Thanks to Tokai Teio's help, today's experiment preparations had wrapped up in record time. All that remained was to wait until tomorrow to see the results.

Mizuno lay comfortably on a recliner in the garden clearing, sunglasses shading his eyes as he quietly basked in the sunlight.

Several birds didn't even notice someone was here—they simply felt the warmth of the sun and smelled the comforting fragrance in the air, happily landing on Mizuno's body to enjoy the leisurely moment.

Today was Mizuno's easiest day in recent memory.

The most exhausting physical tasks had mostly been handed off to Teio, saving him considerable time and energy.

If it had been the previous days, Mizuno would still be struggling with digging and planting seeds at this time. Later in the evening, he'd have to compile yesterday's plant growth data, analyze the results, and finish all his work around midnight before collapsing into exhausted sleep.

And then he'd have to rise early the next morning, record plant growth, and repeat the complicated cycle again.

But today, Teio had saved him so much time by helping that he'd already completed the data compilation early, granting him the rare luxury of lounging peacefully in the sun.

Teio had headed back to the dormitory to shower, her clothes completely soaked through with sweat.

However, just before leaving, she'd left Mizuno with one sentence:

"Trainer, I'll have a surprise for you next time we meet~!"

"A surprise?" Mizuno felt his whole body tense at the mention.

By "surprise," did she mean she'd go back and tell the other members of the team about this place, and then return with the entire Uma squad in tow...?

"Teio, you absolutely must not reveal anything about this place," Mizuno had urged her.

"Don't worry, Trainer." Tokai Teio had raised one finger to her lips, winking playfully. "I won't tell a third person—this will be our special little secret~!"

Having said that, she'd skipped away cheerfully.

"..." Mizuno had no clue what exactly Teio had in mind.

Still, given how things had turned out, Mizuno decided it was best to make full use of this precious free time, lying back on the recliner and soaking up the sunlight again.

However, only a few minutes into his relaxing sunbath, just as he was drifting off into a pleasant doze beneath the warm rays, something suddenly blocked the sunlight.

The birds resting on his body startled, fluttering away immediately.

"?" Confused, Mizuno removed his sunglasses, looking up to see who was disturbing his rare moment of peace.

Standing before him was an Uma—dragging a large suitcase behind her—gazing down at him with a pleasant smile.

This Uma looked somewhat similar to Tokai Teio, so Mizuno initially assumed Teio had returned.

But upon closer inspection, he realized the Uma in front of him was neither Teio nor any other member of his own squad. Instead, it was... Follow current novels on novᴇlfire.net

Symboli Rudolf!

"President Rudolf? Is this the surprise she meant?" Mizuno sprang from his seat in shock, immediately connecting Rudolf's sudden appearance with the "surprise" Teio had mentioned earlier.

But to Mizuno, Rudolf showing up was definitely a shock—yet not at all delightful!

One of the reasons Mizuno had managed to get permission to live out in the garden, aside from the convenience for his experiments, was precisely to escape the awkward situation of living under the same roof—and sleeping in the same bed—as Symboli Rudolf.

After all, as a prominent public figure of the academy, spending every night sleeping alongside a member of the opposite sex...what kind of behavior was that?

Yes, you! I'm talking about you, Student Council President Symboli Rudolf!

Doing things like this—how could you possibly serve as a role model for other students? How could you expect to find a husband afterward?!

Mizuno had desperately wanted to move out, but he'd lacked a suitable reason and place until now.

Finally, he'd found an excuse yesterday, and had barely enjoyed a single night of solitude, freedom, and quiet before Rudolf showed up today, suitcase in tow—apparently packed with clothes and toiletries…

"Gwah..." Mizuno instinctively took a step back toward the tent, arms crossing protectively in front of himself.

It was the natural defensive reaction of a weaker organism encountering an overwhelmingly powerful invader entering its territory.

But Rudolf completely misinterpreted Mizuno's reaction and words.

"So my arrival is actually a surprise to Trainer Mizuno…" Rudolf felt her mood brighten instantly, mentally filling in the meaning behind Mizuno's earlier gesture.

Taking a step backward probably meant he was politely inviting her inside the tent.

And as for folding his arms…

It must mean a hug—obviously expressing how deeply he'd missed her!

"I understand, I understand. I missed our nights together too," Rudolf responded knowingly, her expression clearly conveying an "I totally get you" feeling, as if she'd seen straight through Mizuno's innermost thoughts.

"Hah?!" Mizuno stared blankly.

No, hold on! What exactly did she "understand"? And what on earth was she talking about, "missed our nights together"?!

"Since you're welcoming me so warmly, I feel at ease now." Rudolf nodded toward Mizuno with satisfaction, then promptly dragged her suitcase into the tent.

"Wait—!" Mizuno tried to stop her, but Rudolf moved faster.

She'd already arrived beside the bed, calmly unpacking a pillow from her suitcase and placing it neatly next to Mizuno's own.

"Now this is more like it." Rudolf nodded again in satisfaction, continuing to unpack several more items from her suitcase and arranging them throughout the tent as naturally as decorating her own home.

"YAMERO—!" Mizuno's heart shattered as he watched his private space gradually stained by someone else's colors.

The private territory he'd worked so painstakingly to establish had once again been invaded by a force he was utterly powerless to resist!