A mere breath later, the roar of an engine erupted behind them—a thrumming vibration that reeked of money.
Anyone could tell it wasn't just an ordinary car.
Sure enough, what eventually pulled up before the two was an outrageously flashy red sports car. Its streamlined body and artfully designed lights all whispered of an exorbitant price tag.
"Hey there~"
A stunning young(?) woman rolled down the window, raising two fingers to her temple in a crisp, casual salute.
The smooth motion drew the eyes of passersby—until they noticed the pair of ears atop her head, and understanding dawned.
After all, Uma Musume were naturally blessed with good looks, and top-tier beauties among them were hardly rare.
"Hop in. I'll give you a lift. It's not often Rudolf asks for a favor, so I've got to give it my all~"
With a playful wink, the charming Uma Musume smiled at the two juniors before her.
That is, if you ignored her painfully outdated, pale-blue floral-print sleeveless dress.
"Thank you, Maruzensky-senpai."
Rudolf offered a serious word of thanks, then guided Nearl into the back seat. As she fastened her seatbelt properly, she struck up a light conversation.
"Say, Senpai, why don't you come along? Join us for the training camp."
Rudolf asked while adjusting her seating posture, her tone relaxed. Given how casually she brought it up and the location mentioned, it was clear she already knew the answer—this was just small talk to keep the silence at bay.
Maruzensky saw right through it. She started the engine as she replied offhandedly.
"No thanks. You're just looking for extra hands, aren't you? Someone to look after their training. Why would I give up my perfectly good day off to work overtime with you?"
"But shouldn't you be working right now, Senpai? It's Tuesday. There's no day off."
"Can't I use my annual leave?"
"If I recall correctly, you already used up all your annual leave. A month ago."
Rudolf narrowed her eyes, the sharpness in them hidden. Somehow, the casual chat had veered straight into interrogation territory.
"Huh? Really? I don't remember~ When did I use it?"
"Hoh…"
Rudolf's air of sovereignty over Tracen Academy returned in an instant, morphing from the intellectual underclassman into a high-level boss.
She didn't need extra words—just a single sigh was enough to seize control of the atmosphere.
"Maruzensky-senpai, a thought just occurred to me. Could you clarify something for me?"
"…Yes?"
"Today, when I asked you to give Nearl and me a ride, it was a sudden request, and I'm grateful you agreed. But in theory, you should be working at the Student Council today. Why aren't you wearing the Tracen uniform? I recall free attire isn't permitted on campus."
"…"
Silence abruptly filled the car. Maruzensky's hand, resting on the gearshift, trembled slightly. This non-answer spoke volumes.
"I see. You were planning to skip work from the start, weren't you? No wonder you arrived so quickly. You were probably already planning to make a run for it when I texted you, right?"
What kind of person was Symboli Rudolf? After a few seconds of thought, she'd pieced together most of the truth.
"Maruzensky-senpai…"
Nearl wasn't sure what to say.
Though she was practically a member of the Student Council by now, and Rudolf naturally consulted her on many matters, should she really plead on Maruzensky's behalf in this situation?
"It seems you have nothing left to say." Rudolf relaxed into the seat, leaning back as she considered how to deal with this habitually slacking senior.
"To be honest, on normal days I don't mind much. Even if you often dawdle, dump all the work on me, never help with major events, and team up with Mr. C.B. to tease me… I still believed in your sense of responsibility."
Slender, pale fingers tapped rhythmically against her own firm thigh—once, twice—as if brewing something up.
"But now Mr. C.B. holds an important position and has no time to spare for the Student Council, and I'm leaving for the training camp. That leaves only you and Air Groove in the Council. Shouldn't you step up and take responsibility now?"
"Urk!"
There was a reason she was called the Emperor.
This relentless verbal assault hammered Maruzensky from every angle—responsibility, trust, seniority—leaving her so guilt-ridden she could only fall silent, utterly defenseless.
"Alright, alright, my mistake. I'll go back to work. I'll head back right after dropping you off."
Maruzensky surrendered, bowing her head. The pangs of conscience wouldn't let her ignore Air Groove toiling alone in the Student Council office.
"Honestly, after all that, even if I went out to have fun, I wouldn't be able to enjoy it."
"Hmm, it's good that you feel that way, Senpai." Having achieved her goal, Rudolf let out a leisurely sigh.
"But going back isn't necessary. There's actually a second way you could contribute. Why not come along to the training camp and help out?"
"Huh? But what about Air Groove…"
"I've already arranged things with Air Groove. My butler will bring me the daily work documents from Tracen. No need to worry at all."
It was then that Maruzensky finally caught on. She bit her lip, shooting Rudolf a sharp, distrustful look.
"So that's how it is. You had this in mind from the start, didn't you, Rudolf? All that scolding was just to shake me up and make me more likely to accept your request."
"I can't be blamed for that, Senpai. I didn't plan this at all initially. It was only when I saw you skipping work that the idea came to me. Call it… 'reaping what you sow.'"
"You…"
Maruzensky felt choked, speechless. A nameless, murky frustration swirled inside her, finally focusing on the steering wheel in her hands.
"Heh. Fine, Rudolf. I'll accept your request—I was in the wrong to begin with. But I've got to vent this pent-up frustration somehow!"
She pressed the clutch, her hands moving swiftly to shift gears.
The red sports car growled heavily, the engine surging to its limit in an instant. Tires screeched against the pavement, white smoke and ear-piercing noise flooding the air.
"Maruzensky-senpai, what are you—!?"
Instinctively, Rudolf gripped Nearl's shoulder beside her, utterly helpless against this completely unfamiliar situation.
Nearl silently tightened her hold on Rudolf's arm. She already guessed what was coming next.
"What else? I'm taking you for a little drive, Rudolf!"
Fueled by blazing resentment, her foot slammed down on the accelerator.
"Wait, no!!!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.