"Ah... well, about that..."

Facing Tokai Teio's question, Mizuno felt a wave of headache coming on.

Though he'd previously imagined plenty of unexpected scenarios that might disrupt his secluded research phase—like sudden hailstorms, earthquakes, tsunamis, plants mutating wildly, or even alien invasions—and had even prepared detailed countermeasures to handle them, he'd still hoped to minimize any interruption to his plans.

He had even prepared for the possibility of his hidden spot being discovered. After daily research, he'd planned to use his spare time to dig a cellar and place sensors around the garden, intending to hide immediately if any familiar Uma approached.

But Mizuno never expected that day would arrive so quickly! So suddenly!

He hadn't even started digging his cellar when he got caught red-handed by an Uma—and worst of all, it happened to be the one he feared most…

If it had been Urara or Rice Shower, things might've been easier—at least he could find some plausible excuse to coax them away, and then continue his experiments undisturbed.

But now, the one who'd caught him was Tokai Teio. The situation wouldn't be nearly that simple…

"..." Mizuno hesitated for a long time before finally steeling himself and explaining his situation truthfully.

"Teio, I've actually been here doing research these past few days."

"Research?" Tokai Teio tilted her head curiously. "What kind of research?"

"Er... researching the specific growth cycle of cereus and trying to cultivate a variety with a shorter blooming time..." Mizuno replied honestly.

"Huh? Researching cereus?" Teio's face became even more confused. "But isn't a Trainer's responsibility to train Uma? Why are you suddenly studying plants instead?"

"Guh…" Mizuno didn't know how to respond to this critical question.

Even though he'd prepared a training plan for everyone beforehand and asked Kiryuin Aoi to help take care of them, he still couldn't deny that he had set aside the Uma he was responsible for, neglecting his fundamental duty as their Trainer.

But Mizuno also couldn't just stand by and watch another Uma suffer or ruin her future due to his own mistakes, leaving him no choice but to first deal with the mess he'd left behind.

"I'm sorry..." Mizuno sincerely apologized from the bottom of his heart.

However, Teio seemed to misunderstand Mizuno's apology completely.

"Hmm? Why's Trainer apologizing to me?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, cheeks puffing up suspiciously as she glared at Mizuno. "Could it be…Trainer's studying flowers so you can give them to another girl?"

"Ah?" Mizuno, who was just wrestling internally with guilt and responsibility, was caught completely off guard by Teio's sudden accusation.

Wait, wait—wasn't the topic just now about him neglecting his responsibilities as a Trainer? How had it suddenly jumped to him giving flowers to some other girl?

But the problem was...Teio wasn't exactly wrong. He really was researching flowers specifically to give them to Air Groove—and not even simply gifting them; rather, fulfilling her wish by planting cereus together, and letting her watch the flowers bloom from seed to blossom...

Tsss… Now that I think about it more carefully, it really does sound kind of ambiguous…

"Trainer" Seeing Mizuno didn't immediately deny it, Teio's expression grew even more hostile.

"Ahem, Teio, don't misunderstand!" Mizuno coughed awkwardly a few times, then explained quickly, "I'm actually here working on a secret mission."

"A secret mission?" Teio tilted her head again.

"That's right, and it was entrusted to me personally by President Rudolf," Mizuno said.

"The President?!" Teio was stunned at the mention of Symboli Rudolf.

Mizuno continued, "And the subject of this secret mission is someone you know—none other than the Student Council Vice President, Air Groove."

"Air Groove-senpai?!" Teio exclaimed in surprise.

Afterward, Mizuno explained everything to Teio—except, of course, that he himself was the mysterious masked figure. He described the sudden appearance of the mysterious person, Air Groove's emotional decline afterward, and how Air Groove had wanted to plant cereus.

"So that's how it is…" After hearing the explanation, Teio lowered her head, thoughtful.

It had indeed been a long time since she'd seen Air Groove-senpai. Previously, when she'd spoken with President Rudolf, she'd also heard something vague about a mysterious figure appearing at Tracen Academy. It turned out the two incidents were connected.

That mysterious person was seriously detestable—running off after flirting and leaving behind a mess without any care! If she ever caught them, she definitely wouldn't let them off easily!

"Trainer, you should've told me sooner about this! You suddenly vanished without any messages; I even thought you might've been kidnapped by some villain," Teio laughed.

Mizuno: "..."

Isn't the Uma most likely to kidnap someone into a basement standing right in front of me...?

"Alright! I've decided!" Teio suddenly leapt up from the ground, fists clenched, her expression determined.

"I'm going to help too!"