Student Council President's office.

Ten minutes ago, Rudolf had turned off the lights and left. Now, she switched them on again and stepped back inside.

Trainer Mizuno laid Hayakawa-san gently on the guest bench, then stood before the president's desk, facing Rudolf.

At this moment, Rudolf radiated a crushing authority. The weight of it pressed Mizuno's chest, made him lower his head instinctively, like a prisoner awaiting trial.

"Trainer Mizuno. What is your relationship with Hayakawa-san?"

"Ordinary friends."

"Ordinary friends? Do ordinary friends carry each other in a princess hold?"

"Uh, Hayakawa-san fell asleep. Carrying her out of an unsafe place—that should still fall within what an ordinary friend would do..."

"An unsafe place? Where exactly?"

"A secluded warehouse behind the school."

"And why would Hayakawa-san fall asleep in such a place?"

"Well... for some special reasons..." Mizuno broke into a sweat.

"Did you drug her?" Rudolf pressed.

"No."

"Hypnosis?"

"Does playing a math class on my phone count?"

"So, Trainer Mizuno, what you're saying is—you were in a secluded warehouse, studying math together with Hayakawa-san. She got sleepy from it and fell asleep. Then you carried her here to the infirmary?"

"Mm. Something like that..."

"Heh." Rudolf let out a cold laugh. "Trainer Mizuno, do you think I would believe that?"

"..." Mizuno stayed silent.

Honestly, even he found it hard to believe. The excuse was way too flimsy.

Who in the world would study math in a warehouse with an "ordinary friend," and sleep peacefully afterward? Obviously, the relationship wasn't that simple.

But he couldn't exactly say, My scent calms Uma Musume, so when she holds me, she falls asleep.

That would expose his Uma Mint secret.

"Trainer Mizuno..." Rudolf rose to her feet, the pressure in the room intensifying.

Under her piercing gaze, Mizuno's forehead broke out in sweat.

This was it. He was going to be forced into a CP, told to take responsibility for Hayakawa-san.

But wait—he had been the one cornered. Why was he the one expected to "take responsibility"?!

Damn it! When would boys finally get to stand up for themselves?!

Yet just as Mizuno was racking his brain for a way to prove his innocence with Hayakawa, Rudolf's next words struck like lightning.

Arms crossed, she declared sternly:

"Trainer Mizuno, I now strongly suspect you are in fact an internationally wanted criminal. You've hidden your identity, infiltrated Tracen Academy, and now you're targeting our members. Hayakawa-san being your first victim!"

"?"

Mizuno was utterly dumbfounded.

Wasn't she supposed to keep hammering away at his "ambiguous relationship" with Hayakawa-san? How had he suddenly become... an international fugitive?!

No, no, this wasn't right...

Who was trying to frame him today?!

"President Rudolf, why would you say that?" Mizuno asked hurriedly.

Rudolf smiled faintly. "Because Trainer Mizuno always hides his face, never showing his true appearance. How could that not make others suspect you're a criminal?"

"President Rudolf, I told you before—I'm just a chuunibyou. That's why I like hiding my face." Mizuno explained.

"Then Trainer Mizuno, do you dare remove your hood now? Let me see your true face. Prove you're merely a chuunibyou and not a wanted man." Rudolf pressed.

"Uh..." Mizuno faltered.

That... he really couldn't. If he lifted it, then he would be exactly the kind of criminal she accused him of—one with a face lethal to Uma Musume.

A wanted man who was super effective against horse girls.

I need a way out...

Thinking hard, Mizuno came up with an idea.

He covered his face, pretending to be stricken.

"Sigh... President Rudolf, to tell the truth... my face was ruined in an accident. It's hideous. I feel ashamed. I don't want others to see. Please understand."

He thought playing the tragic card might move Rudolf's sympathy, make her drop the subject.

But Rudolf only shook her head.

"When it comes to the lives and safety of the academy's Uma Musume, 'I don't want people to see my face because I'm ashamed' cannot be an excuse. Moreover..."

She pressed a hand to her chest, speaking sincerely: "Trainer Mizuno, don't worry. I am not the kind of Uma Musume who judges people by appearances. Whatever you look like, I would never despise you for it."

"..." Mizuno was choked again.

Damn it! In logic, he couldn't beat her at all!

"..." Seeing him cornered, Rudolf knew the time had come. She made her final strike.

She raised two fingers. "Now you have only two paths."

"One: remove your hood yourself, show me your face, and prove whether you are a wanted man or not."

"Two: I rip your hood off by force, and check your features against the wanted list."

"Trainer Mizuno. Choose."

"..." Mizuno broke into a cold sweat.

Those two options... weren't they the same thing?!

"Is there a third way?" he asked.

"There is." Rudolf nodded.

"What is it?"

Her lips curved upward. She raised her ring finger.

"Form an assigned bond with Teio. Let her watch you day and night. Then there'll be no need to worry you might harm other Uma Musume."

"Pffft!" Mizuno spat blood.

Now he understood. This—this was Rudolf's real purpose.

Everything she had said up until now—international fugitive, harmful to Uma Musume, lifting the hood—all of it was just leverage, just bargaining chips to force him into a bond with Tokai Teio!

Why... why was she so desperate to entrust Teio to him?!

"President Rudolf, weren't you worried I might be a dangerous criminal? Then aren't you afraid I'll hurt Teio if you force her on me?" Mizuno asked.

"It's only a suspicion," Rudolf replied kindly.

"In truth, I believe you're not a bad man. A responsible Trainer like you, if bonded with Teio, will surely treat her well."

"Doesn't that mean you trust me a lot?"

"I do. But the other Uma Musume may not."

"What do you mean?" Mizuno frowned.

Rudolf gestured toward the door, smiling.

"Right now, it's only the three of us inside. But can I guarantee no one's listening outside?"

"Tomorrow, perhaps rumors will spread—that Trainer Mizuno is a dangerous man, that he secretly drugged Hayakawa-san and did unspeakable things to her..."

"And all the Uma Musume in the academy know Hayakawa-san, respect her, adore her. Among them are pampered heiresses, and children bursting with justice."

"If they learn such a dangerous person exists here, one who dared lay hands on Hayakawa-san—they will surely take matters into their own hands. They'll drag Trainer Mizuno to judgment themselves."

"Trainer Mizuno... surely you don't want to live every day under the eyes of an entire herd of Uma Musume, do you...?"