...
That night, Lucian held a welcome ceremony for Mejiro McQueen joining the team.
Both festive fireworks and delicious food were essential.
Under the warmth of everyone and the temptation of the food, Mejiro McQueen gradually became less reserved.
"McQueen, eat more."
Tokai Teio said, placing another glistening piece of meat into Mejiro McQueen's bowl.
"Teio, are you trying to deliberately make me gain weight?"
Though she said this, she still put the meat into her mouth.
The elegant young lady rarely let her guard down in front of good food, with a bit of sauce staining the corner of her lips.
"Well, McQueen, are you eating it or not? If not, I'll take this last piece for myself."
"You can have it. I'm full." Mejiro McQueen averted her eyes.
"Everyone." Lucian suddenly raised his glass. "A toast to celebrate Urara's second-place finish in Kochi and McQueen joining the team."
"Cheers!!"
"Cheers~"
...
"Urara, it feels like you've changed a bit after coming back from Kochi," Seiun Sky said, putting down her drink.
Urara asked curiously, "Changed? How? Did I become stronger?"
"Hmm..." Seiun Sky thought for a moment. "I guess so."
The word she actually had in mind was "radiant," but she meant to say Urara seemed full of energy.
The last time she felt this way was with Silence Suzuka.
Perhaps a significant victory could really bring about such changes, though it varied from person to person? Because when she won the Kikuka Sho, she was just happy and nothing more.
"Urara also feels like she's gotten stronger, all thanks to Trainer!" Urara refilled her glass with more juice. "Trainer, Urara wants to toast you!"
"Sure." Today, Lucian was drinking juice, so it didn't matter how much he drank.
Truth be told, he had a vague idea of what Seiun Sky was trying to say.
It was that newly nurtured, wifely aura, right? Because he also remembered Seiun Sky saying the same thing to Silence Suzuka last time—and it was also the day after that.
But of course, he couldn't outright explain this to Seiun Sky.
"This glass cannon... If I want her to behave, I might have to resort to some extreme methods."
Lucian pondered in his mind. Perhaps this method would even require using Silence Suzuka.
He just didn't know if Seiun Sky would turn dark like Urara did... Probably not, right? Because after all this time together, he hadn't sensed any black aura from her.
"Lucian-kun, what are you thinking about?" Silence Suzuka's hand quietly rested on Lucian's thigh.
"N-Nothing." Lucian glanced down but didn't stop her.
"Lucian-kun, I remember you still owe me a reward, right?"
Lucian nodded. It hadn't been long since the training camp, so of course he remembered. Besides Silence Suzuka, he also owed Rice Shower a reward. "Have you decided what you want?"
"Yes." Silence Suzuka cupped her hands near Lucian's ear and whispered softly.
After hearing it, the spoon in Lucian's hand clattered onto the table.
He lowered his voice and whispered back, "You... serious?"
What kind of "catch the thief" game? What handcuffs? No idea what she's talking about.
"Didn't I say the reward has to be reasonable!?"
"Given my relationship with Lucian-kun, isn't it reasonable?" Silence Suzuka muttered. "Besides, you've also thought about making me wear a racing outfit."
"T-That's... different, isn't it?" Lucian accidentally met Silence Suzuka's eyes and saw flames burning within them.
It seemed like every now and then, Silence Suzuka would enter this state. The same thing happened during the training camp break.
"So, Lucian-kun is going back on his word?" Silence Suzuka's hand began lightly pinching the flesh on his thigh.
"I..." Lucian gulped. Her eyes in this state were terrifying—like a hunter's lurking in the shadows of a dense forest. "We'll talk later..."
Karma was a funny thing. Just moments ago, he was thinking of using Silence Suzuka, and now he was the one suffering.
"Trainer, what are you and Suzuka talking about?" Special Week's gaze turned toward them.
From her perspective, Lucian and Silence Suzuka looked like they were whispering intimately.
It made her feel uncomfortable, as if her best friend was getting too cozy with her boyfriend.
"Nothing. Suzuka was just asking if I could update the menu next time. She wants to try something new."
"Oh, I see." Special Week discreetly glanced at Lucian's lips. "Trainer, you've got some rice here."
She handed him a napkin but didn't dare wipe it for him directly.
"Thanks, Spe-chan."
"No problem."
The time without kisses felt just as long as the time spent kissing.
Special Week had to admit—her lips were itching again.
She'd have to find some free time to recharge with Trainer soon.
Urara, who had just been "fully charged" yesterday, didn't have this problem.
...
"By the way, McQueen, after the New Year, we're all going on a trip to the China with Trainer. Do you want to come?" Tokai Teio suddenly remembered and put down her chopsticks.
"A trip to the China?" Mejiro McQueen was quite intrigued, but due to being new to the team, she still felt a faint sense of unfamiliarity. "I'll pass."
"Why not? Don't you want to see it? You don't have to worry about food or lodging."
"It's fine. I'm also going on a trip with my family this winter break, desuwa."
"Alright, that's a shame." Tokai Teio saw Mejiro McQueen as a rival, but deep down, she also considered her a friend—she just didn't realize it yet.
Lucian chimed in, "It's fine. As long as we have long breaks, we can always go again later. You've only been once—you definitely haven't seen all the beautiful sights of the China yet."
"Trainer is right." After joining the team, Mejiro McQueen also dropped the "Lucian" from "Trainer Lucian."
But whether this refusal would lead to regret later remained to be seen.
...
As the team-building event wrapped up and time grew late, Lucian began urging the horse girls to return to their dorms.
"Alright, it's time to head back. You've got training and classes tomorrow."
Everyone bid Lucian goodbye and gradually left his home.
Silence Suzuka kept an eye on Seiun Sky.
Seiun Sky kept an eye on Silence Suzuka and Urara.
Special Week also monitored Seiun Sky's movements.
As a result, Tokai Teio, Rice Shower, McQueen, and Dextrous Bailey's presence faded into the background.
...