"Afternoon, Teio. Here alone today?"
Entering the training room, Mejiro McQueen finds Tokai Teio sprawled in a chair like a wilted flower.
"Oh, McQueen… yeah, just me, as you can see."
Teio lifts an eyelid, then slumps back.
My-life-is-perfect-if-I-can-rot-here.jpg
"…What happened?"
"I've just realised how unnecessary I am."
Tokai Teio's voice is flat, all spark gone.
"Uh…"
Mejiro McQueen hesitates.
"Want to talk?"
"Mm, here's how it went."
…That noon, after lunch, Tokai Teio headed to the Student Council office for her daily dose of president-energy.
"Prez! I'm back!"
She shoved the door open—and saw—
"So you've really got it down? Incredible."
"I think I've grasped it, but something still feels off."
Symboli Rudolf and Gold Legend chatting like old friends.
"Off? Can you describe it?"
"It's like an 800-word essay where the last hundred are just filler—feels weird."
"What a metaphor."
Neither spared Teio a glance, continuing their conversation.
"Hey~ what are you two talking about? Notice your Emperor standing here!"
Shut out, Teio forced her way in.
"Oh, Teio, when did you arrive?"
"Afternoon, Teio. What brings you here?"
Both spoke in perfect unison.
So you really didn't notice me at all?
Tokai Teio stared, stunned.
At the same time, curiosity ignited in her heart.
"I just arrived. Hey, President, Legend, what are you two talking about?"
Tokai Teio employed her always-successful pouting tactic.
I am very curious.jpg
Gold Legend looked at Teio's sparkling big eyes, then awkwardly glanced at Symboli Rudolf.
Symboli Rudolf, however, shook her head.
"I apologize, Teio. Some matters are too early for you."
"Eh, that's not fair! Why does Legend get to know?"
Tokai Teio's competitive spirit flared up.
"Don't make the President feel awkward, Teio."
Seeing this, Gold Legend quickly interjected.
"Alright, is there something you need, Teio?"
Rudolf didn't dwell on the details and asked straightforwardly.
"...Can't I come if I don't need anything?"
Teio felt a bit wronged.
"The Student Council always welcomes you, Teio, but as you can see, we are currently busy."
Rudolf was slightly helpless but patiently explained.
Truly the treatment of a favored child.
Gold Legend silently complained internally from the side.
If anyone else were throwing a tantrum here, they would have probably been kicked out long ago.
Do not be rude to Central.jpg
"Then why can Legend be here? She's not even part of the Student Council!"
Tokai Teio lost her temper and pointed directly at Gold Legend, questioning Rudolf.
What the f*... Bah, what does that have to do with me?
Gold Legend, who got dragged into the crossfire just by watching the show, looked utterly innocent.
"You actually reminded me of something."
Rudolf didn't mind Teio's rudeness; instead, she looked like she had just realized something.
"Gold Legend-san."
"Ah? Present!"
Gold Legend was so startled she stood at attention.
"I would like to formally invite you here to join the Tracen Student Council. Are you willing?"
Rudolf adjusted her posture and extended her hand toward Gold Legend.
"Eh!"
"Ah?"
The first sound was Teio's, filled with disbelief.
The second sound was Legend's, overflowing with confusion.
"President! You never agreed, even though I applied so many times!"
This time, Tokai Teio was truly wronged, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
"Enough, Teio, this is not the time for your antics. Legend-san, what is your reply?"
Rudolf gave a perfunctory reprimand and ignored Teio's crying fit.
"...May I ask for the reason?"
Gold Legend didn't understand why things had developed this way.
"There are many reasons, but the core issue is only one: you already possess the [Qualification]. Both logically and emotionally, this is a necessary step."
"I see."
Hearing the word [Qualification], Gold Legend instantly understood, nodded, and then fell into contemplation.
"What exactly are you two talking about?"
Tokai Teio was furious.
"It doesn't concern you, Teio. I told you, this is not something you can know yet."
The Emperor was serious in front of Teio for once.
"Eek!"
Tokai Teio was startled.
On the other side, after thinking for a moment, Gold Legend gave her reply.
"I understand. I will join the Student Council."
Gold Legend grasped Rudolf's extended hand.
"Ah, welcome, Legend-san."
Rudolf nodded with satisfaction.
The world where only Teio gets hurt is complete.
"The President and Legend are both idiots!"
Tokai Teio cried and rushed out of the Student Council room.
"...Should I go explain it?"
Gold Legend raised an eyebrow and asked.
"...No need. I will explain next time."
Rudolf shook her head.
"More importantly, let's continue our previous topic."
"Huh? Are you really okay with that? Teio was crying, you know?"
Gold Legend was a bit stunned by Symboli Rudolf's attitude.
"It's fine. Perhaps I usually spoil her too much. This might be for the best."
"...I can't be responsible if Teio holds a grudge against you."
"It's fine. Teio is no longer a child."
"Alright, and then, regarding my domain..."
..."Right? The President and Legend were totally out of line!"
Recalling what just happened, Tokai Teio complained tearfully to McQueen.
"Legend-san was invited to join the Student Council?"
Mejiro McQueen said in surprise.
"Is that the point?"
Teio retorted.
Isn't it?
McQueen was speechless. This was the Student Council, the most powerful organization beneath the Tracen Chairman, controlling every aspect of Tracen, a group holding absolute power. Countless people desperately wanted to join; if the members weren't decided by the Chairman and the President, it would have been overcrowded long ago.
"But why would they invite Legend-san?"
She's a New Uma Musume just like us.
Mejiro McQueen was full of doubt.
"I remember, the President seemed to mention, [Qualification]?"
Teio, who had also calmed down a bit, tilted her head and said.
The two Uma Musume exchanged glances.
"Forget it, that's not important. Anyway, I'm very angry right now, the kind that can't be easily soothed!"
Teio immediately gave up thinking, slumped back onto the chair, looking sullen.
"Teio..."
She's like a child.
Watching Teio sulking on the chair with her arms crossed, McQueen gave a helpless smile.
Her gaze shifted to Teio's twitching ears, and McQueen became somewhat engrossed.
"...What is it, McQueen?"
Sensing McQueen's undisguised gaze, Teio realized something.
"...I suddenly want to try the Mejiro Family's inherited Ear Massage Technique."
McQueen's eyes lit up.
"No! I don't know what you mean!"
Tokai Teio, realizing what was happening, immediately covered her ears.
"It's fine, it's fine. How about we treat it as relaxation? Teio doesn't want to keep sulking, right? It's very stress-relieving."
McQueen tried to coax her.
"Really?"
"Really!"
"...Alright."
Teio hesitantly leaned closer.
How cute.
McQueen thought, not stopping the movement of her hands.
She gently placed her hands on Teio's ears and began to massage them.
"How is it, Teio?"
"It's very comfortable."
"That's good."
Gently massaging Teio's ears, Mejiro McQueen fell into contemplation again.
Why was Legend-san invited to the Student Council?
Thinking this, she unconsciously applied a little more pressure with her hands.
"McQueen, that hurts!"
"Ah, I'm sorry! Are you okay, Teio..."
McQueen, snapping back to reality, immediately apologized, then lost her words as she looked at Teio's face.
Teio's face was flushed red, and she wore a subtle expression.
Specifically, it was that suggestive expression you only see when a Chinese-style hero makes an appearance in a picture.
"Teio, are you there? I bought you a honey special drink."
Gold Legend, intending to apologize to Teio, opened the door while holding the honey special drink.
"..."
The scene was momentarily deadlocked.
"Sorry to interrupt."
Gold Legend retreated outside the door, closing it behind her.
"Legend-san, listen to my explanation!"
"McQueen, you're hurting me!"
The scene seemed to become even more chaotic... After a while of pandemonium, Mejiro McQueen finally resolved the confusion.
"So, McQueen was just giving Teio a massage?"
Then why did it look like a doujinshi plot?
Gold Legend thought with narrowed eyes.
But it doesn't matter, the TeiMcQueen shippers are fully satisfied.
"Yes, that's all it was."
Seeing Gold Legend, who had cleared up the misunderstanding, Mejiro McQueen breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn't want Gold Legend to misunderstand her.
"And then, Legend, are you done with your business?"
Teio pouted, speaking to Legend in a sarcastic tone.
"...Oh dear, it's alright, Teio, I won't steal your President."
"She's not my President!"
"Yes, yes, please forgive this humble one, Lord Teio."
Gold Legend offered a honey special drink.
"Hmph, don't think one honey special drink is enough to make me forgive you."
Teio took the special drink, took a big gulp, and then pouted again.
"Then how can this humble one earn Lord Teio's forgiveness?"
"...Tell me how to get into the Student Council?"
Teio thought for a moment and asked.
"That won't do. I don't have the authority to say that."
Gold Legend smiled and shook her head.
"...Alright, then for the next week, you have to treat me to honey special drinks."
Teio was only pouting after all and didn't dwell on it too much.
"Alright, alright, I'll cover Lord Teio's honey special drinks for the next week."
Gold Legend smiled and nodded.
How nice.
Mejiro McQueen looked at the harmonious scene before her, thinking happily... "What should we do? Should we go in?"
Outside the door, Vodka awkwardly raised her hand, unsure whether to open the training room door.
"Let's not, the atmosphere inside is so good, we shouldn't disturb them."
Gold Ship played with the Rubik's Cube in her hand, even I, Gold Ship, know how to read the room.
"However, the seniors, they really have an unapproachable aura about them."
Daiwa Scarlet twirled her twin tails, sighing as she spoke.
"Exactly, not at all like us!"
Vodka nodded in agreement.
I don't think you two are much better.
Gold Ship thought silently, moving a little further away.
"Oh, sorry I'm late... What are you doing outside the door?"
The belated Trainer spoke at an inopportune moment.
The road ahead is long and arduous.
Looking at yet another person lacking self-awareness, Gold Ship, the only emotionally intelligent member of Team Spica, let out a soft sigh.
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