"Huh? Why?"

Mizuno was utterly confused by the bus driver's request.

He just wanted to board the bus. Why did he have to take off his hood, the only thing hiding his appearance?

"I have to make sure you're actually a trainer. Uma Musume aren't allowed on this bus," the driver declared sternly.

"There was an incident before where an Uma Musume disguised herself and sneaked onto the bus, causing chaos at the secret dormitory. I need to see your face and confirm there aren't horse ears hidden under your hood. Otherwise, you're not stepping foot on this bus!"

"Hurry up and take it off!"

Mizuno: "..."

Mizuno glanced back at Hayakawa Tazuna, still standing by the school gates.

Considering he'd just confirmed she was an Uma Musume, Mizuno absolutely could not expose his true appearance in front of her.

"I actually have an ID card that proves I'm a trainer," Mizuno said, pulling out his identification.

The driver looked at it but still refused him entry.

"Who knows if this ID is stolen? We've had cases where Uma Musume stole trainers' IDs to sneak aboard!"

"Seriously…?"

No wonder the veteran trainers had warned him to protect his ID. Losing it would cause problems not only for himself but for others too.

Was there any other way Mizuno could prove his identity?

"Miss Hayakawa can vouch for me," Mizuno finally asked her for help.

He'd made a good friend; it was time to put that to the test. Though they'd only known each other for less than a day, she should still be able to put in a good word for him.

Please, Miss Hayakawa—I'm counting on you!

"That's right, Mizuno-san is indeed a trainer," Hayakawa Tazuna confirmed with a friendly smile.

Thank you, Miss Hayakawa.

"Miss Hayakawa, huh…" The driver stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Considering Hayakawa's authority and reliability, the driver would likely let Mizuno on now.

"Still no!" the driver declared suddenly.

"Huh? But why?"

"Because Miss Hayakawa has a record! She once felt sorry for an Uma Musume and helped her sneak onto the bus!"

"What?!" Mizuno froze.

"Miss Hayakawa, is this true?!"

"Ehehe…" Hayakawa laughed sheepishly.

What do you mean, 'ehehe'?

Mizuno had thought that becoming friends with Hayakawa would give him some security if he ever got cornered by Uma Musume. But it turned out she'd actually helped them before!

This friendship was worthless! Friendship canceled!

"You need to take off that hood right now, or you're not getting on this bus!" The driver reached for the door to shut it.

"Wait!" Mizuno quickly stopped him.

Mizuno glanced around briefly. No other trainers had arrived, and no Uma Musume were nearby—only the driver, Hayakawa, and himself. This was the safest possible moment to reveal his face.

As long as Hayakawa didn't see it, only the driver would know his appearance.

If he waited until others arrived, Mizuno's trainer life would definitely be over (tragically).

"Fine, I'll take it off… I'll take it off…" Mizuno mumbled reluctantly.

He glanced nervously at Hayakawa's ever-smiling face, then remembered his frighteningly high-level S-rank appeal to Uma Musume—appearance, voice, and scent all dangerously alluring.

"Miss Hayakawa, could you please close your eyes for a moment?"

"Certainly." Hayakawa agreed immediately.

"And cover your ears, too."

"Okay."

"And maybe…don't breathe?"

"…"

That last request seemed excessive…

"Hey, aren't you going a bit too far?" Even the driver thought Mizuno's demands were unreasonable.

It was enough just asking her to close her eyes. Covering ears and not breathing? Did he think he was that attractive?

Whether he was attractive or not, Mizuno wasn't sure. But exposing himself in front of any Uma Musume was definitely not an option.

"Please, Miss Hayakawa." Mizuno bowed apologetically.

"Alright."

Hayakawa obediently closed her eyes and gently covered the ears hidden under her hat.

"I can only hold my breath for about thirty seconds. After that, it'll get uncomfortable."

"That's enough."

Seeing her eyes shut, Mizuno swiftly lowered his hood and faced the driver.

"Sir, look, I'm clearly human," Mizuno pointed at his face.

However, the driver's reaction caught Mizuno off guard. The older man's originally sleepy eyes widened dramatically.

"Whoa—holy crap!"

The driver had already mentally prepared himself to see either a very handsome or very ugly young man. Yet—

When he saw Mizuno's true appearance, he couldn't stop himself from exclaiming loudly.

Because Mizuno's charm was simply overwhelming!

It wasn't just a matter of being handsome. The young man radiated an irresistible warmth, a comforting presence like gentle sunshine on a cold winter's day, or a friendly older brother who took perfect care of everyone around him.

His voice, too, carried an attractive magnetic quality that practically melted ears.

Despite being an elderly man with perfectly normal preferences, the driver suddenly felt the inexplicable urge to nestle into Mizuno's warm embrace.

If even a heterosexual human man reacted this way, those lovestruck young horse girls would undoubtedly throw themselves onto him and squeeze Mizuno tightly the instant they saw his face.

And that scent…

It smelled exactly like the carrots Uma Musume adored most!

Was this young man suicidal, coming to work at this place?!

"Cough, cough…" The driver cleared his throat awkwardly, blushing slightly and muttering sheepishly, "Sorry for doubting you earlier, young man."

Mizuno: "?"

Old man, please behave normally. You're scaring me.

System, I thought my physique was only S-ranked with Uma Musume? Why is this driver looking at me like that?

[Your physique is indeed S-ranked with Uma Musume, but I never said it wasn't A-ranked with humans.]

A-ranked? Isn't that just one level below horse-nip?!

[Correct.]

Why didn't you mention something so important?![

[This system doesn't bother tracking trash ranks below S-level.]

"..."

So anything below S is considered trash now…

How do I fix this?

[For human males, simply put your hood back on, and you will cease attracting them immediately, leaving no lasting effects.]

And what about human females?[

[No known solution.]

Mizuno: "..."

Following the system's advice, Mizuno quickly replaced his hood. The Doctor's Outfit immediately activated its concealment effect, returning him to being the barely noticeable, gloomy youth he was before.

The blush faded from the old driver's face as his expression returned to its original sleepy indifference.

Holy crap, this young man was way too charming. I nearly lost my heart there.

Thirty seconds had passed. Hayakawa didn't immediately open her eyes; instead, she slowly uncovered her ears first.

"Mizuno-san, can I open my eyes now?"

"Yes," Mizuno replied with relief. "Thank you for your understanding."

"Not a problem," Hayakawa opened her eyes, offering him her usual smile.

"I'll be going, then."

"See you tomorrow, Mizuno-san."

"See you."

Mizuno boarded the bus. The driver waited five more minutes, but nobody else arrived. Finally, he started the engine and headed for the secret dormitory.

Hayakawa watched the bus fade into the distance, a faint blush gradually appearing on her cheeks.

"Mizuno-san… That scent of yours…is truly irresistible…"