Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement

Shortly after King Halo dashed off, someone bumped lightly into Mizuno Sora from behind.

"Ah! Sorry!"

"It's fine." Mizuno waved dismissively. It was just a gentle collision, no harm done.

However, when Mizuno saw who it was, he was startled.

"Rice Shower?"

"Huh? Onii-sama?" Rice Shower immediately recognized Mizuno, joy blooming on her face.

"Pfft—!"

The moment Mizuno heard her call him "Onii-sama," he collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

As expected, no matter how many times he heard it, being called "Onii-sama" by Rice Shower was a critical hit.

[Mizuno Sora]: Aaaaaaaahhh—

[Stop losing your mind in my chatbox.]

"Eeeh?! Onii-sama, what's wrong? Did Rice Shower hurt you? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Rice Shower panicked, helplessly hovering over Mizuno with worry.

"No, no, it's not your fault." Mizuno calmly stood back up after his brief meltdown, as if nothing had happened.

"Actually, I was just practicing my ninjutsu."

"Oh, right, I forgot Onii-sama is an amazing ninja." Rice Shower visibly relaxed.

"Pfft—!"

Just as he regained his composure, Mizuno took another critical hit and collapsed again.

"Onii-sama?"

"Pfft! Ahem, don't worry. It's nothing, I was just practicing water-style jutsu."

"Okay." Rice Shower accepted the explanation, smiling once more.

She felt delighted to have bumped into Onii-sama during her afternoon run, though a small confusion lingered.

"It's really strange. Ever since I got your charm, I haven't bumped into anything else, but today I somehow bumped into you. I'm really sorry about that."

"Oh, really…?"

System, thoughts?

[(playing dead)]

"You came here to run?" Mizuno asked.

"Mm." Rice Shower nodded.

"Perfect, could you accompany Urara-chan during her training?"

"And if you're comfortable, I can offer you some personalized training tips."

Rice Shower didn't yet have a trainer, so her usual practice was aimless running until exhaustion. As a result, her improvement was slow, and she desperately needed proper guidance.

Mizuno wasn't an experienced trainer himself, but his own abilities were rapidly improving. Though he wasn't yet at the level of a true veteran trainer, guiding an Uma Musume who hadn't debuted yet was just within his capability.

However, since Mizuno wasn't officially her trainer, Rice Shower hesitated to directly ask him for help. But if Mizuno requested her help first and offered guidance as thanks, she wouldn't have to worry about troubling him, allowing her to comfortably accept his advice.

Mizuno saw through this clearly, so he made a simple request to accompany Urara. Unlike the request made to King Halo, this was obviously Mizuno's special care for Rice Shower. After all, even without his prompting, Rice Shower would have gladly accompanied Urara anyway.

Indeed... he truly couldn't escape the curse of being an "Onii-sama."

By suggesting Rice Shower run with Urara and offering guidance in return, he was subtly helping Rice Shower without significantly raising her affection level.

And he could also give Urara some bonus friendship training and complete the weekly quest, [Guiding Rice Shower].

Three birds, one stone.

"Really? Thank you so much~!" Rice Shower's eyes sparkled. She'd longed for a trainer with experience, and to her, the gentle Mizuno was perfect.

"Thanks, Onii-sama~"

"Pfft—!" Mizuno nearly fainted again from joy.

As expected, he couldn't handle being called "Onii-sama," no matter how often it happened.

...

An afternoon passed.

As the sun set, three sweating Uma Musume chatted happily, walking toward the edge of the track.

"Running is so much fun~!" Haru Urara laughed cheerfully.

"Urara-chan, you seem faster today," King Halo remarked.

"Really?!" Urara's eyes shone brightly.

"Mm, I felt it too. You did great today, Urara-chan~!" Rice Shower added.

"Yay~ Urara got faster~!" Urara's smile grew even brighter.

All of this was thanks to their trainer!

"Trainer-san~!" Seeing Mizuno waiting ahead, Urara excitedly rushed toward him.

"Good job." Mizuno handed her a towel and water bottle.

"Arigatou~!" Instead of taking them, Urara leaned forward expectantly.

"Hm?" Mizuno paused in confusion before quickly understanding and gently wiped the sweat off Urara's forehead.

Apparently, Urara thought trainers were supposed to do this because he'd wiped her sweat earlier that morning. Mizuno didn't mind at all—taking care of such a cute angel was something many dreamed of.

Seeing Urara's innocent expression, Mizuno felt like a proud father.

Ah, it really feels like I'm raising a daughter.

"…" Beside them, King Halo watched the heartwarming scene with a sour feeling.

She had always been the one to take care of Urara, so seeing her precious girl being stolen away felt like losing her daughter to someone else.

"Hmph!" King Halo jealously glared at Mizuno.

"Hm? Killing intent?" Mizuno swiftly sensed King Halo's jealousy without surprise.

As Urara's unofficial "mom," King Halo deeply cared for her, and naturally felt uncomfortable seeing her precious "child" doted on by someone else. Mizuno completely understood.

But why was Rice Shower also radiating a faint aura of jealousy? Was she also a mother-figure to Urara?

After helping Urara drink, Mizuno handed towels and water to Rice Shower and King Halo as well.

"Ah...thank you…" Rice Shower was surprised but accepted gratefully.

Rice Shower hesitated for a moment, looking hopefully toward Mizuno, but ultimately didn't find the courage to ask him to wipe her sweat, so she quietly did it herself.

"Thanks...hmph. Aren't you forgetting something?" King Halo received her towel and water but seemed to be reminding Mizuno of something more.

"Of course I haven't forgotten." Mizuno pulled three cups of honeyed drink from his dimensional pocket, handing one to each of them.

"Ohoho, I see you remember your promise to King Halo. A good subject deserves reward; I'll forgive you for now." King Halo took the honey drink happily.

"What's this?" Rice Shower looked curiously at the glowing beverage.

"It's my own honey special. Try it."

"Arigatou~!" Rice Shower tasted it eagerly upon learning Mizuno made it himself.

Urara and King Halo already knew its deliciousness and drank joyfully.

"Mmm~" All three girls instantly showed expressions of pure bliss.

The honey drink was so delicious it transported them to another world, their fatigue melting away in its sweet warmth.

"It's getting late. Go get dinner and rest well. We'll continue training tomorrow." Mizuno remembered something, handing Rice Shower a densely-written sheet of paper.

"This is the training advice based on your running earlier."

"I totally forgot. Onii-sama, you remembered!" Rice Shower exclaimed happily.

The page was meticulously detailed, even more professional than ordinary training schedules. Mizuno's neat, earnest handwriting further showed his sincerity.

"Thanks, Onii-sama."

[Weekly Task—Guiding Rice Shower]

Reward: Doctor's Outfit extended by one day.

Heh, the Onii-sama's heart was fully satisfied.

"Well then, see you later." Mizuno turned and disappeared from sight.

"Bye, Trainer-san~!"

"Goodbye, Onii-sama~!"

"Next time, don't go invisible. [King's Panic] isn't something you should casually show others."

As Mizuno left, Tokai Teio approached, staring at the honey drinks with wide eyes.

"Excuse me, but...where did you all get those honey drinks?"

...

As Mizuno walked toward the school gate, the System suddenly laughed maliciously.

[Hehehehe—]

Why are you suddenly the one losing your mind in chat?

[Because something interesting happened.]

What was it?

The System refused to answer.

System, are you a Trisolaran?

[Why suddenly ask that?]

It just occurred to me. Your traits of only telling the truth or playing dead remind me of them.

[…]

So, are you?

[No.]

A pity. I wanted to threaten you with Dark Forest theory.

[Ding—]

Onii-sama! I'm sorry! I surrender!

The System stayed silent, quietly laughing, anticipating Mizuno's upcoming misfortune.