Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“Mom, I can’t find my drawing.”
“Didn’t you put it on the table in front of the TV last night?”
“Right! Thank you, Mom!”

A colt with a crescent so akin to her father beamed when she remembered. Toukai Teio was always excited to go to kindergarten. The girl enjoyed being surrounded by others her age, and her parents were more than happy to have a place where Teio could let out all of her excessive energy in a positive manner. Air Groove made sure her eldest foal went and checked the TV before she continued packing Teio’s bento for the day.

“Papa.”

Admire Groove, sitting on her father’s lap by the dining table, looked up to meet her father’s magenta eyes. She had a Kyoho grape in her hand—a hand still so small it could only hold one—and lifted it for her Papa to peel. Aruve was still too young to attend kindergarten and, compared to Teio, a lot more docile. She did not run around knocking things the moment she could stand, for example. It was such a given, since Teio totally took most of Air Groove and her husband, Symboli Rudolf’s, energy. Aruve still wanted a lot of attention, though. She always tailed her mother and father. She would want to be carried, or asked a thing or two, though she mostly enjoyed just being with her parents. Rudolf was often very busy, so times like now, when they could spend the whole morning having breakfast together, Aruve always wanted to sit in Rudolf’s lap. Rudolf, of course, would not have it any other way.

“There you go, Princess.” Rudolf gave back the peeled grape to her filly. Aruve smiled, a small one, but Rudolf knew it was genuine. Aruve rarely smiled, so whenever she did, Rudolf was overjoyed. The stallion took another grape from their fruit basket.

“Do you want more?”
“Un.”
“The purple one?”
“Un.”
“The green one is nice too. Want to try?”
“But Papa won’t peel that one.”
“You can eat that one just like that. But do you want Papa to peel?”
“Un.”

It seems for some reason, Aruve just wanted to see her Papa peel the grapes.

Teio the eldest already bounced back to her mother, still with her beaming smile. She held out her hand, waiting for her bento. Air Groove put the neatly wrapped bento in her hand.

“Can you put it in the bag yourself?”
“Of course!”
“Really? Let me see.”
“Hmph! Behold, my genius and valiant effort, Mom!”
“... Rudolf. What did you teach her?”
“I… uh… I don’t know what you’re talking about, love.”
“... at least it’s good for her vocabulary…”

Just when Teio was about to show her “genius and valiant effort” of putting her bento box neatly in her bag, a faint baby cry could be heard from the room next door. Air Groove immediately reacted, passing a look at Rudolf, who smiled and nodded at her.

“Tsuruchan is awake!”

Teio beamed, following her mother to the baby room happily. Inside the baby crib, the youngest of the three siblings, Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi, woke up with a cry. Unlike her two siblings, Tsuyoshi was born with a weak body.  Air Groove and Rudolf could count how many times Toukai Teio and Admire Groove got a fever until now, but even with the years and both babies combined, baby Tsuyoshi's instances of getting into the hospital already outnumber them. Air Groove gently cradled Tsuyoshi in her arms and checked her temperature for a bit with a thermometer they always had ready by Tsuyoshi’s bedside.

Normal, just slightly elevated and on the higher side, but not a fever. The good days, for Tsuyoshi. The baby’s cry immediately stopped the moment she was in her mother’s arms. Purple eyes, so akin to her father’s, blinked as they looked into her mother’s greyish-blue ones. The baby giggled when her mother gave her a gentle kiss.

“Mom, I want to see Tsuruchan too!”
“Okay, but keep your voice low. Promise?”
“Promise!”
“Still a bit too loud there, Teio. Promise?”
“Promise.”

Only a demon would not smile at Teio’s whisper. Air Groove slowly kneeled to level the height of the baby in her arms and her eldest. Teio’s face shone with wonder and excitement when she looked at Tsuyoshi. Tsuyoshi raised a small, fat hand at Teio and started making baby noises. It appeared Tsuyoshi also liked seeing her eldest sibling.

“Teio, it’s time to go.”

Rudolf peeked from the hallway, Aruve on her arms. Teio briefly turned back at her father and looked back at Tsuyoshi with a grin, “See you, Tsuyoshi!”

As if she understood, Tsuyoshi giggled.

Teio bolted to the dining room, ever the boisterous girl. Air Groove tailed after with Tsuyoshi in her arms now, watching how her husband put down Aruve—who appeared quite sad—and Teio put on her bag and her yellow cap.

“What time will you get home today?”
“I think around six,” Rudolf took her suitcase and kissed her wife gently on the lips. Aruve still held on to her pants somehow. “There will be a meeting with the stakeholders for the new track in Kochi. We have tried to liven up the regional events, but the stakeholders still appear quite hesitant about investing more.”
“What did the board think about your last proposal? The centrally sponsored event?”
“Their words are polite, but it seems bleak. You are right that it would be better to somehow improve the regional fervor, instead of direct intervention.”

Rudolf’s eyes lingered on Air Groove a while longer. Love, wonder, longing, various emotions mixed inside her eyes. 

Two years into their marriage, once Teio was born, Air Groove finally gave up her position in URA. Having excellent work ethic and outstanding work result, Air Groove's future was bright as a career woman. Being partners since their highschool year up to their adulthood, Rudolf knew that more than anyone. She knew just what a big decision it was for Air Groove to step down from her position, on the road to their dreams. However, the one who seemed to not be so bothered was Air Groove herself. Ever so firm in her decision, Air Groove fit into their new life as a family and eases Rudolf's burden. They may not have worked side by side in the office anymore, but they still supported each other in so many other ways. 

Air Groove smiled and returned her husband’s kiss, breaking their wordless exchange.

“You’ll be late.”
“Yes. Yes, you’re right, love.”

Rudolf looked down at her baby in her wife’s arms and nuzzled her nose on the small tuft of white crescent hair by Tsuyoshi’s forehead, before giving a gentle kiss. Tsuyoshi giggled happily at the sensation.

“Aruve, Papa will have to go to work now.”
Still gripping Rudolf’s working pants, Aruve looked up with a displeased expression.
“Aruve?”

Reluctantly, Aruve let go of her grip and went to grip her mother’s pants instead. Rudolf's heart melted at her silent obedience. She bent down to level her face with Aruve.

"No goodbye kiss for Papa?"

Aruve let go of her mother's pants for a second and cupped her father's face before giving a kiss on the cheek, which earned her a gentle return kiss on her forehead. Rudolf chuckled when Aruve snuggled close to her one last time.

"Be a good girl, okay, Princess? Papa will be back."
"Un."

With that done, Aruve went back to her mother's side, hugging her mother's leg this time.

By the entrance of their house, after slipping into her work shoes, Rudolf held out a hand for Teio to take. Once the eldest gleefully grabbed her hand firmly, she looked back at her wife and two kids again.

“We’ll be off, then.”
“See you later, Aruve! Mommy!”
“Be careful.”
“Un.”

With the door sliding shut, a new day officially began for Air Groove and Symboli Rudolf’s family.

Chapter Text

The sound of a baby crying echoed in the house. It had been going on for some time; even the baby’s throat seemed to grow hoarse. Admire Groove looked up, looking away from the sketchbook where she had been doodling for the past hour. Her mother had been busy with her little brother all the while. Holding, rocking, feeding… At times, the crying stopped, only to begin again. When Tsuyoshi did sleep, it only lasted a while before Tsuyoshi started crying again, like now. Her mother would stop whatever she was doing to go to Tsuyoshi, no matter even if it was in the middle of it. Her mother only looked sad, or rather guilty, when it happened while she was playing with Aruve. Such as what happened a while ago.

Aruve was midway through telling her mother about her doodle, to which her mother listened attentively, when Tsuyoshi cried again. This time, she cried for quite a long time, and Aruve knew her mother probably would not come back to her side to continue listening to her this time.

Aruve looked at the doodle she had made, then at her mother, who was now standing near the glass door of their living room that showed the view of their side garden. Her mother was still rocking baby Tsuyoshi, whose crying now finally died down to a quiet sob. Aruve could hear her mother’s gentle humming. Her mother hummed the same song to her to put her to sleep. Aruve ended up watching her mother’s figure, and before she knew it, the crying had stopped.

Her mother went to the nearby sofa bed, which already had a small bedding, and gently laid the now sleeping Tsuyoshi there. From the sunlight coming through the glass, Aruve knew it was supposedly lunchtime. Her mother usually already started cooking. However, this time, she lingered near Tsuyoshi, gently brushing her finger over Tsuyoshi’s forehead. Seeing it, Aruve took her doodle and walked closer.

“Mama.”
“Yes, sweetie?”
“Why does Tsu-chan cry so much?”

Her mother smiled at her question. She gestured to Aruve to come closer. She lifted Aruve and rested her on her lap. Her mother’s eyes looked into her eyes with a tender glow.

“Because that is the only way Tsuyoshi can talk to us now. If she could, I am sure Tsuyoshi would want to do it some other way.”
“... But she cried more today.”
“She has a fever. She doesn’t like it, but that’s the only way she can express it.”

Aruve pouted. Her mother smiled at her expression.

“Are you mad that she cried?”
“... She made Mama busy.”
“I am sure Tsuyoshi doesn’t want to be feverish, too. It’s not something Tsuyoshi could choose.”
“Can’t she stop crying by herself?”
“Hm… I am sure Tsuyoshi would want to be able to as well. But, Aruve, when you cry, wouldn’t you want to have Mama or Papa with you too?”

Aruve’s ears flattened. She knew her mother had a point, but she still did not like it. Her mother smiled, then gently lifted Aruve to sit sideways on her mother’s lap and rest her head on her mother’s chest. Her mother patted Aruve’s thigh gently, rhythmically. 

“What can Mama do to make you feel better?”
“... I don’t know.”
“I see. Do you want to talk about the doodle again?”
“No. It’s fine.”
“Are you sure? Mama still hasn’t heard about the cat in the bush.”
“... The cat is gone.”
“Really? That’s too bad. It was a cute green cat you made.”

Their conversation paused. Her mother still patted her, though, ever so gently that before Aruve knew it, her own tail started to swish almost in the same rhythm.

“Then what can Mama make for you for lunch?”
“... It doesn’t matter.”
“But it does. You matter, Sweetie. Mama wants you to feel happy.”

Aruve circled her arms around her mother now, burying her face in her mother’s chest. She was still upset; she did not know how to get rid of it either. Her mother hugged her tighter.

“... Do you want some hamburg?”
“...”
“Then fried shrimp?”
“...”
“Or omurice?”
“... Omurice.”

Her mother chuckled. Aruve could feel a gentle kiss on her hair.

“Omurice it is, then. Do you want bananas?”
“Un.”
“Then let’s ask Papa to buy some bananas on the way home for you, okay?”
“Un.”
“Good girl, Aruve.”

Aruve’s tail waved. Still agitated, but no longer that upset. 

“Mama now has to make omurice for lunch. What do you want to do, Sweetie?”

Aruve hugged her mother closer instead. She still did not want to move. Cooking would take her mother again. She did not want that. Her mother laughed softly.

“Okay, then. You can stay with me, but you must help me.”
“Help Mama?”
“Yes, help me cook. Become my hand. How about it? Deal?”

Aruve’s ears perked up this time. Becoming Mama’s hand?
She finally lifted her head from her mother’s chest and looked into her mother’s face. Her mother smiled at her, her cool, greyish blue eyes watched her tenderly. She had one hand up, waiting for Aruve’s high five.

“Help Mama cook?”
“Un.”

Aruve finally let go of her grip on her doodle to high-five her mother. The doodle slipped, but her mother caught it swiftly. She placed it safely on the sofa before shifting her attention to the high five again. Her mother noticed how Aruve was watching, and she smiled gently.

“You haven’t finished your story about the green cat to Mama, right? We can’t afford to lose the drawing yet.”

Aruve did not understand, but her mother’s words made her hug her mother again.

Her mother remembered the story she had almost forgotten, caught the doodle she had discarded. Somehow, it made Aruve happier than even the omurice and the bananas.

"Is she asleep already?"
"Yes. Just a while ago."

Rudolf's shoulders fell in a look of relief. She went in very slowly, carefully, trying not to make any sound. That made Air Groove smile, as she did not need to go that far. In this room that they had baby-proofed, there was almost zero possibility of her hitting anything and making a noise.

Sitting on the floor on top of a spread-out futon with her back leaning on the wall, Air Groove had their youngest baby, Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi, in her arms. Tsuyoshi had been developing a mild fever since yesterday. With the fever, the baby was fussier and cried a lot more. This was not the first time, but it never felt easier. The endless labor was still there after all.

Although Air Groove never said anything, Rudolf knew she must be tired. Other than Tsuyoshi, they still had Teio and Aruve to take care of. Yesterday, Air Groove did all of it alone until Rudolf finally arrived home with some bananas, which, by Air Groove’s words, were “to appease the beautiful princess”. Thus, today, Rudolf had taken the day off. If one of them had to keep an eye on Tsuyoshi, they needed the other to keep their little kids company. Rudolf could also share the burden of taking care of meals and chores. Thankfully, simply having Rudolf around already boosted Teio's happiness to 400% and Aruve, although she was usually a lot more clingy to her mother, also appreciated the presence of their Dad, who was rarely home.

Today, Aruve had the entire day with both of her parents. She even spent the day taking a nap together with her father on the sofa bed, sleeping safely and soundly on her father’s chest; her father’s arms securing her. Air Groove watched them both sleeping while washing the dishes. Of course, she took the liberty to snap a picture to show Rudolf later.

When Teio came home, fetched by Rudolf, in the afternoon, the whole house’s atmosphere got even brighter. Just having the whole family together made taking care of the sick Tsuyoshi feel way easier.

"Teio and Aruve?"
"Sleeping soundly. They did not protest when I tucked them into bed. Your idea of taking them to run in the park in the afternoon worked really well. They were spent."
"... Run? I did say park but I did not say 'run'. How far, Rudolf?"
"It's just the park."
"Rudolf?"

Under her wife's strong glare, Rudolf could only smile.

"... Just... a bit. We ran a bit."

Air Groove sighed.

"I hope you realize your two children are still young. Aruve is still a toddler, Rudolf."
"You wound me. I know that much."

As she said that, Rudolf sat beside Air Groove, leaning against the wall beside her, and let their shoulders touch. Tsuyoshi stirred in her sleep, but moved no more. From the look of her unbuttoned shirt, Air Groove must have just finished nursing her. Unlike Teio, Tsuyoshi never drank that much milk at one time, just like Aruve. Yet compared to the other two, Tsuyoshi was a lot fussier, easily woken up, and had a weak body. It was always a struggle to keep her asleep.

"I have prepared the bath," Rudolf said quietly, feeling Air Groove slowly leaning on her. "Or do you want dinner first? I know Teio came in here to help you eat, but I doubt that was actually enough at all."

Little Teio said, "Mommy must eat too!" mid-dinner and took off with her plate, running straight to the baby room. A while later, she came back with a beaming smile and said, "I helped Mommy eat!"

Air Groove chuckled. She remembered Teio's serious face when she clumsily offered the sushi in her hand.

"It certainly was not enough to fill my belly, but it was more than enough to fill my heart."
"I figured as much. Just so you know, I am jealous."
"Why? You're her favorite. You can just ask, and Teio will be overjoyed."

Rudolf pouted. Her tail softly thumped the futon.

"I want her to offer me like she did to you."
"Ever the stubborn one, Rudolf."

Silence came to them. Rudolf felt the exhaustion of playing and caring for her two toddlers start to seep into her. It was a different kind of exhaustion from the one she felt through work. Somehow, it was even more exhausting, yet also fulfilling. She understood just how much energy was needed, both physically and mentally, to keep the kids occupied and happy throughout the day. More than anything, it was a constant drain with no clear break between them. That was among the reasons why Rudolf always tried to take as many work leave as she could. Air Groove would probably never say it unless she was overwhelmed, but being a parent took a lot more than simply taking care of work. Rudolf could delegate her URA work to her coworkers, but being a father could not be given to anyone else. It was a role only she could fulfill.

Rudolf glanced beside her, feeling more weight lean on her. True enough, Air Groove had fallen asleep leaning on her shoulder, her arms still securely holding the sleeping Tsuyoshi.

They had this instance numerous times. Air Groove sleeping with their babies in her arms, leaning on her just like this. Each time, her heart always welled up with gratitude and love. To her wife, to her children. She was blessed by each and every one of them. She was blessed to be loved by someone like her wife, to be granted a family that she had now. Air Groove had been her partner in so many phases of her life that Rudolf could not imagine a life without her. With the emotions resurfacing again, she fought the urge to kiss her wife. That movement would have woken her wife and her baby colt. That would undo all the effort Air Groove had done.

As Rudolf moved her eyes, she found that Tsuyoshi's eyes had opened.

She really was such a light sleeper, unbelievably so. Probably it was her constant fever waking her up. Or pain, or something else. Each child was different. Each child was a new experience. Babies are such mysteries. Rudolf still wondered how having kids was such an experience of constant learning.

Tsuyoshi's eyes stared at Rudolf's own, and Rudolf's heart melted with the innocence in them. 

Tsuyoshi usually woke up crying, because her fever had woken her up. Yet now she only stared, silently, like taking in Rudolf's face in her own baby way.

Slowly, gently so as not to wake her love by her shoulder, Rudolf brushed a finger over Tsuyoshi's forehead—brushing a little tuft of white crescent, a miniature of her own. The baby gave a small chuckle, but Rudolf couldn't help but give a small hush. 

"Easy, now. Your mother's sleeping."

As if she understood words, Tsuyoshi's giggle died down, and the baby blew bubbles instead. Tiny fingers grasped Rudolf's index finger, keeping it by her side. Just like that, Tsuyoshi sapped all of Rudolf’s exhaustion away.

The clock continued to tick away, accompanying Rudolf’s quiet moment with her youngest colt and Air Groove’s rest. Objectively, it might seem like mere minutes, yet it was enough. Moments like these were always more than enough for both Rudolf and Air Groove.

Chapter Text

This is neither “amazing days”
Nor is this “a present time to be proud of”
This is just a trifling, ordinary world of you and I
With our own usual smile and unadorned way of life,
Let’s find a meaning to believe in

Then, just like that, we connect our hearts
It seems that finally, we can begin to talk

Rain Drops - Amakotoba (The Words of Rain)

Symboli Rudolf scratched her signature under a memo for her subordinates. She put the stack of paper she had pasted the memo to in the “Revision” box beside her. Taking a deep breath, Rudolf straightened her posture and leaned back in her chair. The view of her URA office spread out before her, an office almost similar to her high school days. The space that was previously occupied by Air Groove’s desk prior to her retirement from URA was now a set of sofas for guests. Her rise to this authority was contributed not only to her outstanding record in and off the track but also to the Symboli blood in her. URA found her to be such a suitable partner to have close with them, to tie an even deeper bond with the dynasty. Just like Rudolf’s and Sirius’s father before them. With Tsuyoshi now already walking around, Aruve in kindergarten, and Teio in her first year of primary school, the number of emergency messages had gone down. Rudolf also took less leave. Thanks to that, there was less mountain of work every day as it had gotten way easier to plan her workflow now.

A special ringtone came out of her phone, and Rudolf immediately looked over it. She set special ringtones only for her family and one emergency office number. Air Groove knew her schedule, so she usually wouldn't send messages during Rudolf’s working hours unless it were urgent. Now would be one of those times.

Love
Tsuyoshi has a mild fever again. I assume it’ll go down soon.
But just in case, I think it’s better to let him rest and monitor his condition.
So can you pick up Teio from school today?

Symboli Rudolf
Of course.
What do you want for dinner?

Love
Anything Teio wants.

That meant buying anything Teio felt like buying on the way home. They should stop by the department store, then. Rudolf looked at the clock; she had exactly forty minutes before she would have to depart, if she wanted to arrive in Teio’s school on time. Rudolf hummed as she straightened her posture and took some more documents. Thirty minutes it is then. She would get everything done in thirty minutes.

Rudolf glanced at her watch. She was around ten minutes late, but it was better that way. If they arrived too fast or right on time, there would still be a lot of the other students’ guardians around. To be honest, that was fine, but they would still get some looks as some people still recognized them. Rudolf and Air Groove would rather not deal with that if they could help it. Their children also had grown used to their ‘lateness’. 

It had still been around a week since Teio began her primary school. Aruve’s kindergarten finished earlier. Her kindergarten was within walking distance, the same kindergarten that Teio went to. Teio’s primary school, however, was a bit far. Rudolf and Air Groove only had one van. Being the one who picked up the kids daily, Air Groove usually used it, as it would be better, warmer, and safer for Tsuyoshi compared to using a bicycle or public transport. Today was no exception. Since the van was at home, Rudolf went to the nearest station by train, then walked slowly up the hill towards the school.

Several pairs of children and their parents passed her. Some of them exchanged greetings with Rudolf, who answered in kind. Some parents seemed surprised at her coming, but none voiced anything. Rudolf straightened her glasses up to her nose bridge with a touch of her knuckle. Everything was to be expected.

The school building’s clock came into view at last. Over the school gate was an open space, which at one side leads to the parking lot and the other side leads to a football court. By the school door entrance, a school attendant was standing, saying goodbye to the students as their guardians picked them up.

“Ah, Symboli-san. Good day. We were expecting you.”
“Good day, Saito-san.”

They had met before, during Teio’s entrance ceremony. The attendant bowed lightly, which Rudolf returned.

“We have received a call from your wife, explaining the circumstances,” Saito-san looked quite worried. “I hope your youngest colt gets well soon.”
“Yes, unlike her siblings, her body is a bit weak,” Rudolf smiled. “It seems her condition has improved, however. Thank you. May I know where Teio is?”
“Teio-chan… went to the playground at the back just a while ago,” Saito-san waved in the direction of the football court. “It is just a bit beyond there, just turn right at the junction.”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime, Symboli-san.”

Rudolf walked past the small court and found a park on the right side. There was a floating bridge, a jungle gym, swings, a seesaw… the wear and tear showed just how much loved they were. Sitting by the jungle gym, Teio was already wearing her bag and cap. With her back to her father, however, she probably did not notice Rudolf’s coming.

"How was school today, Teio?" Rudolf smiled, approaching her eldest. "Was it... Teio?"

Unlike usual, Teio had her ears flat. It seemed Teio refused to even reply to her father, despite obviously hearing her. Rudolf wanted to run right to her colt's side, but Teio exuded an air that told her it was probably not a good idea. For some reason, Rudolf felt the anger was directed at her. Rudolf could not recall what could prompt this reaction. So, she decided to walk slowly to Teio's side. She kneeled right beside Teio and put her suitcase on the ground. Sure enough, Teio moved like she did not want to meet her father's eyes. She let her back face Rudolf again.

“Mommy couldn’t come because Tsuyoshi got a little feverish, so Daddy came for you.” Teio did not answer, but from her lack of reaction, Rudolf somehow felt it was not the reason why she was upset. 

"May I ask what's bothering you?"

Teio started picking on the ground, restless. She still did not want to see her father.

"If it's something I did, I'd like to know, so I can say sorry and make it up to you, Teio."

Teio threw some dirt away. Probably to control her own anger. Her nail dug a bit more dirt before she threw it again at nothing.

"Dad and Mom are liars."

Rudolf's ears twitched. And Mom?
Rudolf's head quickly recalled everything that had happened today, but she could not find anything out of the ordinary. Sure, Air Groove could not come and she came here instead, but from the previous reaction and the way Teio worded it, it did not seem like this was the reason. Teio also already sulked before she even knew Rudolf was the one coming. 

"Please forgive me, Teio, but may I know what this is about?"

Teio kicked the ground with her sneaker now. She then hugged her knees. She breathed harshly, seemingly trying to form words to explain.

"You never told me that you are the Emperor and Empress."

Rudolf took a sharp breath.

"You never told me. You are liars."

Teio still refused to face Rudolf, but she could see her eldest was crying silently from how her body started to tense. Teio rarely ever cried. This one was especially painful to witness, and one that Rudolf knew her touch could not calm her colt down.

"Did anything happen at school?"

Teio did not immediately answer. Talking seemed to get harder for her. Especially with the emotions starting to build up. Teio briskly rubbed her face with her arm sleeve, seemingly trying to brush all her angry tears away.

"I won... a race."
"Mhm."
"I won a race and... and they said it was unfair."

Rudolf could guess why.

“They said, of course I am fast…. because I am the Emperor and the Empress’s colt.”

Rudolf closed her eyes. She knew it was coming. She did not wish for it to be this way. Never in a million years. It was not supposed to be this way either.

“When I said I did not understand what they meant, they said… They said I’m a liar,” Teio’s voice started to tremble. It was obvious the tears were now uncontrollable. “They said I just pretended I didn’t know to make them look weaker and like a fool. They said, I am treating them like they’re stupid. But I really did not know. I don’t even know… any emperor…”

“Liar! Everyone knows!”
“There is no way you, of all people, don’t know!”
“You want to laugh at us for being weak, right?!”

“But I really don’t…”
It was like everyone she knew suddenly turned into someone else. The girl who laughed with her at lunch, the girl who shared notes with her, suddenly they were all… different.

“Kids! What’s up over there!”

The teacher came running to them, and everyone dispersed, but Teio was too shocked to say anything. She was too confused to react.

“I asked… I asked the teacher… and he…” Teio’s sob now shook her enough that she could not form a full sentence. She still tried to brush her tears away. “He took… a book… from the shelves… And… and you and Mom were there. You were there in the book. You were in a book. In a… textbook… So many photos of you and Mom and… And I… and I am the only one… who didn’t know.”

“... I am sorry.”
Rudolf said quietly. She knew it would not suffice, but there was nothing else she could say. Teio did not answer. She merely sobbed alone.

“I really didn’t know. I am not a liar.”
“Yes, you are not. I am sorry. It’s our fault.”

Rudolf finally found it in her to touch Teio’s shoulder. The girl flicked her shoulder away. That gesture hurt Rudolf more than she thought it would, despite knowing that it might happen. Rudolf let her hand drop and then waited.

Teio cried for some more time. Rudolf did not know how long they had been there. Air Groove may be worried, but now Teio was the priority. If Teio needed time, then Rudolf would give as much as she could. 

Slowly, the sob died down. Her body still occasionally shook, but most of the sob was gone. Teio lowered her hand to push her index finger over the dirt. The sleeve of her shirt was damp from tears.

“... So it is true?” The colt dug her finger into the dirt. It looked aimless, but her emotions flowed from the fingertip. “Is it true that both of you are… the Empress and Emperor? The ones in the textbook?”
“Yes.”

Rudolf could not suppress a sad smile from forming. She knew her colt couldn’t see it anyway.

“At least, that was what everyone used to call us back when we were still active. At times, even now, they still do.”

Silence came to them again. Teio kicked the dirt with her sneakers. Each movement showed agitation. Her eldest was trying her hardest to remain as calm as she could. Rudolf’s heart ached.

“Did you really win… seven crowns?”
“I did.”
“That your Triple Crown was undefeated.”
“Yes.”
“And that Mom…”
“She won the Oaks, two Sapporo Kinen back to back, Osaka Hai, and Autumn Tennou Sho. She beat 15 stallions. Yes. All of it is true.”

Listing everything was almost like breathing. Rudolf had been through this so much that she did not even need to think. Teio’s back tensed again at Rudolf’s reply. However, this time, she did not kick the dirt.

“... Why?”

Finally, Teio turned to look at her father. Her eyes were red from crying, and more than anything, her blue eyes were broken and confused. She probably felt so betrayed and Rudolf had no excuse about that. When their eyes met, Rudolf could see tears well up again in her colt’s eyes. Gently, she brushed the tears that fell, and Teio did not avoid her touch this time.

“Why, Papa?”
“Because… Because we just want to be your parents, and nothing else.”

At this age, Teio probably still could not understand, but Rudolf decided to continue.

“This will sound like just an empty excuse… but we just wanted you to grow without feeling burdened by anything. We want you to see us as we are. Not as titles. Or trophies. We just want to be your parents… but it appears our decision has hurt you.”

Teio bit her lips, and her tears streamed down again.

“I am so sorry, Teio.”

Rudolf opened her arms. For a second, it seemed Teio would reject the gesture, and Rudolf had steeled herself for it. Yet Teio threw herself into her father’s arms and buried her face in Rudolf’s shoulder. She cried again, small hands grabbing at Rudolf’s work coat.

Rudolf hugged her colt gently and closed her eyes.

“We’re home.”
“Papa’s back!”

Small, rapid footsteps quickly approaching from the living room, and there came Aruve, now a kindergartener. Aruve jumped into Rudolf’s arms, who caught her and lifted her up with practiced ease. As always, Aruve kissed her father’s cheek and snuggled into her neck. In contrast to Aruve’s obvious glee, Teio did not even respond to anything. She just lined up her shoes and walked in—brushing past her mother, who came to the doorway with Tsuyoshi in her arms. Air Groove’s eyes quickly found Rudolf’s, and Rudolf could only give a sad smile.

“We need to talk.”

Teio looked out at the scenery beyond the van from the front passenger seat. Her father was driving. Her mother sat on the rear seat beside Tsuyoshi, who was strapped safely in a baby seat. Aruve also sat on a children seat, and she was looking outside aimlessly, just like Teio. Aruve seemed way more interested, though, since Teio could hear her asking one thing or two to her mother about the things she noticed on the road.

Last night, after not coming down from dinner, her parents came to her room and apologized. Teio thought that she would get reprimanded for not having dinner, but what she got was her father telling her they would depart the next day for a family trip, all of them. When Teio said she had school tomorrow, her parents said they had her absence being taken care of already. None of her parents reprimanded her for missing dinner. Her mother even said she’d warm up the dinner again if she wanted to eat in the middle of the night. They were being kind and remorseful, but something still lodged in Teio’s heart. She could not get rid of that hurt, and now it pained her terribly.

Her father did not tell her where they were going. Usually, if it were a picnic, her mother would have been busy since morning making bento. It was not the case. Yet the view beyond the window seemed to indicate they had left the city behind. After some time, the scenery changed into paddy fields… then meadow. They passed some kind of gate into a small road lined by trees that continued further into the field. After a while, the road opened to an opening in front of a beautiful two-story mansion. Her father pulled over right by the mansion’s driveway, and a man in a suit came out of the mansion.

The moment her father stepped out of the car, the man from the mansion bowed deeply.

“Lord Rudolf, I am delighted to see that you are well.”
“I am glad you are well, too, Sebastian,” Rudolf answered the man with a warm, friendly voice. She went to the back seat to help unseat Aruve, who immediately asked to be carried. “It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?”
“It certainly has, My Lord.”

Sebastian closed the car door that Rudolf had left open. The man noticed Teio coming from the other side of the car and smiled.

“Good day, Young Lord Teio.”
For some reason, “Sebastian” seemed to be familiar with Teio, who did not remember anything about him. But Teio knew she should answer the greeting.
“Good day.”

Sebastian smiled warmly. He quickly noticed Air Groove with Tsuyoshi as well and, again, he bowed deeply.

“Lady Air Groove, we are happy to have you here again.”
“And I am happy to be here, Sebastian,” Tsuyoshi, in Air Groove’s arms, watched the man curiously. “Has Sirius-senpai arrived?”
“Lord Sirius had arrived a short while ago. I believe she is waiting by the track.”
“Straight to the point as always,” Rudolf chuckled. She looked at Air Groove, who nodded at her. “I guess we’ll go there as well.”
“Shall I prepare some refreshment by the gazebo, My Lord?”
“That will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Sebastian.”

Sebastian bowed.

Symboli Rudolf’s family walked together towards a gazebo not so far away. They passed a beautiful, well-kept back garden, filled with seasonal flowers and occasional apple trees. Approaching the gazebo, now Teio could see the shape of fences that signified a race track. She was self-aware that she was still very upset with her father and mother, but her curiosity got the better of her. She just had to ask.

“Dad.”
“Yes, Teio?”
“Where are we?”
“The Symboli family’s summer house.” Her father answered lightly. “We’ll be meeting Sirius.”
“She lives here?”
“No, we just made an appointment here.”

Uncle Sirius Symboli.

Uncle Sirius was her father’s closest relative. She frequently came to their house, especially at New Year's. Teio remembered overhearing Uncle Sirius and her parents conversing one of those times. They talked about some kind of work in France. Teio did not really understand the talk, but Uncle Sirius often gifted her goods from Europe. Probably that was where she worked. Teio was not sure, but Europe sounded far from the way her mother explained to her.

“Only you who dared to call me out here out of the blue at midnight, Rudolf!”

A familiar, handsome voice barked from the track. Sirius Symboli walked towards them in light strides. Her sharp, piercing eyes and signature smirk graced her features.

“Thank you for coming, Sirius. I am…”
“Yes, yes, spare me that yapping,” Sirius waved away all of Rudolf’s pleasantries. “Teio! Good to see you, Champ. You’re still as tiny as ever!”
“I am not tiny! I will grow big!”
“At least you got the guts. Hopefully that isn’t the only thing you have in there!”

Always the annoying but also the most approachable uncle, Sirius ruffled Teio’s mane and ignored Teio’s protest. Seeing it all, Aruve hugged her father’s neck tighter. Sirius laughed at her reaction.

“Little Princess is still afraid of me as always.”
“She’s just alert, Senpai. Little question as to why.”
“Well, well, Air Groove, ever the curt one.”
“Pleased to see you are well, Senpai.”
“Likewise. Tsuyoshi, how are you, Puppy?”
“Uncle!”
“Oh! She recognized me now!”
“She’s big enough, Senpai.”

Tsuyoshi actually reached out, and Sirius laughed. She did not try to take Tsuyoshi off Air Groove’s arms.

“No, Little Pup! Stay there with your Mommy, I have business with your Daddy.”

Sirius now turned to Rudolf, who was staring at the track.

“So? How do you want to do this, Rudolf? Can your rickety old bone even handle a 1600m?”

“You? Suggesting Mile?” Rudolf chuckled. She returned Sirius’s eyes, and suddenly her usually calm, gentle air disappeared. “It’s 2400m, left.”

The magenta eyes flashed.

“Derby.”

Sirius Symboli scoffed and laughed. When her laughter stopped, her amber eyes glinted and sparked. Now it was she whose atmosphere switched.

“This is why I hate you, Rudolf,” She said, with such intensity that Aruve winced. “I’ll crush you.”

“Are Uncle Sirius and Papa fighting?”

Sitting on a stool by the gazebo overlooking the race track, Aruve asked her mother. The gazebo had a long table with stools, and several maids had already brought various sweets and drinks. Tsuyoshi sat on a kiddy chair, drinking milk from a bottle. Sirius and Rudolf were setting up for a race, talking to several servants about it. Teio was right by the side of the track, told by Rudolf to see the whole race close-up. 

Upon hearing the filly’s innocent question, Air Groove laughed.

“No, sweetheart. They are simply very passionate about each other.”
“Passionate?”

Her mother’s smile turned gentler.

“Yes. One day, you will know. You will understand. You are an umamusume too after all.”

“It’s love.”

A beautiful, melodious voice came up behind Air Groove. There stood an umamusume with a black mane and a streak of white, looking down at the turf with an amused expression. She walked with a captivating ease, stopping briefly beside Air Groove.

“Ramonu-senpai.”
“The rules?”
“It’s 2400m, left.”

The older mare scoffed.

“How rude, that Loulou. I will make sure she pays.”

With that, Mejiro Ramonu walked towards the race track. 
Despite the very brief exchange, Aruve found herself following the mare and was unable to take her eyes off her.

“Mama?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Who is that?”
“Your father’s childhood friend. Mejiro Ramonu.”

Aruve did not comment, still captivated by the mare. After a while, Aruve could feel her mother standing behind her, and a pair of gentle hands resting on both of her shoulders. That made the filly look up to meet her mother’s eyes.

“Watch closely, sweetheart. You may learn something important today.”

“This will be the goal line. I want you to see everything as close as possible.”

Teio did not understand why her father said that. She wanted to say to her father that everything happened because she won a race in her school, to remind her again. She might hate racing now for all she knew. A lot of feelings were mixed inside her. She still had the anger in her heart from yesterday, the hurt from feeling betrayed, the hurt from her friends’ accusation… but she was so conflicted in how her body tingled with a sensation that was both familiar and foreign.

The moment her father and her uncle stepped inside the track, something in the air just shifted. They had not even begun. Her father looked back at her and said, “We are umamusume. Nothing is more honest than a race.”

“Rudolf.”

A mare gracefully jumped over the fence and walked to the two stallions who were about to run. She was inexplicably beautiful. The three talked for a bit, three adult umamusume talking right in the middle of the track. Teio could hear bits of chuckle now and then. She had never met the mare, but she must be someone her father knew well. However, the seemingly friendly air was gone the moment they prepared to start.

There was tension in the air. Something that was almost electrifying. Sebastian raised the running pistol. He shot.

… And they were off.

Teio had seen her father run, of course, she had. They had run and jogged together numerous times. However, she realized she had never seen her father race. There were only three umamusume running on the track, but Teio could feel their thunderous footsteps in her chest. The earth hummed with every step, every kick. One might think all three were simply running, but even from the place where she was standing, Teio could feel it was not so. They gauged each other, measured each other. Then, at the last 1000m, the race started to move. The beautiful mare suddenly blasted off to the front in an acceleration that Teio had never seen before. A while later, at last 800m, Uncle Sirius sped up as well, catching up to the mare in strong, powerful strides.

It seemed as if it would be a battle between the two of them, until somehow the air felt heavier. The footsteps that shook the earth, a pair felt even heavier than the others. The sound of it was suffocating, restraining, and commanding. Teio could feel her whole body trembling from the sensation. A commanding, domineering presence was running on the track… and that was her father.

Her father’s every step felt like a declaration of war. Like telling everyone that she was coming for them.

"Is it true that both of you are… the Empress and Emperor? The ones in the textbook?”
“Yes.”

Teio realized she never really believed that. Not when they were just mere words.

“But I really did not know. I don’t even know… any emperor…”

She was not lying. She did not know any. Not until now.

All she knew was her gentle and charismatic Papa, who was terrible at puns yet loved them to a fault. All she knew was her warm and strict Mama, who was always there for her every need, at any time of the day.

She did not know any Emperor or Empress. At all.

“Why, Papa?”
“Because… Because we just want to be your parents, and nothing else.”

Symboli Rudolf was her father—always was, forever would be.
However, at this very moment, she was, in all meaning, an Emperor.
… And a beast of her own right.

“Fuck! Fuck it, Rudolf! Fuck!”

Sirius Symboli cursed loudly in between her laboring breaths. She went and hit Rudolf on the shoulder with her arm. Though she shouted profanity, the glint in her eyes was satisfaction. During the run, nostalgia hit like a truck: Her childhood friends’ familiar presence and familiar footsteps; familiar wind blowing over her face. Now, seeing Sirius’s amber eyes gleaming and burning in front of her, Rudolf could not help but feel like they were back in their younger years when things were way simpler.

“Didn’t you say you were mostly doing desk work?! You fucking liar, you!”
“I didn’t lie,” Rudolf laughed. She, too, was breathing heavily. She still won, and she did calculate it would be a hard workout, but she never thought she would be this out of shape. “I’m just… quite glad I did not lose my homestretch spurt.”
“That you did not.”

Mejiro Ramonu walked closer. Her usually calm and cold face was flushed, something that not many could witness.

“That was a good run, Loulou.”

When the compliment of a race came from Mejiro Ramonu, Rudolf knew she did things right. She ran as herself, releasing everything in her. Race is honest, and that was what she wanted Teio to learn. She could show the “Emperor” but that would not be the message she wanted to say to Teio. It would also be disrespectful to both Sirius and Ramonu. Without even fabricating, the Emperor would always be a part of her, so would her old self. She wanted to show everything to her colt. There was no better way to do it than a race, and no better opponents than her childhood friends.

Rudolf took a deep, long breath. 

“I just hope… that she’ll understand.”

“She is your colt, is she not?” Ramonu folded her arms. A rare small smile adorned her beautiful face. “She will.”

“She is every bit like you, Idiot,” Sirius scoffed, putting her hands on her hips. “Trust her.”

Sirius pushed Rudolf’s shoulder rather harshly, but affectionately.

“Go on. Be a Papa now.”

“Teio.”

Symboli Rudolf walked to Teio’s place. She looked exhilarated, with her face flushed and her eyes still brimming with energy. She looked a lot more radiant than she used to. Teio always felt her father was cool and wise, but at this moment, after a run, everything went beyond those two words.

Her father extended one of her hands.

“Race with me.”
“What?”

Teio almost could not believe her ears. Just now, her father had just displayed to her her real power. She had just witnessed it all. No one would be stupid enough to fight that. Teio really did not understand what went through her father’s brain at the moment.

But why is it… Why, upon seeing such an overwhelming strength and seeing the exact person in front of her, Teio felt her feet itch so badly to take their steps?

“We are umamusume. Nothing is more honest than a race.”

Only 800m. Not even a sprint. For Teio’s small legs, it would equal 1600m, probably. It was ridiculous. It was every bit unfair.

Yet Teio did not understand why she took the hand that her father offered her, why she stood at the starting line with her father. Why, despite the absurdity of everything, did she find herself itching to run?

The pistol shot. And they started at the same time.

Teio ran ahead of her father, the wind rustling in her ears. She might be small, but she was fast, and she loved the speed.

“You are too fast!”
“Why would I want to run with you?”

She could hear it, the sound of her father’s footsteps right behind her. Light. Conserving stamina. Paced. Calculating.

“You’re a liar!”

Then it began, the thundering kicks. The domineering presence. The pressure that squeezed her chest and denied her lungs air.
Her father did not hold back even against her own colt.

“You’re just feeling good because you win!”
“This is unfair!”

No matter how much Teio ran, the big shadow passed her.

“You’re the colt of the Emperor and Empress!”
“Of course you are fast!”

Teio could not win. It was obvious.

No matter how much she tried, that back kept getting further and further away. Of course, her father was older. She was bigger. And more than anything, she was the Emperor.

“This is unfair!”

Yet why is it… at this very moment, when the overwhelming strength washed over her, when despair was supposed to claim her like it did to her friends, when her father’s back got further and further away, what clutched her heart was not the frustration of defeat.

“How could you not know?!”

She wanted to catch that back so badly. To run past her so badly. She wanted to overtake her father.

The two images had now merged into one, and everything clicked.

Her father.

The Emperor.

“Sir, who are the Emperor and Empress?”
“Teio?”
“I really did not know what they meant. Please, Sir. Tell me.”

“Papa…”

“Sir, who are my parents?”

 “Papaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

Crossing the finish line, guilt did not escape Rudolf. It settled in her heart like a lead. Showing Teio what it felt like to lose to unfairness was not really what she wanted to show. She just wanted Teio to know, to feel with her own body, who she was. Teio would understand, Teio would feel it.

And Teio would not break down just because she lost in this race.

“Papa!”

Rudolf’s ears perked up, and she turned back. Her colt was still running after her. Her steps remained sure and strong. It was not a run of someone who gave up. It was a run of someone who wanted to catch up.

“She is your colt, is she not?” 

“Papaaaaaaaa!!!!”

“Trust her.”

Tears were streaming down Teio’s face. Rudolf could feel the same tears well up in her eyes, too. By the finish line, Rudolf opened her arms. Teio ran to her, and jumped into her arms.

Their hug were tight and strong, almost desperate. Teio cried into her shoulder. The colt curled a fist and started pounding her shoulder.

“Papa, I am mad at you!! I am supposed to be your colt! But why did everyone know you more than I do?! Why did everyone call you nicknames I never knew?! Why should I ask my teacher to tell me about you?! My own sire! My own dam! I am so mad that I did not recognize you in those books! I am so mad, I am so mad! I never really knew you! And I am your colt! I am so mad at you, Papa! I am so mad at you!”

“I’m sorry. I am so sorry.”

Teio used to call her Papa. In kindergarten, Teio heard other children call their parents “Mom and Dad”. She thought Papa was too childish, so she switched. Rudolf was devastated. Her colt has grown, now she would not be Papa again.

She was wrong. The nickname did no matter. She was always a Papa.

“But I… Your run…” Teio grabbed a handful of Rudolf’s shirt. “Your run… You… When I saw it… and when I felt it… I … You… You are… an Emperor.”

“Teio…”

“I feel… that I finally really know you, Papa.”

Teio finally looked up to meet Rudolf’s magenta eyes. The blue eyes burned so brightly.

“My father is the Emperor, and I feel… I feel… so proud that I am your colt.”

Rudolf embraced her colt again, strongly, firmly. Teio returned with just as much warmth.

Like they wanted to make sure of each other’s presence.  Like they wanted to say hello for the first time again.

Chapter Text

First morning of the long Golden Week holiday.
Rudolf lowered the newspaper that she was reading and looked at the open glass door leading to her house’s inner garden. There, Teio was drawing in the sketchbook with Tsuyoshi at the wooden terrace, while Air Groove, her wife, was tending her flower garden with Aruve beside her. Tsuyoshi would go to primary school soon. Teio seemed to be telling her about her and Aruve’s primary school, drawing large doodles as she explained to the attentive Tsuyoshi.

Their house, a 5LDK two-storied house in the suburbs of Tokyo, was bought by Rudolf before she and Groove got married. She bought the house with Air Groove in mind and gifted it to Air Groove when Air Groove finally graduated from Tracen one year after her. Though it did not come with the proposal, the house key was given alongside the wedding ring. 

It was especially hard looking for a single house instead of a high-rise apartment building in Tokyo at a decent price. She wanted an inner garden no matter what, though, understanding very well how a garden is closely related to her then future wife’s happiness. She did use up quite a lot of her savings from her racing earnings for the house, and she never looked back. 

The house was perfect for a family with kids. Rudolf had envisioned and even touched on the topic of foals with Air Groove before their marriage. The kitchen was joined with the living and dining space. The stove was facing the living space, so anyone cooking could also oversee the living room—important when you have small children. The living room had a large sliding glass door leading to a wooden terrace facing an inner garden. The other side of the living room was a Japanese room, also with a sliding door to another inner garden. The second floor had four rooms. Originally, Rudolf wanted one master bedroom and used the rest as a working space. However, as their family grew, they turned them into their foals’ room. The one Japanese room on the first floor was used as a baby room back when their foals were young, so it was easy to take a break from the rest of the family, but also one can still remain alert with what happens in the living room.

Rudolf was quite proud of her findings and oversight. Her wife’s reaction was also rewarding. As they have more foals through their marriage, Rudolf wanted to pat her past self on the back even more. This was one of those times. Nothing beats looking at her entire family on her off days, basking in the warmth of her foals and wife.

Teio and Tsuyoshi’s happy chatter. Air Groove’s gentle, calm voice as she taught Aruve about their spring flowers. This was it. This was her entire life. Her entire heart.

Rudolf had a dream, a big one, and Air Groove was the only one who would follow her for it. Air Groove never merely followed, though. Her independence, her vision, always supplemented everything Rudolf had in her sight. Now she had given her happiness, beyond even that dream. Air Groove had given her the world.

Rudolf walked to the glass door and stood there, crossing her arms. Teio’s and Tsuyoshi’s faces brightened the moment they saw her getting closer.

“Dad! I just told Tsuyoshi about the playground…”

All members of the family stopped their activity. Their ears moved facing the same direction. They could hear a car pull over at the guest car space on the other side of the house. Air Groove gave Rudolf a questioning stare. Rudolf raised her shoulder, also not knowing who that was. She did not recall anyone contacting her for a visit. Nevertheless, Rudolf went for the door, even before the intercom was pushed.

“Yo! President! How are you? Long time no see!!”

By the front door, Hishi Amazon smiled from ear to ear with Narita Brian, her husband, standing behind her with a rack of Japanese sake.

“How long has it been since we last met? Half a year?”
“I think so! Was it around November…?”
“Early December. For a delivery around the vicinity.”
“Oh, yeah! You’re right, Brian! Man! I can’t believe we didn’t meet in a New Year!”

After a brief greeting with the rest of the family, Narita Brian and Hishi Amazon already sat comfortably side by side on the living room sofa. Air Groove made some tea in the kitchen while Rudolf kept the two guests “company” and the foals were already back to their activity again–Aruve joining her siblings making the sketch of their primary school at the terrace. 

The four adults were close friends. Brian was Rudolf’s vice president along with Air Groove in their Tracen years, while Hishi Amazon was a dorm leader who worked closely with them. After Rudolf’s graduation, Brian (rather begrudgingly) became president with Air Groove as vice president. Rudolf offered Brian a position in URA when they graduated, and Brian answered no right away, opting to take over her family’s sake business. Brian and her wife had to make some sake deliveries nearby and thought it would be nice to pay Rudolf and Air Groove a visit. 

"Your foals aren't coming?" Air Groove put a cup of tea in front of her guests before settling down to sit beside her husband. Brian, arms folded, answered quietly, "No. Not interested. We departed early in the morning, too."

"Yes, they'd rather stay home playing with the dogs than coming with us," HishiAma laughed. "I mean, they aren't the calmest foals, as you know. Drives don’t really interest them."

Already mates since their Tracen days, Brian and HishiAma married a bit early, not long after graduation. Unlike Rudolf and Air Groove, who waited for two years before finally deciding to have their foal, Brian and HishiAma had theirs almost immediately. They had five foals, and their first two foals were, naturally, older than Teio. Their oldest, a colt, Hishi Andes, and their second, also a colt, Flying Warrior, were just a year apart. They were followed by the filly-colt twins, Amazi and Osumi Kaizen. The last was a filly, Last Blaze. All of them had jet black hair like their parents and different shades of gold to amber eyes. Due to Brian and HishiAma having foals quite fast, everyone joked about Last Blaze’s name, wondering if she truly would be the last foal they would have. So far, Brian and HishiAma seemed to decide that five foals were enough.

"It's been quite a while since we met your foals," Rudolf smiled fondly. "Oh, isn't Andes old enough to go to Tracen? Or is she not interested?"

Not all Umamusume are interested in being involved in racing. Some opted to go to regular schools, although most usually go to the various racing academies throughout the country. It was without question that Tracen Academy was the best. Being a colt born from a Triple Crown winner and the best mare of their year, Andes already had plenty of expectations on her.

"Andes said she wants one more year with the family, so we've been letting her go to the town's school for now," HishiAma glanced at Brian, who only nodded. "She seems to find the idea of going to the dorm extremely challenging and heartbreaking."

"Well, given how she's always been surrounded by her siblings…” Air Groove smiled. She, too, had two sisters. “I can understand."

"We don't want to pressure her," HishiAma put a hand on Brian's thigh, and the stallion naturally slipped a hand to link their fingers together. "If she wants to pursue something else, we’ll surely support her too. That said, Warrior will go next year. That colt is very eager. Maybe Andes simply wanted to go together.”

“We have told her that if she goes to Tracen in the middle of her middle school years, the tests will be different and she might need race achievements to prove herself,” Brian said quietly. “But she's hardheaded."

Rudolf chuckled. "Like a certain someone, I see."

Brian grunted. HishiAma laughed heartily.

"But either way, yes," HishiAma looked back to face Air Groove and Rudolf. "Warrior will be going to Tracen for sure next year. The twins and Blaze probably will follow. That's it about the foals. They are healthy, happy little devils. The house will be so empty without them.”

A contemplative silence fell between them. Teio would soon go to Tracen as well. All of Rudolf and Air Groove’s foals had been expressing interest in going to Tracen. Teio and Aruve were now enrolled in a junior umamusume racing club, learning racing early. Tsuyoshi probably would follow her siblings as well, if her health allows.

“By the way, what will you be doing during Golden Week?” HishiAma broke Rudolf and Air Groove’s thoughts. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been thinking about it.”

“To be very honest, we really haven’t,” Rudolf chuckled. “I have been very busy lately. I think Air Groove has been throwing death glares at me for not resting.”
“House rest is the best for Rudolf,” Air Groove patted Rudolf’s thigh. “Going anywhere will always work her up. That said, we might go somewhere for the kids. They might get bored.”
“In that case, why don’t you send the kids to our place?”

HishiAma said it so easily that Air Groove and Rudolf blinked. The mare laughed. She gave her husband’s hand a gentle squeeze as she continued.

“I mean, it’s been a while! I am sure our foals would love to meet them, too! Andes and Warrior are basically Teio’s best friends. Tsuyoshi can have plenty of fresh air. Aruve will also meet our dogs.”

“That’s… an interesting offer.” Air Groove put a knuckle on her lips. Brian and HishiAma had four dogs since Brian also worked as a local hunter. The dogs are two Akita and two Labradors. Aruve loved dogs immensely, so a trip to Brian’s home always made her excited. Teio and Tsuyoshi would also enjoy the trip—Teio, for being able to meet her ‘cousins’ and Tsuyoshi for being able to bask in the countryside’s great atmosphere. Of course, it would be time for Tsuyoshi to get closer to her ‘cousins’ as well.

“Send the kids to us and have a holiday yourselves.”
“Eh?”

Brian’s sudden suggestion made Air Groove and Rudolf look at her right away. She crossed her arms and repeated.

“We can handle the kids.”
“That’s not…”

“It has been years since any of you have had a proper rest, right?” HishiAma smiled. “I mean, we know you two. You guys always overwork yourselves. We know how hard it is raising foals. But they are big enough now. Why don’t you leave the kids to us for a day?”
“You can pick them up tomorrow,” Brian added.
“Yes. Or you can come tomorrow to rest in our place too! Whichever you think is suitable.”

Air Groove and Rudolf did not immediately answer, but HishiAma could see that they were swayed. Brian smirked.

“... Our sake is nice for a quiet night.”

“Don’t forget to dry your hair and your tail after bath, okay?” Air Groove buttoned up Tsuyoshi’s jacket as she said so. Tsuyoshi nodded. Her mother turned to Aruve, who waited in silence beside Tsuyoshi. “Please help dry your sister’s tail after bath. You know Teio won’t have enough patience for it. Make sure it’s dry, or Tsuyoshi will catch a cold. Remember to tell Brian and HishiAma if anything arises.”

“Yes, Mom,” Aruve nodded obediently. Air Groove smiled and patted her daughter’s mane gently. “Mom and Dad will come later?”

“We will go there tomorrow. Will that be okay?”
“It’s fine. We’re old enough.”
“That’s what I want to hear.” Air Groove smiled at Aruve's calm response. “Make sure to have fun, okay? Have loads of fun there.”

Aruve nodded. Her face already flushed at the idea of meeting the dogs and, despite her calm demeanor, Air Groove knew she was giddy. Air Groove brushed and gently patted Aruve's cheek before standing.

Teio and Rudolf had finished loading the luggage onto the back of Brian’s van. Teio looked thrilled at the sudden change of plan. Her ears were erect, and her tail swished happily as she tiptoed back to her mother.

“Mom! Can I swim in the river?

There is a stream near Brian’s home, Teio’s favorite spot during summer.

“It’s still spring, Teio. It’s a no. That’s only for summer, okay?”
“Awwwww! But we can fish, right?”
“Ask Uncle Brian, I am sure you can.”
“... Andes can fish with you.”
“Yaaaaay!! I’ll go fishing!”
“Teio, no swimming, okay? This is still spring. Do not try to…”
“Yes, Mom! Really!”
“Andes will keep an eye out.”
“... I just hope Teio’ll listen…”
“I won’t be a bad child, Mom! I promise!”
“Okay. Take care of your siblings, okay?”
“Of course! You can count on me!”

Air Groove furrowed her eyebrows, totally unconvinced, but did not say anything else. Rudolf smiled and could not help but ruffle her colt’s hair.

“Have loads of fun out there.”
“We will, Dad!”
“Okay! We’re good to go! Into the car, kids!”
“Okaaay!”

Teio turned and hugged her father, receiving a gentle pat after. She changed to her mother and gave a big hug as well. Behind her, her siblings followed. After finishing with their hugs, a few pats and kisses, they were off.

Seeing the white van disappear in the corner, Rudolf and Air Groove stood there for a while—the silence and the calm that washed over them after felt surreal. After over ten years, the quiet felt almost foreign.

“... and they’re off.”

Rudolf opened the conversation, placing a hand over Air Groove’s shoulder. Her wife leaned to her almost immediately, a gentle weight on her shoulder.

“... I just hope they will behave.”
“They will. They’re our foals.”

Another silence came to them. Rudolf rubbed Air Groove’s shoulder gently.

“... Want to go somewhere today?”`
“Mmm… I have nothing in mind.”
“Well, I guess let’s just go in and do whatever comes up.”
“Yes. We don’t even get to do that lately, do we?”

The house felt so silent and empty without the kids. No chatters, no running footsteps, no occasional crashes, no sound of one of them crying or shouting or blaming each other for whatever is happening. Air Groove was just circling around the kitchen counter to start taking care of Brian’s rack of sake when she saw Rudolf just standing by the hallway, looking at the living room. She smiled.

“You’re lonely already?”
“... You read me well,” Rudolf smiled, like she was being busted. Her magenta eyes were tender when they moved to her wife. “Is this how you feel every time you come back from sending them all to their school?”
“More or less,” Air Groove chuckled. She took one bottle and examined it. A very expensive Japanese umeshu. It seemed easy to drink. “Your presence here, however, is totally something off the norm.”
“Oh, am I not welcome in your moment of peace?” Rudolf walked closer, hugging her wife’s waist from behind. “An intruder, perhaps?”

“Aren’t you cute? Do you really worry I consider you that?”
“It is one of my fears. I do hope I am a pleasant addition.”
“An unsure answer, really? You strike me as always confident you can read me well.”
“I don’t, love. You surprise me all the time. Always exceeding my expectations.”
“... Always the flatterer, Rudolf.”
“It is hard not to, when it comes to you.”

Rudolf kissed her wife on the base of her neck and earned a kiss on the cheek in return. She trailed some kisses from the neck up to her wife’s cheek, making Air Groove chuckle in delight. A playful kiss on the lips closed their small moment. Warmth burst in Rudolf’s heart as she hugged her wife tighter. Snuggling to each other, Rudolf took a deep breath, breathing in Air Groove’s calming scent. Ten years of hustles never felt more real. Rudolf just realized how rare it was for them to actually share calm moments of intimacy like this after they had their kids. In bed, of course, but never as free as this again. They could exchange kisses or occasional hugs, but never too long. Hugging her wife closer to her, Rudolf finally opened her eyes to look at the bottle in her wife’s hand.

“... That seems easy to drink.”
“My thoughts exactly. Maybe some steak and grilled chicken?”
“Wonderful. A bit of greens on the side?”
“Mmhm.”

The talk eased them both to a comfortable mood. After Air Groove placed the bottle on the counter again, Rudolf gently moved her hands to flip her wife to face her. As if on a cue, Air Groove wrapped her arms around her neck. Her greyish blue eyes shone a tender light. Without any more words exchanged, they exchanged gentle, tender kisses. Once, twice, then more, until Rudolf finally rested her forehead on Air Groove and tugged her wife’s body closer.

As their forehead joined together, Rudolf held back a contented sigh. What a pleasure it was to get lost in her wife’s eyes again, more times than she could count.

“... I love you, Air Groove.”
“I love you too.”

The continuation of their kiss marked the beginning of a very rare off day for them. Rudolf was determined to make use of it to the fullest.

Brian’s van drove leisurely following a narrow countryside road, going further and further into the more mountainous area of Saitama Prefecture. Left and right, the houses are quite sparse, and patches of vegetable gardens fill most of the lawn around. Other than that, there were rice fields on one side and hills on the other. Yuzu trees lined up the road with occasional sakura trees, already green in late spring.

Wind would make the leaves in the surrounding forests rustle about. The sound felt like waves, changing the sensation of wind blowing into a note of its own. 

A traditional housing compound right beside a hill of bamboo and cedar trees came into view. It had a very large parking space, near a warehouse-like building. From the moment the car pulled over to the parking space, four dogs already greeted the van, barking excitedly and waving their tails. Hishi Amazon hollered through her open passenger window.

“Kids! Look who is here!”

Hearing the shout of their mother, two colts came from the main house. They both had dark, jet black hair, exactly like their parents. Brian hopped out of the van–the dogs circled her excitedly–and opened the door for Teio to hop out.

“Teio! Hey!”
“Teio!!”
“Andes! Warrior!”

Brian’s two colts immediately ran closer, hugging each other happily. Aruve stepped out of the van later and could not take her eyes off the dogs. Silk, a black Labrador, came to sniff her, recognized her, and quickly jumped happily at her friend. Brian helped Tsuyoshi get down and gave her time to reintroduce herself to her dogs, the most important thing for the day. Tsuyoshi had met the dogs before, but it was when she was but a wee toddler. After making sure all of her dogs properly recognized Rudolf’s foals, Brian looked up at her two colts, still talking to Teio happily nearby.

“Andes! Warrior! Where are your siblings?”
Andes, the oldest, obediently went to her father, navigating around excited dogs.
“Amacchi and Kai-kun were off with one of the workers on a delivery a while ago.”
“And Blaze?”
“You think she will come out?” Warrior laughed from afar. “She’s inside, Dad. You know she hates people, just like you.”

Brian grumbled, knowing very well her second colt had taken a jab at her. Behind her, HishiAma was opening the back van door.

“Andes! Help me with the luggage!”
“Yes, Mom!”
“I’ll help, Auntie!”
“No, no, Teio. You go with Aruve and Tsuyoshi to the main house, okay? Let Andes and me handle it. Tell Warrior to give you some drinks. I’ll be there soon with Brian.”
“Okay!”

Foals and dogs went excitedly towards the house under the watchful eyes of Narita Brian. Brian looked up at the deep blue sky over the mountain. The weather would be good today. Hopefully, it would be good for the kids as well.

“So I told Sirius to streamline the recruitment process. Director Akikawa already approved it, and head coach Kashimoto would assist us then.”
“Seems good. Won’t the Symboli be against it, though?”
“They are not happy, but as long as Sirius and I are the heads of the project, they cannot say much.”
“Hmm…”
“Unless we stave off the Symboli influence, there won’t be room for other parties to get in. The Mejiro had been graceful for so long, it's time for us to give space for their representative in.”
“Yes. We have the union and local federation, but none of the houses other than Symboli. I believe Ardan also gives the side support?”
“Of course. Other than her, the Satono has also considered.”
“We just need everyone to have the same goal.”
“Yes. We need to uphold something more than family politics. Conquering international races might be the goal that we can use to bring everyone together. Regional growth does not attract the heads of the families that much. Unfortunately.”

Cuddling on the sofa after having their lunch together, Rudolf and Air Groove talked slowly about random topics. Most of the talk revolved around the things Rudolf had at work. As Rudolf’s former secretary, Air Groove understood very well what Rudolf had on her plate, and Rudolf, too, always opened up to her and asked for her opinion. It was also probably just years of partnership that made the talk slip even into private moments like this. Thankfully for them, it fell to the same level as talking about groceries, or the talk of flowers for Air Groove. For Rudolf, her work was her garden after all.

Silence came to them again like a blanket. A comfortable weight that somehow made Rudolf gently push her wife closer to her.

Their living room sofa was extendable. Now fully extended, Rudolf comfortably sat with her legs straight with Air Groove’s head on her shoulder. With an arm over Air Groove’s shoulder, Rudolf patted or rubbed her wife’s shoulder idly. The sound of their tails occasionally thumping the sofa filled their silence.

“... I can’t believe it has been ten years since this house was this empty.” Rudolf suddenly pondered. Air Groove chuckled.
“Well, Teio is such a presence,” Air Groove slightly moved to face her husband. Rudolf kissed her mane gently. “The moment she was born, this house has never been the same.”
“She’s such a ray of sunshine. I think that’s from you.”
“Oh, hush, she’s a carbon copy of you. She’s basically a mini you.”
“And Aruve is a carbon copy of you.”
“Really? She has your white crescent, your eyes…”
“She has your atmosphere.”
“That’s such a lousy attempt, Rudolf. I know my DNA has lost to yours.”
“Mine was a valid opinion. You can ask Brian and HishiAma tomorrow, they’ll say the same.”
“Really? I doubt…”
“But… I think what she has the most in common with you is running style.”

They met eyes, Rudolf’s magenta eyes into Air Groove’s greyish blue. 

“She has your powerful, flexible strides. It’s like watching you on the turf again, love.”

They were both accomplished racers. Even Air Groove knew that Rudolf was right in that aspect. Silence washed over them as nostalgia filled the spaces between their words. Their Tracen memories. They were a President and Vice President of the student council, an upperclassman and her underclassman. Brian was Rudolf’s other vice president and Air Groove’s yearmate. All three of them were great racers. Although they had never raced each other directly in any official races, they had watched each other’s training and had mock races with each other. They could see the subtleties of racing form, gait, strides…

“... About Tsuyoshi…”

The air shifted the moment their youngest’s name came up. Rudolf felt Air Groove’s arm wrapped around her torso.

“... I have talked to Ramonu. I consider asking the Mejiro House’s doctor. They are experts in chronic and developmental conditions.”
“Yes, that would be best.”
“But, love, if there is a chance…”
“Rudolf. For now, let’s just give our best.”

Air Groove propped herself up, facing her husband. She linked the fingers of her free hand with Rudolf’s.

“She just wants to run with Teio, Rudolf. She wants to run with her siblings. What she aspires to be after is all up to her. We can only support her.”

Rudolf’s magenta eyes dimmed. She remembered Tsuyoshi’s glittering eyes when she watched the TV, a recording of Rudolf’s past races. That scared her. She had seen what inspirations, what dreams, what ambitions could bring. Rudolf dropped her gaze. After a while, she looked into her wife’s eyes again, easing a smile.

“I just hope she enjoys being in Brian’s place.”
“I am sure. There is plenty of space to run and the air is wonderful.”
“I wonder how she would react to the dogs.”
“Aruve may monopolize them.”
“You may be right…  That reminds me of you, love. With that puppy during our school year.”
“Oh.”
“You were really cute, then,” Rudolf ran a hand through Air Groove’s mane. Her eyes were swimming in nostalgia again. “I still remember what a beautiful smile you had when that puppy was around. Don’t you think…”
“No.”

Air Groove knew what Rudolf was about to say even before it was voiced. Rudolf laughed. Her eyes twinkled when she tried to continue.

“I mean, you and Aruve would—”
“No.”
“We can ask—”
“Rudolf.”
“Okay, okay. Yes. Not now, is it?”
“Yes.”
“All right,” Rudolf chuckled. She spread her arms. “Come, love. Don’t look so grumpy. We’re on a holiday.”
“And whose fault is that?”

Air Groove sighed and then dropped her body onto her husband’s hug again. They embraced, exchanging lazy kisses as a wordless apology, forgiveness, and playfulness were exchanged in every touch of their lips. In time, Rudolf’s hand started to slip inside Air Groove’s shirt, and their kisses escalated. Air Groove ran her hand through Rudolf’s mane and guided her to a deeper kiss. Her silent demand was answered. Rudolf’s hand moved up Air Groove’s torso, trailing her muscles with a tantalizing…

A sudden phone ring interrupted them.

Air Groove quickly jerked up, as it was her phone that rang, buzzing by the low table. Ignoring Rudolf’s stare of protest, Air Groove moved to pick it up. It was Hishi Amazon.

“Yes, HishiAma? Is anything wrong?”
“Groove! I’m planning dinner at the moment, and I was wondering if your kids have any favorites or things I should look out for?”
“Oh….” Still flustered from their kiss, it took a while for Air Groove to register the information. “Oh, right. Right. For.. For Teio, it’s Fuji a…”
“... Did I interrupt something?”
“Interru—” Air Groove’s face turned bright red instantly. Rudolf tilted her head at her reaction. “Nonsense! What are you talking about?”
“Mmhm.” The amused voice made Air Groove scowl.
“Anyway, let me continue. Or do you want me to cut this off right now?”
“Come on, Groove. I am sorry! Hahaha! Yes, please, continue.”

Quite annoyed, Air Groove continued her explanation. At least HishiAma seemed to be determined not to call again unless for an emergency. This holiday was, after all, her idea.

Brian crossed her arms, watching the foals running around in the open field near her house. Just a while ago, the foals were all asleep after a very hearty meal. They were so quiet and so docile, like angels. Now, they were already back in full energy, running around and shouting, just like a whirlwind. Teio, Warrior, and the twins raced with the labradors while Tsuyoshi and Aruve enjoyed playing catch with the Akita. Last Blaze, Brian’s youngest filly, was off with Ama to buy some groceries for their dinner. Last Blaze was never good with people other than her close family, which, by many, including Hayahide, was said to closely resemble Brian when she was young. Her older colts evidently like to tease Brian about it. 

Brian hoped Blaze could get along well with the others, at least with Rudolf and Air Groove’s foals. Blaze was only a year older than Tsuyoshi. Brian had really hoped letting them meet early would make them get along better. Alas, last year, due to how often Tsuyoshi went to the hospital, Brian and Ama could not find time to visit at all. Brian wondered if Tsuyoshi did well in her kindergarten, or if she had a bit too many sick days. It was a miracle that Rudolf and Air Groove would let Tsuyoshi go without their supervision, but Brian knew they let this happen because it was Brian and Ama. Her two best friends would not let Tsuyoshi off with anyone else.

Now, watching Tsuyoshi throwing frisbees for the dogs, Brian noted to be careful with Tsuyoshi’s health. The holiday would be no fun if you fainted and worried everyone.

The field used to be a vegetable farm, but the owner, an elderly man, had passed away around two years ago. His relatives never came back to reclaim the land, leaving it deserted. The town thought that tall grass would only encourage bears and wild boars to come from the mountain, as it would serve as a nice hiding place. They at least managed to gain the approval of the relatives to cut the grass, and they left it to Brian’s family, as the one closest to the field. Brian had been thinking about whether she should use her savings to buy the land. Her foals and dogs love the field too much. The town’s children would probably benefit from a small track too…

“Dad, I have finished transferring some firewood from the shed to our house.”
“Thank you. Good job.”

Andes came up behind Brian. She had volunteered for the job to let the others play in the field. Andes was always the dependable one, probably due to her being the oldest. She had Ama’s amber eyes and Ama’s selflessness. Probably the best possible combination there was.

Andes stood beside Brian, watching her siblings and her “cousins” playing. Somehow, she did not move to join.

Tsuyoshi tripped and fell, but she quickly stood back up, seemingly laughing apologetically at Aruve and Teio, who came to her in worry. Chomp, one of the Akitas, sniffed her worriedly too. It seemed everything was fine.

“Teio said, she’ll be going to Tracen in two years.”

Andes suddenly began the conversation.

“Warrior said, she’ll be waiting then,” Andes sighed. “Meanwhile, I couldn’t answer.”

Her foals knew that even when Brian did not answer, it did not mean Brian was not listening.  Andes paused, seemingly collecting her own thoughts. 

“I… I am not sure if racing is for me, Dad.”

Andes looked torn despite her words. Somehow, Brian knew it was not because her statement was a lie.

“I like running. I think all of us like it. But racing is different,” Andes’s shoulder slumped. “The more I see the others run, the more I feel it’s not for me. But…”

“Is there anything else you’re interested in?”

Andes grimaced. It seemed Brian hit the spot.

“That’s… the thing, Dad. I don’t know.” She threw her gaze to the soil. “But what I know is that I don’t want to go to Tracen just because I don’t know what else I should do.”

It seemed Andes waited for some kind of admonishment, but that did not come. She slowly looked beside her, to her father. Brian was watching her with gentle golden eyes.

“And that is good.”
“... Really? Even if I am indecisive?”
“You simply do not know yet, and that is fine.”

Her father patted her head before folding her arms again.

“Chase what you want to do. We will help find your route with you.”
“Even if I…”
“Do not listen to what the others say,” Brian’s voice was firm. The golden eyes steadily answered Andes’ amber ones. “Your blood means you are our colt. Nothing less, nothing more. I do not expect my colt to run a G1 race. What I do expect is for her to choose her own track for her happiness.”
“... Yes, Dad.”

Brian furrowed her eyebrows. Andes knew that look; her father was not happy with the way she answered.

“I mean…”
“Will you try to search for it, though?”
“Yes, Dad?”
“What you want to do. Will you keep looking?”
“Of course.”
“Good.”

Her father finally eased. She gave Andes her rare, warm smile. Just like that, her father looked back at the field again, to the foals still running around playing. It was like she had heard the most important part of Andes’s problem… and Andes realized that her father was right.

She really did just answer the most important part. For now.
And that was fine.

Her father probably did not offer her a hug, but Anders felt her father’s solid, warm presence envelop her gently.

Morning in Narita Brian’s household was generally quiet. The sound of bird chirping, the rustling of the leaves in the forest, and even the occasional whistle of deer were the music in the stillness of the morning. Unlike Symboli Rudolf’s family, where every foal had her own room, in Narita Brian’s house, everyone slept together. For Teio, Aruve, and Tsuyoshi, it was a completely different experience. Exciting, and the night did not feel as lonely with everyone’s presence around them.

Brian’s house was a traditional house, with a large dirt entrance hall–formerly the kitchen of the house–leading to a wooden terrace. On one side was the side house, and on the other was the main compound. Brian and Hishiama’s family lived in the side house, while Brian’s mother, father, and Biwa Hayahide lived in the other side. Hayahide, Brian’s older sister, had moved to Tokyo for her work in URA, so there was only Brian’s father and mother. Being an old house, the rooms were actually large, singular rooms separated into sections by sliding doors. There was even a floor hearth or irori in one of the sections, something they used just the night before to have barbecue, hotpot, and grilled fish. Last night, everyone in the family gathered around for the feast. At night, all children were rounded up into one section, and the sliding door was used to separate the room as needed.

Tsuyoshi woke up in Teio’s arms with Aruve sleeping beside her. She could hear the other foals’ breathing around her and the shuffling of the adults already up and about. She was about to snuggle back to her eldest sister’s embrace when her ears picked up something familiar. The sound of her family van.

Tsuyoshi slowly wriggled out of Teio’s arms. Teio mumbled but continued to sleep. Aruve stirred. Tsuyoshi felt a bit guilty since Aruve might wake up because of her, but she could not wait. She knew the sound of that van.

Tsuyoshi tiptoed between the legs of the other foals, struggled at the wooden terrace to reach her shoes, slipped her small feet into them rather sloppily, and ran outside.

True enough, her parents were there already, talking to Uncle Brian and Auntie Ama, four dogs by her uncle’s heels.

“Mommy!”

Her mother turned immediately at her voice, so did her father. Tsuyoshi ran to her mother… and tripped on her own shoe.

“Tsuyoshi!”

Her mother and father were beside her right away. Tsuyoshi had not even finished pulling herself up, and both had already covered such a distance in seconds. She smiled from ear to ear and immediately reached for her mother’s arms.

“Mommy!”
“Oh, you, are you okay?”
“Mhm!”

Tsuyoshi shrugged it all off and instead threw herself into her mother’s embrace. Her mother chuckled, but carried her into her arms nevertheless.

“She looks like she hasn’t seen you in years!” Auntie Ama said with a bright laugh. “I don’t think it has even been 24 hours!”

Uncle Brian, standing beside Auntie Ama with her arms crossed as usual, just smiled.

Her mother patted dirt off Tsuyoshi’s body, letting Tsuyoshi hug her neck tightly.

“I miss you, Mommy!”
“... And Daddy?”
“Of course you too, Daddy!”

Her father’s ears were drooping so sadly that Tsuyoshi was transferred to her father’s arms now, to give her a huggy. Her mother still patted her body, examining for any wounds.

“Daddy, Daddy! I played frisbee yesterday!”
“Oh, you did?”
“Oh, Daddy, the dogs were so smart!”
“Mhm.”
“You see, you see! They can catch the frisbee like, like fyuuuu!!! And when Oneechan threw it like bwooon! They can like, catch, like chomp!”
“Really? You should show Daddy later.”
“We’re not going home?”
“We can have some more time. We can totally play with the dogs some more.”
“Yaaaaaay!!!”

Air Groove went back to Brian and HishiAma as her youngest now excitedly told her incoherent stories of yesterday’s happenings to her husband. They were in the middle of greeting each other when Tsuyoshi came.

“At least that kid has guts!” HishiAma laughed. Air Groove nodded.
“She has that a plenty.”
“She was a bit exhausted yesterday, but thankfully, no fever whatsoever,” said HishiAma with a grin. “We were worried that she overexerted herself, but Aruve is a really keen observer. She stopped Tsuyoshi whenever she was about to get too excited. They mostly play with the dogs.”
“Did Teio fish?”
“No,” Brian shrugged. “She did not even ask.”
“I think she forgot she even wanted to fish,” HishiAma laughed loudly. “She had so much fun running around with the twins and Warrior at the field! Brian, maybe we really should buy that field over there. I’ll pitch in.”
“I can handle that.” Brian did not even miss a beat. “We’ll have that land.”
“Yes, I mean, I am sure they also don’t want to pay for taxes next year with a land that big.”

Uncultivated land was taxed more heavily in Japan, especially former farmland like the one near their place.

“Thank you for taking care of them, really,” Air Groove smiled, looking at her husband and Tsuyoshi from afar. Tsuyoshi was still very excitedly telling Rudolf about her great adventure. “Tsuyoshi spent most of her childhood at home or in the hospital. This is such a new change for her.”
“I bet,” HishiAma smiled sympathetically. She put her hands on her hips. “And I am sure that goes to you, too. Was yesterday a nice change of pace?”
“We did have a lot of rest, yes,” Air Groove answered swiftly. The glint in HishiAma’s eyes made her frown, but she knew better than to entertain the other mare’s challenge. “I think Rudolf has partly forgotten how to wind down.”
“Stop accusing Rudolf and look into a mirror, Empress.”
“Brian.”
“Truth.”

Air Groove groaned. As annoying as she was, she knew that was Brian being caring.
HishiAma, still chuckling a bit, continued the conversation.

“Would you be hanging around for a while, Air Groove?”
“I think yes. Tsuyoshi seems like she still wants to play with the dogs.”
“As if you don’t.”
“BRIAN.”
“Now, now, you two,” HishiAma laughed. “Hayahide would be coming home as well. We can all have a nice big meal tonight. I think you can go home after, what about it?”
“Sounds like a good idea,” It has been a while since Air Groove met Brian’s sister. Rudolf met her regularly at work, however. “I also want to say thank you to your parents. I hope the kids did not bother them.”
“My parents are busy with the Golden Week deliveries.”
“And you aren’t?”
“Kids are my priority.”
“So you’re still ditching work even as an adult, Brian.”
“And I was right, you’re a domineering wife as an adult.”
“You little…”
“Goodness, you two, please.”

Still bickering as ever. It was a miracle that Rudolf actually got both of them to work, and even how the student council actually remained functional after Rudolf’s graduation. Air Groove met Brian’s eyes again, finding an amused, warm glow in the golden eyes, and could not help but sigh. She herself eventually smiled.

“You never change, Brian.”
“You too.”

Maybe Air Groove should suggest to Rudolf that they should visit the family more often from now on.

Three months later…

“Kids! Don’t forget your water bottles!”
“Okay, Dad!”

The foals actually went and lined up in front of Rudolf for their water bottles. They all had favorite ones, and Rudolf had memorized them well. Tsuyoshi’s, especially, was filled with her special drink, so hers was definitely one that should never be mixed with the others. As the foals put their water bottles in their respective backpack, Rudolf noticed Air Groove entered the kitchen, rubbing her temple. Her wife had been complaining about feeling lethargic lately, one of the reasons Rudolf volunteered to cook today (although the foals complained that her cooking did not taste as good).

“Are you all right, love? Should I take the day off?”

Gently circling her arms around her wife’s waist, Rudolf looked at her worriedly. Her wife shook her head and wordlessly showed something she had in her hand.

A pregnancy test kit with two very clearly visible lines.

“... Maybe we should name our next foal Last Crown or something, Rudolf.”

It appears the family would only get bigger.

Chapter Text

A sunny late afternoon. All kids were accounted for and all that was left was waiting for Rudolf to get home. In the living-dining room, on the floor Teio and Tsuyoshi were busy trying to make Carrot Ranger origami from a kids magazine bonus while Aruve was reading a kids novel at the sofa. Times like these, when the kids were all doing well on their own, were among the best times of the day.

"Tsuru-chan, you shouldn't fold it that way! Look, these lines here means you should fold it this way!"
"Like this?
"Yes!"

Aruve turned over another page. The chatter of her siblings filled the room like a familiar white noise. Aruve may not share much of her siblings’ tastes in TV shows and comics, but she rather enjoyed hearing them talking about it as… noises. Just as the day went slow, suddenly they heard a crash from the kitchen counter, right behind them. All foals quickly turned their heads, seeing their mother lean to the sink, barely standing straight.

"Mom!"
“Mommy!”

Aruve immediately took off, leaving her book on the sofa and the first arrived by her mother's side. Teio was beside her in mere seconds, both of them holding their mother from each side. The one that crashed on the floor was one of their mirin bottles and now the smell of alcohol was all over the place. Aruve tried to look at her mother's face, noticing how pale she looked,  and the blood dripping from her nose.

"Mom, are you okay?! You're bleeding!"
"I'm fine. Just... just let me... sit."

But it did not seem like she would be able to walk further to the sofa. Teio kicked the mirin bottle on the floor away and gently guided her mother to sit and lean on the counter. Their mother seemed to finally really notice the dripping blood from her nose, and started to pinch her nostrils. From her sluggish movement, it was clear she was not alright.

"Aruve, call Dad!" Hearing Teio, Aruve nodded and immediately went to the house’s landline phone. "Tsuru-chan, bring me the tissue from the TV table, hurry!"
"Teio, it's... it’s fine.” Her mother put a hand on Teio’s shoulder. “I just feel a bit lightheaded."
"Lightheaded is not fine, Mom!"

Somehow Teio's answer made her mother chuckle for a bit despite the situation.
Tsuyoshi arrived with a box of tissues they always have on the table in front of the TV. She stood beside them worriedly, as Teio offered their mother some of tissues to wipe the bleeding. Several meters away, they can hear Aruve talking on the landline phone to their father. A while later, the click of the phone could be heard, and Aruve ran back.

"Dad said she'll be here soon."

All three foals sat there surrounding their mother, nervously looking at her. The mirin on the floor seeped into their clothes, but none of them really noticed.

"Should I... Do you.. Do you want anything to drink, Mom?"
"It's fine, Teio. It's okay. The bleeding will stop soon."
"It's not fine! You're not fine!" Teio curled her hands into fists, almost waving them in frustration. "You told us to tell you if we feel unwell! You told us to be honest! Then you should too!"
"I will wipe the floor later, Mom," Aruve joined in. "We will clean up everything, so please rest after this, Mom."
"Will... will the cold patch work, Mommy?" Tsuyoshi linked her hands. "You put some in my school bag..."

Six very worried eyes looked back at Air Groove. They looked like they were ready to do anything necessary at any moment. Air Groove could not help but chuckle again, and she could feel her nose bleeding again from that. Such timing. To be honest, just sitting already made her head clearer, and the nosebleed was not even that bad. But seeing her foals all looked at her so worriedly made her felt like asking something to them.

"Come here."

She spread her free arm, gesturing for them to come closer.

"I think I feel a bit cold. Warm me a bit."

It did not take a second for all three to hug her. It was totally not the ideal first aid lesson for them, but for once, Air Groove did not feel like being right.

“I have tucked the kids to bed, but they still look quite worried.”

Rudolf smiled as she came into the room. Air Groove was already in bed, a book in her lap. Rudolf came home in mere 20 minutes after Aruve called her, something that would normally take around 40. She sprinted from the station back home, obviously technically breaking the law of umamusume top speed on a public road. The moment she arrived, she threw her suitcase to the side and immediately scooped Air Groove from the floor to the sofa. After a brief check, she quickly grabbed the key to heat the car to go to the clinic. In normal conditions, they probably would just let her rest without going, but not this time. After all, Air Groove was in her early pregnancy, and Rudolf would not risk anything. It’s better to go and find that nothing was wrong than ignore it and regret everything. Rudolf called Sirius as she waited for Groove to change her mirin-soaked pants, then departed for the clinic right away. 

Sirius arrived a while later to very nervous foals—all three tried to tell her what happened. Since the foals really could not be distracted, Sirius was stuck explaining about pregnancy, to her chagrin. Inside her head, Sirius sure would pull this card in the future to use against Rudolf. Rudolf *owed* her for this.

When the parents were back from the clinic, Sirius already had the kids fed and even showered, but none of the kids would sleep until their parents were back. Quite endearing, especially since Tsuyoshi was basically sleepwalking at that hour. The foals calmed down once they saw their mother back home, and finally listened to their father’s instruction to go back to their room.

Rudolf sat beside Air Groove, who naturally leaned toward her. She embraced her wife gently. 

“What about Sirius?”
“She’s already gone home. She wishes you well.”
Air Groove was brought to their bedroom right away, so she did not exactly have time to talk to Sirius—they only exchanged greetings. 

“... Did you give her anything to bring home?”
“Brian’s umeshu.”
“Okay.”
Rudolf chuckled.
“You have so little faith in me, love. I know the ways of courtesy.”
“It’s Sirius. You are always too sloppy with her. We asked for her assistance so I…”
“I know, I know, love. Ssh, now you have to rest.”

Rudolf slowly brought both of them to sink into the bed, settling both of them comfortably inside the blanket. Air Groove snuggled closer to her husband. Comfortable silence enveloped them; it would not take long for slumber to come.

“I will handle everything tomorrow. The doctor said it is one week of complete bed rest. Let’s not try to cheat on it, okay, love?”

Air Groove did not answer. Rudolf knew she was not happy being told to stay in bed for the rest of the week. Of course not. If there was anything her beloved always perfect wife was not good at, it would be to let herself be spoiled. Rudolf hugged her closer, buried her nose in her wife’s mane.

“So, tell me what books you haven’t finished so I can bring them to you. Or buy them for you.”
“... It’s unnecessary, Rudolf.”
“You like papers more than digital, don’t you? And backlights from devices give you migraine.”
“Yes, but…”
“Air Groove, love, allow me,” Rudolf placed a kiss on Air Groove’s knuckle. She looked into her wife’s eyes. “For our baby, and more importantly, for yourself. Please.”

Air Groove eventually sighed. She put her head on Rudolf’s shoulder.

“I will feel so bored.”
“I can imagine.”
“... I am sorry. I should have been more careful with my rest and nutrition intake.”
“Sssh. No more of that. It’s not your fault. And please, tell me what you want to eat, or what you don’t want. Were you not nauseous during Tsuyoshi’s? I have repeated this then, and I will repeat this again. I know you tried to keep it down, but don’t hold back from telling me. Don’t push yourself. Please.”

Air Groove did not answer again. Rudolf gently grasped her hand.

“Love? Would you?”
“I know. Yes. Forgive me. It's just... hard.”
"I know. So I need you to try to be lenient on yourself, okay?"
"... I will. Yes."

Rudolf seemed slightly satisfied with Air Groove’s answer. She gave another kiss on her wife’s knuckle.

“What about the kids?”
“I will take care of them. I will be at home with the kids after school. I can delegate my work, but I can’t delegate anyone to be your husband and a father.”

Air Groove could not hold back a chuckle and a smile from forming on her face. She looked deep into her husband’s magenta eyes.

“Big words, Rudolf.”
“Why, I just repeated what you said to me before. Or did you forget?”

Air Groove furrowed her eyebrows. She probably forgot.

“Love, did you remember when you decided to retire from URA? You said the exact same thing. That you are replaceable in the management and you should be, or there is a critical flaw in the system.”
“Ah.”
“And that our family is irreplaceable, and it should be, or there is a critical flaw in us.”

Rudolf joined their forehead, smiling as she saw the tender greyish blue eyes were colored with memories.

“That time, I thought, what a lucky person I was to have married you, and for the first time, I really felt deep inside me that we really were going to have our first foal. I would never forget that. I would never forget how reassuring it is to know that it is you who would be with me in this entirely new journey. You always know what is most important. You always remind me. Now, please, allow me to remind you how important you are to us. How irreplaceable. So please, rest. That is your job now.”

Air Groove sighed again, then snuggled closer to Rudolf. She hugged her husband, resting her head on her husband’s chest.

“Don’t blame me if I suddenly turned spoiled.”
“Why, that is totally something I look forward to.”
“I may ask you to take care of my flowers.”
“Of course. Certainly.”
“I may lecture you if you ruined any.”
“... I probably deserve that if that happens.”
“I may want parfait.”
“We can buy.”
“Or cake.”
“I can ask Super Creek for a recommendation. Anything you want, love.”
“... will you be home most of tomorrow, then?”
“I will. I promise. Not only tomorrow, it’s for however long necessary.”

Silence came to them again. This time, it was comfortable. Rudolf moved to take the remote for their bedroom light from their bed’s side table. Meeting her wife’s eyes again, they shared one last tender kiss before Rudolf finally turned off the lights.

“Rudolf?”
“Yes, love?”
“You do know… that I can only say what I said because I married you, don’t you?”
“...”
“... Fool.”

Air Groove planted a kiss on Rudolf’s neck before snuggling into a comfortable position.

“Good night, Rudolf.”
“Good night, love.”

Chapter Text

Air Groove flipped another page of the novel she was reading. Being told to have complete bed rest, Air Groove had been doing nothing but sleep and read books. Rudolf had brought several books from the shelves downstairs for her to read, prepared drinks and snacks for her to spend the days with, and even asked her if she would like to have anyone bring her lunch later on. Tsuyoshi’s kindergarten finished at midday, which means Rudolf would have been home by then. She did not mind waiting for an hour or so from lunch time, but her worrywart husband still asked and even insisted all the same. In the end, Air Groove managed to tell Rudolf that, no, Rudolf did not need to ask Bubble Gum Fellow to bring her food exactly at noon. Other than feeling a bit lonely with her hearing her family doing their usual activities downstairs, everything else was fine. Of course, boredom was inevitable, but being able to get some hours off to read the book she had bought but never had time for was quite pleasant.

Rudolf had arrived home earlier today, around noon, since she had picked up Tsuyoshi from the kindergarten. Right after arriving home from kindergarten, Tsuyoshi ran up the stairs to the master bedroom to report to her about her day.

"Mommy!"

Tsuyoshi opened the door and stumbled into the master bedroom. She stopped right there, running out of breath, probably because she ran up the stairs. Air Groove was about to move from the bed, but little Tsuyoshi held up a hand.

"No! Mommy, stay! I... wheeze... I am just... Wheeze... I will get there!"
"... Okay? Just take a deep breath, okay, sweetie?"

Just where was Rudolf? Though probably Rudolf was the one telling Tsuyoshi to come upstairs. Tsuyoshi, unlike her siblings, tires easily. She choked easily, frequently had breathing difficulty, and easily got herself varying degrees of fever. They tried to regulate Tsuyoshi’s activity so that she did not overexert herself. For better or worse, Tsuyoshi is an energetic kid who always looked up to the eldest Teio. Tsuyoshi is also such a hard worker, so passionate that she often overworks herself even for the smallest thing. Teio is a bundle of energy, but she was graceful in understanding how her little sister would not be able to keep up with her. If Tsuyoshi were around, Teio would change her game into something more subdued. For example, rather than running in the park, she would instead play at the jungle gym. At home, Teio would choose to color the coloring book or play video games instead. 

Even now, merely running up the stairs already tired Tsuyoshi out. After a while, Tsuyoshi finally got her breathing in order. She looked up again, beaming.

"Mommy, I made this at school today!"

The colt climbed up the bed, half-bouncing her way to her mother. She spread an A3-size sketchbook, scribbled TSUMARU TSUYOSHI in the front, and showed a vibrantly colored drawing of what appears to be a race track, and... Air Groove would just assume that was Symboli summer house.

"That's wonderful, sweetie. Is that a race track?"
"Yes! And this is Daddy!"
"Is this when we went to watch Daddy race some years ago?"
"Uh-huh! And this one, this one, this is Mommy and Aruve-Neechan!"
"Then what is this one?"
"That is Uncle Sirius!"

That was certainly not an umamusume, though, but Air Groove decided not to comment.

"Is this Auntie Ramonu?"
"That is the lady."
"Oh, her name is Ramonu."
"Ramo...nu?"
"Yes, she is Daddy's friend."
"Daddy's friends are fast!"
"They are. They sure are."

Tsuyoshi continued for some time, then she suddenly stopped. Air Groove heard her colt slurring her words then watched her yawning. It was midnoon.

"Maybe you can tell Mommy more over here," Air Groove smiled, patting the spot beside her. Tsuyoshi nodded and dragged her A3 sketchbook along before settling herself beside her mother, snuggling into her mother’s arm. "So? What did the teacher say?"

"Sakai-sensei asked if Uncle Sirius is scary."
"Is she?"
"Uun. Uncle Sirius is cool! So I made her cool!"
"I see. So these are..."
"Uncle Sirius's coolness!"
"I see..."

What Air Groove thought were tendrils of darkness were probably an aura of cool, or whatever. Sirius looked like a wriggling jellyfish, but that was fine. At least now she knew it was not because Tsuyoshi disliked Sirius or any other bad emotions. With her looks and her often rough words, Sirius Symboli was most often misunderstood. It seemed, however, that both of her colts really loved their Uncle Sirius. That made Air Groove quite glad. Aruve had always been a bit wary of the rather flamboyant Uncle Sirius, however. Air Groove couldn’t fault her. At least they were in a better relationship now.

Nestled comfortably in the crook of Air Groove’s arm, Tsuyoshi still tried to talk about her drawings, but her words got progressively slurry. Air Groove knew she had just had her lunch as well, since Air Groove had hers too. Probably it was among the reasons Rudolf asked her to go upstairs.

Their youngest started to nod sleepily.

"And so... so..."
Tsuyoshi snuggled up to her mother. She seemed to find the spot comfortable and got even more sleepy. Air Groove gave Tsuyoshi gentle pats on her thigh, and it seemed to make her sleepier. The sketchbook already slipped away from her grasp, and Air Groove put it aside. Tsuyoshi did not protest; it seemed the colt also had partly given up to her sleepiness.

"Mommy."
"Yes?"
"Will Mommy be all right?"
"Of course."

Tsuyoshi hugged Air Groove's torso.

"I don't want a little brother or sister if that means Mommy isn't around. Mommy looks ill. I don't like that."

She fought her sleepiness just to say that. Air Groove chuckled.

“I am not ill, Sweetie.”
“But Mommy can’t get out of bed.”
“Mhm, I just need to rest. Like you have to pause to breathe after you run up the stairs, even if you are not ill. Like you did a while ago, right? It’s the same.”
“But I don’t need a week, Mommy.”
“Growing another life is just that exhausting, Sweetie. That’s why life is precious.”

Tsuyoshi did not answer. She snuggled closer. She was still stubbornly awake, though.

“Mommy won’t go anywhere.”
“... Promise?”
“Promise. I will be here when you wake up.”

Air Groove slid from her sitting position to lying down comfortably, taking Tsuyoshi into her embrace. The moment the colt was safe and secure in her arms, two pats later, the colt was already asleep. A while later, Rudolf came, peeking from the door. 

“Is she…?”
“Asleep.”
“Good,” Rudolf smiled in relief. “We were playing and talking downstairs but she was being unusually fussy. I figured she must be sleepy, but she was restless, always looking to the stairs. So I thought she was torn between being with me, and being very worried about you. I told her to go to you. Did she trouble you?”
“Not at all,” Air Groove patted Tsuyoshi gently. The colt slept really deeply in her arms. “She was being very sweet.”
“She must be very sleepy indeed, then.”
“Well, it is her afternoon nap time.”

Rudolf walked all the way to Air Groove’s side of the bed to deliver a gentle kiss. Rudolf looked over Air Groove’s shoulder to see her colt’s sleeping face. 

“Do you still have work, Rudolf?”
“Hmm… I already let Hayahide and Ardan handle my work. It should be fine.”
“So you are free.”
“... Yes.”
“Come.”
“Come?”

Rudolf blinked. Air Groove pat the space behind Tsuyoshi, the rest of the bed.

“Let’s take a nap.”

It took a bit of convincing, but Rudolf eventually climbed onto the bed from the other side. When Tsuyoshi woke up an hour or two later, she looked so content having her parents on either side of her.

Air Groove could hear Rudolf’s van arriving at the garage. Just as Rudolf said a while ago, she would be off to pick up Teio and Aruve, also to buy some dinner for tonight. Since Teio and Aruve had their racing club activity today, their time to go home was a bit later than usual, right around dinner. Rudolf just told Air Groove in a very sad tone that the foals were a bit grumpy when eating breakfast today since it was not as delicious as her wife’s cooking. Air Groove just had to pat her obviously sad husband and told her to buy dinner instead. Her husband agreed with her ears drooping low miserably. To allow Air Groove rest, Rudolf took Tsuyoshi along while she picked up the other foals. Air Groove already told her she did not mind Tsuyoshi in the room, but since Tsuyoshi might want to go around the house while Rudolf was away, in the end, Rudolf took their youngest along. Air Groove found it quite touching that, despite the rarity of Rudolf being at home, her youngest actually opted to spend time with her anyway.

Her youngest was probably simply worried. Tsuyoshi even said that this time she would be the one to take care of Mommy while Mommy was sick and all that.

Without the rest of the family, the house was quiet. What had been almost complete silence, other than the ticking of the clock, suddenly turned lively the moment the front door was opened. Air Groove could hear Teio’s cheerful voice and Tsuyoshi accompanying her. She could not go downstairs to greet them directly, but just having a vivid picture of her whole family back home made her heart at peace. With the sounds of her family’s activity as a background sound, Air Groove resumed the knitting project she had just started today. Rudolf said it would be a great distraction, and she was right.

Air Groove could not remember how much time had passed when someone knocked on the master bedroom door. 

“Yes?”
“Dad said to bring you your dinner, Mom.”

Coming in with a tray in her hands, Aruve used her shoulder to open the door wider. Unlike the colts, Aruve had always been the most silent in their family. Silent did not equate meek, however. Aruve always firmly stated her opinions and was often stubborn in her choices. Although that often meant Rudolf and Air Groove had to either clash or compromise with their filly, it also meant that it was easy to know what Aruve wanted, and she was always clear in her intention.

“Have you had your dinner, sweetie?”
“We all have. We had curry.”

Aruve placed the tray on a nearby empty swivel overbed table. A bowl of oyakodon, spinach salad, and milk.

“Dad said, curry will be hard for you to eat.”
“And she was right.” Air Groove herself noticed her smell sensitivity had started to increase. Curry would be quite hard to consume. “Is this her cooking?”
“Yes.”
“Ahaha, it’s been a while since I tasted her oyakodon. This is delightful.”

Aruve furrowed her eyebrows, showing silent disbelief. Air Groove chuckled, remembering Rudolf’s sad face and droopy ears this morning. They really did not give a good evaluation of her cooking. Aruve watched her for a while before she suddenly realized she had been standing silently there. Air Groove smiled.

“Aruve? Want to come here?”

The filly’s face barely changed, but Air Groove noticed the way her lips tensed.

“Dad only told me to deliver dinner,” she said briskly. “I will come back later to take the dishes out.”

“Rather than do that, why don’t you sit here with me as I eat?”

The eyebrows furrowed deeply now.

“Why should I?”
“I want to hear your day. We haven’t met the entire day, but we usually have a little chatter while cooking.”
“...”

Aruve seemed to ponder and swayed. After all, it was quite clear to Air Groove that the filly actually wanted that. Air Groove patted the space beside her.

“Come.”

The filly finally moved. She climbed onto the bed, rather awkwardly, then settled beside her mother. She probably wanted to spend time with her mother, but did not want to say it. The filly crossed her arms.

“How was your day today? Aren’t you supposed to have a scrimmage?” Her mother took the spoon and started eating.
“Not really a scrimmage. We had a gate training, then a small test race after that.”
“I see. How was it?”
“As expected.”
“Expected? Just as you expected it would be?”
“... Quite.”
“Or did it mean you performed just like what many expected of you?”

Aruve’s ears perked up immediately. Her heterochromatic eyes widened. Air Groove smiled knowingly. Aruve looked away from her mother.

“... Why do you always know, Mom?”
“I wonder. Maybe because I am your mother?”

That seemed to answer Aruve’s question, but the filly looked a bit defeated by it. For a while, comfortable silence came to them with Air Groove’s quiet sound of utensils.

“You seem like you still want to run.”
“The track was too short.”
“Hmm, maybe tomorrow you can ask your father to run with you during the day.”
“No. Dad is noisy.”

Air Groove laughed.

“Rudolf will cry hearing that, sweetie.”
“But she talks too much, Mom.”
“That just shows how much she loves you.”

Aruve pouted.

“When will you be active again, Mom? I’d rather have you picking us up from school than Dad.”
“Why is that?”
“I’ve told her to stop, but she still calls me Princess,” The filly crossed her arms and threw her face away. “She even did that at school today. Teio doesn’t help.”

Oh, Rudolf…

“To us parents, all of you are still our foals,” Air Groove gently brushed Aruve’s hair. “You’ll always be her little Princess. She was so devastated when you stopped calling her Papa, you know?”

“Be it Papa or Dad, she’s still my father. Why does it matter?”
“It makes us remember you have grown. It matters a lot to her, apparently.”
“And not to you?”
“It… does, but I guess that is part of you growing up, and I have to accept it.”
“... This is why I want you and not Dad to come to school.”

Air Groove laughed. Aruve really disliked Rudolf calling her Princess at school.

“If she calls me Princess again in public…” Aruve furrowed her eyebrows. “I will start calling her “Father”!”
“Oh, goodness, Rudolf will be so miserable.”
“I should say that as a warning.”
“Be kind to her, Aruve. Her heart is soft to all of you.”
“So much for someone called the “Emperor” then.”
“In this house, she is no more than just your father, sweetie.”

Comfortable silence came to them again. After a while, Air Groove placed the now-empty bowl in the tray. Aruve watched her movement. It was time to bring the bowl back downstairs.

“... Mom?”
“Yes?”
“... No, nothing.”

Aruve sighed, making a movement that indicated she would be climbing off the bed. Air Groove gently patted her shoulder, making her look back at her mother. The mare patted the spot right beside her.

“I haven’t drunk my milk.”

Aruve did not answer. Her eyes met her mother’s… before finally breaking their gaze. Her shoulders dropped. After a few seconds, she crawled to the spot right beside her mother and snuggled closer.

“... I will dread this one week, Mom.”

Air Groove hugged her filly closer and planted a kiss on her mane.

“I know. Me too.”

“Mom?”

The door creaked open slowly. Air Groove lowered the book she read and saw Teio peeking inside. She looked hesitant, and Air Groove could not help but find that adorable. She must have worried that she disturbed her mother. In fact, Air Groove had almost nothing to do other than switched from reading knitting and reading again.

“What’s wrong? Do you want to come in?”
“Can I?”
“Of course, why not? Come here, sweetie.”

Teio walked in slowly. Now that she thinks of it, Teio very rarely came into the master bedroom once she hit primary school. She already had her own room and spent most of her nighttime there. She also no longer needed Air Groove or Rudolf to read her to sleep anymore. Seeing Air Groove’s gestures that beckon her closer, Teio beamed, climbed onto the bed, and snuggled to her mother’s side. Air Groove had an arm over her colt’s shoulder and firmly embraced her back when Teio hugged her.

It had been so long since they embraced on the bed like this. As Teio grew up and her parents’ attention mostly shifted to her siblings, Teio grew more independent and also took pride in it. She mostly asked for Rudolf’s attention, either to play with her or to run with her, but the frequency of her cuddling together with her mother unsurprisingly decreased. Air Groove always had one of the other foals in her arms. Now hugging Teio properly and not just one of their brief hugs whenever they parted for school, Air Groove could really feel just how much her eldest had grown. She was still considered small for her age, something that many others often said, but even the strength of her embrace was different.

Teio said nothing, and for quite a while they just stayed like that, embracing each other. Air Groove placed a kiss on her eldest’s mane, hair all too akin to her father. Everyone called Teio a tiny copy of Rudolf. Even her bubbly and energetic demeanor, with a little bit of childish selfishness, was very much like young Rudolf—at least according to Sirius. Teio was always proud whenever anyone said that. All that she lacked was height. Unfortunately… so far, it did not seem like that would catch up soon. Air Groove already told her to drink her milk every day, though…

“Mom?”
“Mhm?”
“... Don’t do that again.”

She must have meant what happened in the kitchen yesterday. With Teio’s face buried in her chest, Air Groove could not see her expression. But she could feel her colt hug her closer. She returned the embrace.

“I can try.”
“Trying is not enough, Mom! You have to promise!”
“I can promise you I will try.”

From how Teio shrugged in her arms disapprovingly, Air Groove knew the colt was dissatisfied with the answer.

Ever the stubborn one. Just like her father. Air Groove could see an ample amount of possibilities that Teio might grow up to be as forceful as Rudolf. Teio only needed the eloquence her father had. That quirk was a little hard to get, however. Especially the pun. Thankfully, not the pun.

“Can you just… live forever, Mom?”

Those selfish words, spoken so innocently, made Air Groove chuckle. She looked down to see Teio looking up to meet her gaze with blue eyes similar to her own. 

“I hereby order you to live forever!”

Air Groove laughed.

“Oh, the nerve of you, ordering an Empress.”
“You may be the Empress, but I am the Monarch! Also, I believe the Emperor will back me up!”
“Scary. I can’t wait to see you both defy time.”
“I will!”

It was hard to hold back a fond smile from curving her lips. Teio’s wide, innocent eyes looked straight at Air Groove’s, and she said firmly with an honesty only children could pull.

“I will make miracles if I have to!”

It was hard not to embrace her eldest colt again. Teio was old enough to know everything was impossible. Yet she said it anyway. Yesterday’s incident must have scared her so. Despite feeling guilty that she did not manage to maintain her health well enough to prevent it from happening, Air Groove could not help but feel happiness seeping in. Her heart swelled with love as Teio buried her face in her chest again, not wanting to let her go. Her very loving, intelligent colt.

They embraced until Teio finally seemed to feel secure enough to let her mother ago. Even then, the colt still made her promise one last time that she'd take care of her health better.

“The kids are all in their room. Tsuyoshi is already asleep.”
“Thank you. Good job.”

Rudolf went into the bedroom, smiling. She smiled, but it was evident the day had taken a toll on her. She looked more tired than if she were home from work. Air Groove put her book to the bedside table as Rudolf climbed into their bed. They naturally fit into each other’s arms, like putting appropriate pieces of a puzzle together. Rudolf kissed her wife gently on the lips before holding her closer.

“Before you ask, let me report what I have done today,” The stallion suddenly began. Her rather proud tone made her wife chuckle and say, “Okay. Sure. Go on.”

“I made breakfast, which the kids evidently did not like.”
“Fufu. Okay?”
“I picked up Tsuyoshi and played with her, but she evidently chose to go to you.”
“We had a nap together, Rudolf. She loved that.”
“Yes, that doesn’t change that she went to you. Then I picked up Teio and Aruve from school, which Aruve was certainly not happy about for some reason.”
“I have an idea why, but go on.”
“Haaaa… well, so I bought them dinner. Helped with their homework before sleep a while ago, tucked them to bed…. Oh, and I watered your plants.”
“Splendid, Rudolf.” Air Groove pecked her husband’s lips gently. “And the dishes?”
“Teio and Aruve helped me out.”
“They are such great kids.”
“They are,” Rudolf smiled. She then pouted. “But they chose you.”
“Come on, Rudolf…”

Rudolf’s ears drooped sadly, and her tail made thumping sounds on the bed. Air Groove patted her husband’s cheek.

“They love you just as much, darling. They are just shocked from yesterday.”
“That too.”
Rudolf’s half-joking pout disappeared. She joined her forehead with her wife’s.
“I would have chosen you too if I were them.”

For a while, they took time to absorb everything from each other slowly with their gaze and gentle touches of their fingertips. Rudolf brushed her wife’s cheek gently.

“They love you so much.”
“I know.”
“And I love you so much, too.”
“I know. I love you too.”
“Get well soon, love. The house is different without you with us.”

Rudolf’s magenta eyes looked like they were about to break. Air Groove took a deep breath.

“This one week of complete bed rest will be painstakingly long…”
“Let’s not take chances and risk prolonging that.”
“... Right. You are right.”
“No cutting corners there, love.”
“I know, Rudolf, I know.”

Air Groove chuckled. She settled inside her husband’s arms, resting her head on Rudolf’s chest.

“Six more days to be spoiled.”
“Indeed. And I am ready for that. May I turn off the light already, then?”
“Yes.”

Rudolf took the remote and turned off the lights, still holding her wife close to her chest. They shared one last kiss and settled to sleep… then Air Groove remembered something.

“Oh, by the way, Rudolf, Aruve said she’ll demote your nickname to 'Father' if you call her Princess in public again.”
“N O    W A Y.”
“You’d better work on that when you pick her up tomorrow.”
“B-but! But she’s my lovely little Princess!!!”
“Yes, just don't call her that in public.”
“But she’s precious, love! You should see her running in the scrimmage today! People should know she’s my Princess!”
“Rudolf—”
“The gallant strides, the beautiful, flexible leap! She was majestic!”
“Darling…”
“That is such an impossible request! Father?? That is devastating!!! I have never even heard her call me Papa anymore!! Oh my Princess! My princess hates me, love!”
“She doesn’t, Rudolf, she just… wait, are you crying?”
“Papa’s little princess…”
“Oh, Goodness! There, there…”

The next day, Rudolf was bawling as if the sky had fallen upon her… and the nickname did not change back to Dad until the time Air Groove was up and about again. 

Chapter Text

One might think the more pregnancies someone had gone through, the easier it would be. Most of the time it was so. Experience helped tremendously, especially in identifying what constitutes an emergency and what does not. It also gave Rudolf and Air Groove ideas about what to expect and what to prepare. However, it was also true that each pregnancy could be very different. This fourth one had proven to be quite a difficult one for Air Groove. Other than several bed rest orders due to weak attachment, Air Groove suffered from lethargy and lower back pain way more than in her previous pregnancies. That put Rudolf on high alert. She was always a phone call away, even at work. Thankfully, their foals were old enough to know how to call her or the emergency services. Hayahide and Ardan were extremely gracious for helping her around at work. Despite the mountain of work Rudolf had to handle, the two were always understanding and ready to take up what she had not managed to finish, informing her of everything so that when she returned, she could catch up immediately. She wondered why some older staff members seemed relieved instead when she asked for work leave, though.

As the time for labour drew nearer by the weeks and Air Groove's belly got bigger, Air Groove had now passed the ‘most comfortable’ part of pregnancy into her late pregnancy. Rudolf foresaw that the lethargy probably would worsen, even if Air Groove insisted she could still navigate the house and needed the exercise. All true. In moderation. It took little effort to tell the foals to watch out and nag their mother whenever she seemed to overwork.

One evening, Rudolf woke up in the middle of the night. Her ears twitched, hearing something. Grunts and heavy breathing. Slight sheet movement. Her wife was awake.

“Air Groove?”

The room was still dark, and Rudolf reached out to the side of the bed where Air Groove was supposed to be, immediately finding her wife’s arm. Air Groove was sitting, resting her back on the wall. In late pregnancy, Air Groove often woke up late at night like this. It was naturally harder for her to sleep comfortably with the state of her baby. Tonight, however, seemed a bit different. Propping herself up, Rudolf gently squeezed her wife’s arm to tell her that she was awake. Air Groove immediately grasped her hand, linking their finger together. Her wife squeezed her hand roughly, urgently.

Air Groove hissed. 

The accompanying squeeze was so powerful, Rudolf knew instantly that her wife was in pain. Rudolf squeezed back, giving Air Groove something to focus on instead of her pain. They stayed like that in silence for probably a minute before Air Groove’s squeeze weakened. A reprieve, it seems.

“Lights?”
“No… it’s… it’s… okay.”
“Do I need to prepare the car?”
“No, it’s… okay…”

She did not sound okay. Air Groove grabbed Rudolf’s hand again. It seemed it came again.

“It’s only… the baby’s moving.”

It was, of course, totally not unusual and even a healthy sign to have the baby move. Rudolf and Air Groove had shared moments of baby movements many times as well. This time, however, it appeared “discomfort” had elevated into “pain”. Gently, Rudolf put her hand on Air Groove’s belly to feel their baby, and there she felt the powerful kick. Air Groove breathed out with the movement, squeezing Rudolf’s hand again. Rudolf felt the baby move again without pause, hitting another part of the belly.

"Please don't... touch it..."
"Sorry."
"Mm..."

Her wife breathed out. She talked between her grimace.

"It's okay. Just... a bit sensitive... Ah.."

She paused again, and Rudolf returned her squeeze. 

They already had three foals, but even Rudolf knew it was never this “bad”. At least Air Groove was never in this much pain before. Their other foals also moved a lot around this period of pregnancy, but Air Groove only showed discomfort at their worst. Now, she was evidently in pain. The baby must have been in a rather bad position, hitting or settling in especially bad spots. Air Groove tried to control her breathing, shuddering with every pain as the colt in her belly did not seem satisfied with the exercise yet. It was frustrating for Rudolf, not being able to do anything but let her wife crush her hand. In fact, there really was nothing they could do other than wait for the baby to position herself better. Asking Air Groove if she wanted or needed anything would not help. At least not when Air Groove was too preoccupied by the pain. Asking would only put a burden of choice on her.

A moment of reprieve seemed to return, as Air Groove’s breathing steadied and she released Rudolf’s hand again.

“Sorry.”
“No, please. Do what you must, love.”

Somehow, Rudolf knew Air Groove was probably smiling weakly right now. A while later, from Air Groove’s restrained breathing, Rudolf knew the baby moved again. Air Groove did not squeeze her husband’s hand this time. Rudolf gently brushed strands of hair from her wife’s face, feeling the small beads of sweat on her wife’s forehead. It must be so painful that she broke cold sweat.

Air Groove searched for her husband’s hand again to squeeze, one that Rudolf gladly provided.

In the darkness, the night passed slowly. It would be quite a while until the baby stopped, probably exhausted from the intense exercise in her mother’s womb. It was almost dawn, as well. Air Groove fell asleep the moment she managed to let her head on the pillow again with Rudolf by her back. She was exhausted, to no surprise. Rudolf counted that it would still be several weeks until the delivery date. By experience, she knew this would continue for some time.

Finally, hearing her wife breathing in calm, steady breathing, Rudolf started to visualize the schedule for today and the changes that she could make. The first thing she realized was that, unfortunately, their lovely foals would have to be content with her cooking for breakfast today.

“Mommy needs us, so we have to work together to support Mommy, okay?”

The frequency of her father saying something along those lines got even more frequent the larger their mother’s belly got. Teio remembered a bit of the time when her mother was pregnant with Tsuyoshi, though she was too young to remember how it was during Aruve. Teio remembered being in awe of how the belly moved. She remembered that she and Aruve looked at each other excitedly–they both put their hands on their mother’s belly and felt Tsuyoshi moving inside. Even her usually expressionless sibling had excitement in her eyes. She also remembered handling a cackling baby Tsuyoshi for the first time with her father guiding her arms. She remembered the joy, the wonder of how this living, breathing person grew in her mother’s stomach.

But now, for some reason, her mother looked a lot more exhausted than back then. She had had multiple bed rest orders from the doctor. Their father, in turn, was home a lot more. Teio knew that she was actually very busy and tried not to let that show. Moments when she was looking at her tablet while her foals did their homework or played inside the house, Teio knew that she was actually working. Yet, be it her mother or her father, they always gave their time to their children as much as they could, filling in for moments when their spouse could not.

That was exactly why… though Teio had something she wanted to discuss, she had been holding it back for some time now and probably would never say it, at least not in the way that may be taken as a problem. She just wanted to express it, but she knew her parents would do more than listen; they would react to it. Teio did not wish for that. She knew her parents were already so preoccupied as they were. She did not want them to take any action. 

Her problem was simply because it would soon be her time to begin the process of going to Tracen. Going to Tracen itself was “fine”. It was what Teio wanted. She saw how radiant her parents were during their Tracen time from videos, articles, and textbooks. More than anything, Teio could not forget the view of her father’s back during that day when they raced on the Symboli summer house’s track. She still remembered every thud of her father’s kick on the earth, her father’s breathing, and the pressure she felt just by existing near her father. Every time she looked back on it, she could feel her heart swell with emotion. 

The Triple Crown. 

She wanted to get it no matter what. She wanted to catch up to her father, to run and stand beside her. That dream settled deeply in her heart from the moment she learned of her father, the Emperor. Instead of disappearing, that dream grew even stronger. That day had changed her, and Teio noticed it had also changed her siblings. Their parents no longer hid the fact that they were the famed Emperor and Empress. They gave them access to their videos now, or even their sashes that were stored safely in their wardrobe. Although her parents never voluntarily speak or encourage the talk of those old glories, they now at least answer and respond. They also recognized their children’s passion for racing and did everything they could to support it. Her parents knew how it felt to pursue racing. Despite their obvious reluctance to talk about their former glory, they understood deeply how it felt wanting to race. Teio was enrolled in the racing club the moment she expressed she wanted to pursue racing, and Aruve followed her almost at the same time. 

Unlike her primary school, her racing club had many girls with a similar passion to Teio. Her classmates apologized to Teio after accusing her of being a liar that day in primary school, as they genuinely did not think she wouldn’t know about her parents. Now, they remained good friends… but most of them did not even think much of racing. They knew how exciting it was, and some even watched them with their families, but they did not desire to run themselves. Her racing club, under the tutelage of her mother’s best friend, Bubble Gum Fellow, was different. Almost all of them wanted to go to Tracen. That was why, now as the time to enroll in Tracen grew nearer, there was something in the air. The usually bright racing club was a lot more tense. Every girl seemed to realize that everyone around them are rivals. In a competition, people win and lose. It was reality. Racing was no different. Only one winner among the others.

She had another race today at the club. And she won… then she lost yet another racing club friend. This was the third time it had happened. With the Tracen enrollment drawing closer, there would be even more scrimmages to prepare for it. Teio knew she was supposed to feel thrilled. Yet things got even harder.

By the hill overlooking the racing track, Teio sat and watched as several other races were prepared. Hers was done already. She only needed to wait for Aruve’s… yet somehow she could not bring herself to watch from the stand. She wished Aruve would forgive her this time. Not that Aruve ever liked being watched by her siblings in the first place. Teio usually still watched and cheered anyway, much to Aruve’s chagrin. Her grumpy little sister would always shy away from stuff like that.

Today, however, Teio did not even have the energy to do that. Her friend was smiling sadly as she said, “I lost again. Even for this last race, I still lost. You’re really strong, Teio. Good luck in Tracen,” and Teio knew that was their last conversation. Her friend already said that she was quitting the club, and that she would continue at a regular middle school instead. She said racing with Teio made her realize that she was not made for racing.

Teio just did not know what to feel about it this time. She won today, but at what cost?

"Your Papa said sorry she can't come today."

Teio could hear the low rumble of Uncle Brian's voice coming up behind her.

"But I'm sure that's not the reason why you're sulking."

Teio could feel Brian's shadow beside her as her uncle arrived by her side. Her uncle probably looked over the track that stretched before them, where several families were cheering for their children’s races. The wind blew the tree where they were under, rustling the leaves.

Teio knew Uncle Brian would come to her. She saw her father's best friend by the stand during her race. She knew instantly that none of her parents made it, since it was either Uncle Brian or Uncle Sirius who would pick her and Aruve from the club if her parents could not make it. And that the reason was probably Tsuyoshi again. Teio had grown used to it very much.

Uncle Brian’s quiet jab about her sulking was a bit vexing. Teio could never understand how her uncle always managed to guess what she was feeling. Uncle Brian talked little, yet it always seemed like she knew everything. It felt like those golden eyes just saw everything. She was right about Teio not feeling bothered at all that her parents could not be there in this week's club race, which was finished a while ago. In fact, Teio probably was half-glad her parents weren't here today. After all, she was not sure if she could look okay enough not to bother them.

"... maybe it is better if they don't come."
"Spill it."

Teio's ears twitched.

"Spill it. I won't tell them."

Teio bit her bottom lip. She curled her fingers into fists.

"I feel like quitting the club. But not because I want to..."

Teio half expected some barrage of admonishments or questions, but this was her silent uncle Narita Brian; none of those came. Instead, she was greeted by silence. Not even a "why" was out, but Teio could feel herself unable to stop her own feelings pouring out.

"They all... stop running. They said they can’t win from me, that it made them realize that racing was not for them. Everyone always said that because I am Mom and Dad's child, so of course I am faster. That they don’t have it in them. So they stop running. They stop coming to the club. But that isn't it, I just... I did not run for that.... I did not run to make people stop running."

Teio's ears flattened. She looked down at the grass by her feet.

"... But I know Mom and Dad will be sad if I say that. I am proud to be their colt. I just... I just don't know... if I should... just..."

It was hard to find the words. Her feet itched to run, but her heart broke whenever the same words were thrown at her. Today's race was the same. She ran, and they were all left behind. The scorn scalds her back. The fire that died in the eyes of her friends broke her heart. In the end, Teio could not finish her words. She was not sure if she was supposed to.

"Teio. Do you like racing?"

Hearing Uncle Brian's question, Teio looked up at her uncle, who was still looking down at the track. The answer was obvious, and Teio knew it, but somehow it was hard to let it out.

"I..."
"Do you want to run?"

The golden eyes now shifted to look at hers. Sharp and unyielding.

"Do you want to race?"

Under Uncle Brian's eyes, Teio could feel something in her heart stir. A mix of emotion welled up at the same time, but she managed to single out one that peaked the moment she heard the question. She felt fire, raw and burning, bursting from her heart and heated her body. 

"Answer me. Do you?"

Teio felt... insulted. Of course. Of course, she wanted to. Of course, she loved to run. Was that even something to be asked?

"Of course I do! I..."
"Then that is your answer."

But how could it be the answer?
Uncle Brian kneeled to look at Teio straight in the eyes. Her golden eyes gleamed. She put a firm hand on Teio's shoulder.

"One day, you will find others who love running just like you. You will find others who love to race just like you. Then, your run will not push them away; it will draw them to you. They will want to run with you. They want to clash against you. Their love for racing would push them even through the worst losses or the best of victories."
"... Are there really people like that?"

Something stirred in Uncle Brian's golden eyes. However, she gave a small smile.

"Aren't you one of them?"
"Eh?"

Uncle Brian shook her shoulder with her strong, sure hand.

"You saw your father. You want to chase after her. Yes, there are others like that. There are others like you. You just have to keep running."

Teio could not find words to rebut her uncle. Uncle Brian was a racer herself. Teio had learned about Uncle Brian in class, even, just like her father. They called her the Shadow Roll Monster. They even called her a beast on the turf. Uncle Brian had won a lot. She had handed so many umamusume crushing defeats. There was weight in her words, something that Teio could not dismiss.

With the colt unable to find any word to argue, Uncle Brian nodded, then ruffled the colt's mane before she stood again. A second later, Teio could not help but ask. 

"Did you... Did you find anyone yourself?"

Uncle Brian raised her eyebrows. Her ears flicked in amusement.

"I did," She said with a small smile, in a certainty that only experience could give. "I did, and she never leaves me. Not even once."

Teio could not shake that it probably meant more, but no matter how much she nagged her uncle, Uncle Brian did not say anything else about it. Uncle Brian also kept her word and never said anything more about their conversation under the tree that day. But that was enough. It was a secret just between the two of them.

Yet somehow… Aruve looked at her when they arrived home, just before they stepped inside.

“What?”
“Good to see you’re not gloomy anymore.”
“Huh?”
“Mom will need help cooking. Let’s go.”

Be it Uncle Brian, be it Aruve, it seemed everyone was suddenly a mind-reader.
Of course, Teio is a genius who could hide her feelings well in the first place.

It seemed life, however, loved to test someone.

A throat infection outbreak occurred in Tsuyoshi’s kindergarten. Unfortunately, with Tsuyoshi being infected too, the illness spread to the whole family. Viruses spreading among kindergarten kids to families was not uncommon; it was often even the most common transmission route. Kids rarely cover their mouths and noses when sneezing and coughing. Respiratory infection was always a risk when putting children in kindergarten. Teio, Aruve, and Rudolf had it quite light or even negligible. For Tsuyoshi and Air Groove, however…

Tsuyoshi was the first to get ill and took the longest to get better. Despite Teio and Aruve only suffering from slight throat discomfort for one or two days, Tsuyoshi was down with a high fever and a bad cough. If she did not improve, she would have to be hospitalized. Tsuyoshi dreaded this possibility. She had spent so much of her childhood in the hospital; the idea of going back there always upset her. It was not as if she had any choice.

Her head felt heavy. Every breath she took burned her nostrils. She wondered if it was the air, but it could not be. She shivered under these layers of fabric inside her futon. The cold bit into her bones as if she had no meat on her. Perhaps she indeed had none; she was never the plump kid. Since most of the family did their activity on the first floor, she rested in the first-floor room instead of her own room on the second floor. This made it easier for her mother to check up on her, especially since, at the moment, her mother could not afford to go up and down the stairs too much. The rest of the family would be active on the first floor after all. Once it was nighttime, her father would carry her to her room and tuck her into her own bed.

Tsuyoshi opened her eyes. The paper ceiling lamp of the tatami room on the first floor of her room came into view. She could feel the cold patch plastered on her head; at least it was supposed to be cold. She could no longer feel her mother beside her. She was alone. Or so she thought. Just then, another fit of cough racked her body, and she coughed it out, halfway wondering if it did more harm than good. Her chest hurt.

"You're awake, Tsuru-chan?"

Her eldest sister's voice made her glance at the source, located near the sliding door. Teio slid the sliding door closed and crawled to her.

"I am sorry for opening the door. Was it cold?"
"No..."
"I just wanted to look at the living room for a bit. Sorry."
"Where is Mommy...?"
"Mom is cooking lunch. Aruve is helping her out. Mom told me to check you out. Sorry, did I wake you up?"
"No, I think not... I'm sorry, Teio-chan."
"Haha, what for?"

Tsuyoshi could feel the familiar sting of tears at the back of her eyelids. She knew what day it was today for Teio. Yet, because their father had to go to an urgent meeting, to lessen their mother’s burden, Aruve and Teio did not go to the racing club and stayed home today. Aruve helped out with the cooking, as she was interested in it herself. Teio, who is the closest of the two siblings to Tsuyoshi, seemed to volunteer to check up on the youngest.

"You're supposed to have a scrimmage today, right? But you're here..."

Teio laughed. She put a hand on Tsuyoshi's arm from beyond the futon.

"Silly! I can ask for a scrimmage any time at the club!" Teio's smile was blinding. "It won't be the same without you cheering from the stands anyway. All you need to do now is get better, okay?"

Somehow, Teio's kindness hurts even more. Tsuyoshi enjoyed and loved cheering for Teio. But she always dreamed of running together with her siblings... not being the one who stopped them from running. Teio checked her temperature and made sure she drank some liquid, which she had not been taking properly since her throat hurt. A while later, the door slid open, and there was Aruve with a tray of porridge and Tsuyoshi’s drugs on the floor beside her. It seemed it was too hard for her to open the sliding door one-handed, so she put the tray down and slid the door open while still crouching. 

“Mom said it’s time for your medicine, Tsu-chan.” Aruve looked at Teio. “Mom is calling for you. She wants your help for something, I don't know what, though.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Tsu-chan, can you eat by yourself?”

Aruve and Teio turned their attention to Tsuyoshi. Tsuyoshi gulped, feeling a thousand needles in her throat. Eating sounds horrid.

“I-I can…”
“Neesan, go help Mom.” Aruve did not even wait for Tsuyoshi to finish her words before making the decision. “I will help Tsu-chan eat.”
 “Okay. Don’t be too scary, Aruve.”

Aruve sighed at Teio’s words. She sat beside Tsuyoshi, putting the tray behind her. The door slid closed as Teio went out of the room. Tsuyoshi propped herself up slowly as Aruve put the tray down. Aruve sat right beside Tsuyoshi, waiting for her to settle with the porridge in her hand. Just Aruve being there already exerted so much pressure that Tsuyoshi knew she just had to eat.

“Open your mouth.”

Aruve could have said it a lot more gently, but that was just how her older sister was. The porridge was warm. Aruve blew it several times before offering it to Tsuyoshi to eat. Every gulp hurt. Tsuyoshi’s throat constricted. She could faintly smell the egg and minced shrimp in the porridge, and they were so finely minced that, supposedly, they could pass with a gulp. But it was hard and still hurt. Moreover, Aruve did not talk at all. She just sat and fed Tsuyoshi, one spoon at a time.

“Y-You can help Mom, Neechan. I… I can eat by myself.”
“Can you?” Aruve did not even look into Tsuyoshi’s eyes when she said it as she was scooping the porridge. “Even this porridge must have hurt your throat. I don’t trust you will eat them all alone.”

“I…”
“I have had a cough too,” Aruve offered another spoonful of porridge for Tsuyoshi to eat. “If Mom were not there, I would not eat a whole bowl.”

A silent sentence floated between them the moment Tsuyoshi’s magenta eyes met Aruve’s heterochromic eyes. One eye like their father, the other like their mother, somehow, Tsuyoshi felt like Aruve had seen through her. Without a doubt, Aruve’s mere presence pressured Tsuyoshi to keep swallowing her porridge. But after their little conversation, it felt like the porridge was easier to swallow.

It took way faster than Tsuyoshi thought. Before she knew it, the one that Aruve offered was bitter cold medicine and mint-tasted cough syrup. The last one burned her throat, but Tsuyoshi was rather fond of mint. She wondered if Aruve purposely made that the last medicine to drink. The taste of the bitter medicine did not linger, thanks to the mint cough syrup.

Aruve tidied the tray silently, and Tsuyoshi slid inside her futon again. There were still no words exchanged between the two siblings, even as Aruve made one last check on Tsuyoshi’s futon and cold patch. After a while, Aruve left the room.

Left alone, Tsuyoshi stared at the ceiling.
Her two siblings were like night and day. Teio was like a bright sun, warm and fun, and the pioneer of everything. Aruve was like a moon, calm and cold but observant. Teio was almost the spitting image of their father, even to the bright personality. Aruve was like their mother, even if her cold attitude hid her warmth. Alone and ill, Tsuyoshi could not help to wonder where she fit among them. She was so blessed to have them, but was she a blessing to them?

Slumber cut off the poison in her mind before it progressed. Being full from the porridge did help after all.

“Oh, there she is.”

The moment Aruve went out of Tsuyoshi’s room, she found her mother and Teio on the sofa. They both were looking at her; her mother with a small smile on her face. Aruve slid the door closed. Their eyes annoyed her for some reason.

“What?”
“No, I was just thinking that it was over faster than I thought it would be,” her mother chuckled. She had one hand over her big belly, a gesture that Aruve noticed she always did after her pregnancy. “Did she eat everything?”
“Yes.” Aruve went to the sink to wash the dishes. “Also, the medicine.”
“Oh, wonderful. She usually would not if it were me.”
“See? I told you, Mom. Aruve can make anyone eat anything with her glare!”
“Neesan, I heard that!”
“There is some truth in that.” Their mother chuckled again.  “I didn’t hear Tsuyoshi protesting at all from here. She usually protests a bit to me.”
“Really, Mom. I think that is because Aruve is scarier than you.”
“Neesan!”
“Oh? Do you think so, Teio?”
“I sure do!”
“So I am not scary?”
“You are, though. Especially when you want me to do my homework.”
“Hmph. Have you done it, now?”
“Moooooooom, please no… Not nooooow…”

With the topic now shifted, Aruve sighed and just begrudgingly started washing the dishes. It seems Teio had done her part and washed the ones they used for lunch. In the living room, her mother coughed several times as she conversed with Teio. She caught it from Tsuyoshi. Their father said that because she is pregnant, her body is working twice as normal as she has to share everything she has with her baby. Also that there was only a limited number of medicines she could consume if she was ill during pregnancy. Aruve could not understand why anyone would want to go through that, while at the same time knew very well her mother went through it all for her, Teio, and Tsuyoshi already. It made her feel strange inside her heart, and whenever she looked at her mother throughout this pregnancy, she kept having those questions in her mind. Why? Why did you go so far for us? In hindsight, there seemed to be nothing good for her mother and father by having them. Yet they still did anyway. Aruve still could not understand or put a name on the feeling in her heart. All that she knew was that seeing her mother in pain upset her greatly.

Finished with the dishes, Aruve went to the sofa where her mother and Teio were sitting watching TV. Her mother smiled upon her coming, opening one arm for Aruve to come snuggle into. She could not understand why, but when her mother offered her a place near her, her body just automatically went to her mother’s side. She knew she was old enough not to be so spoiled, too. Still, she settled in the crook of her mother’s arm and rested her head on her mother’s chest. Her mother would always circle her arm over her and push her closer for several seconds before easing.

“Thank you for helping Tsuyoshi eat. You did amazing.”
“... It’s nothing.”
“I hope you don’t mind. Tsuyoshi didn’t trouble you, did she?”
“No.”
“You look upset, though? Anything on your mind?”
“You are ill. That is all.”

Her mother smiled and kissed her forehead, gently pushing her closer. 

“I…” ‘I don’t like that she made you ill,’ was what she wanted to say, but midway, she knew it was not so. Aruve closed her mouth again. It was not Tsuyoshi. She was as upset that Tsuyoshi was ill, just as much as she was that her mother was ill. It was not about blaming anyone. 

She remembered what her mother said to her many years ago. 

“Are you mad that she cried?”
“... She made Mama busy.”
“I am sure Tsuyoshi doesn’t want to be feverish, too. It’s not something Tsuyoshi could choose.”

“... I don’t like this situation. It’s not like Tsu-chan wants to be ill and infect you.”
“Mhm.”
“Just get well soon, Mom.”
“I will try. Thank you, dear.”

Her mother patted her gently, a hint of a smile on her lips.

“Will you help Tsuyoshi eat her dinner later?”
“... Only if I have to.”
“She seems to eat more when with you.”
“I just—Stop grinning, Neesan. That's it. I won't help with Tsu-chan's meal anymore.”
“Teio.”
“Hey, I did nothing!”

“... Daddy?”

Tsuyoshi opened her eyes after her feverish sleep to a very quiet house and a dark room. The streetlight’s dim light fell between the gaps in the curtain. Everyone had had their dinner, Tsuyoshi had hers too, and slept for a while after another bowl of porridge. It was her father who fed her back then, who also then tucked her into the futon and stayed with her until she slept. She could not know how long she had slept since then. Usually, she woke up in her own room since her father would carry her up, but this time she was still in the first-floor room. Tsuyoshi suddenly felt so alone. The rest of her family’s rooms were on the top floor. She did not want to be the only one on the first floor.

Feeling better thanks to the drugs she had after dinner, Tsuyoshi got up and slid open the door that led to the living room. Only half of the lighting in the living room was lit. A faint, quiet typing sound filled the silence. Her father was awake. Sitting in the dining room with her laptop open, Symboli Rudolf, her father, worked with a mug in her hand. There is a clock in the living room, something that the rest of her family often refers to when they say something about time, but Tsuyoshi couldn’t read it. With how quiet the house was, however, it must be very late.

“Daddy?”
“Oh, Tsuyoshi!”

Her father quickly turned her head the moment she heard her voice. She immediately closed her laptop and went to Tsuyoshi’s side. Tsuyoshi automatically extended her hand to be carried, something that her father also did immediately. Her father put a palm on her forehead, checking her temperature, then smiled in relief when it seemed normal.

“What’s wrong? A nightmare, sweetling?”
“... No… but I was alone, and I’m scared.”
“Right. It’s… quite late.”

Her father glanced at the clock.

“Do you want to go to your room to sleep again?”
“But I am not sleepy.”
“Right… but how are you feeling?”
“Better.”
“Really?” Her father seemed to ponder. “Hmm… then want to sit a while with me?”
“Aren’t you working, Daddy?”
“It’s fine. I’m in the mood for a break.” Her father smiled. “Let’s talk by the sofa. Your body feels great, I trust?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Let’s make use of it now, shall we? You were sleeping the entire day, yes?”
“Un!”
“Great. Do you want hot chocolate?”
“My throat still hurts.”
“Let’s have some warm honeyed tea, then.”

Without letting her down, her father started making warm tea with honey. Tsuyoshi even got to choose the water bottle that she wanted. Tsuyoshi chose her favorite one, a light purple water bottle she often brought to the kindergarten. It kept her drinks warm all the time. Her father then took her to the sofa. She extended the cushion, then settled comfortably with Tsuyoshi in her arms.

Tsuyoshi only vaguely remembered what they talked about. The kindergarten, the people around, Uncle Sirius… All the while, her father patted her thigh gently in a steady rhythm. The sound of the clock, the quiet stillness of the night. What Tsuyoshi felt was scary the moment she woke up, felt so comfortable now with her father. Calming, peaceful. The rumble of her father’s chest as she talked and her gentle tone made Tsuyoshi gradually melt into her father’s arms. She had slept the entire day, but now she felt like sleep had crept to her again.

A momentary pause opened in between their topics. Her father still patted her gently, and she hummed. Tsuyoshi did not recognize the song that her father hummed today, but it sounded pleasant.

“... Daddy?”
“Yes, sweetling?”
“Do you think I can enter Tracen like Teio-chan?”
“Of course.”
“But I can’t run as fast.”
“You may not be able to now. But you can be as fast, if not more, in the future as you grow.”
“Really?”
“Yes. As long as you do not give up, possibilities are always open for you. For everyone.”

Tsuyoshi gripped her Dad’s shirt tighter.

“I want to try racing, Daddy. Do you think I can?”
“Of course.”
“Even if I am like this?”
“... Tsuyoshi,” Her father’s voice dropped. Tsuyoshi looked up, meeting her father’s magenta eyes that were passed down to her. “I have seen someone who was born with legs that could not run grow up into a Triple Tiara winner. She loves racing and is loved by it. I have seen someone, called a girl with glass legs, who could only join because other horses dropped out, and won the Kikuka Sho. She went on to win the Kyoto Daishoten and the Tennou Shos. I’ve seen a girl losing countless races, won her first G1 after years and years of racing. I have seen many such stories. Never think you have no chance. There is no absolute in racing.”
“But people say you are the absolute, Daddy.”

Her father chuckled.

“People say many things, Tsuyoshi. And they will continue to do so, regardless of what you do. So just do what you want and what you ought to do. Do you want to race?”
“I do, Daddy.”
“Then let’s just do our best for it, shall we?”
“Un.”

Another silence came to them. A car passed by a many distance away from them–a quiet hum in the night.

“Daddy?”
“Mhm?”
“... Can someone like me aim for the Triple Crown?”
“Anyone can aim for the Triple Crown, sweetling.”
“You will believe in me?”
“Of course, sweetling. Of course.”
“... because I am your colt?”
“Because every dream is worth believing, sweetling. They are worth pursuing. No matter how big or small they are.”
“Do you have a dream too, Daddy?”
“I do.”
“What is it?”
“Hmmm, I will tell you one day. But maybe not today.”
“Why? Is it big?”
“It is. Maybe too big. I was called arrogant for even dreaming of it.”

Tsuyoshi’s ears perked, and her eyes widened. Her father? The Emperor? Being called that way by people?

“Really, Daddy?”

Her father chuckled. Her magenta eyes turned gentler.

“Yes. That is why I said, people say a lot of things, and you can’t do anything about it. So you must be the one who believes in your dream the most.”

Tsuyoshi rested her head on her father’s chest again. Her father gently brushed her mane. 

”... Your mother believes in me and never leaves me. You will eventually find more people who believe in you and your dream, but first you have to keep trying.”

“Do you still have a dream, Daddy?”
“I am still chasing it even now.”
“Now?”
“Yes. Adults dream too, Tsuyoshi. We just get to know how hard some dreams are. But like always, we can make the choice not to give up.”

"You're supposed to have a scrimmage today, right? But you're here..."

“Aren’t you working, Daddy?”
“It’s fine. I’m in the mood for a break.”

“Adults dream, too, Tsuyoshi. We just get to know how hard some dreams are.”

“Am I… Am I a burden to your dreams, Daddy?”

To Tsuyoshi’s surprise, her father laughed at her question. Very gently, her father kissed her forehead. Her next sentence was spoken with a hint of a smile.

“Why, of course not, sweetling. In fact, you are my dream. With you and your siblings here, all of you allow me to live my dream while I’m pursuing it. There is nothing more magical than that.”

Tsuyoshi wondered what her father’s dream was, but her father always says difficult things, so maybe it was too difficult for Tsuyoshi to understand now. Trying to think made her head hurt anyway. She felt so comfortable now, she did not want a headache to ruin it. 

Tsuyoshi could feel her eyelids grow heavier.

She still wanted to talk. It was rare to talk a lot with her busy father. But her brain would not cooperate.

“Now, the first step to your dream, no matter what it is, is to get better. And to get better is to sleep.”

Her father’s gentle pats brought her deeper into slumber with every stroke.

“Good night, sweetling.”

“Sirius is already at home. The kids would be fine.”

Air Groove only nodded. She looked strained. Of course she was. There was a reason why she was in the hospital now. A very clear reason.

Rudolf gently grasped her wife’s hand. 

The hours were approaching. They had gone through this three times. It did not change the fact that life and death were always by a thread during every moment. Rudolf had never been absent from any of her foals’ births, and she would certainly be present this time too. She would never let her wife go through this alone.

“... So have you decided… what to name our colt, Rudolf?”
“I have.”

Rudolf kissed her wife’s forehead gently.

“It’s Duramente, as she had been quite rough and wild in you throughout the pregnancy.”

Air Groove chuckled. Her husband clearly remembered that night when their baby was being hyperactive in her womb. This whole pregnancy was quite rough as well. Air Groove even had her ribs bruised due to her cough. It had been a rough journey, and they were approaching its end.

“Do you think she’ll call you Papa?”
“She will.”

Air Groove laughed at Rudolf’s firm answer. Rudolf squeezed her wife’s hand. Her magenta eyes twinkled with bright humor.

“She will be a strong colt who will always call me Papa. Take my words on it, love.”

Air Groove had a lot to argue with Rudolf on the topic, but now she allowed herself to laugh. Within all the pain she’s enduring now, their intertwined hands always reminded her why she married this stallion.

“I love you, Rudolf.”
“I love you too, Air Groove.”

The hours ahead would be long… but they would get through it together. 
Together. Like always.

Chapter Text

“Now, now, Tsuyoshi. Leave that fertilizer sack. Please bring Daddy the seeds and the small shovel instead. Can you?”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Mom, is this leaf the right one to cut?”
“Mom! How does this one pot look! I did well, right?”

One bright morning. The whole family was together in the inner garden. Of course, it was spring. Due to pregnancy, Air Groove had no time at all to take care of her early spring planting. Now that she had returned from the hospital, her foals volunteered to take care of the garden for her. Rudolf also took paternity leave from URA and now helps around in the garden. Despite their father’s presence right in the garden, the foals still asked their mother instead. Even the foals knew who was more knowledgeable about gardening. Rudolf felt like she was reduced quite literally to a mere shovel.

Baby Duramente sleeping soundly in her arms, Air Groove watched over and directed them from a folding stool that Rudolf set for her at the edge of their living room. That way, Air Groove could remain seated as she needed. Still a newborn, baby Dura slept a lot. She needed frequent breastfeeding, though, just as any newborn. Unlike Tsuyoshi, who easily woke up, Dura slept so soundly and would only wake up when it was her time to eat. Air Groove said she was still finding out the right rhythm with Dura, but Dura drank a lot, just like Teio did.

Rudolf watched as her foals surrounded the sitting Air Groove. Teio was especially close. That was right. This would be the last year that Teio would be with them on most days. From next year, she would be off to Tracen and spend most of her days in the dormitory. Rudolf noticed how Teio’s demeanor had changed in the past few months. She wanted to inquire about it, but she would rather have her foals ask her, because she knew in this age they would rather solve their own problems. She had felt that way, too, when she was still young. It seemed, whatever it was, Teio had found the answer to her problem. She appeared way calmer and now more than anything, it seemed like she, too, understood she would soon spend less time with her family. The way she clung to her mother and how she mellowed out to her siblings made Rudolf feel both proud and sad at the same time. Her eldest colt is growing up. She would soon let her go to Tracen.

Rudolf almost felt like not letting Teio go.

Ping pong.

The doorbell rang.

Narita Brian and Hishi Amazon had come to check on Air Groove and the newborn when they were still in the hospital. It was unlikely that it would be them. Rudolf could quite guess who it was, though, from the way the doorbell rang once again. Only one person would be this annoying in Symboli Rudolf’s house.

“Want to say hi to Uncle Sirius with me, Teio, Tsuyoshi?”

The colts beamed at her, their tails swishing happily. There was no need for Rudolf to ask Aruve. Aruve herself furrowed her eyebrows and appeared to draw herself closer to her sitting mother. Well, Sirius always teased her to no end after all. Rudolf opened the front door, and true enough, it was Sirius.

“Hey there, Pups! How are you doing?”
“Uncle Sirius!”
“Uncle!”
“Whoa, there! Be a good pup now, and I’ll give you something.”
“I am not a child anymore, Uncle!”
“You are a child, Teio. If you don't behave, I won’t give you these hachimi I have here, see?”
“... Hmph!!! Fine!”

Rudolf chuckled. Sirius was always really good at controlling her colts, even if through bribes. She would tease them a lot, make them mad, but always ended up making them listen to her, and they all would have so much fun. Among all of their relatives and friends, Sirius Symboli was still the one who frequented their house the most, and also the one Rudolf would rely on first if anything happened and Sirius was around. Rudolf suspected Sirius to be quite fond of Teio and her siblings. She just did not want to admit it and probably would never. But that was just the usual Sirius.

Rudolf was about to give her greetings when she noticed a shadow loomed behind Sirius.

Tall and silent as always, Symboli Kris S’s expression did not change when they met eyes.

“... Good morning, Rudolf.”

Kris S stepped inside, following Sirius, who had both of her hands being dragged by Rudolf’s two colts. Unlike the extravagant Symboli mansion, Rudolf’s house was adequately sized. It would be too big for a small family, but now Rudolf’s family was certainly nowhere near small. Rudolf had no servants. No maid or butler around like how it was in Symboli mansion, so the house quite understandably shows evident telltale signs of children inside. Several plastic cups were on the dining table. Stickers of the popular superhero Carrot Ranger and Shiny Princess were plastered haphazardly on the walls and furniture. Covering one side of the living room wall, there was a huge white paper being plastered, filled with doodles. The fact that that was the only spot being doodled showed how disciplined her foals are. Here and there in the living room near the TV, several toys were scattered about. The glass sliding door was wide open, showing the inner garden. From the smell of fresh soil, it seemed they were in the middle of gardening.

Air Groove, Rudolf’s wife, stood up from the stool she was sitting with a newborn umamusume in her arms. Admire Groove, their only filly, saw Sirius and Kris S came in and stepped back a little, positioning herself behind her mother.

“Welcome, Sirius-senpai, Kris S. Please make yourself at home.”
“Feel better already? You’re a tough one.”
Air Groove smiled at Sirius’s remark. She knew it all translated to care.
“I’m quite fine, Senpai. Thank you.”
“Isn’t that the new member! Sleeping?”
“Yes, she always sleeps soundly after her meal. Rudolf, could you…”
“I’ll take care of the drinks, love, don’t worry. Kris S, please, have a seat. Sorry that it’s a bit of a wreck. The foals were playing Jenga and some Carrot Ranger impersonation a while ago.”

Kris S nodded and just sat on one of the sofas. She watched as Sirius checked the sleeping newborn in Air Groove’s arm while having her shirt being tugged by two colts who wanted to show their favorite uncle something. Rudolf came with paper cups and a bottle of carrot juice from the kitchen. Her filly came to her and silently helped her father. Rudolf poured some juice into one of the cups and gave it to Aruve, who took it with a “thank you, Dad.” before retreating a bit to the side.

“Very lively, isn’t it?” Rudolf said as she poured some juice into several cups, one for everyone. “When was the last time you visited? I think Tsuyoshi was still a toddler then...”
“She was... a baby.”
“Right,” Rudolf smiled fondly, handing one of the filled paper cups to Kris S. “Though she is a baby no longer now. It’s fascinating how fast they grow. How was America, Kris S?”
“It’s good.”
“I hope you took time to enjoy your time during the trip?” Rudolf took a seat. She gestured to Aruve to join them. “You did not just spend your entire time on work, did you?... Is it empty already? Do you want more, Princess?”
“I can do it myself, Dad.”

Aruve looked a bit displeased when she realized her father noticed her empty cup and that she was eyeing the carrot juice. In the back, Teio and Tsuyoshi excitedly talked to Sirius about this new board game that Rudolf bought.

“I will win this time, Uncle Sirius! I am a genius in this!”
“But you lost to Aru-nee last time!”
“Tsuru-chan, you—”
“Heee… you lost to your little sister, huh, “Monarch”?”
“No! I was just, I was just distracted!”
“Hmph. Can’t even accept your loss, Neesan?”
“That’s it! Come here, Aruve! Let’s settle this!”
“Let’s play, all four of us! It will be fun.”
“You pups sure you want me in? I won’t go easy on you.”
“Bring it on, Uncle! I won’t go easy on you just because you’re new too!”
“Tidy your toys in front of the TV first, kids. You need space to sit to play that. Tsuyoshi, Teio, those are yours, right?”
“... Okay, Mom…”
“Yes, Mom!”

Although a bit reluctant, the idea of playing with Sirius motivated Teio and Tsuyoshi enough to put their toys back into their big toy box. Meanwhile, Aruve brought the board game and set up the map in the middle of the living room. Air Groove sat beside her husband now. Kris S, Rudolf, and Air Groove watched as Sirius sat with the three foals to begin their game. It was easy to see why Sirius was their favorite uncle.

“You haven’t told me about America, Kris S.” Rudolf suddenly began the topic again. “I have read the report you submitted, but that is not what I am asking about.”
“Cesario was also in America for a conference, wasn’t she?” Air Groove tilted her head a bit as she tried to recall. Kris S’s ears perked at the sound of that name. “Did you get to meet each other?”
“... We did.”

Kris S’s ears twitched, and her tail swished. Air Groove and Rudolf smiled at her answer. Although Kris S did not continue, they seemed to have found an answer already. Rudolf leaned to the sofa, and her wife just naturally leaned back with her, resting into the arm that Rudolf spread for her. They fit so naturally together. The movement almost looked like it was done with practiced ease. The couple did not inquire anymore, but Kris S knew the question she had answered shortly had a continuation. 

“... We went to an amusement park and an adventure park together.”

In a way, Kris S herself felt like sharing. The older couple listened to her with warm eyes.

“Cesario asked that we go. When we met in New York.” Kris S had her eyes on the foals and Sirius, but what she saw was the vivid memory from some weeks ago in America, together with the mare of her heart. “It was a… wonderful experience. She was lovely.”

Lovely was an understatement, but Kris S could not find a better word to describe the mare so dear to her heart. They met in Tracen, and after a series of “coincidental” meetings, they started to share training tips and chose each other as a date for Ligne Droite, the annual ball in Tracen. It took a while until they officially became a couple, which was a bit later after their graduation. Kris S worked in URA, just like Rudolf and Sirius. Being especially experienced with an overseas tiara crowned, at first, many expected Cesario to focus on the URA overseas department. Cesario, however, went on to be a teacher in an elite racing institution. To nurture and teach young umamusume had always been her dream, so her decision did not surprise Kris S. Kris S was the one in URA overseas management, working with Sirius. While Sirius handled most of the European contact, Kris S handled the ones in North America. This made her leave Japan a lot. The schedule made it quite hard for them to find time for each other, other than occasional dinners. The time in America, to say the least, filled the void in Kris S’s heart like no other. Just remembering it made her feel warm.

“Are you sure you’re going to the south, Teio? I’m warning you.”
“Hmph! I don’t fear your warning! I have enough army!”

Chatter from the group playing the board game was a constant noise. With three young foals around, Kris S could imagine that this house was always this bright and lively. There was warmth and comfort in this house, something that Kris S did not find in the Symboli mansion. It was not that the Symbolis were cold, not at all. Rudolf’s house just felt human. From the laughter in the air, the doodles on the wall, the stickers, the stack of toys, the small pots of herbs lining the shelves near the glass door, the low volume of the TV that was largely ignored in the background… Everything breathed life.

A sound of a baby’s mumbling moved Kris S’s ears. She shifted her attention from the board game group to Rudolf and Air Groove. True enough, baby Duramente seemed to have woken up. The newborn did not cry. Two small eyes watched as her mother and father looked at her fondly.

“Good morning, sweetling. Did you have a nice sleep?”

Rudolf’s voice as she said it to her newborn stirred something in Kris S’s heart. Seeing her expression and Air Groove’s as they looked at the newborn in her arms, somehow made Kris S curl her fists that were resting on top of her thighs. The laughter that broke out from the board game group only strengthened the feeling in her heart, instead of distracting her. Kris S knew this feeling. It was… desire.

In her eyes, she could still see Cesario’s face as she smiled at her at the amusement park. How the sunlight changed the purple of her eyes into bright gold. The soft creases by the side of her eyes as she smiled. The softness of her fingers as they linked with hers.

Her memories reeled in further back, retracing every moment she carved in her heart. Cesario’s eyes when she talked about the many foals she taught. Cesario’s gentle voice when she called out, and the smile she gave whenever Kris S replied to her, no matter how curt. The laughter Cesario let out when she said she enjoyed seeing Kris S enjoying her time at the zoo back when they were still students. 

All of them. All of them filled Kris S with warmth.

She knew, she had known for a very long time, that Cesario would certainly, without a doubt, be a wonderful mother.

In this house, enveloped by this family’s warmth, Kris S felt the desire stronger than ever. The warmth she currently felt was Rudolf’s family’s. And now Kris S knew she strongly desired one of her own.

Baby Duramente started crying, a sign that she was hungry again. Rudolf kissed her wife gently before her wife went to breastfeed their baby in the next room.

“... Rudolf.”
“Yes?”
“I need… your opinion and guidance again.”

“Man! Those pups really never run out of energy!”
Sirius complained behind the wheel of her sports car. The words were complaints, but Kris S knew there was warmth in her words. By the time they left Rudolf’s house, it was already well after lunch. They had a hearty meal in Rudolf’s house together with Rudolf’s family. Sirius ended up playing with the foals the entire morning. Air Groove also insisted that they bring back Air Groove’s baked apple pie. Now the smell of warm apple pie filled the entire car.

“Now what am I to do with that pie?” Sirius tapped the wheel, waiting for the traffic light to change. “What’re you going to do with yours, Kris S?”
“I will share. With Cesario.”
“Heh.”

Sirius smirked, but said nothing else. 
Kris S could feel the warmth of the pie on her lap.

“I want Cesario. To feel the warmth as well.”

The traffic light blinked and changed.

“... Then maybe… we can begin to talk.”

Beginning something was hard. The notion had always loomed in the back of Kris S’s mind, but the present always made her complacent. The present gave her so much already, she felt she might not be able to hold something greater in her arms. Yet, today, upon seeing Rudolf and Air Groove’s expressions as they looked at their newborn baby, something switched in Kris S’s heart. It was not that she did not want it; she simply looked away from the vision because she was uncertain if Cesario would also want the same thing.

But Rudolf smiled when Kris S expressed her thoughts. She then imparted her wisdom, even ones that she gained from her own mistakes and things she wished she knew before she made decisions. With all the details she gave, Rudolf still chuckled.

“Those are mine, but yours might be different. And really, it is fine.” Rudolf smiled warmly, folding her arms into her usual relaxed pose. “Even the mistakes, I believe, are a part of everything. That is just how marriage is, Kris S. You make mistakes. You learn. And you experience all of them together. Simply love may not be enough. You need commitment. Trust. Communication. A lot of other technical things.”

Rudolf’s eyes turned gentler.

“Marriage is but a contract, Kris S. The one to put a meaning beyond that is yourself.”

For some reason, Sirius did not say much during their drive after that. She did say that she knows a great tailor for suits. Kris S decided not to inquire further, but she kept it in the back of her mind. For now, she would focus on the most immediate thing.

Kris S wondered if carrot juice would pair well with the apple pie.

Chapter Text

“Those are mine, but yours might be different. And really, it is fine.”

Symboli Kris S stood facing the sea, the night sea wind blowing her coat and long hair. Today was neither New Year nor any equinox, so the beach was empty in this hour, minutes before daybreak. It had been several days since the day Kris S went to Rudolf’s house to see Rudolf and Air Groove’s new baby colt. These past few days, she had gone to work, gone home, and done everything she needed to do, but her conversation with Rudolf that day kept replaying at every silent moment. The “mistakes” that Rudolf said she had made, what she hoped she had done differently, and what she felt she had done right, but would not know the answer to. Kris S now understood her doubt was just the surface of what she might face, and that every decision that Rudolf took in the past, which took her into where she and her family were today, had been taken so carefully, and yet, Rudolf still said she had made mistakes.

“If you ask me, if I ever felt like I rip her dreams off her, then of course I have. To be frank, I still do.”

Rudolf’s magenta eyes turned glassy. It was not tears, Kris S knew, but it still looked… sad?

“How could I not? She’s brilliant. Her intelligence, her grit, her work ethic, her vision, everything. She has so much, and she desires so much. She has a lofty dream, and that dream is what grants her that light. She shines so beautifully, and I don't want to be the one to rip that away from her.”

Unison of laughter erupted from the board game group. From the sound of it, Sirius managed to trick Teio into her trap. The voices eased a bit of the sternness that slowly slipped into Rudolf’s voice.

“She does not need me, Kris S. At least not in the way we need air to breathe. She can survive without me. She may even thrive better without me, even, I wouldn’t know. We wouldn’t know. Though I know for sure I can’t thrive without her, and that I have a vision, a dream with her in it. But I mean, that is love, isn’t it? To love is to desire.”

Rudolf smiled.

“On the surface and at a glance, you may feel like you are burdening her, or that what you ask may rob her of her dream, or put additional burdens onto her shoulders. That may partially be true. However, to push and pull, to lean and be leaned upon, those are simply consequences of attachment. I am wholly aware, Kris S, at the point that I might have been simply incompetently relying too much on her. That I indulge in my own dream while she is here, “stuck at home” so they say, taking care of our foals. Thinking that she followed me. Thinking that it is my fault that she had to drop her dreams. However, that thinking is, too, arrogance. That thinking reduced the magnitude of will she has and her agency to make decisions. Both of us had talked many times. This decision was not made by one of us. It was ours. It was hers as much as it was mine. What she is currently doing is not “just”. Currently, she is doing her best for her dream, my dream, and our children’s. She has told me many times she gave up on nothing.”

Rudolf closed her eyes.

“My biggest mistake was assuming what she wanted. My biggest mistake was thinking I knew what was best for her. We are adults, Kris S. No matter what we see on the surface, at the end of the day, what matters is that the decision is one’s own. And if you love her, you would trust her. You will let her make her decision. Especially if you respect her. Trust her words.”

The older Symboli smiled reassuringly.

“Ask her. It will be fine. Just make sure that you remain honest, both to her and to yourself. Believe me, it may seem selfish, but that is the best thing that you can do for her. Make your decision together. You, and Cesario.”

“I am sorry that I took so long. The vending machine ran out of hot coffee.”

Kris S’s ears moved to the sound of her beloved. Gentle and calm, Cesario’s voice brought a tint of guilt. The mare, clad in her dark blue coat, had a can of coffee and a bottle of warm tea. She offered the canned coffee at Kris S with a smile.

They both wanted coffee. It was what they talked about a while ago.

Selfless. Selfless, kind, warm, loving. To be kind is just like breathing for Cesario. She did it so naturally, so automatically… Kris S often wondered if it was okay to just let herself drown in Cesario’s kindness.

But Rudolf made her point. She was right. Who was she, to assume what Cesario needed?

“Thank you.”
“Anytime.”

Kris S took the canned coffee… and Cesario smiled. A beautiful, relaxed smile. Their bodies were sentimeters apart, but Kris S felt Cesario’s palpable warmth.

“Kris S, everything is fine as long as you decide it together.”

“Cesario.”
“Yes?”
“I need to talk to you. About marriage.”

The way Cesario’s ears moved made Kris S almost crush her canned coffee. The beautiful, light purple eyes widened as blush colored her face.

Kris S had long looked away from this desire, because she did not want to impose anything more than she had on Cesario. Cesario’s dream was noble and stretched longer than mere race or titles. Although Kris S would totally entertain the idea of tiptoeing work between them, the one to shoulder the burden of motherhood, if they decided on it, would still be Cesario.

“And about foals. Ours.”

At the back of her head, an alarm clicked that she might have ruined her pacing. But Kris S was not a stallion who stopped in the middle of a race. She always ran to the end, and this was no exception. She could only hope Cesario would run together with her, and for that, Kris S felt the urge that, for once, she might have to hold her beloved’s hand. Not for Cesario, but for herself. She may not need her beloved like she needed air... but Kris S knew very well how lonely a night sky would be without its stars. And she desired a few more stars to enrich their sky, if Cesario would allow it.

Air Groove looked out at the glass door of the Japanese room on the first floor. The wooden terrace outside was lined by Chinese Elm and Japanese Maple bonsai. Rudolf had been extremely kind for taking care of the plants for Air Groove during her pregnancy and around childbirth. Rudolf always valued deeply what Air Groove valued and vice versa. It was one of the things that kept both of them in harmony. Air Groove observed Baby Duramente by her bosom, occasionally pushing her breast with her small baby hand as she drank her milk. Like Teio, Dura is a strong drinker. Since both Aruve and Tsuyoshi was not, this sensation was almost nostalgic. It brought her back to the time she first breastfed Teio, the tumultuous period of her first experience of parenting. Yet Teio was a healthy baby colt, everything first-time parents could ever hope their foal to be. Perhaps Duramente would grow up just like Teio. A strong and kind colt.

The sliding door connected to the living room slid open, and there came Rudolf.

“Tsuyoshi seems to have gotten used to her primary school.”

Rudolf was wiping her hands with a napkin, probably just finished washing her hands and gargling. She was just back from taking the foals to school. They always tried to keep the habit of washing hands and gargling when getting home, especially when newborns were in the house. They did not want to risk infecting Duramente with anything from outside. Rudolf sat beside Air Groove on the laid-out futon. Rudolf circled an arm around her wife, and Air Groove naturally leaned against her and settled comfortably by her side. 

“She had been talking about her friends quite a lot lately.”
“Yes. She was very excited when I dropped her off. She even jumped before Teio.”
“How I want to see that.”
“I believe so. She was so bright, love. When she went to the school, she was trotting with such sure steps…”

Rudolf trailed off. Air Groove glanced, finding her husband looking down at the still suckling Dura. Her husband gently moved a tuft of brown hair with a white streak from Dura’s forehead. Dura did not seem bothered and was still vigorously suckling.

“... Look at her, love. She’s so focused.”
“This is her only job, to be fair.”
“Ahaha. True. Still, I wonder if she would grow up maintaining this focus.”
“Who knows? She might.”
“Mhm. … Ah.”

Rudolf was distracted, and Air Groove soon knew why.

Very slowly, as if in a trance, Baby Dura let go of her mother’s nipple, eyes drifting close with milk dripping from the side of her small mouth–a small smile curved up her small baby lips. She had the look of pure bliss. The baby was milk drunk.

No matter how many times Air Groove had seen this moment from each of her babies, the feeling of deep contentment and affection that flooded her heart never changed. She knew it was the same with her husband, as Rudolf’s hand on her shoulder squeezed her gently. Her husband took a deep breath, as if holding a surge of emotions back. Very gently, Air Groove lay her baby on the cushioned part of the futon she had prepared beforehand. Duramente remained in a deep sleep, barely even moving.

“... I can barely believe she is the same girl as the one who kicked you so hard some months ago.”
“She probably used up most of her power there.”
“Really, I am inclined to believe that.”

Air Groove chuckled upon hearing Rudolf’s whisper. She rested her back on the crook of her husband’s body again, earning herself a very secure hug.

“She really reminds me of Teio, love.”
“I know. Takes you back, doesn’t it?”
“I can’t believe how fast time can be. Next year, Teio will be in Tracen. Then our princess will too.”
“Mhm. Then Tsuyoshi. And before we knew it, Dura would be in that age too.”
“True… True…” 

Rudolf buried her face on Air Groove’s mane, and Air Groove could feel a gentle kiss after a deep breath. Her husband must have been thinking about something again, something that made her emotional. For as long as she knew Rudolf, she knew very well just how tender Rudolf’s heart is. Rudolf was only stoic towards herself and matters pertaining to her duties. To others, Rudolf is often a bit too forgiving and too lenient. She was also especially softhearted towards her loved ones.

“Love, about Tsuyoshi…”

Rudolf’s voice sounded solemn. When it came to their third foal, the air always shifted. Rudolf linked her fingers with her wife and hugged her wife from behind..

“Her polychythemia and her constitution. Considering her condition, I am wondering whether we should let her go to the running club or not.”
“What do you think?”
“... She has talked to me about how she wants to go to Tracen. I believe we should let her.”
“I agree.”

In this part, they both had the same idea. Tsuyoshi always wanted to run. That never changed. As Umamusume, that is something basic within them. They both understood that need so much. As a parent and a racer, they naturally want her to chase her dreams. Although worry settled in Rudolf's eyes, Air Groove knew her husband pushed that away from her mind. Rudolf paused before she continued.

“I wonder about the club to put her in.”
“I understand. Putting her in the same club as Teio and Aruve will inevitably make her be compared with both of them.”
“Yet putting her in another club might make her feel alienated.”
“... I think that is something we need to tell her eventually, Rudolf. That her approach to running might need to be different from her siblings.”

Rudolf’s breathing changed. Air Groove knew that meant Rudolf agreed. She felt a kiss on her mane.

“Let’s change our perspective,” Rudolf said, settling into a more comfortable hugging position. “We both know that she has a condition. We must find a club that accommodates her needs.”
“True.”

Right now, the club Teio and Aruve belonged to was under the tutelage of Bubblegum Fellow, Air Groove’s best friend and year mate. The club itself was shared between Bubble and other members of the Four Heavenly Kings–Bubble’s best friend and clubmates. Both Teio and Aruve was not directly under Bubble, but Bubble did keep a close eye on every foal in her club to the best of her ability. Air Groove knew Bubble very well, just how perceptive, intelligent, responsible, and effective Bubble is. She also got messages from Bubbles when her best friend found either improvement or something to be wary about, such as injuries.

Tsuyoshi, however, is different on a very fundamental level.

“We need other options, love.”
“Like Cesario?”
“Cesario…”

Symboli Kris S’s beloved. Cesario has a club of her own. Compared to Bubble’s very popular and big club, hers was a lot more private and mostly filled with young foals. Those who tutored under Cesario almost automatically, upon enrollment in Tracen, would be trained or at least be under the radar of Cesario’s former trainer in Tracen. Trainers are an especially delicate case for umamusume. First and foremost, they should know which club could accommodate Tsuyoshi’s condition…

“I think we need more opinion,” Rudolf said eventually.
“Indeed." Air Groove nodded. "We don’t know the availability of these clubs, and I think we need to assess Tsuyoshi’s condition ourselves. Just a run in the park is a bit inadequate for this. I believe you agree?”
“Yes," Rudolf embraced her wife tighter just for a bit, like an assurance. "But... I think I have an idea.”
“And that is?”

Air Groove turned her head to see Rudolf in the eyes. Her husband looked back at her. Her magenta eyes softened the moment they focused on her.

“Let’s find time once we can take Duramente around. I am sure you also want to taste the track again.”

Air Groove chuckled. Rudolf was not wrong.

“I believe it will be a good opportunity to see Teio and Aruve’s improvements as well. They will benefit from seeing us run as well.”
“Indeed. We can also gather everyone. I am sure all of us adults are itching for some race ourselves.”

Rudolf’s ears twitched, and Air Groove could see the gears in her head moving, just like how it was during their time in Tracen. She gave a gentle kiss on her husband’s neck, between her long mane.

“I hope everyone will look forward to some reunion.”

Chapter Text

With the other foals off to school, in the house, there were only Duramente and her parents. Air Groove had just finished drying Dura’s baby bottle. Last night, Rudolf took over feeding their foal with the baby bottle, granting Air Groove her much needed sleep instead of being interrupted to breastfeed. She looked over the counter, watching her husband and their youngest foal on the floor bedding. Baby Dura’s cackling laughter every time her father did a peek-a-boo filled the morning. Rudolf laughed at her colt’s baby laughter, then bent her body and gently took both of Dura’s small feet, planting a gentle kiss on her still very tender soles. Dura watched her Papa intently—brilliant violet eyes still sparkling with innocence and wonder. Their interaction still continued even when Air Groove came to put a tray with cold barley tea on the low table.

Rudolf rested Dura’s body on her lap and supported the baby’s head and neck with her arm to look straight into Dura’s eyes. The baby raised her chubby baby hands and grabbed her Papa’s mane, bringing it into her mouth.

“Rudolf, Cesario has answered my message and said she would come to the reunion.”
“Wonderful. Kris S must have answered as well, then. Forgive me, I haven’t checked.”

Rudolf said everything while bending her body forward to kiss Dura’s forehead. Dura laughed, probably finding her father’s mane brushing her body quite ticklish. Air Groove could not suppress a smile. 

“It’s all right, I already have the guest list ready. We only need to ask the guest to confirm if the menu is all right for them.”
“Thank you, love. I will contact them right away before lunch… Who’s Papa’s happy colt now? Who’s Papa’s happy colt?”

Dura started to coo and blow bubbles, as if she tried to answer her Papa. Rudolf showered the baby with kisses again, and Dura used the opportunity to grab more of her mane, until Rudolf asked for assistance to her wife, who took over Dura while Rudolf tried to pry her hair out of the baby’s vice-like grip. Air Groove gave Dura her baby rubber toy. The colt immediately put it inside her mouth.

“She’s so strong with her grip,” Rudolf laughed, hair messy. Safely sitting upright on her mother’s lap with her mother’s arm securing her, Dura’s violet eyes were still following her father despite her busy chewing her toy. “I guess I have forgotten how strong a baby's grip can be.”
“It has been long since Tsuyoshi, after all.” Air Groove chuckled. “I am just glad that you evidently learn to actually rest at home.”
“Well… Who is the person who keeps reminding me to rest, again?”
“I wonder who.”
“Yes. What a mystery.”

Rudolf moved closer. This time, instead of her baby, she kissed her wife gently.

“My presence usually garners attention, but it is rarely out of favor. But you and the kids? You want me here and are happy to have me, simply because I am me. You make me learn to prioritize my family, and in that extension, myself.”
“I’m glad to know that you learn that well.”

After losing in each other’s eyes for several seconds, they found themselves kissing each other again a few times. Dura’s baby voice dropped them back to land, and Rudolf’s head caught up with the topic they should discuss together.

“I have also asked the Mejiros if they can bring their doctor to the reunion,” Rudolf said, sitting back and folding her arms. “They might be able to find something by seeing Tsuyoshi run.”
“Yes, they might find something,” said Air Groove, setting Dura to lean more comfortably on her lap. “Although… well, to be honest, I think it is less about Tsuyoshi’s physical frame than it is about her physiology. Tsuyoshi’s run is almost exactly like yours.”
“Well…”
“Even more than Teio.”
“I know.”

They both went silent. 

They had witnessed Tsuyoshi’s full run several times, usually when they took their family out to the park. In the park, the foals would play chase, or one of the parents would do a mock race with them together. Tsuyoshi would always try to catch up to her older siblings, and she always gave her best. She often pushed herself too much, so Air Groove and Rudolf had to be extra careful with how much exercise Tsuyoshi had when they went out. However, since Tsuyoshi was always earnest in her running, they could see the potential in her strides. If she had the will…

“I am sure the others can see it too,” said Air Groove. Dura had turned her attention to her mother and started to tug at her shirt. “We shall see what the others will say about it. I know she needs a different approach, especially concerning her stamina and core building. Bubble and Cesario will know more about training facilities as well, if they can’t take her in.”
“We can review it together,” Rudolf smiled reassuringly. “We can talk about it slowly later.”
“For as long as she has the will to. For as long as she has the fire.”
“And she has that a lot. She’s a challenger, just like you, love.”

Silence fell upon them again. Rudolf watched as Air Groove breastfed their youngest. Dura probably had enough exercise with Rudolf a while ago. The baby was starving. 

After a while, Rudolf took a deep breath, soothing the cold that slowly crept into her heart every time they started talking about Tsuyoshi. 

“Rudolf.”
“Yes, love?”
“We may have organized the reunion for Tsuyoshi, but I think both of us need the race just as much as Tsuyoshi and the kids do. To remember that passion again.”
“...”
“Rudolf, darling. Look at me.”

Air Groove’s greyish blue eyes caught Rudolf’s magenta ones, finally. Her wife brushed her cheek gently with her knuckles, then eased the knit between her brows. Rudolf closed her eyes at her wife’s touch. Her lips tightened into a rigid line.

“Remember when you were their age. It’s their youth, Rudolf.”
“I know.”
“Were you not like that as well? Weren’t we? Let’s not be the person we did not want to have when we were their age. Let’s be the person we wish we had during then.”
“I know, I just…”

Rudolf sighed. She wanted to support her colt’s dreams, but she could not help but picture the thousand possibilities that may happen to them—all of which she had witnessed herself—in the future. Yet she, too, like her wife, was among those who strived for glory and the light during their younger years. She knew how much believing in them would mean to their foals. It would be a lie if she were to say she was not anxious about what it might bring to them.

“I simply… I simply have seen too much.”
“Rudolf…”
“I know.”

Rudolf linked her fingers with her wife’s and finally looked into her eyes again.

“I know. I won’t let fear cloud me, love. It’s all right.”

 She gave her wife a reassuring squeeze and smiled.

“It’s all right.”
“Let’s race.”

Air Groove smiled back as she returned Rudolf’s squeeze on their linked fingers.

“Let’s race, Rudolf. Let’s find courage in our strides again.”
“Yes. Yes, you are right, love.”

Late afternoon sun colored the playground in orange. Most of the kids were already gone, either going home alone or having their parents pick them up. Now, in the last year of primary school, Teio asked her parents not to fetch her home anymore and to let her go home alone. Teio said she wanted to try doing stuff by herself before Tracen. Thus, in days when Teio and Aruve did not have club activities, Rudolf and Air Groove let their foals go home on their own. So far, it went along well. The only thing the couple asked of them was to go home together, regardless of whether the other finished class earlier. Most of the time, Tsuyoshi was the one who had to wait for her siblings, but she did not mind. Her friends, human and umamusume alike, were all great kids, and the teacher was always around if she needed anything. Usually, she spent time asking her teachers about her parents. Tsuyoshi, like her other siblings, found out quite fast how her parents were reluctant to talk about their own exploits. It did not take long for Tsuyoshi to memorize soon what was written in the books around the school. She needed to look for other things to do.

By the horizontal bar, Tsuyoshi tried to lift herself... To no avail. Her arms gave out even before she managed to raise her body. Most students in her class could do the flip during the P.E., but she could not. All umamusume in her class could do it, except herself. Her arms felt like burning, but maybe with enough tries...

"Tsu-chan."

Tsuyoshi was about to lift herself again when she heard Aruve's voice calling out for her. She turned around, hands still on the bar, and smiled at her older sister.

"Neechan! I was just killing time while I waited for you!"

For some reason, her sister's eyes remained cold, examining Tsuyoshi and her hands that still gripped the bar. Her eyes narrowed.

"What are you doing?"
"Oh, I am just trying out the horizontal bar. We tried it in P.E. today!"
"Let that go."
"Eh?"
"Let the bar go and let me see your hand."

Tsuyoshi hesitated, and her hesitation only made Aruve's eyes turn colder. When Aruve walked closer, Tsuyoshi finally knew that it was inevitable and let the bar go. Aruve grabbed one of her sister's arms and tugged her closer. She flipped Tsuyoshi's palms up.

Blisters opened on Tsuyoshi's palms and the base of several of her fingers. Some were red, some already bloodied. Aruve threw a sharp look at Tsuyoshi. Her little sister tried to smile.

"It doesn't hurt that m—"
"What did Mom tell you?"

Aruve sharply cut Tsuyoshi's words. Tsuyoshi bit her lips.

"I... I just--"
"Come here."

Aruve grabbed Tsuyoshi's wrist and tugged her towards the water tap. She turned on the tap and started to clean Tsuyoshi's hands. The colt grimaced as the water stung pretty badly. 

"Neechan, I..."
"What did Mom tell you?"
"I just—"
"Answer me. What did Mom tell you?"

Aruve brushed Tsuyoshi's blistered palm with a tissue, not allowing Tsuyoshi to say anything else. Her sister's cold eyes locked hard on her, finally made Tsuyoshi, with a trembling voice, answer, "That I should know when to stop."

"Does this mean you do?"
"..."
"What did Mom say when it comes to trying?"
"... That I should not hurt myself."
"What's this, then?"
"I just..."

Tsuyoshi curled her blistering palm, avoiding her sister's eyes.

"I just wanted to try... to flip... like everybody else."

Like everybody else.

Aruve did not say anything. She merely grabbed Tsuyoshi again and forced the colt to follow her inside, into the school building. She helped Tsuyoshi take off her shoes and put the easily accessible guest slippers on before she did the same herself. Once set, Aruve tugged Tsuyoshi in again. Passing rows of classes, Aruve went to the school infirmary and knocked. Hearing the answer from inside, she pushed Tsuyoshi to the door. Strangely, she did not open the door herself. Tsuyoshi looked at her questioningly.

"Get that treated, then we go home."
"Neechan..."
"Say whatever you want to the nurse. I'll wait outside."

With that, Aruve left Tsuyoshi alone. She did not even look back when the school nurse opened the door and found Tsuyoshi standing there, watching the corner where her sister disappeared.

“Aruve?”

By the school’s shoebox locker, Teio saw Aruve walking from the first-floor corridor. Her class should be on another floor, not the first floor. Aruve’s expression looked a lot more strained than usual.

“Were you looking for Tsuru-chan?”
“Yeah.”
“Isn’t she usually by the playground? Have you looked over there?”
“... She’s not there.”
“Really? Hmm… I wonder.”

Teio glanced outside, then back at Aruve again, who took her shoes not from her own shoebox but from the guest box that was right beside the indoor slippers. She immediately noticed Tsuyoshi’s shoes on the box beside Aruve’s own shoes.

“... Tsuru-chan…?”
“Injured her palms on the standing bar. Mom and Dad will definitely notice.” Aruve tied her shoes without looking at Teio. “I’ll leave it to her how she wants to handle it.”

Teio bit her bottom lip. She was not sure about Aruve’s words and wondered if it was really okay to just leave Tsuyoshi like that. Aruve stood up after tying her shoes.

“Don’t you think we should…”
“She can handle that much.”
“Well…”
“I’m sure she, too, wants to believe she can handle that much.”

Teio could not find it in her to argue with Aruve. She knew very well that compared to both of them, Tsuyoshi was a lot weaker and way more fragile. Their parents always told them to look after her, even if it was just playing in the park. Teio had experienced many instances where they were out together and Tsuyoshi injured herself in one way or another. Teio knew Tsuyoshi just wanted to play and run with them. When she could, she always looked so bright, so happy. Whenever she had a fever or injured herself, however, that happiness often turned upside down. She especially dreaded it when Aruve or Teio had to stop playing or go home earlier because of her. She would tough herself up if she could, and it never seemed like she understood how that usually ended up with her injuring herself way worse than if she informed them earlier.

“Okay, then,” said Teio eventually. “Let’s just wait outside by the flower bed, then. Sakai-sensei won’t bother us there either.”

As they walked outside, in the corner of her mind, Teio started to wonder if by the time Aruve had graduated from the primary school, Tsuyoshi would already learn how not to injure herself or if her body would be stronger then. It did not take long for Tsuyoshi to find them there, and the three of them walked home together. Teio decided not to ask Tsuyoshi about the gauze on her palms.

The train ride home was more silent than usual, as if an apology was in the air but unspoken.

The Symboli summer house.

Usually used for vacation by the Symboli, it was also frequently used as a venue for large parties to entertain important people. The servants were well-accustomed to organizing large crowds. Since the gatherings they wanted to make were quite small, Rudolf and Air Groove almost did not need to do much management work other than approval. Coined as “Reunion Race”, Rudolf and Air Groove for friends and family gathering with several races scheduled by the Symboli’s turf race track. It appeared, for some of the guests, that the “race” was more interesting than the reunion itself. At least that was what the pair felt as they received the messages from the people they invited.

By the event day, a large tent had been set up near the race track. Due to the increasingly hotter temperatures, mist fans were set up at various places. The road leading to the track from the main mansion also had canopies. Anyone who got too tired or too hot could find shelter right away. Rudolf was quite keen about it, because some foals were expected to come. Heat would affect the foals more. As always with Rudolf, a first aid station was set up as well.

Invitations sent and done, the small gathering attracted a number of guests. Other than the ever-familiar Narita Brian’s family and the favorite uncle Sirius Symboli, there were Symboli Kris S and her newly engaged fianceé Cesario, Bubblegum Fellow and her family, Rudolf’s yearmate Mr CB and Katsuragi Ace, and finally some members of the Mejiro Noble House. Mejiro Ramonu had other things to attend to, so in her place Mejiro Ardan came. Mejiro Ardan also brought her niece, who was the same age as Teio, Mejiro McQueen, along. Ardan’s cousin, Mejiro Ryan, came with her two foals, Mejiro Dober and Mejiro Bright. Mejiro Dober, already attending Tracen, came in her Tracen uniform.

“It has been such a long time since the last time I saw that uniform in person,” Air Groove commented the moment they finished brief greetings with the Mejiros upon their arrival at the mansion. Carrying Duramente in a baby carrier safely by her chest, Rudolf smiled at her wife’s remark.

“I still see them from time to time for URA work,” said Rudolf as she pondered, “but you really haven’t been in touch with Tracen at all, now that I think of it…”
“Dober, would you like to say hi to the Emperor and Empress, former leaders of Tracen?” Mejiro Ryan gestured to her oldest filly. Dober’s face reddened. “Did you not say you’re a fan of Lady Air Groove?”
“D-DAD!?”

The young Dober’s face exploded in red. She frantically looked at her father, who grinned from ear to ear, and grabbed the hem of her father’s shirt as if to say, “shut up!”

“Don’t tease her too much, Ryan,” said Air Groove with a smile. Ryan grinned, still chuckling. Her filly still looked bright red. “Dober has just got into Tracen this year, right? The same year as Brian’s colt Flying Warrior.”
“Oh, really? That’s really nice! Is she coming today?”
“Brian’s family is here already, yes,” Air Groove moved to look at Dober directly. “They are at the gazebo near the track already with the rest of the guests. You can meet your yearmate, at least. We will have a junior race later. I hope you don’t mind racing? Do you bring your jersey?”
“I… I do, yes, Lady Air Groove,” The filly answered firmly. Her face reddened when Air Groove gave her her full attention. “I have heard about the races. I am looking forward to it.”
“Wonderful,” Air Groove moved her eyes to the younger, soft-eyed colt beside Dober. “And I believe you just reached primary school. Will you be ready for a race too?”
“Of course, my lady,” Mejiro Bright answered with a gentle smile, with a gracefulness far beyond her years–She is supposedly the same age as Tsuyoshi.
“McQueen will be entering Tracen next year,” Ardan put her hand on a long-haired bay-colored colt beside her. “Teio will enter as well, I believe? I believe they can be good friends.”
“I guess the bonds between our families will remain strong even through our foals,” Rudolf smiled. “Please, come in and make yourself at home. Or you may go to the gazebo before us. We will be at the gazebo soon, once everyone has come.”

It did not take long for all of the guests to arrive and gather by the gazebo. Snacks and beverages were lined up neatly on a long table in the middle of the gazebo. There was plenty of space and benches to sit, but for some reason, the adults chose to stand up, chatting merrily around the low table. All of them were Tracen acquaintances in one way or another, so there were plenty of things to catch up on. Foals were already running all over the place—it was hard to discern whether they were already friends from the start, or they just met and were already fast friends. For some reason, Mr. CB and Katsuragi Ace were running around with the foals in the meadow. Mr. CB was probably bored of waiting already.

“Seeing foals running around is always a treat!” said Hishi Amazon with a bright smile. “Look at them go! I think if we’re to have a race, the foals should go first or else they would already burn up all of that energy before it even begins!”
“That’s our plan, at least,” Air Groove chuckled. “It’s also good to have it before the sun is too high. We don’t want to risk heat stroke. … Where is Brian?”
“Last Blaze can’t stand being around too many people.” Hishiama smiled apologetically. “Brian is taking her somewhere, I think… Oh, there they are. Can you see them? On the other side of the track.”

True enough, by the hill on the other side of the track, they could see the figure of someone with a foal on her shoulder. Bubblegum Fellow chuckled.

“I can’t believe I can see the day that Brian is actually babysitting! A foal on her shoulder!”
“You tell me,” Hayahide, standing nearby, sighed audibly. “I am still surprised myself.”
“Come on, Hayahide, you are kind of living with us!”
“Exactly. And I have known Brian longer than you. I still can’t believe it.”

Air Groove shifted her attention to her yearmate, Bubblegum Fellow. Although Bubble was one of the owner/trainers in the club that Teio and Aruve enrolled in, it had been quite a while since she saw her friend in the flesh.

“Glad to see you made it here, back in Japan, Bubble. How was New Zealand?”
“It’s thrilling to say the least. Especially with in-laws breathing down your neck.” Bubble laughed. Her wife, a New Zealand mare, looked at her sharply. “Kidding, Princess. You’re cute like that.”

They met while Bubble was on a study business trip in Oceania after her graduation. Bubble ended up marrying the mare, and they both moved back to Japan as Bubble inherited her father’s young foal training school together with the rest of the Four Heavenly Kings. Air Groove always jokingly said Princess Blue, Bubble’s wife, was scammed by Bubble’s natural charisma.

“But anyway, it was quite hot in NZ. The foals were quite glad when we were back here. Speaking of which, Air Groove, I can’t wait for our foals to run against each other. You must see how much Teio and Aruve have grown in their run. But just so you know, my foals won’t be going easy on yours either.”
“If it comes from you, I am sure that’s true,” Air Groove smiled. She looked over her watch, then met eyes with Rudolf. “Want to start the event? Before the sun is too high.”
“Sure,” Rudolf nodded. Looked over to the other side of the track, where Brian and Last Blaze are. “But now, how to get her back here…”
“Oh, you want to start? I can call her,” Hishiama said with a grin. “Wait a sec. Pardon.”

The mare put two fingers inside her mouth, then let out a loud, sharp, and long whistle. A while later, an identical whistle answered her. Hishiama nodded. She smiled proudly at the stunned adults around her.

“There. Done!”

“You communicate with each other by whistling?” Bubble’s ears perked up with very obvious interest. Hishiama folded her arms and laughed.
“Well! You naturally develop new ways to communicate when you live in the mountains with no phone reception, and you happen to have a husband and foals who love to venture into the hills. I believe the foals will be back soon, too. My kids would have listened to that. It’s a come-home call.”
“That’s fascinating! Princess—”
“We do not live in the mountains, Darling.”
“No, I mean, we can incorporate that for…”

As Bubble “discussed” the possibility of implementing the “instant and simple communication” method with her wife, Brian and the foals one by one came back to the gazebo. Hishiama praised her foals for informing the others back as well. With everyone now gathered, Rudolf and Air Groove took the stand. Safe by her father’s chest, Baby Dura absentmindedly chewed her toy, ignoring her father’s booming voice as she began her greetings.

“Friends and families! Welcome!”

Brian cringed, suddenly seeing a flashback of their Tracen days. Rudolf pointed at her immediately.

“Not so fast, Brian. I barely began.”
“I know, that is why I cringed.”
“Brian.”
“Sis, you know how long her speech always is.”

“Well, not today, as I want to keep it brief,” Rudolf chuckled. “I mean, I want to start before the sun is high anyway. Ahem. Please allow me to thank you all for coming, despite the sudden invitation. I am really honored and touched, and I hope this will strengthen our good relationships with each other…”

“... See?”
“BRIAN.”

“Anyway, this is not a formal event, so please make yourself at home. Take as many drinks and food as you like. You are just as free to race in as many races as you want, as you are free to not participate at all. We do have several races on schedule, but after that is done, the Symboli turf track is free to use as you like.”

“As for the races,” Air Groove took over the speech, gesturing to a butler nearby to put a whiteboard near them. “We divide them into…”

“Oh. That’s brief.” Mr. CB flicked her ears.
“I know, right. That’s totally brief for a Rudolf.” Ace laughed, folding her arms. “I guess you were wrong, Brian.”
“Hmph.”

“... Will you guys please pay attention for a brief second? You're not setting the right example for the kids!”

Bubble chuckled.
"Some things never change."

And the reunion race event formally began.

Chapter Text

In each and every one, there is a seed of the future
It grows its roots deeply through strength and kindness,
So that it won’t lose to any kind of wind

Now, dear proudly blooming flowers
Fly high into the heavens
And with your colour dye this world, it’s one deserving of love

“Ima, Sakihokoru Hanatachi Yo (Now, dear proudly blooming flowers)” by Kobukuro

“Foals, gather up! First group, over here!”

Hishi Amazon’s voice rose above the chatter of the adults and the foals. A collection of “Yes, Ma’am!” or “Ok, Auntie!” and so on answered her call. Hishiama and Brian volunteered to help with the races so Rudolf and Air Groove could mostly remain in the gazebo, overseeing the whole event. They could have had the butlers and maids help them organize the races, but Brian and Hishiama just naturally fell into the role the moment they arrived. Bubblegum Fellow also volunteered in case there is anything else needing assistance, but Air Groove asked her to relax more, because her New Zealand wife, Princess Blue, still needed a bit of help to get around. Needless to say, Air Groove and Rudolf were in no shortage of helping hands. Though none of the adults said it, Air Groove could feel that they wordlessly just wanted her and Rudolf to stay back and be ready all the time for baby Duramente.

“Daddy, should I…?”
“Sure, Dober. Then you can join the adults too later. We have the 1600m later on. Or,  you can join the 2000m to run with Lady Air Groove!”

“Eh?! I… I don’t think…”
“It will be a good opportunity. When else can you run with the Empress?”

“T-That’s!”

Just the idea of running with Air Groove seemed to make Dober blush deeply, and Ryan smiled fondly at her filly’s reaction. Air Groove could hear their conversation from afar but chose not to react. It seemed the rather bashful Dober would appreciate the space.

The first race was the “older foals” race. Brian and Hishiama’s foals who joined were Hishi Andes and Flying Warrior. The last two were the Mejiros: Mejiro McQueen and Mejiro Dober.

Unlike her very outgoing yearmate Flying Warrior, Dober was a lot more reserved. Being the oldest of the foals, Dober seemed unsure about joining the foal race. 

“Flying Warrior is here too, you won’t be alone!”

Bubble stepped beside Ryan, putting a hand on the short-haired Mejiro’s shoulder and looking Dober in the eyes with a grin.

“Also, don’t worry about fighting against the young ones! They’re strong! I know, since I trained them,” said Bubble confidently. “Even if you won by a large margin or anything, these kids won’t get discouraged by that. Instead, they’ll see how much they can grow by entering Tracen! A run with you will be great for their growth. I hope you don’t mind?”

“A-Ah, I…”
“Just don’t hold yourself back,” Ryan nodded. “For you and for them.”

Dober still looked a little unsure, but the younger Mejiro McQueen suddenly came beside her and bowed.

“Dober-neesama. I hope this does not put too much pressure on you, but I believe running with you will be a valuable experience for us who will be attending Tracen Academy next year. I personally would be honored to have a chance to run on the same turf as you do.”

“McQueen…” Dober’s ears flicked. She gave one last glance to her father, who nodded firmly at her, then finally dropped her shoulder. “O-Okay. I hope I won’t disappoint everyone…”

“You won’t!” Mejiro Ryan said firmly. She gave a very firm grip on Dober’s shoulder. “Believe in yourself! You’re my filly! I’m with you every step of the way. Go on!”

“Yes, Dad!”

Dober finally nodded and went to join the group of foals who were on their way into the track together with McQueen. Warrior noticed her coming in and waved. Unlike Dober, she did not wear her Tracen Uniform and had been rushing around here and there, running around with the other foals or playing games with them. Now, she also casually helped the foals to divide themselves into groups for the upcoming races.

She and Andes took much of Hishi Amazon’s warmth. Brian’s eldest foals had been keeping the party, which is usually very boring for foals, quite lively with their presence. Brian's youngest, however, Last Blaze, had been staying far away from the crowd. Almost a mirror of Brian when she was younger, Hayahide said.

Air Groove watched them on their way to the track. The younger foals already gathered nearby, as it would be their time soon.

“When was the last time you watched Teio and Aruve run, Air Groove?” Bubble stepped beside Air Groove. “I believe since your pregnancy, it has always been the President who came.”

The “President”. It had been years, but that nickname really stuck to Rudolf. As the longest ever reigning student council president of Tracen, it was logical that most of those who were present during her time had a hard time letting that nickname go. However, now, as the head chief of URA General Affairs, “President” had been slowly taken over by “Chief”.

“Now that you mentioned it,” Air Groove tried to remember the last time she went to the racing club. “It has certainly been quite a while…”

“Arubu’s run makes me feel nostalgic,” Bubble smiled fondly. “I can’t wait to actually race with you again. We should have this more often. I won’t lose this time.”

“Really, now? I won’t just let you win either.”

“Just as I want it to be.”

Rivals during their time in Tracen, Bubble was probably the one who had raced with Air Groove in her prime the most. They were also classmates, so they were competing on and off the track. In a way, Bubble understood Air Groove the most when it comes to racing. Probably even more than Rudolf.

“It’s a pleasant surprise to see the President by the door greeting us with baby Duramente,” Bubble chuckled. Her bright blue eyes twinkled in amusement. “I always feel the President would be a wonderful father, but seeing her with a baby still melts my heart.”

Air Groove glanced to the bench lining up on the other side of the gazebo. Rudolf sat there with Duramente, who was drinking her milk from a bottle. Ardan and Hayahide sat opposite Rudolf, discussing something with the crescent-streaked stallion. It did not need a genius to know what they were talking about. After all, Rudolf had been away from her office for quite a while. Air Groove knew just how much Rudolf valued her work and how she always wanted to be impartial in everything she did. However, Rudolf learned along the way with their relationship that some things needed emphasis and for Rudolf herself, she was just incapable of being fully impartial when it comes to her own feelings, and that did not hurt her ideals at all. Perhaps it did not mean much for others that Rudolf took time to actually set aside her work for her family, as it should be. But as someone who had known Rudolf way back then, chasing ideals together, Air Groove knew just what a leap this scenery was for Rudolf.

Bubble followed her eyes. Her smile turned gentler.

“Your husband really won’t let you take care of Duramente?”

“She insisted on making Dura imprint on her.”

“Imprint?” Bubble’s ears twitched. “Is that working?”

“I don’t think so,” Air Groove chuckled. “Though she probably just wants me to be freer today. I am home most of the time, and after Tsuyoshi was born, I very rarely have any time to look after Teio and Aruve or even time for myself. I think Rudolf is bothered about it, even if she doesn’t talk about it much.”

“And you are bothered that she’s bothered.”

“Yes. We really should start talking about it. But…”

“But the President is still preoccupied.”

“Yes. There is something way more pressing than our current insecurities. At least, I think both of us silently agreed about it, and thus, this event was born.”

They both turned their attention to the foals readying themselves for the race near the track. Brian and Ama separated the foals into the older foals group and the younger foals.

“Is there anything I need to know before I assess?” Bubble rubbed her chin. “There must be something else other than what you have mentioned before if you and the President are so bothered.”

Air Groove did not immediately answer. She glanced and immediately found Cesario, who stood beside Kris S near the drinking water reservoir. Cesario noticed her eyes and immediately understood. The blue-haired mare gestured to Kris S, who then bowed on Air Groove’s way. Cesario joined Bubble and Air Groove in no time–the former gave a casual wave as a greeting.

"Pleased to meet you again, Senpai."
"And I, you. We haven’t had the chance to really talk, Cesario. How are you?”

“Wonderful, Senpai. Thank you for your apple pie and congratulatory package.”

“You already messaged me about that, Cesario. It was your big day, it’s no big deal.”

A beautiful blush spread over Cesario’s face. It was a congratulatory present for her engagement with Kris S. Upon hearing their engagement, Air Groove sent them her homemade apple pie and assorted liquor. Kris S and Cesario said the wedding itself would take more time, but they already made plans and arrangements. From what Air Groove heard the moment Kris S informed Rudolf of their engagement, it appeared Cesario had always been waiting for a proposal. She understood that Kris S needed time to figure everything out, so she never inquired. Kris S now made a mental note to be a lot more open to Cesario and proactive in asking her. For some reason, Rudolf looked so proud when she told Air Groove the story. Kris S had always been her beloved little brother, probably that was why.

Down by the track, Brian and Hishiama seemed to have finished explaining the races and started the raffle for the gate. One by one, the foals went into the track.

“There is Tsuyoshi’s medical condition, which I have mentioned to both of you. There is also Tsuyoshi’s own inability to hold herself back. Her body can't keep up with her emotions. Then, she always hurts herself in the process. I think that part of her is as pressing as her medical condition.”

Air Groove paused. On the track, Brian was raising her hand.

The track was supposed to be the same one Teio ran on when she was still in the first grade of primary school, when she raced with her father for the first time. That time, the track felt so wide and so long, the fences so tall, the goal so far away. However, now, despite the goal being farther than the last time she raced there, everything looked way more reachable. The track was the same, but Teio was not. Revisiting the exact same track as the one she raced in during her childhood made her realize how much time had passed. She still remembered feeling all the hurt while running after her father, how everything clicked into place. That was the day her dream was born.

After getting their raffle, all “older foals” lined up. Flying Warrior smiled widely, so eager to start the hunt. Even Andes joined. The two Mejiro foals were also here. Andes was still chatting with Teio about a hunt she did with her father a month ago, when finally all foals were in line. The moment everyone lined up, the atmosphere changed. Aunt Hishiama was already at the goalpost. Teio did not expect her to move that fast.

Uncle Brian raised her hand.

“Get set… Go!”

Everyone dashed at the same time, but this was the critical moment. Everyone was gauging one another: who would go to the front, who would stay back, and whether this speed was too fast or too slow for the position they were aiming for. Everything happened in a matter of seconds. No one was front-running, but this pace was too slow, so Teio took the lead… or so she thought. A flash of dark bay ran past her and started front running. From how the tip of the bay-colored foal showed a white hue, Teio knew it was a grey foal. This was the Mejiro foal, the one that was the same age as her. Her steps were steady, sure. Teio had not heard her name yet, but Flying Warrior said they were the same age.

Same age. Yet Teio could see that the conviction in her strides was different, even from most of the kids in her club–and her club, she knew, was among the best in Tokyo.

They passed the first straight into the first corner. The Mejiro gray foal’s cornering was immaculate. She did not veer off to the outside. She’s good. Very good. Her father did not lie when she said the Mejiros are elite, and she would certainly enjoy racing them. She had seen a Mejiro race in the race between her father and her two childhood friends. She was not as knowledgeable in racing back then, but even then, she knew that Mejiro Ramonu’s run was beautiful. This was the first time for Teio to race a Mejiro, and just by this stretch, she already felt her heart start beating really fast. This was exciting.

Teio simply did not think it would be this fun.

They got closer to the last corner. Four hundred meters left.

Now!

Teio picked up her pace, feeling how the sound of cleats behind her also changed its tune. She could feel pressure build up behind her–everyone started their spurt. Teio kicked, getting that burst of speed to overtake the grey foal in front of her. She finally got side by her side to overtake her, but the Mejiro foal certainly did not allow that to happen easily. With an audible huff, she kicked off her second spurt almost at the same time as Teio’s. Teio couldn’t shake her off. The Mejiro foal kept up with her spurt, refusing to let the lead go. Of course, Teio accepted the challenge.

Their war of attrition persisted as they sprinted across the last stretch. One hundred fifty meters left… then one hundred meters… neither of them relented.

Then, fifty meters before the goal, a shadow loomed beside Teio.

The older Mejiro foal sprinted with an unbelievable acceleration from the far outside, passing both Teio and her cousin in one burst of speed. Just half a length behind her was Flying Warrior.

“Goal in! Mejiro Dober wins!”

Aunt Hishiama raised and waved the goal flag. Teio decelerated to a jog, while the Mejiro foal she had raced earlier went to her older cousin.

“That was an amazing spurt, Dober-oneesama.”

“Thank you! Your front running is amazing as well.”

Teio’s eyes lingered for a bit on that back, watching the Mejiro foal’s whitening bay tail swish. Her heart was still pounding. She could still feel the thumping of her heart and the heat of the moment when she was shoulder by shoulder with the Mejiro foal. Just a while ago, she could hear her opponent’s kick on the ground, her breathing, even, for some reason, Teio couldn’t understand why, perhaps even her heartbeat. She had never experienced something like that before. Until now, Teio had always won against her peers. Some managed to put up a fight, but none was as tight as the one she had experienced.

“Good run, Teio!”

Someone grabbed Teio’s shoulder, shaking her firmly. Andes gave a bright smile at her, circling her arm around Teio’s shoulder. Flying Warrior grinned beside her.

“Whew! The Mejiros are something!”

“So you said, Warrior, but you finished second.”

“Come on, Andes! It doesn’t even feel like taking second! Teio here, and the Mejiros took the scene! Hahahahaha!”

“Toukai Teio.”

The three’s conversation stopped completely when the Mejiro gray foal suddenly appeared with Mejiro Dober. Now that they were not racing, Teio could see her face clearly. Unlike the fierceness that she displayed just a while ago, the Mejiro’s violet eyes were gentle and calm. Even the way she stood seemed to exude elegance. Against herself, Teio found herself at a loss for words.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Mejiro McQueen.”

"Just like Teio, Tsuyoshi inherited much of Rudolf's strides. I think as she grows, we will also see how much she inherits Rudolf's stature. She is already taller than Teio when Teio was her age. In that regard, I think we have nothing to worry about… However…"

Air Groove watched as Teio exchanged awkward greetings with the Mejiros. In the race before this, Teio did extremely well. Mejiro Dober’s win was almost expected. Air Groove had heard from Ryan that the filly was a promising late surger. More than anything, Teio found a match in one of the Mejiro’s foals. That battle by the last stretch was wonderfully done.

With that in mind, she took note to take her kids to the parties more. Rudolf and Air Groove had mostly kept their foals away from the nobility parties and gatherings, but it appears there had come a time for them to actually bring their kids to it more. As it seems, blood did not lie. Teio seemed to be really attracted to the Mejiros, of all foals.

"It seems your oldest had found a rival very early," said Bubble. On Air Groove's other side, she could hear Cesario chuckle softly. Air Groove sighed.

"I will just hope Teio is showing the fruit of her manner practice now. She dislikes that very much."

"Oh, come on, Air Groove. Have you no faith in your own colt?"
"It's exactly because she is my colt that I rather doubt her."

"Ahahaha! Come on, ease the crease between your brows, Groove. You sound like Princess when she's with the kids. I wonder why all mothers are the same."

"Listen to her, Cesario. Do me a favor and prove her wrong, if you ever decide to have foals yourself."
"I can't see why I got roped into your rivalry, but I will keep in mind to inform you if I have my own foal, Senpai."

"Ahahaha! Kris S will be so happy to hear that!"
"She has not said she will have a foal."
"She's at least thinking about it. Right, Cesario?"
"… Well… well, yes, of course."

"Right? Kris S will be so delighted."

Once again, Cesario's face was colored with a beautiful blush. Air Groove glanced over to the other side, to Cesario's fiancée, who stood almost motionless near Hayahide. Despite her cold demeanor, Air Groove is well-familiar with Kris S's hidden warmth and gentleness. Coupled with Cesario's steadfast and tender care, they would make excellent parents.

"Oh, Aruve is next."

Bubble's quips made Air Groove look back at the track. It appeared their discussion would have to wait for a bit more.

Aruve stood by her starting line with her arms folded. As the next batch of older foals, she waited her turn, which was largely just waiting for the first batch of older foals to clear from the track. From afar, she could see Teio and their two cousins speaking with the older Mejiro foals. It was hard to know what happened from afar, but Aruve could pretty much guess.

Teio must have impressed the Mejiros with her run, and vice versa. Watching the previous race from close proximity, Aruve could understand why. Just like what their father always said, a race is always honest. Raw emotions clashed during races. The will to win, or the lack of it, could be felt by fellow umamusume. Everything sparks like needles prickling on their skin. The race just now was brimming with that desire. Teio probably had found a rival.

Aruve closed her eyes.

She had none of that until now, but she did not know if she would want one anyway. For her, the presence of another umamusume was nothing more than that: another umamusume. Whether there was a rival or not, that did not change the fact that she must be better. So far, she had proven herself to be a strong racer, and stronger is what she would be. After all, that was how her mother taught her. To be the best version of herself, to challenge herself to be better each day, regardless of others. It especially rang true for Aruve. Because, unlike her siblings, Aruve was never a social person.

Teio and Tsuyoshi have a lot of friends at their school, and for Teio, at the club too. Aruve, however, had no one she could specifically call a friend, though she was not bothered about that. She enjoyed reading alone. They also did not bully her, did not purposely get away from her, or be aggressive to her. They were friendly, even if Aruve did not know if she could call her classmates and clubmates friends. For Aruve, that was fine. Since she kept winning in her race at her club, too, she has now become habituated to not having friends or rivals. Her only motivation was her goal: her mother. That was a high enough goal. Even without a rival, having the image of her mother running before her already became a tall wall in itself.

A few weeks back, Aruve noticed Teio was sad, bothered by her friends disappearing one by one. Teio was quite easy to read. She was usually a ray of sunshine. When the sunlight dimmed, the cloud that covered the sun was easy to see. It was good for Teio to find a rival before she got to Tracen.

“Foals, get ready!”

Uncle Brian’s voice broke Aruve’s daydreaming and brought her consciousness back to the track. She glanced at the gazebo, seeing her mother at the corner of her eye. Her mother was watching.

It had been so long since the last time her mother watched her run.

She must made sure her run shall not disappoint her.

“Get set… Go!”

“Oh, splendid start from everyone.” Bubble chuckled. Air Groove could hear the smile in her voice. “It’ll only get better with the gate if they don’t pick up anything strange.”

Some improved in starting, some got worse. Air Groove had helped many underclassmen with that issue as well.

As the foals approached the fourth corner, Aruve started to move up the ranks from the back of the group. She went to the outside, but slowly and steadily, shortening the gap with the lead, Rockabubble. Bubble chuckled beside Air Groove, completely enjoying the race. Air Groove knew right away what made her long-time friend so excited. It was just like they were, many, many years ago.

Aruve kicked. Her strides stretched, then she bounced yet to another length, covering great distance in every leap. As the group behind her moved, Rockabubble must have felt the pressure on her back as well. However, she maintained the gap without rushing, and in seconds, Aruve was beside her.

Once again, Bubble chuckled.

“Come on, my filly! Answer that!”

And answered Aruve’s attack, Rockabubble did. The two battled it out, shoulder by shoulder, together. Air Groove could feel herself taking a deep breath; that day was still vivid in her memories.

“Is it Bubble or Air?! Bubble or Air?”

The last 20 meters, with a leap, Aruve broke away and just like that passed the finish line.

Just like the first race, right after the finish line was passed, excited applause erupted from the adults. Bubble gave Air Groove a bump to the arm, and from the corner of her eyes, Air Groove could see Rudolf, still with Duramente suckling a bottle of milk in Rudolf’s arms, turned to meet eyes with her. The magenta eyes were sparkling so brightly, shining with pride. Air Groove could hear that silent “MY PRINCESS” scream Rudolf’s soul must have hollered right then. It really amused Air Groove how muted Rudolf’s reaction was with Duramente in Rudolf’s arms right now.

“Aah! That certainly took me back!!” Bubble laughed. “That was fantastic!”

“I must say thank you to you for training Aruve.”

“Your baby did the work, Air Groove. You know it. Well! I guess it is time for me to train my filly as well! Can’t have my generation got cooked as I did by you, now, can I?”

“I am sure the foals will be waiting for a rematch soon themselves.”

“Oh, Rockabubble sure will want that. Before you know it, they’d be in Tracen, and then we may see them battling each other again there. Who knows, really? Time flies.”

Bubble smiled, folding her arms again. She was just about to say something else when her youngest, still a toddler, Candy Vale, tugged her shirt and called her. Air Groove watched as Bubble then lifted her toddler and carried her to her wife, all while listening to her daughter’s incoherent mix of Japanese and English. Watching her best friend with her toddler, then behind her in the background was Rudolf with Duramente (who finally finished her milk and now was patted for a burp), brought Air Groove back to the present time. Their Tracen time was long gone. It had been years and years since the last time they wore the uniform, spending days running on the track and chasing triumph, all for those dreams. In that phase of life, that dream was everything for them.

After having Teio and quitting her job, Air Groove’s connection with the rest of her friends became fewer. She did maintain her share of interaction with the other mothers in the neighborhood every time she was out in the park to allow her foals time to play and have sunshine, but other than that, she was pretty much removed from racing other than from Rudolf’s daily “report” on her job. Now, sharing the same moment with so many of their friends and actually watching races unfold, Air Groove was suddenly brought back to that long-lost sensation again. The excitement, the passion, the love to race. She used to train her underclassmen during her time, Cesario among them. She had seen countless underclassmen who gave up, and those who decided to persevere. It was an ache she felt left behind in her memories for now, but it came back anew. Fresh, especially since the younger foal race was about to start.

Tsuyoshi lined up with the other young foals. They are foals still too young for clubs, or barely had training. It would be a display of raw ability.

Air Groove glanced at Rudolf, who was now rocking Duramente to sleep. It seemed Dura was playing with her chewing toy instead, waving the rubber toy groggily while her father rocked her gently. That only meant one thing.

Air Groove would be the one who had to watch over Tsuyoshi.

“Is there anything you would want me to focus on, Senpai?” Cesario asked gently.

“I’ve told you all I need to say. I believe in your judgment,” Air Groove answered. “I will leave it to you.”

Cesario nodded. Back on the track, the foals were already lined up well, and Brian raised her arm for the third time of the day.

"Go!"

And the kids were off.

There was something adorable about seeing young foals running. The older foals ran with a more polished running style, while the younger ones all have freer, unrestrained running. They ran for the fun of it. To feel the wind, to move their body. Then felt the race consumed them as they saw those in front of them and tried to run even faster. Bubble's middle child, Confectioner, led everyone, followed by Bright, then Tsuyoshi, then Last Blaze. 

The race reached the last 300 meters.

Last Blaze began spurting, and as if on a cue, so did Tsuyoshi. The moment the back line moved, Bright also picked up the pace. Confectioner, despite running in the front, had more in her to pick up the pace as well. It was not her top speed yet. As they touched 200 meters, Tsuyoshi took the lead... only for Bright to pass her.

"... Not good."

Air Groove suddenly moved from Cesario's side, taking off to the track.

The foals were still racing. All four foals refused to give up their place. But a winner was decided at the last 50 meters when Bright pushed on and finished first.

Mejiro Ryan gave out a "YES!" and pumped her fist. The other adults smiled and gave a round of applause. It was still a win, and for foals just running around, it was clear some had that impulse in them to know when to start their spurt. As it was the last of the foal race, parents went to their foals' place, but the first one to arrive was Air Groove. She was by Tsuyoshi's side, even while the foal was still in her small run.

"Tsuyoshi!" 

Air Groove grabbed the panting Tsuyoshi by the shoulder, keeping her up. Tsuyoshi did not answer. The foal usually would always look up to see her, but not this time. Her breathing was heavy and irregular. She stood unsteadily with her head hung low awkwardly, as if her body moved forward simply by the gravity of her own weight that tilted forward due to her running momentum. Air Groove kneeled, brushing her palm over Tsuyoshi's face and brushing Tsuyoshi's hair over to look into her colt's face. Her colt looked pale.

"Tsuyoshi, breathe."

It did not seem like her colt listened. Or rather, Tsuyoshi did not have the capacity to. Her eyes were unfocused, and her breathing harsh with audible rasps. Without wasting another minute, Air Groove scooped Tsuyoshi off the ground and brought her to the first aid tent.

Burn.

Everything was burning. Her lungs, her feet.

Her heart.

At one second, she was there on the turf, feeling the wind blowing over her face and the heat of the race swallowing her whole. She had seen this on the videos of her father she watched over and over, but she was never in it. But now she was in it. She ran in it. She experienced it. Her whole body felt how it was like to be in a race. Just like her father. Like her mother. Like her siblings. She was racing.

And it's exhilarating. It's intoxicating.

All she wanted was to get to the front. To overtake…

And suddenly, everything was getting cut.

At one second, she saw the bay-haired Mejiro foal before her, the girl who greeted her gently just before the race, and suddenly ran with such a fierce domination it was unthinkable from such a well-mannered, soft-spoken colt. Then, in the next second, the world blurred. Her whole body was burning. Her body might as well have burned from moments ago, but she did not feel it until the fire consumed her. Then all of a sudden, there she was, lying somewhere she did not recognize.

Her body was lying flat on the floor, and her feet were elevated by a cushion underneath them. She had an oxygen mask, an all too familiar sensation she grew accustomed to due to her frequent visits to the hospital. Gentle, tender hand brushed away her bangs. There was no hurry in the motion, just familiarity and love.

"Mom…?"

"I am here, Sweetie."

It was indeed her mother. Tsuyoshi did not need to move her head at all to know it was her.

Tsuyoshi had lost count of how many times this had happened. But this time, there was one thing that was different.

"But the race…"
"You finished second. You did so well, Sweetheart."

"I… finished?"

Tsuyoshi could not remember at all. She did not remember crossing the finish line.

"Did I finish?"

"You did."

Her mother's hand gently brushed her face again.

"You finished the race. … Or do you not consider you did?"

She did not remember. She did not feel like she did. Her consciousness cut off before she could experience it.

Her mother seemed to understand everything, even without Tsuyoshi saying anything. The gentle hand rested on her forehead, and her thumb gently eased the crease between Tsuyoshi's brows.

"If you do not feel like you did, there is always next time."

Tsuyoshi's ears perked up. She finally moved her eyes, focusing on her mother who sat beside her, who bent down to gently caress her face.

"Is there a next time?"

"Of course."

Her mother smiled. The cool blue eyes were warm. Although Tsuyoshi could not read everything in those eyes, but she knew her mother meant her words.

"Of course there is next time. As long as you will it."
"B-But I want it, Mommy."
"You want to race?"
"Yes, I want to race."

Her mother smiled.

"Then there will surely be another race for you."

She brushed Tsuyoshi's brows gently.

"But next time, let's make sure that you finish it. Truly finish it. Let's make an effort to that, shall we?"

"Yes, Mommy!"

The first-aid tent was empty other than for Tsuyoshi and Air Groove. Cesario watched them both from the entrance in silence. Just as Air Groove instructed, she observed the race in the eyes of an instructor that she was, and she immediately understood what Air Groove was worried about. She also saw potential, and this potential was painfully reminiscent of Tsuyoshi's own father. More than anything, Tsuyoshi's run was brimming with life, with spirit. More than anything, Tsuyoshi's own heart wanted to race.

"Her body can't contain her own spirit."

Cesario looked beside her, to Symboli Rudolf.

The President looked almost the same as when Cesario remembered her in their Tracen days. Standing tall, confident, and dignified, she was a beacon of guidance for every single student who enrolled in Tracen. The President and Vice Presidents were such a constant and secure presence that the whole student body mourned the time President Rudolf graduated. Now, she stood right there beside Cesario with baby Duramente slumbering and drooling at her shoulder, wetting the President's Symboli deep green shirt with her drool. One arm holding Duramente and another steadying the baby while gently patting her back, the President's eyes were on her third foal and her wife. There, Cesario saw something she had never seen before in the President's eyes.

There was fear.

So much love, and due to it, fear.

It was understandable.

Cesario had seen this only once, but Tsuyoshi's own parents had already seen it many times. She had heard that Tsuyoshi spent most of her childhood in the hospital. She was also informed of the main health problems that Tsuyoshi suffered from, such as her blood. The way Air Groove and Rudolf spoke, however, already told Cesario that more than her affliction, it was always Tsuyoshi's own enthusiasm that brought her near danger many times.

"It was either she did not feel her own body's signal or that she ignored it, I don't know, but she can't help herself," the President continued, quietly and calmly so as not to wake her youngest baby. She voiced everything steadily, but Cesario could feel the deeply rooted fear and worry. "When Air Groove and I are around, we can watch over her, but every time we take our eyes off her, she'd always try… to be like her siblings, which she is incapable of. She would hurt herself while doing so. Although she is an umamusume, due to her hospitalization and everything, her constitution is almost no different from that of human children. In some parts, she is even weaker than an average human. She fainted so many times, she almost broke her arm, she blistered her palms, squatted so much her joints inflamed… She healed. So far. But..."

The President did not continue. The foal had healed so far, but who knows how long that would continue. As Tsuyoshi's parent, that inherent and natural urge to keep Tsuyoshi safe must be extremely strong. The fear of losing her own flesh and blood must have made even the usually sure President very anxious. The fact that she had seen that almost happened so many times made the image of losing her foal even closer and palpable. Cesario knew that the President was protective of everyone impartially. She had seen it firsthand during the President's time in Tracen. That was why she overworked, as she tried to shield the other students from exhaustion or negativity. Cesario could only imagine how strong that feeling must have been toward her own foals.

"Then I believe it is best that she does not enroll in my club."

Bubblegum Fellow suddenly came around. She had been listening, but only now came closer. Her bright blue eyes met Cesario's. She nodded.

"Teio and Aruve are in mine. It would not be good for her mentally to be so close to her siblings, not when she needed to learn how to control her impulses."
"Air Groove and I thought the same. However, with how much care she needed…"
"I would be honored if you would let me take her in, President."

Cesario said it swiftly. She looked deep into the President's eyes.

"But I would want to talk to her first, and then to you, President. Because I have a feeling that maybe it is you who is not ready the most."

The President's magenta eyes widened at her words. She paused for a few seconds before smiling.

"The race will begin soon after the break. I think you will find my answer after that."

Rudolf gently lowered baby Duramente onto her stroller, horizontally tilted so that it was now a comfortable baby crib with a strap for the time being. She was fast asleep after drinking so much milk, unbothered by the activities around her. Or maybe the activities assured her that everyone was around and that she was safe. The baby had been extremely calm. That being said, Duramente had always been a calm baby who was rarely fussy at all. In contrast to her rather difficult pregnancy, baby Duramente has been the easiest baby to handle. Or maybe it felt that way, after the turbulent time that was Tsuyoshi.

"We can begin the next race anytime."

Brian, arms folded, stood beside Rudolf. The stallion approached Rudolf the moment Rudolf came back from the first aid tent. She and Hishi Amazon had been keeping everything organized despite Rudolf and Air Groove's absence during the time Tsuyoshi was brought to the first aid tent. Everything remained under control with the rest of the guests resting and having lunch for the time being, waiting for the adult race to begin. Their foals had been extremely helpful as well. Rudolf half expected the foals to panic a little when they saw Tsuyoshi being immediately brought to the first aid tent, but Andes and Warrior deftly distracted them. Teio and Aruve seemed to catch on quickly that it would be counterproductive to panic or bring attention to their sibling, so they remained in their respective place and instead helped Andes and Warrior distract the other foals to something else… at least Teio did. Aruve just stood there watching, away from the crowd like she always did.

"It's supposed to be a 2000m race after this, but at the moment Air Groove is still with Tsuyoshi, right?"
"No, we have told Cesario to take over for a while. She requested it."
"So the Empress will run?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
"… Thank you, Brian."
"Hmph."

Brian scoffed.

"Just make sure you really run. I don't see you baring your fangs at all the whole day."

Brian did not even wait for Rudolf to answer—she just walked away to approach her wife. Cesario had said it. Brian had said it. Even her wife had said it before they held this event. Rudolf knew everyone felt her waning spirit. Little wonder that Ramonu was absent today. The Mejiro probably already sensed that she would not get the race that she wanted. Even Rudolf knew that she was not herself.

Rudolf stayed for a while there, looking at Duramente. The baby was fast asleep. Her small, chubby fingers gripped her small rubber chew toy strongly. Those same fingers had just wrapped themselves around her index finger a while ago. Just like Teio, Aruve, and Tsuyoshi did. The image of their baby eyes as they looked up to her while holding on to her finger was still fresh in her mind.

Rudolf always had an excellent memory, but she knew that for this one, she did not even need that to remember those moments crystal clear in her mind.

"Do you want our kids to know who we are?"

It was Air Groove's first pregnancy. It was their first time being parents. Rudolf had been thinking about it for a long time. She grew up knowing who the Symboli was, knowing the weight of her own family name. Similarly, Air Groove grew up being raised among the glory of her mother, the Queen. She grew up going to parties, seminars, and excursions, all while taking care of her siblings. All of these shaped who they are and actually made them grow into the person they are now. However, what Air Groove asked was not that at all. It was about them and their foal.

Rudolf always upholds her ideology above everything. At least that was how she always tried to govern. However, with Air Groove, she realized that despite her wish to treat everyone equally, she could not eliminate her own individuality. She, too, is just one of the many Umamusume. She, too, had a selfish wish of her own. To honor everyone would mean she should honor herself… And to a more pathetic reasoning, Rudolf was entirely incapable of being completely selfless. She was naturally ambitious and weak to her desire. It was time for Rudolf herself to admit it.

"You may disagree with me on this, Love… But I want them to grow, at least in their early childhood, unbothered by all that we are."

Rudolf linked her fingers with her wife's.

"I want us to be their parents, and that is all."

Rudolf was quite ready to hear Air Groove make her counterargument, so it was quite a surprise for her when, instead, the mare smiled gently.

"I figured you would say that. And I quite agree."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

Her wife joined their forehead together.

"I guess just like you, I am also a little selfish."

For their little family, they wanted to be just themselves. No Emperor or Empress. Just parents. But they can't deny who they are, and they knew sooner or later they would have to face their title again, and so would their children. Rudolf always prayed that the titles would be only a positive influence, just like her family name was for her, or like the Queen was for Air Groove. Rudolf felt that way, but now she was not so sure. She witnessed how much Tsuyoshi destroyed her own body. It broke her so much, in ways she could not describe. The more Tsuyoshi's eyes lit up upon watching her race, the more fear Rudolf felt in her heart. She had never dreaded her own influence before. She did now, more than she wanted to admit.

"You're not going, Dad?"

Teio came to fetch her, it seems. Maybe Brian told her, after waiting for her for quite a while. Rudolf glanced at her oldest foal and smiled.

"I will be there in a bit. I will compete in the race after this."
"Really? Yay! It has been so long since I saw you race!"

Of course, it had been years. It had been so long. Way too long.

Rudolf brushed a tiny tuft of hair from Duramente's forehead.

"… Dad?"

Rudolf did not realize Teio was already right beside her, peering into her face in worry.

"Oh. What is it, Teio?"

Teio visibly tried to choose her words. In the end, she chose to look straight into her father's eyes.

"… Do you actually… not feel like racing today?"

Even her foal saw it through her. That is shameful.

Rudolf smiled, then faced her eldest.

"Why do you feel that way?"

"Because…" Teio pursed her lips. "Because… I just feel it? You feel different from how you were the last time we were here, before you raced with Uncle Sirius and Aunt Ramonu for me."

Rudolf chuckled. Perhaps this was what the youngsters said about being clocked? Rudolf ruffled Teio's bay hair, seeing her all-too-akin blaze get messy.

"Dad, come on."
"You've grown." Rudolf smiled sadly. "I wonder what you will think if you see me run this way. That got me worried. Hahaha…"

Teio blinked. She looked confused.

"I don't understand."

"It's okay if you don't."

"No, Dad, I just don't understand why you must feel worried about that."

Teio put her hand on Rudolf's, which was still on her head, worriedly.

"No matter the outcome, you are still our dad. What we will think of is obvious, right? I mean, we'll get worried if you're unwell or anything."

The colt squeezed her father's hand, like she wanted to make sure it was at the right temperature.

"But really, are you unwell, Dad? You don't seem like yourself. Hmm, but you have no fever? Should you also go to the…"

"Tell me something, Teio."

Rudolf squeezed back her colt's hand and looked into her eyes. The blue eyes looked confused, but attentive.

"Do you think you will still love racing, even if you know nothing about your mother and I?"

"Yes. Absolutely."

The colt's answer was quick and definite. Her eyes blazed, bright blue eyes reflecting a flame that somehow looked almost nostalgic to Rudolf.

"Racing is fun! It's intoxicating!" Teio beamed. "Like, even that mock race at school before I knew everything, I had so much fun! That was why I was so bummed when the others looked like they didn't have as much fun as I did. I was really sad. But like today, Dad, I find others who love it as I do! And it feels amazing, Dad!"

The colt chuckled.

"You asked what I want to do, right, Dad? And I know for sure that this is exactly what I want to do! Having a dream makes it all the more exciting, and I will always be thankful to you for being mine."

Teio paused for a bit, then tugged her father's hand. She smiled.

"Dad, I don't know what made you ask… but I just want you to know that I feel happiest on the turf. I love racing! I wonder if you felt the same thing when you were still racing years ago. Now that I know how it feels, that makes everything make sense. Of course, you will be that radiant. You were doing what you love."

She bashfully grinned.

"Or maybe I just made things up. Hahaha…"

"No. No, you were absolutely right."

Rudolf smiled. She firmly squeezed back Teio's hand.

“We may have organized the reunion for Tsuyoshi, but I think both of us need the race just as much as Tsuyoshi and the kids do. To remember that passion again.”

"I was doing what I love. I am glad you feel the same."
"Maybe it's because I am your colt?"
"What is?"
"You know, loving racing."

“Remember when you were their age. It’s their youth, Rudolf.”

Teio laughed.

"But well, I guess who cares, right, Dad? I love it, so I do. And I am happy you always support me in it."

“Were you not like that as well? Weren’t we? Let’s not be the person we did not want to have when we were their age. Let’s be the person we wish we had during then.”

"… Do you think I do enough, Teio?"
"Enough? In what?"
"In supporting you. Am I a good father?"
"What are you saying, Dad?"

Teio laughed. She released her hand from her father's grip and then jumped to hug her father firmly, strongly.

"For me, you are the best Papa in the world!"

"Sorry, Brian. I think you are right. Let's do the 1600m race first."

Symboli Rudolf stepped beside Brian, cutting off Brian's announcement about the next race. Everyone's eyes immediately moved to look at her, and the atmosphere changed. Rudolf's ears were perked upright, and her tail swished confidently behind her. The way she talked told everyone that her words were final.

The rather lackluster air among the adults immediately shifted, and everyone knew that the real race would soon begin.

Brian took a glance at her friend and scoffed.

"Selfish."
"My apologies."
"No, don't." The black-haired stallion stepped down from the announcement stage. "Welcome back, President."

Rudolf nodded at Brian's remark but said nothing. She could see her wife's gentle smile and apologetically smiled back.

"Pardon me for being selfish. But please allow me to… trace back my personal nostalgic lane, starting from 1600m. Just like the Saudi Arabia JC. We will then have the 2000m, Satsuki Sho. I hope all of you would not mind."

"For a better race, why not?" Katsuragi Ace hollered back. She grinned. "Let's punch you back to that time, Rudolf!"

"I won't miss an opportunity to punch you, definitely." Sirius sneered.

"Punching Rudolf? That sounds fun." Mr. CB's tail swish.

Rudolf laughed.

"Let us all assume, in good measure, that all of you meant that figuratively. Now, then! Let's recap everything and get this race going!"

"And… and Daddy said, I can dream for the Triple Crown too, and Daddy will believe in me!"

The colt looked radiant and energetic. She was so full of life. It was unbelievable that a few minutes ago, she had just fainted. Air Groove left her colt to Cesario to take care of the event, as well as allowing Cesario time to have some private talk with Tsuyoshi, just as Cesario requested. Cesario introduced herself as "Uncle Kris's fiancée" and Tsuyoshi immediately smiled so bright and started to talk a lot about the kind Uncle Kris. Even now, merely listening to her talk made Cesario realize just how much energy this colt wanted to unleash, yet was unable to.

She wanted to tell her so much. To express so much. Yet her breath failed her. She wanted to gesture, to show the magnitude of her feelings, yet her power failed her. Cesario could only imagine how frustrating it was to feel like your body was unable to keep up with you, and probably how everyone around you tried to keep you from attempting to.

However, contrary to the image she got from Rudolf's melancholy, every single thing that the colt said about her father and mother had been extremely supportive. If Rudolf harbored so much fear, she never let it show, and she absolutely never let her colt hear anything about it.

"… But I keep troubling my family," Tsuyoshi said quietly. Her voice dropped lower. "It makes me wonder if it is okay for me to keep trying. Teio-chan would stop running in the park and would play in the sandbox with me. Aruve-neechan would stay back and always hover around me. Mom and Dad would stop their activity to look after me. They always had to look out for me… and they looked the most worried whenever I ran."

That's right. No matter how well they tried to mask it, Tsuyoshi would still see it. Given how close they were, Tsuyoshi probably would not say it to her family as well.

"… I wonder if it is okay for me to keep racing, if all I see from them is worry?"
"Then shall we change it into expectations?"

Tsuyoshi's ears perked up. She looked at Cesario, questioning.

"You see, Tsu-chan, I am actually a racing instructor. I have a racing school."

Although Cesario was unfamiliar with how well Tsuyoshi could read kanji, she still took out her business card from her pocket and showed it to Tsuyoshi. Gently, she told Tsuyoshi that the kanji at the back of her name meant "Instructor" and pointed at the name of her training school. She even took out the instructor badge she had stored in her pocket. Tsuyoshi's eyes lit up the moment she saw the badge. She probably did not really understand, but at least it looked cool and grand. Tsuyoshi probably had seen other badges and knew they all meant something grand. After all, her parents should have had them as well, albeit for other qualifications.

"I saw you raced. You did extremely well. I think you have potential."
"Really? You really think I do?"
"Yes. I really do. I believe you can grow even stronger from now."

Tsuyoshi held Cesario's small badge, staring at it for quite a long time. She seemed to ponder. Slowly, she looked back at Cesario.

"… Can I really dream?"
"Of course."
"Daddy did not say it just because she wants me to feel happy?"
"What do you mean?"
"At times, I wonder if Mommy and Daddy just say things to make me feel better."
"Do you not believe them?"

Tsuyoshi paused. She looked at Cesario's badge again.

"… I have never given them anything but worry, Aunt Cesario."

Cesario would like to say that it was not true, and knew for sure that Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove would tell her that she was right. However, to Tsuyoshi, now it would mean nothing but empty promises. It would be too hard to convince the colt with nothing to back her words up. Cesario tried to find the right words, as certainly at the moment Tsuyoshi had ample amount of proofs behind her own impression.

"I believe you have given them a lot of happiness, in ways that you can't understand. But I think, other than that, isn't it better to think of what you can give from now on instead? Like dreams."
"Dreams?"
"Yes. Dreams. You just asked me if it is okay for you to dream. Doesn't that mean you have one?"

Tsuyoshi paused. She seemed to struggle to say it. She probably felt like she did not deserve to dream.

"… I want to be like Daddy."
"As in?"
"The Triple Crown. I want to try."
"Sure."
"… May I?"
"Tsu-chan, the thing about dreams is that you must believe in it yourself. You said you have told your Dad about it, what did she say?"
"She said… people say a lot of things, and you can’t do anything about it. So you must be the one who believes in your dream the most.”
"And she is exactly right. Do you not believe in your dad? Or could it be… you do not believe in yourself, that you can't believe in your Dad, who believes in you?"

Tsuyoshi's ears perked up. She looked at Cesario. The magenta eyes that mirrored the President sparked.

"Daddy really believes in me?"
"Of course. Else, she wouldn't say that she does, right?"
"Then Mommy does too."
"Yes, I believe so."
"So... the problem is... is me?"
"Do you believe in yourself?"

Tsuyoshi pursed her lips. She looked at Cesario's badge again. The silence was an answer.

Cesario smiled and continued.

"Do you love racing?"
"I do!"
"Do you want to race?"
"Yes, I want to!"
"What did your parents say about that?"
"They said…" The spark in Tsuyoshi's eyes got stronger. "They said that I must make an effort to that, that I can as long as I don't give up."
"Do you believe in them now?"
"I do! But… But I still can't believe in myself."
"Then let's make the effort so that you do."
"Un!"

Tsuyoshi beamed. Cesario could feel her heart melt, and she unconsciously curled her hands into fists to contain her emotions. The colt stared at her badge again for a long while and looked back at her.

"Will you… Do you… Do you think you can help me?"
"I absolutely want to. I'm just about to offer you, if you would allow me to."
"Really?"
"Absolutely. Do you want me to be your trainer?"
"Yes!"

Tsuyoshi smiled then bashfully grinned.

"I want… I want to give my family something other than worry when they see me race! I want to give people courage, like Daddy did!"

Cesario smiled. She gently patted Tsuyoshi's head.

"And I believe that you can. I will talk to your parents after this. Is that okay?"
"Please! Thank you very much!"

Tsuyoshi was such a well-mannered, energetic colt.

In the distance, Cesario could hear the excited voices and laughter. Even without actually seeing it, Cesario could sense that the atmosphere on the other side of the venue had also shifted. She straightened up her back and looked outside.

The sky was blue, and the early summer sun was shining bright on them today.

"It seems the race is about to start. Can you stand? Do you want to watch them with me, Tsuyoshi?"
"Yes, please!"

Cesario smiled as she took the hand of the now energetic colt. There might be a lot of work to do from now on and a lot of materials to read, but the weight of Tsuyoshi's hand and the radiant energy she gave only strengthened Cesario's resolve.

Outside, Symboli Rudolf must have made her come back as well. It would be apt to let her colt watch her father run, once more, after so long. To remind them both of the run that brought courage and hope to people. More importantly, to remind the racers themselves of the courage and hope they had in them.

Chapter Text

“I am not saying I do not trust you, Sirius, I just simply think at this moment, this is the best course of action!”

Satake Mei’s voice made Rudolf stop on her track. It was time for people to start going home from the URA building. Rudolf herself was on her way home. She had resumed office after her parental leave. For days, she had been swamped by postponed work, but managed to cut back all the waves of duties. Now, she could finally go home relatively soon. The shout from the international office made her stop right near the staircase located between her wing and the international office wing, though, as it was extremely rare… but for some very personal reason, Rudolf found it was not unpredictable.

Especially when it was about the person in question.

“Sirius!”

“Fuck this.”

Sirius Symboli stormed out of the office, slamming the door shut. Rudolf half expected Satake Mei to appear, but it seemed the lady decided it was prudent to let Sirius go for now. Actually, that was the right course of action. When fuming, Sirius was less than agreeable.

Sirius was walking briskly, seemingly unaware of her surroundings, but she stopped the moment she realized Rudolf was standing by the stairs. They met eyes, and Rudolf immediately knew that she would have to text Air Groove that she would be late tonight.

A few meters from where Rudolf was standing, Sirius kicked the beach sand. Sunset colored the seawater orange. People had started to leave the beach as the early autumn wind brought a bit too much cold into the supposedly still hot summer air. Sirius did not seem to mind the strong coastal wind that blew strongly at this hour. She restlessly continued to pace around, kicking sand and empty seashells at her feet.

Rudolf had noticed Sirius's change for some time. Sirius was not one to miss report details, nor was she someone who'd purposely mistook dates. Unlike her outside appearance and her often brash personality, Sirius had always been the "good student" in class and at work. She was naturally an overachiever and a very attentive person. However, lately she had been unfocused, restless. Rudolf knew that Satake Mei had noticed her strange demeanor. Mei even talked to Rudolf a bit about it, to which Rudolf said she also had no idea. In truth, Rudolf had a bit of an idea, but she did not want to say it. She knew it was among the things Sirius wanted no one to even talk to her about. It was something the Symboli had been bothering her about, something that Sirius hated. So even if it was Satake Mei who asked, Rudolf felt like it was not her position to say anything.

If it was true that that was her problem, Rudolf knew she should never prod. In fact, Rudolf was probably exactly the person who should not say anything first.

Sirius had finally stopped pacing. Her shoulder heaved up and down in a combination of both exertion and suppressed emotions. Rudolf knew Sirius could be very emotional; it was among the things that Rudolf always looked up to Sirius. Sirius always tried to be true to herself. She cared so much, felt so much, that it made her reactive about the things she loved. Sirius never lied to herself and was always true to her heart. And now she was hurting because of it.

"... I... I have a child... on the way."

Sirius finally talked. Spoken through gritted teeth. Rudolf could hear them clearly, even with the wind and the rather raspy tone.

"It was... I didn't... we did not..."

The way the sentences did not complete themselves told Rudolf everything. They did not mean for that to happen. They were not expecting a child. Of course, they did not.

Rudolf’s assumption was right.

Sirius had been avoiding the topic of marriage for her whole adult years. Fuck with that, she said. To hell with this blood thing, she said. As a part of the Symboli main family, just like Rudolf, their family wished for them to continue the bloodline and to produce a scion for the family, preferably one that may be a candidate to become the patriarch of the noble house--just like how they currently are. Sirius had said numerous times that she would like none of those "duty" things. Rudolf knew the one most likely to become the next patriarch at the moment, after the current patriarch of the Symboli family, their grandfather, passed, would be Speed Symboli... then, probably, if Sirius did not want to, for sure it would be Rudolf. 

Rudolf knew Sirius had a lover. Always been, for a long time. But Sirius never married. Rudolf had a conjecture about why, judging from Sirius's personality and what Sirius had been through. Sirius never wanted to talk about it, though, until now. The reason was quite obvious.

"Look, I know I am stupid."

"I said nothing, Sirius."

No blame came from Rudolf. All blame was out of Sirius’s own mouth.

"I know we were careless. I know I'm not supposed—Or that we should not—But… Dammit!!"

Sirius turned around and kicked the sand again. She stomped on a dead plank, crushing it with her strong kick. The one who regretted, who blamed Sirius the most, was herself.

For a while, silence spanned between them, and Sirius turned to look at Rudolf, who stood motionless in her place. The amber eyes looked as if she were ready for a fight. Rudolf knew it was not against her, however, unlike usual.

Was it anguish? Was it frustration? Was it guilt? Regret? Rudolf could not tell. Perhaps Sirius herself could not tell what she was feeling. It would be difficult, obviously. Everything mixed into something unrecognizable.

"You're not going to ask who it is? The one I'm with?"

"You will tell me, if you must. If not, so be it."

Sirius gritted her teeth. Rudolf smiled as sympathetically as she could.

"Do what you need to, Sirius. I'll take everything."

Sirius closed the gap between them so fast. If Rudolf were not an umamusume, she would have even missed everything. Her cousin grabbed her jacket by the chest and harshly tugged her closer. With the sunset behind her, it was hard to see with Sirius nothing more but a silhouette. But even in the darkness, Rudolf could still see the glint in those amber eyes, the mix of emotions—a lot of anger, a lot of frustration, self-loathing, desperation.

Sirius's hand that grabbed Rudolf's jacket trembled terribly. 

"I am a father, Sirius."

Rudolf grabbed Sirius's hand on her jacket.

"I am with you."

Rudolf’s words did not ease Sirius’s trembling hand, but enough for her cousin to push her head on her shoulder.

Alcohol in large amounts did not ease anxiety; it amplified it. Sirius must have known that already. Yet despite that, they were sitting by a bench at the seawall with two cans open. Rudolf herself only had coffee. With Sirius looking less than sober, the responsibility of driving home would rest on her. Sirius loved her sports car, and she never let anyone drive it, usually. It would be the first time for Rudolf to drive it after a very long time. 

The sun had long gone. The only light they had was from the lighting pole nearby. Sirius had been pacing again for a while now, albeit in slower steps than she did during the dusk.

“How long have you known that I’m in a relationship?”

“I might be wrong, but… I always assume since the last of our Tracen years.”

“Heh.”

Sirius chuckled.

“At least you are wrong in that.”

“I see,” Rudolf drank her coffee. “Then how long have you known Air Groove and I were together?”

“What? You two? Weren’t you together since like, second senior division?”

“... At least you are wrong in that.”

Sirius scoffed at her answer.

“What? You were together even earlier than that?”
“No. We officially got together only shortly before graduation.”
“What? You’re kidding me, right? You two already acted like a couple! Seriously? What a loser.”
“Can you call me that? Then were you together way earlier than my prediction?”
“Nah. It’s the opposite.”
“I figured. You’re a loser yourself then, Sirius.”

“Hahaha, this time I guess I’ll admit I am.”

She looked down at her shoes and tapped them over the concrete.

“... And you are right. It’s her.”

“I see.”

“It’s not until I worked in URA that we’re officially together. She never really answered me during my time in Tracen. Not that I really considered her then.”

“She’s trying to be the adult, you mean.”

“Right. Always trying to be the good adult. Failed a lot, though, that puppy. Well, that’s among the reasons why it didn’t really work out. Until we met again.”

Sirius scoffed. At a glance, it was mockery, but deeper, Rudolf knew it was overflowing with love and respect.

“We met again in Paris, like two or three years after graduation, when she came with her new trainee for the L’Arc. Naturally, I helped out, and we reconnected… And well, it happened.”

Rudolf never let that unmistakable affection slip from her ears. For years, Sirius’s tone always changed when it came to that one person: Her Tracen trainer.

Although as they graduated, the topic of their former trainer in Tracen rarely ever came up, every moment it did, Rudolf knew Sirius deeply cherished the woman, and not in the way she loved a memory. The trainer really never became just a memory or a person of the past. She was always there in Sirius’s life, just as Rudolf assumed. There was a sense of calm and security that enveloped Sirius after her Twinkle Series, and that feeling persisted. It all just clicked as it should be.

Sirius’s reluctance on the topic of marriage also made sense. Her trainer, after all, is not an umamusume. Although it was not taboo for humans to marry umamusume, for some noble houses, it was a slight bit difficult. Especially in a racing noble house like Symboli. Or rather, it was only taboo in an old racing noble house like Symboli. In their circumstances, it was amplified by the fact that none of the young descendants expressed any interest in taking up the Symboli name, not even Rudolf. The noble house needed a patriarch, and the number of candidates was now dwindling.

Human and umamusume can have offspring, albeit with much lower probability. A human male could have offspring with both a mare and a stallion, and a human female and a stallion could. Unfortunately, due to chromosomal problems, stallion pairs and mare pairs could not have offspring in the same way human female pairs and human male pairs cannot.

“It was an accident, Rudolf.”

Sirius’s voice trembled bitterly.

“We… We did everything. Protection. And all.”

“I know.”

“It’s not even a drunk night, or anything. She would never let that happen.”

“And you would never as well.”

Sirius’s movement stopped. Her fists trembled.

She might have blamed herself, but Rudolf knew she cared very much, and Sirius would never hurt those she loved. Yet her choice of words exempted her from the excuse. She was opening the possibility that it might have been her fault, or probably half-wanted Rudolf to just blame her and not her partner.

For Rudolf, that is inconceivable. She knew her brother very well.

“The fact that it only happened now, after over ten years, is proof.”

Hard to think they had only done it once or twice in the long years of them being together. Sirius must have already lived with her as well, since Rudolf knew that Sirius rarely came home to her parents’ place near the Symboli compound.

“Accidents happen, Sirius. It just does. Neither of you is at fault.”

Sirius did not answer, nor did she turn around.

From the way Sirius worded her sentences, how it was not her trainer’s mishap that resulted in this, it was evident that Sirius braced herself to defend not herself, but her partner. To protect her partner from any blame, from any blemish to her name. They were responsible adults. They knew what would happen after sex, it was no brainer. They did like any couple who would like to be childfree did. Using protection and all. The percentage was small, but accidents may happen. Just like now. Yet there would still be blame. Sirius evidently did not want it to fall on her partner. Especially with the fact that her partner was in a more vulnerable position, considering their noble blood. And more than anything…

“You love her.”

“Fuck you. Don’t make me say it.”

“That was why I said it for you.”

Rudolf put her half-empty coffee down, watching the changes in how Sirius’s shoulders rise and fall.

“You really love her very much.”

A long, deep breath slowly escaped Sirius, along with the dissipating tense lines on her shoulder. The stallion clicked her tongue.

She almost sounded sad as she let her words drop.

“And I…” Her fists curled and trembled again. “And I am… actually excited… with the idea of having a child with her.”

Sirius shook her fists dejectedly.

“I am such a self-centered bastard!”

Be it an “accident” as it may, feelings were something no one could control. Moreover, her partner was the one more burdened with any decision that came out of this. To feel happiness in this circumstance would naturally feel like sacrificing her partner's well-being. It ripped the kind Sirius inside out. 

“Does she not want the baby?”

“We won’t be keeping the baby if she doesn’t want to. We’ve talked about this.”

“Then…”

“I just…” Sirius trailed off again. It was really unusual to see her being unsure. Sirius was always eloquent and steadfast. “She shouldered basically everything. This is obvious, but this is her first pregnancy. I just… I…”

“It’s okay to be happy, Sirius.”

Sirius’s movement stopped again. Rudolf repeated, steadier this time.

“She wants this as well, doesn’t she? You made the decisions together. You are not imposing anything on her. She, too, has agency, I trust?”

“...”

“I know you, Sirius. You wouldn’t love her if she were someone who doesn’t make her own decisions. You wouldn’t even respect her. Yet you do. You love and respect her.”

“....”

“If she decides by herself to have the baby, is it not right to accept her decision as well?” Rudolf watched as Sirius’s shoulder tensed from her words. “Is it not normal to find that you have the same interests as your partner, despite it all? In my opinion, it is perfectly normal to feel happy to have a child with someone you love, even with the circumstances.”

Sirius did not answer again, but the way the power left her told Rudolf everything. Now Rudolf understood. Her guilt had barred her from properly exploring the complicated emotions that came with having a child.

Sirius had it all, logically. She understood everything. She did not even need suggestions. Every decision was already discussed, laid out, and done. She was simply overwhelmed by emotions, and Rudolf understood that very much. The regret of past deeds, the self-loathing for the ‘failure’, the guilt of seeing responsibility rest almost disproportionately on the shoulders of her beloved, yet at the same time relief and happiness for the decision of keeping the baby. For once, Sirius only wanted company. She only wanted to untangle it all and felt her emotions one by one. She just wanted to make sure that it was okay to feel happy, that it was not selfishness to bask in the happiness that came with the realization that she would soon have a child.

Rudolf saw light in her cousin’s eyes, one that she had never seen before.

“At first, there was the nausea, then the lightheadedness. She could not even stomach a simple meal. Yet she tried really hard.” Sirius started to talk, slowly, with her eyes seeing something more than the concrete under her feet. “They prescribed a lot of things, said the attachment was weak. She had to take leave for a while from training her trainee. We talked it out with the kid, and we managed to somehow work it out. The girl is a good girl. It was her senior year, too. I guess that puppy has a knack for landing herself a good umamusume.”

Sirius paused. She looked up at the sky.

“... It wasn’t all smooth, but we had passed the first trimester well. She has improved lately.”

“I see. That’s wonderful progress.”

“She ate a lot now. She’s always a glutton, though, but she ate a lot, even for her.”

“That happens, indeed.”

“We had an ultrasound the other day. It’s… It’s a baby girl. A human baby girl.”

For the Symboli house, that was the least desirable outcome. That thought inevitably popped up in Rudolf’s head, but she voiced none of it.

Sirius paused. She took a deep breath. Her next words were spoken low and slow.

“Rudolf, I am going to be a father.”

The disbelief and wonder in Sirius’s words made Rudolf smile. There was not a hint of disappointment or sadness in that voice, only love. Rudolf remembered that sensation as clear as day. What used to be a mere concept has now become a reality. The scope of it could overwhelm anyone. The Symboli house’s circumstances evidently were not present at all, not even in the corner of Sirius’s mind, as she said her words. It did not matter, not to Sirius at that moment. Sirius took time to let the words sink in. 

Silence came to them again. The wind suddenly sounds so loud.

Rudolf took a sip of her now-cold coffee. The lights of some ships blinked in the distance. Nothing more but specks of light in the black night sea.

“... Marriage will protect her, right?”

“At least, if something happens to you.”

Rudolf emptied her coffee and placed the can beside her.

“I know you do not marry her because you wanted to protect her from our house. Marrying her will expose her to our family’s politics. It was the right course of action then, but now, with your daughter in the picture…”

“... Marrying her will protect her and my daughter better.”

“Yes. Relatively, at least. Crude as this sounds, but marriage will undisputably put her and your daughter in a stronger seat in law, especially for inheritance and any other possible family disputes.”

Rudolf's firm answer seemed to strengthen Sirius’s resolve. She nodded.

“... I’ll ask if she also wants the idea.”

“It is a contract. It won't be the first for both of you, though? She’s your trainer.”

“Pfft. You assume I gave her the choice when I chose her as trainer?”

“... I am just glad I know of this now instead of then. I do believe you won’t do that now, will you?”

Sirius laughed. She shrugged.

“Well, she is not the person she was then. I am not a jerk who doesn’t know the weight of a marriage. After all, I saw its weight through someone.”

They finally met eyes again. Determination shone in those amber eyes. The hardheadedness and the strong will that made her brother a legend of her own.

“The big family will fuss, Sirius. But that won’t be a problem now, will it?”

“No.” Sirius clicked her tongue. “Not anymore. Let them try. I know my parents will be on my side. They’ve been waiting for a grandchild for fucking ages.”

Rudolf chuckled.

“That sounds more like you.” Rudolf smiled. “Air Groove and I have your back. Need it or not, I am offering our cooperation.”

“Don’t expect me to thank you.”

“I don’t,” Rudolf laughed. “I wouldn’t even dream of it.”

A smile came back to Sirius’s eyes.

They were rarely on the same boat. But for this time, Sirius shook Rudolf’s extended hand and firmly returned her strong grip.

“Why are you still awake, Pup? You should have slept. I messaged you earlier, didn’t I?”

“I just don’t feel like sleeping yet.”

“Hmmm? What is this? The poor puppy can’t sleep alone now?”

“What if I say yes?”

“... Wag your tail, I might let you get the honor.”

“Oh, shush, you know I always wag my tail for you. Just get on the bed, Sirius. It’s late. Do I have to bark too?”

“Heh. You can say that now. … You’ve really changed, Puppy.”

“Sirius?”

The bed creaked when Sirius finally sat on the side of the bed. Their hands met, and their fingers intertwined.

“What’s wrong?”

“... I just talked to Rudolf. Told her shit like, I got an idea, and I need only your final answer. But… Nah, it was never my idea. We have talked about this a long time ago. And I bring it up again like this, as if I wasn’t the one who put this talk under the rug back then. I have never changed, Puppy. Unlike you, I’m still running away from problems that I don’t want to face.”

“...”

“... You have never asked me again. We never brought this up again. I know that is your grace, Puppy. I am a jerk, but I know that much.”

“... Sirius…”
“I apologize for taking this long, for relying way too much on your patience and understanding. Even now, I may not have it in me to simply ask you.”

It was hard to look into each other’s eyes with their forehead joined together. Sirius cupped the face of her lover, feeling her partner putting her hand on top of Sirius’s on her cheek.

“Marry me, Pup. Allow me to protect you.”

Chapter Text

“Mom, I am done putting the lemons on the fish.”

Teio looked up to find her mother sitting on the sofa, reading. She had just finished putting lemons on the fish they would grill for dinner. Teio asked to do the grilled fish herself, and her mother let her, especially since she still had Duramente to watch over as well. Duramente was playing on the floor of the living room with Tsuyoshi, smashing rubber balls together while cackling. Aruve was also reading nearby.

“Very good. Now just wrap the foil and put them inside the oven. Have you warmed up the oven?”

“I did. Then set it just like the note, right?”

“Yes. And then you wait.”

“Ok!”

“Be careful.”

“Of course!”

Air Groove smiled as she watched Teio do everything. This would be the last Christmas Eve that Teio spent in the house before she would go to Tracen next year. Teio somehow insisted that she would take care of the main dish for dinner alone. Air Groove had listed and prepared everything for Teio to follow, and so far, she had been doing wonderfully. They were now just waiting for Rudolf to come home from work. 

“Dura, here, here! That one goes here!”

Tsuyoshi tried to convince Dura to put the arc block into the arc hole. So far, all Dura did was put the block in her mouth. Fortunately, the block was way too big for her to actually bite at all. As Tsuyoshi panicked and tried to convince Dura to stop, the baby noticed something and then dropped the block. She crawled towards the sofa, grabbed onto her sister Aruve’s warm pants, then pulled herself up. Somehow, the baby managed to crawl onto the sofa. She plopped herself onto the sofa, then cackled as she tried to grab Aruve’s moving tail. Aruve only glanced and then continued reading.

“Duraaaaaa…” Tsuyoshi’s shoulder slumped. “Dura, I have toys!”

Dura didn’t even glance. Because Aruve’s tail flicked and Dura started to laugh.

“Only Dura can laugh that much around Aruve.” Teio came back from the kitchen to join the others. Aruve shot a glare at her sister.

“Excuse me?”

“See? You’re like that, don’t ask me why I said so.”

“I’d appreciate it if you do not imply something unpleasant.”

“Oooo scaaaaary~~”

But thanks to being annoyed at Teio, Aruve’s tail flicked irritatingly, and Dura cackled louder. Air Groove could not hold back her smile. Bubble and Cesario assigned Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as off days for their training schools, so all foals were at home. It had been several months since Tsuyoshi had started her training at Cesario’s school. Thus, since Rudolf had also begun her office work again, these past few months, Air Groove had been left with only Duramente most of the time.

Without the voices of her foals arguing with each other, the house felt so empty. Days like this, when they were at home longer, filled Air Groove with a lot of warmth. Although they often argued with each other, forgot to put their toys in the right place, or bothered her for some random things that she could not finish her chores, she still found herself preferring to have her foals all accounted for at home.

Teio sat beside Air Groove with a very accomplished face. Her eyes were brimming with pride when she looked at her mother, waiting for praise.

“How was my cooking, Mom?”

“Hmm, I think I will withhold judgment until after I taste it.”

“Eh, but I did everything perfectly!”

“Then it should come out perfect. We will see.”

“Tch. You can give me an early praise, at least!”

“And you can learn patience. Just a bit more until it is done.”

Teio puffed her cheeks. Air Groove laughed and patted her eldest.

“You did it all alone. It is commendable, and I am proud of you.”

“There you go!” Teio grinned. “I know I deserve one.”

“Okay, okay….”

“Mooom, Dura ignored me,” Tsuyoshi gloomily went to Air Groove, hugging her mother by the waist and slumping on the couch. “She used to laugh at my peek-a-boo!”

“She still did, Tsuyoshi. Didn’t she play with you for the past hour?”

“But she always picks Nee-san, Mom.”

“Ummmm well, I guess she has favorites.”

“But I love her too!”

“I am very sure Dura loves you too, Tsuyoshi.”

Before she got into the training school, Tsuyoshi was the one Dura spent the most time with among the siblings. Tsuyoshi loved entertaining Dura as well, since Dura was an attentive baby. However, lately, Dura evidently had developed some kind of favoritism, and it was not towards Tsuyoshi.

Aruve seemed to pretend not to hear Tsuyoshi’s groan… but her ears perked upright. She must be quite proud of it. Dura caught the tip of her tail and let her chubby hand get entangled by Aruve’s bay colored tail. She started to bring it to her mouth. The usually very solitary Aruve did nothing to stop the baby.

“I am home!”

“Dad!”

“Daddy’s home!”

Teio and Tsuyoshi immediately jumped up and rushed to the front door. Aruve only silently watched them go then looked back to her book again. Teio and Tsuyoshi were always very fond of their father. Aruve used to be quite clingy when she was small, but she slowly grew out of it (much to Rudolf’s dismay). Besides, at the moment, Duramente was basically monopolizing her tail. Baby Duramente stopped munching on her tail hair, however, and sat up straight, seemingly recognizing her father’s voice.

The sound of paper bags and excited chatters of the foals from the front door told Air Groove everything. Rudolf must have splurged their bank account for their foals once again.

“I am home, love! And I brought a cake!”

Rudolf appeared radiant when she went into the living room, raising a big bag with a well-known cake patisserie written on it. The colts were still by the front door, and from the sound of it, Rudolf brought them something that made them chatter so excitedly there. Air Groove stood up to take the cake from Rudolf’s hand, and when she was just about to give her husband a welcome home kiss, which Rudolf also anticipated, a voice made them freeze.

“Baba!”

Every ear perked up, and every eye in the room quickly locked on the only baby foal, her older sister’s tail hair all over her slobbery, wet face.

Duramente’s eyes were bright and radiant, and she raised both of her arms towards Rudolf.

“Baba!”

“OH GODDESSES, SHE SAID PAPA!”

Rudolf instantly dropped everything she had in her hands and scooped Duramente into her arms. Duramente laughed with the motion, slapping her wet hands on Rudolf’s face as her father kissed her, and she repeated very brightly, “Baba!!”

“Yes, Sweetling, yes! Papa’s home!”

“Rudolf, you haven’t washed your hands nor gargle.”

“Oh, dear me! Oh no!”

Rudolf quickly realized the error and moved to give Dura to Air Groove, but the moment Air Groove took the baby off her father, Dura’s face scrunched and a sob started to crack.

“Babaaaa!”

“Nooo! You can’t do this to me, Sweetling, my heart!”

“No, no, Rudolf! Just hurry, finish your gargle first!”

“Gggrgglllglll!”

“Rudolf.”

Her husband hurriedly finished everything and then rushed over to take the crying Duramente off her wife’s arms. Dura extended her hands towards her father, taking locks of her father’s bay-colored mane into her chubby hands, then continued slapping her father’s face while repeating, “Baba!”

Aruve watched it all happen in silence. Her tail flicked, wet from Duramente’s slobber. She glanced at her mother, who smiled rather exasperatedly.

“Is that her first word?”

“Technically, yes.”

Air Groove laughed a little. Rudolf was so happy she could see a bit of tears already threatening to spill from her husband.

“You know, all of your first words were always ‘Mama’. So this is a first for us for it to be something else.”

Rudolf raised Duramente high, and the baby colt laughed loudly.

Their Christmas Day was already very promising.

“How is it, Dad?”

“Mm! It tastes wonderful, Teio! I love this!”

“Hehehehehe… I *am* a genius! See, Mom? Right? What do you think?”

“It tastes great. You did very well.”

“Hehehehe!”

Teio beamed happily as both of her parents complimented her grilled snapper. Even the usually harsh critic, Aruve, only silently ate her portion. Tsuyoshi, meanwhile, went “Mommy! Mommy! I wanna try making something on my own too!”

“Sure. Maybe we should let you handle more cooking while helping me.”

“I want to make my own smoothie!”

“Let’s start tomorrow, then.”

“Un!”

“Mom, Dura is trying to throw her bowl again.”

Aruve caught the bowl that Dura already raised above her head. The baby somehow let her grip loose and watched as Aruve put her bowl on the desk again. She took a watermelon slice, squashed the watermelon onto her meal desk, then started slapping it. One hand took another watermelon, which she started munching.

“Has Sirius called you, love? She informed me she would not be visiting this year.”

“I received her message, but I already expected. Her daughter is still very small.”

“Yes. I believe they’d want a private Christmas.”

Despite her words feigning nonchalance, Sirius always visited Rudolf’s family every year around Christmas or New Year without fail. Sirius’s wife had given birth to a healthy baby daughter recently. Her marriage and her daughter’s birth had been quite quiet, but the office rejoiced with the happy news. The international department even prepared a surprise party for Sirius, who seemed quite bashful about it. Rudolf and her family had visited the small family. Air Groove had to elbow Rudolf every so often to stop her from teasing the obviously very touched Sirius to oblivion. Sirius had been teasing Rudolf for being a softie at every birth of her foal. Sirius certainly was not far from that herself.

“No, Aruve-Nee! This board is different! It’s the one I told you three days ago!”

“... The werewolf one?”

“Yes! It will be fun, I am sure!”

“Or maybe you are just scared of losing, Aruve?”

“Are you not the one losing three times in a row in the last card game, Neesan?”

“But that is against Mom! I only lost once against you, okay?”

“Still lose.”

The lively chatter continued in the dining room, accompanied by the sound of cutlery and the occasional smashing of the kiddie table courtesy of Dura. Teio took a bite of the Fuji apple cake that her father brought back. Just the right amount of sweetness with a gentle hint of sourness in the still-fresh Fuji apple topping. At the center, her mother and father were talking to each other, and one of their hands had their fingers intertwined loosely. Duramente was busy trying to bite into a banana, while her bib was already red with splotches of watermelon. Aruve and Tsuyoshi still discussed the board game her father just bought for them. Aruve did not really look at Tsuyoshi while the third foal yapped, but her ears were properly at Tsuyoshi’s direction, and despite her nonchalant expression, Aruve actually still responded to Tsuyoshi's exclamations.

Dinner was always lively in this family.

Tracen Academy’s dormitory seemed to have a kitchen… but dinner and breakfast were not scheduled. Lunch was easily by the cafeteria. However, how much would that differ from a restaurant?

Her parents said that she would not be so lonely in Tracen. She would have a lot of friends, and maybe too many things to keep her occupied to feel too mellow. But Teio could not help but suddenly realize that she had been raised in this house for all her life. With her Papa and Mama, and her siblings. And that would soon change, at least for some time, this spring.

Another bite into the cake. It was delicious.

“Hey.”

Teio looked up from the manga she was reading while lying on her belly by her bed. Aruve very rarely came to her room. Teio propped herself up, wondering why the filly came.

“What’s up?”

“For you.”

Aruve came just a bit inside, then half-threw a pack of Pocky onto Teio’s desk.

“Good night.”

“Wait a minute, what’s this for?”

Aruve was not the type to just give something out of the blue. Aruve glanced at her, furrowing her eyebrows as if her older sister had just asked something ridiculous.

“It’s Christmas.”

“What?”

“That’s from me.”

Teio blinked.

“Why? You never gave me a present before.”

“Just feel like it.”

Not elaborating, Aruve just walked towards the door. Just as she was opening the sliding door, the filly stopped. Her face looked like she was struggling with something in her mind. 

The filly sighed.

“We don’t know if you will spend Christmas with us again next year.”

With that dropped, Aruve finally went out of the room. Teio could not suppress her snicker.

“What’s that? You can actually be kinda cute.” Teio chuckled as she got up and took the Pocky from her desk.

“Baba! Baba!”

“Whooo! Up, up, you go!”

“Baba!”

Dura laughed whenever her father gently raised her up to the ceiling. She seemed to really enjoy it. Rudolf showered her youngest with kisses after, and the baby put both of her hands on her father’s face. Sitting by the bedside, Air Groove smiled watching them both. As if she had had enough, though, Dura turned towards her mother and stretched her arms to her this time.

“Mamma!”

“Oof, looks like she has enough of me.”

“I bet she is just hungry. It’s about time for her to sleep, too.”

Air Groove received Dura into her arms. Sure enough, Dura started tugging at her shirt, her bright violet eyes looking eager. Rudolf sat beside her by the bed. As Dura started breastfeeding, Air Groove slowly rested her body on her husband’s.

“Tomorrow’s Christmas. You will be coming home earlier, right?”

“I will try. I believe I can. I have to be there when they open their presents, of course.”

Rudolf circled an arm around her wife, resting a hand on her lover’s waist. She sighed deeply.

“The last Christmas before Teio is off to Tracen…”

“You sound really gloomy.”

“How could I not? Our colt has grown so big… This is too fast, love.”

“Everything is too fast for you.”

“Is it not for you, too?”
“It is, I just pretend like it isn’t.”

Rudolf chuckled. They shared a kiss, a gentle brush of their lips.

“... I will miss Teio.”

“Of course. I believe Teio will miss you, too. You’re her favorite.”

“She used to be so small.”

“She still is, though.”

“Don’t let her hear that, love. She’s so annoyed Arubu is taller than her already.”

And Arubu enjoyed making sure that Teio knew and remembered that fact.

“Do you think she will love Tracen, Rudolf?”
“I am quite positive about it.”

“She used to be so clingy to you. But you won’t be there.”

“She loves racing. That alone is enough.”

Rudolf kissed her wife’s forehead and watched as Duramente, latched onto her mother’s breast, started to look sleepy with the passing of time.

“... I believe she would become a legend of her own and not a shadow of our name. But even if she doesn’t become one, that is fine too. As long as she is happy with her life.”

Air Groove searched into her husband’s eyes and smiled when she saw the firmness they showed. She rested her head on her husband’s shoulder again.

“I am sure Teio would be the first one to phone us and say she is homesick.”

“And she would be very miserable about it. She would pretend that is not the case for the longest time.”
“Oh, she will. She will. Arubu will be out to get her if she knew.”

“I have a feeling that she would tell you, love. She might adore me, but she always goes to you when she wants affection.”

“Let’s see if that is true.”

“Hahaha, yeah. Let’s. I am quite confident, though. I know my colt.”

Rudolf’s eyes blazed fondly.

“Let’s make tomorrow the best Christmas for her, so much so that she would call to say she misses us in her first week at Tracen.”

Air Groove would like to say that that was probably counterproductive, but she withheld her comment. After all, she, too, wanted to smother her eldest and knew that the one who would probably miss Teio first was both of them.

"Teio-chan, can I come in?"

"Sure, Tsuru-chan, what's up?"

The door opened again just as Teio was opening her new Pocky and about to continue reading on her bed. This time, it was Tsuyoshi. She had an album in her arms and Teio immediately knew what it was.

"Dad's album!"

"Yeah! I remembered something I heard from Sakai-Sensei at school. I want to discuss it with you!"

"Here, here! On the bed! Let me hear it!"

Teio immediately patted the space beside her. Tsuyoshi crawled into the bed with her. Covered by Teio's futon, shoulder touching, they spread their parents' old album on their lap. It was a photo album of when their father was still an active racer. Just when Tsuyoshi was about to start, Teio offered her the Pocky in her hand.

"When did you have Pocky, Teio-chan?"

"Aruve gave me."

"Mom will be mad if she finds out we eat on the bed."

"It's fine, we can just brush out teeth again later. Here, have one. Or more. It's big anyway."

Tsuyoshi hesitated a little, but finally took one. She grinned at her older sister.

"But you'd better come with me when we go brush our teeth. I don't like the dark."

"Don't worry about it! I will hold your hand. We'll be fine! Okay, now, what is it about?"

"Here, this one! Before Derby, I heard that Dad actually..."

In the end, they fell asleep together, side by side in each other's arms with the album right beside them... as well as the incriminating evidence of an empty Pocky wrapper.

They were really lucky it was Christmas.

Chapter Text

Grey.

Lying on her back on top of the forest floor, Brian could see the grey sky peeking from between the leaves. Soon enough, the sun's light would be gone. Small, gentle drift of snowflakes falling from between the canopy of the evergreen pine trees. They fell on her. Some immediately melted away, while some remained.

Everything was still. 

They said the gods would enshrine themselves on the tips of pine trees. That is why they cut the branches of pine trees off the top before the New Year and displayed them on each side of their door. Because the New Year is special. It was the time when the God, Toshigami-sama, came to every house. So everyone cut the pine trees and displayed them as a beacon. To welcome the god, Toshigami-sama, they said. So Toshigami-sama will come and grant them one year of their lives. Brian learned that from her parents, and so she taught it all to her foals as well. 

They also went to bring the pine branches together this year. They also took some bamboo and made the New Year decoration kadomatsu together. Theirs were not as grand as those displayed in front of big enterprises and wealthy family homes, but they made them themselves. They spent the New Year Eve eating the end-of-year soba, then eating mochi soup the next day. Ama-san was so good at cooking that, despite none of those being her culture, Ama-san could make flawless Japanese meals and even replicate the taste from Brian’s mother Pacificus. From the moment Brian brought Ama-san home that one day, or even way before that day, Ama-san was part of the family, a daughter who chose their family. 

The person who soothed Brian’s thirst and hunger emotionally, physically. 

Brian thought her thirst would never be satisfied, ever, but she was wrong. It was not the first time Ama-san proved her wrong. And she always did it in a way only both of them understood. Brian wondered, however, if there would be another chance for Ama-san to prove Brian wrong. Brian did not dislike it. Every time, it only made Brian fall even deeper in love with her wife.

Only now does Brian understand enough for her to make them into words. It was probably way too late, however. Brian knew that she probably could not go home.

The weight of the dead black bear that attacked them slowly but surely pressed on her stomach and lower body. She had no strength left to move, let alone lift it away. Brian knew she was injured, terribly, yet she could not know the real extent of her injury. It did not matter then. It was not as if she could move at all.

Wet dog tongue licked Brian’s face, brushing away the blood that smeared Brian’s face. Brian could not focus her eyes to tell which of her four dogs licked her. From her fuzzy memory, she remembered that one of her Akita dogs, Chomp, had taken a blow to his side. The others were probably injured as well, but at least this one was strong enough to lick her and whimper.

From the black fur, Brian now knew it was Silk, her Labrador.

“... Good Boy, Silk.”

The dog whimpered, nipping Brian’s shoulder, then continued to push his wet, warm nose on Brian’s neck. Another one of her dogs came shuffling beside her. Two were okay, at least. Brian tried to move her right hand… which was surprisingly still usable. Her left, which she used to shield herself from the bear, was surely completely out of commission. Using the last of her strength, Brian grabbed Silk’s dog collar to give him a command.

They came out no more than a whisper, but hopefully Silk would understand.

“Ama-san. Find Ama-san.”

Silk barked, protested.

“No, Boy. Leave us. Go home. Home.”

The dog whimpered, but finally Brian could feel Silk drawing his body away. Good Boy, Silk. Yes. Home. Go home.

Brian let her hand drop to the snow. Silk barked twice, and then Brian could hear him running. The other one followed after Silk. Brian could not see which one it was, but that was fine. Two of her dogs were alive. They were going home. That was more than enough.

Brian could feel another living being near her. It snuggled up to her and rested its head on her shoulder. From the fur by the corner of her eyes, Brian knew it was Chomp. The dog’s body heat warmed her, and Brian could feel a chuckle in her chest. Chomp’s condition surely was no better than hers. She saw the blow herself. It was a miracle Chomp could even go to her at all.

Maybe that was simply what living beings did when they felt their life slipping through their fingertips.

Brian used to love solitude. However, now, she had to admit that a presence could feel reassuring. Chomp, too, was breathing heavier. Breathing somehow turned into a conscious effort, a labor they probably would soon be too tired to continue. At least they were not alone in this labor.

“Mommy, I have finished arranging the fish at the hearth.”

“Thank you, Blaze, honey. Can you watch over the fire with Amacchi? Ask Amacchi to teach you how to keep it going.”

“Yes, Mommy.”

Last Blaze walked back to the irori, the hearth, in the other room. They would have salt-grilled fish and some nabe for tonight. Nabe is simple and delicious. Basically, you can just plunge anything, and it would taste great. Thus, Hishiama always ended up making nabe whenever she was not sure what Brian would bring home from her hunting. Brian probably would come back with a boar tonight. After all, it was what Brian had been tracking for the past few days, due to reports from the farmers around.

Hishiama went back to the hearth room, bringing the vegetables she had finished cleaning. Amazi, the filly of the twins, was feeding some wood into the hearth, Blaze beside her. Amazi’s nickname, Amacchi, was coined when young Blaze failed to call her and could only muster Amacchi. The whole family found that to be cute (much to Amazi’s chagrin). Amazi seemed to turn fond of the nickname, however, but Hishiama knew her filly would never admit to that.

While Blaze looked like a mini version of Brian with her bright golden eyes, Amazi was much closer to Hishiama with her ruby eyes. Amazi cut her hair short, saying to differentiate herself from Osumi Kaizen, her colt twin. She did not need to worry so much since Kai-kun’s eyes were different from hers, but Amazi did it anyway. She could have said she wanted short hair. Amazi was always quite the difficult one.

The sliding door slid open, and Osumi Kaizen, the colt of the twins, came in with her arm full of firewood. She was sitting on the wooden terrace outside the room, seemingly too lazy to take off her boots to get in. Brian and Hishiama’s family home had a spacious clay floor entrance room before it connected to the main house, a relic of the old clay hearth kitchen. Kai-kun just sat at the edge of the wooden terrace, opened the sliding door wider, and slid in the firewood one by one through the gap.

“More incoming!" She said with a smile.

“Where is Andes?”

“Still out there chopping. Do you want me to tell her to come in, Mom?”

“Yes. These will last the night, even for your father’s midnight snack.”

“Okay!”

Kai-kun slid the sliding door closed and went outside again. Brian loved to spend time by the hearth at night, just watching the fire while grilling some of her game meat with some sake as company. At first, Hishiama accompanied her just to make sure she did not drink or eat too much, but eventually that evolved into their own comfort hour. Only at night, after their children were asleep, did they have time for themselves. Even just sitting there together was enough for both of them to recharge. They loved their children, but Hishiama would be lying if she said she did not miss private time with Brian. As their children got older, they found more time to be alone, and it almost felt like renewing their marriage again.

Now that Warrior was already off to Tracen, and the twins would soon follow next year, the house would get even lonelier.

Brian’s family technically lived in the same place as they were, albeit on the other side of the compound. Brian’s parents seemed happy the moment Brian said she would take over the family business as Hayahide continued with URA work instead. They moved to the other compound to allow Brian to have her own family’, as they said. Even now, they instead took time to travel all over Japan, under the guise of “settling business deals”. Brian said it was a half-truth. At least her parents really did somehow, somewhat, settle some business deal as they traveled.  

“Mommy, Andes’s here!”

The sliding door opened again, and there came Kai-kun with Andes behind her. The eldest still had her coat on. Snow had accumulated on her shoulder. The colt flicked her ears to shake off some frost at the tips. Her amber eyes looked almost black with how the sunlight had already dimmed, and the room was only lit by the fire of the hearth.

“Come in, Colts. Gather around, we will have dinner soon.”

“But Daddy isn’t here yet.”

Blaze furrowed her eyebrows. She disliked the idea of having dinner without Daddy.

The filly was clingy to Brian. When Brian was around, she would always follow Brian wherever she went. Brian also let her climb onto her body anytime, lifting Blaze onto her shoulder and carrying her around. When Blaze was smaller, Brian would run around the field while Blaze laughed. Blaze rarely laughed. With her being that happy, it was hard to say no to her. As Blaze got older, the filly appeared to really love running. She probably loved that speed. With her golden eyes and hunger to run, Blaze was certainly just like Brian. As if that was not enough, Blaze also disliked strangers and preferred to be alone or only with her parents, especially Brian. She already appeared to be quite possessive. Exactly like Daddy.

Hishiama smiled, gently patting Blaze to calm her down. She looked outside, at the falling snow, then sighed.

“But you are right, it is very late for her. I will remind her.”

Sometimes hunting did take more time. This was not the first time Brian had been late due to hunting. However, usually Brian would inform her with a whistle or two from a distance. Maybe Brian was simply too preoccupied this time.

Hishiama stepped inside her warm working boots and went outside. The snow was falling quite hard today. Without the wind, it was actually quite a warm day in late January. Snow can be a hassle, but times like this, it makes the air feel warmer than usual.

Facing the mountains, Hishiama put her fingers into her mouth and whistled.

The whistle, strong and steady, echoed to the mountain. It’s their come-home whistle. They had three variations: Home, Help, and Later. They could just repeat the same whistle if it was an affirmation. They had an agreement that they would stop whatever they were doing and answer, even if it meant sacrificing a hunt (which Brian was a bit annoyed about). Hunting was rather straightforward, however. So it was rarely an issue, and Brian always answered back.

However, this time, no one answered. One minute turned to two minutes, then to three. 

Hishiama cocked her head to the side, wondering, and she whistled again.

Yet again, after her whistle echoed far, no one answered her.

Brian was not sure if the boar she had hunted was the one terrorizing the nearby farmers, but she would have it either way. Her two labradors, Silk and Letter, and her two Akita, Chomp and Seven, circled and barked around her excitedly. They did well today as well. But the barking soon turned into snarls, and Brian also heard something unusual among the bushes. They were on a slope, amidst tall ferns and bushes. The darn boar decided to drop dead here, of all places. At the moment, even for her dogs, Brian could only locate them by their barks and the movement of the plants around her. The visibility was too low. This was not a good place to get ambushed. She needed to sling her shotgun over her shoulder to climb up the slope to a better vantage… But her ears picked up something that made her immediately aim her shotgun again.

She shot into the air. Just as a warning.

If it were any bear, the sound would scare them enough. Just in case, Brian decided to reload her double load shotgun. She would take care of the brass casing later, as for now… Just as her shotgun clicked closed after the reload, a large shadow moved from her front.

Snow slowly began to pile. The winter forest remained still, as if time did not move at all. The snow fell even more heavily.

Soon, almost everywhere was covered in white, even herself.

Ama looked beautiful in white. Her figure in the shiromuku, the Japanese wedding dress, made Brian stare a tad bit too long. Hayahide actually cleared her throat to snap her back to her senses. It seemed several of the audience chuckled at her but Brian did not care.

Her soon-to-be wife is a goddess. Anyone could laugh at her all they want, but that fact would not change: she would marry her goddess.

Their wedding was held twice, three months apart. Once in Japan, then once in Ama-san’s hometown in the US. Brian was welcomed, so generously, by Ama-san’s family, who immediately challenged her to a very competitive turf race. Ama-san's father gave Brian a big pat on the back. Probably that meant she, too, was part of the family.

They made the best BBQ. No wonder Taiki Shuttle was always so noisy about the grill at Tracen not doing BBQ justice.

Brian had to learn the whole wedding procession again, this time in Ama's style. Everything was unfamiliar to her, and Brian usually disliked unfamiliarity. This time, however, it was quite fine.

Why, she now had the chance to see Ama in her western bridal dress.

If she were a goddess before, now she was a queen.

Brian would remember every vow there is in the world for her queen.

There were times Brian thought Hayahide was a worrywart, but Hishiama was just as much. Even back at their Tracen days, Hishiama and Hayahide were noisy about what she had for lunch. It went as far as Hishiama knowing the changes of the cafeteria menu, predicting the time when Brian would resort to simply munching on her yakisoba dogs for days. Air Groove was their accomplice. She provided them with the full chart of the menu. At first, it was more of an annoyance since Brian felt bad for having Hishiama cook for her all the time, and for her, it was unsolicited help. Yet that was what Hishiama wanted to do, and who was she to decide what was better for Hishiama? So she let her. And with time, Brian realized she craved her cooking time and time again. Back then, Hayahide’s curry was the most delicious dish to Brian, and that remained so for so long… now Brian probably would need a long time deciding. Both of them fulfilled the hunger and craving far deeper than the one her stomach was suffering from.

A whistle pierced the cold air. Distant. Longing.

“Ama-san.”

Come home.

She felt like she heard a whistle to come home. In her brain, she felt like answering, but she was not even sure if the whistle was real. Maybe she was just imagining that call. Chomp did not even stir. It may be her imagination.

Or maybe Chomp had gone. Brian could not know which was which. Brian tried to move her hand, but she could not. Maybe she could whistle back without her finger.

White mist puffed from out of her mouth and disappeared into the winter air.

Chomp jumped, took a huge bear claw on his side for his master, while Brian ducked to the side. Winter soil and damp frozen leaves made Brian buckle to the ground and slide down the slope, while the huge black bear that jumped after her barreled down the slope before her. Her heart ached, but there was no time to check on Chomp. Brian kicked her boots to the ground and scrambled up, hearing very well the heavy huff and roar of the angry bear.

Bears that did not hibernate are dangerous and hungry. And hungry bears that were not deterred by the loud blast of a shotgun are the most dangerous of them all. Brian knew all of her dogs circled protectively around her. She had to at least reach the top of the slope, to a better clearing to defend herself. She could hear loud shuffling and loud whimpering of one of her dogs. The ground shook with every stomp of the bear.

It must be a male.

An aggressive female would have been understandable if there were a cub, but an aggressive male was just hungry. The simpler the reason, the more dangerous they were.

She was near the top of the slope. Brian grabbed the root of a tree on the top of the slope and pulled herself up, but a presence made her stop midway and instead aimed her gun downward. True enough, what greeted her gun barrel was a huge black mass coming at her.

Without a time for a proper aim, Brian pulled the trigger.

“That’s strange.”

Hishiama tilted her head. Now she felt worry start to creep into her heart. Brian would always answer her. There must be something terrible that she could not answer–either she could not hear, or she lost the ability to answer. Hishiama whistled once more, as loud as she could, yet there was no answer.

Brian always came home for dinner. She would not venture too far away that she could not hear the whistle.

“Dad isn’t answering.”

Andes appeared beside her. The colt looked worried. The twins peeked out behind her, probably also wondering why there were three loud whistles yet no answer came back. Andes looked at her mother.

“Do you think something—”

“Silk!”

Amazi suddenly shouted and ran out of the house. True enough, a Labrador and an Akita came out of the forest. The whole family went to the dogs. Seven yelped and barked, but something was wrong with their gait. They were injured, in one way or another. That could only mean something even more terrible had happened to the ones that did not come back.

Blood caked one side of Silk’s collar, and the dog whimpered and barked restlessly. Hishiama felt her entire body go cold.

“Andes, call 110 and Uncle Hayahide.”

“Mom–”

“But Daddy–”

“All of you, go inside the house.”
“Mommy–”

“NOW!”

Andes’s eyes read into her mother’s, and she nodded. She scooped the crying Blaze, who struggled in her arms and shouted, “Where is Daddy?!” and called for the twins to go into the house. Kai-kun grabbed Amazi’s shoulder to usher her inside, but Amazi instead went to their mother, who crouched over Silk.

“Mom, I’ll go with—”

“Inside, Amazi.”

“But Daddy—”

“Amacchi, Amacchi, enough.”

Kai-kun shook her twin sister. Their mother was off to grab a large scythe hanging from the side of their barn, Silk and Seven following behind her despite their limp.

“We’ll wait at home, Mom. We’ll tell Uncle Hayahide what happened.”

Their mother only glanced, but that was enough.

Hishiama crouched in front of Silk, cupping the Labrador’s face with both of her hands. She could feel the dry blood caking Silk’s collar, and every realization made her heart sink further.

“I am so sorry, Boy, I know you’re injured, but please, please, take me to Brian.”

Silk’s brown eyes answered hers, and he barked.

“As fast as you can, Boy. I will follow you.”

The roar meant she hit him, but unfortunately, she missed his head. That did not matter for now. The bear recoiled, a precious chance for an escape. Brian called for her boys and made for the nearest clearing she knew at the top of her head. Their priority now is to get away and survive. The bear might just give up and eat the boar by the slope. He would most likely have to be put down either way, but that time, there would be more people and better equipment.

“Come, Boys!”

At the clearing, Brian looked back to see if her dogs followed her. She saw two at the corner of her eyes, and her heart ached. Yet what made her stop was that the bear came charging still, barreling over ferns and bushes.  The bear that attacked her was clearly a male bear, probably over 100 kg, and it was galloping at her. Brian immediately aimed again, and this time she waited until it was close enough for a sure hit.

She shot.

It hit the bear clearly on the right side of its face, but it still charged. With one half of its face blown, it still charged.

“… You monster.”

That was the last bullet on her barrel.

“Look at her eyes, just like you.”

“Why do you sound so happy?”

“Of course I am. She’s just like you.”

Andes was always the calm one. Always so gentle, so kind. Just like her mother. Just like Ama-san. Andes was everything good in the world.

“Warrior! Stop climbing on the roof!”

“Let her. She’ll learn that falling hurts.”

“No, Brian, she’ll fucking break her legs!”

Nobody knows why Warrior was so active and a troublemaker. Ama-san said that was Brian. Brian said that was Ama-san. Rudolf and Air Groove watched them both, and Air Groove said, “That’s both of you, can’t you see?”

Brian and Ama-san vehemently said no. Rudolf laughed at them both, saying the colt was probably ‘Ama-zingly Brian’. Brian refused to contact Rudolf for a month after that.

Flurries of claw ripped Brian’s flesh and knocked her empty gun out of her hand. The claw and fangs clearly aimed for her head, but Brian jammed her left arm into the bear’s mouth. They fell together onto the forest floor, wet and thinly covered with snow. The bear ripped her flesh with a flick of her jaw and opened his maw again, gnawing on Brian’s bloodied sleeve. Claws slammed to Brian’s sides as she somehow managed to get her pocket knife despite the immense pain.

Brian jammed her knife deep into the bear’s neck and sliced as strongly and as deeply as she could.

A burst of blood and a strange gurgling sound told her she reached something vital, but the bear swatted, clawing at the hand, and in his pain trashed on Brian. Brian plunged her knife deep into his already hollow eyesocket, watching him jerk his body in pain. The bear clawed at the forest floor, then slammed its body onto Brian, pulling the last of its life on Brian’s body.

The bear stretched, a final twitch of life.

Then everything went still.

“The doctor said it would be a difficult pregnancy, Ama-san. Twins are too dangerous.”

“I want to try, Brian. They are our foals.”

“I know, but…”

“We’ll give our best. I will be okay, trust me.”

“Ama-san…”

“I can do this. We can do this. Stay with me, Brian.”

“Just… just don’t push yourself. And I meant it when I said my priority is your life.”

“... I know. I understand. I love you too.”

“Brian!!”

All she could do that day was hold her wife’s hand. When the twins moved actively in her belly and caused her pain. When her hip failed her. When her old ankle injury inflamed again from her weight. When the labor was painful. Ama-san handled it all. Brian always wondered if she had done what Ama-san asked of her. If she had “stayed with her” back then.

“Brian, answer me!”

“Last Blaze. She will be our last foal.”

“Are you sure?”
“Yes. No more. I am sure.”

“I… I don’t know, Brian. It’s like you made the sacrifice.”

“I desire you, always, and that will not change. It’s not a sacrifice if I lose nothing.”

If Ama-san was her Queen, Last Blaze was her Princess. Brian used to not understand Rudolf when Rudolf called Aruve her Princess, but somehow Brian understood the moment she held Last Blaze in her hand. Her princess was born. The last in her line was a princess with golden eyes. Ama-san said they were even now. Andes’s amber eyes and Blaze’s golden eyes. The start and the end of their lines. All of her foals are perfect. And Ama-san was the one who made them so.

“Stay with me, Brian!”

Ama-san.

She wondered if she really did manage to stay with her. Not just for back then, but for all the time they were together.

“Marry me.”

“Hahaha, it’s that good, huh? Dummy, that isn’t what to say while eating a meat skewer.”

“But I am serious. Marry me, Ama-san.”

“... what?”

“Sooner or later will not make that much difference. I know my wish will never change. I want you with me forever. Marry me.”

“... That is honestly… not something to say while eating a skewer, Stupid.”

She found Brian in a clearing, with a huge dead male bear on top of her, and Chomp the Akita dead with his head on Brian’s shoulder. Chomp was still slightly warm, but it was no mistaking the lack of life in the poor dog. Hishiama knew not where their last Labrador was, but she could only hope for the best. She could barely think straight when she screamed for her husband’s name and got nothing in return. She did not know what came into her, but she managed to flip the dead bear away from her husband.

Her husband’s breathing was weak, and she was losing a lot of blood.

“Brian! Brian, answer me!”

“So this is where you grow up.”

“Yeah. Awesome, right?”

Brian went silent.

“What? You’re amazed?”

“Yes, and… you have a good family.”

Hishiama laughed. Brian could be quite funny sometimes, but she was glad Brian seemed to like her family. After all, they are now a family.

“I just now realized that… I may have taken you away from them.”

“What? Holy, you just realized that now?”

Brian looked genuinely sorry. When she did, her ears immediately lay low and her golden eyes looked glassy. Almost like a real puppy.

“What did you think marriage meant?”

“I mean…”

“That means my family is yours now too, you know?”

Miraculously, the golden eyes briefly opened, barely any consciousness reflected in them.

“Stay with me, Brian!”

“Not only, that, we’ll make our own good family.”

Hearing that, Brian’s ears perked up. She blinked and a while later smiled gently. Hishiama knew that this smile was probably hers only to see.

“Yes.”

She did not know if Brian could understand her, but all she could do was run down the mountain as fast as she could, with her husband on her back. She thought she could hear her husband answer. Or maybe she was simply hoping that that was the case.

“Don’t you fucking die on me, Brian!”

“Should I do this vow again?”

“You just repeat what was recited.”

“I wish I could just read it like we did at the shrine.”

“Oh, Brian, we’re just repeating things, it will be fine!”

Brian looked unusually nervous. Her tail flicked behind her.

“It is a vow to you. I don’t want to make any mistakes.”

Tears almost blinded her, but she did not need that at the moment. Not now, not when she had to save her husband. Trail running was never Hishiama’s forte, and her old ankle injury screamed with every step she took, as she had extra load on her back. Brian’s breathing turned shallow, and every pause felt like it might be the last.

“In sickness and in health…To love and to cherish…”

“Don’t you dare fucking die on me!”

“Until death do us part.”

“Awubu!”

“Arubu.”
“Abubu!”

Rudolf lowered her report to watch Aruve trying to teach Dura how to say her name. Nearby, Tsuyoshi was doing her rep that Cesario had taught her: a 2 kg barbell lift. High impact was too much for Tsuyoshi, so they had to do everything slowly. A while ago, it was Tsuyoshi who tried to teach Dura her name. For now, they had to stop at “Chu-yo” and even that seemed a bit too much of a push.

Outside, snow was falling. Hopefully, it would accumulate enough so they could take their children out to play in the snow.

Air Groove came with a plate full of winter oranges and then sat beside Rudolf. Rudolf automatically circled her arm around her wife’s waist, who just as naturally leaned to her and turned to face her for a kiss. Then Rudolf’s phone rang.

She looked at the caller, furrowing her eyebrows when she saw it was Brian’s home’s landline phone.

“Hello, this is Symboli Rudolf.”

“U-Uncle Rudolf? This is Andes…”

There was no mistaking the tremble in Andes’s voice and the tears that seemed to be barely being held back.

“Dad… went hunting… and she’s not coming home.”