Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement

Tracen Academy teaching building.

Newbie Trainer Kaneshiro Takeru walked down the corridor, happily holding the hand of his charge, the Uma girl Daisy. A boy and girl walking hand in hand was rare here—and the sight drew the eyes of every Uma in the hall.

"Look! An Uma's brought her Trainer to make an [Oath]!" An Uma by the window cried out, pointing toward Daisy and Kaneshiro with one hand, while the other covered her mouth, hiding the indulgent grin spreading across her face.

Others glanced over at the pair—looking so much like lovers—and their smiles were all equally meaningful.

"They match so well, such a perfect pair, handsome boy and pretty girl—truly made for each other."

"Eh, that looks like Daisy from middle division. The one beside her is her Trainer, Kaneshiro Takeru. I've often seen them together off campus, shopping side by side."

"Are they already lovers?"

"With that closeness—and bringing him for an [Oath]—it has to be official. No way it's just Daisy one-sided."

"Haha, exactly."

"Senpai, what's an [Oath]?" A younger student blinked, curious, turning to ask.

"Heh, let me tell you." The older Uma wasn't about to hide it, happily explaining.

"[Oath] is a tradition that's existed at Tracen for ages. It's like when newlyweds receive rice blessings from friends and family at their wedding."

"If you've found a Trainer who's both gentle and excellent—someone you've recognized and decided to stay with for life—then you bring him to the teaching building, show him to everyone, receive everyone's scrutiny. It's proof of your courage to be together, and you earn praise and recognition."

"They say every Uma who comes to make an [Oath] receives the blessing of the Three Goddesses—and in the end, they run away happily ever after with their Trainer."

"I see..." The younger student's eyes sparkled.

Her vision of the scene changed.

Now she saw Daisy—blushing as she clung to Kaneshiro—dressed in a white bridal gown, holding the arm of her handsome groom, walking step by step down a petal-strewn aisle, toward a happy future.

"So jealous..." Her heart beat fast, her cheeks warmed. She couldn't help but dream: someday, she too would bring her beloved Trainer here for everyone to see.

And like her, most of the Umas in the corridor looked on Daisy and her Trainer with envy and blessing.

But there was another group—a small cluster of older Umas—whose gazes turned strange as they looked at Kaneshiro.

"Look, a young male Trainer."

"Fufu, how long's it been since a foal brought her Trainer here?"

"Three months, maybe."

"Finally, another chance to pair them up."

"Get ready, get ready..."

These were clearly upperclassmen.

The way they stared at Kaneshiro was off, their hands itching, rummaging in their pockets, as if preparing something big.

Their behavior soon caught the notice of a nearby underclassman, who edged closer and asked quietly:

"Excuse me, senpai... what does pairing up mean?"

"..." The older Umas froze at the sudden question. They quickly stopped what they were doing, turned, and fixed the younger girl with sharp eyes.

That stare made her hair stand on end. Something was wrong.

The upperclassmen scanned the hall nervously, checking their surroundings. Satisfied that no one else had overheard, they yanked the underclassman closer, surrounding her. One draped an arm over her shoulder, leaned down, and whispered:

"Heh, since you asked so sincerely, we'll be merciful and tell you. But this... you absolutely must not tell anyone else."

"Mm..." The younger girl wanted to flee, but they had her boxed in. With no escape, she could only nod, trembling.

She suspected these senpai were up to something bad. Like stealing someone else's Trainer.

And the way they kept glancing around guiltily only deepened her suspicion.

But what they whispered next was not quite what she had imagined.

One of the seniors, let's call her A, leaned close and murmured:

"[Oath] is actually a trap for Trainers. To Umas who don't know, it just looks like showing off your Trainer. But in truth... its real meaning is pairing up, a scheme by those in the know."

"Pairing up?" The younger tilted her head.

"But if an Uma brings her Trainer here for everyone, doesn't that already mean they're together? Why would they need others to pair them up?"

"No, no, no. It's not that simple." Senior A shook her head, pressing a hand to her forehead with a weary sigh, like a girl who had seen much.

"Not every Trainer understands his Uma's feelings. More often than not, Trainers are blockheads—ignoring advances, laughing things off, or outright running away. Because of that, so many of our classmates can't ever tie the knot with the Trainer they love."

"Yeah... yeah..." The other seniors, B, C, D, their expressions clouded, each recalling some painful memory.

Senior A gave a bitter smile, then her eyes sharpened.

"That's why! To stop Trainers from being blind, to protect the dreams of our classmates—we, the Carrot Squad, step in!"

She puffed her chest with pride, pointing at her comrades.

"Carrot Squad?" the younger repeated.

"Yes. That's the name of our organization." Senior A nodded, pulling a small pink badge from her pocket. On it, two bold letters: CP.

The others followed suit, producing identical badges.

"CP stands for Couple, but also for Carrot Party. We are the Carrot Squad."

"We dedicate ourselves to pairing every charge with her Trainer. Long ago, our predecessors spread the rumor that bringing a Trainer to make an [Oath] meant receiving blessings."

"Once a Trainer is brought, if he meets the criteria—single, only one Trainer present, kind and capable—we mark him."

"If after some time he still hasn't accepted his Uma's feelings, we kidnap him. Lock him away in darkness for a few days, then leave clues so his Uma can 'heroically rescue' him—forcing his heart to move."

"If even then he won't accept her feelings... then we dig a basement, and help her lock him in a secret love nest to slowly 'train' him."

"This..." The underclassman gasped, stunned.

"There's something like this?!"

"Exactly!" The seniors straightened their backs, their badges seeming to glow.

"That's why every Uma who makes an [Oath] ends up running away with her Trainer—because of us!"

"We've already paired hundreds of Umas with their Trainers. And in the future, we'll bring happiness to countless more."

"So, what about it? Want to join us? This is a rare pairing opportunity. Miss it now, and who knows when the next will come. Don't you want to be Cupid, giving another Uma her happy ending?"

"Guh!" The words set the younger's heart racing. A fire called CP-shipping burned wildly within her chest.

"Cupid... Cupid..." Under their coaxing, she clenched her fists, her face blooming with an eager smile.

"Heh, looks like you've made up your mind." Senior A patted her shoulder, satisfied.

From this day forward, the Carrot Squad had gained another member.

Their gazes fixed together on Kaneshiro Takeru—so gentle, so handsome, walking hand in hand with Daisy. Like wolves closing in on prey, they began to approach.

Their whispers had been quiet enough that Kaneshiro heard nothing. And since this was a secret activity, only Carrot Squad members knew the truth.

So long as the true meaning of [Oath] stayed hidden, Kaneshiro would remain blissfully ignorant—until he fell into the trap.

Either he would obediently become Daisy's lover... or he would be locked into a basement, vanishing like Mizuno's "older brother."

But the Carrot Squad miscalculated one thing.

Today, in the teaching building, there was not just Kaneshiro Takeru.

There was another Trainer. A man with almost no presence at all...

"..." Mizuno was standing right behind the Umas, and he had heard every word of this horrifying truth.

He couldn't stop the hiss of cold air through his teeth.

"Shhhhhh—"