...
The performance hadn't started yet, but the audience seats were already packed.
The glow sticks in the spectators' hands shimmered like a complex Go board from afar, or as if stars had fallen from the sky to the mortal world.
"Over here, over here!"
Fortunately, Lucian had the foresight to have Dextrous Bailey save seats in advance. Otherwise, they'd probably have to stand or listen from outside by now.
"Little Bailey, thank goodness you're here." Lucian held Rice Shower's hand as they navigated through the crowded flow of people, finally settling into their seats—which were, luckily, near the front.
"I had nothing to do this afternoon, so I came early to save seats. There were already a lot of people here by then."
The star horse girls had many fans, and it was a good thing Dextrous Bailey was a student at Tracen Academy. Otherwise, securing seats might have been impossible.
Lucian felt a little embarrassed. "You worked hard. Do you want any drinks or snacks? I'll go buy them for you."
"A reward... just a drink? I waited for almost four hours," Dextrous Bailey muttered under her breath, but every word reached Lucian's ears clearly.
"Then I owe you one. How about tail pets?" With Rice Shower beside him, Lucian had to lower his voice.
"Okay..."
Lucian straightened up and turned to Rice Shower. "Rice-chan? Why are you looking down?"
"N-no reason." Rice Shower seemed startled by Lucian's voice.
"Do you want anything to drink? I'm going to buy some now."
"Just a bottle of water, please." Rice Shower kept her legs together and her hands neatly folded on her knees, looking very well-behaved.
She really did need a bottle of water to calm herself down.
Earlier, when Lucian led her through the crowd, he had been holding her wrist the entire time.
True, it helped her get through the packed crowd smoothly.
But... Onii-sama didn't seem to care at all? Holding her wrist instead of her hand—did that not matter to him?
"Alright, I'll be right back."
...
By the time Lucian returned, the performance was about to begin.
Symboli Rudolf, as the student council president, personally took the stage to deliver the opening speech.
Then, the host Maruzensky appeared in formal attire. She would announce each performance. "First up, we have Matikanetannhauser, who will perform 'One Last Kiss' for everyone!"
"Huh?" Lucian was startled. Was it the same song he knew? Could he accidentally stumble into the Louvre here?
宇多田ヒカル『One Last Kiss』
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uhh62MUEic&list=RD0Uhh62MUEic&start_radio=1
Before he could check, Matikanetannhauser's powerful voice rang out.
The moment she started singing, Lucian knew—it really was that song.
"Onii-sama, have you heard this song before?" Rice Shower asked, puzzled by Lucian's strong reaction.
"Of course I have. You've heard it too, right?"
It was only then that Lucian remembered—aside from Matikanetannhauser, Rice Shower also had a lot of AI-generated fan content.
"I have. I can even sing a little of it."
"What else can Rice-chan sing? Do you know 'Obsession'?" Lucian smiled amiably.
着魔（Obsessed）
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHCPKrOyFWQ&list=RDiHCPKrOyFWQ&start_radio=1
Unaware of the trap, Rice Shower shook her head. "Is it a Chinese song? I've never heard of it."
"It is a Chinese song." Lucian figured it probably didn't exist in this world, so he made it up. "Well... I wrote it. Maybe I'll have the girl on stage sing it someday."
"Onii-sama can write songs too!?"
"Ahem, just a little, just a little."
He could "transport" them. Or, in other words, copy them.
"But why would Onii-sama want Matikanetannhauser to sing it? Are you close with her?" Rice Shower spoke up for Urara and the others. "If you're not, then Suzuka-senpai and the others would definitely be sad if they found out."
She was also part of the team, so she felt just a tiny bit upset too.
"Wait, wait, don't tell them, okay?" Lucian quickly said.
If she tattled, Lucian would have to explain all over again. The whole "Shuttle-chan" incident was already hard enough to live down—he didn't need a repeat. "It's just... that song suits her."
"So Onii-chan wrote it specifically for her?"
"Not at all." Lucian felt like Rice Shower was cornering him. "If you want to sing it, I can let you hear it sometime."
...
Matikanetannhauser's first performance ended.
For her, this song was nothing special—not high enough, not challenging enough.
Maruzensky returned to the stage. "Next up, Tokai Teio will perform for us—"
"Trainer, it's Teio's turn!" Dextrous Bailey excitedly reminded Lucian.
"I know, I know." Lucian looked toward the stage. It wasn't just Tokai Teio who appeared—many other horse girls in matching dance outfits accompanied her.
In a small corner, Lucian immediately spotted Urara's petite figure.
Just like how she could pick him out in such a huge venue.
"Rice-chan, do you see Urara? Over there."
"I see her!" Rice Shower happily waved her glow stick and cheered, "Urara! Do your best!"
But her voice was too soft, quickly drowned out by the chants of "Tokai Teio!"
At this point, Tokai Teio hadn't participated in any major races yet, but even on stage, she carried herself with the aura of an "Emperor."
"A future star horse girl..." Lucian murmured, praising Tokai Teio's natural talent.
Under Tokai Teio's brilliance, the other horse girls seemed to fade into the background.
But in one corner, that sprite-like figure dancing gracefully was his pride.
...
"Hah~ Urara, don't be nervous, the Trainer is watching from the audience!"
"Teio is singing this part now, the rhythm here... good, good, I kept up."
"Oh no, I extended my leg a little too late just now. I hope no one noticed Urara..."
On stage, Urara performed each move diligently, her inner monologue just as lively.
...
"Haha, Urara messed up, but she recovered quickly... Does she really think no one saw?"
Rice Shower turned her head, about to tell Lucian not to tease Urara later—she didn't want to pressure her.
But the words died in her throat.
Because Lucian's gaze never left the stage. Urara was reflected in his pupils, shining brightly.
Rice Shower smiled softly and reached for her water, only to hear Lucian murmur, as if speaking to himself:
"But she dances so well."
...