...
"You two...worked hard."
Lucian felt that the two were looking at him with rather unfriendly gazes, especially Seiun Sky.
He pretty much knew that the vinegar jar had been overturned again.
"It was indeed exhausting. We rehearsed for so long without eating, while our Trainer has probably already cooked for other horse girls~" Seiun Sky's words were dripping with tea the moment she opened her mouth.
"The cafeteria food is still quite good." Silence Suzuka unintentionally caught sight of the jacket on Urara and took another uncertain glance.
She realized she had underestimated Urara.
So Seiun Sky wasn't the biggest rival...Urara was!
"Suzuka, why are you looking at Urara like that?" Urara didn't notice anything amiss. Instead, she slipped her hands into the sleeves and zipped up the jacket.
She had suddenly felt a bit cold just now, so it was better to wear it properly.
The Trainer's jacket was really warm, and it carried his scent too...
Thinking this, Urara lowered her head slightly and, as if possessed, gave it a light sniff.
But...it still wasn't as warm as the Trainer's hugs.
"It's nothing." Silence Suzuka withdrew her gaze.
So, was Urara actually provoking her!?
However, she didn't direct her hostility toward Urara but instead toward...Lucian!
This big radish...
Lucian seemed to sense something—this hostility was definitely aimed at him!
He quickly explained, "It's just employee benefits. But I haven't eaten either. I came straight here to watch your rehearsal as soon as I could."
"I didn't even ask if the Trainer had eaten~ Ah, whatever, never mind."
Lucian could only sigh helplessly, "Little Seiun, how about you name a condition?"
"A condition? The Trainer wouldn't happen to think the condition would be for you to eat with us, would he?"
Lucian was momentarily speechless. So...was he supposed to join them or not?
"I'll save the condition for later. I made plans to eat out with a friend." Seiun Sky felt like she had gained the upper hand.
"Alright, it's up to you."
As soon as Lucian finished speaking, Silence Suzuka's dry cough sounded.
"Ahem...Lucian-kun, I suddenly feel a bit cold." She clumsily followed Seiun Sky's lead, trying to get some benefits for herself.
"I didn't bring one."
"Suzuka-senpai, is this your jacket?" A red-haired twin-tailed girl approached from behind Silence Suzuka, holding a jacket in her hand.
Lucian watched the scene with interest, while Seiun Sky wore a meaningful expression.
"Eh? Nice Nature...thank you." Silence Suzuka awkwardly took the jacket, not really wanting to turn around and face Lucian anymore.
"No problem. And this is...?" Nice Nature looked at Lucian in confusion.
Although Lucian was a teacher, there was more than one instructor for the same course, so it was normal for Nice Nature not to recognize him.
"Hello, I'm Silence Suzuka's Trainer, Lucian. I'm also a teacher at the academy."
Lucian hadn't expected to meet "Nice" (Nice Nature) for the first time here—just like how he had earlier met "Mambo" (Matikanetannhauser).
But why did it feel like Nice Nature had done something wrong the moment she appeared? She had completely silenced Silence Suzuka beside him.
Now she was truly Silence Suzuka.
"Oh, hello." Nice Nature responded politely before turning back to Silence Suzuka. "Since I've delivered the jacket, I'll take my leave now."
"Alright, goodbye." Lucian directly responded on Silence Suzuka's behalf.
After Nice Nature left, Lucian whispered, "Didn't you say you didn't bring a jacket? Then what's this? Did dancing make you forget whether you even brought one or not?"
"Lucian-kun..." Silence Suzuka lowered her voice in shame, her hands hidden under the jacket clenching tightly.
This was...too embarrassing...
Lucian knew when to stop. He understood that teasing Silence Suzuka any further would just make her die of embarrassment. "Alright, I'll owe you another massage."
"During the massage...I want to eat tofu pudding and drink tea."
"Deal, deal."
After saying this, Lucian immediately turned to Seiun Sky and Urara. "Urara, you're still waiting for Spe-chan, right? Seiun, you should probably head back to shower now?"
"Mhm, I can't keep my friend waiting too long." Seiun Sky checked the time—it really was getting late—and bid everyone farewell before leaving.
"Suzuka, what about you? Are you waiting for Spe-chan too?"
"Mhm."
"Then I'll stay and wait with you for a bit."
Before long, it was Tokai Teio and Special Week's turn to rehearse.
Tokai Teio was the center of the stage, shining brilliantly. Compared to that tiny karaoke stage from before, this one suited her much better, allowing her to fully showcase her skills.
Even someone like Lucian, who knew nothing about dancing, could sense the difference between Tokai Teio's movements and those of the other horse girls.
As for Special Week, she had already improved tremendously. Not only were her movements smooth, but her expressions were perfectly controlled as well.
...
By the time rehearsals ended, it was already 7:30 PM.
The usually bustling cafeteria was much quieter now, but the five of them gathered together with their trays, eating with great relish.
Urara had forgotten to return the jacket to Lucian, and Lucian had clearly forgotten about it too.
When they arrived at the dorm, it was her roommate KIng Halo who voiced her confusion. "Urara, why are you wearing such an oversized jacket?"
Urara's hands couldn't even extend past the sleeves, and they swayed as she walked.
"Ah, oh—I didn't bring a jacket today, so this is the Trainer's. I forgot to return it."
"I see." King Halo nodded and didn't ask further.
"King-chan, is there hot water? I want to take a bath."
"There is, go ahead."
...
Upon entering the bathroom, Urara suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She cautiously glanced at KIng Halo, who was still busy with something else, then buried her face in the jacket and took a deliberate sniff.
Earlier, it had been unintentional...but this time, it was deliberate. Of course, it made her shy.
Lucian's scent hadn't faded much, though it was now mixed with her own fragrance.
Urara took off the jacket and was about to toss it into the washing machine but then hung it up instead.
For some reason, she suddenly didn't feel like returning it to Lucian...
No, no—she had to give it back.
After her bath, she'd hand-wash it first before returning it.
...