In the end, Mizuno still opened the door to his tiny, dim rental room and decided he'd stay here tonight.
Compared to going back to the flowerbed tent and squeezing onto a single bed with a bunch of scheming Uma Musume, Mizuno figured it was safer to spend the night with an unknown ghost. At least a ghost probably wouldn't try to pull his pants down in the middle of the night.
What's more, his ally Fortune was finally awake, so it wouldn't be just Mizuno fighting alone anymore.
Granted, this so-called goddess was completely useless—saving every scrap of her pitiful energy, to the point that she couldn't even stop Mizuno from crashing during practice. He'd nearly given himself a concussion just to get the hang of drifting. Useless didn't even begin to cover it!
But Mizuno figured a little peeping ghost was nothing compared to a deity like Fortune. From a hierarchy perspective, Fortune should be able to handle it—or at least keep Mizuno safe.
If even Fortune couldn't keep him safe from ghosts, Mizuno would have to consider terminating their partnership. After all, if Fortune wasn't going to help at all, it was basically like being the only employee at a company while the boss napped all day in the office—without even providing basic insurance.
Bitter is the worker's fate, while the boss drives a Land Rover, huh?
Even though Mizuno had always been a lone wolf, able to claw his way out of any corner by himself, he sometimes wished he could have a companion beside him to face the struggle together.
Just like teaming up in a game—whether the teammate was a hard carry or a total noob dragging him down, as long as she was on his side, Mizuno felt comforted. That's why, even knowing how lazy Fortune could be, Mizuno never really blamed her—he might grumble to himself, but he never said much out loud.
But now was different.
Because when it came to intangible things like ghosts, materialist Mizuno had no solutions. He could only pin his hopes on Fortune, praying his divine teammate would actually come through.
Fortune, can't you help ward off a ghost or something?!
After entering the room, Mizuno checked to make sure nothing strange had followed him in, carefully shut the door, and then closed his eyes, calling out to Fortune—still napping away in his mental space:
"Fortune, do something for once! If a ghost tries to kill me tonight, you have to save me, okay?"
"Huh?" Still half-asleep, Fortune cracked open her pretty eyes, frowning in confusion.
"A ghost? What ghost?"
"There's been one spying on me all day—didn't you sense it?" Mizuno shot back.
That chill at his back was real—even now, it hadn't faded. Mizuno trusted his instincts and wasn't about to blame it on being physically weak; there was definitely some creepy thing watching him!
"Maybe you've just watched too many horror movies. There's no ghost around here, okay?" Fortune grumbled, but then thumped her chest confidently.
"Even if there were, no way they'd mess with someone under my protection. My energy is warm and cozy—if a ghost sees you, all they'll feel is goodwill, not murder."
"No ghosts, huh..." Mizuno still wasn't convinced.
"Then what was with that feeling of being watched all day? Was it just my imagination?"
"Uh... not necessarily," Fortune muttered, now wearing a strange expression, her tone suddenly hesitant.
"How do I put this... there's no ghost watching you, but right now, outside the door in the hallway, there is an Uma Musume peeking at you through the window..."
"Wha—?! U-Uma Musume?!"
Mizuno's whole body went rigid at the words "Uma Musume," hair standing on end, as if he'd plunged into an ice bath.
Trembling, Mizuno slowly turned his head and glanced out the window—just in time to spot a cardboard box perched on the sill, facing inside, with two little peepholes cut out and glowing green in the light from his room.
But that cardboard box was sharp. The instant Mizuno looked over, it ducked out of sight in a flash.
Gulp. Mizuno swallowed nervously.
So today wasn't some supernatural event after all—he'd just been tailed by an Uma Musume all day?!
Ahhh! A chill crept over Mizuno's scalp. He almost fainted.
Hey! I asked you to help with ghosts—not to tell me there's something even scarier than a ghost stalking me outside my window!
Whoo— Mizuno patted his chest, forcing himself to calm down with a deep breath.
"Fortune, can you tell who the Uma Musume is?" Mizuno asked anxiously.
Could it be Symboli Rudolf or the others, tracking him with some secret device, personally sending or even coming themselves to spy on him?
"I'll go check." Fortune floated out of Mizuno, bending over to let her upper body pass right through the wall and into the corridor outside.
While Fortune was investigating, the lower half of her body dangled in the room, her long, perfect legs swaying in the air—reminding Mizuno, against his will, of certain meme-worthy "Stepbro, I'm stuck" scenarios.
But Mizuno couldn't care less right now—he just needed to know who this stalker Uma Musume was. That would decide how he handled things next!
If it was Rice Shower or King Halo, the shy ones who liked Mizuno but never said it, he wouldn't need to worry. They were good kids, never the type to hurt him.
If it was Mejiro McQueen or El Condor Pasa, the ones always dreaming of snatching him away and taking him home, he still had room to maneuver. As long as he contacted the Academy and let them know his whereabouts, they'd probably hesitate to make a move.
But if it was Symboli Rudolf or Air Groove, the two from the Student Council...
Well, guess I'm heading straight to hell...
Please, please, don't let it be Symboli Rudolf or Air Groove! Mizuno pressed his hands together, praying with all his might.
After a few seconds, Fortune pulled her head back through the wall, looked at Mizuno, and pointed at the door, grinning helplessly:
"It's Maruzensky..."
---
T/N: welll.... at least you got your wish :D not rudolf or air groove!
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