After King Halo's turn ended, it was Tokai Teio's turn.

She looked at Mizuno playfully and winked.

"I understand." Mizuno thought he got the message, quickly mixed a honey special drink, and placed it in front of the treadmill.

"You can begin." He gestured politely, then stepped aside to sit on the other side.

"Gu…" Tokai Teio's heart sank.

Mizuno-dono didn't understand her at all!

"…" She didn't say anything, just stepped onto the treadmill and started running toward the honey drink in front.

After ten minutes, though, her motivation was already fading.

Sure, she really liked the honey special drink, but compared to what she truly wanted, it wasn't nearly as powerful a drive.

She snuck a glance at Mizuno sitting to the side—he happened to be watching her too.

"Yay~" Teio's mood instantly soared. She lifted her hand and flashed three fingers at him.

Mizuno: "…"

Wow. It's the adorable Tokai Teio… nope, better look at Urara and Rice over there, my dudes~

Mizuno nodded politely at Teio's gesture, then turned his head to watch the others on the track.

"Gu…" Teio felt a pang of jealousy.

I'm the shining, adorable Teio—and he looks away, to watch other girls instead?

Not happy, not happy, not happy—

Quietly, she stepped off the treadmill, nudged it so it was facing Mizuno directly, and climbed back on.

"Mm." Teio nodded, satisfied. Now she could keep her eyes fixed on his back.

Instantly, she felt her motivation surge, several times stronger than when chasing honey drink.

"I'll definitely work hard and get everything I want—whether it's first place, or a Trainer…"

With that vow, Tokai Teio ran with renewed determination, radiating unstoppable energy.

"Eh…?" Mizuno, who was admiring little angels Urara and Rice on the track, suddenly shivered.

Strange. Why did it suddenly feel cold?

After Teio, it was Mejiro McQueen's turn.

And just like Teio, she waited until Mizuno was distracted, then quietly turned the treadmill to face him—doubling the length of his mysterious chill.

"Did winter come early? But… it's summer." Mizuno glanced at the blazing sun overhead, yet felt no warmth at all.

Finally, it was Gold Ship's turn.

But…

"Ship-bro?" Mizuno looked around, scratching his head.

Bathroom break? Or off to do something weird?

…Or maybe she just ditched?

Even after waiting ten minutes, she still didn't show. That confirmed it.

"Figures. Ship-bro's skipping training again."

...

That night.

After bathing, King Halo sat on her bed, opened her phone expectantly, and tapped into a certain chat.

[Conversation with my future first-class Trainer Mizuno]

[Mizuno]: King-san, your smile is so mysterious, so radiant. Even the Mona Lisa in the Louvre can't compare to a tenth of it.

[Mizuno]: Every part of you declares—King Halo is a first-class Uma Musume!

[Mizuno]: Though you shine so brightly, I dare not get too close. Do you know why?

[Mizuno]: Because you're too beautiful. One more glance and I'd explode. One step closer and I'd melt.

(Several hundred more words of praise omitted here)

"Ohohohoho—!" King Halo laughed gleefully, her ponytail swishing across the bed.

Just as she expected—Mizuno-dono had begun preparing to scout her.

All these compliments were just to raise her favorability. When the timing was right, he'd surely say the words: that he wanted to be the Trainer of first-class King Halo!

"Ohohohoho—!" She laughed confidently, convinced she had seen through everything.

"King-chan's so happy~ What are you looking at?" From the neighboring bed, Urara skipped over, crawling into her arms.

"Mizuno-dono is praising me~" King Halo didn't bother to hide it, proudly showing the chat to Urara.

"Wow~ Trainer-san wrote so much!" Urara's eyes sparkled with stars.

"Trainer-san must really like King-chan~"

"Ohohoho—of course! Who wouldn't like the first-class King?"

"Trainer-san's amazing too. King-chan, maybe you should become Trainer-san's Uma Musume?"

"Hmph. That depends on Mizuno-dono's sincerity." Halo lifted her chin proudly.

Truthfully, she already felt his sincerity, and acknowledged him—she was willing to become his trainee.

But it had to be him to say it. A first-class King could not make the first move. That would be beneath her.

So she typed a few words and sent them.

...

Mizuno sat at his desk, working on tomorrow's training plan.

Ding~ His phone buzzed with a new message.

He set down his pen, picked up his phone, and opened the chat.

[Conversation with King Halo, who needs encouragement]

[King Halo]: And then?

"Hm?" Mizuno blinked.

And then? Did that mean his praise wasn't enough?

After thinking for a moment, he composed himself and began typing.

[Mizuno]: King-sama is amazing~

[Mizuno]: Every time I think of you, my brain trembles.

[Mizuno]: Ahhh—King Halo is so beautiful! Ahhh—without seeing you, I'd die!

(Several thousand more words of flattery omitted here)

"Ohohohoho—!" King Halo felt light as air, like floating in heaven.

So comfy... She wanted to be praised like this forever.

"King-chan, there are lots of little shiny flowers above your head~" Urara tilted her face curiously from her arms.

Halo patted her head fondly, then typed the same words again.

[King Halo]: And then?

"?" Mizuno made the exact face of [Old man on subway with phone.jpg].

What? He'd already written thousands of words, and she still wasn't satisfied?

Wasn't that enough already?!

"…Fine." Mizuno sighed helplessly, and continued cranking out mini-essays of praise.

Their chat dragged on until midnight. In the end, King Halo couldn't resist sleepiness, hugged Urara, and dozed off without replying.

Mizuno waited five minutes. Seeing she hadn't sent another "And then?" he rejoiced.

"Finally over!" His whole body relaxed, and he collapsed into bed.

...

The next morning.

"Mmm…" King Halo slowly awoke, feeling warmth in her arms.

"Eh?" She looked down to see it was adorable Urara, still hugging her after a whole night.

Halo recalled what had happened yesterday.

She'd been chatting with Mizuno-dono while Urara asked to sleep together. She agreed. Urara fell asleep quickly, while she kept soaking in Mizuno-dono's praises…

"Oh no! Mizuno-dono!" Halo jolted awake completely.

She had fallen asleep too soon! What if Mizuno-dono had finally asked her to be his Trainer last night, and she hadn't replied—leaving him to think she didn't want him?!

"Not good!" She hurriedly opened the chat.

But there was no such message. Only endless lines of praise.

"…" She frowned, dissatisfied.

Why hadn't Mizuno-dono started trying to recruit her yet…

...

Meanwhile, Mizuno sat on the school bus.

Because he had gone to bed late after all that praising, and had gotten up early to finish the training plan he didn't complete last night, he was completely exhausted.

Slumped in his seat, he was half-asleep.

Ding~ His phone buzzed again.

Groggily, Mizuno fumbled it out of his pocket and opened the chat.

[King Halo]: And then?

"Pffft!" Mizuno spat a mouthful of blood, collapsing into the seat, drained of all life.

"Oyster~~"