Around six in the evening, Tracen Academy cafeteria.
Once again, Mizuno had brought Air Groove and Tokai Teio here for dinner—and today, President Rudolf had joined in as well.
The trainer and the three Uma found an empty table and quietly began their meal.
Air Groove's appetite seemed notably improved today. Unlike yesterday, when she'd barely picked at a few slices of bread, today she unprecedentedly matched Tokai Teio's hefty portions. Without any urging from Mizuno, she wolfed down her food with gusto.
"Hmm~" Mizuno nodded approvingly, feeling a peculiar fatherly pride as if his child had finally learned to eat properly.
As Mizuno and his group enjoyed their meal, whispers gradually began to float around them.
A wavy-haired Uma: "Hey, isn't that Air Groove-senpai?"
A short-haired Uma: "Eh? You're right!"
Wavy-haired Uma: "I thought Air Groove-senpai was suffering from some sort of emotional illness. I heard she'd locked herself away in her room for ages—I never imagined seeing her here today."
A braided Uma: "Actually, I saw Air Groove-senpai in the cafeteria yesterday too, but she looked terrible then. Not radiant and full of appetite like today."
Short-haired Uma: "Maybe her heart's finally healed?"
Wavy-haired Uma: "Probably. President Rudolf's sitting with her, so she must've helped."
Braided Uma: "Yeah, Tokai Teio-san must've played a big part as well."
Short-haired Uma: "Uh… Maybe Oguri Cap-senpai helped too…"
"O... Oguri Cap?" Mizuno turned his head, puzzled, only to realize that Oguri Cap—the cafeteria's special-event NPC—had somehow spawned again and was seated right next to him.
Fortunately, Oguri Cap was fully absorbed, sipping from a giant bucket of honey drink Mizuno had prepared specifically to distract her.
To prevent another surprise gank from Oguri Cap like yesterday, Mizuno had prepared several buckets of honey drinks in advance, waiting for her to wander in and get drawn to them.
As long as he supplied Oguri Cap with enough tasty treats, she'd have no time to expose Mizuno's identity.
Hmph! Gray-haired horse? This time I'll make sure she comes, but never leaves!
"Gulpgulpgulp~" Seeing Oguri Cap neutralized as a threat, Mizuno returned comfortably to his dinner while announcing the next step of his plan to the others.
"Since we've successfully completed the sunflower experiment, tonight we can finally move on to our ultimate goal—cultivating Cereus flowers."
"Huh? Cereus flowers?" Air Groove was momentarily confused.
"?" Everyone shot puzzled looks toward Air Groove.
"Isn't your wish to personally cultivate Cereus flowers, watch them bloom, lure out that mysterious man, and then capture him?" Symboli Rudolf reminded gently from across the table.
"R...right…" Thanks to Rudolf's reminder, Air Groove suddenly recalled this goal.
"Air Groove-senpai, don't you want to catch that mysterious man anymore?" Tokai Teio asked.
"Of course I do!" Air Groove clenched her fists, knuckles popping ominously. "I want nothing more than to break his legs, chain him in the basement, and torment him forever and ever!"
"..." Hearing this, Mizuno's body trembled involuntarily.
"But…" Air Groove's voice suddenly softened, her previously fierce demeanor easing inexplicably.
"But what?" Tokai Teio pressed curiously.
"Hmm..." Air Groove stole a furtive glance at Mizuno, then went back to eating. "Nothing…"
"Mou~ Air Groove-senpai, come on, tell me I'm really curious!" Tokai Teio pleaded adorably, puppy-eyed. "What exactly were you going to say?"
"Nothing." Air Groove crossed her arms, tilting her head proudly, leaving no room for argument. "There's no 'but.' For the safety of Tracen Academy, I must catch that man and severely punish him—my determination on this matter will never change!"
"Oh, really..." President Rudolf said teasingly, casting a mischievous glance at Mizuno. "Trainer Mizuno, what are your thoughts on this?"
"That...that's great..." Mizuno's mouth twitched, becoming even more resolute in his vow to never let Air Groove discover that he himself was the mysterious man.
...
Five minutes later.
"Everyone finished eating? Let's head back quickly," Mizuno asked anxiously.
The supply of honey drinks to keep Oguri Cap distracted was dwindling rapidly, so they needed to leave now.
"We're done," the Uma girls replied.
"Then let's go." Mizuno stood quickly, leading the way urgently out of the cafeteria.
"Wait a moment..." Instead of immediately following, Air Groove approached Oguri Cap and quietly exchanged a few words with her.
"Hm..." Oguri Cap nodded, taking her phone out of her pocket.
Air Groove pulled out her own phone, scanning Oguri Cap's screen briefly.
"Done." Air Groove smiled with satisfaction upon seeing Oguri Cap added to her friends list.
Now, whenever she had time, she could message Oguri Cap through the Tracen chat app and ask her directly:
Just what exactly is the secret about Trainer Mizuno's identity that he's always so afraid of her revealing?