"Good work today, Urara. It's Saturday, so take it easy and rest for the weekend."

Although Urara's debut race was just a week away, Mizuno wasn't anxious to intensify her training.

Continuous high-intensity workouts wouldn't enhance her strength; instead, they'd only tire her out and overload her body, potentially causing even more trouble.

Thus, even though the debut race was crucial, balancing training with proper rest was even more important.

"Okay~!" Urara answered cheerfully, immediately turning to grab King Halo's arm.

"Halo-chan~ How about we go shopping today? Let's buy some ice cream and carrots~!"

"I suppose we can, but I'll only accept top-tier ice cream and carrots. Mediocre food is beneath me."

"Top-tier ice cream and carrots? That sounds amazing! As expected of first-class Halo-chan~!"

"Ohohoho~!" Delighted, King Halo broke into her signature laughter.

The two headed back to the dorm, planning to freshen up before going out.

Shortly after Urara and King Halo left, Mizuno also decided to return to his dorm, probably to read more training manuals.

However, he'd barely taken a few steps when Hayakawa Tazuna suddenly appeared before him.

"Hello, Mizuno-san~!"

"Hello, Hayakawa-san."

"Today's Saturday, so you should be free, right? I'd like to invite you out for a meal—as thanks for what you did for me last time," she said with a gentle smile.

"A meal?" Mizuno scratched his head.

Earlier, he'd helped Tazuna solve her chronic leg pain. The next day, she had wanted to treat him to a meal as thanks, but at the time, Mizuno hadn't yet completed his trainer assignment with Urara, and with only two days remaining on his Doctor's Outfit, he simply couldn't afford the time. Thus, he'd missed the opportunity to deepen his friendship with Tazuna.

But today, aside from reading books, he had nothing else planned. Joining Tazuna for lunch seemed like a nice way to spend the day.

"Of course, I'd be happy to," Mizuno agreed.

"Great! I've already reserved a private room at a restaurant outside the school. Let's go now!" Tazuna eagerly led the way.

"Sure."

Mizuno was just about to follow when, from the corner of his eye, he noticed Kiryuin Aoi still sitting by the training track, deep in thought. An idea suddenly flashed through his mind.

Wait… Talking about deepening friendships, didn't I still have that side quest?

[Side Quest—Friendship Training]

Description: Become friends with a fellow trainer from your class and conduct joint training sessions.

Reward: [Doctor's Outfit] extended by three days.

Mizuno suddenly had a great idea.

Since he was planning on making new friends anyway, why limit himself to just one person? Why not strengthen friendships with multiple trainers at once?

He could take advantage of this meal to complete the side quest, extend his [Doctor's Outfit] for three more days, and give himself a bit more breathing room.

"Hayakawa-san, how about we invite Kiryuin-san and Kaneshiro-san to eat with us? It could double as an exchange session for everyone to share experiences."

"That's…" Tazuna paused, her expression reluctant.

Mizuno mistakenly assumed that Tazuna's reluctance stemmed from him inviting others along when she intended to thank him personally. Inviting extras to someone else's invitation was akin to a woman inviting a group of friends along to a romantic date—rude and inconsiderate. That probably explained her hesitation.

Therefore, Mizuno quickly added, "Don't worry, I'll cover their costs myself. I won't make you spend any extra money."

Ever since Mejiro McQueen had started paying him large sums for accompanying Urara's training sessions in exchange for honey drinks, Mizuno now had enough spare cash. Paying for a few extra meals wouldn't pose any problem at all.

"Well…" Tazuna's initial plan had been to enjoy a private lunch alone with Mizuno and fulfill certain secret intentions, not because of any worry about money.

But since Mizuno's suggestion seemed purely professional, if she insisted on it being just the two of them, she might reveal her true intentions too obviously. Thus, she reluctantly agreed.

"Of course. The more, the merrier. I'm sure it'll be fun," Tazuna smiled warmly.

"Thanks for understanding, Hayakawa-san," Mizuno responded gratefully.

Hayakawa-san really is a good friend!

Mizuno then approached Kaneshiro Takeru and Kiryuin Aoi.

"Kaneshiro-san, Kiryuin-san, Hayakawa-san and I plan to hold an exchange session over lunch to share our experiences. Would you like to join us?"

Kaneshiro Takeru hesitated briefly. "Can I bring my Uma Musume, Hinagiku, along?"

Beside him, Hinagiku nervously tugged at his sleeve. "Maybe I shouldn't…"

"Don't be nervous—it's just a simple exchange. Listening to other people's perspectives might help us improve." Kaneshiro gently stroked Hinagiku's head. "I'd be very happy if you joined."

"Um…" Hinagiku bashfully lowered her head, cheeks reddening.

Wow, smooth.

"Of course she can," Mizuno agreed readily.

"Great, we'll be coming then."

Kiryuin Aoi glanced around nervously. "Will Hiroshima Baoza be joining us?"

"No, we didn't invite him," Mizuno reassured her.

"Then count me in," she instantly agreed.

With everyone in agreement, they headed towards the restaurant Tazuna had reserved.

Upon arriving, they discovered the main dining area was already packed.

Since it was the weekend, and the restaurant was conveniently close to Tracen Academy, most customers were senior trainers spending quality time with their Uma Musume (tragic).

The main dining hall had long since filled up completely.

Thankfully, Tazuna had booked a private room in advance, so they were promptly escorted there.

As soon as they stepped into the private room, everyone was immediately impressed by how comfortable it was.

Though not extravagantly decorated, it was charming, cozy, and thoughtfully arranged. The carpeted floor was soft, ensuring that falling wouldn't cause injury, while the gentle fragrance of flowers lingering in the air instantly relaxed their minds.

Should someone feel sleepy, a small bed in the corner awaited them for a quick rest.

Most notably, the soundproofing was incredible. Despite the noisy environment outside, no outside noise could penetrate the room once the door was closed.

Hayakawa-san…

You really went all out for this thank-you meal, didn't you?