After that strange dream, Tokai Teio couldn't fall back asleep.

Just thinking about how, in her dream, she had formed a Trainer–Trainee bond with Trainer Mizuno—and then even married him—made her so embarrassed she rolled around in bed clutching her pillow, all traces of drowsiness gone.

Because tomorrow night was Urara's debut-race victory celebration party, Mizuno-san had said: in the morning, everyone should meet at the training room, then head together to the shopping street to buy supplies, and after that return to the training room to prepare the party.

Since she couldn't sleep anyway, why not go early? Winning the honor of being the very first one to arrive at the meeting place was good too.

So she quietly got up, careful not to wake her roommate Mayano Top Gun, tiptoed into her daily clothes, and slipped out of the dorm toward the training room.

Have you ever seen Tracen Academy at four in the morning?

Today, Tokai Teio did.

Unlike the vigorous mornings, at this hour the academy was wrapped in silence. Not a single Uma Musume on the roads. Only the occasional chirp of insects from the bushes, bringing with it a touch of chill.

Teio arrived at Team TAC's training room and looked at the door—only to realize she had a problem.

Because she wasn't yet Mizuno's trainee, she didn't have a training room key. She couldn't open it.

So Teio could only sit quietly at the entrance, gazing at the starry sky above, waiting for Mizuno, Urara, or Rice Shower to come.

Fortunately, Mizuno-san was always the type to arrive at the appointed place who-knew-how-many hours in advance. She probably wouldn't need to wait too long before entering the room.

And sitting alone watching the stars was something new for Teio. After all, she'd never come outside at this hour before. Waiting quietly for the sunrise and for the one she longed for—it wasn't boring at all.

"One star, two stars, three stars…" Teio started counting.

"Hm?" Suddenly she noticed the training room next door was shaking slightly.

She remembered—the shaking had started yesterday after practice, when two Uma Musume dragged a Trainer inside. And now it was still going, as if it had lasted the whole night.

Teio didn't know what they were doing, but she figured they must be enjoying something very fun. Like dancing. Otherwise, how could they not feel tired after the whole night?

Not until the sky turned pale and the sun rose did the shaking next door finally stop.

Then the door opened, and two Uma Musume walked out carrying their Trainer.

Their faces were flushed, satisfied, their clothes soaked through with sticky sweat. Clearly, their dancing last night had been both exciting and joyful.

But the Trainer's state was worse. Completely listless, like a roast duck being carried, dangling as the two Uma Musume bore him out one on each side. Must've been that the dancing was too intense—so happy he fainted.

At least, that's what Teio thought.

"Mmm…" Teio felt a pang of envy toward those two Uma Musume.

She wanted to have a happy dancing session with Mizuno too. But she never had the chance.

She was good at dancing—exceptionally so, gifted. At the academy she even had the title of "Monarch's Dance Steps."

If Mizuno-san were willing, she guaranteed—absolutely guaranteed—she could leave him with memories far happier than that poor Trainer next door!

Not long after the sun rose, two figures appeared, coming toward the training room along the path gilded by sunlight.

It was Mizuno and Gold Ship.

"Mizuno-san! Gold Ship-san!" Teio stood up and greeted them first.

But then a doubt popped up.

Strange… why was Mizuno coming together with Gold Ship?

She knew the two of them got along like close brothers. If they happened to run into each other on the way to the training room, of course they'd walk together—that was normal.

But the dorms for Uma Musume and the academy gate to the training rooms were in completely opposite directions. If Gold Ship had come from the dorms, she'd have taken another route. It was impossible to meet Mizuno halfway.

So either Gold Ship had been out doing morning laps around the academy and just so happened to meet Mizuno at the gate.

Or… Gold Ship didn't actually live in the dorms, but had her own place outside. That way she could meet Mizuno at the gate.

Or else...

They're living together? A very unreasonable thought was born in Teio's mind.

But living together with the opposite sex—besides family, wasn't that something only lovers did? And Mizuno and Gold Ship didn't have that atmosphere at all. Definitely not.

Too absurd. She quickly shook off the idea.

"Teio?" Mizuno was surprised.

Why was Teio here so early? It was barely dawn!

He looked her over—her energy seemed a little off, her hair somewhat frizzed. He judged she hadn't slept well last night.

"You camped here all night just to be first?" Mizuno guessed.

"No." Teio shook her head. "I couldn't sleep, so I came early."

"Couldn't sleep?" Mizuno frowned.

"Mm… because I had a dream…" Teio's eyes darted, unable to look him straight on.

Mizuno felt something was off, and asked:

"What dream?"

"Mm… I dreamed about forming a bond with Mizuno-san…" Teio lowered her head, her cheeks flushing red. She didn't dare tell him the second half of the dream.

"Ah, this…" Mizuno wiped cold sweat.

Her "old father" Rudolf had just finished threatening him into taking Teio as a trainee, and that very night Teio dreamed of being contracted with him…

Were father and daughter too in sync?

"Uh…" Mizuno stared at Teio, hesitating a long while, as if weighing a major decision.

He thought: Better a short pain than a long one.

Rather than waiting to announce it in front of everyone, better to say it now, when it was just the three of them. That way he wouldn't have to keep worrying about how to break the news.

So Mizuno said:

"Actually, Teio, there's something I want to ask you."

"What is it?" Teio tilted her head.

After another long hesitation, Mizuno finally gathered his courage and asked:

"Teio, will you become my trainee? Will you let me work for the sake of your dream—to become an undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume?"

Teio froze for several seconds—then exploded in shock.

"Ehhhhhhh?!!!"

She didn't mishear, right?! Mizuno Trainer had actually invited her, on his own initiative, to be his trainee?!

The dream—had come true?!