Seven in the evening, Tracen Academy's flowerbed, in a shabby little room sealed tightly from all outside light.
Tokai Teio, Symboli Rudolf, Air Groove, and Mizuno Sora gathered around, starting the final task of their meeting here—cultivating and blooming the Cereus flower!
"Sunlight lamps, set!"
"Cereus seed, planted!"
"Nutrient solutions, fully prepared!"
"[Stamina Drink 2.0], ready to consume anytime!"
Compared to sunflowers, the growth cycle of Cereus was considerably longer—even with growth potions accelerating the process, it would take at least three days and nights for it to grow from seed to bloom.
During this time, Tokai Teio and Rudolf, serving as assistants, could take breaks whenever exhaustion caught up to them. But Mizuno, acting as the potion master, and Air Groove, responsible for listening to the flower's heart, absolutely couldn't leave—not even for a short nap.
Thus, Mizuno split the [Stamina Drink 2.0] he'd purchased from Tachyon's Black Market into two halves—one half for Air Groove, the other half kept for himself.
Whenever he or Air Groove felt drowsiness threatening to overcome them, they could gulp down this miraculous liquid and keep going for another day and a half!
That Tachyon girl, clearly aware of scenarios where Uma fed trainers this potion, had thoughtfully ensured it provided three full days of energy while suppressing other bodily needs. Perfect for letting Uma fully enjoy their trainers during that time!
If not for its questionable original intent, Mizuno felt this [Stamina Drink 2.0] would be a perfect invention—though it was annoyingly expensive. If only it were cheaper, he'd definitely stockpile hundreds of bottles instead of painfully splitting just one with Air Groove…
"Let's begin." Mizuno poured the [Plant Growth Potion] onto the soil where the Cereus seed lay buried.
Under the potion's influence, the seed emitted a dazzling brilliance for around ten seconds before gradually dimming. Immediately afterward, it began growing at several hundred times the normal rate!
The cultivation method for Cereus wasn't drastically different from the sunflower's—it just required more frequent and careful attention due to its fragility.
Fortunately, with yesterday's successful experience in cultivating sunflowers, Mizuno handled even the demanding Cereus with confidence, carefully observing Air Groove's subtle expressions while giving orders to the Uma girls.
"Teio, lower the brightness of the sunlight lamp a bit."
"Okay~!"
"Luna, pass me that red solution over there."
"Here."
"Air Groove..."
But Mizuno didn't even need to finish his sentence. Just calling her name—no, even without that—Air Groove knew exactly what Mizuno needed and handed it over in advance.
"Good." Mizuno accepted the vial and started mixing the nutrients.
"..." While Mizuno focused on mixing and momentarily stopped watching her, Air Groove secretly stole a glance at him.
No special reason. She just…wanted to take a quick look.
After an hour of meticulous care from Mizuno's team, the Cereus seed finally broke through the soil, entering the sprout stage.
This also meant its demands grew increasingly complex and frequent!
...
Two hours…
...
Four hours…
...
Eight hours…
...
Until eleven hours later, when the sun rose outside the hut, the Cereus plant had already grown over two meters tall. Amid lush green leaves, a few distinct flower buds appeared, indicating it had finally reached the budding stage.
But reaching the bud stage didn't mean it would bloom soon—under normal circumstances, Cereus took two to three years to blossom after budding.
"Ugh..." Everyone was starting to feel extremely drowsy after hours of work.
Mizuno, who carried the heaviest workload, was undoubtedly the most exhausted.
"..." Mizuno glanced hesitantly at the half bottle of [Stamina Drink] by his leg but ultimately resisted using it.
Now wasn't the time yet. After all, cultivating Cereus took three days and nights—a full seventy-two hours!
If he drank the potion now, he'd have no backup plan for later.
He had to endure until at least thirty-six hours had passed before drinking it…
"Hiss..." Mizuno ruthlessly pinched his thigh, forcing himself awake.
As for Air Groove, although she was faring slightly better than Mizuno, exhaustion was inevitably catching up to her. She wondered how long she could still hold on…
...
Twenty-four hours passed…
During this entire twenty-four hours, Mizuno hadn't eaten a bite, nor had he drunk a single drop of water. He sat hunched on the ground, enduring hunger while mixing the plant nutrients—his movements visibly slower.
Cereus proved far more demanding than sunflowers, especially after accelerated growth. It was never quiet, continuously asking for attention.
With no breaks, Mizuno had absolutely no time for meals. His [Doctor's Outfit] fully covered him, making eating impossible unless he lifted his hood—an inconvenience that kept Teio and the others from feeding him, too.
"Trainer, why not take your hood off? I'll feed you," Tokai Teio suggested.
"No." Mizuno instantly rejected.
Mizuno reasoned humans could last three days without food or water. He planned to make up for the deficit by drinking the [Stamina Drink] later.
Air Groove had initially also intended to skip food, but Mizuno decisively vetoed her decision, saying:
"I still need you to sense the Cereus' condition clearly. Hunger might cloud your judgment."
"..." Feeling Mizuno's increasingly weakening gaze, Air Groove's heart ached painfully, as if pierced.
After prolonged hesitation, she finally spoke with a trembling voice:
"Let's just give up…"
Though she longed to personally cultivate Cereus and see its bloom, Air Groove preferred abandoning her dream forever rather than have someone else suffer for it.
Trainer Mizuno had endured hunger and exhaustion for her dream, working continuously for twenty-four hours…
Working nonstop for twenty-four hours was brutal enough, let alone without food or water. Moreover, he had to constantly focus, observing her subtle expressions to assess the Cereus' state…
Such a dream, hurting others, she didn't want at all…
"Trainer Mizuno, I don't want to grow Cereus anymore..." After uttering this, Air Groove slumped down, having spent all her courage and strength.
"Let's stop now…don't continue…"
Air Groove shut her eyes, ceasing observation. Clearly, she'd already abandoned the task in her heart.
Without the determination to persist, waves of exhaustion quickly swallowed her consciousness, dragging her toward darkness.
But just as her mind nearly faded out—
"I refuse!" Mizuno's angry shout forcibly dragged her consciousness back from the darkness.
"?!" Startled, Air Groove's tail instantly shot upright, fur bristling.
She opened her eyes, staring at Mizuno in confusion.
She couldn't understand. Why had Mizuno—someone without the same wish, merely helping halfway—not agreed to give up when even she, the one who wanted it most, had surrendered?
But when her eyes met Mizuno's, she saw he was indeed exhausted beyond measure, yet his gaze remained astonishingly resolute, staring intensely at her, just like before.
No, more accurately—his eyes had never left her!
Mizuno knew exactly what she was thinking!
Giving up because you saw him suffering? Mizuno would never accept that reason.
"Hmph~" Mizuno chuckled lightly, forcing himself to appear less tired, then said:
"Air Groove-san, you're mistaken. I'm perfectly fine, not as exhausted as you think."
"But…" Air Groove hesitated.
Through Mizuno's gaze, she already knew he was lying.
Trainer Mizuno was obviously exhausted—why pretend otherwise in front of her?
Yet, despite knowing he was lying, Mizuno's unwavering gaze made her swallow back the words of protest.
"No more words!" Seeing Air Groove's hesitation, Mizuno quickly blocked her mouth with one hand, continuing firmly:
"The path to dreams always comes with obstacles, pain, lies, and sometimes sacrifice. That's inevitable…"
"But no matter what, it's still too early to give up…"
"You shouldn't think, since even you, who desires this dream most, have given up, that I—a mere helper—should also surrender…"
"Instead, think like this—"
"Even we who support your dream haven't given up yet. So how can you—the protagonist pursuing this dream—give up so easily?"
"!" Mizuno's words shook Air Groove, opening a new door inside her mind:
Instead of worrying that her negativity would drag others down, she could gain positivity from their perseverance!
Seeing her understand, Mizuno nodded with satisfaction, releasing her mouth.
"You don't have to overthink now. You just need to know one thing clearly, and that is…"
Mizuno proudly patted his chest, declaring firmly:
"Believe in me!"
Thirty-five hours later…
...
"Ugh…" Mizuno lay limply on the ground like a lifeless toad.
He was now severely dizzy from hunger, his stomach burned painfully like fire or a mantis gnawing violently at his guts.
"Just one more hour...one more hour till I can drink the potion..."
He murmured, trembling hands weakly continuing to mix nutrients.
"Hold on...just one hour..."
Symboli Rudolf gently stroked his back, whispering encouragement:
"Hang in there! You can do it!"
Meanwhile, Air Groove fought desperately against exhaustion, clinging fiercely to Mizuno's words—"Believe in me!"
...
Finally, thirty-six hours passed…
Mizuno shakily lifted the [Stamina Drink], gulping it down in one breath.
Instantly revitalized, power surged through him. Now he finally understood why trainers fed this potion by their Uma could dance nonstop for three whole days!
Beside him, Air Groove similarly drank her potion, fully recovering her strength.
Forty-eight hours!
Fifty-four hours!
Sixty hours!
Seventy-two hours!
Finally, after three continuous days and nights of care from Mizuno and Air Groove…
The long-awaited Cereus flower finally bloomed!