...
The exit tunnel.
Lucian quickly walked up to Silence Suzuka and made a gesture like firing a celebratory cannon. "For the birth of our champion, a salute!"
"Lucian-kun, why are you acting like a child?" Silence Suzuka laughed.
"I'm just happy for you."
"Then where's the actual salute?"
"I'll owe you that for now."
The two spoke in unison as they walked back together.
"The Winner's Stage is tonight. Are you going back to shower now?" Lucian asked.
The Winner's Stage was also set up at the same racetrack.
"The dressing room has showers. No need to go through all that trouble."
"I see. Then you should go shower quickly. You're drenched in sweat—don't catch a cold."
"Mhm."
"I'll go grab a front-row seat so I can watch your performance properly later."
"Okay."
After watching Lucian walk away, Silence Suzuka placed a hand over her chest.
She had already performed like this several times before, not to mention all the private practice sessions.
But she had never felt this nervous before, her heart stirring restlessly in a way she couldn't ignore.
"What's wrong with me...?"
...
Night fell, draping the world in a black veil. The distant mountains were serene, their faint outlines like thin lines drawn across the darkness.
But the Tokyo Racecourse's grassy field was bustling with excitement. The stage lights shone brilliantly, while the crowd below was a dense sea of people, nearly covering the entire lawn.
"Boom—"
The scattered lights suddenly converged on a single point at the center of the stage as the platform slowly rose.
Three horse girls, their makeup flawless and outfits dazzling, gradually came into the audience's view.
"Woooh!!!"
Thousands of glow sticks waved in unison, creating a spectacular sight.
As the music began, Silence Suzuka's performance officially started.
...
Lucian watched from below, an unconscious smile forming on his lips.
Silence Suzuka wasn't aloof—she was just a little introverted around people she didn't know well. But on stage, every smile and gesture radiated confidence and bravery.
Her melodious voice carried an uplifting energy, as if her singing itself was a force pushing forward.
Just as she had once said, she wanted to become a horse girl who could inspire dreams in others.
Then, Lucian's peripheral vision caught a familiar figure.
It was Special Week. After witnessing Silence Suzuka's dominant victory, Special Week had completely become her little fangirl.
Lucian carefully weaved through the crowd and squeezed next to Special Week. "It's you again, little foal?"
Special Week recognized Lucian too. She glanced around but didn't see that creepy old man nearby. "L-little foal?"
"Are you also a horse girl from Tracen Academy?"
"Mhm, I just transferred to the school today."
Under the influence of Lucian's natural friendliness, even the usually cautious Special Week unknowingly chatted with him for a bit.
"Just enrolled? Did you check in yet? I think there's a time limit for registration," Lucian reminded her.
"That's what I forgot!!" Panic washed over half of Special Week's face. "Thank you, sir! Goodbye!"
Watching Special Week dash off in a flurry, Lucian turned his attention back to the stage.
"That leverage is still in Suzuka's hands... Is there any way to...?"
Lucian took out his phone and started recording Silence Suzuka.
He refused to believe every single frame of her performance would be flawless—there had to be a few meme-worthy expressions in there.
...
The performance lasted nearly an hour before finally coming to an end.
By the time most of the audience had left the racecourse, the staff began packing up the equipment.
Lucian waited at the agreed spot until Silence Suzuka arrived.
"Good work." Lucian waved.
After an intense 1600-meter race in the afternoon and an hour-long performance at night, it'd be strange if she wasn't exhausted.
Silence Suzuka was still wearing the tracksuit she had arrived in, now with a jacket draped over her shoulders. Her lower half was clad in shorts, revealing her slender, pale legs.
She shook her head. Though tired, she was also happy.
What made her a little embarrassed was that Lucian had waited so long for her. "Sorry for making you wait."
"Let's go grab some late-night snacks."
Since the race ended, Lucian had eaten some light snacks to tide himself over, but Silence Suzuka hadn't had anything yet.
"What about the victory celebration?"
"There's no time to prepare ingredients now, and it's too late to call everyone over."
Silence Suzuka nodded, then asked, "Where should we eat?"
"Let's drive around and see. You must be starving."
The moment Lucian finished speaking, a low gurgling sound came from Silence Suzuka's stomach.
Blushing, she covered her stomach and glared at Lucian, who was barely holding back laughter. "Don't laugh!"
"Ahem, I'm professionally trained not to laugh... unless I really can't help it." Seeing Silence Suzuka's rising embarrassment, Lucian quickly changed the subject. "Come on, let's get you some food."
After driving around for a while, they finally stopped at a small eatery.
Inside, Lucian slid the menu toward Silence Suzuka. "Order whatever you want. My treat."
"I'll order one of everything and bankrupt you."
"Go ahead, if you can finish it all."
After some playful banter, they settled on three dishes.
"Such an honor to dine with a superstar," Lucian said, glancing around. "I wonder if any paparazzi are lurking around."
"There won't be anything like that... and I'm not a superstar."
...
After eating, the two returned to the car.
Lucian drove Silence Suzuka back to the gates of Tracen Academy.
"Aren't you getting out?" Silence Suzuka remembered the faculty dorms were on campus.
"Ah, I moved off-campus. I prefer a bigger place." The dorm conditions at Tracen were good, but Lucian had his own preferences.
Noticing Silence Suzuka still sitting in the back seat without any intention of leaving, Lucian couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you getting out? Don't tell me you moved dorms too."
"I didn't." Silence Suzuka hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Did you... forget something?"
Lucian paused, then suddenly realized. "How did you know I don't have morning classes tomorrow? I can sleep in!"
Silence Suzuka pursed her lips slightly. "Wrong... Think harder."
"Oh~ There's nothing much scheduled for afternoon training tomorrow either. Perfect time to slack off."
"No." Silence Suzuka pressed her lips together and lightly stomped her foot, her voice barely audible. "You're such a liar..."
He had promised her a massage, but the moment the race ended, he forgot.
How was she supposed to bring that up herself...?
"Alright, alright." Seeing Silence Suzuka flustered, Lucian decided to stop teasing her. "I'll keep my promise, but it's too late now. Let's do it another time."
"Just remember it..."
Silence Suzuka didn't say anything else. She opened the car door and stepped into the campus.