Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement [16]

Rice Shower slowly approached the cafeteria entrance, her mood at rock bottom.

Just as she'd expected, the cafeteria was already mostly deserted.

Half the lights had been turned off. Uma Musume trickled out after finishing their meals, leaving Rice Shower as the only one heading in. Even the cafeteria aunties were starting to close up for the night.

There certainly wouldn't be any of her favorite dishes left. With her luck, she might not even find anything edible.

Originally, this was exactly what the God of Misfortune intended. But right now, her energy was completely spent—there was nothing she could do.

Tonight, Rice Shower would definitely find food, and probably even her favorite dishes.

God of Misfortune: "God of Fortune! Damn you!"

Yet despite her anger, she couldn't help feeling genuine admiration for Mizuno Sora.

Mizuno's desperate determination earlier had truly shaken her. Never before had she encountered someone who fought so recklessly, ignoring pain and humiliation just to roll like a tire. His resolve far exceeded ordinary humans.

He might be an enemy, but he was worthy of respect.

Fortunately, she'd outsmarted him at the last moment; otherwise, he might've succeeded.

With Mizuno unable to approach Rice Shower directly, the Misfortune God figured his only remaining option was to remove the Doctor's Outfit and rely on his dangerously attractive S-rank Uma Musume-nip physique to draw Rice Shower's attention.

But revealing such an ability would be suicidal. He might catch Rice Shower's attention, but he'd certainly attract the attention of other Uma Musume as well, guaranteeing a dark and miserable future.

It would be like trading his life for the chance to deal one heavy blow to her.

But if Mizuno really dared do such a thing, the Misfortune God would gladly admit: of all the opponents she'd faced, none had shown greater determination than Mizuno Sora. She'd willingly call him the strongest she'd ever encountered.

Well then, will you risk everything? Or do you have some other trick?

While the Misfortune God eagerly imagined their next confrontation, Rice Shower's sadness lingered.

But her melancholy had nothing to do with her uncertain dinner. Instead, she was worried about something else entirely.

I hope my answer earlier didn't trouble that other girl.

Rice Shower still fretted about the unknown Uma Musume's question. More than herself, she was always concerned about others. Just the thought of causing trouble made her heart sink.

Rice Shower is really so useless…

Her eyes grew moist.

Mood drops again—well, it was already at the bottom anyway.

She trudged forward without any enthusiasm.

Just as Rice Shower was about to enter the cafeteria, a petite Uma Musume with fluffy pink hair bounced over cheerfully.

"Mimi~!" The pink-haired girl greeted Rice Shower with an infectiously radiant smile.

"Huh? Urara-chan?"

It was Haru Urara, the ever-cheerful angel.

The moment Rice Shower saw Urara's sunny expression, her sadness immediately eased. (Mood rising.)

But the God of Misfortune scowled at Urara with undisguised disgust.

She really despised this bubbly pink horse girl.

Of all the Uma Musume, Urara was among the few who deliberately approached Rice Shower despite knowing she'd experience misfortune as a result.

Always optimistic, Urara brought happiness to everyone around her just with her smile—even the perpetually unlucky Rice Shower.

Even when Rice Shower mistakenly baked salty cookies after mixing up sugar and salt; even when they hit every red light crossing streets together; even when sudden rainstorms ruined their outdoor training…

Urara would smile brightly and praise Rice Shower, claiming she'd wanted salty cookies after training, that red lights were perfect opportunities to rest, or that heavy rain made the track feel like a swimming pool—making sure Rice Shower never blamed herself.

Because of Urara, the Misfortune God's energy accumulation was painfully slow.

God of Misfortune: "Urara! Damn you!"

She already disliked Urara, but now her disgust intensified. For some reason, the Misfortune God sensed Urara radiating a presence eerily similar to the God of Fortune she'd just battled.

If only she still had any misfortune energy left—she'd make Urara trip and add a few more bandages to her already clumsy appearance.

"Urara-chan, did you come for dinner too?" Rice Shower smiled softly.

Urara's smile was truly soothing; just seeing it made all Rice Shower's troubles fade away.

"Nope!" Urara shook her head cheerfully, patting her belly. "I already ate, and I'm totally full~!"

"Then why are you here, Urara-chan?"

"I came here specifically to find Mimi!"

"Huh? Me?"

"Yep!" Urara nodded excitedly. "Mimi, I just met a super-cool ninja trainer. He wanted me to give you a present~!"

"A ninja trainer?" Rice Shower tilted her head, confused.

She understood the words "ninja" and "trainer" separately, but together…

What exactly is a ninja trainer? Someone who trains ninjas…?

"Ta-da~!" Urara reached into her pocket and pulled out a small object.

It was a beautifully embroidered charm with a delicate blue rose design, gently releasing a calming floral fragrance.

"NANI?!"

The instant she saw the charm, the Misfortune God's face turned deathly pale.

That thing! It's—

A Lucky Charm!

Now she understood why Urara's presence had felt nauseatingly similar to the God of Fortune—the Lucky Charm had been with Urara this whole time!

But the Misfortune God was bewildered. Why did something belonging to the God of Fortune end up with a simple horse girl like Urara?

Urara might be an angel, but apart from the general blessings of the Three Goddesses, she'd never received special divine favor. She was just an ordinary Uma Musume.

"Wait… Urara said a weird person gave it to Rice Shower as a gift…"

The Misfortune God's mind suddenly flashed with the image of Mizuno in his Doctor's Outfit.

"Masaka (Could it be)?!"

"Sou da! (Exactly!)" In the Misfortune God's imagination, Mizuno's phantom appeared, pointing dramatically with a distinctly JoJo-esque flair.

He spoke confidently, pausing dramatically in his imagined explanation:

"In your mind, if I don't remove the Doctor's Outfit, I can't win, and if I do remove it, I can't survive."

"But I'm sorry—I intend to achieve both victory and survival! Apart from the desperate gamble of removing the Doctor's Outfit, I have one more simple yet crucial strategy!"

"That is relying on my companions!"

"Companions are the greatest remedy for misfortune. No matter how unlucky someone is, companionship grants courage to face adversity!"

"You'd never understand that, because you feed on others' misery. You don't comprehend the power of friendship!"

"Even if I can't personally deliver the Lucky Charm to Rice Shower, I can ask someone else!"

"And this…is my stand-in to deliver the Lucky Charm: Haru Urara!"

"Destiny guided me to meet Urara, and she will inherit my golden spirit to defeat you!"

"You've used every bit of your curse energy to stop me—what power do you have left to prevent Urara now?"

"You're the one who truly lost!"

"YAMEROOO! WRYYYYY!" The Misfortune God howled in despair.

She'd exhausted all her curse energy to stop Mizuno, leaving absolutely nothing to prevent Urara from delivering the Lucky Charm to Rice Shower.

Not even a single drop!

God of Misfortune: "Oriii~"

"What a lovely charm!" Rice Shower's eyes sparkled instantly upon seeing it.

It was adorable, elegant, and emitted a calming fragrance—plus, it featured her favorite blue rose.

Could this really be meant for me?!

Rice Shower hesitated briefly, then reached out to take it.

As her hand drew closer, the Misfortune God screamed in agony.

"No…!"

"Stay away…!"

"I have a date with Somalia in Cairo-da! (Don't come any closer!)" she wailed desperately.

But no matter how she cried, Rice Shower's fingers inevitably touched the Lucky Charm.

A brilliant golden light burst forth, blinding the Misfortune God.

"AHHH—!" The Misfortune God screamed as if scorched, her form quickly disintegrating.

"Ko no Dio da…Ko no Dio da!"

"I'll return to take revenge!" she hissed bitterly.

With one final cry, the Misfortune God's form dissolved into dust, completely vanishing.

Holding the charm, Rice Shower immediately felt lighter.

"Thank you, Urara-chan…and thank you, Ninja Trainer-san…"