After a whole afternoon of preparation, all the ingredients they had bought were processed.

Most were turned into dishes, wrapped in plastic wrap, to be reheated in the microwave when the banquet began—ready to eat immediately.

A smaller portion was washed or made into meatballs, set aside for a hotpot at the feast, to be boiled and eaten as they went.

In addition, Tokai Teio and King Halo, under Mizuno's guidance, successfully learned how to make fried carrots.

At first they were clumsy. Too little flour, and the filling leaked into the oil; too long in the fryer, and the coating turned rock-hard, nearly cracking teeth.

But after several rounds of practice, they finally produced a passable plate.

After trying the taste themselves and finding it acceptable, they immediately offered some to Mizuno.

"Pretty good," Mizuno said after tasting.

"Though your timing still needs work, to get from clueless beginner to this level in just one afternoon shows you have talent. With more practice, more experience—when the school festival comes, you could sell these at a stall. You'd have plenty of buyers."

"Really? That's great~" Both Uma's ears twitched happily at his praise.

"Let me try too." Kiryuin Aoi picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth.

After tasting, she gave her verdict:

"Mmm~ very good. No doubt you two will make excellent wives someday."

"Hmph, of course. A first-rate like myself is perfect at everything. Even as a wife I would—eh?!" King Halo froze, suddenly realizing what she had just said.

"W-wife?!" Her little face flushed red as she glanced at Mizuno in panic.

"Wife, huh…" Teio's reaction wasn't as extreme, but her cheeks still turned pink. She looked down, twisting her fingers, as if remembering something.

Mizuno stared at their bashful faces, eyes wide with terror, his heart skipping a beat.

Trainer Kiryuin, are you insane?! Why bring up wives?! Do you know reckless talk like that drags me straight toward the basement?!

"Ahem… Trainer Kiryuin, isn't it a little too early to talk about things like that…?" Mizuno managed.

"You're right." Kiryuin nodded, then searched for another topic.

After some thought, she asked:

"Then… what kind of girls does Trainer Mizuno like?"

"…"

Silence fell. Even the sound of chopping stopped.

"Huh? Why did everyone stop?" Urara's puzzled voice rang out extra loud.

Reminded, the others resumed making noise—but far less naturally than before.

"Uuu…" Mizuno buried his face in his hands, wanting to cry.

He didn't even need to look—he knew every ear was pricked, waiting for his answer.

Trainer Kiryuin, I beg you… please stop…

...

Evening came.

They carried everything back to the training room. The table was piled with dishes. Colorful balloons hung on the walls. Two paper crowns, like birthday hats, were placed on Urara and Happy Meek's heads. Finally, the long-awaited celebration began.

"Let's toast to our two champions~ Cheers!"

Glasses of honey drink clinked together, emptied with joy.

"So delicious~" For Kiryuin Aoi and Happy Meek, it was their first time tasting something this good. They kept refilling, drinking nonstop.

And not just the honey drink—Mizuno's cooking was irresistible too.

He had anticipated their huge appetites, making large amounts of every dish, so no one had to worry about food running out.

Thus began a blissful time of eating and eating, every Uma indulging to her heart's content.

And in the middle of this feast, Mizuno realized one undeniable truth.

Not only were humans physically weaker than Uma—our appetites didn't even come close.

After two plates and a bowl of rice, Mizuno's stomach was already crying oysters… oysters…

But Urara and the others—even though their bodies were slimmer, their waists thinner—their stomachs held several times his capacity! Darwin could be dragged out of his coffin to be slapped in the face!

Especially Rice Shower. Small, delicate, eating politely, tiny bite by tiny bite—yet her stack of empty plates always outnumbered the others' by a dozen. In ten minutes, she could eat what Mizuno would take two days to finish.

"You keep eating—I'll step outside for some air."

Stuffed, Mizuno didn't want to just sit awkwardly, watching elegant girls devour mountains of food. He slipped out of the training room.

Outside was darkness, lit only by a sliver of moon casting silver over the ground, filling it with poetry.

Ignoring the thumps of some poor trainer in the next room being dragged by his two Uma into another "dance," the night was quiet, serene.

Closing the door, shutting away the noise, Mizuno embraced the stillness outside.

He sat on the steps at the entrance, head lowered toward the concrete ground.

From between the trees came the occasional chirp of insects. A breeze brushed his hood, bringing coolness.

"Haa…" Mizuno felt the peace seep in. His body relaxed.

He was exhausted. So many troubles piling one after another, no time to rest. His body had built up fatigue, and now that he loosened, drowsiness rushed in, impossible to resist.

His eyes slid closed, colors draining from him, body slumped as if burning out entirely.

Just as he was about to drift off, a voice called, snapping him awake.

"Trainer Mizuno?"

He opened his tired eyes, looking toward the voice.

"President Rudolf?" Mizuno blinked in surprise.

It was indeed Symboli Rudolf—the Academy's Student Council President, Teio's father figure, the one who had threatened him last night with Hayakawa-san, and who was supposed to go out with him tomorrow.

Her eyes were weary, her hair messy, the usual imperial aura barely clinging to her. Right now, she looked more like a harmless sheep, clearly drained from council work, on her way back to her dorm.

That was exactly it—passing by here, she remembered Teio telling her about tonight's victory party, glanced over, and spotted Mizuno sitting outside.

Both of them, worn out, exchanged a look—and for a moment felt a kinship of fatigue.

"You're holding a victory party here, aren't you? Teio told me."

"Yes." Mizuno nodded.

"They're eating happily. Would President Rudolf like to join us?"

She thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"If I enter, the mood will stiffen, the lively atmosphere ruined. It's happened before, so I'd best not intrude."

Then she asked curiously:

"Why are you sitting here, Trainer Mizuno?"

"Oh, I ate my fill. Just came out for some air."

"I see."

They fell into silence, unsure what else to say.

"Forgive me, I feel a bit dizzy. May I sit beside you for a while?"

"Please." Mizuno scooted aside, leaving a large empty space.

He didn't know why, if she was so tired, she didn't just go rest, but since it was only a small thing, refusing would have been rude. So he agreed.

"Thank you."

She sat slowly, turning to face the same direction. True to her word, she only rested, keeping a proper distance the whole time—Mizuno sighed in relief.

He looked down at the dirt. She looked up at the stars. Both quiet, lost in thought.

"Trainer Mizuno, don't you think tonight's scenery is beautiful? Especially the moon."

"Is it?" Mizuno lifted his head.

Indeed—the moon was dazzling. With the serene air around them, he almost wanted to say "The moon is beautiful."

But in Japan, "The moon is beautiful" is a confession—I love you.

And with Rudolf's nickname from her crescent-like bangs being Luna, "The moon (Luna) is beautiful" could easily be taken as "Luna is beautiful."

Mizuno knew enough to sense danger. He would never say that.

So he answered flatly:

"Yes. The sunlight reflected off Earth's satellite is beautiful."

"Eh?" Rudolf blinked—then laughed softly.

"Fufu… Trainer Mizuno's jokes are so unique. Unlike any I've heard before. To describe emotional scenery with rational scientific terms, letting them collide into humor—it has a special flavor. I like it."

"…Uh." Mizuno was speechless.

That wasn't a joke at all…

By now he had learned something about Rudolf.

She over-interpreted everything. While he was stuck at ground level—maybe even underground—she would leap to the stratosphere, imagining depths in his simplest words, idolizing him as some great man. That was why she had forced Teio onto him.

But Mizuno knew himself clearly enough.

He was lazy, stupid, petty, ugly, arrogant, selfish, irresponsible trash. Entrusting Tokai Teio to him was a waste of heaven's treasures. Smashing lutes for firewood, boiling cranes for soup!

[Fortune]: Tsk…

[Mizuno]: What? Am I wrong?

[Fortune]: Ah yes yes, Mizuno-dono, you're right.

[Mizuno]: Tsk…

Then Rudolf said softly:

"Trainer Mizuno… you truly command my respect."

Hand pressed to her chest, she looked at him seriously.

"Even though I shamelessly threatened you last night—an unforgivable act—tonight you sit here calmly with me, no hint of rejection."

"Not only easing the awkwardness with humor, but even inviting me to tomorrow's outing with Teio."

"Your magnanimity… it moves me deeply."

"As for charisma… I, Emperor Rudolf, would call you strongest of all."

"…" Mizuno fell silent.

There she goes again, imagining things. I'm really not like that!

So he shook his head.

"President Rudolf, you misunderstand. It's not magnanimity. It's only that I've long understood—Sai weng shi ma, yan zhi fei fu (When the old frontier man loses his horse, who knows if it's a blessing)."

If not for her threats, he wouldn't have learned this morning that Teio had already claimed him as trainer long ago. If he had kept stalling, Teio might have turned dark and dragged him off anyway.

Better to know sooner, and carve a bright road from a dark one.

So rather than blame Rudolf, he almost wanted to thank her.

"Sai weng shi ma…?"

"You mean that Chinese tale, right? The frontier man who lost his fiancée Uma? She ran away, and he was heartbroken—but months later she returned with another Uma, and together they rode him until his pelvis shattered, so he couldn't serve in the army. But because of that, while every other man in the village was abducted by enemy Uma, only he was spared—living happily ever after under the care of his two wives."

"Pffft!" Mizuno spat blood.

What kind of twisted version was that?! Terrifying!

"Ahem—no, I mean, 'The world isn't simply black or white, but a delicate gray.' Yes, President Rudolf, you threatened me, but that doesn't mean you're wholly bad. Look at how hard you work for the Academy—you're a good Uma. Just… a bit too domineering at times."

"The world isn't simply black or white, but a delicate gray…" Rudolf closed her eyes in thought, then widened them, enlightened.

"Such profound wisdom. I've learned much."

Mizuno panicked—if she thought this was his own philosophy, she'd put him on an even higher pedestal.

"It's not mine—I'm just quoting someone else."

"Even so. That you grasp it so clearly means you're remarkable."

Just as she was about to say more, Rudolf yawned.

"Haa~" She rubbed at her eyes.

"Forgive me, I really am exhausted. To keep my body strong for racing, I'll rest now."

"Trainer Mizuno, talking with you tonight was a joy. I hope we can do it again. And I look forward to going out tomorrow with you and Teio."

"See you tomorrow." She smiled, and took her leave.

"See you tomorrow." Mizuno replied politely.

Only after she was gone, and he was sure she wouldn't suddenly return, did Mizuno finally relax, sighing with exhaustion.

"Haa… finally gone." He slumped again in his burnout pose, letting his body rest.

At that moment, the training room door burst open.

"Trainer-san~ Let's play Carrot Monopoly together!"

Urara came running out, jumping on his back.

Her bright smile shone like sunlight over him, sweeping away every trace of fatigue.

"Alright." Mizuno pushed himself up again, brushing dust from his clothes, and went back inside with Urara, joining everyone in the noisy fun of Carrot Monopoly.

And so, they all spent a joyful evening.

…If you ignored the poor trainer next door, still being dragged into wild "dancing" by his two Uma.