Tokai Teio had a dream.

She dreamed she was in the Student Council President's office.

In front of her stood Mizuno, dressed in black from head to toe, and beside him was her most respected President Rudolf—smiling at the two of them like an old father marrying off his daughter.

"Eh? What's going on?" Teio tilted her head in confusion, not yet grasping the situation.

But dreams were just something her brain made up—backgrounds in dreams never needed explaining. Understanding came automatically.

And her brain told her: this was the scene of her forming a Trainer–Trainee bond with Mizuno.

Trainer Mizuno is finally willing to contract with me!

Teio's joy was boundless. At last, all her efforts had paid off.

At that moment, Symboli Rudolf turned toward Mizuno.

"Trainer Mizuno, do you agree to become Teio's Trainer? To love her, to be loyal to her, in poverty, in sickness, or in disability, until death. Do you?"

"I do!" Mizuno answered instantly—his voice so eager, it seemed he couldn't wait another second.

Then Rudolf turned to Teio.

"Teio, do you agree to become Trainer Mizuno's Uma Musume? To love him, to be loyal to him, in poverty, in sickness, or in disability, until death. Do you?"

She wasn't quite as desperate as Mizuno, but deep down she had been waiting for this scene for so long. Her answer, of course, was yes.

"I do."

The bond was formally established!

Crack.

Suddenly, Teio's surroundings shattered like a broken mirror.

Walls collapsed, the floor turned into a sapphire-blue sea, and across the endless sky floated puffs of clouds, light and drifting.

And around Teio appeared her many friends, clapping, cheering, congratulating her all at once.

McQueen: "Omedetō~"

Urara: "Omedetō~"

Rice Shower: "Omedetō~"

King Halo: "Congratulation~"

Gold Ship: "Awoo awooo~"

Mayano Top Gun: "Omedetō~"

Rudolf and Mizuno: "Omedetō~"

"President… Trainer Mizuno… and everyone…" Seeing her friends all celebrating her successful bond with Mizuno, Teio was deeply moved. A sweet smile bloomed on her face.

"Thank you."

Clatter.

As soon as Teio spoke her thanks, the scene shifted again.

This time she was in Team TAC's training room, just the two of them.

Mizuno was at the whiteboard, explaining a training plan with endless patience. Teio sat below, listening.

But since this was a dream, she couldn't hear the details—only that it was impressive, and surely very useful for her.

Then they went running at the track. After running, they returned to the training room to hear more plans. Then back to the track. Over and over, the two scenes repeated.

Time in the dream passed quickly.

They went through many things together—happy memories, painful struggles.

For instance, Teio suffered multiple fractures along the way. For a racehorse girl, that was devastating. A single misstep and she could lose her chance to ever stand on the track again, her dream of an undefeated Triple Crown shattered.

But thanks to Trainer Mizuno, every time he would shout, "I'm about to make a decision that betrays my ancestors!" Then he'd use some medicine, and the fracture would be resolved with ease.

With Mizuno's help, Teio swept through every race that followed, leaving all opponents far behind.

Not only did she easily claim the undefeated Triple Crown—she carried her undefeated streak endlessly forward. As long as she raced, victory was certain. She even surpassed the President she so respected, becoming the strongest Uma Musume in history.

"Teio, you've done magnificently!" praised Rudolf.

"Teio, you're truly the cutest and strongest little sister in my heart!" Mizuno praised.

"Teio! Teio! Teio!" an endless chorus of fans cried out.

"Hehe~" Teio proudly puffed out her chest, basking in her glory.

Her dream—fulfilled beyond all measure!

Clack!

The scene shifted again—now it was a wedding chapel.

The arrangement was the same as the bond ceremony: Mizuno in front, Rudolf beside him.

Only this time, aside from Mizuno still in his never-changing black clothes, Rudolf was dressed as the officiant, neat and spotless. Their friends in the audience too were beautifully dressed.

Even Teio herself now wore a pure, gorgeous wedding gown.

Her brain told her: this was her wedding with Mizuno.

"M–Me? I'm marrying Trainer Mizuno?!" Teio could hardly believe it.

But the dream quickly let her accept the setting she herself had wished for.

As the officiant, Rudolf began her role.

"Groom Mizuno, do you take the bride, Tokai Teio, as your wife? To love her, to be loyal to her, in poverty, in sickness, or in disability, until death. Do you?"

"I do!" Mizuno was just as impatient as before, making Teio blush deeply.

Trainer Mizuno was always so distant with everyone—why was he suddenly this passionate?

Though… it didn't feel bad at all.

"Bride Tokai Teio, do you take groom Mizuno as your husband? To love him, to be loyal to him, in poverty, in sickness, or in disability, until death. Do you?"

"I do." Teio nodded.

"Please exchange rings."

Mizuno knelt on one knee and slid a ring the size of a pebble onto Teio's finger.

But when it came time for Teio to give Mizuno his ring, she searched all over herself, and there was none.

In desperation, she pretended to hold an air-ring, awkwardly slipping it onto his finger.

But because this was a dream, everyone accepted Teio's absurd gesture without batting an eye.

"Good. The groom may now kiss the bride."

"K–Kiss?!" Teio was shy, but even more curious.

Curious about what lay under Mizuno's hood.

Big lips? Buck teeth?

Since they were about to kiss, surely he'd have to show his face…

Stare~

Teio blushed, eyes fixed on Mizuno, waiting for the moment he would lift the hood.

And in the dream, Mizuno did as she wished—leaning close, pulling back the hood, revealing his true face.

"This—?!" Teio's eyes widened.

Trainer Mizuno's true face was…

A yellow T-shaped… thing.

...

"!"

Teio jolted awake, sitting up in bed.

She looked around—still in her dorm room.

The room was pitch dark, still before dawn. Her roommate Mayano Top Gun was hugging her carrot pillow, sleeping soundly.

Teio blinked, recalling the dream.

"What a weird dream…"