Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement

While Mizuno's spirit was still a guest in Fortune's room, in the corridor of Tracen's teaching building, Rice Shower was cradling his collapsed body, calling to him again and again.

Because she knew Onii-sama didn't like standing out in public, she leaned close, lips nearly at his ear, and whispered softly:

"Onii-sama? Onii-sama?"

But Mizuno gave no response.

If not for the faint sound of steady breathing from beneath his hood, Rice Shower would have believed his life in danger and gone straight to CPR and mouth-to-mouth.

"Right! Lap pillow!" A sudden thought struck her.

Because last time Onii-sama had also fainted, lying on the ground unresponsive no matter how she called.

Then, following Gold Ship's advice, she had given him a lap pillow. Right away he had shown signs of improvement and soon awakened.

Rice Shower believed it would work again.

So she quickly knelt, placing his head gently on her lap, stroking it tenderly, hoping he would revive as before.

But... nothing.

Last time, the moment she set his head on her knees, both had reacted.

Onii-sama had trembled with excitement, and she had felt a strange sour ache in her belly, an itching warmth that was hard to endure...

But now—her reaction was there, yet Mizuno lay limp, lifeless, as if his soul had been stolen by demons, leaving behind an empty shell that would never wake again.

"Trainer Mizuno?"

At first, Teio, seeing Mizuno resting on Rice Shower's lap, had felt jealous, itching to snatch him back and try the lap pillow herself—surely he would be even happier on hers.

But when she noticed Mizuno, who always reacted so strongly whenever Rice Shower so much as touched him, now showed no response at all—and saw the tears trembling in Rice Shower's eyes—she realized something was terribly wrong.

"Trainer Mizuno, what happened?!"

Teio dropped to her knees beside him, clutching his hand in both of hers, mind going blank.

He had been fine just moments ago! They'd even agreed to come together next time. How had he suddenly collapsed the instant Rice Shower appeared?

What... had happened?

"Trainer Mizuno!"

Her desperate cry drew the attention of the other Umas nearby.

"Rice Shower? Teio?"

Their classmates were stunned to see them sitting right there on the cold corridor floor.

"What are they doing, sitting there like that?"

"Huh? What's that weird guy?" One sharp-eyed Uma noticed at last—the dark-clad figure lying between Rice Shower and Teio, unmoving, like some lifeless mannequin.

She pointed.

"Ha?! It really is someone!"

"What bizarre clothes... do you know him?"

"No."

"Never seen him."

"Nope, not familiar."

Heads shook all around.

In truth, most had never seen Mizuno before. Even those who had—his presence was so faint they'd forgotten him almost instantly.

"Could that be... the Trainer Teio's always talking about, the one no one's ever seen?" someone whispered.

"Is it? I only know Teio and Rice Shower are in the same team... what was it called... Team TAC?"

"Team TAC? What a strange name..."

"Strange, yes, but I heard not only them—King Halo is also in it."

"Eh? Didn't King Halo say only a top-tier Trainer was worthy of her? Could it be..."

"And I think even Mejiro McQueen from the Mejiro family joined that team. With so many talented Umas choosing him, that Trainer must be something."

"Incredible?!"

The Umas murmured among themselves. In their eyes, the strange man in black slowly transformed into a mysterious, powerful figure—the topic that would dominate gossip for weeks to come.

But the ones who reacted most strongly to Mizuno's sudden appearance weren't the onlookers.

It was the Carrot Squad, who had been about to mark Kaneshiro Takeru.

"Another Trainer?! When did he appear?"

The upperclassmen who had been quietly closing in on Kaneshiro froze. All at once they pulled back, frowning.

"Conditions not met. Two Trainers present. Mission canceled."

At senior A's command, all but one immediately retreated.

"Damn... just a little more..."

The newest recruit, a younger Uma, glared at the micro locator in her hand, then at Kaneshiro less than half a meter away, unwilling.

The seniors had given her the honor of placing the marker, just to encourage her. One more step, and she could have sealed the deal herself.

But now, because of this bizarre Trainer, the rules forbid it?

She hung her head for a moment, then suddenly lunged forward, trying to slap the locator onto Kaneshiro's back.

"Stop!" A senior grabbed her wrist just in time, foiling her.

The senior shook her head firmly, warning her not to continue.

But the junior still wasn't willing. She stared hard at Kaneshiro, completely oblivious to the danger.

"Senpai, let me just try once more!"

"No. Rules are rules. Only when one Trainer is present may we act."

As much as they hated it, every Carrot Squad member had to obey the code.

So, dragged back by her seniors, the junior could only watch helplessly as her mark slipped away.

"Hm?" Kaneshiro felt a chill on his back and glanced around—but saw nothing. The Carrot Squad had already dispersed.

"Strange... like I just missed something..." He scratched his head.

And thanks to the crowd of Umas around him, he didn't even notice Mizuno lying on the floor. Only heard whispers about some "experienced Trainer" showing up.

Kaneshiro had thought of going to greet this senior, maybe ask some advice. But then he looked at Daisy by his side—and dismissed the idea instantly.

Compared to a stranger, his own Uma's wishes came first.

So he smiled gently. "Daisy, let's go."

"Mm~"

Blushing, Daisy hugged his arm, leading him toward her classroom.

And so, Kaneshiro Takeru, by sheer accident... dodged disaster yet again.