A few weeks later...
As the morning sunlight once again filtered through the apartment window.
Another day had begun for Ishida.
And like every weekday, Ishida Kai prepared himself for work.
He neatly pressed his shirt with a properly tied tie.
Picking up his briefcase alongside his keys.
Only when everything was in order, he stepped outside his apartment and pulled the door shut behind him.
As he began locking it, suddenly—
"What a coincidence, Mr. Ishida."
"W-What—?!" he jumped, nearly dropping his keys.
He spun around, and in front of him stood a figure he knew very well.
"Ru-Rudolf?! "W-What are you doing here?!"
Confusion spread across his face.
Meanwhile, Rudolf simply replied,
"Well, I'm passing by."
The answer left Ishida speechless.
He glanced around, especially down the corridor that led nowhere but other people's doors.
To his left.
To his right.
Then back at Rudolf.
"You know this is an apartment complex, right?"
"And I think..." Ishida pointed around them dramatically, "...it is a very strange place to just pass by."
"Given that people don't normally pass through here unless they actually live here—"
"Are you free this Sunday, Mr. Ishida?" Rudolf cut in smoothly.
And the sudden shift derailed him slightly.
"Sunday...? Why?"
"The Trial Race will be held again. And I was hoping you could attend."
Ishida sighed, shaking his head. "Rudolf, you know I don't really attend race events," he shrugged.
"Not the academy ones, and not even the Twinkle Series."
"You know, I'm simply not interested—"
"Urara will be there too," Rudolf stated calmly.
Instantly, Ishida froze.
In the meantime, Rudolf continued calmly,
"She will be participating as a race candidate as well."
"Competing with others."
"So I hope—"
"If you don't mind me asking..." Ishida interrupted; his voice had become noticeably sterner.
"Why, Rudolf?"
"Why is Urara still participating in the Trial Race?" He frowned.
"She has already become a student of Tracen Academy. Shouldn't that have settled the matter?"
With that question, Rudolf's expression softened slightly.
"It's...complicated," she admitted. Then, she folded her arms as she continued.
"And here I thought you would've already known, Mr. Ishida."
"Known what?"
"The rumors," Rudolf said quietly. "The scandals."
"The discussions surrounding her position within Tracen Academy."
"And considering how widely they've circulated..."
Her gaze returned to him.
"I assumed you would've heard about them already."
With that, Ishida sighed.
"Those are merely rumors." He crossed his arms.
"Nothing but claims without proper evidence. I'd rather not involve myself in that sort of libel."
His gaze settled on Rudolf.
"Unless..." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "...the officials have finally decided to loosen their tongues and reveal some actual truths."
Rudolf chuckled.
"You're really trying to pry it open, aren't you?"
"Well..." Ishida shrugged.
"You're the one who approached me."
"The same person who suggested I influence Urara's decisions."
He sighed again.
"Even now, I still don't really understand what you meant by that."
"And besides..." He glanced around the empty corridor.
"Why my apartment?"
"You could've chosen a less obvious place for this supposed 'coincidence'."
Rudolf placed a hand over her chest, feigning innocence.
"Well, there aren't many places more suitable than this," she replied with a smile.
"This matter is classified information, after all."
Her gaze shifted down the corridor.
"Besides... You wouldn't want every ear in the academy pointing to us now, would you?"
Rudolf let out a sudden chuckle.
"Get it?"
"Every ear pointing?"
"As in the pointy ears we Umamusume have?"
Ishida simply stared at her.
After a painfully long moment, he forced an awkward chuckle.
"Haha... Yeah... Right."
Rudolf cleared her throat, her serious demeanor returning.
"Anyway." She immediately returned to her usual composure.
"I hope you could consider my proposal, Mr. Ishida."
"To direct Urara to a better path."
"It's not that I don't want to, Rudolf," Ishida sighed, "As I mentioned, I still just don't understand it."
"I can't properly accept or reject something when I don't even know its purpose."
He looked directly at her.
"And besides..." His eyes narrowed.
"It's rare for you to care this much about a random student anyway."
"She isn't related to you."
"Nor, as far as I know, to any of the academy officials."
"Which makes this whole thing rather strange."
"You're making me skeptical of your intentions, Rudolf."
At that, Rudolf lowered her head, though her smile remained.
"Well..." She hesitated for a moment. "I can't really tell you much."
"But..." A faint sigh escaped her. "Urara's enrollment was partially my responsibility."
Ishida blinked. "Your responsibility?"
"Yes." Rudolf raised her head once more.
"If it weren't for me, Urara wouldn't be here in the first place."
"And if it weren't for me..." The smile on her face faded.
"She probably wouldn't have to endure all those jaundiced eyes directed at her."
"And for that..."
"...I feel responsible."
A brief silence followed.
"Besides..."
"I feel terrible for crushing her dream after giving her false hope."
"After imprinting her with the idea that she fits in our academy."
"Is that so...?" Ishida raised an eyebrow.
"It's rare for you to worry about crushing someone's dream."
Rudolf chuckled, "Is it?"
"Given that..." Ishida shrugged.
"You're a notorious dream crusher."
"The one who shattered countless dreams to reach the position you're in today."
Rudolf laughed softly.
"Well..." She looked off into the distance.
"I may have been that person before."
Then, her gaze returned to him.
"But this time is different."
"Urara isn't a threat to me or anyone else."
"If you say so," Ishida replied as he casually turned toward his apartment door once more.
He raised his keys, continuing to lock the door.
Yet before he could finish—
Rudolf asked again.
"So? Have you considered it?"
"This Sunday?"
At that, the keys stopped moving.
Ishida paused for a moment.
Then—
*Click*
"I'll think about it," he replied, sliding the key out of the lock.
With that answer, Rudolf lowered her head slightly.
"I see..." she muttered.
"But if you do decide to come..."
She looked back up.
"Feel free to drop by this Sunday."
"Eight thirty in the morning."
"And that's all I wanted to say, Mr. Ishida."
"Thank you for your time and listening."
She then stepped back and gave a formal bow.
"Farewell."
With that, Rudolf turned and began walking down the corridor.
Slowly leaving Ishida standing by his door.
But before she got too far—
She suddenly stopped.
Then turned her head slightly over her shoulder.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Ishida sighed.
Of course, there was.
"I know guiding Urara isn't easy."
"Especially with how stubborn she can be."
"But I sincerely hope you'll help her find a better path."
"And what exactly is that path?"
Ishida folded his arms.
"You still haven't answered that."
Rudolf paused.
She thought for a moment, then shrugged lightly.
"Well..."
"I don't know."
"Maybe academics?"
At that, Ishida immediately sighed.
"Don't even mention it," he shook his head.
"She'd never listen."
"As you said yourself, she's stubborn."
"You know... The type who'd rather leave the academy than suffer through improving her grades."
Then Rudolf smiled.
"That's exactly why I need you, Mr. Ishida."
"I hope your influence might change her mind."
"Guide her toward something more grounded."
"A solution more realistic than endlessly chasing after consequences with no reward."
"I know it's a lot to ask, but... I genuinely believe you may find a way to help her."
"Please, at least consider it..."
"Fine, fine..."
Ishida waved dismissively.
"But no promises."
"You know exactly how she is."
"Always sets her sights on something and refuses to turn away."
"No matter how impossible it looks."
"No matter how many times she falls."
"Especially, she has that kind of determination."
"The troublesome kind."
He sighed.
"But..."
His expression softened slightly.
"I'll try, Rudolf."
"I'll see what I can do."
With that, Rudolf faintly smiled and turned toward him.
"Thank you, Mr. Ishida."
"Then..."
"I shall entrust Urara to your care."
Ishida immediately frowned.
"Don't make it sound like I'm adopting her."
Rudolf chuckled, but pressed on.
"May you guide her toward a more..."
"...favorable path."
Then she bowed once more.
"Farewell, Mr Ishida."
With that, Rudolf finally turned away.
This time without stopping.
And her footsteps gradually faded down the corridor.
Until eventually—
She disappeared around the corner, leaving Ishida alone.
Only then did he let out a long sigh.
"What has my life become..." He muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"And here I thought I'd finally escaped all those complications by picking a safer job..."
"And yet..."
"It somehow came back to haunt me."
"What a life."
For a moment, he stood there thinking.
Then he scratched his cheek.
"Maybe..."
"I should talk to her again."
"Figure out the best way to..."
"...to..."
Then, he paused.
Only after several seconds had passed did he rub his temples with a groan.
"What am I even saying?"
"How is a lowly teacher like me supposed to keep her in a prestigious institution like Tracen?"
"Unless..." he paused.
"A trainer..." He muttered. "Maybe I should find her a trainer."
After all, according to Tracen's regulations—
Once an Umamusume was officially scouted by a trainer affiliated with the academy, her position became permanently secured.
Perhaps...
Perhaps that was the answer.
Perhaps that was the only path left for someone like Urara.
Perhaps...
...that's the only way.