The following day, Student Council Office.
Myriad Dreams sat bolt upright, feeling as if the fur on her back was about to stand on end.
The air inside the office felt frozen, heavy enough to make it difficult to breathe.
To her left sat Maruzensky, wearing her trademark smile.
But at this moment, that smile felt like the calm before a storm, carrying a hint of playfulness and scrutiny.
To her right was the chilling aura of the "Empress," Air Groove.
With her arms crossed, her sharp gaze fell upon Myriad Dreams like a scalpel, making her feel as if she were sitting on a bed of needles.
But what truly made Myriad Dreams' heart turn cold was the Student Council President sitting in the central seat: Symboli Rudolf.
The President's face was dark, and her deep eyes flickered with unquestionable majesty and obvious fury.
Even Trainer Tojo Hana stood to the side with a grim expression, making the atmosphere even more solemn.
"Gulp..." Myriad Dreams subconsciously swallowed hard.
Even without thinking, she knew this setup was because of yesterday's "accident" on the Winning Theater stage.
Although the bet's "escape" plan hadn't been executed because of Spica, her stiff, motionless performance on stage was probably no better than actually running away.
To make matters worse, because her debut race— an overwhelming victory by eight lengths— had become a sensation, she had attracted far more attention than a typical debut.
Countless eyes were fixed on this genius who had appeared out of nowhere.
Consequently, the "genius" becoming a "wooden mannequin" on stage had become a hot topic inside and outside the academy, even making it onto the gossip boards of the Uma Musume community.
Under the tension, Myriad Dreams' hand habitually reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of chewing gum.
Attempting to ease the mood, she offered the gum toward the dark-faced President Rudolf.
"U-um... President, would you like a piece of gum... to cool down?"
Her voice carried a faint, imperceptible tremble.
Symboli Rudolf's gaze swept over the piece of gum, but instead of softening, it grew even sharper.
She didn't take it. Instead, she slammed her hand onto the desk!
Bang!
Myriad Dreams flinched violently, instinctively straightening her back into a perfect "at attention" posture, her ears and tail snapping taut with nerves.
"Myriad Dreams." Rudolf's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable pressure.
"Present!" Myriad Dreams responded loudly, her heart pounding.
"Do you! Or do you not understand exactly what you have done?" Rudolf slammed a newspaper down hard on the desk.
The headline was a definite eyesore: The Eight-Length Genius? A Wooden Mannequin on the Winner's Stage! Does the Countryside Uma Musume Have Leg Power but Zero Artistic Talent?
"I... I know..." Myriad Dreams' voice dropped, and her ears drooped. "On the Winner's Stage... my performance was unsightly... I've tarnished Tracen Academy's image..."
She recalled her helplessness standing under the spotlights yesterday.
That Winning LIVE, which every Uma Musume yearned for, was ten times more terrifying than the race itself to someone like her who was so lazy that she had never done any relevant training.
"It wasn't just a simple lapse!" Symboli Rudolf stood up, looking down at her with a tone that brooked no argument.
"Under the gaze of the masses, an Uma Musume representing this academy stood motionless on the Winner's Stage. That is a betrayal of the supporters, a profanation of the stage, and a disgrace to Tracen!"
She picked up the paper, her fingertip nearly piercing the page.
"Look! The positive impact of your amazing victory is being neutralized by this clumsy stage performance! People will question whether we at Tracen Academy only focus on running while ignoring an Uma Musume's comprehensive qualities!"
Myriad Dreams was lectured so thoroughly she didn't dare lift her head.
Maruzensky continued to smile, but her eyes held a trace of thoughtfulness.
Air Groove let out a cold snort, clearly in deep agreement with the President's view, and Trainer Tojo Hana simply shook her head helplessly.
Symboli Rudolf took a deep breath, suppressing her anger as she made a decision.
"Regarding this incident, the Student Council will do its best to manage the public relations and suppress the majority of the negative discourse. However, Myriad Dreams, listen to me well!"
Myriad Dreams immediately perked up her ears.
"Once you return, immediately— and I mean right now— throw yourself into training for Winning LIVE performances! If you dare to make even a single mistake on stage during your next race..."
Symboli Rudolf's gaze felt like physical pressure enveloping Myriad Dreams.
"I wouldn't mind personally providing you with 'special guidance' until you can perfectly display the elegance of a Tracen Uma Musume!"
The words "special guidance" exploded in Myriad Dreams' ears like a thunderclap.
Who didn't know that President Rudolf's training standards were famously rigorous and disciplined?
Letting a lazy person like her receive the President's "special guidance" was a fate worse than early retirement!
"Yes! Yes! President! I will definitely practice hard! I wouldn't dream of slacking off again!" Myriad Dreams nodded frantically, cold sweat pouring down her back.
At this moment, escape plans and free-spiritedness seemed utterly fragile in the face of the threat of Symboli Rudolf's "special guidance."