Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement Chapter 207: Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement [207]

"This…doesn't seem very appropriate…"

Facing Air Groove's invitation, Mizuno felt sothing was a little off.

Had his relationship with Air Groove improved enough to the point where staying at her ho would be appropriate?

"It's completely appropriate!" Seeing that Mizuno didn't directly reject her, but instead hesitated uncertainly, Air Groove sensed that she still had a chance to abdu—persuade him to co ho with her!

She quickly took two steps closer to Mizuno, looking genuinely sincere:

"I wanted to properly thank you for helping fulfill my wish. So, inviting you over to my house and making you dinner is the least I could do. And besides…"

Air Groove blushed slightly, glancing shyly away as she gently brushed her hair back.

"My ho is actually quite spacious. Staying for a few days wouldn't be any trouble at all…"

Mizuno: "..."

Sothing's wrong… Sothing is definitely very wrong…

Air Groove's previous behavior of silently following him, combined with this vaguely suggestive invitation now, set off Mizuno's internal Uma-alarm, causing it to beep frantically!

Because Mizuno suddenly realized that at so point—without him even noticing—Air Groove's attitude towards him had completely flipped!

At first, she hadn't cared about him at all. Then she'd found him mildly annoying, and eventually wanted nothing more than to beat him senseless…

These earlier reactions from Air Groove were precisely what Mizuno had expected and even preferred, as he never wanted their relationship to beco too intimate…

But suddenly, as if she'd swallowed the wrong dication, Air Groove's attitude toward him made a complete 180-degree turn!

And now their relationship had sohow progressed to the point where Air Groove was personally offering to cook dinner for him?!

"Thanks for the offer, but I really shouldn't!" Mizuno hastily took several steps back, opening so distance between himself and Air Groove, then quickly hid behind Symboli Rudolf.

He realized clearly that if he continued to interact with Air Groove any further, their relationship would surely develop into sothing even more intimate! Mizuno absolutely did not want that!

"Guh…" Seeing Mizuno not only reject her invitation but suddenly back away as if she were so dangerous plague, Air Groove felt deeply confused—and simultaneously experienced a wave of disappointnt.

Why was Mizuno afraid of her? She clearly had no intention of harming him at all!

She'd simply wanted to clean his room a few tis, cook for him occasionally, maybe wash his clothes, and perhaps force him to stay at her ho for as long as possible…

In stark contrast to the saddened Air Groove, Symboli Rudolf was extrely pleased right now.

"Fufu~" Watching Mizuno hide behind her, Rudolf revealed a satisfied smile.

Mizuno's reaction ant he had finally accepted Rudolf's protection from the bottom of his heart. When afraid, he'd instinctively hidden behind her!

Symboli Rudolf felt an unprecedented sense of achievent—as if the stray cat she'd patiently fed for weeks had finally let down its guard, actively approaching her and rolling onto its back to expose its belly!

Perhaps after a few more weeks of feeding, it would obediently follow her ho, allowing her to pet and cuddle it to her heart's content!

"Fufu!" Rudolf imdiately decided she must strike while the iron was hot—make a decisive move now, and have Mizuno rely on her even more deeply!

So Rudolf turned toward Mizuno and suggested gently:

"Mizuno, how about staying at my ho, then? My place is also quite spacious…"

"No way!" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ N0v3l.Fiɾe

Mizuno shook his head decisively, rejecting Rudolf without even needing to consider it.

Back when they were in the boys' dormitory, Rudolf had already beco completely uncontrollable, bullying him daily as if she were the true mistress of his room and he was nothing more than her helpless plaything…

If he went to stay at her actual ho, her own private domain, Mizuno couldn't even imagine how low his status would sink…

"Hm?" Rudolf was slightly startled by Mizuno's swift refusal, but quickly figured out why.

Ah, was the stray cat still not fully comfortable? Perhaps she'd rushed things too much…

Rudolf thought for a mont, then ca up with another idea.

"Mizuno, if you don't want to stay at my ho, you could always stay at a hotel."

"Oh?" Mizuno's eyes imdiately lit up.

Staying at a hotel was indeed an excellent compromise: He wouldn't have to suffer sleeping on the street, nor would he have to step into the dangerously high-risk environnt of an Uma's ho. Such a middle-ground solution was deeply appealing to Mizuno's cautious nature.

There was just one small issue…

He didn't seem to have enough money to afford a hotel room…

Mizuno had already spent all of his savings on Agnes Tachyon's potions, and had even borrowed hundreds of thousands from Rice Shower—debt he still hadn't repaid.

So, staying at a hotel was absolutely impossible. He had no choice but to find sowhere free to sleep.

There was that makeshift tent he'd set up near the flowerbeds. However, its defensive capability was far too weak—if any Uma wanted to Uma Pyoi him, all they had to do was flip open the tent flap, and he'd be helplessly at their rcy.

But the key issue was that Tokai Teio already knew the tent's location!

Mizuno absolutely didn't want to wake up each morning and see Tokai Teio lying directly on top of him…

It'd be even worse if Teio's hands started wandering, stripping his clothes while he was asleep…

Thus, sleeping in the flowerbed tent was also out of the question.

"Is there anywhere else I could stay tonight?"

Just as Mizuno was deeply troubled about where to spend the night, his eyes landed on a security Uma—or more specifically, the keys hanging from her waist—and an idea suddenly struck him.

Inside Tracen Academy, he still had another place to sleep that was much safer and more secure than the tent by the flowerbeds—

The training room!

Sure, it might be a bit chilly, and there definitely weren't any blankets. He'd have to push so chairs together or use a desk as a makeshift bed…

But the training room's strongest point was its security!

Apart from the key he held, the only other copies were with Haru Urara and Rice Shower. Mizuno hadn't given one to Tokai Teio yet. So, as long as he locked the door securely from the inside, any Uma without a key would have absolutely no way to get in!

This was infinitely safer than the tent!

"I finally know where to sleep tonight!" Mizuno said excitedly.

"Where?" Air Groove and Rudolf asked simultaneously, extrely curious.

"Hehe~ I'm not telling."

"…"

"Well then, see you tomorrow… Or, you know, whenever fate decides we et again."

Without waiting for either Uma to reply, Mizuno quickly moved away, heading toward the tunnel entrance, swiftly leaving the secret boys' dormitory area behind.

"…"

Rudolf and Air Groove silently watched Mizuno's departing figure. Both were secretly tempted to follow him, just to discover where he'd decided to spend the night.

If they knew Mizuno's new location, they could conveniently pay him private visits whenever they wanted…

But the two Uma glanced at each other simultaneously, realizing imdiately that they shared precisely the sa idea…

"Together?"

"Together."