"Eh? Trainer-san?" Tokai Teio blinked in confusion.

Why is Trainer-san in my room?

Is it a hallucination from my fever?

Did I miss his honey drink so much that I imagined him being here?

Yet after staring for ten full minutes, Mizuno Sora was still sitting there quietly reading, even carefully turning pages so as not to disturb anyone.

Teio was certain now—this wasn't an illusion at all! It was the real Trainer-san!

But why did he sneak into my room? Was all his usual gentleness a lie? Is he actually a pervert taking advantage of me while I'm sick?

Teio wanted to jump up and kick him out, but she was still feeling miserable, her limbs weak. She couldn't even move, let alone get up to defend herself.

Her voice was also so hoarse that, even if she tried to scream, she'd probably alert Mizuno first rather than waking up Mayano Top Gun. Then who knows what unimaginable things he might do to her in panic…

President… Teio silently prayed for Symboli Rudolf to somehow protect her.

Half an hour passed, however, and Mizuno did nothing but turn pages.

Oh, right—at one point, his phone lit up with a message, but luckily he'd muted it beforehand.

[Mejiro McQueen]

[Mejiro McQueen]: Trainer-san, where are you?

[Mizuno Sora]: At the dorm.

Technically true—he was indeed at a dorm. Just… the girls' dorm.

[Mejiro McQueen]: Could I trouble you to come to the Academy? Teio has a cold and wants your honey drink.

[Mizuno Sora]: She can have some. Honey water provides energy when you have a cold.

[Mizuno Sora]: But drinking too much honey when sick could cause a sticky feeling in her throat and increase coughing.

[Mizuno Sora]: Considering how much Teio loves honey, she'll definitely overdrink.

[Mizuno Sora]: Besides, honey doesn't cure colds. Better wait until she's well.

[Mejiro McQueen]: Alright…

After replying, Mizuno calmly continued reading, showing no sign of any inappropriate intentions toward Teio.

Teio was becoming impatient.

Grrr… Teio felt oddly irritated.

While it was good he wasn't doing anything creepy, didn't it imply she had zero charm?!

Hey! There's a cute girl helplessly lying sick in bed. Are you seriously not going to do anything at all?

Was she really less appealing to Mizuno than a mere book?

Just as Teio grumbled internally, Mizuno finally moved!

Teio hurriedly shut her eyes, leaving just a small gap to watch.

"Haaah…" Mizuno exhaled quietly, closing the book with a look of deep satisfaction.

He reaffirmed his earlier belief:

'Basement'—author, you're a genius!

Mizuno carefully put the book down.

Is it finally happening? Teio gripped her blanket nervously, waiting for his next move.

Yet after putting away [From Getting Started as a Trainer! (Basement Ending)], Mizuno Sora simply took out another book—[Training Equipment: From Building Treadmills to Children's Toys]—and kept reading.

"???"

What are you even doing here? Did you come all this way just to read?

Is Tokai Teio really so unattractive?!

And even if she was unattractive, wasn't her adorable roommate Twin Turbo also sleeping nearby? Was he not interested in her either?

Infuriating!

"Achoo—!" Agitated, Teio suddenly sneezed.

Oh no! My nose is running!

She reached for the tissues on the table but couldn't quite get them.

As Teio struggled to stretch out, Mizuno moved again! He silently crept closer.

Is he finally going to act?! Teio grew tense once more.

But Mizuno simply nudged the tissue box closer so she could reach it easily, then quietly retreated, resuming his reading.

"???"

As Teio wiped her nose, her mind raced furiously, trying to decipher Mizuno's behavior. She couldn't make sense of it at all.

What is he doing? How old is he? Who gave birth to me?

"Cough, cough…" Teio coughed a bit, her throat feeling dry.

Mizuno moved once again, quietly pouring a cup of water and placing it gently on the table.

A huge question mark appeared above Teio's head.

With how sneaky he's being, does Trainer-san actually think I can't see him?

"Gulp~" Teio lifted the cup, drank it all, and lay back down, pretending to sleep.

Phew, that felt better.

Teio still didn't quite understand Mizuno's strange behavior, but by now she could clearly sense he meant her no harm.

He's almost like that little blue robot cat's mini-helper, quietly taking care of me while I sleep.

Also, she noticed she was recovering much faster since Mizuno had arrived.

Teio relaxed a little, lowering her guard.

Ten minutes later, a loud rumbling sound echoed through the room.

Teio blushed fiercely, embarrassedly shutting her eyes tight.

Mizuno stared at her, stunned.

What's happening? Do Uma Musume have fevers when they're hungry? I don't recall that in the books.

He pondered briefly.

Wait, didn't my starter pack come with a box of carrots? I never used them, so might as well give them to her now.

Mizuno quietly approached again, pulling out a carrot and planning to leave it beside her pillow.

But as he moved closer, Teio suddenly lunged forward, biting into the carrot.

"!" Mizuno quickly backed away, fully alert.

Why did she bite it?! Is she awake?!

He prepared to flee.

"Top Gun...more food…" Teio mumbled quietly.

Mizuno glanced cautiously toward Mayano Top Gun's bed, relieved to see she was still sound asleep.

Oh, she thought Top Gun was feeding her.

That made things simpler.

He carefully offered another carrot to Teio's mouth.

Crunch— Teio bit down happily.

What kind of carrot is this?! It's delicious!

In seconds, Teio finished the carrot, licking her lips hungrily.

"That hungry?" Mizuno continued feeding her.

Crunch, crunch, crunch—

Only after finishing half the box, her stomach slightly rounded, did Teio feel satisfied.

"Burp~" With her hunger sated, Teio drifted comfortably to sleep.

"Whew…" Mizuno changed the damp cloth on her forehead again, then retreated to his corner and resumed his favorite book.

...

A few hours later...

[Side Quest Complete—Human Heater]

Description: Certain Uma Musume were affected by misfortune energy, causing cold-like symptoms. Though recoverable naturally, your lucky energy significantly sped up their recovery, generating more luck energy.

Reward: Luck receives a filling meal.

...

[Burp~ So full!]

Mizuno checked on Teio and confirmed she'd fully recovered.

"Alright, time to retreat." He packed away his book and stood up.

"Ouch—" He stumbled slightly, his legs numb from sitting too long.

After rubbing his legs, he prepared to leave.

However, he suddenly remembered something.

Wait, didn't Teio mention wanting my special honey drink earlier?

Quickly taking out ingredients, he prepared a cup of honey drink, placed it gently on the table, and left a small note before gracefully exiting the room.

He softly closed the door behind him, careful not to disturb Teio.

"..." Once sure Mizuno was gone, Tokai Teio sat up with a complicated expression.

She picked up the honey drink, spotting a note attached:

[Honey Drink for Teio-chan.]

[By Mejiro McQueen]

Teio gently sipped through the straw.

Gulp~ gulp~

Though it tasted exactly like before, somehow, this time Teio felt something different.

Perhaps... just a bit happier?