As time ticked by, Mizuno felt more and more uneasy.

He cracked open his eyes just a sliver and glanced at Tokai Teio sitting beside him.

At that moment Teio was just quietly watching him. She hadn't taken advantage of the situation to lay a hand on him. On the contrary, she was guarding him like a bodyguard, keeping watch so no one could touch "the Mizuno struck by an alien's Gene Spray."

On the surface, Ship-bro's plan was working—Teio wasn't clinging to him. All Mizuno had to do was keep playing dead. Then, once Urara and Rice Shower arrived, he could "wake up," say something like "let's all go make dumplings together," and follow the group to the shopping street. With her attention shifted, Teio might forget all about it.

But…

Mizuno sensed that while he was lying here pretending, something had begun sprouting in Teio's eyes. A tiny emotion, growing bit by bit—like interest accumulating.

"Gold Ship-san, when will Trainer Mizuno wake up?" Teio asked.

"Uh… in a bit," Gold Ship replied.

"How long is 'a bit'?"

Gold Ship did the math. Half an hour until the meeting time.

If they could just hold out that long, when the others showed up, Mizuno would be truly safe.

So she said: "Mm, about half an hour."

"Half an hour…" Teio lowered her head and started counting on her fingers.

"Half an hour is thirty minutes… thirty…"

When she finished, she clapped her hands together, beaming: "Then after Trainer Mizuno wakes up, I'll hug Trainer Mizuno for thirty hours straight~"

Gold Ship: "?"

Mizuno: "!"

Just thirty minutes of holding her back, and the price afterwards was thirty hours of hugging?!

That interest rate—so usurious even loan sharks would cry black-hearted! So greedy even capitalists would scream for you to be hanged on a lamppost!

So much for the play-dead-and-wait plan! If Mizuno didn't get up now, then when Teio really came to hug him for thirty hours… even if he wanted to wake, he wouldn't be able to!

"Cough, cough!" Mizuno hurriedly sat up, forcing a laugh.

"Ahahaha, wow, that was such a nice nap…"

"Eh?!" Teio blinked wide in shock.

"Trainer Mizuno, you're okay?!"

"Mm, fine." Mizuno nodded stiffly, sweat pouring.

"But Gold Ship-san said just now you were struck by the alien's Gene Spray, that no one could touch you, and it would take half an hour before you woke up?" Teio tilted her head.

"Hahaha, I'm Team TAC's little ace. A mere alien's attack can't touch me. Right, Ship-bro?" Mizuno shot Gold Ship a look.

Gold Ship understood at once, whipped out the toy spaceship, and echoed:

"Indeed. My earlier judgment was wrong. That alien was actually weak. Its so-called Gene Spray couldn't harm Mizuno-dono at all."

She even flew the spaceship in circles overhead for show.

"See? I've already captured it. Now it's my toy. From today on I'll play with it however I like. It won't be any danger to anyone again."

"Really? That's wonderful!" Teio's ears twitched with joy, and she hugged Mizuno's arm on the spot.

"Uhh…" Mizuno twitched at the corners of his mouth, staring at Teio leaning affectionately on his shoulder all over again.

"Teio… as a girl, being this close to a boy isn't good…"

"It's fine. I already think of Trainer Mizuno as my onii-chan~" Teio said sweetly, her tail curling stealthily around Mizuno's leg.

"Onii-chan…" Mizuno's eyes dulled.

If only it was just a brotherly bond. But he could clearly feel Teio's emotions weren't that simple. Otherwise, why would she blush and clutch him tighter whenever marriage was mentioned…?

If he allowed her to keep clinging, it would raise her affection. The Monarch's Basement route would advance a little further.

But if he pushed her away, it would trigger her jealousy, and the Monarch's Basement would speed forward even faster.

It seemed… there was no way out…

"…" Mizuno gave up thinking altogether. He sat there like a gray statue, letting Teio cling.

"Mizuno-dono…" Watching Mizuno sink into despair, Gold Ship scratched her head in frustration.

She was smarter than most Uma Musume, able to invent all sorts of bizarre yet useful tricks. But when it came to Tokai Teio—an Uma Musume whose possessiveness only grew no matter what you did—Gold Ship truly had no answer.

So the only option was to divert her attention. If she focused less on Mizuno, maybe he could be saved.

Gold Ship pushed the toy spaceship toward Teio.

"Teio-san, do you want to play with this spaceship? I can lend it to you."

"Really?!" Teio's eyes lit up.

But after a glance at Mizuno, her interest in the spaceship vanished, replaced by deeper, more tangled feelings toward him.

"No thanks. You play, Gold Ship-san. I have something I like better." She smiled, and rubbed her cheek against Mizuno again.

"Guh!" Mizuno slumped deeper into despair.

Gold Ship: "..."

"I've also learned how to make honey drinks lately. Teio-san, want to try some?" Gold Ship offered.

"No."

[Tokai Teio is not interested]

"I've bought lots of games recently…"

"No."

[Tokai Teio is not interested]

"In my room, I have all sorts of good stuff. More exciting than games." Gold Ship raised a brow.

"No."

[Tokai Teio is still not interested]

"I have lewd photos of Trainer Mizuno."

"Where?! Let me see!"

[Tokai Teio has shown extreme interest!]

Mizuno: "?"

He froze, staring at Teio in disbelief.

"Guuh… I… I didn't really mean I want to see that…" Teio ducked her head, cheeks burning, unable to meet his eyes.

Then suddenly, she puffed her cheeks angrily again.

"Right! Trainer Mizuno, let me see your face! Gold Ship-san already has, so why can't I, your trainee, see it…?"

"After you get married… No, wait!"

The words slipped out, and Mizuno instantly regretted them.

"Marriage…" Teio's blush deepened, and she hugged his arm tighter still.

Mizuno: "…"

Damn it! Why does it feel like I've entered a new cycle again?!

Izanami! When will it end?!