen. The scope spans larger than ‘merely racing’. Yet they still have these eyes.

Fools. Fools, all of them. 

Air Groove did not hate that at all.

After all, they were all, in fact, the same kind of fools.

“... Aren’t you the one looking down on me now, Trainer K?”

“Eh?”

Trainer K sat stupefied. Air Groove scoffed.

“Do you think I will leave the President for those reasons you just said? I thought you would know me better than that.”

The change in his eyes were amusing to say the least.

“Also do not misunderstand me,” Air Groove folded her arms. “I am not someone who merely tread on someone else’s heels. Not even the President’s.”

If he had forgotten, then Air Groove only needed to remind him.

“Like her, I have my own dreams. I have my ideals to challenge… and I will prevail. I will be the ideal.”

“With you as the sun and me as the earth, we shall achieve our dreams and create a paradise for all Umamusume.”

“To be the sun that even the great earth would yearn for.”

“That includes the Emperor’s.”

Trainer K smiled ruefully again, but for a different reason. Good. He seemed to have understood. The tension on his shoulder dissipated as he bowed his head.

“My apologies, Empress.”

Trainer K probably made this conversation not only for her, but for himself. After all, deep down Air Groove knew that they were in the boat together on the same line for Symboli Rudolf. Their position in Rudolf’s life now might be different but they shared the same frustration. Between the hectic schedule that swept them both, Air Groove knew Trainer K was wading between the convoluting vines trying to reach the Emperor, exactly like her.

Chapter Text

Narita Brian looked almost tortured when she delivered her speech in Rudolf’s stead for the day. Rudolf stood watching from the event committee stand with her arms crossed. She was under strict instructions not to do anything for this spring event. The whole school probably knew by now that she was overworked and unwell, thus the Fan Fest’s run was easily swept as her being unwell. It still pained her considerably, but even that was something she would shoulder. Now, she had to learn to just watch and do almost nothing other than the final check and approval. After all, tomorrow would be the Spring Tennou Sho. Air Groove would tie her up in her chair if she insisted on working.

Beside her stood Air Groove. A scowl formed on her face when she saw just how… half-hearted Brian was on the stage. Brian would sure get a mouthful again from the Empress once she was off the stage.

“Maybe it’s better if I…”

“No, President. We are through with this.”

Rudolf had not even finished her sentences when Air Groove cut her off with a very sharp, curt reply. Air Groove’s glare was so sharp she could cut a tuna. Rudolf smiled apologetically and turned her attention back to Brian, who had just finished her speech and the students around all clapped for her. Rudolf could almost hear Brian clicking her tongue from her place.

She still remembered the day she asked Brian to become her vice president. Despite how much she said it was “troublesome”, Brian always did her job well. Or rather, just enough to not make Air Groove mad and turn everything even more troublesome for her.

Times like these, watching her two vice presidents excel in what they do best, make her feel like patting her old self in the back. She did well in choosing her right and left hands. They exceeded every expectation in flying color. Yes, this equation includes the fact that Brian kept sleeping on the student council sofa.

Rudolf could feel Air Groove stirred beside her. She wondered if Brian’s speech got a good approval from her. Air Groove sensed Rudolf’s gaze on her, it seems. The Empress sighed loudly and said, “She could use a bit more zeal, but that will do.”

“I see that you’re satisfied.”

“Which part of my commentary says that it was satisfactory? You must be jesting, President.”

Despite her harsh words, her tail swished quite happily. She would surely critique Brian to the moon but would properly drop her praise after. Rudolf chuckled.

“I am glad I can still see this before I depart for Kyoto.”

“I hope we lessen your worry.”

“What are you saying, Air Groove? I have no worry at all. All of you will do it flawlessly.”

Air Groove appeared quite surprised at her answer. Rudolf continued.

“I’m simply happy to feel like all the pieces have now fallen into their right place again,” She smiled. “I may not say this often, but I enjoy this atmosphere with you and Brian. I can’t ask for better vice presidents.”

“I am honored to hear that, President.”

It might sound like a mere formality from Air Groove, but Rudolf knew she was sincere about it. Her calm, light blue eyes glimmered with a tender glow. The Empress was back on her side. Or rather, Rudolf now knew without a single doubt that the Empress would never leave her side. After what happened during the Fan Fest, Rudolf realized, what she did not believe would come with her was not Air Groove, or Narita Brian, or everyone in that matter—it was herself. She did not think what she had accomplished was good enough to be graced by their trust. Especially by people as exceptional as Air Groove. Yet her desperation ended up belittling the very person she vowed to always treat with respect. An ultimate betrayal, from her part.

“I had pushed you too hard last year,” Rudolf began, turning to face Air Groove. “I am very sorry about that.”

“I thought this talk was already over, President,” Air Groove sighed, folding her arms. “I have told you I was only doing what was necessary. There is no need to feel sorry.”

“No, please allow me to apologize once again,” Rudolf shook her head. She still remembered vividly Air Groove’s bitter, trembling voice and the look of frustration in her eyes. “This time, please allow me to apologize, not for the amount of work you handled, but for me hurting your pride. I am sorry if I ever make you feel inadequate. What I doubted was myself, but I instead cornered you and hurt your dignity.”

Air Groove’s eyes widened. Understanding seemed to finally color them. Rudolf looked deep into them and continued.

“I can’t forgive myself for that. I was supposed to understand you, and I always meant to, but I instead betrayed that trust. I will never let you feel that way ever again. I promise.”

“President…”

“... At times I wonder if you two forget that I exist.”

Rudolf was about to take a step closer to Air Groove when Narita Brian’s exasperated voice cut through the space between them. The dark-haired umamusume clicked her tongue loudly and walked closer.

Rudolf dropped her hand that was just about to reach Air Groove and crossed her arms again, smiling towards her other vice president.

“Ah, Brian. Nice work. You delivered a splendid speech.”

“The Empress does not look impressed.”

“This event is to welcome the new students coming this spring. Less frown would have been more appropriate, Brian. Your…”

“Tsk. I’ve told you I am bad with speeches.”

“Now, now,”

The two bickered again. Narita Brian looked like she was instead looking for a place to run away as Air Groove started to lecture her about speech inflection. Rudolf watched them both with her arms folded, a smile curved her lips. What appeared to be a return to normalcy actually hid the stronger bond that had formed between them. Rudolf had never felt so secure like how she felt now, with the people she trusted the most.

Tomorrow’s Tennou Sho Spring would mark her return. She knew that for sure.

The President had excused herself for the day as she would depart for Kyoto soon. After bidding farewell, Air Groove found herself watching the President’s back as she departed. The President seemed to stand taller, as dignified as she used to or even more than she was. Her steps appeared sure and strong, her tail swished in a confidently relaxed movement. Simply looking at her back already told Air Groove that the Emperor had returned, even stronger than before.

Air Groove still could not forget the moment they found the President by the stand that day after the Fan Fest. The President was crying. When she turned to look at them, Air Groove could see the glimmering tear track by her cheeks and the deep pain in the magenta eyes. Her figure that day looked so alone. So far away and untouchable. She wished for everyone to be beside her, but she could not see. She was blinded. Blinded by her duty, by her own power, by her own love. A blindness that was inflicted by her own love for everyone. It cast a shadow of loneliness so deep, the Emperor eventually broke.

The President must have cried in front of her trainer.

For some reason, Air Groove felt… frustrated. 

It was foolish to even feel it. More than anything, she should have been worried about the President’s well-being, yet she could not help but feel the frustration well up in her heart, getting stronger each time she recalled the event.

She wanted to be the person Symboli Rudolf would open up without even the need of donning that Emperor mantle. She wanted to be the other side of those tears, she wanted to be the one Symboli Rudolf would go to. She wanted to be the listener of Symboli Rudolf's deepest worries. She wanted to be the person Symboli Rudolf would feel safe, enough to show her vulnerabilities.

The fact that she even had this desire disgusted her. Her utmost priority should be the President and not some irrational frustration connected to her self worth. It was inappropriate and selfish.

“Why don’t you go after her to Kyoto if you’re worried?”

Brian’s voice snapped Air Groove back to the present. The fellow vice president had her arms folded with her seemingly disinterested, hard to read expression. Air Groove scoffed.

“And leave my responsibility? What a foolish suggestion. Besides, I am not worried. I know the President will run well tomorrow.”

“Run well, huh,” Narita Brian moved the piece of weed she always had in her mouth to another side. “... I want to see when her run breaks into its true nature one day, and not that polished, perfect run.”

Despite the strangely obscure nature of Brian’s commentary, Air Groove could feel her whole body silently agree. So far, Rudolf always ran perfectly. Too perfect, perhaps. It was as if she had enough “leisure” to even choose how she’d like her run to be. It was not only about winning but how she seized that win. That was the Emperor, the dignified role model they all know.

Air Groove wondered how the real Symboli Rudolf actually ran. She wondered if the Emperor would ever show it.

“But her run was not what was in your mind a while ago,” Brian suddenly said. Air Groove blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m going to patrol the premises. See you.”

“Wait, Brian!”

Brian did not even bother looking back as she walked away, ignoring Air Groove’s shout completely. As always the other vice president never explained the statement she dropped. Narita Brian and her lack of words. The usual package.

Air Groove sighed. But Brian was right. There were still many things to take care of. Being swayed by emotions would not be good for her work progress.

Air Groove inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the cold spring air. Time to finish the rest of the work for today and think of the words to say to the President after her certain win tomorrow.

Chapter Text

“President, I apologize for this sudden interruption in your schedule, but may I ask for your help?”

Air Groove? Calling for help?

It was such a rare occasion that the mere sound of it made Rudolf’s ears perk up right away.

“Of course, Air Groove. Ask away.”

“It is a bit difficult to explain on the phone, so if you do not mind, could you come to the riverside? There is an issue in need of your counsel. However, if you have other things to attend…”

“I have finished my work for the moment. I will be right there.”

“Thank you, President. I really appreciate it. I will send the exact location. See you later.”

Air Groove asking for help was already rare; her asking Rudolf to go somewhere before stating her request was even rarer. Rudolf put all the documents she was still working on into a folder and placed them in her bag.

It did not take long to arrive at the riverside. The orange sun of late afternoon made the river appear golden. Passing several Tracen students on the way, she finally arrived at the location Air Groove told her about. What awaited her was something she did not expect.

Air Groove was crouching. By her legs was a puppy, jumping and prancing happily, circling her. Rudolf could not see Air Groove’s expression, but from her droopy ears and relaxed, gentle swish of her tail, it was evident that Air Groove enjoyed the company of the puppy immensely. So much, she did not even notice Rudolf walking closer. Usually, Air Groove would recognize her footsteps. Her ears would perk up and move to Rudolf’s direction even before Rudolf said anything. The one who noticed her coming was Air Groove’s trainer, Trainer C, who stood near Air Groove. She waved and seemed to tell Air Groove of her coming. How unfortunate. Rudolf was rather fond of seeing Air Groove’s ears move to her footsteps.

“President.”

Air Groove stood up and turned to face Rudolf. The puppy by her heel quickly stopped prancing and now looked at Rudolf with big, round eyes, still wagging its tail excitedly. Now seeing it up close, Rudolf noticed a bandage on its back and front leg. It was unclear what breed the pup was. It was a mix of several breeds, and given the lack of a collar on its neck, this pup is likely a stray.

“Am I right to assume that this is what you would like to counsel?”

Rudolf had just arrived but she could see how the puppy was glued to Air Groove. The vice president nodded.

“We found this wounded puppy being picked on by crows. We have contacted nearby animal shelters and had her examined by the veterinarian. Though her wounds are treated, the animal shelter has no place for a stray anymore.”

“I can see where this goes.” 

The academy has a strict no-pet policy. 

“Yes. She will need a place to stay until the animal shelter finds an adopter.”

Rudolf crossed her arms. She glanced at the puppy, who seemed to listen. It is questionable whether the puppy understood their conversation or not, but her wagging tail had stopped. She looked at Rudolf rather uncertainly, and she started to whimper and moved even closer to Air Groove. 

The puppy might understand after all.

“I wonder if you can help us,” Trainer C joined in the conversation. “She is still a puppy, so she might get an adopter quite quickly, unlike older dogs. It won’t be for long, I am sure.”

“A compelling argument,” Rudolf nodded and turned to Air Groove. “Where do you intend to keep it? Might it be your dormitory room?”

“That is what I intended.”

“What about Fine Motion?”

“I have contacted her. She seems rather excited with the idea, actually. I also have contacted the dormitory caretaker, who was also not opposed to the idea after hearing the situation.”

“I see.”

Rudolf glanced at the puppy again. Air Groove’s expression was somewhat neutral, but Rudolf could see the very faint hint of strong desire in her calm blue eyes. Air Groove has such a strong principle about right and wrong, and often put her needs second. She’s strict to everyone and herself when it came to upholding rules. Yet, more than anything she was always motivated by the kindness of her heart. This time, it was clear she strongly wanted to help the puppy, even if she had to bend the rule for it.

“President, I’d like you to help us convince the school about this,” Air Groove’s eyes were clear and strong when Rudolf eventually returned her gaze at her vice president. “However, I also would like to hear your opinion.”

Despite her desire, it was clear she still wanted to make sure she did not overstep. Rudolf was touched that Air Groove actually valued her as one of the people that kept her path true.

“I am honored, though I do not think you will need my help at all.”

“Eh?”

“It’s you, Air Groove,” Rudolf smiled. “It is without doubt that you can be trusted to uphold your words on only keeping the puppy until the shelter finds an owner. Moreover, you will surely take care of her well without neglecting your duties. That goes without saying.”

“I…”

Rudolf really could not fathom how Air Groove found her words surprising at all. It was obvious.

“But, if you would like my company, I would be delighted to come with you to meet the Director to talk about this.”

“Thank you, President.”

Relief seemed to flood Air Groove’s face the moment Rudolf said it, a very slight change that Rudolf knew would have been missed by others. Air Groove might be way more nervous than she let on. It was quite unusual for someone who was usually as sure as Air Groove. This puppy meant a lot to her already. Rudolf turned to look at the puppy, who still seemed a bit unsure with Rudolf.

“You be good, Little One.”

The puppy tilted her head. Rudolf bent her body to look at the pup closer.

“You’ll be under the care of my esteemed right hand. You should be honored. So be a good girl now.”

“Um, President…?”

“Woof! Woof!”

The puppy wagged her tail happily, as if she understood Rudolf’s words.

Rudolf was right.

It did not take a lot of convincing for the Director to say yes to the idea, especially since Fine Motion and the dormitory caretaker both had no issue about it. Days went by and everything went on normally. So normal, that at times it slipped Rudolf’s memory that there was actually a puppy in Air Groove’s custody at the moment.

“That’s all for today’s menu. Anything you want to add, Rudolf?”

“No, I agree with you, Trainer.”

“Great. Let’s try it out and evaluate after we are done.”

In the turf showered by warm late afternoon sunlight, Rudolf had just finished reviewing today’s training menu with her trainer. Since they had just recently finished a race, today would be a rather light training while monitoring Rudolf’s fatigue. Stretching to warm herself up, Rudolf observed her surroundings. Several other students were also training around them with their respective trainers or friends. Seeing the peaceful, hopeful sight always warmed Rudolf’s heart. Days like this cemented her resolve for her dreams. It felt like seeing a glimpse of a world she dreamed of creating. Far in the distance, Rudolf noticed Air Groove and Silence Suzuka doing their usual running. Once they passed the corner, they would have passed Rudolf’s place. When the two of them are going at it with each other, they often forget their surroundings. Even now, Rudolf could see some of the other students veering off to the outer side of the turf, already feeling the pressure emanating from the two of them and would rather be out of the way, as it would be an impossible task for most of the students there to actually outrun the two.

“Ah! Oh no! Wait!”

A sudden familiar scream made Rudolf straighten up right away, her ears perked up. The shout came from the slope near the training ground, where the path leading to the main building of the academy was. There, she saw Fine Motion, who started dashing towards the stairs while looking at something that bolted down the slope at high speed, dragging a leash.

It was the puppy.

She was much bigger than Rudolf remembered, big enough that she could see her running even with the distance between them. Dogs really grow so fast. Fine Motion was probably taking her for an afternoon walk, and she somehow got away. The pup was running at incredible speed towards the running track, which was filled with students training. A collision would have been devastating.

That was not good at all. For both the pup and the students.

“Trainer, wait here!”

“Rudolf?”

Before her trainer could say anything, Rudolf darted off towards the pup. Fine Motion was running down the stairs frantically herself, but the pup was faster on the slope, and now finally reached the track. The pup was strangely excited for something. She was running so happily, running straight to…

Air Groove.

“Air Groove!” Rudolf changed her direction right away and called for her vice president instead. “Air Groove!”

Now it made sense. The joy, the excitement of that pup as she ran. This puppy was simply overjoyed seeing her favorite person. Air Groove heard Rudolf’s shout, it seems, because Rudolf could see her breaking away from Suzuka, slowing down her pace. She eventually turned around, and it was right when the puppy finally caught up to her.

Then somehow, things appeared almost in slow motion in Rudolf’s eyes. At first, Air Groove appeared confused, then surprised, then immediately, her expression changed into that of… love .

The second it came into view, Rudolf found herself stopped in her tracks.

Air Groove bent down, enough to catch the pup as she jumped right into her arms. The dog wagged her tail so excitedly that her whole body wagged together with her. She was so happy. The puppy expressed her boundless joy and affection with her entire body, seemingly unable to contain the happiness of finding Air Groove again.

“Why are you here?” There was an edge in Air Groove’s voice, a tint of strictness yet coated sweetly with affection. The pup merely tried to lick her face, moving energetically in Air Groove’s arms. “You shouldn’t be here!”

It did not seem like the pup even understood she was being reprimanded. Or she probably dismissed it. Her tail wagged so excitedly.

“I am so sorry, Groove!” Fine Motion finally arrived, looking really apologetic. “I was taking her out for her afternoon walk when she suddenly ran and yanked the leash out of my hand. I did not expect that at all. I think she saw you, then…”

“Oh, seriously…” Air Groove returned her gaze to the puppy in her arms. She gave a stern look and strengthened her voice.  “Bad girl! Have I not told you to obey Fine?”

“Woof!”

Air Groove evidently tried to say it sternly, but even someone like Air Groove could not mask away that joy and love that slipped into her words. No one would not be touched by being loved that deeply by a living being. Of course, upon hearing Air Groove’s voice, the puppy wagged her tail happily instead.

Air Groove sighed exasperatedly.

“What am I going to do with you…”

“She is simply happy to meet you,” Rudolf chuckled. “She seems to love you very much.”

“And that won’t do, President,” Air Groove said so, but her arms that held the puppy still cradled her so gently. “She must be obedient for the adoption to go smoothly. This should not be rewarded.”

“Unfortunately, it seems she has rewarded herself.”

The puppy yelped as if she understood Rudolf’s words. She wagged her tail proudly.

“Look. Meeting you is already a reward in itself.”

Air Groove may not understand that, but Rudolf certainly shared the same sentiment as the puppy.

Air Groove sighed loudly. She closed her eyes tightly and finally opened them again with a renewed stern look. She finally put the puppy down, telling her to sit, and started to lecture the pup that sat obediently before her. This time, the pup seemed to know she was being lectured. That said, Rudolf wondered if she understood why. Suzuka came a while later, already running another full lap without even realizing Air Groove was not beside her already. Air Groove and Suzuka's training was cut short and changed into late afternoon walk for Air Groove and Fine Motion, while Rudolf returned to Trainer K to begin hers. 

The sight of Air Groove under the afternoon sun, holding the puppy in her arms, was etched into Rudolf’s mind even long after everything had passed.

The gentle look in her eyes, the soft expression, the unsuppressed smile, the unmistakable love…

Air Groove was breathtakingly beautiful.

But those eyes were not for her. It was not for Rudolf.

That day, Rudolf asked her trainer for an extra lap, then more, then more, until her trainer told her to stop. Yet no matter how much she ran, that image and the feeling that came after still latched themselves in her memory. Trainer K asked her what’s wrong, but Rudolf did not, or rather, could not explain to him. 

How could she explain this feeling, this desire, so far from racing yet so deep, that began to clutch her heart? Or probably, it was not that she just felt it, but that she just realized it. Recognized it. And Rudolf now felt the fear of putting a name to the feelings.

She could not imagine asking Trainer K about such things.

Moreover, how could Rudolf even begin to explain feeling jealous to a puppy?

“President, the shelter has informed that they have found an adopter.”

“Oh, that is great news! Or… is it?”

One day, Air Groove went and broke the news to Rudolf. Lowering the documents she was reading, Rudolf examined Air Groove’s expression. Air Groove did not seem to show any particular emotion, but Rudolf knew she was just being professional.

“Of course it is great news, President.”

“It still will be quite sad to see her go, won’t it?”

“I can’t argue with that,” Air Groove finally showed a defeated expression. “She is a presence bigger than her size. It will be quite lonely without her.”

The neutral expression finally gave away. Rudolf still remembered vividly how soft Air Groove’s expression was whenever she was with the puppy. After the incident in the track, there were several more occasions where Rudolf met the puppy again and it was evident they both loved each other. Air Groove often showed Rudolf several commands the puppy had learned. Each time, Air Groove always looked very proud. It was for the puppy, Rudolf knew, more than her own ability to train and raise the pup. The puppy was obedient and well-behaved. Air Groove trained her well.

“I just want to say thank you for helping me with the permission in the beginning,” said Air Groove with a smile. “It was a wonderful opportunity to experience something new. Thank you, President.”

“I did nothing,” Rudolf chuckled. “Everything was you. In fact, I feel quite rewarded myself. If you feel any kind of gratitude, it has long been paid back to me.”

“I don’t quite follow…?”

“Let’s say it’s a secret I shared with the puppy.”

“... Pardon?”

“Anyway, I am glad things went well,” Rudolf smiled, closing their conversation. “I hope the new family will love her just as much, if not more.”

“Oh. Yes, of course.”

Air Groove still looked quite puzzled, tilting her head a little, but she did not inquire further. Rudolf smiled at her expression. Even her confused expression was something to behold.

The puppy was with them only for a short while, mere months. However, she had given priceless experience, not only to Air Groove herself. About what Rudolf had to do with that experience and the lesson she learned, however… for now, Rudolf felt like embracing the confusion yet a little while longer.

Chapter Text

One very busy day, at the student council office…

“Air Groove, do you by any chance bring bento?”

Sitting by the sofa, Air Groove looked up from the documents she was working on to the source of the question. Symboli Rudolf watched her from her student council president seat, hands linked before her. The President smiled warmly. Wondering what caused the question, Air Groove answered.

“Not today. I thought of buying lunch at the cafeteria later.”

“Splendid!” Symboli Rudolf looked happy. “I had some extra ingredients this morning and made too much. Will you mind to have it?”

“Your cooking?”

The President’s handmade cooking? For her?

“But of course, President. I’ll be glad to.”

“I just hope it suits your taste,” Rudolf looked bashful, quite uncharacteristic of her. She bent to look into the bag she placed on the floor beside her chair. “I am not a good cook, so please don’t feel bad about declining later if you don’t find it appetizing.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, President.”

Many students often gave Air Groove their bento to taste. One could say she used to it. However, she believed the President’s cooking would not be that bad either way. The President would not have asked her to have it otherwise.

It was extremely rare to see Symboli Rudolf appear so nervous. She did not even break a sweat and kept a very calm face before Japanese Derby. The President offered a bento box, complete with chopsticks, to Air Groove, who was sitting by the sofa, then looked at Brian, who was still sleeping on the other sofa.

“Brian, what about you?”

“...”

“I know you’re awake a few minutes ago. I have another bento box. Would you like some?”

“... does it have vegetables?”

“Would you like to see? You can decide after you see it.”

“Tch.”

Brian lazily opened her eyes and sat down. Air Groove furrowed her eyebrows.

“Brian, that’s inappropriate.”

“I am not the one asking for a favor here.”

Rudolf chuckled.

“Now, now, you two. Here. I hope it is to your liking.”

Brian opened the bento box given by the President. Air Groove did the same with the one in her hand.

The bento was marinated salmon yaki, tamagoyaki stuffed with ham, spinach salad with sesame dressing, and rice with umeboshi and sprinkled sesame seeds. Certainly, it is very easy to mistook the amount of spinach for one bento and accidentally have excess. The tamagoyaki and salmon yaki, however. It is hard to think of having them “in excess”. But Air Groove decided not to say anything.

“Here.”

Brian suddenly stuffed the spinach salad on Air Groove’s rice with her chopsticks.

“What—Brian!”

“I don’t like vegetables,” Brian said as she started eating her bento. Air Groove groaned.

“Even so, you can’t just shove me yours!”

“Calm down now,” Rudolf smiled ruefully. “I will keep that in mind, Brian. Air Groove, if you don’t like it, I can take that for myself.”

“No, President, that is unnecessary,” Air Groove quickly replied. If it was not due to a certain someone… The President was always too permissive of Brian. “I’d like the bento. Thank you very much, President.”

“I should thank you for accepting. Thank you.”

Air Groove shot a glare at the one sitting on the sofa before her.

“Brian, where’s your thank you?”

“... Thank you, Prez.”

“Fufufu. Yes, you’re welcome, Brian.”

The President chuckled delightfully. At least she appeared genuinely happy, despite Brian’s insolence. Brian seemed to enjoy the bento too.

The bento tasted… nutritious, for lack of better words. It tasted like something ‘Symboli Rudolf’ would make. Returning an empty bento box just like that felt wrong, so Air Groove told the President she would like to take the bento box back and returned it the next day. The President said it was unnecessary, but after a bit of light “argument”, Air Groove managed to gain her approval. 

While they argued, Brian silently washed the bento box by the nearby sink in the student council, usually used to wash their cups, then put them already wiped and dry by Rudolf’s desk.

When Rudolf and Air Groove came to, Brian was already gone from the office—off to her usual patrol.

—--------------------

The next morning…

“Good morning, President.”

“Good morning, Air Groove. You're early today.”

“I have several things I would like to confirm before the class starts.”

“What a coincidence, so do I.”

Rudolf was just about to enter the student council office when Air Groove came to her side. She had a tote bag in her hand.

They stepped inside the student council room together, Air Groove closing the door behind her.

“By the way, President, do you by any chance make another bento today?”

“Unfortunately, no,” Rudolf smiled sadly. “I wanted to, but I woke up a bit too late today. I guess even I can’t really fight the need to slumber.”

“Then, would you mind if you take some of mine? Please consider this as a thank you for yesterday's bento. Also, I implore you to rest more today, President.”

Rudolf's ears twitched at Air Groove's words. Her bento? Air Groove pushed a bento box wrapped neatly in a furoshiki cloth with a gold and blue plum design. It must have contained Rudolf’s own bento box from the day before.

“For me? Yesterday I was helped as well. You don’t have to go so far…”

“I just hope it is to your liking,” Air Groove somehow did not look into Rudolf's eyes as she said so. “You also… don't have to return the cloth.”

“Eh? But…”

“What are you two doing in front of the door? I can't go in.”

Narita Brian's annoyed voice broke their conversation and true enough, Brian could barely half-open the door. It was fortunate she did not swing it wide open or she would have hit Rudolf's shoulder.

“Oh, good morning, Brian. Sorry.”

Rudolf moved away from the door. Brian walked in in rather unsure steps, like she had intrude something. Her golden eyes looked at Rudolf and Air Groove somewhat suspiciously.

“... Couldn’t you two pick a better place to… do whatever you were doing?”

“Stop making it sound suspicious, Brian,” said Air Groove, sighing exasperatedly. She took out another bento box in a furoshiki—this time purple with a sakura design—and shoved it to Brian’s chest. “Here, for you.”

“What?”

“I made a bit too much.”

“... You two should learn how to measure your ingredients.”

Despite the rather exasperated expression, Brian took the bento box anyway. She looked at Air Groove straight.

“Is there veg…”

“There is,” Air Groove folded her arms. “But you must eat it.”

Brian grimaced.

“I don’t want to.”

“Brian, I’ve heard from your sister and Hishi Amazon about your imbalanced diet.”

“... That is none of your concern.”

“It is their concern and now it is mine as well. Just try it first, will you? It may not be as bad as you think it would be.”

Brian’s face showed that this turned out to be more troublesome that she thought it would be. Air Groove’s face softened as she sighed and dropped her arms, walking to the sofa.

“I modified that one for you. If you don’t want the vegetables, put them aside for me later. Just at least give a taste before you decide to eat them or not.”

Rudolf felt like chuckling. The words “I made a bit too much” and “I modified it for you” contradicted each other. She must have made the bento especially for both of them. Rudolf was inclined to believe that probably what’s in Brian’s bento box was different from what was in Rudolf’s. Brian finally fully resigned to the fact that she would eat the bento from the way her shoulder dropped.

Air Groove suddenly seemed to remember something and turned back to Brian.

“Also, you can take the furoshiki. That is for you.”

“... why?”

“Just take it.”

“... Thank you.”

Hearing the thank you, Rudolf could see a small smile on Air Groove’s lips.

Later that day, due to their schedule they ate their lunch separately. Rudolf found her bento to be filled with rice accompanied by fish cutlet with tartar sauce, cabbage salad and fried asparagus, as well as a box of rabbit apple. Looking at the asparagus, Rudolf wondered what Brian had in hers. In the end, however, she never knew what Brian got. But she knew Brian ate everything as when she came back to the student council room later that day, there was a bento box already cleaned neatly placed by the low table, near the place Air Groove used to sit. Whatever it was, Rudolf knew Brian most probably liked it. After all, Air Groove’s cooking tasted wonderful, Rudolf swore she could taste her vice president’s warmth and care in her cooking. This made her feel like returning the favor. She wondered if Air Groove would appreciate it, though. Perhaps she should ask Super Creek for a menu recommendation…

Ever since that day, Rudolf and Air Groove made lunch for one another… or rather, for the student council trio. Strangely, however, they never made them at the same day despite not communicating with one another. Rudolf made them lunch in busy days, where going to the cafeteria would likely not be possible. Air Groove would make them in busy days when Rudolf would not even have time to make any or when the cafeteria changed their menu into something greener.

After saying, "Can you at least add more meat?" to both of them, Brian never refused their bento box again.

One day, in one late afternoon by the slope near the race training track…

“At this hour? Really? Not giving it to you in the morning?”

“Yes. I need energy for the afternoon training.”

“... Well… if you say so then. But are you eating lunch well, though? I mean, the cafeteria menu for this month doesn’t look like something you’ll enjoy.”

“It’s fine. I am eating lunch. The other two are still at it.”

“The other two…? Oh. Them. Hahaha. You know, you can tell me to stop cooking for you if you think you’re going to get some bento from them.”

“No.”

“... No?”

“No. This is fine. This is mine.”

A bento box was opened, filled with cutely shaped food and characters.

“... Can you quit with the characters though, Ama?”

Chapter Text

Dark clouds loomed over the horizon. Precipitation had started to fall. The track would be heavy soon enough. The track and the rain itself should not be a hindrance for the Empress. Rudolf knew that very well. However, Rudolf’s ears picked up something other than the loud sound of rainwater hitting the pavement and the turf. It was a low, deep rumble from afar. The sound of thunder.

The sound itself was fine to a degree, but that meant something was prone to happen, something that Rudolf knew would be bad for many umamusume running today. For one specific umamusume, though, it would be more than bad.

Standing by the stand overlooking the track, Rudolf watched as the rain grew heavier.

—--------------

Rudolf first noticed it many, many months ago.

It was a busy day for the student council. Papers piled up on Rudolf’s desk and even the low table where they usually used to welcome guests and drink tea. Air Groove stood by her side, sorting out work by priority and effectively presenting them to Rudolf while Narita Brian was out there around the campus gathering yet even more work while patrolling the premises at the same time. Brian disliked desk work. Letting her out there doing the brunt was always the better work flow. 

Despite the large window behind Rudolf’s back, that day the whole room was quite dark. It was dark enough that Air Groove had to flip the light switch on. Perhaps it was bad weather outside, so Rudolf thought at the very back of her head as her eyes swept the documents in her hands. She did not even have time to check the weather forecast.

She believed they had more than enough spare towels in the student council office, in case any students needed them. So she thought, as she continued working, listening to Air Groove’s calm voice reporting several findings worth mentioning. This went smoothly for some time, until…

“The number of participants for this year’s summer camp is estimated to be—kyaaa!”

A bright, sudden flash of light lit up the room, followed immediately by a deafening blast of thunder. The window rattled from the force, signifying the proximity of that blast. Rudolf grimaced. Umamusume's ears were extremely sensitive, at least more so than a human's, so that thunder sent jolts to her nerves.

“Quite the close one, wasn’t it?” Rudolf massaged the base of her right ear. “Are you okay, Air Groo—Air Groove?!”

Air Groove crouched with her hands over her eyes, all of her documents scattered all over the floor. Rudolf leaped from her seat to Air Groove’s side. When she put her hand over the small of Air Groove’s back, she could feel her vice president was shaking, trembling. Her ears pinned back, her tail agitated.

“Air Groove, are you okay?”

It was not even clear if Air Groove could hear her. Rudolf could hear nothing from her other than her ragged, fast breathing. She could only stroke Air Groove’s back gently.

“... I’m… sorry…”

Finally, a word escaped Air Groove’s lips. It almost sound like it did not came from her. Her voice, usually very sure and dignified, now trembled. She finally lowered her hands that covered her eyes, and even then, Rudolf could see how her hands shook.

“P-President, I…”

Just when Rudolf was about to say something else, another flash of lightning brightened the room.

The result was instant. Air Groove reacted immediately. Her body backed away from the window, hitting the side drawer portion of Rudolf’s desk. Her hands covered her eyes right away, her entire body crouched into a ball. She was beyond terrified. This was not normal.

The problem was clear. The sound of thunder was not even there yet.

Rudolf immediately grabbed the curtain of her large window and yanked it loose. The sound of thunder came with a boom as she did so, hurting her ears. It was at this moment Rudolf lamented how huge the window behind her desk was, since she had to untie the other side’s curtain as well. Once the large window was close, Rudolf immediately returned to Air Groove’s side, ignoring the scattered documents by their feet.

“Air Groove.” As gently as she could, Rudolf called her. She put herself between Air Groove and the window to block as much light as possible and very gently put her hand on Air Groove’s shivering shoulder. “Air Groove, it’s okay.”

From her ragged breath, Rudolf knew she tried to reply, but she couldn’t. She did not have to. Yet she tried and Rudolf knew why. Inside her, she must have struggled with her need to become the Empress, to steel herself from this fear she had no control against. Just idea of it broke Rudolf’s heart.

Rudolf gently circled her arms around her vice president and pushed Air Groove’s head to her shoulder. Rudolf could feel how tense her vice president’s body was, but with each stroke on her back, she could feel her vice president slowly release the tension in her whole body. Rudolf could feel the hands that covered her eyes shifted and now grabbed her uniform instead. She settled into Rudolf’s arms now, pushing herself into the president’s warmth. The feeling of Air Groove surrendering herself into her protection sent a thousand needles into Rudolf’s heart.

The Empress.

The woman who never sought anyone’s protection, the woman so dignified and strong she stood dauntlessly against everything, now pushed herself close to the Emperor for a sense of safety. It hurts. And Rudolf felt even more in pain with the fact that happiness seeped from the small cracks in her heart that had fallen for her. It felt wrong, but her ego trembled with sheer yearning and happiness.

Another lightning came, but this time Rudolf could feel Air Groove jolted from the thunder instead of the lightning, and way less reactive than a while ago. She did not tense her body as much as well. Rudolf continued to stroke her back gently, rhythmically almost. After a while, Air Groove finally found her voice again.

“President, I…” Her voice still sound weak. “I am sorry…”

“Shh, don’t be. Don’t be.” Rudolf gave the umamusume in her arms a gentle squeeze with her hug and continued with her stroke. “Don’t be sorry. It’s okay. It’s all right.”

It took a while later until Rudolf could feel a gentle push from Air Groove. Her trembling had stopped. Although they could still hear the thunder, the sound seemed quite some distance away now and the curtain was enough to block the remaining flash of lighting. Releasing her hug, Rudolf gently grasp Air Groove’s hand instead, with one hand still on her vice president’s shoulder.

“Do you feel better?” She asked gently. Air Groove nodded weakly. She still looked a little pale and her usually calm eyes still looked unsteady. She still avoided Rudolf’s eyes however.

“I’m sorry, President…”

“Don’t be. Really.”

“That was unbecoming of me.”

“No, please. Don’t say that.” That was the least of Rudolf’s concerns. “Would you like to move to the sofa? Let’s get you a better place to sit.”

Rudolf was about to shift the support to help Air Groove stand up, but Air Groove took notice of all the documents scattered about. 

“The documents!” She immediately attempted to gather them.”President, I…”

“Let those be,” Rudolf caught Air Groove’s arm on its way to gather them. “Let those be until later. Let’s sit down for now, shall we? Air Groove.”

“But..”

“You feel it, right? You’re not yourself at the moment. Let’s sit down and calm yourself. The work can wait.”

“President…”

“Air Groove.”

Rudolf levelled her eyes with Air Groove, squeezing her arm gently. Slowly, gently, Rudolf spoke,

“Nothing is more important than yourself.”

The blue eyes, which had lost their calm light and now shimmered with anxiety, appeared so broken. Yet Air Groove had found within her to finally meet Rudolf’s eyes despite her broken form. For Rudolf, that was everything. 

“You are my priority. It should be yours as well. The work can wait, and it shall . Come. It’s all right.”

Rudolf purposely made no room for Air Groove to say no to her words, but still tried her best to say it as gently as possible. Pressure was the least that Air Groove needed at the moment.

After a while of sitting by the sofa with a tea in her hand, which Rudolf had brewed for her, light finally seemed to return into Air Groove’s eyes. Apologizing again for her “unseemly” display, Air Groove said slowly how she was never good with flash of lights, be it lightning or camera flash. She could not remember what made her so irrationally afraid of it, but despite everything she did, it was the one thing she could not help.

She looked dejected, frustrated.

Rudolf understood those feelings so much.

She, too, experienced the same thing. Those times when the ideals that she was chasing for felt so far away, that probably the dreams and principles she chased after were beyond her grasp. But for Rudolf, the fact that Air Groove struggled yet did all she could to fight back her fear did not lessen any value of an Empress in her. It was the opposite. Even when Air Groove was so afraid she could hardly breathe, Rudolf could hear how she tried to control herself and answered Rudolf’s calling.

“I am an Umamusume first and foremost, before I am the Emperor,” Rudolf sat beside Air Groove. “You are too. An Umamusume, before you're the empress. Any umamusume has fears.”

From the way her lips tightened, Rudolf knew she had a lot of rebuttals to Rudolf's words.

“Having fear and still braving them like you did, it's more than commendable. This does not lessen any of your values as an Empress. Do not be so hard on yourself.”

“But…”

“That is my opinion,” Rudolf put a hand on top of Air Groove’s. “You are ideal. My ideal of an Empress. And this doesn’t hurt any of it. But… that is my opinion, and not yours.”

The blue eyes questioned the meaning of Rudolf’s words silently. Rudolf then slowly continued.

“You have your own ideal, right? Your idea of an Empress. I want to respect that. If you want to strive for that, I want to support you. That is why…”

Rudolf placed a hand on her chest.

“Use me. If you need a place when something similar happens, come to this room or come to me. Call me. I will protect your Empress with you.”

Since for Rudolf, all of these fears did not affect Air Groove’s value as an Empress in her eyes. Air Groove was the one most bothered about it, she was the one who held that ideal Empress in her mind. If that was so, then all that Rudolf could do was support that ideal Empress Air Groove wanted to be. Until she overcame her fright… or until she stopped feeling that the fear itself is a blemish to her ideal.

Back on the race track, with the rain so heavy, the most used part of the turf had now turned into a lane of mud. The pack dispersed, veering outside to look for a better footing by sacrificing the inside line. Passing the third corner, what Rudolf feared for occurred.

Lightning strikes nearby. Far enough not to be dangerous, but close enough that for a second, everything was white. Screams from the terrified spectators came up, especially since thunder boomed loudly right after. Rudolf dropped her crossed arms, then walked away. Narita Brian who stood beside her all these times only glanced at her but said nothing. The Shadow Roll Monster merely looked back at the track to witness the end of the race.

The tunnel leading to the track always makes every sound echo terribly loud. With no one other than herself walking there, Rudolf could hear how her footsteps sound louder than usual. From the sound of the crowd’s cheers, Rudolf knew the race is by its final stretch, if they had not already passed it yet. Rudolf hung a towel on one of her arms, then crossed her arms and waited.

It did not take long for the person she was waiting for to appear from the end of the tunnel. Just as she expected, she got there earlier than the other umamusume. After all, she was running a different race. One could even say she was still sprinting even there. The clacking of her cleats was not the sound of someone who had finished her race.

“Air Groove.”

That one call was enough. Drenched and muddied, Air Groove went to where Rudolf was.

There was no other words exchanged. Rudolf silently guided her vice president to a nearby equipment storage located under the stairs. Once the door was closed, in the dark, Rudolf covered Air Groove’s head with the towel she had in her arms then embraced her.

Air Groove was shivering, but it was not the cold of the rain. After all, she was still running, even now. Rudolf gently rubbed her back and waited until her inner race was over.

“Your coat…”

“It’s fine. I anticipated it.”

Rudolf finally released her embraced once her vice president managed to say her first words. She gently rubbed Air Groove’s wet hair with the towel. Thanks to Air Groove’s short hair, it did not take long for her hair to get considerably dry with the towel. One final brush on Air Groove’s face, and finally, although the towel still hanging on Air Groove’s head, they met eyes for the first time since they met in the tunnel.

The blue eyes glistened with both gratitude and sorry, which Rudolf knew Air Groove did not voice because Rudolf always told her not to whenever they ended up in this situation. Instead of sorry, it was…

“Thank you, President.”

Rudolf smiled.

Every time, after those words, one thing always light up again in those blue eyes. Fire. The fire of pride and dignity that always burned within Air Groove and one of the things that made her the Empress. She was back, again.

Rudolf took the towel away from Air Groove.

“I’ll be by the concert.”

“Yes, President.”

First place or not, it did not matter. Air Groove always delivered only the best. There would be more people now by the tunnel, but it was easy to blend once they got out of the closet. The crowd would be too busy with themselves. Soon, Air Groove would already changed to her concert outfit and would be out there with the other umamusume, just as bright if not brighter than the others.

The rain had stopped when Rudolf stepped beside Narita Brian who had her arms folded, looking at the stage, waiting for the concert to begin. Brian only glanced at Rudolf briefly before looking back at the stage.

Rudolf knew what that glance meant and what Brian was checking. She did not know if Brian actually knew that Rudolf figured that out or not.

That day many months ago, Rudolf found a puddle of rainwater in front of the student council office. Someone had stood there drenched, at least for several minutes, before walking away. The student council office had towels. That someone might have come for the towel, drenched from head to toe, but decided against it at the last minute.

Thankfully when Air Groove left the student office later that day, the janitor already wiped the floor clean. Else, Air Groove probably would have found out that there were more than one person who protected her ideal Empress with her.

Chapter Text

“Doesn’t it look kinda like a family photo with me in the middle like that?”

A sample issue of the latest student newspaper in hand, Toukai Teio looked unsure. Huddling together surrounding Teio were Air Groove and Symboli Rudolf, while Air Groove’s trainer, Trainer C, watched them just a few steps away. The new student newspaper featured Air Groove’s latest racewear from Beauty Anshinzawa and Toukai Teio’s racewear. It also highlighted the role of trainers in the career of the umamusume. With Trainer C in her trainer suit on one side and Air Groove in her wedding-inspired racewear in the other, Toukai Teio standing in the middle with her racewear did make it look like a family photo.

“Wh-What are you… N-nonsense…” Air Groove blushed and looked over to Trainer C, who raised her eyebrows at Air Groove’s stare. Air Groove immediately looked at the sample again. “Although you may actually have a point… This might cause unwanted misunderstanding. We may want to consider a reca–”

“Are you sure? Your racewear, your expressions, your positions… I think they all look great!” Symboli Rudolf chuckled, her ears twitched. Air Groove scowled.

“President, please!”

Trainer C grimaced at the talk. She knew Air Groove would start calling her a fool again in their next training session if she even try to say anything about the newspaper. Rudolf took the paper from Teio’s hand and looked at it closely. Her ears moved and her tail held high, swishing rather vigorously.

“... But you do look like a family, Air Groove, Teio.” Her voice sounded almost dreamy. ”You both have blue eyes, too.”

“President…” Air Groove sighed. Teio chuckled and added, “She’s always so noisy, even noisier than my mother, too.”

“Teio.” Air Groove crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows. 

Shrugging off Air Groove’s sharp gaze, Teio put both of her hands behind her head.

“But well! I guess thanks to my genius presence, it turns out well?”

“Indeed. Thank you, Teio,” Rudolf smiled. She turned to look at Trainer C. For some reason, Trainer C saw something deep inside the magenta eyes that made her spine feel cold. But the trainer could not understand why nor pinpoint what it was. Rudolf’s voice also sounds kind and smooth as always.

“Thank you to you too, Trainer. I know it was sudden, but your help was appreciated.”

Trainer C blinked, and now she felt some kind of regret in Rudolf’s voice. However, Trainer C knew those feelings were not for her. She could not discern what Rudolf was thinking and could only smile and answer, “You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure.”

“Trainers are an integral part of our career. Your presence certainly made this student newspaper encompass topics that exceeded mere racewear. I am very thankful you agreed to the sudden modelling.”

Somehow, those words, despite weighing some truth in them, hid more feelings than they let on.  For a second, the magenta eyes glinted and Trainer C suddenly realized everything. The reason Rudolf acted so strangely. The reason she felt chills in her spine. Yet she could not voice it for a very obvious reason.

“I am happy to help.”

Rudolf’s magenta eyes lingered on her a second longer, and Trainer C felt another chill rush along her spine again. Suddenly, she felt like running away from the office at that instant. Luckily, it seemed Rudolf sensed her feelings.

“I have taken too much of your training time, Air Groove, Trainer C. Thank you once again.”

“It is my pleasure, President.”

Air Groove continued to look a bit bothered with Teio’s comment about the “family photo” even after she left the student council room with Trainer C for their training. The umamusume sighed.

“I do appreciate how you used your best suit for that photoshoot. I was worried, but you look the part.”

“That was my first ever photoshoot! Of course, I would wear my best suits!”

“I would like to ask you to keep that quality during interviews as well.”

“I… I will keep that in mind. Sorry for your last Oaks interview…”

Air Groove gave another sigh but said nothing else. Trainer C smiled sheepishly. She was not the tidiest person. She knew, and she tried to fix that for Air Groove, but it was never enough. She had lost count of the number of times Air Groove’s eyes swept her and ended up with Air Groove fixing something about her looks—be it her collar, her hair, her sleeve, anything. The last thing a trainer wanted was her racer being too caught up in their trainer’s outfit before a race… Though Trainer C at times wondered if doing all those little fixes actually made Air Groove relaxed a little bit.

Having Air Groove’s eyes trained on her in close proximity, albeit for a while, Trainer C could see what Symboli Rudolf said about Air Groove’s eyes.

“Toukai Teio’s eyes really do look like yours, just bluer.”

“Not you too…”

Air Groove sighed exasperatedly yet again. Trainer C bit back her next comment since she knew this time Air Groove probably would not let her off easy. She was about to say, if Symboli Rudolf were the one to model instead of Trainer C… that photo would surely, without fail, cause misunderstanding. Though misunderstanding was probably the furthest away from the exact reason why Symboli Rudolf stepped back from being a model that day.

“I am happy to help.”

Oh that trainer certainly knew it.

Rudolf sat alone in her desk, the student newspaper draft before her. The photo was already burned into her mind and Rudolf felt like it mocked her split-second cowardice. All the cards she used, all the connection she pulled, everything. All for the racewear photoshoot. For her to have a two-shot photo with Air Groove in that mesmerizing, gorgeous outfit. To… secure an image that she had in her mind. A moment of indulgence. A simple harmless play of power in the guise of giving inspiration.

All plan just went through the window the moment Teio came and said what she did not want Air Groove to realize at all that day.

“Isn’t it obvious?! A pic of two people standing next to each other looking like that? It just screams “wedding photo”!”

Teio…

The moment that was out, it took every ounce of her finesse to keep herself from panicking—or at least to appear normal. Yet the moment Trainer C said, “Why not have three models?”, her mouth blurted out, desperate for an escape route.

“The trust between Umamusume and their trainer, displayed alongside the beauty of the racewear! What a compelling image!”

Rudolf knew at that moment Trainer C was about to tell her it was not what she meant, that what she meant by the three models was Rudolf, Air Groove, and Teio. Rudolf knew, yet the image in her head, along with the desire that came after it, was so vivid that the first thing in her mind was to keep Air Groove from knowing what she really desired.

She was not ready. Not then.

She was scared in ways she never thought possible.

Now with the photo already there in her hand… Air Groove side by side with her trainer and Teio in the middle, Rudolf felt her stomach twist and turn despite being outside the race track, or even worse than when she was on the race track.

If it were her there… If she stood over there…

Rudolf had never known a desire like this before. So strong she felt it was irrational… and her dread grew even more the moment she realized she did not want it to be a mere photo, or a rouse just for a good two shots…

She did not want a photo shoot. She wanted a wedding.

Rudolf put her head on top of her joint hands and sighed really loudly.

Symboli Rudolf was ambitious and she would do everything to make her dream come true. However, for this one, instead of excitement what she felt was fear. She wanted this one desire so bad she feared she would fail… One sentence could make or break everything, after all. Symboli Rudolf did not have the courage to step there.

For once, the Emperor was terrified. For once, the Emperor was not ready.

Now, a piece of photo was mocking her resolution and cowardly decision.

Ironically, it also screamed to her what she never wanted to admit or make into words.

She loved Air Groove.

More than simply as a friend. Or comrade.

She wanted both of them to be more.

Symboli Rudolf had fallen deeply in love with her own vice president, and she was not ready for the magnitude of her own feelings.

“This is no place for an Emperor.”

Sirius Symboli tapped the tip of her billiards cue onto her shoulder. She did not look pleased. To be fair, she rarely looked pleased whenever Rudolf was around. It always pained Rudolf personally, but it was a pain she would endure and shoulder. Several other Tracen students, part of Sirius’s circle, backed away to the corner. Strange, Rudolf had only stepped into the place and had not done anything so far.

“Come now, Sirius. There is no need to be so agitated.”

“Cut the crap, Rudolf. Why are you here? Spill it.”

“No need to be so riled up,” Rudolf smiled. Her eyes drifted to the cues lining up in a stand near the wall. “I simply want to have one game with you.”

Sirius narrowed her eyes. She gauged Rudolf silently, unsure. After all, the Emperor Symboli Rudolf often coated her words, hiding her meaning behind idioms and flowery speeches. Yet Rudolf met Sirius's eyes straight a while later, her words cut as directly as her gaze.

“Nothing less, nothing more, Sirius. Just a game.”

Something in Rudolf’s eyes made Sirius bite back the bark that she was about to spit out. Something bothered ‘The Emperor’ and unlike her usual controlled demeanor, it was clear she barely kept her composure.

“... I really hate your habit of beating around the bush, Rudolf.”

Sirius Symboli gestured at the cue stand.

“Hurry it up. We don’t have all day,” she said exasperatedly. Rudolf smiled and nodded lightly in thanks. “But there is one requirement.”

“Yes?”

“You’d better tell me everything if I win,” Sirius narrowed her eyes. She tapped her cue again. “And I don’t want stupid excuses. You know I hate it when someone does not pay their fee.”

Symboli Rudolf smiled at Sirius's remark. She went and took a cue.

“Deal.”

Chapter Text

“Fuck me, Rudolf. All of that, just because you want to say you’re IN LOVE?”

Sirius looked at Rudolf incredulously. They had finished a nine-ball race to five billiard match, which ended with Sirius’s win. Rudolf looked so distraught as she opened up—she did not even show her usual “rueful smile” or whatever that diplomatic bullshit she always showed. Their match lasted quite a while under the eyes of the really mesmerized Sirius’s underlings. Rudolf even did the jump shot to nab a win for one stage, something that was probably Rudolf’s saving grace. Now they were in a private room in Sirius’s usual drinking place, something that Sirius usually only reserved for her father and trainer.

It was not even some Symboli clan secret. It was just this one stupid idiot not knowing what to do with her little feelings.

“I was expecting something more, but it’s just this?”

“This is not just, Sirius. I wouldn’t go to you for something trivial.”

“What? It’s the EMPRESS. Weren’t you guys together already?”

“How could you even come to such a conclusion?”

“How could you even wonder that I come to that conclusion? Holy fuck, I know you are dense, but I don’t know you are THIS dense, Sir Emperor!”

So much for wasting Sirius’s precious off time. Rudolf’s ears were almost flat, and her tail swished strongly, agitatingly, but the emperor did not say a word. Probably for once, this saintly-nonsense-spouting machine had lost the ability to say anything. The magenta eyes also glinted with frustration, yet they refused to meet Sirius’s eyes this time. That was incredibly rare. Quite rare, that Sirius finally sighed and said, “Fine. I get that this means a lot to you. So? Why did you come to me?”

Rudolf, still agitated, said slowly,  “You are one of the very few people who have known me well since my childhood. I need to know…”

The emperor trailed off. Her tail swished, hitting the chair, making thumping noises.

A few seconds passed, but there was no continuation. Sirius scowled.

“You need to know what?”

The ears now drooped weakly. The anger had changed into uncertainty… or even fear.

“... I need to know… if… this is real.”

So Rudolf was honest when she said it was not something trivial. At least it was not trivial for Rudolf. No matter how Sirius looked at this, she could only see this as a very obvious, non-existent problem. Yet today’s Rudolf was certainly unlike her usual calm self. Usually, when she was crossing her arms like this, she would look relaxed, at ease. It was simply her usual authoritative figure. Now, however, her shoulder was rigid and she obviously put a lot of force into her fingertips. 

Despite the very strong urge to prolong this very entertaining view, Sirius had enough sanity not to push it. No matter how much she “hated” Rudolf, Sirius at least had a bit of… humanity in her.

“What? You are asking me if what you feel is real while looking like that?” Sirius scoffed. “You look like a wet cat, Rudolf. You want to say something that makes you look this pitiful, not real?”

Rudolf’s tail swished even more restlessly. Her eyes avoided Sirius’s once again. Huh. She knew the answer already, but she was too much of a coward to actually admit it.

“So, what? You want to tell me the Emperor is scared?”

Rudolf’s ears twitched.

Bingo.

“What are you scared about?”

The tail whipped again, hitting the chair. Rudolf did not voice it, but Sirius could pretty much guess what it was that made her scared. Rudolf is an ambitious perfectionist. That made her a meticulous worrywart. Only that empress could keep up with her overbearing presence and control freak nature. Yet now what Rudolf touched was something out of her expertise. Love was never something you could force to be. Since it seemed the emperor would not grace her with the answer, Sirius decided to just stab her knife a bit further.

“You’re scared everything may change, aren’t you?”

Another bingo. Rudolf visibly grimaced.

“You’re scared that if you do anything, you might break everything you have with her. That is why you don’t want to admit anything, nor do anything. But you’re always bad at holding yourself back. You’re a greedy, arrogant bastard. You absolutely want her, so you need to do something. But you know you may lose everything. So now you don’t know what to do, nor have any courage to begin.”

Another silence spanned between them, with only Rudolf’s restless tail thumping filling the air. Several very strong thumps, then suddenly the whipping stopped. Rudolf opened her magenta eyes and met Sirius’s amber ones. A weak smile curved her lips.

“... I knew I could trust you about me, Sirius.”

Expecting the lion’s pride to punch her in the face, the defeat that colored Rudolf’s face made Sirius lose the provocation she had already kept at the tip of her tongue. This was so unlike the proud emperor, and not even the Symboli Rudolf the lion. It went deeper, and even as estranged as they were with their current relationship, Sirius could feel it. She almost felt like spitting the name of the moon in the emperor’s face.

Sirius clicked her tongue. She had gotten herself into some troublesome matter, and the only reason it was troublesome was that this was the emperor.

Rudolf is smart, but she can be clueless and clumsy in the stupidest way.

“So? What do you want to do?”

“I…”

“Look. I know you want her. I can see that very clearly.” Those magenta eyes totally did not lie. As well as her endless restless thumping resulting from her trying to hold back. “But what we need now is steps. What do you wish for her? You can try to do that first.”

Lecturing the emperor step by step about what to do with her puppy love was not what Sirius had in her bingo card for the year. Sirius really felt like this was way above her pay grade… or rather, the bet that she had with the game. Somehow she wished she had lost that round–though probably Rudolf would force her to listen anyway.

Rudolf must compensate her for this.

The look the magenta eyes gave when Rudolf thought about what she wanted made Sirius feel extremely itchy. Sirius had never seen those eyes before, not even in the long years of them being together.

“I want… I want to be the one to make her smile.”

Oh fuck, this girl is madly in love.

And Sirius hates sweet things.

Goosebumps crawled all over her body. She needed to get away from this block of sugar cubes quickly.

“Well… you can start from that?”

She dropped the seemingly sensible suggestion. What harm would it be to encourage Rudolf to make her beloved smile?

But Sirius forgot this was Symboli Rudolf.

She forgot the emperor could be so clumsy in the stupidest moment.

After all, when in love, she probably was never an almighty emperor in the first place.

—-----------

“Did something bad happen?”

“Yes… I made quite the fool of myself.”

Air Groove massaged her temple. It was quite a sight seeing her look so stressed. Trainer C crossed her arms, ready to listen. Air Groove always had a myriad of problems puzzling her days. Trainer C had gotten accustomed to a magnitude of them. She felt like she could shoulder a thing or two for her racer.

“The president kept saying things like “That’s the last straw” and “I’m clutching at straws during lunch today. I know she must have been driving at a pun of some kind, but I couldn’t figure out what it was for the life of me.”

You don’t say…

“But I just realized, I was drinking sparkling water with a straw the entire time! The answer was right there in front of me! Ugh…”

Air Groove shook her head stressfully again.

Despite whatever Trainer C said to Air Groove, Air Groove just continued to look so vexed. Nothing could lift up her mood, and somehow her training suffered for the day. So bad that Trainer C just had to take her to the shopping district for some sweet parfaits. At least that still worked somehow. Sweets are food for the soul.

Unfortunately for Trainer C, that was not the only day she had to take out her credit card for a parfait.

—------------

“Look, Symboli Rudolf, I need to get her in the right form, okay?”

Trainer C tapped her fingers on her arms in annoyance as she talked to the Tracen President by the student council office. Trainer C knew Air Groove at the moment would be at the gym, training her underclassmen. This would be the rare moment Air Groove is not in the student council office.

“And I can’t do that if you keep bringing her mood down with your far-fetched pun! You can’t keep doing this! You can’t keep… giving her bad puns and expect her to respond positively each time!”

For once, Symboli Rudolf looked shocked. Trainer C couldn’t discern which part of it shocked her. Either it was the realization that her pun was bad, or that the joke brought Air Groove’s mood down instead.

“I am… sorry.”

The emperor’s ears drooped with sadness, and for once, the almighty president looked like a drenched puppy. The damage was larger than Trainer C thought it would be, and panic settled in Trainer C as she knew this, too, would bring Air Groove’s mood down. Anything that may affect Rudolf’s performance would always affect Air Groove in some way.

“Look, I am sorry if I make it sound harsh,” Trainer C immediately amended her words. “What I mean is, if you want to make a pun, at least make it good!”

Which meant all of her puns had been awful.

But for some reason, Rudolf didn’t seem to realize the implied meaning. She was too distracted. Trainer C could see the gears in her head were moving as she looked down with her fingers on her chin. Hopefully, with this, Air Groove would not have any additional headache trying to spot every pun this emperor is making anymore…

Or at least, for some time…

—--------------------

“Fool! Blockhead! Nincompoop! Oh, how embarrassing…”

Trainer K was walking back to his office when he found Rudolf unusually upset and foul-mouthed. They would have training after this; it would not be good to have her so distraught.

“I’m sorry, but I wish to be left alone for now.” Rudolf did not even spare a glance at Trainer K. The man felt a pang of pain in his heart. “I can’t possibly look you in the eye after what I’ve done!”

But what was the worst Rudolf could have done? Even the one with Air Groove was…

“President, wait! … Aaand she’s gone.”

A student council member came from the corner, running after Rudolf, but Rudolf’s strides took her way faster than even what Trainer K thought she could with a simple, fast walk. The student council member saw Trainer K, immediately recognized him as Rudolf’s trainer and smiled ruefully upon getting Trainer K’s questioning look.

“I wonder why she took that so badly? All she did was flub a joke…”

“Oh…”

Trainer K could only smile. Today, Rudolf said she was so sleep-deprived because she had been thinking about jokes the whole night. It must have wounded her a lot if that joke was one she worked so hard for.

That said, lately, the number of times Rudolf got sleep deprived has increased. That was not good. She was also unusually distracted. Trainer K looked in the direction where Rudolf had walked away and made a mental note to himself.

—------------

Today, Rudolf looked especially bleary-eyed when she walked into the trainer's office. 

“Up late last night?”

Trainer K put down his work to look at Rudolf. Probably due to her lack of sleep, Rudolf started to talk about how absorbed she was in her joke research and something about joke timing. She looked groggy even as she talked. Her eyes were swimming as she continued.

“But no matter how I racked my brain, I couldn’t think of a good punchline. Before I knew it, it was past midnight… You could say it wasn’t very much… pun.”

Her jokes are usually bad, but this one was terrible. Yet this time, she was too groggy, she did not even realize the grimace Trainer K made. The usual observant Rudolf would have said something about Trainer K being strict with her joke. How ironic that Trainer K could somewhat tell Rudolf’s physical condition by the state of her pun.

The trainer stood up and dragged a stool.

“Just have a seat first, Rudolf. Let’s talk.”

“Oh? Would you like further discussion about the latest training regimen, Trainer?”

“Quite similar. Just, please sit first.”

Rudolf sat, though he appeared a bit puzzled. It seemed she had finally gotten her mind away from her debacle with her pun from last night. Her eyes were focused now. Very good.

“Look, Rudolf, lately the number of instances where you come here sleep-deprived is increasing. As a trainer, I find that alarming.”

Rudolf’s ears now perked properly and swivelled to the direction of Trainer K’s voice. Trainer K dragged a nearby stool and sat in front of Rudolf.

“I notice that you have been acting strange lately,” said the trainer. “You seem distracted and preoccupied by something that is not work-related, or maybe it is work-related, and I don’t know. Either way, I don’t know. I trust you, so I have been observing, but I can’t ignore this anymore.”

From how her ears hung low and the sad, weak flick of her tail, it was clear Rudolf had something on her mind.

“Rudolf, I know you know what I am talking about. I want to be your ally, so please let me help you.”

“It’s just…” Rudolf crossed her arms, but she was unusually hesitant. Trainer K remembered the time Rudolf suddenly started insisting on extra training, as well as the times when she suddenly had migraines in a row. It was like she ran away from something. After what happened in the Fan Fest and Spring Tennou Sho, Trainer K felt they had forged a strong bond and better trust. If it were any Symboli clan problem, probably Trainer K could not do anything, yet if it was about the student council…

“Is it something you cannot say to me?”

Rudolf stayed silent for a while. Her ears flopped.

“... I am afraid, for now, it is not possible.”

“I see.”

No matter how close they were, they were still Trainer and student. Trainer K must respect Rudolf’s personal choices, and it was also the basis of their contract. The trainer straightened his posture.

“Then I will not ask further,” He smiled reassuringly. “However, I’d like you to go to the infirmary with me for now and at least make an effort to lessen your sleep deprivation.”

In a very rare moment, devoid of Rudolf’s usual charisma, the umamusume nodded with her ears down.

“I understand, I deeply apologize.”

Trainer K nodded. One thing about Rudolf was that she always listened to good advice. From her reaction, it was clear she also found there was a problem, but she still could not find the means to resolve it. If push comes to shove, Trainer K probably should ask someone around about her condition. The first person in her mind was Air Groove. At least talking to Air Groove would reconfirm the state of the student council and determine if the problem was with the student council. Somehow, however, Trainer K did not think it was. Rudolf had been giving herself more time and trusted much of her work to her subordinates. It would be strange if that changed again.

Anyway, for now, Trainer K took the bleary Rudolf to the infirmary, recalculating the training regimen he had in mind. Since she had just gone there for her migraine, Trainer K somehow could imagine the infirmary doctor would give her a lecture about it as well…

—-----------------------

By a small garden at the edge of the academy, Trainer C enjoyed the warm morning sunlight on her. She straightened up, stretching after quite a while bending to tend the soil.

“Thank you for helping today.”

Air Groove smiled warmly at her right beside her. She looked satisfied at Trainer C’s work and nodded in approval. She too, was working, but it did not seem like the work drained it. It even looked as if she was refreshed.

“You are getting better at knowing how much soil to add to the seeds. I must commend you for that.”

“See? I told you I have green thumbs!”

“... At times I wonder where you get that confidence.”

But that earned a small, amused smile from Air Groove. Lately, the umamusume had been lenient.

The Tracen vice president turned around and looked at some of the other patches. Her blue eyes seemed to look at something beyond that. 

“Anything on your mind?”

Air Groove glanced at Trainer C, obviously debating internally whether or not she should tell her trainer. Eventually, however, she eased up.

“It’s about… the president.”

Trainer C just had to bite back ‘her again?!’ quip that almost escaped her lips. Air Groove probably read that on her face, though, because her cold eyes glinted. That said, Air Groove still continued.

“She seemed a bit down lately, but even if I asked her, she would not tell me,” Air Groove touched her finger to her chin, thinking. Trainer C suddenly remembered Rudolf’s shocked face and felt cold sweat running down her back. Thankfully, Air Groove missed the change of her expression. “I wonder if I can do anything to help her. All I know is that I should not prod further, not unless she brings the topic herself…”

Solving a problem that was Rudolf being way too fixated on spewing her dangerous pun sounds almost like an impossible task. Rudolf had always been obsessed with puns despite being terrible at them. However, even Trainer C also felt that maybe there was more than what met the surface this time. Trainer C could not guess the reason why Rudolf suddenly increased the frequency of her pun-making. Was it stress? She could not tell. She was not Rudolf’s trainer, either.

But somehow, and she did not exactly know why, she felt it might be linked to Air Groove…

”If you are unsure and can’t ask her, I think there is one thing you can do… and I think maybe only you can do it, Air Groove.”

The vice president raised her eyebrows, questioning. Her ears quickly moved, and her tail swished in curiosity. Trainer C smiled. Seeing that kind of genuine interest from Air Groove always felt so rewarding.

“Why don’t you put some flowers for her? I am sure someone sophisticated like Rudolf would certainly appreciate flowers adorning her desk.”

Air Groove blinked a few times, then looked around her. She put her fingers on her lips again, thinking. Seeing Air Groove’s reaction made Trainer C realize that maybe it was not that great of an idea in itself. What could a flower do anyway? Trainer C chuckled at her own suggestion.

“Well, I guess no way that would work! Hahaha!”

“No, I think… I think that is a good idea. It is also a wonderful way to show care, without being imposing.”

Air Groove gave Trainer C her rare, gentle smile.

“Be confident. Don’t sell yourself short.”

Times like these, Trainer C felt her heart flutter. Times like these always reminded her why she would follow Air Groove no matter what. Why, despite Air Groove’s strictness, she was among the most loved umamusume in the whole academy.

“Good morning.”

No one returned the greeting. It was to be expected. Both Air Groove and Brian had informed her that they would have a morning training. Rudolf herself was still under her trainer’s and the infirmary doctor’s mandate to rest, so she would have plenty of time before the morning class began.

The door closed silently behind her. Rudolf slowly walked toward her desk.

After Air Groove trainer berated her, and her own trainer actually made her sit and listen, Rudolf had been going back to her usual routine, but with a heavier heart. All she wanted to do was make Air Groove smile… but just like Trainer C’s words, her joke was not good enough. She tried to ‘test drive’ her best jokes on the other students first, but she always missed either the timing or the lines. She thought of formulating better ones, but it only made her a Night Owl and coupled with her natural constitution of actually being bad at waking up in the morning, they were devastating to her own psyche.

Everyone around her had a point. Logically, Rudolf also felt that way. However, this restlessness in her heart would not leave her alone. She was left feeling… inadequate. She could not even make Air Groove smile. Lately, they did not even have time to talk to each other because Rudolf could not hold the flutter in her heart.

Was there anything else that she could do? Anything to…

Being so occupied by her own mind, Rudolf finally realized that something was different on her desk. A small white vase was placed on it, right in the middle. Inside it was a small bunch of Lily of the valley.

The moment her eyes fell on the simple, white flowers, Rudolf felt her heart squirm in her chest. There was only one person who would put a flower on her desk, especially in the morning, since that person would have to have the key to the student council office. She did ask if anything was wrong, saying she would offer assistance, not knowing she was the exact reason why Rudolf felt like her whole mood was on a constant roller coaster.

Even with her absence, in this empty room, she still managed to show her gentle care in a way only someone like her could pull.

“However, I would like you to bear one thing in mind.”

“Yes?”

“Just as you strive for the happiness of all the students… so too do we hope for yours.”

Lily of the valley meant “return of happiness.”

“Remember that.”

A small chuckle escaped Rudolf’s lips. She bent over the vase, casting a shadow on the small blossoms contained in it.

“Just like this… You turn my world around so effortlessly…”

Simple. Everything was supposed to be very simple.

As simple as these small blossoms and the wish they convey.

“You’re scared everything may change, aren’t you?”

Sirius’s words were all spot-on… yet at the same time, Rudolf felt like she had missed one critical point. More than anything, more than even the desire to get, to possess, to bind… 

“... I love you, Air Groove…”

All she wanted was for Air Groove to live her days in happiness.
And that wish never changed.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Air Groove.”

Closing the door behind her, Air Groove gave a light bow to the president sitting behind her desk. The president answered her bow with a nod, as usual. Air Groove’s eyes automatically swept Rudolf’s desk. She was busy yesterday, so after placing the vase with Lily of the valley, she went on a morning training and did not have time to actually check how the vase was at the end of the day.

Flower language is tricky. One flower could have so many meanings, so intentions could be misinterpreted. However, just the simple act of giving flowers always had that small wish that the other person would find a bit of happiness, at least by the flowers.

Yet the vase was not on her desk. That was strange. Maybe the president moved it.

It was logical. After all, the president always had a lot of documents piling up. It would not be good to have the vase flipped over and…

But there it was. Yesterday’s vase, placed safely on top of the low shelf by the wall. Not only that, another vase was beside it, filled with pink Begonia. The vase was new. White, just like the one Air Groove placed. The flowers in it were just as fresh.

Air Groove could not suppress her smile.

“President.”

“Yes?”

“About the meeting with dorm leaders later this afternoon, I have already printed…”

There was no need to worry anymore. The moment she met the magenta eyes, her feelings were reaffirmed. What came out of her mouth was all work-related, but what she felt in her heart was the warmth of understanding and familiarity. Affection, in its gentlest form. She did not fail to miss the president’s eyes the moment she smiled as well.

They smiled when the others did. 

Air Groove’s heart felt full when she went to stand in her usual spot by the president’s side. Happiness and contentment could be so simple.

Whisked by the job at hand, Air Groove unfortunately failed to spot one singular red begonia, buried between the pink.

“So if in the end you’re not doing anything, why are you even talking to me?”

Sirius scowled.

Once again, she was stuck having to listen to Rudolf’s love life in her usual bar. This time, she fought bravely NOT to lose, but Rudolf, with some fierce determination, beat her in a game of chess. Rudolf was always good at chess, so it was fair to hold their second match in chess instead of billiards this time. It still annoyed her that she lost, though. It slapped her with the reality that so many things did not change between them, not even these stupid games.

Rudolf smiled at Sirius’s remarks.

“It is not all for nothing. You made me realize something important. I thought I should tell you that.”

“Really? And that is?”

“That I really do not want things to change,” Rudolf chuckled. Her smile turned gentle. “And probably some things are better to remain unchanged.”

“So you mean you’re going to give up?”

“I did not say that at all.”

Rudolf curled her fingers into a fist and did that fist pump she always did when she had her mind on something. Sirius… grimaced.

“I just have to make my everyday presence something she would not bear to lose as well. Just like how she makes me feel.”

Once again, Sirius was reminded that she always hated sweet things… and that Rudolf was always both boring and stupid.

Anyone with an eye would know that she was already that to the empress.

Chapter Text

Silence Suzuka.

Rudolf is well acquainted with her.

One of the very few underclassmen, if not the only one, whom Air Groove could genuinely call a friend. Suzuka initially struggled to fit in due to how reserved she was. Rumors that circulated about her did not help, nor did her solitary nature. Air Groove took it upon herself to ease Suzuka into the dorm by giving her usual strict but gentle nudge. They also used to train together. Racing schedule and student council work got in the way, and they stopped running together. Now, Silence Suzuka—the Otherworldly Front Runner, as they all called her—ran beautifully on the turf. Of course, that was something Rudolf felt very happy about, and she was sure Air Groove felt the same.

However, a sense of foreboding bothered her since the day Air Groove asked her personally to race Suzuka. Despite her cold exterior, Air Groove felt strongly about many things. She merely kept that perfectly in control… until now. Although she seemed to function normally on the surface, Rudolf could tell that she was restless. She had difficulty focusing on her various duties, even if she had been doing them flawlessly so far. If Air Groove’s trainer did not realize it, Rudolf was ready to tell her, but it appears she did not need to. 

During her patrol, she had time to watch Air Groove’s training from the stand. Usually, Air Groove would always notice her coming and would bow or nod to acknowledge her presence. But lately, Air Groove always seemed deep in thought and always missed her coming. It was like she could not see anything else around her.

Her restlessness seemed more apparent when she was training, probably because in front of her trainer, she did not need to be anything else but a racer with all her aspirations to win. Thus, her feelings toward race were on full display. Trainer C, the young trainer, tried to redirect her and stopped her whenever Air Groove tried to do reckless extra training. Rudolf knew she had to do something or say something, but the fear of overstepping loomed over her head.

Air Groove was always a proud, dignified person. She was strict with others, but more than anything, she was strict with herself. She pushed herself and others. No matter how impossible it seemed, she continued to challenge it. She always carried herself with dignity, even when the result appeared to be a failure in what others would perceive. Rudolf respected that about her, deeply. Rudolf found that spirit bright and blinding. Rudolf trusted her more than anything in the world, trusted that light more than anything in the world.

Yet she had hurt that dignity back in that infirmary. No, it was not even about the infirmary. All of what she did, what she thought was protecting her, all of it took away what made Air Groove the dignified person that she was. All of it stepped on what she strived to be. Rudolf had disrespected her, and she understood that way too late. Even if she forgave her, Rudolf could not forgive herself. If she were to overstep again…

The sight of Air Groove’s restlessness clawed into her heart like no other.

She wanted her to know that she trusted her. That she should trust herself. Yet Rudolf knew her words might easily mean something else entirely. That had happened, and Rudolf was determined not to let it happen again.

So instead of saying anything, Rudolf waited and looked on. The opportunity presented itself quite conveniently, albeit quite late, during the summer camp. Takarazuka Kinen pulled the final trigger, and with just a bit of a push, Trainer C also finally made her move. Only then did Rudolf manage to step in and give her piece of thought.

“Thank you so much for guiding our younger students.”

There were many things that Rudolf would like to say, but she knew that was no longer her territory. The one closest to Air Groove at the moment in this predicament was her trainer. The one who could lay the trust gently on Air Groove without hurting her would be the trainer. It vexed Rudolf, but she had to accept that. A look into the trainer’s eyes, and Rudolf knew she could trust the rest to the young woman.

After all, they loved the same Empress.

Mind and emotions are such curious things. At one point, Air Groove felt like the wall was closing in on her, like everything that she did amount to nothing, everything that she strived for would all turn to naught. At one point, she even thought that results and others’ achievements would crush her, push her, erase the meaning of her run. She ran no longer by pride and dignity, but by fear and a sense of insecurity. At one point, it was so… as her conviction faltered.

However, now it felt like all of those thoughts were nothing but stupidity. It was absurd. It was simply her panic. She let her own weakness eat away at her psyche. She knew. She had a similar conversation before. It was Suzuka now, but it was the President at one time. That time, the President saw through her. She took her out for a meal, called her the sun, and told her they had differing qualities and for her to never look down on herself again. She took that to heart. It shamed her how the same issue hit her hard once more. She let her own weakness make her lose sight of what she should aim for.

After watching the fireworks blooming in the sky with her trainer beside her in an empty shrine, all of the insecurities haunting her these past months felt like far-off echoes. 

“I bet there’ll be fireworks blooming for you one day.”

Even the Fool could say something good for one. 

“Planting a garden in the sky… It wouldn’t be a simple task, but someday.”

With the moon shining in the background, the fireworks continued to bloom, one after another. Trainer C was young, often reckless, said ridiculous things, but she always managed to catch Air Groove off guard and was actually quite a capable trainer. More than anything, Trainer C followed her no matter what happened. She trusted Air Groove even when Air Groove doubted herself. 

She should trust her more. They should trust each other more.

Air Groove was perfectly capable of standing on her own even after she tumbled over the uneven shrine tiles. She also knew her trainer noticed that much, but still offered her hand and still showed her worries.

“Will you help me with this shoe?”

“Of course!”

The way her trainer always seemed to be so happy when she asked for help made Air Groove reflect on many things. Her trainer took her foot so gently and examined if she had injured her leg in any way while at it. This trainer held Air Groove’s dream as if it were her own.

“While doing that… answer me one question. In your eyes, how do you perceive me?”

After what happened at the beach, when the trainer confronted her about her insecurity with Suzuka’s run, this question might even come off as redundant. The trainer had explained her opinions. However, Air Groove just had to ask once again.

Trainer C’s answer was swift, without a second of doubt.

“As a true empress.”

Trainer C’s eyes were bright and filled with pride. A fool, she was. Always was. She answered that she was a challenger, and that made her the Empress. She said so under the afternoon sun today. Then, even with the sky turned to night, her answer did not change, nor did her conviction. If there was ever any doubt, Air Groove knew it came from inside herself. Her trainer never looked away nor doubted her. To lose her own goal would be the same as betraying her trainer and everyone else who believed in her.

After Air Groove parted with her trainer near the trainer’s lodging, she found herself standing alone. The night breeze brushed past her. The distant sound of the waves and the quiet sound of the crickets cleared her thoughts.

She looked up at the night sky. The moon was bright.

Right, even during tonight’s fireworks, the moon was visible in the background. Even without the fireworks, the night sky was beautiful.

A familiar footstep caught her ears, and soon enough, the voice that she expected came up.

“Air Groove.”

“President.”

Clad in their school jersey, Symboli Rudolf smiled. Air Groove did not quite understand why, but she appeared happier than usual. Judging from the direction she was coming from, it seemed she had just finished her own patrol round.

“I believe there was nothing bad at the festival?”
“A rather rowdy reporter was present, but I have taken care of him."

“Really? That’s unfortunate,” the president looked displeased. “But I guess that is inevitable. It is a public space and anyone could be there. Yet I hope you managed to catch the firework?

“I did. It was beautiful.”
“Ah. I am glad to hear that.”
“And you, President? Did you manage to watch it as well?”
“I did, in fact. My patrol route was quite convenient. This year was beautiful, as always.”

A comfortable silence followed. Symboli Rudolf looked up at the sky, then returned her gaze to Air Groove.

“There is still a bit of time until curfew. Would you mind accompanying me for a while, Air Groove?”

Without anyone around, the beach looked even more spacious than usual. The moon now hanged high in the sky, the silvery reflection glimmered on the dark sea. Symboli Rudolf stood with her arms crossed, watching the waves as they rolled over the beach sand. Air Groove stood beside her with her shoes dangling in one of her hands, hanging by their straps. The sand still felt quite warm on her feet. The warmth of the sun still lingered, it seems.

“After such a beautiful fireworks display, it’s a blessing we can even enjoy the quiet beauty of a full moon.”

The president said as she looked at the moon in the distance. Her voice sounded soft, almost dream-like. Air Groove responded in approval. She was just thinking about the same thing a while ago.

“I found my dream when I went camping with Sirius many years ago, in my childhood,” The president suddenly began. A chuckle slipped in the middle of her sentence. It was probably an especially fond memory for her. “I wanted to see the moon, so I dragged both of us out of the tent. I looked up at the sky and said I want to be like the moon, something that shines bright in the darkness. It gives its light to people in the dark, guiding them in their journey. That dream never changes. I merely know just how difficult it actually is.”

The president paused. Her gaze turned to Air Groove. A smile touched her lips.

“A moon will not be able to shine without the sun.”

“You are quite like the sun, you know.”

“Nor will the earth sprout without its warmth.”

“I wish to be like the earth.”

The magenta eyes softened, and Air Groove found herself lost in them. She thought she saw her reflection in them, even in the darkness of the night, but she did not remember herself being as beautiful.

“I know you probably do not need my encouragement, but I just want you to know that I can only do so much because you are by my side, and I appreciate it.”

“President…”

“You are always an Empress in my eyes, on and off the track. No matter who may run and shine around you, Air Groove, my sun has always been and will always be you.”

Before she knew it, Air Groove had balled her hands into fists. The straps of her shoes were digging into her hand as her grip tightened. There, under the moon and Symboli Rudolf’s watchful eyes, Air Groove could feel something click in her heart, so easily and so naturally, like it was meant to be. It was something she had always feared would happen and something she had always, very knowingly, kept in check.

Do you say this to just about anyone, President?

As the thought brushed her lips, unspoken, Air Groove knew it was the exact moment she betrayed her devotion to their dreams. Happiness to every umamusume, to all umamusume, would always mean everyone should be equal. Favoritism may lead to unequal treatment. Inequality begets disappointment. Placing a foundation over that was not ideal. Wanting to ever be special is exactly what she should never have felt if she were to even support the president’s dream. But it was hard. It was so painfully hard. Especially when the president was hardly just another umamusume in her life.

There was exactly one person who had always been watching her and believed in her, way before her trainer even came. The same person who personally chose her as a right hand, who believed in her ideals. Even when her trainers changed over and over, from the most veteran to the young ones, the only one who believed in her efforts and goal, who would even stand behind her against her past trainers’ protests was always been her.

“Air Groove, I don’t know what I would do if something were to happen to you.”

The one who said she was an ideal Empress, even when she was broken and felt inadequate, even when she wished she could discard a part of herself she saw as weakness.

“With you as the sun and me as the earth, we shall achieve our dreams and create a paradise for all of umamusume.”

“No, it’s… my line, President.”

Please, don’t make this harder for me.

“Just like this, you are always there to support me,” Air Groove closed her eyes and paused. She looked beside her to meet the magenta eyes again. “If the moon is the one who always guides the people in the dark, then you are always one for me. Have been, and I want to believe you will always be.”

Symboli Rudolf’s ears moved at her words. Her eyes softened.

“Thank you, President. For everything.”

The president smiled. Her eyes glinted at her words.

“You made it sound as if this will be the last. I want to think that is not so. Was I wrong?”

“Even if you want to shrug me off, I assure you, I am quite a stubborn runner, President. I thought you already knew by now that I am not a follower?”

“No, you aren’t,” The president smiled. Something mellowed out in her eyes. “You’re a challenger. That is among the reasons why your presence is a reminder for me to keep my path true. I must become a presence worthy of your trust.”

“And I will keep my endeavor to be someone worthy of being the Empress.”

“I never doubt that, even for a second. That is what makes you, you.”

Their words, though at hindsight seemed to be spoken lightly, were only out so easily because it was what they had always been fighting for, every single day. 

“And I…”

Symboli Rudolf suddenly stopped in the middle of her sentence. Her eyes suddenly appeared deeper, and looked deep into Air Groove’s as if she was looking for something. What that was, Air Groove could not know. Especially when the eyes suddenly returned to normal, as fast as when they changed. 

The president held out one of her hands, palm facing up. With her other hand placed behind her back and a slight bow in her posture, Air Groove immediately knew what the president conveyed.

The magenta eyes glinted.

“... I hope we can continue like this. Together, for the same dreams.”

Maybe that was not what Symboli Rudolf wanted to say initially, but that did not make her words any less sincere. Air Groove took the hand that was held out for her, curling her fingers into Symboli Rudolf’s.

“I hope the same, President.”

The president smiled and returned her grasp firmly. She brushed her lips over Air Groove’s knuckles, like placing a silent oath.

“For our dreams.”

“... For our dreams.”

Symboli Rudolf finally released her grasp. Almost agonizingly slowly. 

Air Groove let her hand drop to her side again.

Along with a feeling of steadiness, affirmation, and reassurance… somehow an ache that was previously not there settled. For now, Air Groove could not decide what she wanted to do with it, despite knowing exactly what it meant.

She was painfully, deeply, in love with Symboli Rudolf. She had always been, since a time she could not remember. It happened so fast, so naturally, and so easily, her love began like breathing. No one remembered the first time they breathed.

Yet unlike before, somehow simply being beside her was not enough.

Just being the vice president, just being the ‘right hand’, was no longer enough.

Chapter Text

“You honestly can’t get over this habit of dragging people out of their beds, can you?”

Sirius Symboli furrowed her eyebrows in disapproval. Already in her sleeping robes, Sirius looked annoyed as she sat by the edge of the flooring facing the lodging’s inner garden. Rudolf, sitting beside her still clad in her jersey, smiled apologetically and said, “Pardon me. But I am fairly certain you were not planning on sleeping early today. I saw the cards in your hand a while ago.”

“Tch. That doesn't change the fact that I was resting.” 

Sirius rolled her eyes exasperatedly. 

Sure enough, she was playing poker under the blanket with Nakayama Festa when Rudolf came to her room and dragged her away. She could hear Nakayama giggling when she was dragged away, too, so Rudolf had better have a good reason for this. Sirius could more or less guess what this was about, though. The only thing that could make Rudolf do something like this would be their underclassman, the Empress. Sirius rubbed her temple.

“So? Don’t tell me you haven’t done anything.”

“I almost…” Rudolf trailed off, looking up at the night sky. “... I almost told her I love her.”

THEN WHY DID YOU NOT SAY IT AND END THIS, STUPID?!

Sirius let out a long, deep sigh. The Three Goddesses should praise her for her amazing self-control. She felt like strangling the umamusume beside her. Only the heavens know why she had not done so. She must be commended for that. With a low, controlled voice, she asked, “Then why not?”

“She had just been through a lot of stress. This is the first night after months that I finally saw her blue eyes return to their former light. I don’t want to dim that away by my selfish desire to tell her my feelings.”

Sirius sighed yet again. She could understand that reasoning, and that was actually very sensible, but now she had to suffer from being dragged into this mushy love story even longer. Well, ‘the Empress’ seemed like she always had a lot of stress, though, and Sirius can imagine a bazillion reasons. The person beside her must have contributed a thing or two as well, she reckoned. But Sirius had the wisdom not to touch that.

What surprised her was how calm Rudolf had become. She was restless until a few weeks ago, and now she was calmly saying that her almost-confession did not happen. If there was no problem, why would Rudolf drag her out here in the first place? Sirius kind of dreaded the possibility that Rudolf actually just wanted to inform her, and that was all.

Probably it was. Oh no, hopefully not. That would mean Rudolf would shower her with updates of this… love story. Certainly, that can be ammunition for some unforeseeable future, but Sirius would rather be spared from the torture. That said, if she did not do her job, and this love life rut remained a tangled mess, things would get only more insufferable for Sirius herself.

“So? What do you want to do now?”

Rudolf crossed her arms. She gave a defeated smile.

“That’s the issue. I don’t know what I should do.”

“What?”

“I don’t know if the same opportunity will present itself, and judging from these past months, I seem to lack… the tact to make one.”

“Well, of course.”

Again, to her surprise, Rudolf took that small jab with only a sad smile. If there was anything great from this whole love problem, one of them would be that it humbled this arrogant emperor. For once, she showed fear and insecurity, finding something she had no idea how to react to. It made her human… which was something Sirius felt this perfectionist umamusume needed. That side of her, also, might be what bothered her.

“So you still don’t know how to confess?”
“You read me so easily,” Rudolf chuckled. “I wonder if I should attempt something…”

“I think that is the problem. You keep trying to be perfect.”

Rudolf’s ears twitched.

“Look, I know you’re thinking right now how to make the perfect, most successful confession setup ever,” Sirius leaned back, resting her body weight on one hand and pointing at Rudolf with another. “But that is exactly the problem. This isn’t about you being an Emperor, Rudolf, this is about baring yourself to her and telling her you love her.”

Hearing Sirius’s rather forceful words, Rudolf furrowed her eyebrows. Yet she did not voice any rebuttal, so Sirius continued.

“This isn’t the time for you to be perfect or to look like the Emperor. If it is a relationship that you want, then more than anything, you should be yourself, not some fabricated saintly guy on a throne.”

“I don’t…”
“Do you want an Empress, or do you actually want Air Groove?”

Rudolf’s magenta eyes flashed. Sirius smirked. Yes, that’s more like it.

“Just admit it. Even now, you keep your distance because she kept hers. You don’t know how to get closer, since you two have an established relationship already, and she acts accordingly.”

“That’s…” Rudolf blinked several times. Between gritted teeth, her dejected voice finally said, “That is… true.”

“You can’t expect her to be herself if you don’t show her yourself either. If you can’t do that, what is the worth of that love you keep saying? Let her see you as you are. Just do what you feel your heart wants to. Sure, you can make up scenarios, but at the end of the day, you must surrender yourself.”

Rudolf’s lips formed a frown, but Sirius knew the battle was not against her; it was in Rudolf’s own head.

“Look. Get off that throne and be Symboli Rudolf. Or do you not trust Air Groove to look you in the eyes and be as honest as you are to her?”

Rudolf did not answer, but Sirius knew the case was settled.

“There is no need for a facade. Be just another umamusume for once.”

Not long, Air Groove flew to Hokkaido for the Sapporo Kinen and won the 1st place brilliantly. Rudolf, Brian, and several other students watched her from a screen in the lodging’s cafeteria. Seeing her run, Rudolf immediately knew that the Empress was back. Beside her, Brian also eased upon seeing the run. Although her other vice-president rarely said anything, for someone who self-proclaimed herself as someone who did not care, Brian certainly cared deeply about everyone around her.

After the summer camp, the summer camp report and upcoming autumn festival preparation came like a deluge into the student council office. Every day was a busy day, and although thanks to that there was more opportunity to taste Air Groove’s delicious bento, there was barely enough time to do anything else but work. As the day went by, though Sirius’s words kept knocking the back of Rudolf’s head, clearly neither opportunity nor time presented themselves.

Yet despite the tower of documents on Symboli Rudolf’s desk, Toukai Teio still insisted that Rudolf run with her on the track because Rudolf promised her she would this month. Even with a pile of documents to handle in her hands, Air Groove still had the strength to use her other hand to hold Teio back from approaching Rudolf’s work desk. Meanwhile, Narita Brian slept on the sofa with her jersey over her head. Probably trying to block everything and get some sleep at all. Rudolf could not even comment on the sight.

“So the next document would be from the cafeteria—”

“Let me go! Prez promised me this month!”

“The President is busy today. There are still 29 days left of this month, Teio. Patience.”

“But, but she always has more—”

“Here is the list, President. I have already highlighted the part you need to sign. You can find a summary written on each sticky note. So—”

“Prez! What about my request!”

“Teio, I have told you she is busy.”

Words from the papers dancing in her eyes, the sound of everyone’s chatter sounds like a faraway radio. Rudolf wanted to say something, but deep down, she knew it would be futile when things went this way. Plus, she had several documents with tight deadlines. Air Groove knew that very well.

Thankfully, it seems Air Groove’s resilience in fending off Teio paid off in a way. Teio’s attention shifted from Rudolf to Air Groove instead. Just like always.

“Then why don’t you play with me instead, Air Groove?”

“What?”

“If Prez is busy, then why don’t you play with me?”

“Because I am also busy. Go with Brian.”

“... I have patrol.”

“Brian won’t even take me for a run!”

“I don’t run with kids.”

“I am not a kid!”

“Brian, Teio, please just go outside?”

“No! I want to play with Prez!”

Listening to their chatters, Rudolf’s ears started to twitch. She realized something painfully evident.

Brian. Teio. 

Air Groove called them by name. Not only Brian or Teio, even. Suzuka, Scarlet, Dober…

She called everyone by name.

Everyone.

Except…

“Do you want an Empress, or do you actually want Air Groove?”

“Oh, Prez! I need to report to you something, you must listen to this one!”

Teio suddenly lounged at Rudolf’s desk. Air Groove rolled her eyes, sighing. Strangely, Teio’s eyes did not seem like she was going to tell Rudolf one of her achievements, as there was a look of displeasure in them. For that, Rudolf spared a second to look at her, which Teio obviously saw as permission to start.

“I went to play at the game center with Air Groove and her trainer, and you know what? Some men were hitting on her, and she did nothing!”

“Teio!”

“Did nothing?”

Rudolf furrowed her eyebrows. The mere idea that there were idiot humans out there hitting on her Empress sparked fury in Rudolf’s heart, but despite her anger, she knew that Air Groove was not someone who could not defend herself in case anything happened. Seeing Rudolf’s rather disapproving look, Teio nodded vigorously. She ignored Air Groove’s glare behind her and continued, “I know, right! I can’t believe it myself! Like, she’s always so scary to me, like now—”

Air Groove’s sharp gaze greeted her words.

“Teio…”

“See?! But she did not yell at them, not glare at them! I was the one who should get between them!”

“First of all, Teio, I still had that under control,” Air Groove sighed, planting a hand on Teio’s shoulder. “Second, I have told you they are strangers. I can’t treat them like I treat you. Now you’d better…”

“But that isn’t supposed to matter! I heard what they say, like they will pay for your moves or something…”

“That’s…”

“Air Groove. Let Teio finish.”

Rudolf’s voice, low and calm but authoritative, completely silenced Air Groove’s rebuttal. Teio looked back at Rudolf and said, “That’s right, Prez! These two men were staring at her dance, asking her to show some ‘hot moves’ and would pay for it! Don’t you think that’s awful? And she did not even give this glare!”

“Before you accused me of not knowing that was a flirt, allow me to say that I am not that oblivious about the situations,” Air Groove sighed, crossing her arms. “While I appreciate your interference, Teio, I am perfectly capable of defending myself.”

“But I did not see that!” Teio puffed her cheeks. “I still can’t believe how you didn’t even shoo them away.”

“I was about to, Teio. Please, you’re making it bigger than it really was. President, really, it was nothing.”

Rudolf’s ears moved.

President.

“Second, I have told you they are strangers. I can’t treat them like I treat you.”

“You don’t know how to get closer, since you two have an established relationship already, and she acts accordingly.”

“And you laughed at me after that! I am still angry, okay?”
“Haaaah… Okay, I am sorry. Forgive me for that, Teio. I did say I appreciate the help, didn’t I?”

“You don’t sound sincere.”

“Oh, goodness…”

“Are you worried she won’t follow you if you don’t keep an eye on her?”

“Even now, you keep your distance because she kept hers.”

“You’ve made your case, and the President and I have heard it. I have also said my reasoning for my conduct back then. Now, you’d better leave us for a while. The President needs to work.”

President.

“Or do you not trust Air Groove to look you in the eyes and be as honest as you are to her?”

“Air Groove.”

Rudolf’s voice instantly canceled all the other voices in the room. Air Groove appeared quite surprised but replied, “Yes, President?”

“In that case, am I nothing but a president to you?”

“Eh?”

The shift in the air was palpable. The magenta eyes looked into her, but not exactly at her. It was like she was looking at something not there. Yet the air turned heavy, like a dark blanket weighing over them. Air Groove could almost see something bristling in the air surrounding Symboli Rudolf. Even the tail swish was electric.

“Have I ever been anything other than President in your eyes? Or did it never cross your mind?”

“President…?”

“Prez—”

“IDIOT!”

With an alarmed hiss, Brian grabbed Teio’s collar and yanked her away. Air Groove could not see what happened to them next, but the sound of the door slamming shut told her that Brian dragged Teio out extremely fast. 

The air did not change, even if it was clear they were the only ones in the room now. It was as if Symboli Rudolf did not realize or see the other two when she started this conversation. She did not even wince or move at the sound of the door. Her eyes were on Air Groove and Air Groove only, locked and steady. Yet somehow Air Groove couldn’t shake off the feelings that she was probably seeing something beyond herself.

“I have never heard you call me by my name. It makes me wonder, sometimes. Why “President”, Air Groove?”

“... Because you are the president…”

“Why only President? Have I never been more, Air Groove?”

Words left stuck in Air Groove’s throat when she saw focus return into the magenta eye. Focus was not the only thing those eyes reflected, however. There were wonder, confusion, longing, and more than anything: desire. 

This time, Symboli Rudolf was looking directly at her.

“Have I ever been Symboli Rudolf to you?”

It was not about the name. It was not a question of whether or not Air Groove knew her name was Symboli Rudolf. 

It was never about the name at all.

Air Groove knew, but she could not decide which answer to give. On what purpose did the president ask the question? Despite knowing what it meant, it was hard knowing what it pursued.

As she desperately ruminated on her answer, the silence between them grew longer…

And it was too long to bear.

“... Forgive me, Air Groove.”

Symboli Rudolf suddenly sighed. One hand over her temple, the other gripping the pen in her hand.

With that, the aura that enveloped the whole room suddenly faded like it was never there. The sunlight coming from the big window behind the president flooded the room with warmth. Even the clock on the wall started ticking again. Air Groove’s vision suddenly regained its wide vision again, furniture popping back into her conscience and back to existence.

Air Groove felt the air seeping into her lungs. The air was suddenly breathable again.

Symboli Rudolf looked up, smiling apologetically at her.

“I am sorry. I think I am tired.”

That can’t be the only reason.

The president certainly realized it. A glint passed her magenta eyes. A glint that, for some reason, sent needles into Air Groove’s heart.

“Forgive me. I think…” The president stood up, looking down at her desk. She suddenly appeared lost. “Maybe I need a breather.”

The president smiled. But that smile only made the pain in Air Groove’s heart grow deeper.

Like a serrated knife cutting deeper, the tip and the blade just made her heart bleed even more.

The president’s voice dropped lower but kinder.

“... Forget what I said, Air Groove. Forgive me.”

That’s impossible.

“No, I…”

“It’s fine,” Her voice was kind, but every kindness from her hurts. “Don’t think of it too much. It was just a momentary curiosity. Nothing else.”

That’s a lie.

You were a lion then. You were never one unless it meant deeply to you.

“I…”

“You don’t need to answer me.”

The president’s shoulders dropped, and she smiled her usual diplomatic smile. Air Groove found herself gripping the documents in her hand harder than she should have. Symboli Rudolf’s reaction made her irrationally angry.

“It was a slip of a moment. That was just…”

“Don’t you dare run away from this.”

“Why are you dragging me out of the room?!”

Teio pranced around, annoyed, but still walked beside Brian over to the training track. Brian sighed.

“Because you might ruin my only chance of salvation.”

“Your what?”

“Salvation.”

Brian grunted, rubbing her temple. She had to run with Teio now that she had dragged Teio out, but it would be cheap compared to all the stallings she had been witnessing for who knows how long. 

“You have no idea how long I have suffered watching them.”

She looked up at the big window of the student council office, sighing. At least now, it appeared that time would finally progress between the two very stubborn and very slow Emperor and Empress.

“It’d better work this time.”

Air Groove’s words froze Rudolf in her place. Before her was a view that haunted her since that day in the infirmary.

“How dare you look down on me?”

She had done it again. Wanting to avoid pushing anything on Air Groove, she ended up hurting her in the process. Once again, she treated her like a fragile flower, something that Air Groove certainly is not.

“Why do you never give me a chance to explain myself?” Air Groove’s voice trembled, but it still had its bite and strength. “Why do you always think you are the only one allowed to make or break things? Why can’t you stay when the decision should not only rest on you? You asked me to forget that, but that is impossible, and you know it.”

“... I am sorry.”

When the Empress rages, even the Emperor quails. 

There was nothing else she could say. Air Groove was right. She dropped her question, unleashed her dominance, and expected it all to be brushed away. That was selfish of her. Air Groove had every right to be mad.

Air Groove sighed loudly. She stepped closer, half-throwing the documents she had in her hand onto Rudolf’s desk. Rudolf followed her movement silently, finding herself strangely captivated… and scared. Air Groove gave her no room to run away. What she had feared for months would come to bite her today, no matter what the ending would be.

And it’s… terrifying.

“What made you ask me that?”

“... Just a realization.”

“Is that the only reason?”

Rudolf could not immediately answer. Air Groove’s blue eyes glistened, and Rudolf could swear she saw blush color her face.

“Or do you not trust Air Groove to look you in the eyes and be as honest as you are to her?”

Rudolf smiled ruefully. She finally dropped her answer.

“No. That is not the only reason.”

Silence crept between them, and their eyes met. Something was in the air between them, something that had always been there, but they were always too afraid of taking. Something that they both hoped was always there but always deliberately ignored. Rudolf closed her eyes and finally continued.

“As I listened to how you call Teio and Brian, it struck me that you have never called me other than President. That was the realization.”

“And the other reason?”

“... The other reason is a wish, and I hope it was not just a mere wish, that you see me as not only a President. Or an Emperor. Or any title or position.”

Rudolf looked straight into Air Groove’s cool blue eyes.

“I want to know who I am to you, as Symboli Rudolf.”

The change in the hue of her eyes told Rudolf that Air Groove had finally accepted the destination of this bizarre and sudden conversation. There was no room for anything else.

“I hope, deeply, that I am more than any title you call me with."

“Of course you are not just a president for me… Rudolf.”

Rudolf’s ears perked at the sound of Air Groove’s voice. Her name. And without “Senior” honorific.

Air Groove called her, and it was simply her name.

Air Groove’s voice was perfection.

“You are never just a president to me,” Her voice, trembling. The blush, her eyes. Despite all the emotions latched onto her voice, she looked straight into Rudolf’s eyes undauntingly. Steadily. “But I don’t know how I should act in a moment when you are not. I need you to know that I am not… that… flexible as a person. I don’t know what I should be to you and how I should act when you are not my president.”

“You can be anything you wish you are to me, and it will be correct.”

At Rudolf’s words, Air Groove opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again. Her blue eyes were filled with various emotions, and Rudolf could feel her heart quiver in her chest. But Rudolf wanted to believe. She wanted to believe in the flowers Air Groove put on her desk every morning. In the chocolate that she gave every Valentine. In every Fuji apple bento she made. Rudolf wanted to believe. She desperately needed to.

“Air Groove, you don't have to be an Empress in front of me.” Rudolf’s shoulders dropped, and her ears drooped. “You as you are is what I want. I want to be someone where you can be yourself, where you can feel safe being whoever you want to be. I know how hard it is to do, and I assure you I will also try to reveal myself to you, just as you do to me.” 

“There is no need for a facade. Be just another umamusume for once.”

“Air Groove, what I desire is you and you alone.” Rudolf did not move her eyes. “So please, be anyone you want to be with me.”

“Even if it’s to be…”

But Air Groove did not continue.

She tapped Rudolf’s desk frustratingly, then stepped back and sighed loudly again. It was like she was looking for words. Or maybe she was not looking for words. The words had always been there. They just had to get the courage to admit it. She paced restlessly, rubbing her temple. 

After a while, Air Groove took a deep, long breath and faced Rudolf again. They looked at each other for what seemed to be more than a minute. But they knew it was words. They have to make it into words.

“Are you sure you want to be doing this?”

“Certainly,” Rudolf smiled. “You just told me not to run away.”

“We are the president and vice president of Tracen Academy.”

“Indeed, we are.”

“You’re going to say it’s not a problem.”

“It is not.”

“What about your dreams? Our dreams?”

“We’ll work it out together, as we have promised.”

“Rudolf, you are the one who said a foundation built on favoritism would not be steady if anyone were to endeavor for all happiness.”

Rudolf closed her eyes. Sirius’s words slapped her conscience again. Arrogant. Indeed, she was. She trampled on the feelings of everyone around her, even herself and Air Groove.

“... I was foolish,” Rudolf met Air Groove’s eyes again. “I am but an umamusume, and so are you. All umamusume includes you and me. That should have been clear as day, yet I was blind. I was blind because I did not have the capacity to include myself in the equation. It should have been obvious. I was a fool.”

Rudolf reached out, palm upward.

“I made my mistake then. I will not again. “All” will not exist if I cannot make myself and the person most important to me happy. I can’t expect the world to be happy if I am not.”

Seeing the outstretched hand, Air Groove sighed loudly.

“Honestly, I can’t believe this,” She said as she shook her head. “And I have to say it with your smirk in front of me.”

“I am very selfish. You know that yourself.”

“I do. I do, very much,” Air Groove gave a defeated smile. “And yet I still fell in love with you.”

She has the most beautiful smile Rudolf has ever seen, and her words are all music in her ears. Air Groove leaned on the desk, meeting Rudolf’s eyes directly.

It was time for the answer.

“I want to be your lover, Symboli Rudolf.” Air Groove placed her hand on Rudolf’s palm. “The one and only by your side.”

Air Groove broke the wall Symboli Rudolf had been so afraid to step into for months so easily, so naturally. With the words finally spoken, the wall between them crumbled.

Rudolf firmly grasped the hand she had in her palm, then placed a kiss on Air Groove’s knuckle.

An oath, but not for a dream, as this time it was to solidify the present. Rudolf smiled as her thumb brushed her Empress’s fingers.

“And a lover you shall be, Air Groove, just as I will be yours as well.”

“I hate to meet Brian tomorrow.”

“I am sure she will understand.”

“She understands too much already.”

“All the better. That means nothing will need to change.”

Resting her hand on Air Groove’s hip and joining their foreheads together, it really would not take even a second for Rudolf to plant a kiss on the Empress’s lips again. Everything felt too good to be true. Yet with every touch, she was reminded that this was real. At the back of her mind, she wondered if anyone could see them from the ground if anyone looked up at the office window, but Rudolf failed to care, even if that was the case. It would even be favorable to have the school know that Air Groove was hers.

“Will you be calling my name from now on?”

“... Not in public.”

Rudolf chuckled. Her tail swished happily. She would take that.

Air Groove scowled at her reaction.

“You’re being too happy about this.”

“Of course I am,” Rudolf almost hummed. “I have been waiting for it for so long. ....I love you, Air Groove.”

The Empress smiled at her words. Her cool blue eyes shimmered with affection.

Her next words were spoken low, gentle, and tender.

“I know, Rudolf. I love you too.”

For the longest time. All the time.

“... But now we have a deadline.”

“It’s okay, we’ll manage. Brian has dragged Teio out.”

“We won’t make it if you continue to embrace me like this.”

“We will.”

“Rudolf.”

“We will. Don’t they say I have the absolute in me?”

“You’re using that now? You’re just unbelievable.”

“I have heard that many times over.”

“Rudolf, you know that I don’t particularly enjoy scolding you.”

Rudolf laughed. She smiled fondly at the scowl on her lover’s face.
Gently, she brushed a thumb over the lips that she would soon kiss once again.

“I have told you, I will not trade your scoldings for the world.”