...
Tracen Academy Principal's Office.
Lucian becoming an official Trainer was a significant matter, so it naturally couldn't be handled by the student council president, Symboli Rudolf, anymore.
"Chairman, I'm here."
"Welcome! Lucian-kun, the recent evaluations for you have concluded, and our school's decision is... passed!"
Sitting across from Lucian was a little girl with fangs, making it hard to associate her with the identity of Tracen Academy's chairman.
Yet, she was indeed the chairman— Akikawa Yayoi.
"Thank you for the school's trust in me. I will strive to fulfill my responsibilities as a Trainer going forward."
"Good, Lucian-kun, but you'll need to recruit team members as soon as possible." Akikawa Yayoi suddenly paused, then deliberately put on a sly smile. "Also... the Trainer with the lowest annual performance will face punishment."
"Huh? What punishment?" This was something Lucian genuinely didn't know.
"It won't be too severe, Lucian-kun, don't worry. It's just a rule I set to encourage everyone to lead their teams well."
"That's a relief." Lucian let out a sigh.
This made him envious of Toujou Hana's "Rigil."
Just Symboli Rudolf and Narita Brian's "Classic Triple Crown" alone was nearly impossible to surpass.
(Classic Triple Crown: Satsuki Sho, Japanese Derby, Kikuka Sho)
"Lucian-kun, you're not thinking about Trainer Toujou, are you?" Akikawa Yayoi saw through Lucian's thoughts.
Lucian nodded. "It feels a bit unfair."
"Don't worry about that. I'm referring to honors earned in the current year—past ones don't count." Akikawa Yayoi waved her hand dismissively.
Lucian's eyes lit up. "Then that's very fair."
...
After leaving the principal's office, Lucian headed straight to his newly assigned lounge.
Lounges were usually placed near the training grounds.
Once he found it, Lucian went inside to take a look. It had some basic amenities, like a computer, water dispenser, washing machine, chairs, stools...
The floor looked clean too, likely due to regular cleaning.
This saved Lucian quite a bit of time.
He sat in the recliner, took a moment to relax, then made a phone call. "Hello, this is Lucian. Is the thing I requested earlier finished? Please deliver it as soon as possible."
After hanging up, Lucian rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a stack of papers.
...
The next day.
During break time, Silence Suzuka, Special Week, and Haru Urara each received a gift.
They were delivered to the three by someone Lucian had sent.
"Spe-chan, what's this?"
El Condor Pasa, Grass Wonder, and Seiun Sky gathered around.
"I'm not sure either." Special Week took out an exquisitely crafted gift box with gold-trimmed edges from the bag. "The person said it was from Lucian-sensei."
"Lucian-sensei!?" The group exchanged glances, all extremely curious about what was inside the box.
"Why would he suddenly send gifts?" Seiun Sky grew intrigued.
"Maybe it's because I'm joining his team?" Special Week couldn't think of any other reason Lucian would send her a gift.
"Hurry and open it! I really want to see!" El Condor Pasa urged.
Under everyone's gaze, Special Week slowly opened the gift box.
"Wow, what a cute thermos! The shape and colors look just like a carrot, and there's even a little cartoon Spe-chan on it!" El Condor Pasa's eyes widened. Everyone knew Special Week loved carrots the most.
Grass Wonder and Seiun Sky also looked envious.
Famous horse girls might eventually get mass-produced merchandise from various companies, but something like Lucian's custom-designed cartoon likeness was one-of-a-kind.
"Look, there's a letter here too."
El Condor Pasa was even more excited than Special Week, and she couldn't help but compare.
Their "Rigil" team didn't get this kind of treatment.
If she thought this way, she'd fallen right into Lucian's trap.
If even El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder felt like this, let alone the others who hadn't joined a team yet.
So the one hit hardest by this was Seiun Sky, who was at the center of the storm.
She still didn't understand why Lucian hadn't invited her earlier... Was it because she seemed too carefree?
Beneath Seiun Sky's smiling face hid a trace of disappointment. Her competitive spirit made her unwilling to accept it—she wanted to receive a gift from Lucian just like Special Week.
"Eh!? You're all here."
At that moment, a voice sounded behind the group.
Soon after, Haru Urara's petite figure squeezed into the discussion circle.
Urara wasn't in this class—she had come over during break time to visit.
"Spe-chan, you got a gift from the Trainer too?" Haru Urara said, bringing out her own gift.
Only then did everyone realize that not only were the bag colors different, but the gift box patterns were unique too.
Lucian had really put thought into this.
"Wow, what a pretty tumbler! And there's a tiny Spe-chan!" Urara pointed at Special Week's cartoon likeness in surprise.
"Urara, don't you have one too? Hurry and see what's inside!" El Condor Pasa couldn't wait. If it weren't for politeness, she might've opened it herself.
"Okay, I'll open it now!"
Haru Urara opened the gift box, revealing a pair of headphones inside. On each side was a cartoon likeness of Haru Urara. "I can't believe I have a tiny Urara too!"
Aside from the headphones, Urara's box also contained a hairband with an English word at the center:
"Wish."
Similarly, a letter lay quietly in the corner.
...
The commotion grew too loud, and more and more horse girls crowded around the table. It almost looked like they were gathering for gambling.
Surrounded by these curious, surprised, and envious gazes, Special Week and Haru Urara had no choice but to open the letters.
For Haru Urara:
"The sun that drives away the gloom is your own radiance. May you return with the same youthful heart after a lifetime of journeys."
"Haru Urara, welcome to the 'Dream' family. I will strive to be a qualified Trainer and support you on your path to chasing your dreams."
...
For Special Week:
"Dreams are the poetry of life, the song of the soul. With such grand dreams, may your journey be splendid and your spirit beautiful."
"Special Week, welcome to the 'Dream' family. I will strive to be a qualified Trainer and support you on your path to chasing your dreams."
...
The most touching words are always those that strike straight at the heart.
Special Week was deeply moved, while the more emotional Haru Urara had tears glistening in her eyes.
"Urara, don't cry. There's still a long section below." Grass Wonder comforted her.