Just as Mizuno was racking his brain for how to explain to Tokai Teio that unspoken rules had absolutely no legal basis—and trying to find a plausible excuse to refuse her invitation—someone suddenly tapped his shoulder.
Mizuno was about to turn around, but when Tokai Teio saw who stood behind him, her face immediately lit up, and she greeted sweetly:
"Prez~!"
"…" Mizuno's half-turned head froze instantly, cold sweat trickling down his neck.
Even though he hadn't directly seen the Uma behind him, Mizuno already guessed who she was. After all, there was only one Uma in this entire world whom Tokai Teio would call "Prez" with such affectionate familiarity.
"Ahh, I just remembered I have something urgent—I'll leave first then…" Mizuno awkwardly twisted his head back, hastily fabricated an excuse, and tried to walk away without looking back.
Just like those ghost stories where you must never turn back in a haunted alley—no matter what's behind you, if you turn around, the demon will seize you and drag you down to hell. But if you just walk straight forward without looking back, nothing will happen.
So as long as he didn't look behind him, surely he could safely escape!
Unfortunately, the rule about not looking back was merely Mizuno's naive fantasy—real demons wouldn't care if you looked back or not.
"Sora…" President Rudolf firmly pinned Mizuno in place, forcibly spun him around, and made him face her directly.
"It's been a while…" Rudolf greeted him gently, her expression serene, as if she was extremely approachable.
Yet Mizuno knew better. This calm was merely the eerie tranquility before a massive storm. Although Rudolf's smile appeared pleasant, inside she was probably already at the breaking point, furiously plotting revenge for his previous trick against her and Air Groove. She was likely only maintaining this facade because Tokai Teio was nearby.
"L-Luna…" Mizuno gulped nervously, trembling uncontrollably as he asked with a shaky voice, "Since when were you here?"
"I've been here the whole time," Rudolf smiled mildly, pointing upward at an isolated VIP room in the stands. The special one-way glass window allowed those inside to clearly see outside, while those outside couldn't see who was within.
"I watched Teio's entire race from there."
"…" Mizuno felt chills run down his spine.
Didn't that mean President Rudolf had been lurking behind him the entire time, delaying her vengeance only because she wanted to watch Teio's race?!
Now that Teio's race was finished, it was time for her hunt to begin…
"Gu…" Mizuno tilted his head up despairingly toward the sky, unable to bear imagining what inhuman treatment awaited him. He could only try to memorize the blue sky above him, since he might never see it again.
"Relax, it's not like I'll really do anything to you…" Rudolf reassuringly patted his shoulder, then released him and calmly walked towards the private VIP room. She turned back briefly, beckoning Mizuno with a gentle finger gesture.
"Would you mind coming with me? There's something I'd like to discuss…"
"K-kneel for forgiveness?"
As soon as they entered the empty private room, Mizuno immediately slid onto his knees, hugging Rudolf's legs and begging with watery eyes for forgiveness.
However, due to the hood covering his face, his pleading eyes were hidden. Thus, from an outsider's perspective, rather than sincerely apologizing, he simply appeared to be sneakily peeping under Rudolf's skirt.
But Rudolf didn't mind. Instead, she calmly leaned down, firmly gripped Mizuno's collar, and stared directly into his eyes beneath the hood.
"What do you think?"
"Gwah!" Mizuno felt a wave of cold despair as he met Rudolf's icy glare.
Seems reconciliation isn't possible after all…
Thus, Mizuno weakly requested: "Then could you just put it on my tab and let me pay it back later?"
He reasoned that Rudolf had already written an entire calligraphy manual's worth of "punishments" in her little notebook. Since he was already neck-deep in debt, adding one more wouldn't make a difference—he'd just have to find a way out later.
"Oh? Of course." Rudolf's expression shifted into mild surprise as she released Mizuno's collar, took out her notebook, and cheerfully scribbled something down.
With a satisfied smile, Rudolf carefully tucked away the notebook, then grinned at Mizuno:
"My, my~ Originally, I was planning to forgive you outright, but since you personally asked me to keep it on record, I'll respect your request and write down a few extra punishments~"
"Hah?!" Mizuno froze completely, unable to process what Rudolf had just said.
"What I'm saying is…" Rudolf sat gracefully on the sofa, crossing her legs leisurely, barely containing her amused smile.
"Air Groove and I already agreed earlier that, since we teased you first with the Want-a-Hug Potion, it was partially our fault. We'd planned to drop the issue entirely and forgive your prank…"
"But since you personally requested just now that I put it on your tab, I must respect your admirable self-discipline and record your debt accordingly~"
"My dear Sora, I truly never imagined you were this strict with yourself. To actively request punishment in order to grow stronger… you truly have my utmost respect."
"Ha?!" Mizuno finally understood clearly this time, eyes widening in disbelief.
Wait… did he seriously just screw himself over with his own attempt to beg for mercy?!
"Um, can I take it back?"
"Nope."
"Uwaah…" Mizuno collapsed face-down to the floor, drained of color and hope.
"Hehe~" Rudolf couldn't help but giggle softly at the sight of Mizuno helplessly lying on the ground in total despair.
As expected, teasing Trainer-san Mizuno was simply too entertaining—she'd never tire of it.
"Alright, let's get down to business." Rudolf wiped away her smile, leaned forward, and lightly poked Mizuno's side to regain his attention.
"I actually need your help with something… or rather, it's for your own sake, really…"
"Hmm?" Mizuno slowly lifted his head, curious now.
"What do you mean, for my own sake?"
"I'm talking about your Uma Mint constitution—your very presence making ten different Uma miserable and unable to function normally." Rudolf's finger playfully tugged at the edge of Mizuno's hood without removing it.
"Among them, one particular Uma couldn't hold back anymore and has been causing trouble at Tracen since yesterday. So I need you to resolve her issues—just like you did with Air Groove—before she causes even more trouble."
"But unfortunately, Air Groove and I need to focus on urgent matters concerning the Secret Boys' Dormitory, so we can't help you this time. You'll have to handle it alone…"
"Haa…" Rudolf rubbed her forehead tiredly with a troubled sigh.
"Ever since the boys' dorm became uninhabitable, male trainers had to stay in hotels outside campus. But once their own Uma discovered their locations, they immediately took advantage of the situation—using the hotel rooms as ready-made 'dining tables.'"
"So, the Student Council now has to urgently rescue these poor trainers. If we don't, all male trainers will end up permanently living with their Uma before the new Secret Boys' Dorm is even finished…"
"Ahh… today alone we've already lost three trainers, two yesterday, five the day before that…"
"Wait, Luna…" Mizuno hurriedly raised a hand, interrupting Rudolf before she could derail further, asking a crucial question:
"You still haven't told me who exactly this troublemaking Uma is?"
"Oh, my apologies. I almost forgot…" Rudolf tapped her forehead lightly with a sheepish expression.
"Her name is…"
"El Condor Pasa."