Student Council Office.
Warm afternoon sunlight filtered through the blinds, slicing the polished wooden desk into neat bands of light and shadow.
Symboli Rudolf sat upright behind the president's desk, fountain pen gliding across paperwork with crisp, decisive strokes. On the right: pending race approvals. On the left: completed event plans. Everything was immaculate—efficient, rigorous, perfectly her.
At the side desk, Air Groove was focused on a budget report. She adjusted her thin-framed glasses—something she only wore occasionally while working—and the sharp, cool aura around her softened into something more intellectual and composed. Her long fingers tapped the calculator with practiced speed, and she occasionally scribbled precise notes in the margins.
On the surface, it was just another normal afternoon in the Tracen Student Council.
Two capable leaders at work, the room filled only with the steady rhythm of pages turning and numbers being checked.
And yet—
Rudolf's pen paused for the briefest moment at a single form:
"Oguri Cap — Special Approval Request: Dirt Qualifier."
To be honest… Rudolf didn't want to approve it. It was bending the rules.
But when she remembered how Oguri Cap had waited so long, finally finding the person she'd been hoping for all this time…
Rudolf's resolve weakened.
In a way, she and Oguri Cap weren't that different.
The corner of Rudolf's mouth rose, almost unconsciously.
Her mind drifted to yesterday—reuniting with Wuyou.
Meeting him again already felt like a miracle.
But to have their old misunderstandings melt away, to be able to talk like they once did…
The gentleness in his voice after everything was laid bare… the oddly fragile kind of beauty he carried now…
Ah… Wuyou…
Heat crept up Rudolf's cheeks. Her free hand fidgeted beneath the desk for a second—then she caught herself.
Because in that warm memory, a new figure suddenly appeared beside Wuyou's smile.
Chiemi Representative.
The small flame in Rudolf's chest was doused instantly.
What made her grit her teeth even harder was the fact that she'd been the one who encouraged Chiemi before—"If you like someone, don't give up."
And then Chiemi went and signed with Wuyou.
So… what now?
No way…
Did I just… sabotage myself?!
Fine. Great. Wonderful.
If Wuyou and Chiemi grew closer—if they crossed that thin, dangerous line between "horse girl" and "担当"—
Rudolf's head throbbed with frustration.
And Wuyou's body was still so delicate right now. How was he supposed to handle Chiemi's overwhelming intensity?
Just imagining him getting flustered, being pushed around, calling out a name half-deliriously—
Rudolf's heart clenched.
…And then she froze.
Why did that thought make her feel a tiny, traitorous jolt of something she absolutely did not want to acknowledge?
Rudolf shook her head hard, forcibly sweeping the weird mental noise away.
Then, in the corner of her vision, she caught Air Groove's silhouette.
Air Groove was still "focused" on the report.
Probably didn't notice Rudolf's momentary lapse.
Good.
Because Air Groove could never know.
Air Groove's obsession with discipline and rules was legendary. If she found out Rudolf approved Oguri Cap's qualifier out of personal sentiment…
That alone would be trouble.
And there was something else.
Rudolf could tell. Air Groove's feelings toward Wuyou weren't normal either.
If Air Groove got involved on top of Chiemi…
No.
Absolutely not.
Rudolf cleared her throat and spoke as calmly as she could.
"Air Groove. The venue arrangements for the dirt qualifier the day after tomorrow—have you confirmed them?"
Perfect cover.
A work question that just happened to be about Oguri Cap's race.
A race Wuyou might attend.
But for a moment, Air Groove didn't respond. She kept staring at the numbers, only her grip on the pen tightening slightly.
Rudolf's brow furrowed. She raised her voice a little.
"Air Groove?"
"Ah!"
Air Groove looked up sharply. Behind the glasses, her blue eyes flashed with a brief panic—quickly buried under professional composure.
"Apologies, President. I was verifying budget details. The venue is confirmed. Logistics will complete the final setup this afternoon."
Her tone was steady.
Her mind was not.
Don't let her know.
Air Groove's fingers curled faintly under the desk.
That moment just now—Rudolf's distraction, the faint flush—
Was she thinking about Wuyou?
No. Impossible.
According to the Chairwoman, Rudolf shouldn't even know Wuyou is back yet.
So Air Groove had to keep the secret.
No matter what.
"That's good." Rudolf nodded, flipping papers as if it were casual.
Then, as if remembering something incidental, she asked:
"By the way, has there been any movement in the trainer department lately? I heard there might be a new hire."
Air Groove's heart jumped.
So it's here?!
She pushed her glasses up—using the motion to hide the spike of tension.
"The trainer department? I'm not aware of the details. Why are you suddenly asking?"
"Just making conversation." Rudolf lifted her teacup, took a small sip, and watched Air Groove carefully.
"Trainer quality affects athlete development. If there's an exceptional newcomer, we should pay attention."
"If there is anyone worth noting, the department chief will submit a report," Air Groove replied, lowering her gaze back to the report as if the numbers were the most important thing in the world.
"At present, I have received no such notice."
A lie.
The word surfaced in both of their minds at the same time.
And both of them instantly found a perfect justification for their own deception.
Rudolf thought: So Air Groove really doesn't know.
Good. Until Oguri Cap's situation is handled, better that Wuyou's return stays quiet.
Especially from Air Groove.
She'd be… complicated.
Air Groove thought: The President is probing.
She's heard something.
I have to be even more careful—until I can get close to Wuyou, I cannot let this slip.
The office fell silent again. Only the slow crawl of sunlight across the desk marked time.
Rudolf's pen paused once more, and she spoke again, seemingly offhand:
"Come to think of it… you've been near the training grounds a lot lately. Supervising discipline?"
Air Groove's back stiffened.
"Yes. As Vice President, maintaining training order is my responsibility."
"So diligent." Rudolf smiled—pleasant on the surface, edged with scrutiny underneath.
"But you should rest too. You've seemed… preoccupied."
"You're overthinking it, President." Air Groove lifted her head and returned a flawless, standard smile.
"I'm simply considering next month's student council budget allocation."
"I see." Rudolf didn't press further, turning back to her paperwork.
To an outsider, it was normal work talk.
Only the two of them knew every sentence was a feint, every glance a probe.
Time ticked by.
Neither spoke again.
And yet both of them kept glancing at the clock when they thought the other wasn't looking.
Air Groove: After school today… I'll "coincidentally" run into him at the trainer's office.
Rudolf: After school… should I invite Wuyou to dinner? Just the two of us.
Both lowered their heads at the same time—
hiding the glint in their eyes.
....
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