"Su Luo… doesn't need me by his side?"
Oguri Cap's expression wavered.
Seeing that reaction, Tamamo Cross raised an eyebrow and continued.
"Even if you're still undefeated, the next race you're entering—if I'm not mistaken—is the Japan Derby."
"With the way you are right now, you will never win the Japan Derby."
Tamamo's gaze was cold as she delivered that verdict.
She wasn't trying to pick on Oguri.
It was just the truth.
"You're missing the single most important quality needed to win the Derby."
"And if you can't win the Japan Derby, you can't create value for Su Luo. You can't help him achieve his goal."
"So naturally, you're not needed."
"That's all."
Those words shook Oguri to her core.
Because there wasn't a trace of lying in Tamamo's voice—and Oguri could sense that. The impact hit her hard.
"Me… if I can't win the Derby… I'm worthless to Su Luo…?"
Head lowered, she murmured it to herself.
Then she looked up again and called out to Tamamo, who was already turning to leave.
"You said I'm missing a quality… What is it? What is that quality?"
Tamamo paused, her back still to Oguri.
"Missing what?"
"Heh."
She gave a small, amused laugh.
In the next instant, Oguri felt a chill crawl up her spine—so sharp it was almost like her cheeks stung.
An overwhelming presence detonated right in front of her. Her shoulders seemed to sink under invisible weight, and for a split second, it felt like lightning flashed in her vision.
And then—just as quickly—it vanished.
"What you're missing… is that."
With that, Tamamo stretched lazily and walked away.
Leaving Oguri standing there alone.
"That feeling… what… was that?!"
Oguri looked down at her pale palm.
Deep red marks had been left in her skin—she'd clenched her fist too hard in that instant, her nails digging into her flesh.
The shock Tamamo had inflicted was so intense she'd nearly lost control of her own strength.
And yet Oguri didn't care about her injured hand at all. Her entire mind was consumed by that strange, profound sensation.
"So that's… the 'quality'…?"
If she had to describe it—
For that single moment, Tamamo Cross had transformed into something like a monster.
Strong.
Absurdly strong.
Oguri's sharp instincts screamed at her: if they raced right now, she would lose. No question.
"If I don't become that strong… I can't help Su Luo…?"
She finally understood what Tamamo was truly trying to tell her.
Tamamo genuinely believed Oguri's growth was too slow.
And if Oguri couldn't keep up, then her existence would become dead weight for Su Luo.
In Tamamo's eyes, Su Luo—soft-hearted as he was—probably wouldn't cut off his investment in Oguri outright.
Tamamo refused to allow that.
If Oguri truly couldn't keep pace, then she should let go on her own.
And if Oguri couldn't even grasp something that basic—
Then Tamamo would teach her. Personally.
That was why today happened at all.
"…I have to help Su Luo!"
"I… need to get stronger!"
After a long silence, the silver-haired girl began walking again.
——
"Oh my I didn't expect you to come to Central, Mr. Su Luo Why didn't you tell me beforehand~?"
Inside Central Tracen's student council office, Symboli Rudolf rested her cheek in one hand, smiling brightly as she looked at Su Luo—who was sitting on the sofa in the middle of the room.
"Uh…"
Staring at the student council president, Su Luo's mouth twitched.
For the love of—
I was just wandering around campus. How did I get caught by her?
No, wait…
Thinking about it, running into the student council president inside Central Tracen is pretty normal.
Damn it.
The problem is my decision-making!
Careless… I let my guard down!
When he'd first spotted Rudolf at Central, Su Luo had tried to run.
But the "Emperor's" grip was way too ruthless. There was no escape—he'd been dragged here by force.
"Even though you said you didn't want to come to Central, you still came anyway, Mr. Su Luo."
"I'm just here to handle a few things."
Su Luo avoided Rudolf's overly enthusiastic gaze.
He had a bad feeling—when she looked at him like that, nothing good ever followed.
"Oh~ Handling a few things?"
Rudolf repeated lightly, still smiling.
"What could you possibly be here for if not Oguri Cap? You came to Central for her, didn't you?"
"..."
"And didn't you say you'd only come to Central once Oguri won a G1~?"
Rudolf hadn't forgotten the time she'd invited him at Chūkyō Racecourse.
Back then, Su Luo had rejected her with exactly that excuse.
And she'd quietly remembered it ever since.
"…Come on, she's a horsegirl I invested in. Isn't it normal that I'd come check on her?"
Faced with Rudolf's teasing, Su Luo surrendered.
"Besides, I'm just sightseeing. I never said I'm joining Central…"
"But the fact that you came to Central is a very important matter to me~"
Rudolf stood from her seat and sat down on the sofa across from him.
"After all, that was our bet, wasn't it? If you came to Central to see Oguri, then naturally you came to help her"
"You chose to help Oguri win a G1, so why not just give in to me too? You've already surrendered in your heart, haven't you?"
"…?"
Su Luo gave her a look that screamed, What are you even talking about?
He hadn't come to help Oguri.
If anything, he'd come specifically to drag her down.
What do you mean "surrender"?
This is resistance!
"I only took a quick look at Oguri. I didn't do anything special. Helping her isn't even a thing."
Oh my—Mr. Su Luo is being tsundere again~
Rudolf didn't argue.
With Su Luo, you usually had to interpret his words in reverse.
She figured that within the next few days, Oguri Cap's strength would improve by leaps and bounds.
And when that happened, she really wanted to see what excuse this man would come up with next~
But Rudolf hadn't dragged Su Luo into this room just to tease him one-on-one.
Still seated on the sofa, she slowly slipped off her shoes, then smiled at Su Luo.
"Could I ask you to do a private service for me my dear Mr. Su Luo?"
....
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