"Thank you, Lucian-sensei!" Haru Urara got up from the ground and suddenly hugged Lucian.
Caught off guard, Lucian could only gently pat her back as he felt the soft trembling of Urara's body.
Not far away, Seiun Sky quietly watched the two embrace, tilting her head with a faint smile.
She understood Haru Urara's feelings best.
Just like the first time she met Lucian, her heart had been like a string gently plucked by tender fingers, producing a lingering, soothing sound.
"But... sensei didn't invite me proactively."
...
Silence Suzuka also saw this scene.
She had been talking to Special Week but suddenly spaced out.
"Suzuka? Suzuka?"
"Hm? What is it?"
Special Week asked curiously, "Why did you suddenly stop talking?"
"It's nothing." Silence Suzuka counted the seconds in her heart, measuring how long the two had been embracing.
She was going to... add extra time during the massage later!
Yet she overlooked why this stifling feeling had arisen in the first place.
"Are you really okay? Have you been too tired lately?" Special Week sensed that Silence Suzuka wasn't in the best mood.
"Don't worry, Spe-chan. I'm really fine." Silence Suzuka let out a quiet sigh and forced a smile.
In the corner of her vision, Urara and Lucian finally separated...
But Lucian seemed to notice her and Special Week and began walking over.
"Suzuka, and Special Week," Lucian greeted them.
Special Week responded, "L-Lucian-trainer."
Seeing Silence Suzuka and Special Week together, Lucian remembered that the two were roommates.
"You remember me, right? The guy with me last time was Trainer Nishizaki Ryo, not some creep."
"Of course I remember." Recalling their dramatic first meeting, Special Week chuckled. "Lucian-trainer... thank you for helping me out earlier."
"It wasn't just helping out. I genuinely think you have an amazing dream."
A faint blush spread across Special Week's cheeks, glowing softly under the sunset—quite captivating.
Suddenly remembering something, Lucian turned to Silence Suzuka. "Suzuka, come here for a second. There's something I want to talk to you about."
"What is it? Can't you say it here?"
Lucian froze, not expecting Silence Suzuka's tone to be so cold.
He wasn't stupid—he immediately realized she was upset.
But why?
Was it because Special Week lost the race? Or was it... that time of the month for horse girls?
Meanwhile, the usually airheaded Special Week tactfully excused herself. "Um... Suzuka, I'll wait for you over there. You two talk first."
Once Special Week was gone, Lucian focused on Silence Suzuka.
A horse girl's ears never lie.
Normally, they stand upright, but when troubled, their ears droop downward.
Just like Silence Suzuka's right now.
"Suzuka, what's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
"I'm fine." Silence Suzuka turned her face away slightly. "What did you want to say?"
"It's actually about Special Week..."
Lucian wanted to use Silence Suzuka's connection to recruit Special Week into his team.
But he was worried Nishizaki Ryo's "Spica" might snatch her first, so he hoped Silence Suzuka could help persuade her.
"Oh... is your team that short on members?"
"Huh?" Lucian blinked, puzzled by her reaction.
But he still answered, "Of course we're short. A team needs at least five members. If we don't meet that, we can't officially form one."
Lucian shrugged. "But I can't just recruit anyone, right?"
Based on his ideal lineup, he already had more than five candidates.
The problem was, he wasn't close enough with them yet—if he invited them recklessly, they'd likely refuse.
So the priority was ensuring the team wouldn't disband after formation.
"But you were just getting along so well with Urara... even hugging her." Silence Suzuka tried fishing for answers.
"What do you mean 'hugging'...? I did invite her, and she hugged me out of gratitude." Lucian wasn't sure how to explain further. "Haru Urara is... well, a really great kid."
Silence Suzuka nodded. She knew a bit about Haru Urara too.
"What about Seiun Sky? Weren't you talking to her earlier?"
"We did discuss it, but she might not join."
Lucian felt that while Seiun Sky seemed carefree on the surface, she likely had her own strong opinions. She might not ultimately choose his team.
"Okay." After hearing his honest explanation, Silence Suzuka's ears perked up slightly.
"So, Suzuka... why were you upset earlier?"
Silence Suzuka didn't answer, only glancing at him briefly.
Lucian leaned back slightly and pointed at himself. "Was it because of me?"
"No."
Lucian might not have firsthand experience, but he wasn't clueless.
In situations like this, when Silence Suzuka said "no," it definitely meant "yes."
But had he done anything recently to upset her?
"Suzuka, are you mad at me about the massage?" Lucian wondered if she thought he'd gone back on his word.
Silence Suzuka's ears shot up completely.
"I really didn't forget." Lucian glanced around before leaning in slightly and whispering, "Then... how about we meet in the infirmary later?"
"O-okay."
Lucian suddenly getting so close startled Silence Suzuka.
It felt like the prelude to a kiss...
Lost in thought, her eyes unconsciously flickered toward Lucian's lips.
"Great. Then I'm counting on you for Special Week's matter. Don't let the 'Spica' members steal her away."
Thinking about it, Lucian felt a little guilty toward Nishizaki Ryo.
In the original story, both Silence Suzuka and Special Week were members of "Spica."
Not only that—he was even considering poaching more members from "Spica."
Sorry, but he'd do it again.