Trainer Wada and Imanami have already started training Uma Musume. Trainer Wada has Meisho Doto, and while Imanami still hasn't officially signed one yet, he was already training multiple Uma Musume and so he didn't have any worries.
However, among the three, only Trainer Ikezoe—who clearly has the skills and talent to be the second-ranked Trainer among them—was currently in an awkward position.
"Find an Uma Musume... Find an Uma Musume... Besides Orfevre, do I really have no other choice?"
Trainer Ikezoe walked aimlessly around Tracen Academy.
An entire day has passed, and Trainer Wada had already found Meisho Doto, a strong Uma Musume who has the potential to win multiple GIs—a great first trainee. Trainer Imanami also has Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen as options.
The only one who didn't manage to find an Uma Musume was him.
Just an hour ago, he had walked out of the Student Council office. Symboli Rudolf had specifically summoned him and said to him:
"Trainer Wada has found his Uma Musume, and Imanami-san's situation doesn't require my attention. What I am most concerned about right now is your willingness, Trainer Ikezoe—although this might go against your wishes, I truly do think that you are best-suited to Uma Musume that have slightly more stubborn temperaments."
When Symboli Rudolf spoke with Trainer Ikezoe, Trainer Ikezoe's face almost turned white. Symboli Rudolf clearly noticed Trainer Ikezoe's reluctance and immediately changed the topic with a smile, saying:
"Of course, the Student Council will not force you to take on an Uma Musume now. After all, we have given you a week. Within this week, as long as you can find an Uma Musume to train, the Student Council will not arrange a suitable Uma Musume for you."
"However, as the Student Council President, I must clarify that if you cannot find your Uma Musume within a week, and the Uma Musume we arrange does not meet your expectations, please don't harbor any resentment towards us. Our Student Council will absolutely arrange the most suitable Uma Musume for you based on your personality. I can guarantee this on the honor of being the Student Council President."
—Just like that, even though Symboli Rudolf didn't explicitly say it, Trainer Ikezoe had an extremely strong premonition: if he still couldn't find another Uma Musume within this week, Symboli Rudolf would definitely force Orfevre onto him! Absolutely!
Suddenly, Trainer Ikezoe started to panic.
It wasn't that he disliked Orfevre. Although Orfevre had made him experience the pain of being 'sent to the hospital' again on the first day, he was used to such things. He truly didn't really care.
But the thing was that this time, he wasn't interacting with Racehorses, but sapient Uma Musume.
Ever since yesterday's incident, Trainer Ikezoe's relationship with Orfevre had visibly stiffened. Trainer Ikezoe knew he wasn't liked by Racehorses, but not being liked by Racehorses was acceptable, as it was something his job required—something unavoidable.
As a Jockey, who would get angry with a Racehorse? Could one really expect a Racehorse to understand their feelings?
But in this world, they were Uma Musume. Uma Musume, while not scientifically considered humans, if you asked Trainer Ikezoe to delude himself into thinking they were animals... Trainer Ikezoe couldn't do it.
Trainer Ikezoe believed that every Uma Musume was a living, breathing person, and interacting with them was roughly equivalent to interacting with humans that have superhuman strength.
Imagine being a teacher that was disliked by your student, and that student could straight up kill you with a single kick, and you still had to closely interact with them like that for three years or more... Trainer Ikezoe felt his scalp tingle.
He could accept the fact that he wasn't liked by Racehorses, just as some people aren't liked by cats, but knowingly approaching and spending long amounts of time with someone who dislikes you... Trainer Ikezoe didn't consider himself a masochist and had no plans of developing such a fetish.
"But it's so strange... I've asked so many students, why is there still not a single Uma Musume who is willing to be my trainee? Did Racehorses disliking me transform into Uma Musume disliking me after I transmigrated?"
At this moment, Trainer Ikezoe just sighed powerlessly.
He had already approached several Uma Musume who seemed to have potential, yet without exception, they all found an excuse to refuse after seeing him. Trainer Ikezoe even began to suspect if there was something wrong with his face.
Although he got beaten up quite badly yesterday, he was mostly recovered today. Not only that, after transmigrating, he not only became younger but also a bit more handsome than before, so why was he still so disliked by Uma Musume?
Were the rumors from Shadai true? Did he really have a face that made horses of any kind angry just by looking at it?
However, what Trainer Ikezoe didn't know was that his predicament wasn't solely because his face was slightly disliked by Uma Musume, but rather due to some more 'physically' influencing factors...
"...I'm starting to feel bad for Trainer Ikezoe, President. Are we really doing the right thing?" (T/N: THEY'RE SETTING MY BOY UP! HE WAS DOOMED FROM THE START!)
From the Student Council's office, Air Groove and Symboli Rudolf could clearly see all of Trainer Ikezoe's actions below from their elevated position. And at this moment, even Air Groove, the 'Empress,' said with some reluctance:
"Trainer Ikezoe has done nothing wrong, President. Why are we telling Uma Musume to avoid Trainer Ikezoe? Even if you wanted Trainer Ikezoe to train a specific Uma Musume, we could just tell him so directly."
"—I know, but I am the Student Council President, Air Groove. I have to be responsible for both the Uma Musume and the Trainers."
Symboli Rudolf, of course, also heard the guilt in Air Groove's tone. However, Symboli Rudolf knew that her actions, despite being somewhat underhanded, were ultimately necessary.
"Air Groove, do you remember Orfevre?"
"Of course, she's a very promising girl."
Air Groove didn't know why Symboli Rudolf suddenly brought up this student, but she still said objectively:
"It's just a pity that she has always been too shy and timid to showcase her talents, even to the point of thinking that she's ordinary. Inside this girl, there's a strong, restless power like a fierce beast, yet she herself is surprisingly cowardly. She looks fierce, but in reality, she lacks the courage to even compete with others, which has led to her talent being buried, not even daring to participate in her debut race. It's truly a shame."
"This is the problem, Air Groove."
Symboli Rudolf smiled slightly upon hearing this and then asked another question: "So, do you remember a single time Orfevre got angry and exploded like yesterday before?"
"This..."
However, Symboli Rudolf's question stumped Air Groove. Symboli Rudolf also smiled slightly and said:
"Can't remember, right? Because it never happened. And just yesterday, it was only their first meeting. We also asked Orfevre and Trainer Ikezoe, and they had no prior grievances—it was even their first time meeting each other. But even so, the usually timid Orfevre actually mustered the courage to actively assault Trainer Ikezoe. Why do you think that is?"
"...Because she dislikes Trainer Ikezoe?" Air Groove asked tentatively.
"Perhaps, but I saw an opportunity in this incident."
Symboli Rudolf nodded upon hearing this, looking down at Trainer Ikezoe, who was still trying to win over another Uma Musume without success, and smiled slightly, saying:
"An existence that can unleash the power of the beast deep within Orfevre... Trainer Ikezoe might just be that existence who can make Orfevre go all out."
"...But that's too unfair to Trainer Ikezoe."
Air Groove gradually understood Symboli Rudolf's intention, but she still felt it was wrong; at least it wasn't fair to Trainer Ikezoe. A Trainer wanting to train an Uma Musume with a gentle personality is not an excessive request, and if they even rejected this small request, wouldn't the Student Council truly become a dark force? Disallowing Trainers and Uma Musume from having a choice?
"...I'll be careful, Air Groove, trust me."
Symboli Rudolf, of course, wouldn't truly force Trainer Ikezoe to accept Orfevre. She just wanted to push things along as much as possible, to increase the chances of Trainer Ikezoe accepting her voluntarily. She had a feeling that Trainer Ikezoe didn't truly dislike Orfevre; otherwise, he wouldn't have acted so amiable with Orfevre after she kicked him when they were in the Student Council office.
Moreover, Symboli Rudolf also had her own plans.
"Ikezoe Kenichi, who can make Orfevre go all out; Wada Ryuji, who can see T.M. Opera O's potential that no one else can; and Takatoshi Imanami, who can even subdue Gold Ship..."
"Let me see how brightly you can make your Uma Musume shine. If your achievements can reach the level I expect, perhaps... Teio can find a Trainer that is suitable for her..."
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REFF DO SOMETHING!! IKEZOE IS GETTING SPAWN CAMPED!!!!
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.