Shortly after, Vodka pushed Mizuno—followed closely by the rest of the Uma Musume—out onto the academy's practice field.
Waiting there already was an Uma Musume with fluffy hair, a crescent-shaped highlight over her forehead, and a face that somewhat resembled Tokai Teio's.
She stood with her arms crossed, calmly observing the girls running laps around the track. The aura surrounding her radiated quiet authority—one that didn't demand submission outright, yet carried enough weight to make anyone think twice about defying her.
But the moment she heard approaching footsteps and turned to see Mizuno—that intimidating aura melted away like morning frost. In an instant, it was replaced by warmth, composure, and the kind of sisterly gentleness that made others instinctively lower their guard.
"Oho~ You've finally arrived." Symboli Rudolf smiled, lightly cupping her chin as she strode over with confident grace. She came to stand beside Mizuno naturally, as if that spot had always belonged to her.
"Ahem…" Mizuno cleared his throat, gesturing toward Rudolf as he addressed the gathered girls.
"Allow me to proudly introduce today's special guest—President Rudolf!"
"Prez!" Tokai Teio's voice practically squeaked with excitement, her eyes sparkling with starry admiration.
"Ehh—President Rudolf herself?!" the others gasped in unison.
They couldn't believe it. Their Trainer-san had actually managed to invite the legendary seven-crown Emperor to personally instruct them?
Everyone knew Symboli Rudolf's schedule was packed—so packed that even the academy's top trainers struggled to book her time. Most students only ever saw her at official events or from afar during assemblies.
Yet Mizuno-san had casually brought her here in person—and from the way Rudolf's eyes softened the instant she saw him, it was clear their relationship went far beyond professional courtesy.
Of course, none of the wide-eyed Uma Musume present could have guessed that Rudolf and Mizuno had once shared the same bed night after night.
"Good morning, everyone." Rudolf nodded gracefully to the group, her smile polite and warm. Then she turned to Mizuno, her brow creasing slightly.
"Sora, why are you in a wheelchair?"
She'd only been away two weeks—busy cleaning up the mess left by the Secret Boys' Dormitory incident—and somehow, in that short time, Mizuno had ended up injured like those unfortunate trainers whose pelvises got shattered by overly affectionate Uma.
"Uh… just a minor accident…" Mizuno replied vaguely.
"You got Uma Pyoi'd?!" Rudolf's composure vanished as she seized his shoulders, panic flashing across her face.
Her grip was so tight that Mizuno actually winced. It was like watching a chef return to her kitchen only to discover that her carefully crafted dish had been stolen by another Uma.
"No, I didn't!" Mizuno shook his head quickly. "If I had, do you really think you'd still see me alive right now?"
"I… see." Rudolf exhaled in relief and patted her chest, visibly calming down. "That's good… I nearly lost my composure there for a moment."
Close one—any longer and she might've Uma Pyoi'd him on the spot.
"Hmm…" Rudolf paused, then quietly took out a small notepad and scribbled something. A moment later, she crumpled the paper and slipped it discreetly into Mizuno's hand.
Mizuno unfolded it under his hood, reading the single line written in her elegant handwriting:
[Wait for me tonight—I'll perform a thorough physical examination on you~♡]
"…"
Mizuno immediately glanced up, scanning Rudolf with the Intent Glasses.
Symboli Rudolf:Deep pink heart, 71/100.
Mizuno: "…"
Her physical examination… she's not serious, right?
"Yee—" A shiver ran down Mizuno's spine. Tonight did not feel like it would be peaceful.
Forcing his thoughts back on track, Mizuno composed himself and addressed the group again.
"As the saying goes, 'Whenever three gather, one can be my teacher.' Talking to others lets us learn new things—and learning from someone strong allows us to see the world from a whole new perspective."
"Everyone here already knows how incredible President Rudolf is. Her knowledge and experience far exceed anything you'll find in textbooks."
"President Rudolf is extremely busy, yet she's made time for us today. Make sure you seize this opportunity and learn as much as you can!"
"Oooh~!" the girls chorused, nodding eagerly. Even the more mischievous ones straightened up, gazing at Rudolf with respect.
Tokai Teio, in particular, looked ready to cry tears of joy, her admiration practically radiating from her.
"Oh, not at all." Rudolf smiled modestly, though her tone carried unmistakable warmth. "Mizuno-san gives me too much credit. I still have much to learn myself…"
Her gaze softened further. "You've already taken on so many Uma Musume despite being so young. Your guidance must be extraordinary. Perhaps we should… find time soon to exchange pointers more thoroughly?"
She winked playfully.
Mizuno froze.
Seriously, Rudolf? Flirting in front of the students? If their roles were reversed, she'd probably already be facing a harassment complaint—
Wait.
Was that… her tail?!
Mizuno's eyes widened as he realized Rudolf's tail had quietly slipped behind him into the wheelchair seat, brushing against his lower back in slow, teasing movements.
Gah! Pervert—no, perverted Uma!
"Guh…" Mizuno sat stiffly, completely defenseless, too embarrassed to react. He felt exactly like a girl being harassed on a crowded train—unable to cry out, praying the offender would stop before it got worse.
Touching was bad enough! No Uma Pyoi allowed!
But apparently, ignoring it only encouraged her.
"Hehe~" Rudolf finally withdrew her tail after a moment, though a mischievous glint lingered in her eyes. Inwardly, she was already planning tonight's "examination."
After two grueling weeks cleaning up that dormitory fiasco—constantly witnessing Uma "accidentally" Uma Pyoi their trainers at hotels—her patience was wearing dangerously thin.
Normally, Rudolf was restrained, preferring to wait for a proper relationship before indulging in that sort of intimacy… but Mizuno's current weakened state was far too tempting. His helplessness stirred a possessive ache deep in her chest.
She vividly remembered the nights they'd once shared—quiet moments in the dark, holding hands, her tail coiled around his leg. For Rudolf, burdened by the endless weight of leadership, those moments were her one escape—the single place she could let go, rest, and breathe freely beside someone who asked for nothing.
Once she'd tasted that warmth, how could she possibly sleep soundly without it now?
Even if she held back from going all the way tonight, she would soothe that unbearable restlessness—perhaps by curling on top of him, tracing her fingers along his chest, listening to his flustered protests while savoring every second.
Besides, she told herself, it was only fair.
Mizuno owed her more than a few Uma Pyoi already.
Did they really think the detailed "Uma Pyoi debt log" in Rudolf's private notebook was just a joke?
Each mark stood for one Uma Pyoi—and Symboli Rudolf had every intention of collecting.
Whether she'd erase them afterward, though…
Well, that decision rested entirely with her~