"Make peace?!"
Air Groove raised an eyebrow, looking at Mizuno sprawled across her carefully watered sunflowers, with the wheelchair tipped over beside him.
She'd already heard from Symboli Rudolf what Mizuno had been up to these past two days—clanging away in his tent, modifying his wheelchair so that, even as a disabled person, he could chase victory in the racing competition and help Maruzensky realize that nearly impossible wish.
It was that sort of tenacity and resolve that drew everyone to Mizuno, making them want to gather around him. How could Air Groove possibly bring herself to blame him?
Besides, every single flower Air Groove had planted in this garden was for his sake. Even an entire sea of sunflowers was nothing compared to how precious he was.
By rights, Mizuno had just flattened a few sunflowers—hardly a crime. She ought to forgive him; honestly, compared to the flowers, she should be more worried about whether Mizuno himself was hurt.
But the thought that this wheelchair accident was all for another Uma Musume gnawed at her. Even though she and Mizuno weren't that close—at least, not that kind of close—it still felt just like a wife stewing over her husband's wandering heart...
After all, now that Mizuno had fulfilled Air Groove's wish—and captured her heart in the process—Maruzensky, after being rescued by him, would probably follow the same path, falling for those deliberately hidden virtues and that singular charm.
Air Groove and Maruzensky weren't as close as she was with Symboli Rudolf, but they could chat as friends. Which only made that sense of "cheating" even worse!
Even though Air Groove understood that Mizuno never meant to flirt with anyone, that everything he did came from a genuine wish to make others' lives better—he was someone truly worth praising.
But Air Groove just wasn't having it!
That inborn possessiveness kept whispering in her ear, egging her on to snatch away Mizuno's wheelchair, lock him up by her side, forbid him from meeting any other girls, never let him out of her sight—keep him as hers, and hers alone.
Especially seeing Mizuno right now, weak and surrounded by flowers, the urge only grew stronger! She nearly wanted to rip off her skirt and just have her way with him right here in the field.
Still, a lifetime of discipline barely kept Air Groove rational. She wouldn't lose control the way ordinary Uma Musume might when their crush got too close to another girl.
She was determined to become an Uma Musume as excellent as a mother, and as Tracen Academy's Student Council Vice President, she prided herself on her self-restraint.
Just look at Trainer-san—so pitiful, can't even walk—yet here she was, fantasizing about pinning him down. That really wasn't the kind of love she dreamed of.
It's not like she was some character out of a risqué movie, ready to seize the chance to hold him down, snap a series of private photos, then use them for blackmail, demanding ever more outrageous things, piling up the evidence, and finally training him into her own personal slave...
That kind of thing... she really... really didn't care for at all!
Gulp~ Air Groove swallowed, pressing a hand to her heart, forcing down those filthy thoughts, and, through gritted teeth, said to Mizuno:
"I'll let you off this time, but next time I won't be so forgiving..."
As she said this, veins bulged on her forehead and she crushed the plastic watering can in her hand with a loud snap.
Smack!
Water and plastic shards exploded everywhere, and one piece flew perfectly onto Mizuno's forehead, as if a pebble had been flicked right at him.
At the same time, Air Groove's eyes fixed dangerously on Mizuno, her mouth exhaling white steam like a dragon from legend—looking for all the world as if letting Mizuno go was the most bitter decision of her life.
"Eek! I'm sorry!" Mizuno shivered, apologizing at once.
It was the first time he'd seen Air Groove this angry—like she'd actually eat him alive!
Even back when Air Groove was going after that mysterious man, she hadn't been this furious. Clearly, this time he'd really stepped on her tail.
Never touch Air Groove's flowers again! Mizuno quickly jotted that into his mental survival guide.
"Sorry! I won't bother you—I'm leaving now!"
He hastily righted the wheelchair, scrambled into the seat, and before Air Groove could react, zipped away as fast as he could, terrified that if he waited another second, he'd never escape!
Retreat!
Without looking back, Mizuno jabbed the Ctrl key with trembling fingers.
"Wait—" Air Groove tried to call after him, but Mizuno had already fired up the nitro. Blue flames shot from the exhaust, and he blazed away, leaving her standing alone, staring after his shrinking figure in a daze.
Am I really that scary...? Air Groove touched her cheek, feeling a little wounded inside.
Sure, she had gotten a little carried away, and yes, her thoughts had been... less than pure, but did Trainer-san really need to be that terrified?
Guh... Air Groove looked at the bits of plastic on the ground, then at her own school uniform, soaked from the busted watering can. Her cheeks reddened.
Uh... maybe I really did act a little terrifying just now...
But that wasn't her intention! She'd just lost her temper for a moment and accidentally crushed something most people would think was sturdy. She was gentle, really! Compared to President Rudolf's domineering style, Air Groove was definitely wife material! At least, in her own mind, she'd never forced Trainer-san into anything. Sleeping together? That was just a reward—most men could only dream of that. How could that possibly be forcing him?
"Wait!"
But just as Air Groove started to chase after Mizuno to explain herself, she suddenly froze.
With her Uma Musume speed, if she really wanted, she could catch up to Mizuno's slow, modded wheelchair in a heartbeat. But if she went running out there drenched like this, it'd be just like that time with President Rudolf after the Want-a-Hug Potion—people would definitely talk.
Besides, even if she went out of her way to explain, would he really believe her? Sometimes, explaining too much just made people more suspicious...
"Forget it..." Air Groove sighed, shaking her head. She decided not to chase after Mizuno, but instead went back to the tent to change out of her wet clothes.
After getting dressed, she didn't go back out to water the sunflowers. Instead, she sprawled lazily on her bed, hugging her pillow, as usual, inhaling the scent Trainer-san left behind every night, and breathing it in, satisfied.
I'll just wait until he gets back and clear things up then. I'm not some terrifying yandere, after all...
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T/N: >...>