Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement Chapter 163: Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement [163]

"Ah... well, about that..."

Facing Tokai Teio's question, Mizuno felt a wave of headache coming on.

Though he'd previously imagined plenty of unexpected scenarios that might disrupt his secluded research phase—like sudden hailstorms, earthquakes, tsunamis, plants mutating wildly, or even alien invasions—and had even prepared detailed counterasures to handle them, he'd still hoped to minimize any interruption to his plans.

He had even prepared for the possibility of his hidden spot being discovered. After daily research, he'd planned to use his spare ti to dig a cellar and place sensors around the garden, intending to hide imdiately if any familiar Uma approached.

But Mizuno never expected that day would arrive so quickly! So suddenly!

He hadn't even started digging his cellar when he got caught red-handed by an Uma—and worst of all, it happened to be the one he feared most…

If it had been Urara or Rice Shower, things might've been easier—at least he could find so plausible excuse to coax them away, and then continue his experints undisturbed.

But now, the one who'd caught him was Tokai Teio. The situation wouldn't be nearly that simple…

"..." Mizuno hesitated for a long ti before finally steeling himself and explaining his situation truthfully.

"Teio, I've actually been here doing research these past few days."

"Research?" Tokai Teio tilted her head curiously. "What kind of research?"

"Er... researching the specific growth cycle of cereus and trying to cultivate a variety with a shorter blooming ti..." Mizuno replied honestly.

"Huh? Researching cereus?" Teio's face beca even more confused. "But isn't a Trainer's responsibility to train Uma? Why are you suddenly studying plants instead?"

"Guh…" Mizuno didn't know how to respond to this critical question.

Even though he'd prepared a training plan for everyone beforehand and asked Kiryuin Aoi to help take care of them, he still couldn't deny that he had set aside the Uma he was responsible for, neglecting his fundantal duty as their Trainer.

But Mizuno also couldn't just stand by and watch another Uma suffer or ruin her future due to his own mistakes, leaving him no choice but to first deal with the ss he'd left behind.

"I'm sorry..." Mizuno sincerely apologized from the bottom of his heart.

However, Teio seed to misunderstand Mizuno's apology completely.

"Hmm? Why's Trainer apologizing to ?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, cheeks puffing up suspiciously as she glared at Mizuno. "Could it be…Trainer's studying flowers so you can give them to another girl?"

"Ah?" Mizuno, who was just wrestling internally with guilt and responsibility, was caught completely off guard by Teio's sudden accusation.

Wait, wait—wasn't the topic just now about him neglecting his responsibilities as a Trainer? How had it suddenly jumped to him giving flowers to so other girl?

But the problem was...Teio wasn't exactly wrong. He really was researching flowers specifically to give them to Air Groove—and not even simply gifting them; rather, fulfilling her wish by planting cereus together, and letting her watch the flowers bloom from seed to blossom...

Tsss… Now that I think about it more carefully, it really does sound kind of ambiguous…

"Trainer" Seeing Mizuno didn't imdiately deny it, Teio's expression grew even more hostile.

"Ahem, Teio, don't misunderstand!" Mizuno coughed awkwardly a few tis, then explained quickly, "I'm actually here working on a secret mission."

"A secret mission?" Teio tilted her head again.

"That's right, and it was entrusted to personally by President Rudolf," Mizuno said.

"The President?!" Teio was stunned at the ntion of Symboli Rudolf.

Mizuno continued, "And the subject of this secret mission is soone you know—none other than the Student Council Vice President, Air Groove."

"Air Groove-senpai?!" Teio exclaid in surprise.

Afterward, Mizuno explained everything to Teio—except, of course, that he himself was the mysterious masked figure. He described the sudden appearance of the mysterious person, Air Groove's emotional decline afterward, and how Air Groove had wanted to plant cereus.

"So that's how it is…" After hearing the explanation, Teio lowered her head, thoughtful.

It had indeed been a long ti since she'd seen Air Groove-senpai. Previously, when she'd spoken with President Rudolf, she'd also heard sothing vague about a mysterious figure appearing at Tracen Academy. It turned out the two incidents were connected.

That mysterious person was seriously detestable—running off after flirting and leaving behind a ss without any care! If she ever caught them, she definitely wouldn't let them off easily!

"Trainer, you should've told sooner about this! You suddenly vanished without any ssages; I even thought you might've been kidnapped by so villain," Teio laughed.

Mizuno: "..."

Isn't the Uma most likely to kidnap soone into a basent standing right in front of ...?

"Alright! I've decided!" Teio suddenly leapt up from the ground, fists clenched, her expression determined.

"I'm going to help too!"