Chapter Text
Trees swayed as cold air blew past Tracen Academy. Spring was supposedly right by the corner, but the chill of winter still lingered. This should be around the time plum flowers started to bloom, and too early for the sakura. In recent years, flowers tend to bloom earlier. It was the same with plum and Air Groove reckoned the sakura season would also follow the trend this year. Getting the right timing to start planting the spring flowers was getting harder. She could only hope that there would be no sudden frost wave throughout Japan after she started planting the seed. It should be alright now. She could only hope she got the timing right.
The soil was great today. Early-year planting was always quite enjoyable despite the chill because the bugs were not around. She could spend the time processing the flower bed slowly without the need to be cautious of bugs and possible students walking by. It would not be empress-like to shriek when a praying mantis jumped on you.
Several students passed by, greeting her.
Nishino Flower offered to help, which she welcomed. Nishino Flower certainly was one of those who tended the flowers together with her. At times Daiwa Scarlet came and helped out too, but this time Air Groove could see from the side of her eyes that Vodka had taken her away… or rather, agitated Scarlet enough to start chasing her.
If they were not so far away, Air Groove would have told them not to run down the hallway. They probably brought whatever reason that caused them to bicker down to the race track. That was always how the two solved their problems, somehow. Good for Air Groove, as the student council had enough problems around the Academy that required mediation. They do not need additional ones.
After a while, Nishino Flower excused herself since she remembered some seeds she got from home. Air Groove agreed that more variations would be lovely, and the flower bed on the center side would be perfect for it.
After the girl went away, Air Groove was left alone again. Just her, the soil, and the quiet work. The work was therapeutic, if she might say so. It gave her room in between her hectic schedule. She could breathe slowly. Perhaps for now, there was still no scent of flowers to color her days, but even the chilly wind relaxed her overworked nerves.
Another chill wind swept by. Air Groove looked up at the sky. The sky was clear and clouds were sparse. Today would be a good day. It might be the perfect day for an extra training. She might suggest that to the new trainer of hers.
With the plum blooming, it meant that person’s birthday is coming. She must think of something to give.
“Air Groove.”
A calm, kind voice called her from behind. She could recognize that voice from miles away. What surprised her was how she did not even hear her walking closer. The President was not even the smallest of Uma Musume in the Academy but Air Groove totally missed her footsteps. Probably being lost in thought made her less cautious.
“President.”
Air Groove straightened herself. Symboli Rudolf nodded, acknowledging her greetings. Wrapped in the navy blue coat of the academy, it appeared she had just finished her first round of morning patrol. Right when Air Groove was about to take off her gardening gloves, she gestured for Air Groove to ease herself. It appeared she was not there to inform her of any work or anything related to it.
“Is it already time to sow the seed? It felt like yesterday when we still have snow.”
“The weather has been quite unpredictable, but the timing should be right. I hope these flowers would bloom in time with the coming of the new students.”
“These flowers would certainly make the students’ smiles bloom as well. Thank you for everything, always.”
“... It’s my pleasure, President.”
The President seemed to be in a good mood. Her ears perked up and her tail swished excitedly. Good for her. Unfortunately Air Groove was not in the mood to praise her, not now at least. Not for that sentence.
“I believe it would soon be time for the plum to bloom,” Air Groove continued the conversation, eager to just move on. “The nearby shrines might open their park for viewing again soon.”
“Now that you mentioned it… We can spare some space for the shrine’s posters by the announcement board near the school gate.”
“Are you sure? There will be a lot of student activities in spring.”
Rudolf laughed. She smiled warmly.
“We have the entire indoor school boards for the student activities, we can spare a spot or two for the boards near the outside gates,” Despite folding her arms, the President still looked welcoming with her warm smile. “The plum flowers can be a positive boost to everyone’s mood. Promoting the shrine’s park would be favorable for us and the shrine.”
There was always something about her calm, kind smile. Her eyes often brimmed with warmth, but Air Groove knew how those warmth could turn to fire, or that they hid a strong ember. It always made Air Groove quite annoyed at herself when she realized those same eyes gave her a sense of security that she could not explain.
Symboli Rudolf was always watching. Over her, over the students, over the entire academy. She would be there to protect them if anything were to happen. She would always be there to be relied on. She would always be there to make sure everything goes well and everyone well cared for.
… And that irritated Air Groove somehow. She did not want to be someone to be protected, yet she could not help but feel safe knowing Rudolf was there. Air Groove knew her own capabilities and knew what she could accomplish herself, alone, without the President. But with Rudolf, her heart always felt—believed—that the Emperor would catch her if she fell. It was encouraging and reassuring, but that was exactly what she did not want Rudolf to do. She wanted to be the one who catch the Emperor when she fell, not the other way around. Wasn’t that what an Empress was supposed to do? At this moment, no matter how much she tried, she always felt like it was never enough.
Now, with the President standing near her and looking at the trees and the cloud with a serene expression, Air Groove could feel the wind swept those complicated feelings away as well. At the end of the day, the President’s company was always pleasant and calming. Steady. Safe. The day would be all right.
Air Groove sighed then said with a smile, “I will ask the nearby shrines about it personally myself.”
“You seemed surprised though,” Rudolf raised her eyebrows. “Was it uncharacteristic of me? Or was it too much of a burden for you? I can handle that if you could not.”
“No, President. I just did not think you would think that far about the posters, especially with how hectic spring time would be..”
“It is you who always remind me about the importance of seasonal festivities, Air Groove. I learned.”
That was true. Air Groove would always be the first to remind the student council about the seasonal events. Rudolf at times was too busy to always remember day after day while Brian probably just never really thought about it. Rudolf seemed to read what passed through her mind because her eyes and smiles changed.
They were tender and soft. Air Groove somehow felt even the rustling of leaves left them upon seeing the change in the President’s expression.
“I want to have the same level of care for what you hold as important.”
That might be a statement she said to any Uma Musume. Air Groove knew that very well. Symboli Rudolf was, after all, someone who held an ambition to make a paradise for Uma Musume. She cared deeply for everyone. Air Groove was just one of them. She knew. She knew, yet….
Why did her voice make Air Groove wish that was not so? And the vice president loathed how it even passed her mind at all.
“I am honored to receive those words, President.”
Rudolf seemed to read something in Air Groove’s eyes. Again. Somehow, the President’s smile looked a bit sad.
“It is simply the truth. You are my right hand. We share the same dreams.”
Indeed, they did. There was not a single speck of doubt in it.
“Certainly. I am forever grateful for that, President.”
“... So I believe.”
Air Groove did not understand why Rudolf still appeared a bit sad. She raised her eyebrows but before she could say anything else, the sadness that she saw at the back of Rudolf’s eyes disappeared as if it was never there. Instead, she had her usual calm and composed demeanor. Rudolf’s voice turned steady, as it always had been.
“Thank you for reminding me about the plum. I am sorry for adding yet another task to your schedule. Or should we leave it to Brian?”
“And risk her intimidating the shrine priests? I would insist against it, President.”
“If you say so, then. Do contact me if you need assistance.”
“I will. Thank you, President.”
Symboli Rudolf nodded, then excused herself. They would meet each other again in the student council room anyway. Watching her back as she walked away, Air Groove could not help but to wonder what passed the President’s mind in the very short conversation they had. Air Groove always thought she understood Symboli Rudolf well, at least more than the average Tracen Academy students. She knew the depth of Rudolf’s dreams, ideals, and kindness. She knew the extent of her care and observation. However, there were still depths that she could not grasp… and although usually that never bothered her when it was about others, she could not help but to feel bothered when it was the President.
All that she knew, the short flash of sadness was certainly not because of any missed pun. At least Air Groove believe it was not.
Taking the cold air deep into her lungs, Air Groove looked up at the sky. The sky was clear and the breeze was wonderful. She would go to the shrine after this to ask about the plum… and now she was reminded that she did not know what to give for Symboli Rudolf’s birthday. If she just took a detour to the shopping district on the way to the shrine, she might get an idea.
She wanted the item to be something that would help the President relax at least. Maybe the plum viewing itself would be a good present. Forcing the President to let go off her work suddenly seemed like a viable option.Rudolf said she would like to hold the same level of care for what Air Groove held important. Air Groove wondered if that applied to herself. Many times, she wished the President would care for Symboli Rudolf just as deeply.
"The plum..."
Symboli Rudolf looked outside the window, to the row of now still leafless sakura trees. After the plum season, the sakura season would come. Sakura season means that a certain person's birthday will come as well. She could never fathom what she should give. They were always busy during spring, and there might not even be any time to give her a present at all. As clueless as she was about this custom, even Symboli Rudolf knew that just passing the present to the person would not be appropriate. She might need time, and an appropriate place... but before that, she needed to know what to give her.
She should have pressed to go to the shrine instead... though that might end up in vain in the end. Air Groove would never add any more tasks to her plate. Especially if it was merely to look for a present for her.
No matter how busy Rudolf was, she knew she could count on Air Groove for what she missed. Air Groove complemented what she could not do. While Rudolf's own status as the Emperor, the one everyone would chase for, isolated her from the rest of the Academy students, Air Groove embraced those whom she could not touch, nurtured those who shied away. The Earth would be nothing but an arid land without the warmth of the Sun. Air Groove provided that warmth aplenty. More than anything, despite being alone in her throne, Rudolf knew Air Groove would stand beside her and Narita Brian behind her. Air Groove's presence eased the griping loneliness of her ambitious road. She was both strong enough to help Rudolf step firmly on her road, yet gentle enough to support the Emperor's every step.
Rudolf had a lot to thank Air Groove about. She knew the extent of Air Groove's capabilities, and the Empress's sacrifices for the sake of her health and dreams. She knew how overworked Air Groove was, yet somehow Rudolf felt like her hands were always too small to scoop up what Air Groove shouldered. She wished she could do more. She wished the Empress would rely on her more. She wished this tug of war between entrusting, depending, and relying, would one day resolves itself. She wished Air Groove would take care of herself.
Symboli Rudolf wished, many times, that Air Groove would care about Air Groove just as deeply as Symboli Rudolf did.