Symboli Rudolf had plenty of paperwork left today, so she returned first to the student council.
Meanwhile, Air Groove and Tokai Teio stayed behind, intending to help with Mizuno's experiments.
After assigning the two the task of removing the wilted sunflowers, Mizuno planned to return to his tent to continue adjusting today's nutrient solution.
He hadn't walked far when he heard a crisp wooden snap behind him.
Puzzled, Mizuno turned back, only to see that the shovel he'd just handed to Air Groove was now neatly snapped in two.
Air Groove stared blankly at the broken shovel, then looked up innocently at Mizuno.
"Um… The tool broke…"
"Hah?!" Mizuno gaped in disbelief.
How much strength had she used to snap a brand-new shovel that quickly?!
Sighing helplessly, Mizuno took out another shovel and handed it to her.
Without another word, Air Groove quietly took the shovel and went back to digging.
Yet the moment Mizuno turned around—
Holding the decapitated shovel, Air Groove hurried to Mizuno, avoiding his eyes, and awkwardly mumbled, "It broke again…"
Mizuno twisted his expression, completely unable to understand how two Uma, using identical shovels, could have such vastly different results. Tokai Teio's shovel was perfectly fine, yet the one Air Groove used seemed osteoporotic, snapping at the slightest touch?
This time, after giving Air Groove a new shovel, Mizuno didn't leave immediately.
Air Groove resumed digging, with Mizuno quietly observing beside her.
He intended to find out exactly why the shovel broke so easily.
Yet, after standing there for a full ten minutes, Mizuno saw no sign of the shovel breaking again.
It was almost as if the earlier breaks had just been coincidences.
Just when Mizuno thought there was no problem and shifted his gaze elsewhere—
That familiar sound, that familiar broken shovel handle…
"..." Air Groove made no sound this time, too ashamed to even glance back at Mizuno.
"..." Mizuno was speechless.
Was this shovel deliberately waiting until he looked away to break…?
But Mizuno had finally realized the reason.
It wasn't about shovel quality—it was simply because Air Groove often spaced out. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
Her wandering mind made her work slower than Tokai Teio and caused her to lose control of her strength, inevitably breaking the shovel.
Still, it wasn't as if Air Groove hadn't improved. The first two shovels broke after only a few swings, while the third lasted ten whole minutes. Clearly, she was genuinely making an effort to escape her negativity and regain a better mental state.
However, letting her continually break tools wasn't a solution either; repeated failures would eventually severely dent her confidence.
"Alright then…" Mizuno decisively pulled out a pile of metal materials and welded an alloy shovel on the spot, handing it to Air Groove. "This one's sturdy. Use this."
The alloy shovel might be heavier, but it was several times stronger than ordinary shovels.
Surely you can't snap this one too!
"Mm…" Air Groove stared blankly at Mizuno for a moment, then reached out to take the alloy shovel, her impression of Mizuno deepening slightly.
This friend of the President, despite dressing strangely, was incredibly gentle in temperament.
Seeing her mistakes, his first response wasn't to scold but rather to think of solutions…
He's an excellent Trainer.
Air Groove silently labeled Mizuno in her heart.
"Alright, call me if you need anything. I'll head back to prepare the potion," Mizuno said, returning to the tent.
Air Groove watched Mizuno's departing figure, momentarily spacing out again. Shaking herself free of the sudden daze, she tightened her grip on the alloy shovel and resumed digging.
"Trainer-san~ We've finished our task!" Accompanied by Tokai Teio's vibrant voice, both Uma, having removed all the wilted sunflowers, returned together to the tent.
"Good work," Mizuno spun around from his desk chair, immediately eyeing the alloy shovel Air Groove was holding.
Mm, excellent. It hadn't snapped.
Though the handle was now bent at a 45-degree angle…
"I'm sorry…" Air Groove awkwardly apologized.
"No worries, minor issue," Mizuno casually took the shovel back, quickly hammering it straight again with a few clanging strikes.
Seeing the alloy shovel restored so easily, a hint of surprise flickered across Air Groove's typically cold face.
A Trainer of Uma not only skilled at botanical research but also capable of repairing equipment?
Wasn't this Trainer a bit too capable?
But her astonishment didn't last long before reverting to her usual cool demeanor.
Rather than dwelling on the Trainer's talents, she was more eager to know what came next.
"Is there anything else I can do?" Air Groove asked.
"Uh… Please take these potions and place them into the corresponding drip systems according to the numbers here," Mizuno instructed while pulling out today's batch of potions.
"Mm." Before Mizuno even finished speaking, Air Groove had taken all the potions and quickly headed back to the experimental garden.
"Huh? Air Groove-senpai, aren't you going to rest a bit?" Tokai Teio, tired from digging for half an hour, wiped the sweat off her forehead and was just about to drink some water. She looked up to see Air Groove leaving with all the potions, without any intention of taking a break.
"I… don't need rest," Air Groove replied curtly, swiftly vanishing from everyone's sight.
"Wow~ Air Groove-senpai is so cool!" Tokai Teio's eyes sparkled.
In her eyes, Air Groove's decisive action was just like a great hero on TV departing to save the world—truly too cool!
"..." Mizuno stayed silent, a sense of unease growing inside him.
Not long after, a series of glass-shattering sounds came from outside the tent.
Ten seconds later, Air Groove returned to the tent empty-handed, head bowed guiltily.
Seems like she wasn't just prone to spacing out—she was also overly hasty…