Blossom Star smiled coldly. "That's not something that can happen."
"Oh…?" Rudolf smiled, intrigued. "So you would rather remain here?"
To her surprise, Star shook her head. "No." She said, taking a quick glance at Kitahara before continuing. "From the moment I met her, I knew Oguri was meant for a bigger track. Kasamatsu just isn't big enough for her—I think Kitahara can agree to that." She closed her eyes. "And if Belno is to continue improving, she needs more runners she can face against, and Kasamatsu just doesn't have that. Not yet."
"But this team will not be whole without Kitahara." She closed her eyes. "Oguri wouldn't have begun racing like she is now without him. He was also the one who easily accepted Belno, even when no one else would. As for me," she paused, and then smiled. "As embarrassing as it sounds, he was the one who made me want to run at all."
"Star…" Kitahara whispered.
Oguri nodded faintly. "You were so happy." She said simply. "It made me want to run. Chukyo Cup, Tokai Derby—anything."
"M-Me too!" Belno smiled encouragingly, even if she still seemed terrified beneath Rudolf's gaze. "No one wanted to become my trainer at first, but you accepted me so easily! And-, and-!" She clenched her fists. "It-, I can't imagine a Team Kitahara without you in it, Kitahara-san."
"Oguri…Belno…" Kitahara grit his teeth.
…damn it. How shameful of him.
His trainees-, no, his team was right. Even if he was just a third-rate trainer, even if they could shine on their own without his help—he had never felt as happy as he was now. To imagine going back to that life of aimlessly ambling towards tomorrow; that was a nightmare he didn't dare return to!
His team deserved to go to Central, but even so…!
Tears built in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. "Thank you, all of you…!" He grinned brightly, no longer needing to force it. "Meeting you all was the best thing in my life!"
Belno gasped in delight, before she sprang and pulled him into a hug. Oguri smiled as he went on her toes and patted his head. And Blossom Star simply smiled, before she turned back to face Rudolf, her face set with determination.
The other umamusume present in the room shuffled slightly, both awed by the bond they showed and ashamed.
"How enviable…" She whispered, before her eyes darkened. "But this does not change anything, Blossom Star." She crossed her arms. "We remain at an impasse." She narrowed her eyes. "Are you willing to forgo your future so easily?"
And to that,
Blossom Star laughed.
The action was so out of place that it caused the entire VIP room to fall silent. Everyone stared at her as if she was insane, but Star seemed entirely unbothered. Instead, the umamusume grinned as she began making her way up the steps, shrinking the distance between her and Symboli Rudolf.
"Hey, hey. Isn't there an easy solution for this?" She began lightly, stopping just a small distance away from Rudolf. "This all becomes a non-issue if you just let Kitahara follow us to Central." She grinned easily. "We go to Central, Team Kitahara remains intact—no one loses."
Symboli Rudolf narrowed her eyes. "It is the rule that local trainers cannot enter Central." She shook her head. "Only after he attains a Central license by his own effort will he be granted entrance."
"Rules aren't absolute. Concessions have to be made, here and there."
The air turned frigid. Rudolf's expression turned empty. "Are you saying the Central's rules are wrong?"
Star returned a sharky grin as she leaned forward. "Not wrong per se." She said cheerily. "Just outdated."
"You…"
If the air had been cold before, it now became apocalyptic. Kitahara shuddered as he watched the cold anger that arose in Rudolf's eyes. Belno gasped at the pressure that pressed down on her, and Oguri grunted as she grit her teeth. Not even the other umamusume were spared, with many gasping as they subtly pulled away from the angered student president.
"You think someone like you, a newcomer from the countryside, could so easily change such rules?"
Rudolf's eyes blazed.
"Don't underestimate Central, Blossom Star."
Yet Blossom Star remained unaffected. In fact, her grin only grew, as if pleased by her reaction.
Evidently, she was, because she suddenly laughed again.
"Man, now that was cold." She said, before shrugging. "But you're right. I'm just some countryside gal who knows nothing about the oh-so mighty Central."
"But,"
She stomped her foot down, and for the first time, her cheery expression morphed into frigid anger.
"Don't you dare assume I'm ignorant, Symboli Rudolf."
The two umamusume stared at one another for an uncomfortably long amount of time, as if watching to see who would back down first. No one dared to speak up during it, and even the usually stoic Oguri looked surprised to see how bold Blossom Star was.
Then, as if nothing happened, Blossom Star smiled. "Anyway," she playfully snapped her fingers. "It's not like I'm asking for the rules to change. Hell, I never even suggested that."
Rudolf's frigid expression faded, but her glare remained fixed on Star. "Is that so?"
"Yep, yep." She smiled. "You see, here's the thing." She walked down the steps, and casually slung her arm around Kitahara's shoulder. "Our trainer here has an uncle. He's pretty famous, last I heard. I was quite surprised to suddenly run into him a week back." Her smile deepened. "His name's Musaka Ginjirou. That name rings a bell?"
Rudolf furrowed her brows. Of course she knew who he was. Musaka Ginjirou, also known as the 'Fairy Godfather'. A prominent Central trainer who'd only recently returned to Japan after a trip overseas. So Kitahara Jo's uncle was that legendary trainer?
…could it be?
Blossom Star winked. "Now you're getting it." She said, understanding the realization she'd come to. "Local trainers aren't allowed in Central. That's a fact, and I ain't asking for it to change." She glanced at Kitahara and grinned. "But there's nothing in the URA Rulebook stopping Apprentices from joining an experienced Trainer to Central, right?"
Kitahara's eyes went wide.
Rudolf smiled. "Clever." She admitted, but then frowned. "But Kitahara Jo has already become a trainer. If he is to return to being an Apprentice he must-"
"Renounce my license." He finished, before laughing wryly. "Haha, it seems so simple now that I'm thinking about it."
Rudolf raised an eyebrow. "You would willingly discard all the work you've done?"
Kitahara just smiled fondly as he gazed at the three trainees he'd taken. At the three umamusume who'd changed his life during the short time they'd been together. "I'm a greedy man, Symboli-san." He pulled down his cap and grinned. "If it means staying with them for a little longer, then I don't mind."
Rudolf sighed helplessly. "So be it." She smiled. "Then I will await your arrival in Central, Kitahara-san-" She shook her head. "No, I'll be waiting, Team Kitahara."
Blossom Star winked. "Don't worry, you'll be hearing about us real soon." She smiled, before she gave Oguri's shoulder a tap. "Anyway, we should probably get your Winning Concert going now. Everyone's probably really confused by this point." She then glanced at Kitahara. "Oh, and we should thank Musaka-san as well. He agreed to our plan when I explained it to him."
Kitahara sighed in wonder. "To think Roppei-san would help me like this…" He shook his head before he turned back to Rudolf. "Then we'll be going now, Symboli-san."
Rudolf nodded, and all of Team Kitahara quickly headed out of the VIP room, letting the room descend back into silence. Some of the umamusume who'd watched the confrontation snuck glances at her occasionally, but Rudolf paid them no mind. Instead she too left the VIP room, though she didn't head towards where Oguri's Winning Concert was to be held.
Instead, in a seemingly ordinary tunnel, she found a familiar figure waiting for her, leaning against the wall.
"Ah~, so you're finally done, Rudolf?"
She sighed. "Maruzensky." She smiled wryly. "So it was you who gave them access."
She'd wondered where her bodyguards had gone. She knew it was impossible for them to be led away, even if someone like the Fairy Godfather had aided them. But if it was Maruzensky…
"Oh, come on~" Maruzensky giggled. "When little Star first told me about what she wanted to do, how could I ever say no?"
"Maruzensky-"
"Rudolf." She said, suddenly devoid of her usual smile. "When she first approached me, did you know what I saw?"
"..."
Maruzensky looked away, her gaze distant. "She was desperate, Rudolf." She closed her eyes. "She looked confident, but I could tell this was her last chance. Something she'd prepared for weeks. Her one and only solution." Her smile was nostalgic, and a little sad. "She even made notes on the actual URA Rulebook! I mean, who even does that anymore?"
She leaned her head on the wall. "But more than that, I just didn't want to be like them."
Rudolf's eyes widened. "Maruzensky, I…" The rest of her words were lost, and soon she found herself leaning on the wall as well.
Her story was one few knew. Her Career was incredible; 8 wins out of 8 races. An undefeated streak. But that was only because she wasn't allowed to join most of the prestigious races. And why? Just because she wasn't a Japanese umamusume? All because she came from a foreign land?
The URA rules had so cruelly stopped her.
And it was damning to realize she very nearly did the same to another.
"I-, I must apologize." She eventually said, quickly turning to find the members of Team Kitahara. But before she could leave, Maruzensky gently held onto her sleeve.
"Hey, now. None of that." Maruzensky smiled gently. "It's okay. Things just got a little heated back there. And I think little Star understood that there just wasn't much you can do."
"But still-"
Maruzensky shook her head. "You said you'll see them in Central, right?" She smiled. "Then let's be patient."
"...okay."
Rudolf returned to leaning on the wall.
They both remained there in silence for a while longer.