Uma Musume Pretty Derby: To The Basement [19]

Twenty minutes passed, but the school bus still hadn't arrived.

Ah… Uma Musume attacked the bus, huh…

According to Hayakawa Tazuna, Mizuno would have to wait at least another forty minutes for the next bus to show up.

Despite this, Mizuno had no intention of returning to Tracen Academy to kill time. Instead, he stubbornly sat down at the gate.

Returning was simply not an option. He'd left specifically to avoid running into Uma Musume at school. The sooner he could get safely back to the dormitory, the better—no risk of getting randomly ambushed.

He'd rather sit stubbornly on the ground than go back inside for a chair.

But Mizuno wasn't idle either. He'd obtained a manual from the system called [From Getting Started as a Trainer! (Basement Ending)]

Supposedly, this guide would teach him how to become a proper trainer.

Whether or not that was true, it wouldn't hurt to glance through it.

Mizuno flipped open the first page.

[How to Improve Relationships with Uma Musume]

Method: Headpats

"Useless." Mizuno skipped past it without hesitation.

[How to Maintain an Uma Musume's Good Mood]

Method: Hugs

He flipped again.

[How to Form Bonds with Uma Musume]

Method: Kissing

[How to Help Uma Musume Gain Powerful Factors]

Method: Drink Tea Prepared by Uma Musume

...

"Great, this whole book is just teaching people how to end up in the basement faster."

Mizuno had skimmed halfway through the manual, and all he found were tips on rapidly increasing affection levels.

As expected, the barbaric system wasn't trustworthy—it clearly wanted to sabotage him.

He was about to hastily finish browsing and toss the guide in the nearest trash bin when something unexpectedly caught his attention.

[How to Identify Uma Musume Talent]

Step One: Look at the Legs

Method: …(thousands of words omitted)

...

"This section actually has something useful." Mizuno raised an eyebrow in appreciation.

Unlike the suicidal advice earlier, the information toward the back of the manual seemed genuinely valuable.

Not only was it detailed, it was clear and easy to grasp. Mizuno quickly absorbed a considerable amount about training Uma Musume.

If he thoroughly studied this later half of the guide, forget being an adequate trainer—he'd be well-equipped to become a seasoned veteran.

Mizuno took his time finishing the chapter on [Identifying Uma Musume Talent], learning quite a bit.

When he lifted his head again, he saw the world differently.

He glanced at Hayakawa Tazuna, still standing by the gate, eyes lingering on her slender legs covered in black tights.

Hmm…why did he suddenly feel the urge to touch them?

It wasn't perverted interest like a lecher staring at a beautiful woman, but rather professional admiration—a horse trainer seeing potential in a thoroughbred.

There was a popular theory among fans: although Hayakawa Tazuna appeared human, she was actually an Uma Musume herself—the legendary Japanese horse, the "Phantom Horse" known as "Harvest Moment."

After all, she managed to work in Tracen Academy, where trainer mortality rates were incredibly high. Yet not only was she completely unharmed, she even chased after rogue Uma Musume effortlessly. Clearly, she wasn't an ordinary human. Under her signature green hat, there must be horse ears hidden.

Because, after all, only an Uma Musume could beat another Uma Musume.

Hayakawa Tazuna was definitely a powerful horse girl. This explained why she could serve as the Board Chairman's trusted secretary. And perhaps it also explained Mizuno's odd desire to touch her legs.

Dangerous… Another dangerous individual on my list.

"Is something wrong, Mizuno-san?" Hayakawa Tazuna had noticed his stare, but as someone accustomed to being admired for her legs, she wasn't angry. Instead, she smiled politely.

After a moment's consideration, Mizuno decided to test his newly acquired knowledge.

"Miss Hayakawa, have you recently been experiencing soreness in your left calf, especially right after waking up?" Mizuno asked casually.

"Huh? How did you know that, Mizuno-san?" Hayakawa looked briefly surprised before quickly catching on.

"My, even though you're a new trainer, Mizuno-san, you seem to have the keen eye of someone with decades of experience."

Spotting such subtle details in another's physical condition without special instruments was something only veterans with 30 or 40 years of experience could manage.

Hayakawa began to wonder if Mizuno was secretly a retired veteran trainer returning to Tracen Academy under a disguised identity.

"You're flattering me," Mizuno responded humbly.

His composed manner (actually just him being overly cautious) made Hayakawa even more convinced he was secretly an experienced veteran trainer.

But as a professional secretary at Tracen, Hayakawa knew her boundaries. She wouldn't pry too deeply into anyone's secrets. Whatever Mizuno's real identity was, she'd simply let it go.

"Do you have any advice to relieve the soreness?" she asked politely.

"I do." Mizuno nodded, readily sharing the solution he'd just learned. "Tonight, when you get home, first do this…and then that…and finally…"

Mizuno wasn't worried about growing too close to Hayakawa. She'd been Tracen's secretary for many years, interacting with countless trainers. He was just another face in the crowd. Such minor advice wouldn't significantly raise affection levels.

Hayakawa was indeed an Uma Musume, but one from the older generation—completely unlike the lovestruck young girls running rampant around campus. Romance held no interest for her. She had already dedicated all her love exclusively to the horse girls of Tracen Academy.

"I see. Thank you very much, Mizuno-san." Hayakawa smiled professionally.

Exactly as he'd expected, Hayakawa's response remained professional and polite, with no hint of romantic feelings.

However, their friendship certainly improved significantly (Friendship gauge turns green).

With nothing else to do, Mizuno chatted casually with Hayakawa.

Forming a good relationship with her was definitely beneficial. If he ever got cornered by Uma Musume in the future, having Hayakawa as an ally meant an extra escape route.

After enjoying a pleasant conversation for about ten minutes, the second bus finally arrived.

Since the other veteran trainers had already been whisked away, and the other new trainers weren't yet ready to return to their dorms, Mizuno found himself the sole passenger boarding the bus.

"See you tomorrow, Mizuno-san."

"See you tomorrow, Miss Hayakawa."

After exchanging farewells, Mizuno headed toward the bus.

But just as Mizuno was about to step aboard, a metal bar suddenly blocked his way.

The bus driver squinted suspiciously at Mizuno and said sharply:

"You. Take off your hood."