It's proof—proof that I'll always stay by her side!
Mizuno looked at Gold Ship's downcast face, and something inside him trembled—he finally understood everything.
So, everything Broshi had done all this time was her way of proving that Mizuno wouldn't abandon her.
In truth, both Gold Ship and Rice Shower loved Mizuno's soul, and both had some degree of immunity to his Uma Mint constitution. The reason their reactions were different came down to Mizuno's attitude toward each of them.
No matter what happened, Mizuno had always shown Rice Shower he'd never leave her—risking his life to give her a Fortune sachet when she was first possessed by Misfortune and changing her fate for the better, or later, when she'd wanted him to take the Want-a-Hug Potion, he'd drunk it without hesitation, despite his fear of intimacy with any Uma Musume. Every act proved, in any situation, Mizuno would never abandon Rice Shower.
But it was different for Gold Ship. She'd never received anything like that from Mizuno.
All along, it was always Gold Ship taking care of Mizuno. Apart from a little alien spaceship toy, he'd never even given her a gift…
Sure, their brotherly bond never required gifts to keep going, but because there was never a real token to prove that connection, Gold Ship couldn't help but feel that the thread tying them together was fragile, liable to snap at any pull.
When Rice Shower missed Mizuno, she could hold the sachet, remember all their good times, and find the strength to keep running. But when Gold Ship missed him, what could she do to ease the pain of maybe never seeing her bro again?
That's why Gold Ship was so desperate to have little Uma foals with Mizuno—because, to her, a child was a proof, a bond. If she and Mizuno had a child together, with how responsible he was, he'd surely give up the dangerous Fortune contract for the people he loved, and he'd always stay by her side.
Now that he understood this, Mizuno knew exactly what he needed to do.
"Broshi!"
He called out, rolling his wheelchair straight toward Gold Ship.
"Onii-sama?!"
Rice Shower sensed something was off, grabbing Mizuno's sleeve, unwilling to let him leave the safety of her protection.
But Mizuno just shook his head at her, squeezing her small hand to signal her not to worry—he'd made this decision after serious thought.
"…Onii-sama…"
Rice Shower hesitated, but in the end she chose to trust Mizuno, letting go and allowing him to go to Gold Ship.
Gold Ship raised a brow in confusion as she watched Mizuno's approach, then tucked away her sadness and narrowed her eyes, interested.
"Oh? You're approaching me? Instead of running away, you're coming right to me?" Gold Ship smirked, as if the moment Mizuno got close she'd gobble him up.
But Mizuno, seeing her wicked grin, didn't show the slightest fear. He simply rolled forward, right into Gold Ship's range.
"Haha!"
Gold Ship was overjoyed, grabbing Mizuno into her arms the instant he came near.
She had no clue what breeze had blown through Mizuno's brain for him to willingly leave Rice Shower's protection and approach a dangerous Uma Musume who'd openly declared she wanted to Uma Pyoi him.
But if the duck comes to your mouth, how could you not eat it? No matter what he was plotting, since he'd come to her on his own, she wasn't about to let this chance slip away.
"Hmm, this time you'd better not even think about escaping~"
Gold Ship's arms locked tightly around Mizuno's waist. Staring at his handsome face, she licked her lips.
But Mizuno had meant to approach her all along, so he didn't resist at all. In fact, he hugged her waist even tighter, looked up, and gazed deep into her eyes. With all sincerity, he said:
"Broshi, I like you!"
"…?!"
Gold Ship's expression froze, her heartbeat quickening. But after a moment, she just let out a helpless snort:
"Heh, so you're spinning up some story just to avoid getting Uma Pyoied, huh…"
"No, I'm not lying…"
Mizuno shook his head, leaning in closer so she could see the emotion in his eyes. "I really do like Broshi!"
But facing Mizuno's direct confession, Gold Ship didn't get flustered as before. Instead, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously and calmly pressed:
"Oh? What kind of like? The kind where you want to date me, or that classic 'I only see you as a bro' kind of like?"
"It's the liking for a good bro!" Mizuno answered honestly.
"Heh, as I thought…"
Gold Ship let out a self-mocking laugh.
So after all that talk, he was just trying to protect his own chastity, taking advantage of her strength as a Uma Musume to keep her close as a bodyguard, all in the name of being 'bros'…
Not letting Uma Musume Uma Pyoi you, but still wanting them to protect you—what a shameless guy!
"So what if this good bro of yours wasn't satisfied with just being bros, and wanted to do something more—like have kids together, for example. Would you agree?"
Gold Ship's hands cradled Mizuno's face, her eyes locked onto his to see how he'd react.
She was waiting for him to freak out and struggle just like before, begging her not to Uma Pyoi him.
But this time, she didn't get what she expected. Instead, Mizuno nodded without the slightest hesitation:
"Of course I would."
Gold Ship blinked, stunned, her ears twitching in disbelief.
"What did you just say? You mean you wouldn't?"
"I said, of course I would."
Mizuno repeated himself, his deep eyes on Gold Ship, without a hint of retreat.
"…Why?!"
Gold Ship couldn't understand at all.
Why, after a few questions, did this guy suddenly seem enlightened, not only coming closer to her, but even, for the first time, agreeing to have little Uma foals together? Was this… another lie?
"Because I want you to know I really like Broshi! I'll never abandon you! I'm willing to do anything for that!"
"Hah…"
Gold Ship snorted. "Sounds great, but what proof do you have that you're not just making this up?"
"Proof…"
Mizuno paused, then turned to Fortune, who was still spectating from behind, and asked urgently:
"Fortune, is there a curse or vow that'll make me suffer a fate worse than death if I ever break it?"
Fortune frowned, looking at him like he was nuts. "There is… but what are you planning?"
"I'm going to swear to Broshi!"
Mizuno turned back to Gold Ship, cupping her delicate face in his hands.
"I swear on my soul: no matter what happens in the future, even if I die, I'll always return to Broshi's side. If I ever break this promise, may I be completely annihilated, soul and all!"
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T/N: MIZUNO IS SO COOOOOL