...
This was the last Winners' Stage performance of the year.
Lucian felt quite emotional.
The first Winners' Stage he watched this year was Silence Suzuka's, and now, at the end of the year, it was still Silence Suzuka's.
Going round and round, this whole "my girlfriend is a star" thing... Oh right, make that two girlfriends, since Special Week also performed on the same stage as Silence Suzuka.
The two of them were even more in sync on stage than before. If only they could always be this harmonious~
What if, in the future, Special Week finds out about his relationship with Silence Suzuka? Or what if it's the other way around, and Silence Suzuka is the one who discovers it?
For a moment, Lucian truly had no countermeasures in mind, but he wasn't too troubled either. He'd just have to strive to treat them both fairly.
...
The day after the Arima Kinen, posters of Silence Suzuka appeared all over the streets, and the interview video featuring Lucian and her was broadcast on TV.
Reporter: "Trainer Lucian, how many times has this been for you this year, appearing on camera with your team members?"
Lucian: "To be honest, I can't really remember anymore."
Reporter: "Then, could you tell us what your plans are for next year?"
Lucian: "Uh, that's something I can't comment on. You should ask today's star, Suzuka (wordplay on Silence Suzuka's Japanese name)."
Lucian handed the microphone to Silence Suzuka, who gave him a deadpan look.
"Can't comment"? More like he just didn't want to answer and was trying to clock out early.
Reporter: "Suzuka-san, could you answer this question?"
Silence Suzuka: "For next year, I'll continue participating in some races, but more than that, I want to take a longer period to train and become stronger."
Reporter: "Next question—Trainer Lucian, what are your thoughts on the current active horse girls, especially those who competed in today's race?"
Lucian: "That's something I think Suzuka-chan, as a fellow competitor, is better qualified to answer. What do you think?"
Reporter: "Uh... you're right. Then, Suzuka-san..."
Silence Suzuka: "I think everyone is very strong and gave me a lot of pressure."
...
Lucian walked out of the kitchen, wearing an apron. "Why are you watching yesterday's interview? Isn't that boring?"
Tokai Teio: "Not boring at all! I was watching how you kept passing the microphone."
Haru Urara: "I was counting how many times you said Suzuka's name!" She had already counted up to one hand's worth.
"You guys are really something else~" Lucian shook his head with a wry smile. "Dinner's still a while away, but come try my new creation."
A plate of freshly baked pastries was placed on the living room's glass table.
In his free time, Lucian enjoyed adding his own creative twists to existing recipes.
These pastries, served in delicate cups, were all different—some adorned with blueberries, mangoes, or strawberries, others topped with rose-shaped or ice-cream-like whipped cream...
"Wahhh!!!" Matikanetannhauser kept swallowing her saliva but couldn't bring herself to ruin the pastries' aesthetic beauty. "Can we really eat these?"
While she was still hesitating, a little shark's teeth had already "executed" a piece of cake. "Delicious!"
The other horse girls, who hadn't started yet, could no longer afford to just admire them. They quickly picked their favorites and guarded them in front of themselves.
"McQueen, still being elegant? If you wait any longer, they'll all be gone," Tokai Teio said between chews.
"Teio, please swallow before speaking," Mejiro McQueen replied, not wanting to appear too eager. "Also, you've got something here..."
She pointed at the cream smudged at the corner of Tokai Teio's mouth.
Tokai Teio stuck out her little tongue and licked it off. "Oh~ Arigato."
"Hmm, McQueen, not eating? Don't you like it?" Seeing that all the other horse girls had started enjoying their treats while Mejiro McQueen remained standing empty-handed, Lucian couldn't resist teasing her.
This trainer held grudges.
"No, I—"
Just as Mejiro McQueen reached for one, Lucian picked up the nearly empty plate. "Alright, if you don't like it, that's fine~ I'll just put it in the fridge."
"Wait!"
Mejiro McQueen called out in a panic, drawing everyone else's attention.
"I-I do like it! I'm just a little hungry now, so I'll have some."
"I see, here." Lucian brought the plate to Mejiro McQueen. After she made her choice, he placed the remaining pastries back on the table—with no intention of actually taking them away.
This amount of cake definitely wouldn't fill up a horse girl.
But since preparing them took a long time, he hadn't made too many—just enough for each horse girl to have a taste. Even though there were leftovers, there wasn't nearly enough to go around.
As for who would get the remaining pastries, Lucian couldn't care less. He'd leave it to them to fight it out~
...
Sure enough, as soon as Lucian turned back toward the kitchen, the horse girls, having finished their own portions, launched a silent war over the leftovers.
Special Week, being the closest, was the first to reach out with her tiny hands.
"Spe-chan, aren't pastries high-calorie? And that one has cream on it too."
Nice Nature and the other newcomers didn't dare speak up, but Haru Urara had no such reservations.
Special Week instinctively rubbed her stomach. "I-I'll just share one with Suzuka."
Half a piece should be fine, right...?
Silence Suzuka: "Spe-chan, I'm not having any."
Silence Suzuka wasn't particularly fond of sweets. Compared to cake, the Lucian in the kitchen held far more appeal for her.
"Okay..." Special Week withdrew her hand.
Haru Urara smiled. "Then I'll help myself~"
But before she could take one, a faster hand snatched it right from under her nose.
"Teio!?"
"Urara, calories don't matter to me, hehe~" Tokai Teio proudly held the pastry in her palm.
"Teio! Give that back to Urara! I was going to share it with Rice-chan!"
"But Rice-chan is still helping out in the kitchen. There are still a few smaller ones left on the plate—perfect for Urara."
"Ugh!!" Haru Urara could only fume in frustration.
"If you don't hurry, Bailey's gonna take them all," Tokai Teio warned.
Haru Urara immediately turned and threw herself into battle with Dextrous Bailey.
Meanwhile, Tokai Teio began happily savoring her spoils right in front of Mejiro McQueen.
Mejiro McQueen turned her face away.
Honestly, did she have to eat it so deliciously right in front of her...?
...
While everyone was focused on the remaining pastries, Silence Suzuka quietly began inching toward the kitchen.
"Suzuka, where are you going?" Seiun Sky suddenly appeared behind her.
Silence Suzuka forced herself to stay calm. "The kitchen. I'm going to see Lucian-kun."
"Oh~ Then let's go together. I was just heading there too."
...