Myriad Dreams was working hard to adjust to the horrifyingly sweet Honey Special, trying to draw a bit of strength from Tokai Teio's pure, carefree happiness to combat her real-world troubles.
The two chatted idly, and the atmosphere was actually quite relaxed.
However, this brief tranquility was quickly shattered by a familiar, intensely oppressive aura.
A hand with well-defined knuckles and an unquestionable strength pressed down, gently yet firmly, on Myriad Dreams' shoulder.
The touch made her body freeze instantly. Even the sweetness in her mouth felt as if it had solidified.
Tokai Teio, standing to the side, reacted like a cat that had its tail stepped on.
Feeling the dark aura behind her that had practically manifested into physical form, she "boinged" right off the bench.
With a stiff, fawning smile and words tripping over each other, she said:
"Ahaha... uh... Myriad-senpai! Ya-Yaeno-senpai! I just remembered my Trainer has something for me! I-I've gotta go!!! See you later, senpais!"
Without even daring to look back at Yaeno Muteki's expression, she vanished at the end of the path with a whoosh at a speed comparable to a final-leg sprint, leaving only a puff of dust behind.
"Teio! Don't leave me alone!!"
Myriad Dreams reached out in a futile plea, her voice a despairing wail, but the only response was the rising dust in the distance.
Yaeno Muteki ignored the fleeing Teio.
Her gaze was locked firmly onto Myriad, and her beautiful face was currently so dark it looked like it could drip ink.
In her other hand, she held a thermos with the lid already removed.
Inside was a deep-colored liquid radiating a dense medicinal aroma and... a hint of an ominous aura.
One could vaguely see berries, ginseng slices, and even suspicious slices of velvet antler bobbing within.
"It. Is. Time. To. Drink. Your. Tea." Muteki's voice was low and brooked no argument as she thrust the thermos directly to Myriad's lips.
Looking at that "Special Love Blend" with its eerie color and terrifying ingredients, Myriad Dreams felt her stomach churn.
She tried to struggle: "Mu-Muteki... this... I just had a Honey Special, I'm really full..."
"Hmm?" Yaeno Muteki simply let out a dangerous hum from her nose, and the hand on Myriad's shoulder tightened slightly.
Myriad Dreams folded instantly.
She knew that today, there was no escaping this "tea."
Closing her eyes and pinching her nose as if she were drinking poison, she took the thermos, tilted her head back, and forced the large cup of scalding, bitter liquid down with a series of glugs.
A scorching current of air rushed from her throat straight to her stomach, and then surged toward her limbs and bones at an incredible speed.
"Cough, cough, cough...!"
Choking and coughing, Myriad felt as if she had been placed over a fire.
Her body temperature skyrocketed, and her cheeks turned a violent crimson.
However, that was only the beginning.
Almost the second the medicinal liquid hit her stomach, a warm fluid surged out of her nostrils without warning—
"Pfft—!!"
Bright red nosebleed flowed down like a small waterfall, instantly staining the hands covering her face and the front of her clothes.
"Uwah! Blood, blood!!"
Looking at her hands covered in red, Myriad Dreams' voice cracked in fear.
Dizzily, she shouted, "This—This is way too much supplement!! Muteki, just how much stuff did you put in here?! I'm over-tonified!!!"
Looking at Myriad's disheveled state and her raging nosebleed, Yaeno Muteki didn't look panicked at all.
Instead, she seemed finally satisfied.
The dark expression on her face softened slightly, and a faint, almost joyful arc curved at the corner of her mouth.
"It seems," she concluded calmly, as if stating a preordained fact, "That you need to 'have a good rest,' Myriad."
"R-Rest?! It's only three in the afternoon! The sun hasn't even set! It's too early! And I need to go deal with this nosebleed... uwah!"
Myriad tried to protest while clutching her nose, but her words were muffled by the flowing blood.
Yaeno Muteki didn't give her a single chance to resist.
Ignoring Myriad's protests, she stepped forward, bent down, and reached out, performing a textbook princess carry.
She easily hoisted the still-struggling, nose-bleeding Myriad Dreams into her arms.
"Eh?! Wait! Muteki! Put me down! People are watching!!"
Myriad Dreams' face turned a deep shade of embarrassed red (though it was already red from the supplements).
She flailed her arms and legs, but within Muteki's seemingly slender yet incredibly powerful arms, her struggles were like an ant trying to shake a giant tree.
"Be quiet." Yaeno Muteki looked down, glancing at her with those deep purple eyes, her tone carrying a hint of a threat. "Or would you prefer I use a different method to make you 'quiet'?"
Myriad Dreams froze instantly, remembering certain indescribable "punishment" methods. she shut her mouth immediately, and even her nosebleed seemed to stop momentarily out of pure fright.
She could only bury her face in Muteki's shoulder in despair, pretending she didn't exist.
Holding the "patient" who was suffering from a temporary loss of mobility due to the "tea", Yaeno Muteki ignored the surprised, suggestive, or knowing looks from other Uma Musume along the way.
With steady steps, she headed straight for the dormitory building.