Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement [25]

Tracen Academy

Student Council President's Office

Symboli Rudolf sat at her desk, diligently reviewing a stack of documents. Two towering piles loomed in front of her—one unfinished, and the other also unfinished.

Even for someone as experienced as Rudolf, seeing such overwhelming paperwork first thing in the morning induced a headache.

Usually, her deputy, Air Groove, would help lighten the workload, but today Air Groove had requested leave. Thus, Rudolf had no choice but to handle it all herself.

Tracen Academy appeared peaceful on the surface, but beneath that facade lay a multitude of headaches:

Male trainers and their Uma Musume mysteriously vanishing, veteran trainers resigning and requesting protection, shortages in the cafeteria's food supply, damaged training equipment, grass field maintenance, financial instability—the list went on endlessly.

Rudolf had even pulled an all-nighter attempting to address these problems, yet returning this morning, she found the paperwork had not diminished but instead multiplied. Combined with her own training and academic responsibilities, Rudolf felt stretched thin.

Moreover, today's Uma Musume selection meant that new trainers and their trainees would soon flood in to register, promising even more chaos.

"Another Uma Musume assault on the bus?" Rudolf murmured wryly, glancing at the report detailing how the first bus ferrying male trainers to the dorms last night had been intercepted by eager Uma Musume.

Rudolf's own trainer was a rational woman with an icy demeanor, so she struggled to understand why these lovestruck girls constantly chased their male trainers. If only they redirected that fervor toward training and study, half of Tracen's troubles would vanish overnight.

She rubbed her temples and steeled herself to continue working.

Knock knock knock.

"Come in."

The wooden door swung open, and a petite Uma Musume with fluffy pink hair bounced energetically inside.

"Good morning, President!"

The moment Rudolf saw Urara's bright smile, the fatigue weighing her down eased slightly.

"Hello there. How may I help you?" Rudolf offered a polite smile.

"We're here to register!" Urara said brightly.

"Register? You mean officially registering your trainer assignment?"

Rudolf had already reviewed the roster for today's selection and recognized Urara's name. Upon hearing "register," she immediately grasped Urara's intention.

"You must be Haru Urara, correct?"

"Yes!" Urara nodded enthusiastically.

Rudolf took out two forms from her drawer and handed them to Urara.

"Please fill these out, and leave the rest to me—hold on, Urara-san, where's your trainer?"

Rudolf glanced around, seeing no one else had entered with Urara.

"Urara-san, both trainer and trainee must be present to register."

This formal registration was crucial. Both trainer and Uma Musume had to complete the forms together in front of Rudolf, pledging mutual support through any difficulties, essentially akin to wedding vows for Uma Musume.

"Huh? But my trainer's already here."

"Is he waiting outside? Please have him come in; the paperwork requires both your signatures in my presence…"

"But Trainer-san's right here," Urara insisted, pointing directly at an empty space beside her.

Rudolf blinked in confusion.

Right here? Is this some new type of joke?

As someone who considered herself well-versed in humor, Rudolf struggled to detect the punchline in Urara's remark.

"Wait!" As Rudolf watched, the empty space Urara indicated slowly revealed a figure dressed entirely in black.

Someone had indeed been there all along—Rudolf simply hadn't noticed.

She'd never seen this trainer before, so he was likely one of yesterday's new recruits.

"Apologies," Rudolf said, rubbing her eyes. "I must be more tired than I thought, to overlook you, Trainer-san."

Mizuno noted Rudolf's faint dark circles and tired expression and waved dismissively. "It's not your fault. My clothing significantly reduces my presence. It's understandable you didn't notice me."

"I see," Rudolf examined Mizuno's Doctor's Outfit thoughtfully. "If other trainers wore similarly low-profile outfits, perhaps fewer would go missing…Ah, please forget I said that."

Mizuno: "…"

Hadn't he heard something similar before?

"Please fill out these forms first," Rudolf continued smoothly.

"Understood."

Mizuno and Urara took the documents.

The forms were straightforward:[Name], [Gender], [Birthdate], [Dream], [Contact Information], and various responsibilities, such as training plans, race entries, and prize allocations. If they agreed, they simply signed.

Mizuno thought briefly, then signed swiftly, writing under [Dream]: [Win the Arima Kinen].

It's just a dream anyway. Might as well aim high—it didn't cost him anything.

He glanced curiously at Urara's form. Her dreams were [Run happily], [Eat ice cream every day], and [Win next race].

Yup, very much her style.

After collecting and reviewing their completed forms, Rudolf's expression grew solemn.

"Now, it's my duty to confirm whether you both sincerely intend to honor this trainer-trainee partnership."

Rudolf rose from her chair, standing formally between Urara and Mizuno.

"Haru Urara-san, do you take Mizuno Sora to be your trainer? Do you promise to cherish and remain faithful to him, through poverty, sickness, and disability, until death do you part?"

"I do!" the innocent angel Urara answered immediately.

"Trainer Mizuno Sora, do you take Haru Urara as your trainee? Do you promise to cherish and remain faithful to her, through poverty, sickness, and disability, until death do you part?"

"…Huh?"

Wait. Isn't this a bit strange?

Aren't these wedding vows? Isn't using this for trainer registration wildly inappropriate?

"Trainer Mizuno, did you not hear me clearly? Allow me to repeat—"

"No, no! That's not necessary," Mizuno quickly interrupted.

"President Rudolf, I need to ask—do you always conduct trainer and Uma Musume registration this way?"

"Yes, of course. This tradition has been practiced ever since Tracen Academy was established. Is there a problem?"

"…Um…no problem at all." Mizuno sighed internally.

Clearly, Rudolf didn't grasp the implications. No wonder the academy's Uma Musume constantly pursued their trainers romantically—Rudolf's "vows" undoubtedly fueled their fantasies.

"So then, Trainer Mizuno—your answer?"