A café somewhere outside the school…
The atmosphere inside was heavy, as if the air itself had turned sticky.
Customers and staff alike kept stealing glances toward the most secluded table by the window.
Three people sat there—each striking enough to draw attention anywhere—yet the pressure radiating from them was suffocating.
That corner became the only place in the café no one dared approach.
A thin ribbon of steam curled from the coffee in front of Symboli Rudolf, but her eyes never left Wu You for even a second.
Wu You stirred a sugar cube slowly with a spoon and spoke softly. "It's been a long time, Rudolf. Have you been well lately?"
"…"
Just those few words made Rudolf's eyes redden.
She understood, in that instant, that her trainer was still the same man—so gentle it hurt. Even after everything, the first thing he did was ask about her well-being.
Across the table, Chiemi had just lifted her cup when her expression changed.
Something was wrong.
Rudolf's state was… unstable. Like she might leap across the table and snatch Yuu away at any moment.
To prevent that, Chiemi spoke first. "Yuu, didn't you say we should talk about what happened back then?"
At the name "Yuu," Rudolf's brow tightened.
That nickname… had belonged only to her, two years ago.
"Yuu," Rudolf said quietly, "let me tell it."
Chiemi's mouth twitched.
Was it her imagination, or had Rudolf deliberately stressed the syllable?
Wu You shook his head lightly. "It's fine. You don't need to worry about my feelings."
Then he turned to Chiemi. "Do you know what Rudolf's last scheduled race was, back then?"
Chiemi scratched her cheek. "I… don't."
"It was the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe," Rudolf answered.
Chiemi's eyes widened. "What?!"
(Note: The following is fictionalized setting and may not align with real-world facts.)
The Arc.
Founded in 1920, it was one of Europe's—and the world's—highest-level turf races, famous for its prestige and enormous prize money.
For Japan's top Umamusume, the Arc was the pinnacle of honor.
And yet, even now… no one had ever claimed the crown.
Two years ago, the undefeated Seven-Crown champion, Symboli Rudolf, became everyone's hope.
And then—
"Back then… I…" Rudolf's voice dropped. Her gaze sank into the dark surface of her coffee, as if it could show her the past reflected in rippling black.
"I was blinded by the title of 'Seven Crowns.' I believed victory was inevitable. I believed I carried everyone's expectations—so I had to answer them with the most extreme methods possible."
Chiemi fell silent.
She understood. That kind of arrogance wasn't good.
But if it were her, could she have stayed calm?
The answer was no.
Everyone hated Symboli Rudolf's "Seven Crowns" because it was an impossible summit.
But what they hated even more was this:
Why wasn't it them?
"You tried to stop me, Yuu," Rudolf said, lifting her eyes to Wu You.
Those violet eyes—always sharp, always composed—were now soaked in remorse.
She remembered that day two years ago: the training grounds bathed in sunset, their shadows stretched long across the track.
…
"Rudolf, your muscle fatigue index is already over the limit. Next week you have to reduce volume, or you'll risk injury."
Wu You held a page of training data, his tone uncharacteristically firm.
Rudolf wiped sweat from her brow, her voice unyielding. "Yuu, the Arc is right in front of me. The media, the public—everyone is watching. I can't retreat. I'm not at my limit yet."
"But what you're doing isn't approaching the limit," he said, voice tightening. "It's—"
"Enough!"
Rudolf turned sharply, irritation flaring at being questioned.
The aura of the "Emperor" surged out without restraint, forcing Wu You to step back.
Rudolf's expression flickered—panic for an instant. Her hand lifted instinctively, wanting to steady him… but froze midair and withdrew.
"I know my body. I know what I need to do to win. Yuu, you just need to support me—like you always have!"
Wu You parted his lips, then swallowed the harsher warning he wanted to give.
Only the worry in his eyes remained, thick enough to choke on.
He knew her too well.
That proud sense of duty and hunger for victory—once her greatest strength—had become the most dangerous catalyst of all.
…
"But I didn't listen."
Back in the café, Rudolf's voice trembled.
"I hid it from you. I trained alone at night—repeating high-load hill sprints, again and again. I believed that was the only road to the Arc."
Chiemi held her breath. She could already sense where this was going.
The table fell into silence.
Chiemi didn't ask what happened next.
Some endings were thorns—embedded too deep to pull out.
But Rudolf closed her eyes, drew a long breath, then opened them again with her eyes fully red.
Today, she would tear open the scar with her own hands.
"Then… during what was supposed to be a recovery jog on turf, I heard a small sound from my left leg. It wasn't violent. It didn't even hurt."
Her voice was flat, almost detached.
"But I knew. It was over."
She still remembered the results, even now.
A fractured heel bone in her left foot. At least three months of strict rest.
Even if she recovered, she could never stand on that starting line in full, undefeated condition.
The Arc… slipped out of reach, right at her fingertips.
"It wasn't because the opponents were too strong," Rudolf said, her smile twisting into something uglier than tears. "It was because I was stupid… and arrogant… ha… ha…"
Chiemi exhaled quietly.
She wasn't there. Any comfort she offered would feel thin, weightless.
But one question remained—unavoidable.
What did any of this have to do with Wu You?
"After your withdrawal was announced," Wu You continued, his tone calm—as though he were recounting someone else's story.
"URA headquarters convened an emergency meeting. They needed an explanation. For the public. For sponsors."
Chiemi's eyes snapped to him. "So you—"
She already knew.
"I was her trainer," Wu You said, nodding once. "The responsibility naturally fell on me."
He took a small sip of coffee and spoke as if reading a line he'd memorized.
"They gave me two options. Publicly admit negligence and accept disciplinary reassignment… or resign voluntarily and leave the training world entirely."
He set the cup down.
"And I chose the latter."
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