"Hehe...Rice Shower's so adorable..." Mizuno mumbled dreamily.

Rice Shower's ears perked up, immediately catching his quiet words.

"Onii-sama?" Rice Shower's cheeks flushed red as she stared at him in disbelief.

Did...Onii-sama just call her cute?

But if he really did find her cute, why didn't he say it directly to her?

Maybe...it was just her imagination...

Rice Shower's confidence wavered. She convinced herself she'd misheard him.

"Rice Shower...so adorable...Rice Shower...so adorable..." Mizuno repeated softly again and again, finally confirming that she hadn't imagined it.

Onii-sama really called me cute!

"T-thank you..." Rice Shower shyly turned away, covering her burning face.

Not just her face—her whole body felt warm, a pleasant sensation flowing through her heart, filling her with happiness.

So happy...so, so happy...!

"Onii-sama...can you pat my head...?" Rice Shower asked without thinking, quickly regretting it.

Because she knew, deep down, that Onii-sama would never agree.

There had been a time before, when Onii-sama was gently petting Urara's head. Rice Shower had timidly asked for the same thing, but Mizuno had hesitated a long, painful moment before finally refusing, saying:

"You're not my trainee, so I shouldn't do something like that..."

Rice Shower understood clearly—he was intentionally keeping distance between them.

Onii-sama's desire was to watch Rice Shower's happiness from afar, rather than sharing in it directly.

An invisible wall always separated them...

So this time, he'd surely refuse again...

"Eh?" To her surprise, Mizuno didn't refuse. Instead, he walked slowly toward her and gently placed his hand atop her head.

"Rice Shower...you're adorable..." he murmured warmly, gently stroking her hair.

Though his gloves prevented Rice Shower from feeling his skin's warmth, she could vividly sense his affection.

"Uuu..." She closed her eyes, basking in this rare, precious happiness.

Onii-sama...I really like you...

Rice Shower's joy, however, was Luck's misery.

[MIZUNO-DONO! NO! MIZUNO-DONO!!]

She felt doomed—Mizuno had been completely charmed by Rice Shower!

And it wasn't just a minor charm—it was [Charm Lv.2]!

Unless Mizuno was frightened awake again, he'd stay hopelessly devoted to Rice Shower for several hours, agreeing to anything she requested. He'd become nothing but a lovesick fool!

Luck could already envision Mizuno losing all rational judgment, being swiftly captured by other Uma Musume, and locked up in their basement dungeon as their captive star attraction!

Without enough luck energy, she herself would also be caught by Misfortune in three months, beaten and fried thoroughly!

Mizuno-dono, you've made the wrong choice!!

But to Luck's utter surprise, her alarm suddenly beeped—and its status changed from yellow to green!

[???]

Luck checked the alarm carefully, confirming it wasn't malfunctioning.

Wait...Mizuno-dono's decision was actually correct?!

[Hmm?]

Luck pondered deeply.

Could it mean that if Mizuno had chosen not to watch Rice Shower's cute pose earlier, something worse might have happened instead?

"Trainer-san~ Me too, me too~!" Urara happily stepped beside Mizuno, asking for head pats.

But Mizuno just stood blankly, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Undeterred, Urara cheerfully took Mizuno's other hand herself, placing it atop her own head, and began happily rubbing against it.

"Hehe~"

This adorable scene filled the surrounding girls with a warm glow.

Watching Rice Shower beam with joy as Mizuno gently stroked her head, Mejiro McQueen and the others couldn't help but break into warm, motherly smiles.

"McQueen, all thanks to me~!" Tokai Teio proudly puffed up her chest.

In truth, everyone had long noticed Rice Shower's feelings toward Mizuno.

During training, Rice Shower often secretly glanced at Mizuno. Although subtle, frequent peeks made her feelings obvious to those around her.

Rice Shower clearly longed for Mizuno-san's attention, but Mizuno always maintained a cautious distance from every Uma Musume. Witnessing this unreachable relationship had made the other girls anxious as observers.

But now, Rice Shower finally got a small taste of sweetness. And as spectators, they too could savor the sugary warmth.

Naturally, Tokai Teio—who taught Rice Shower the art of being cute—deserved all the credit!

"You did well," Mejiro McQueen praised softly.

Though the sweetness was just a tiny bite, McQueen felt completely satisfied—though it certainly wouldn't reduce the actual desserts she planned to eat later today.

"Hehe~ Of course!" Teio was also pleased with this little taste of sweetness.

Yet slowly, as Teio watched Mizuno gently pet Rice Shower, she felt a strange ache inside her chest, her smile fading.

Strange... Seeing Rice Shower happy should make me happy too... So why does it feel so uncomfortable instead?

"Urara-chan..." King Halo stared unhappily at Mizuno petting Urara, feeling a slight pang of jealousy.

But seeing Rice Shower so happy, she didn't want to ruin the moment. She decided to forgive Mizuno just this once.

"Onii-sama..." Rice Shower quietly lifted her head, sensing Mizuno's eyes hidden beneath his hood, gazing warmly at her alone.

Having Onii-sama's full attention feels so wonderful...

She realized Mizuno seemed extremely agreeable right now—as if he'd happily say yes to anything she asked.

Maybe she could push her luck just a bit further...

Gathering all her courage, Rice Shower asked the question she'd been longing to:

"Onii-sama, can I become your trainee?"

"Okay..." Mizuno nodded slowly, agreeing without hesitation.

"Really? I'm so happy~!" Tears of joy overflowed Rice Shower's eyes.

Urara worriedly asked, "Rice-chan, why are you crying?"

"It's okay, Urara-chan... I'm just...so happy..." Rice Shower smiled brightly, wiping away tears.

Rice Shower...finally gets to become Onii-sama's trainee!

"Awww~" The surrounding Uma Musume melted at Rice Shower's heartfelt smile.

Another sweet treat for everyone!

Yet once again, Tokai Teio felt another pang of discomfort.

Really strange...

"Rice-chan, we should go register your trainer information right now~!" Urara cheerfully suggested.

"Great idea," the others nodded eagerly.

"Yes." Rice Shower agreed shyly. She couldn't wait to officially bond with Mizuno.

Then she could be even more affectionate with him in the future.

"Trainer-san, let's go!" Urara tugged at Mizuno's hand, realizing he was still standing blankly.

"Oh right, Trainer-san's still practicing ninja arts..."

The five girls cheerfully carried Mizuno toward the Student Council office.

[...]

Actually, Luck could intervene right now and prevent Mizuno from registering Rice Shower as his trainee.

But she glanced at her alarm:

Still green?

Luck slowly lowered her magic-casting hand, quietly reconsidering.

Although Mizuno desperately maintained distance from all Uma Musume—especially avoiding accepting new trainees—to prevent being overwhelmed, Luck had promised him she'd intervene if he ever lost control over Rice Shower's cuteness.

But now...

The alarm's green...

From a long-term perspective, having another trainee gave Mizuno another chance to win future races, gathering even more hope energy and improving their odds of defeating Misfortune!

So, for the sake of ultimate victory...

[I'm sorry, Mizuno-dono! But sacrifices must be made!]

Luck resolutely chose to sell Mizuno out.