Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement Chapter 288: Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement [288]

Five minutes later.

"Oysters…"

On the track, the young Uma Musu of Team TAC were gasping for breath, eyes full of frustration as they stared after the lightning-fast figure ahead.

They'd given it everything—lungs burning, legs trembling—but they still couldn't match that overwhelming opponent known as the Emperor. All they could do was watch helplessly as Symboli Rudolf crossed the finish line—marked by the cardboard cutout of Hishi Amazon—and took first place in the friendly match.

From start to finish, none of them had even co close.

Rudolf hadn't used an Escape strategy, sticking instead to her usual Leader running style, yet she was sohow even faster than the Uma Musu who specialized in Great Escape. Her stats and skill were simply on another level.

Even Tokai Teio and El Condor Pasa—among the current top runners—could only keep up for the first stretch. By the first corner, the gap had already widened into sothing hopelessly out of reach.

Symboli Rudolf's rhythm, pacing, and timing for her final sprint were flawless—so perfect that every Uma Musu present found themselves in awe, claiming they'd learned a lot just from watching.

Even Tokai Teio—Rudolf's biggest fan—had watched endless replays of her races, analyzing every movent in detail. She'd thought she understood her idol's strength.

But after chasing Rudolf with everything she had and still failing to close the gap, Teio finally understood: she was nowhere near there yet.

Every Uma Musu present felt deeply grateful to Symboli Rudolf. To race against such a strong rival, to feel that gap in strength firsthand, was an invaluable experience.

There was just one thing they couldn't quite accept…

Right after crossing the finish line, Symboli Rudolf imdiately left the track, heading straight for Mizuno—who was standing on the grassy sidelines—and spread her arms toward him.

"Then, as per our pre-race promise, Trainer Mizuno owes a date for the day~"

Under everyone's stunned gaze, Rudolf wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed her cheek against him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Huh?!"

The Uma Musu watching were frozen in disbelief.

They'd assud President Rudolf would exclude herself from the rankings, letting second place take the prize date with Mizuno.

But President Rudolf was counting herself in?!

"EEEEHHHHH?!!"

Especially Tokai Teio—her entire worldview shattered as she scread like a siren.

The person I like… was stolen by my dad—wait, no—by the senpai I idolize?!

"President Rudolf…" Mizuno looked at her silently, his expression behind the mask filled with pure disdain.

A seven-crown Uma Musu bullying rookies by making bets with them—seriously? You're proud of this?

"Co on, have so decency—let go of first and admit this was just a joke. You're not actually going on a date with , right?" Mizuno said calmly.

"Oh?" Rudolf tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusent as she studied him.

Face? What face could he possibly have left? He owed her so many favors that, by ancient law of the jungle, she could practically devour him right here and no one could complain—so how dare he refuse one little date?

Of course, she could admit it was a joke. She didn't want to make the rest of Mizuno's team jealous, after all; they might just spirit him off into the basent when she wasn't looking…

As Student Council President of Tracen Academy, she'd seen that kind of thing happen before—hardly preventable.

Trainer Mizuno had never once accepted a date from any Uma Musu. Maybe he'd already considered the risk this kind of bet could lead to.

Still, he'd have to pay a small price first…

"Alright…" Rudolf finally released him, pulling out a notebook and scribbling sothing down.

"This ti I'll let it slide. But you owe ten dates in the future—with interest. One Uma Pyoi per day overdue."

"Whatever." Mizuno shrugged indifferently.

Rudolf had used this teasing routine so many tis that he was completely immune to it now. Besides, she wasn't even human—why should he be scared?

"Wait, when did you switch notebooks?" he asked suddenly, noticing the one in her hands looked different.

"Oh, this? The last one's already full, so I started a new one." Rudolf smiled sweetly.

"I see." Mizuno nodded, unimpressed.

She was definitely lying—claiming she'd filled an entire notebook just to ss with him. Shaless as always.

"Prez…"

Ignoring her exhaustion, Tokai Teio jogged up to Rudolf and Mizuno, looking both curious and anxious.

"President, what kind of relationship do you have with Trainer-san?"

"What kind of relationship?" Rudolf asked, blinking innocently.

"The kind where… you like each other?" Teio bit her lip, eyes fixed on Rudolf, desperate for an answer.

"…" Rudolf froze for a mont, sneaking a cautious glance at Mizuno.

Did they really like each other… or was this just a one-sided crush?

Could teasing a boy really win his heart?

For so reason, Rudolf's chest tightened slightly.

"Of course not. We're just ve—ry ordinary friends," she said finally, patting Mizuno's shoulder in a way that felt a little too firm to be casual.

"Then, the date…"

"Just kidding. It was a random lie to motivate everyone."

"Oh, thank goodness…" Teio exhaled in relief, clutching her chest. She'd genuinely been afraid her beloved senior would steal her crush away.

If President Rudolf really liked Trainer Mizuno, she'd need an extra key to that secret room where she planned to—uh—carefully take care of him.

"Just a joke, huh…" Even though the others heard her explanation, they still looked suspicious.

That hug earlier had looked way too natural to be fake.

Symboli Rudolf had truly taught them a lesson today: fall behind, and you get punished. Stay weak, and soone will steal your man.

To protect what mattered, you had to beco so strong that no one dared challenge you.

"Onii-sama…" Rice Shower looked up at Mizuno, clutching her clothes tightly.

During the race, she'd realized just how weak she was. Forget President Rudolf—she could barely keep up with classmates like Tokai Teio and El Condor Pasa.

Faced with opponents she couldn't beat, she'd even felt the urge to give up for a mont.

But that was unacceptable.

When Onii-sama had co to save her, he'd faced down a lethal evil god, broken and bloodied, just to deliver the charm that could drive away Misfortune.

She was an Uma Musu—stronger than any human—so how could she ever back down?

Even if it cost her life, she had to protect him.

"Onii-sama!" Rice Shower ran up to Mizuno and grabbed his hand tightly, her eyes blazing with resolve. "I'll definitely beco stronger!"

"Good~" Mizuno, not quite understanding what she ant, smiled and patted her head anyway.

"Eh?! too!" Teio puffed up her cheeks, crouching in front of Mizuno and demanding her turn for head pats.

"Alright."

" too, too!"

One after another, the other Uma Musu crowded around him, cheerfully demanding their own share of affection.

"Fine, fine…" Mizuno sighed, lifting his tired arms to pat them all one by one.

Only one young lady with pale lavender hair stayed behind.

"Hm… is the situation really that urgent?" jiro McQueen murmured, touching her face thoughtfully as she watched.

"…"

Mizuno broke into a cold sweat, noticing the heart above McQueen's head flickering rapidly between pink and black. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.

"McQueen-san, stay behind after class. We need to talk."

"Eh? ?" McQueen blinked, pointing at herself.

"Yes, you," Mizuno confird with a weary nod.

He had to clear up this misunderstanding before that flickering heart turned completely black—otherwise, one day, a silver-haired girl might quietly drag him into a basent…