The next day, Yayoi Natural came alone to the front gates of Tracen Academy.
And there, she saw the person waiting for her—someone in a black suit.
Yayoi Natural tilted her head at the sight.
The woman walked straight up to her. "Are you Ms. Yayoi Natural?"
"…Yes. That's me."
Yayoi Natural nodded, a little uneasy.
Clearly, she didn't trust this stranger.
It was their first meeting, after all.
Noticing Yayoi Natural's guarded look, the woman reached into her suit and pulled out her ID badge: [Tracen Academy Acting Director]
Seeing the word Acting on it, Kashimoto Riko let out a small sigh, then held it up for Yayoi Natural to see. "Does that help?"
Acting Director.
Yayoi Natural lifted her head again to look at her. "May I ask why I have to—"
"Because that facility was built on land Tracen Academy purchased," Kashimoto cut in. "That's why we asked you to come here."
As she spoke, Kashimoto rubbed her forehead, looking genuinely pained. "I suggested building it directly under Tracen Academy, you know. We've bought plenty of land."
"…Anyway. Let's head over first."
Kashimoto sighed again, then turned around. "Just stay close."
They hadn't been walking long before Yayoi Natural more or less understood why Kashimoto had been complaining so much.
Because... watching Kashimoto sit down to rest for the eighth time in a three-kilometer stretch, Yayoi Natural's expression turned subtly complicated.
She'd realized, with no room for argument, that this woman's stamina might be worse than even her own.
Under Yayoi Natural's stare, Kashimoto flushed bright red. "I'm just not good at sports, okay?"
Clearly, she knew it was embarrassing.
So she hurried to explain, "There's only a little left, so I won't need—"
"Um… do you want me to carry you?"
"…"
Those few words dropped Kashimoto into total silence.
She very clearly had no idea what to say.
But after several seconds of inner struggle—fully aware of her own lack of stamina—Kashimoto finally nodded. "If you're willing… then yes. Please."
With Yayoi Natural's help, they reached—before long—an entrance that looked like a pedestrian tunnel cut straight through the mountain.
A warning sign stood at the mouth of it, DANGER painted in bold red letters.
Yayoi Natural turned to Kashimoto, who'd just been set back down, her cheeks still faintly pink. "Um… is it this way?"
"Yes. Here." Kashimoto swatted the warning sign aside and walked straight into the tunnel. "And don't tell anyone about what just happened."
After another short stretch, the space ahead opened into bright light.
Yayoi Natural looked around at the fully equipped facility, then turned to Kashimoto Riko.
Kashimoto didn't waste words. In a brisk, businesslike tone, she said, "Come on. You'll give your statement next. And the one who kidnapped you will be there for a second confirmation."
Yayoi Natural nodded. Then she added, "By the way… your face still hasn't fully stopped being red."
"…Give me a minute."
"Oh. O-okay."
Not long after—once her expression had finally settled—Kashimoto led Yayoi Natural onward.
Soon, they reached a room.
And only then, through the open door, did Yayoi Natural see who was inside.
Mejiro Ramonu…
She looked nothing like she had in their previous meetings.
Now, Mejiro Ramonu sat in a one-piece fixed metal chair.
Her hands and feet were fully cuffed to it, leaving her barely able to move.
There were even two Umamusume standing behind her.
Seeing those security measures, Yayoi Natural took a slow breath, then sat down across from Mejiro Ramonu.
They sat on opposite sides of the table, neither saying much. They only watched each other in silence—until the first question came from Kashimoto Riko, now fully in work mode.
"Yayoi-san. Is it true that Mejiro Ramonu kidnapped you?"
"…Yes."
After Yayoi Natural answered, Kashimoto—seated at a side table to record the statement—looked up at Mejiro Ramonu.
Mejiro Ramonu nodded.
The questioning continued for half an hour before it finally concluded.
But when it ended, Yayoi Natural asked Kashimoto something.
"Um… may I ask why she—"
"On paper, it's kidnapping," Kashimoto said bluntly. "But at its core, it's because of an Umamusume's possessiveness."
The directness made Yayoi Natural freeze for a beat.
"Possessiveness?"
"Yes. And you're an Umamusume too, so you probably understand that better than I do. I'll skip the lecture." Kashimoto's tone stayed clinical. "Simply put: when possessiveness leads to harm—whether the harm is serious or not—the case comes here. Permanent confinement."
Kashimoto's explanation made it perfectly clear why Mejiro Ramonu was here.
And at the same time, it left Yayoi Natural quiet.
It was obvious she'd thought of something.
Mejiro Ramonu looked at Kashimoto. "Can you let us talk alone?"
"I'm sorry, but we can't—"
One of the Umamusume behind Mejiro Ramonu started to answer, but Kashimoto stood up sharply.
"That applies to people we dragged in," she snapped. "She turned herself in. She has the right to request this."
Kashimoto wasn't making it up.
It was an actual rule.
For Umamusume who recognized their possessiveness early and came in voluntarily, the judgment was that there was still hope—at the very least, they could acknowledge the problem.
So yes, in this one regard, there was leniency.
Kashimoto headed for the door. "You have one hour."
With that, she walked out.
The two Umamusume behind Mejiro Ramonu also left.
Once they were gone, Mejiro Ramonu's gaze returned to Yayoi Natural. Seeing the worry on Yayoi Natural's face, she spoke.
"Looks like you've already been targeted by an Umamusume with possessiveness."
Yayoi Natural didn't answer.
Mejiro Ramonu knew why.
Because Yayoi Natural was worried about surveillance.
And from that alone, it was easy to tell: the possessive Umamusume Yayoi Natural had run into was probably someone close to her.
Mejiro Ramonu let out a quiet sigh. She was someone who'd once pulled herself back from the edge of the abyss.
So she understood a lot of things, and—she spoke again.
Even though the person who'd hurt Yayoi Natural the most was probably Mejiro Ramonu herself, she still wanted to warn her.
"Be careful around those people. If you're truly in danger, then go find—"
Halfway through, Mejiro Ramonu stopped.
After a short silence, head bowed, she said the name that, for Yayoi Natural, might as well have been the same word as "disgusting."
"Symboli Rudolf."
---
T/N: OH MARUZENSKY IS IN POSSESSIVENESS OH NO
T/N2: HI IM BACK HAPPY 2 YEAR ANNIVERSAY ONLY UHHH 7 DAYS? 8 DAYS LATE!!!
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