Author's Note: I am not an editor or a professional writer. I will write this and edit it to the best of my ability. I also do not own Uma Musume, which is owned by Cygames. Watch the animes and read the mangas, for they are pretty good. Finally, please enjoy.
3rd Person POV:
Mana stepped forward and greeted the team with a calm, reassuring presence. Her speech was gentle and composed, centered on her role in caring for everyone's well-being and supporting them through their most difficult moments. By the time she finished, the atmosphere had softened, and the team seemed genuinely comforted.
As Mana returned to her place, the boss stepped back onto the podium without hesitation.
"Next on the podium is my dear friend and loyal aide," she announced, her voice carrying confidence and pride. "She will also be your head of makeup and costume design—Suzu Yamamoto."
From just behind her, the ever-present aide emerged as if stepping out of a shadow. Suzu Yamamoto walked forward with measured grace and took her place at the podium.
She removed her sunglasses, revealing sharp, observant eyes as she looked directly at the team. Dressed in her usual tailored suit, she offered a polished, professional smile before speaking.
"Hello, everyone. I am Suzu Yamamoto. I will be responsible for ensuring that each of you looks your best—on stage, during interviews, performances, and wherever my expertise is required."
Her tone remained calm, almost detached.
"When you need me, I will either be near our mistress Mina… or asleep."
A brief pause followed before her expression sharpened ever so slightly.
"If I am resting, do not disturb me unless it is an emergency… or something has happened to our mistress. Anyone who disregards this rule will be punished accordingly."
A subtle chill passed through the room as her presence grew heavier.
"And if any of you betray our mistress in any way," she continued, her voice dropping just enough to carry weight, "there will be consequences."
Silence filled the space.
"Now… are there any questions?"
For a moment, no one moved. Then, a single hand rose.
⸻
Suzu Yamamoto POV:
I was born into service.
My mother served as a maid to the Du Vault family, directly under my mistress's mother. My father was the personal bodyguard to my mistress's father. Over time, as their employers grew closer, so did they—eventually marrying just as their masters had.
Strangely enough, their lives mirrored one another. When my mistress and her Uma Musume twin were born, I too was born—alongside my own Uma Musume sister.
Despite our roles, we were given freedom in choosing our paths. What none of us expected, however, was that whatever we chose… our masters' children would follow.
My sister became a runner, and naturally, my mistress's twin joined her. As for me, I admired both of my parents. I chose to become both—a skilled maid and a capable bodyguard.
Yet, among all my skills, I found the most joy in makeup and tailoring. Designing, refining, perfecting appearances… it became my craft.
In time, I was assigned to serve my mistress directly.
She is everything one could admire—hardworking, brilliant, and extraordinarily capable. And yet… she was overshadowed. Her own twin, whose only claim to success lay in athletics, was praised as superior.
Even my own sister—arrogant as ever—echoed that belief simply because she was an Uma Musume.
But my mistress never broke.
Even when her family neglected her, she endured. She built her own success with her own hands. She left, took her father's name, and established herself in his homeland, far from the shadow cast over her.
I followed her. As did the others who truly saw her worth.
To us, she was always a mistress worth serving.
With my assistance, she shaped Dark Wear Fashion into the image she envisioned—elegant, commanding, and destined to become a world-renowned brand.
But that was not enough.
To surpass her sister completely, she set her sights on something greater—a team.
The Free Style Racing League. A global stage.
She built everything from the ground up: facilities, staff, resources. Then she turned her attention to Japan, where the league's presence remained small, and searched for the perfect athletes.
Fortune favored her.
A team appeared—strong, capable, and willing to join under surprisingly modest terms. In her brilliance, she ensured control remained firmly in her hands.
She even secured the loyalty of Tsukasa Takajima—a disgraced yet exceptional coach.
And now… here we stand.
As I finished my speech and opened the floor for questions, a hand rose.
Norn Valkyrie.
Strange… she was looking at me differently than usual.
"Oh, Miss Norn," I said, acknowledging her. "What would you like to ask?"
She tilted her head slightly, studying me.
"You know… I've never actually seen your face before," she said. "Now that I have… you're really beautiful."
…What?
"My question is," she continued casually, "would you like to get dinner sometime?"
I blinked.
Was she requesting a private meeting with my mistress? If so, I would need to explain the proper procedure—
I began to respond, but she cut me off.
"Girl," she said, smirking, "I'm asking you out. Not your mistress."
…
Silence.
Heat rushed to my face as her words finally registered. My composure—usually flawless—began to crumble.
"I—I—"
Before I could recover, she moved.
In a single fluid motion, she vaulted over the seats, effortlessly closing the distance between us. Within seconds, she stood directly in front of the podium.
Too close.
"So," she asked, her voice smooth and confident, "what time should I pick you up?"
Her fingers tilted my chin upward.
My mind went blank.
A sharp, involuntary sound escaped me—
And then I ran.
Without direction. Without dignity.
Just… ran.