"It's… It's done!" Mizuno Sora raised the Honey Special Drink like it was the Holy Grail, his entire body trembling with excitement.
After 993 attempts, he finally made an S-rank Honey Special Drink!
The recipe for the S-rank drink was now deeply engraved into his brain. All he had to do next was make a regular-sized portion and give it to Tokai Teio, and the first apology mission would finally be completed!
Driven nearly mad by his experiments, Mizuno started laughing uncontrollably.
"Hahahahaha!"
Oguri Cap, who had just gulped down over seven hundred cups, slumped in her seat, rubbing her stomach and staring blankly at Mizuno, who was cackling maniacally.
What's the Honey Special Drink God doing? Performing some kind of ritual?
The drink in his hands seemed to emit a faint rainbow glow and smelled incredibly delicious.
I really want it…
"Hahaha… ha… cough, cough…" Mizuno laughed until he nearly collapsed, sliding down from the table to slump weakly onto a chair.
"So tired…"
During his research frenzy, Mizuno hadn't felt a thing; his mind had been completely consumed by his desire for success. But now that he'd achieved his goal, the accumulated fatigue surged forward, rendering him nearly incapable of movement.
Thankfully, there weren't any dangerous Uma Musume nearby; otherwise, in his current state, if he were abducted, he wouldn't even have the strength to shout for help.
As for Oguri Cap beside him…
She's just a big eater, one of the gods of cursed fanfiction. No need to worry about her.
Speaking of which, it was lucky Oguri Cap had helped this time. Otherwise, Mizuno might not have produced the S-rank Honey Special Drink before his Doctor's Outfit was reclaimed.
Turning his head, Mizuno saw Oguri Cap staring openly at the drink in his hand, her eyes unabashedly filled with desire.
"You still want more after seven hundred cups?" Mizuno asked, astonished. But remembering it was Oguri Cap, he quickly realized that made perfect sense.
"Go ahead." Mizuno pushed the S-rank drink toward Oguri Cap.
He could always make more later. This small taste was a suitable reward for her help.
"Thanks." Oguri Cap accepted the cup and swallowed the contents in one gulp.
"Delicious!" Even Oguri Cap's perpetually expressionless face filled with shock.
That single mouthful tasted several times better than the seven hundred cups she'd had before!
A boundless field of flowers suddenly appeared before her eyes, petals dancing brilliantly as diligent bees poured fragrant honey over her body, filling her with supreme bliss.
If this were a cooking anime, her clothes would've exploded off her by now.
"Uuuurp~" Oguri Cap gave a satisfied belch.
She felt so full, so happy.
"Thank you for the meal…" She started to thank Mizuno, but noticed he was already quickly packing away ingredients into his four-dimensional pocket, preparing to leave.
Mizuno had no time to waste resting. It was already evening, and the Uma Musume of Tracen Academy would have finished their classes and would be dining at the cafeteria.
He didn't want to wait until tomorrow to deliver the Honey Special Drink to Tokai Teio. The longer he delayed, the higher the risk became. He decided to take a chance and head to the cafeteria now, hoping to find Tokai Teio and quickly finish his apology task.
After tidying up, Mizuno dragged his exhausted body out of the meeting room.
"What's your name?" Oguri Cap suddenly asked.
Normally, Oguri Cap wouldn't bother asking anyone's name. But today, Mizuno's Honey Special Drink had made her feel wonderfully full and oddly happy, prompting the unusual urge to know his name.
Mizuno felt awkward. Why did every Uma Musume ask for his name?
"I'm Nakiri Erina, a girl." Mizuno waved his hand dismissively, disappearing from Oguri Cap's sight.
He still refused to reveal his true identity. Whether an Uma Musume was dangerous or not, caution was always safer.
"Nakiri-san…"
Oguri Cap gazed blankly after Mizuno, already imagining their next meeting—hopefully involving more delicious treats.
As the orange sunset illuminated her face, Oguri Cap suddenly realized it was already evening. Meaning, she'd skipped an entire afternoon of class.
But that wasn't important.
"It's dinner time. I should head to the cafeteria." Oguri Cap rubbed her belly—swollen as if ten months pregnant—and leisurely walked toward the dining hall.
...
Miss Hayakawa Tazuna had mentioned in the morning that the academy cafeteria was primarily for Uma Musume, though trainers could dine there too. She advised male trainers against entering alone, however.
Now Mizuno stood hesitantly at the cafeteria entrance, watching countless Uma Musume coming and going, debating whether to enter.
Supposedly trainers could eat here, yet Mizuno had been standing outside for more than ten minutes and hadn't seen a single human enter, except the cafeteria ladies.
Could he really go in? Would he be devoured instantly by ravenous horse-girls?
Mizuno debated a moment longer, then gathered his courage.
"My presence is weak anyway; they probably won't notice me. I'll just deliver the drink quickly and leave immediately." Taking a deep breath, Mizuno stepped inside.
The moment he entered, his attention was immediately captured by a white-haired Uma Musume sitting before a mountain of food stacked higher than her head.
Chomp, chomp.
Oguri Cap ate her dinner as if nothing had happened, completely stunning Mizuno.
Wait, hadn't she just gulped down over seven hundred Honey Special Drinks? How was she already eating again?
She didn't even need digestion time. Mizuno had only hesitated at the door for ten minutes, yet Oguri Cap had somehow beaten him here and was eating this much again. Could her stomach really handle all that?
But Mizuno wasn't here for her, so after a brief glance, he tore his gaze away.
He scanned the dining hall and quickly spotted Tokai Teio.
He'd guessed right—this time of day, she'd indeed be eating dinner here with the other Uma Musume.
"Hahaha, your Honey Special Drink delivery has arrived!" Mizuno muttered, approaching Tokai Teio with the freshly-prepared S-rank drink.
Currently, Tokai Teio was eating and chatting cheerfully with a purple-and-white-haired Uma Musume.
Mejiro McQueen, the elite daughter of the prestigious Mejiro family, was Tokai Teio's closest friend and rival. Both geniuses, they continuously challenged, motivated, and supported each other.
But in the cursed fanfiction world, trainers had to be careful not to recruit both Teio and McQueen simultaneously; otherwise, they'd trigger the [Mutual Jealousy] buff, rapidly accelerating their trip to the basement.
"McQueen~ Listen, I met a reeeeally weird person this morning." Tokai Teio exaggeratedly waved her arms, her voice adorable and childish.
"Gold Ship?" McQueen's first guess was the infamous prankster who constantly tormented her.
Who else at Tracen Academy would be considered weird if not Gold Ship?
"I don't think so. She wore a dark gray outfit covering everything like a ninja—I couldn't see her face at all."
"Sounds like Gold Ship in disguise."
"She said her name was Hokuto Seiji, a new trainer."
"Definitely Gold Ship using a fake identity."
"She even gave me this photo of the president; she's a fan like me!" Teio carefully pulled out Symboli Rudolf's swimsuit photo to show McQueen.
McQueen stared at the beautifully shot swimsuit picture for a full ten seconds.
"Gold Ship probably… took this…"
"No way it's Gold Ship!" Teio protested, "Gold Ship wouldn't have any interest in collecting someone else's photos—especially something this artistic! You'd need professional-level skills!"
"Hmm… you have a point," McQueen thoughtfully nodded.
Gold Ship was famous for her fleeting interests. Even if she suddenly decided to become the world's best photographer, she'd give up as soon as she reached a beginner's level and switch to becoming Japan's best chess master or something. She could never produce a photo of this caliber.
Maybe it really wasn't Gold Ship after all?
"Wait, did you buy a Honey Special Drink before dinner?" McQueen asked suddenly.
"Nope~" Teio shook her head.
"Are you sure?" McQueen pressed.
"Positive. Why ask? Want one too?" Teio smiled sweetly. "I recommend the extra-rich flavor. It's amazing~"
"No, it's not that… I just have a question."
"What question?"
"Then where did that Honey Special Drink in front of you come from?" McQueen pointed to the drink that had inexplicably appeared on the table.
"?!"