Outside the restroom, while Rudolf was still inside throwing up and couldn't pay attention to anything else, Maruzensky moved fast—because her driver's license was on the line.
"Later, you and I need to present a united front," she whispered urgently. "Otherwise if we start blaming each other, nobody wins."
Her plan was simple: Rudolf tended to spoil Eternal Meteor. If Meteor spoke up for her, Maruzensky might "borrow some of that favoritism" and keep her license intact.
"No problem!" Meteor declared, slapping her chest loudly. "I'll absolutely take your side, Maruzensky-onee-san!"
But when Rudolf finished washing her face and looked toward the restroom entrance, she immediately saw two suspicious heads trying to peek inside.
Their eyes met.
Both heads instantly withdrew like guilty goblins.
Rudolf sighed, rubbing her temple as she walked out. Lately, she'd been sighing more and more—because she simply couldn't stop worrying about Meteor. Especially after learning about Meteor's self-destructive tendencies, Rudolf kept having nightmares of that night.
In those dreams, she would see Meteor collapsed in a pool of blood and spiral into terrifying "what ifs":
What if she hadn't noticed?
What if the ambulance had arrived late?
What if they couldn't save her?
She'd jolt awake with her heart hammering and breath ragged—only calming down after turning and seeing Meteor sleeping safely in bed beside her.
Rudolf wasn't always like this. In the past, she'd considered it "improved manners" if she didn't openly laugh when an opponent got injured. Maybe that history was why she'd changed—why she wanted to create an era where all horse girls could be happy.
And then right under her nose, she'd found a child who had been wandering alone for so long.
It felt like Rudolf's failure. She wanted to compensate. And she was afraid—deeply afraid—of losing Meteor.
If Meteor ever truly hurt herself because of her past… that would become a permanent storm cloud hanging over Rudolf's heart.
And whenever Rudolf thought that far, the anger would rise—anger not at Meteor, but at herself.
Still, when she stepped out and saw the two "standing at attention" outside like idiots, her headache worsened… but her mood also loosened a little.
Rudolf stopped in front of them, arms crossed, eyes sharp as a blade—aimed at Maruzensky first.
"Maruzensky. When you return to the student council room, what should you do?"
"Go back and process my documents!" Maruzensky answered instantly.
"…Hm?"
"…Help Air Groove process double the amount of documents that are mine!"
After Rudolf's cold little hum, Maruzensky immediately escalated her own punishment to save her license. Compared to the future where she couldn't drive, overtime was nothing.
Then Rudolf shifted her gaze.
"And now, Meteor."
Meteor swallowed hard. Under that stare, she began praying to every deity she could remember—Guanyin, God, Buddha—anything, everything. Scattershot praying. Even X was speechless watching it.
But surprisingly, Rudolf stared a moment longer… and then let her off gently.
"Get a proper physical exam in a bit," Rudolf said calmly. "After that, come fill out a form."
"Yes! Woohoo!"
Meteor basically celebrated. A checkup and paperwork? That was barely a punishment at all.
Maruzensky's ears went limp. Her eyes bulged.
I'm doing overtime and she gets nothing?!
She couldn't accept that—especially since Meteor had been the one fanning the flames beside her and urging her to go faster. At minimum Meteor should be dragged into helping with paperwork.
"I protest!" Maruzensky blurted. "Rudolf, this is obvious favoritism!"
Now it was Meteor's turn to glare.
So much for their restroom alliance—Maruzensky was already trying to pull her down with her.
Maruzensky glared right back, as if to say you betrayed me first by not defending me.
They locked eyes like manga rivals about to spark lightning—
Until Rudolf delivered the final verdict.
"Protest denied. She said 'faster,' and you just drove faster? The one driving was you."
"Exactly, exactly," Meteor immediately piled on, switching sides without hesitation.
Then Meteor strutted off with Rudolf toward the doctor they'd booked—turning back to stick out her tongue at Maruzensky.
Maruzensky's fist clenched so hard it felt like it might crack.
…But seeing how happy Meteor was, she couldn't stay mad. Her arm slowly dropped, and she trudged after them with her head lowered.
At the exam room
Meteor sat obediently in the chair while Rudolf told Maruzensky something and stepped out.
"What's the president doing?" Meteor asked.
"She said she has something to handle," Maruzensky replied. "I'm supposed to watch you."
The doctor looked over Meteor's file, then lifted his head with a smile.
"Based on your last exam, you've recovered very well. The wound is healing significantly. I'm going to unwrap the bandage again and take a look—if it hurts, tell me."
"Okay."
Meteor closed her eyes, listening to the soft rustle of fabric as the doctor worked.
"All right."
Meteor opened her eyes—
And froze.
The doctor was staring at her with a heavy, serious expression, and suddenly Meteor's confidence wavered.
"What is it?!" Maruzensky immediately stepped forward, alarmed.
"It's nothing," the doctor said. "The wound is fine. It's already started scabbing—your recovery speed is remarkable."
"Then why were you looking like that…?" Maruzensky pressed.
The doctor didn't answer right away. He kept staring at Meteor, long enough that even Meteor started to feel uncomfortable.
Finally, with visible hesitation, he asked:
"…Excuse me. Have you gone full 'hon-kaku' yet?"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 90)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter70)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter70)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter60)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 20
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 20
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