Mizuno had figured out that although the Hug Potion's effects were incredibly strong—if he wasn't holding the specified target, his body would try every method his brain could devise to achieve it—
As long as he kept holding the target, everything was fine. The potion wouldn't trigger its rebellion no matter what position he used: whether it was holding someone romantically like a protagonist from a romance anime, or heroically scooping someone up with one arm, as long as it qualified as a physical embrace, he'd be safe.
Thus, within these conditions, Mizuno found the most practical posture for going outside with King Halo:
A princess carry.
With one arm supporting King Halo's petite back and the other hooked under her knees—wrapped in pristine white stockings—Mizuno held her securely as he walked toward Team TAC's training room, taking a familiar, discreet path.
"Uu…" Perhaps because it was King Halo's first time being carried this way, she shyly covered her slightly overheated face with both hands, secretly peeking at Mizuno through her fingers.
Maybe she was afraid she might fall, so her tail was also tightly wound around Mizuno's arm.
"Relax, don't be scared. Just trust me—it's perfectly safe," Mizuno reassured her.
"How could I not be scared…?" King Halo mumbled softly, nervously curling her toes. "This is my first time…"
"Uh…" Mizuno frowned.
He felt something was off again—but he couldn't quite put his finger on exactly what was wrong.
If you called this conversation normal, it still felt strangely inappropriate. Yet if you tried to call it strange… as long as you weren't thinking inappropriately, it seemed completely innocent…
Mizuno really wanted to figure out if it was just his problem, but he didn't dare ask. After all, if King Halo said no, wouldn't he just look like a pervert with a dirty mind?
Thus, Mizuno chose to drop the topic entirely. He fell silent, continuing to carry King Halo toward the training room.
But Mizuno's silence only further convinced King Halo that he actually did have those intentions.
"Uu…" King Halo anxiously bit her lip, feeling warmth steadily rising in her abdomen, unconsciously rubbing her legs together.
As an Uma Musume who usually stood proudly above everyone else, this was her first time being treated so dominantly—lying obediently in someone's arms, leaving herself completely at their mercy.
How to describe it…?
Like a delicate wife in a TV drama being roughly handled by an overbearing CEO?
It didn't feel bad. Actually, it was surprisingly thrilling—even making her want to experience a bit more…
"Hyah~!" King Halo squeaked shyly, steam practically billowing from her head.
"…" Looking down at the shy, trembling Uma Musume in his arms, Mizuno's expression twisted like a freshly baked pretzel.
Just who are you?!
Mizuno suddenly suspected he'd secluded himself in the flowerbed for too long—because he realized he no longer understood King Halo's thoughts or words at all.
He wanted to know—just where had the proud, first-class young lady, who'd burst into noble laughter "ohohoho" at the slightest praise, disappeared to? Why, after a few weeks apart, had she suddenly turned into this shy, lovestruck teenager?!
Mizuno felt a headache coming on and wanted to rub his temples, but both hands were occupied.
He quickened his steps toward the training room, intending to reach it as soon as possible so he could sit down and sort out his increasingly chaotic thoughts.
"Yes…if I can just get there…" Mizuno ignored the strange sounds from King Halo in his arms, his eyes focused determinedly on the path ahead—like a soldier racing to throw away a ticking bomb before it exploded.
Whether the bomb would detonate first or he'd reach safety in time was still uncertain…
After roughly five minutes, Mizuno finally reached Team TAC's training room door.
He gently set King Halo down, shifting into a one-arm embrace. With his free hand, he took out the key and opened the door.
"Are we…finally going inside…?" King Halo blushed, burying her face shyly into Mizuno's shoulder as she murmured softly:
"Trainer Mizuno…please, be gentle…"
"?!" Mizuno froze mid-door-opening.
Holy—what on earth are you saying?!
I just planned on teaching you regular lessons! I'm not some strict, old-school teacher who disciplines students with a ruler—what's this talk about being gentle?!
Don't tell me the moment we enter, you're planning to Uma-Pyoi me?
Mizuno had no clue and honestly couldn't believe King Halo would do such a thing.
Thinking back, he'd never even made any effort to raise her affection. Apart from today's forced contact due to the Hug Potion, he'd always deliberately kept his distance from her.
Could it be he'd done absolutely nothing, never even entered her attack range, always staying safely in spawn—but today, upon first encounter, his HP had somehow mysteriously dropped into her ultimate range?
"Trainer Mizuno, aren't we going inside?" King Halo raised her head, her gaze hazy. "Or…do I really have to take the lead?"
"…" Mizuno looked down at King Halo's strangely inviting expression, alarms blaring loudly in his head.
It couldn't possibly be what I'm thinking, could it...?
"Actually…how about we study right here by the door instead?!" Mizuno nervously proposed, quickly grasping the handle of the training room door, attempting to close the gap he'd just opened.
BAM!
But before the door fully closed, King Halo firmly blocked it.
"You want to do this sort of thing in broad daylight?! Isn't that way too perverted!"
"Huh?" Mizuno couldn't understand how teaching someone in public could possibly be perverted. He replied blankly:
"Is it? I do it all the time…"
"Huh?!"
King Halo stared at Mizuno in shock, completely unable to believe someone normally as cautious as Mizuno had such a wild private side.
"No way! I absolutely refuse!" King Halo shook her head, attitude resolute.
"Just elbow your way inside already!"
"W-wait, we can't—"
But just as they argued by the door, it swung open from within…
Standing inside the training room was Symboli Rudolf, wearing her pajamas, gazing warmly at Mizuno and King Halo embracing at the threshold.
"Oh my, are you two guests looking to book a room here?"