Rudolf's words struck like a blade, stabbing straight into Trainer Mizuno's heart.

"Ugh!" Mizuno collapsed to his knees, as if fatally wounded. Above his head appeared a glowing [KO].

He... had been defeated...

Mizuno had never imagined that President Rudolf would exploit his greatest fear—being stared down by Uma Musume—and use the threat of rumors as a weapon against him!

Rumors were terrifying things. They required no careful planning to spread, yet could stir group emotions to extremes, tools easily wielded by anyone with intent.

Yes, Hayakawa-san could later step out and explain everything was a misunderstanding, clearing Mizuno's name, preventing the justice-hungry Uma Musume from dragging him to a public "trial."

But once the flames of gossip were lit, the attention would already be on him. The once-invisible Trainer Mizuno would become someone every Uma Musume knew.

Even if they no longer saw him as a villain who bullied Hayakawa-san, they would certainly still speculate about his relationship with her. And then about what lay beneath his hood. Which meant some would begin investigating his true identity.

For someone desperate to avoid the eyes of Uma Musume, this was a finishing blow. A checkmate with no escape.

So yes—Rudolf had truly caught his weakness! She had him pinned!

Now Mizuno was like dough on a cutting board, to be kneaded however Rudolf pleased.

But he refused to accept it. Becoming Tokai Teio's Trainer meant only one thing—being Uma Pyoi'd to death!

For the sake of survival—Mizuno had to make one last struggle.

He had to destroy, at the root, Rudolf's insistence on pairing him with Teio.

What exactly do you see in me? Can't I just change it?!

So Mizuno raised his head and asked: "President Rudolf, why me? Can't you find another Trainer?"

Rudolf considered, then answered: "Because you are excellent, Trainer Mizuno. And responsible."

"Excellent?" Mizuno frowned. "In what way? In terms of skill, plenty of senior Trainers are stronger than me."

Rudolf smiled faintly. "In less than two weeks, you took Urara—the last place finisher in the selection races—and trained her into a debut winner. Does that not prove your training surpasses many of your seniors?"

Mizuno: "..."

Fair enough. That was fact. No way to argue it. "Excellent," he'd have to swallow.

"And responsible?" Mizuno pressed.

He hadn't taken knives for his girls or shielded them from bullets. Just normal training—same as any other Trainer. How was that "responsible"?

But Rudolf's smile deepened. "Because you've always refused to bond with Teio. Clearly, that's to spare the feelings of Urara and Rice Shower. Is that not the mark of responsibility?"

Mizuno: "?"

What kind of tyrant-CEO logic was that?! The less you accept new Uma Musume, the more responsible you are?!

"Then fine! I won't refuse anymore. I'll be Teio's Trainer!" Mizuno threw it back.

Rudolf's lips curled. "Excellent. Then I'll inform Teio right away. Tomorrow, you'll hold the assignment ceremony."

Mizuno: "?"

What kind of reverse-trap logic was that?! Completely unreasonable!

"..." Unable to argue, Mizuno lowered his head, lying prone on the floor, sinking into emo despair.

"Trainer Mizuno?" Rudolf frowned at his sudden colorless state.

Just as Mizuno could not understand why Rudolf was so determined to pair him with Teio, Rudolf herself could not understand why he was so adamant against it.

Teio was good-natured, cute, and highly talented. Any other Trainer would fight for such a pupil.

But Mizuno, on the contrary, resisted to the bitter end—forcing Rudolf now to resort to underhanded threats.

What is he so afraid of? Rudolf thought.

Watching Mizuno shiver, a possibility dawned on her.

"Trainer Mizuno... are you afraid Teio, like other girls, will be swayed by emotion and... forcefully Uma Pyoi you one day?" Rudolf asked.

"!" Mizuno's head snapped up, eyes wide in shock.

She had seen straight through the fear he kept buried deepest.

"I see." Though he said nothing, Rudolf read the answer in his reaction.

So that was it. That was why he kept avoiding Teio.

"Heh-heh." Rudolf chuckled.

"You're overthinking. Teio isn't like the others. She's obedient. She would never do such a thing to you. She's perfectly safe."

Mizuno: "..."

No! She's the most dangerous one! You just can't see it because of your dad filter!

"And if Teio ever makes a mistake, I won't indulge her. You can rest assured." Rudolf spoke solemnly.

"...Really..." Mizuno's mouth twitched.

As if, when Teio drags him into a basement, the basement itself wouldn't belong to Rudolf!

"Well, Trainer Mizuno? What is your decision?"

Mizuno hesitated for a long time. Finally, with a helpless sigh: "I'll... think about it..."

"Think about it" was really just stalling.

Because Rudolf had his weakness—he couldn't resist. Teio was inevitable. He couldn't escape this assignment.

A dark future awaited. Unless he gave himself time to prepare, he feared he wouldn't endure it.

Still, Mizuno hadn't given up. He had to find some way to restore light to that future!

"Tomorrow, you must give me an answer~" Rudolf said with a smile.

"...Alright." Mizuno nodded, dispirited, staggering out the door.

...

After he left, Rudolf prepared to send the sleeping Hayakawa-san back as well. But at that moment, a knock came at the office door.

"?" Strange. Who would come at this hour?

"Enter."

"Good evening, President."

The one who stepped in wore full SWAT gear—Gold Ship.

"Gold Ship-san?" Rudolf was surprised.

Why was Gold Ship here, so late? And dressed like this? For a moment, Rudolf half-suspected she meant to blow up the council office.

"What business brings you here, Gold Ship-san?"

"A small matter."

Hands behind her head, Gold Ship looked completely relaxed. "I just wanted to talk about the request you gave me earlier—to search for that mysterious man."

"Oh?" Rudolf's expression sharpened immediately.

This was no "small matter." Could it be—Gold Ship had found him?

"Did you locate him, or uncover some lead?"

"Nope." Gold Ship shook her head.

"I'm quitting the job."