"Hehe~" Symboli Rudolf's gaze slid toward Mizuno beside her. His faint tremor, the way his shoulders tensed, the confused flicker in his eyes—every little detail made her ears twitch with satisfaction. Her usual composed, official smile softened into something far more genuine, almost indulgent.
Though she dearly wanted to devour him right now, there was no rush. A dessert this exquisite should be savored slowly—every glance, every heartbeat, every blush.
With a small breath, Rudolf reined in her amusement and turned her attention back to the group of eager Uma Musume before her. Her expression straightened, voice calm yet resonant.
"Rather than training a thousand times," she began, "a single real battle will make recruits grow faster."
"The same applies to racing. Only by running against stronger opponents—by feeling the pressure of chasing and the fear of being chased—can one truly understand their own weaknesses and surpass them."
"If you wish to accomplish what no predecessor has, then you must possess the resolve to surpass your predecessors as well."
Her eyes sharpened. The commanding aura that once ruled the track radiated from her like sunlight through glass.
"So…" She rested one hand lightly on Mizuno's shoulder, half a gesture of confidence, half a subtle claim. "Who here would like to seriously race me today?"
"A race against President Rudolf?!"
The Uma Musume froze in collective disbelief.
The Seven-Crown Emperor herself had just issued a challenge?!
For rookies—some not even officially debuted—it was like being invited to spar with a goddess. Impossible to win, yes—but impossible to refuse as well.
They all knew this would be a friendly match, a rare chance to test themselves and learn directly from the best.
"I'll do it!" Tokai Teio shot up her hand immediately, eyes blazing. Running beside her idol? She would never pass up that chance.
"I'm in too!" Condor raised her hand next, enthusiasm overflowing. If she wanted to become the world's strongest, then racing the Emperor herself was the perfect test.
"Urara wants to run too~!" the little one chimed, bouncing on her toes, purely delighted by the idea of racing new friends.
"I'll join as well!" the rest soon followed, one by one raising their hands eagerly.
"Very good." Rudolf nodded in approval.
As expected, Mizuno's team brimmed with courage—none of them afraid to face powerful opponents head-on. It was a rare and precious quality, one that would one day lead them to greatness. Under Mizuno's guidance—a trainer both compassionate and exacting—these girls would surely carve their names into racing history.
However…
As Rudolf's gaze swept across them, her sharp eyes caught another truth shimmering behind their determination—an emotion that had nothing to do with racing.
They looked at Mizuno with longing, not simple admiration.
Ah… of course. Trainers like him always attracted affection. Outstanding, patient, gentle to a fault—the kind that made young hearts tremble without realizing why. Even if Mizuno tried to bury his light beneath layers of modesty, it still leaked through, dazzling and dangerous.
And even her precious junior, Tokai Teio, was no exception.
"Teio…" Rudolf watched quietly as the girl's eyes darted repeatedly toward Mizuno, a faint pang tightening her chest.
She had entrusted Teio to Mizuno's care precisely because she'd believed him safe—responsible, careful, and utterly uninterested in anything improper. She'd wanted her dear junior to focus on chasing her dream, not fall into messy emotions.
Yet here Teio was, heart already drifting helplessly toward her kindhearted Trainer, sinking fast and deep like a ship into dark waters.
Rudolf understood all too well why. Teio resembled her younger self far too much, and Mizuno—gentle, nervous, yet endlessly selfless—was irresistible to both generations.
Still, Rudolf's own rise to legend had been built on discipline. Her trainer back then had been ice-cold, keeping romance out of the picture entirely. Because of that purity of focus, Rudolf had achieved seven crowns, unmatched even now.
If Teio truly wished to follow that same path—to become the undefeated Triple Crown—she would need to shed all distractions.
Which meant Rudolf had to deal with Mizuno herself.
"Hehe~" Rudolf's lips curved upward, a spark of mischief flashing in her eyes as a plan bloomed in her mind.
Don't worry, Teio. As your senpai, I'll make sure to protect your future… by removing this dangerous man from your path.
And as for this charming root of all evil—Mizuno Sora—I'll personally take responsibility for locking him away.
"How about this…" Rudolf said suddenly, moving behind Mizuno's wheelchair. She leaned down, resting her hands lightly atop his hooded head, her fingers brushing through his hair in a teasing pat.
"Whoever wins today's race," she announced sweetly, "will earn the right to enjoy a private date with Mizuno for an entire day. How does that sound?"
"?!!"
The words hit like a thunderclap, sending shockwaves through the entire group.
"The winner… gets a date with Mizuno-san?!"
The girls' eyes widened, pupils sparkling like gemstones. Their breathing quickened, tails twitching restlessly. The affection in the air instantly spiked several degrees.
"H-hold on!" Mizuno stammered, waving his hands desperately. "Don't take that seriously—President Rudolf was just joking!"
"Oh?" Rudolf tilted her head, smiling at him with that dangerously knowing look—the one that clearly said, Do you really think I'm joking?
"You… you are joking, right…?" Mizuno asked weakly, sweat beading at his temple.
But whether Rudolf was serious or not no longer mattered.
Every Uma Musume there had already accepted her words as gospel truth.
A whole day alone with Mizuno—no teammates, no interruptions, just the two of them?
It wasn't simply an opportunity. It was destiny.
And from that moment, there was no longer a question of who could win.
There was only one absolute resolve blazing inside every Uma Musume present—
—They must.