...
As Lucian had predicted, Special Week ran into the three troublemakers on her way back: Gold Ship, Daiwa Scarlet, and Vodka.
But this time, Silent Suzuka was also present, making it harder for the trio to execute their plans.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Special Week took a step back, pulling Silent Suzuka with her.
Seeing their scheme fail, the three reluctantly removed their masks.
"Special Week-kun, right? Could we invite you to the lounge?" Gold Ship asked.
"Invite?"
Special Week's eyes drifted to the large sack in Gold Ship's hand, which the latter quickly hid behind her back.
Daiwa Scarlet hastily explained, "This is for carrying... uh, miscellaneous items."
Gold Ship and Vodka nodded vigorously in agreement.
Special Week was speechless. Did they really think she was that naive?
A bag like that would be wasted on random items—it should be used for carrots.
"So why do you want me to go to the lounge?"
"The Trainer is looking for you," Gold Ship said, producing a photo of Nishizaki Ryo. "This guy."
"Per—" Special Week nearly said "pervert," but she caught herself, remembering Lucian's warning.
Though she didn't finish the word, Gold Ship and the others seemed to understand perfectly.
"He's not a pervert! Definitely not!"
"Mhm, the Trainer just looks... a little suspicious."
"He might have some masochistic tendencies..."
"Okay, maybe he's a tiny bit of a pervert. Just a little!"
"Maybe a little creepy too?"
"On second thought, maybe you shouldn't go..."
"Should we just leave?"
...
The unreliable trio kept talking over each other.
What started as a defense of Nishizaki Ryo gradually devolved into unintentional slander.
Special Week finally interrupted, "What are you all even saying?"
Ahem. Gold Ship cleared her throat. "Anyway, we wanted to invite you to join 'Spica.'"
Daiwa Scarlet added, "Suzuka-chan, we'd like to invite you again as well."
Special Week didn't answer immediately, instead glancing at Silent Suzuka. As a devoted fan, she wanted to stay with her idol.
"Sorry, I already have a team in mind," Silent Suzuka replied.
She checked the time, estimating that Lucian should have reached the infirmary by now.
She wanted to wrap this up quickly.
"Alright, expected~" Daiwa Scarlet wasn't too disappointed—Silent Suzuka had already rejected Nishizaki Ryo once before. "What about you, Special Week?"
"I'm sorry, but I want to stay with Suzuka."
"That's a shame."
...
After parting ways with the trio, Silent Suzuka and Special Week reached the school gate.
"Spe-chan, you go ahead. I... think I left something in the classroom," Silent Suzuka said, her lie awkward and unnatural.
She wasn't sure why she was lying.
It was just a massage in the infirmary—not some secret meeting or anything inappropriate.
Luckily, Special Week didn't suspect anything. "Then I'll go back with you."
"Ah, no need! You must be hungry, right?"
"Hehe, I can endure it for you, Suzuka!"
Silent Suzuka insisted, "Please, go eat. I'll feel bad otherwise."
"Alright then~" Seeing her determination, Special Week finally relented.
...
Watching Special Week walk away, Silent Suzuka exhaled in relief.
A few straggling horse girls were still leaving campus, so her return didn't stand out.
Yet she still felt like she was sneaking around as she quietly slipped into the infirmary.
Hearing the door open, Lucian glanced up. "You're here, Suzuka."
Silent Suzuka nodded as she entered. "No one else is here?"
"There were people earlier, but they've all left."
"Oh."
Even though classes were over, she worried someone might still come in.
The unlocked door made her uneasy.
Was there anywhere truly private?
The thought of Lucian's home crossed her mind, and her cheeks warmed.
"Suzuka, take it off."
She was still wearing her jacket, so she needed to remove it.
"Oh."
"Suzuka, lie down. Face down, with your back toward me."
She hesitated, afraid he might be too rough. "Got it... Be gentle."
...
Today's massage was unusually relaxing for Silent Suzuka. She nearly dozed off.
Her exposed skin bore faint marks from Lucian's hands.
"Suzuka, wake up."
"Mmm... What time is it?" She felt like she'd been floating between sleep and wakefulness for ages.
During that time, her body hadn't felt like her own.
"Almost an hour since school ended."
"You haven't finished the time you promised, right?"
"You have a curfew. I can't keep you here all night."
"Hmph. Then how do we make up the time?"
Silent Suzuka's stubbornness reminded Lucian of a customer haggling at a market.
But he found it oddly charming.
"How do you want to handle it?" he asked.
This was her chance to suggest his place—but the words stuck in her throat.
"Add it to next time. All of it."
"Fine by me."
"When is next time? I shouldn't have to remind you every time," she muttered.
"Not tomorrow. I have to submit Trainer evaluation papers, and if that goes well, I'll need to secure a lounge."
He considered. "How about this weekend? I'll cook for all of you."
"All of us?"
"You, Special Week, and Urara."
"Eating out?" She hadn't even suggested it, yet the opportunity presented itself.
"Restaurants can't compare to my cooking. Unless you'd rather eat out?" He fixed her with a look.
Questioning his Trainer skills was one thing, but doubting his cooking? That crossed a line.
"I never said that! Why are you glaring?"
"My bad~" His expression softened. "So, which is it? Eating out or eating my cooking?"
"I don't know." She turned away.
"Guess my last meal didn't impress you. Fine, we'll eat out~"
He was bluffing—he knew how much everyone had enjoyed his food.
"Wait, no. Not outside." When she turned back, his knowing smirk made her fluster. She looked down, biting her lip before forcing out the words:
"...I want... your cooking..."