Time rewinds slightly, returning to the morning.
Morning.
Representative Chiaki, holding a Yogibo pillow, was lying on the beanbag chair she had bought. Not having gone to Tracen, she was still recalling Rudolph's invitation from yesterday.
To be honest, Rudolph's return concerned Representative Chiaki greatly.
Because in Representative Chiaki's understanding, Rudolph should not have returned.
Thinking of this, Representative Chiaki merely tightened her grip on the pillow.
She knew that Rudolph's decisions would not change.
And it was precisely because of this that...
The reason for Rudolph's return was so intriguing.
Shifting her gaze slightly, Representative Chiaki saw her phone placed to the side.
The standby phone was still displaying the time.
It was only ten minutes until eleven, causing Representative Chiaki to shift her gaze back.
She knew that Rudolph's training usually started around noon.
There was still some time until then.
So, for Representative Chiaki, she still had time to think.
Finding the reason for Rudolph's return was not difficult.
Because it only required a little thought to figure out who was important enough to Rudolph to make her go against her principles.
And soon, Representative Chiaki thought of who it might be.
"Shizen, huh…"
Having reached this conclusion, Representative Chiaki squeezed the pillow in her hands even harder.
She couldn't understand why Shizen would make Rudolph return, especially after what Rudolph had done to Tokai.
Given Tokai's thoughts, it should have been impossible for her to return.
"Is it… the medicine?"
However, in just a few seconds, Representative Chiaki had already thought of the only possibility.
According to her request to Air Groove, that medicine should have been an experimental product capable of restoring Tokai's past memories.
But as for the effect… "Unexpectedly good, huh."
Thinking this, Representative Chiaki sighed deeply, then shifted her gaze to another spot.
"If at that time…"
Recalling what Air Groove had once told her, if Representative Chiaki hadn't given the medicine to the other party when it didn't contain any of the ingredients she had requested,
Would the outcome have been different?
Thinking this, Representative Chiaki no longer squeezed the abused pillow in her hands.
She just thought about what had happened in the past, little by little.
Everything had gone so smoothly, until… Representative Chiaki made special adjustments to the medicine.
At that time, she shouldn't have done such a thing.
And realizing this, Representative Chiaki began to search for some reasons, and then she found Chiyo O's invitation to Tokai.
At that time, she was like being carried forward by some emotion.
Noticing this, Representative Chiaki opened her mouth.
But she dared not speak the root cause of that problem.
Because… she shouldn't have had such a problem in the first place.
After all, she remembered very clearly that during the race, due to her chronic slow starts, she had to adopt a chasing running style.
At that time, there should have been far more people in the lead than herself.
At that time, she didn't care at all, because she always found a way to win.
But now… realizing that she couldn't win, she began anxiously searching for every possibility of victory.
Even if it meant using such methods.
Thinking of this, Representative Chiaki put the pillow, which had just been released from her tight embrace, back into her locked embrace.
Then,
She threw it out.
With the Uma Musume's immense strength, the pillow hit the wall.
But perhaps due to its quality, the pillow was not damaged.
This time, finally realizing the essence of the matter, Representative Chiaki finally spoke her problem: "Was I jealous?"
Having said this, Representative Chiaki stood up again.
After understanding the essence of the matter, Representative Chiaki still didn't change at all, because she felt that no matter what, she was far better than Rudolph… Recalling Rudolph Symboli she saw yesterday, Representative Chiaki froze for a moment.
Now she even began to doubt this judgment.
Because if that were truly the case, Rudolph would not have returned, and realizing this, Representative Chiaki was silent for a few seconds.
Then she shifted her gaze slightly… At this moment, after Rudolph's return, Representative Chiaki, re-examining herself from the perspective of a loser, finally realized the crux of the problem.
————————————
Opening her eyes again, Tokai Nature saw the twilight.
And with just a slight turn of her head, Tokai Nature saw Rudolph Symboli sitting on the chair with her.
"Is the race over?"
"Yes, it's over."
"Then, what about Maruzen and Chiaki?"
"As for those two, they've already gone back. After all, the actual situation has been explained quite a bit, so they probably won't come looking for you for a while."
Saying this, Rudolph merely glanced behind the seat.
Representative Chiaki and Maruzensky, crouching behind the seat, were both holding two small twigs, raising them higher than their heads.
Perhaps it was an Uma Musume's subtle genetic adaptation to this kind of subtle disguise.
Tokai Nature didn't notice those two at all.
"What's wrong?"
As if noticing that Rudolph's gaze was not on her, Tokai Nature merely asked curiously.
Rudolph immediately withdrew her gaze when Tokai Nature suddenly asked her that.
Then, she asked the other party a question: "Do you need me to carry you?"
"Eh? Is that okay?"
"Yes, your condition isn't very good right now, so it's best to avoid moving as much as possible."
Saying this, Rudolph turned around and squatted down with her back to Tokai.
Looking at Rudolph squatting in front of her like that, Tokai Nature merely yawned, then stood up and directly lay on Rudolph's back.
And after feeling a little more weight on her back, Rudolph stood up:
"What do you want to eat tonight?"
"I don't know."
"We can go grocery shopping now, too."
"Then I want you to carry me there."
"Okay."
…Watching the two gradually walk away, Maruzensky and Representative Chiaki also dropped their disguises.
The two of them stood behind the seat, with no intention of catching up.
After all… "I just feel like it doesn't seem like love…"
Saying this, Maruzensky looked at Representative Chiaki.
Representative Chiaki, being stared at by Maruzensky, merely watched the two gradually disappearing from view.
Watching the two of them slowly walk away, Representative Chiaki spoke the conclusion that Maruzensky had already guessed.
But dared not say:
"Tokai Nature is going to die…"
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