Unsure how long he'd slept, Mizuno was awakened by a steady, rhythmic knocking at the door.
Knock knock knock—
"Ahh-wuu…" Mizuno slowly opened his eyes, yawning comfortably.
It had been ages since he'd slept this well. The air carried a pleasant fragrance that calmed his mind, the mattress was soft enough to melt every bit of tension from his body, and there were no obnoxious "oyster" noises from neighboring rooms—nor any terrifying Uma Musume like Symboli Rudolf sharing his bed. It was, without a doubt, the best sleep he'd had in weeks.
After just three hours, he felt completely refreshed. The fatigue built up over the past few days had all but vanished.
"Hm?" As he tried to sit up, Mizuno realized something heavy was pressing him down.
Looking down, he saw Gold Ship sprawled across his chest, clinging to him like an octopus.
"I can't eat anymore…" she mumbled in her sleep, a trail of crystal-clear drool glistening at the corner of her mouth. Her breathing was soft and steady—completely at peace.
"…" Mizuno stared at her for a moment, then smiled faintly, remembering the nights they'd shared in the Secret Boys' Dormitory.
Broshi's sleeping posture's gotten worse.
In the past, she never would've climbed on top of him in her sleep. But now she was wrapped around him like a sloth afraid of falling from a tree, drooling all over his chest. Completely ridiculous.
"Broshi? Wake up—the administrator's here," Mizuno whispered, gently shaking her shoulder.
"Mmmph…" Gold Ship's eyelids fluttered briefly as she let out a soft groan of protest, clearly unwilling to wake.
Instead, she tightened her grip around him, pressing closer. The soft mounds of her chest flattened against him like warm mochi, and her horse ears twitched, brushing lightly against his cheeks.
"Guh! Broshi, get up already!" Feeling smothered, Mizuno tried prying her arms off, but she didn't budge. The harder he struggled, the tighter her hold grew—like quicksand.
Knock knock knock—
"Not finished yet? I'll come back in an hour…" the administrator Uma Musume murmured from outside.
"Wait!" Mizuno shouted.
Out of options, he reached for his last resort—his sinful fingers—and tickled Gold Ship's waist.
"Hahaha~!" Gold Ship instantly burst into uncontrollable laughter, releasing him as she grabbed her stomach, tears welling in her eyes.
Taking advantage of her helpless giggles, Mizuno flipped her onto her back, rolled off the bed, and dashed to the door.
"We're done! We're done! Administrator-san, you can open the door now!" he cried, pounding on it before she could walk away.
"Oh? Finished already?" The administrator sounded impressed as she unlocked the door.
But when it swung open and she saw Mizuno standing there, her eyes widened.
"You've got incredible stamina! This is the first time I've seen a trainer spend three hours alone with an Uma Musume and still have the energy to open the door himself!"
"Oh, no, no, that's not—" Mizuno stammered, waving his hands.
Before he could finish, the administrator peeked past him—and froze.
On the heart-shaped bed lay a disheveled, gray-haired Uma Musume, hair scattered wildly, hands clutching her stomach, toes curled into the sheets, body trembling slightly…
"You even managed to turn the tables on your Uma?!" she gasped, covering her mouth. Her eyes gleamed with newfound respect.
"You're Mizuno, right? Since the founding of Tracen Academy, you're the first trainer to successfully Uma Pyoi an Uma Musume! You've made history!"
"What?! No!" Mizuno panicked.
But the administrator had already pulled out her phone, furiously typing. Judging from the screen, she was about to post the "historic event" on the Academy's official site.
"This is one small step for you, but a giant leap for all trainers! I have to document this!"
"Gwah! Please don't!" Mizuno yelped, covering her screen.
If his name showed up on the Academy website, his quiet, undercover life would be over—and if Symboli Rudolf saw it, she'd interrogate him to death!
"Administrator-san, please don't misunderstand! This isn't what you think!" he pleaded.
"Broshi and I are just bros! We didn't do anything weird! We literally slept for three hours! She's like that because she was laughing too hard when I tickled her! Please believe me!"
"…" The administrator stared at him blankly, clearly unconvinced.
If this Uma Musume really had just slept quietly with her trainer for three hours, why had she been sent here in the first place—for breaking into his room?
Obviously, Mizuno was just being modest to hide his "victory."
"I'm telling the truth!" Mizuno insisted.
"Sure, sure, I get it…" she said, pocketing her phone.
"Please don't post it online!"
"Mhm, of course."
She slipped her phone away—without promising not to upload it later. After all, a groundbreaking achievement like this deserved to be recorded.
Seeing the phone disappear, Mizuno sighed in relief, completely unaware.
"Broshi! The door's open—we can go!" he called.
"Hmm? Really?" Gold Ship sat up, adjusting the slipping straps of her nightgown and smoothing out her messy hair. Barefoot, she stepped onto the carpet and walked toward him.
Maybe because she'd slept in such a weird position, her legs were numb, making her steps wobbly.
"Hoo-hoo…" The administrator watched her trembling gait and nodded knowingly.
Yup. Trainer Mizuno really did it.
"Gold Ship-san, your trainer's… truly impressive," she whispered to Gold Ship.
"I already told you, that's not what happened!" Mizuno groaned.
"Yes, yes, I understand," she replied brightly, still not believing a word. She handed them both a pen and two papers.
"Please sign these friendly-coexistence agreements, and you're free to go."
Mizuno read the form—just a basic pledge to live peacefully with his Uma and keep quiet about the special training base. He signed without hesitation.
Gold Ship did the same.
The administrator checked their signatures, filed them neatly away, and smiled professionally.
"All right, you're free to leave. Trainer Mizuno, Gold Ship-san, please return to Tracen Academy and continue your happi—" (she dragged out the word) "—ness-filled lives together."
"…" Something about her tone felt off, but Mizuno couldn't figure out what.
"Mizuno-dono, wait here a sec—I'll grab my luggage from the dorm." Gold Ship patted his butt lightly and turned to go.
"Hold on." Mizuno stopped her, pulling a coat from his inventory and gently draping it over her shoulders, zipping it up to cover her thin nightgown.
"…" Gold Ship immediately understood, lowering her head slightly with a soft smile.
Patting her cheeks, she blew Mizuno a playful kiss before walking off.
"Love ya, Mizuno-dono~~"
"Love ya too, Broshi~" Mizuno replied with a heart gesture.
"Hehe…" The administrator giggled behind them, watching like an amused aunt.
"Administrator-san, please don't misunderstand! It's just brotherly love! Bros saying they love each other—it's normal!" Mizuno explained quickly.
"Of course, I understand," she said, smiling even wider.
Mizuno: "…"
No, you definitely don't.
...
Ten minutes later, Gold Ship returned, dragging two large suitcases. She'd changed back into her signature blue-and-white Tracen uniform, with sunglasses on and Mizuno's coat slung over her shoulders like a yakuza boss.
Marching up to him, she set her luggage down, pulled Mizuno into a bold embrace, and declared proudly:
"Let's go, Mizuno-dono—your chastity is now mine to protect~"