"The wind that passed between us two
where did it bring loneliness from?
After crying, the sky appeared
As clear as it's always been"
...
The prelude entered swiftly, lasting less than a second.
This section had almost no accompaniment, essentially acapella.
The moment Lucian's voice sounded, everyone instantly got goosebumps.
The entry was too sudden—no one had time to react.
Yet they soon found themselves immersed in Lucian's lazy, gentle voice.
His vocal tone was excellent, singing as if an elder was earnestly whispering advice by your ear.
Though his technical skills might have been lacking, his strengths far outweighed the flaws.
Below the stage, Tokai Teio, Special Week, and Haru Urara swayed their bodies left and right like flowers in the wind, moving to the song's rhythm.
Seiun Sky propped her head up with both hands, her eyes nearly curving into crescents. The unclosed parts of her gaze were entirely filled with Lucian's figure.
Only Silence Suzuka managed to pull herself away from the song.
After wavering between the water cup on the table and Lucian on stage, she finally reached a decision.
She couldn't lose to Seiun Sky!
Whatever the other had done, she would do too!
Silence Suzuka inched her hips forward bit by bit, one hand slithering out like a stealthy snake until it coiled around Lucian's cup.
Her peripheral attention stayed fixed on the others' expressions, ensuring no one noticed before she poured some water from Lucian's cup into her own.
Having done this, she didn't feel relief as if narrowly escaping danger—instead, her heartbeat only grew faster, like a frantic little Suzuka was crashing around inside her chest.
Silence Suzuka, Silence Suzuka, just what are you doing...
She regained some clarity, only to plunge back into the same dilemma.
What came effortlessly to Seiun Sky was still far too difficult for her.
"Clap clap clap—"
A round of applause snapped Silence Suzuka back to reality.
When she looked toward the stage, the music cut off abruptly—Lucian's performance had just ended.
She picked up the watermelon but dropped the pumpkin... and worst of all, she hadn't even gotten to taste the watermelon!
Lucian, of course, had no idea about Silence Suzuka's inner turmoil.
Clearing his throat, he said, "This song is called 'Nandemonaiya.' Though the title doesn't relate much to the lyrics, I still wanted to borrow its message—hoping everyone can keep an optimistic mindset no matter what setbacks you face in the future."
(from the movie Your Name by RADWIMPS)
"Trainer, sing another one! Spe-chan wants to hear more!" Urara shouted.
Special Week felt a bit awkward but still shyly added, "If possible... I'd really like to hear another."
"No more, I don't actually know many songs," Lucian waved his hand in refusal.
Haru Urara wasn't about to let him off. "Just one more! Spe-chan will do anything~"
"Right, I'll do anyth—" The slow-to-react Special Week finally caught on, pressing down on her skirt as her face turned beet red. "Urara-chan! What are you saying?!"
What did she mean by "do anything"?! Urara wanted to hear it too—well, it should've been both of them together.
"Speaking of which, Lucian-sensei really has the aura of a star. Why did you choose to become a trainer instead?"
The only one present who addressed Lucian as "sensei" was Tokai Teio.
At her words, everyone else turned their eyes toward Lucian.
"Why did I become a trainer...?"
There was a reason.
But it wasn't something Lucian could easily voice.
"Maybe... because I'm interested in horse riding?"
"Ri-ri-riding?!" Special Week's mouth fell open as steam practically billowed from her head. Her mind began conjuring absurd, comical images.
"Ohhh~ So the trainer likes riding horse girls, huh~?" Seiun Sky's tone was dripping with mischief.
Lucian froze for a second before quickly catching on, immediately exasperated. "I meant training horse girls, not riding—"
...Wait, maybe he shouldn't speak so absolutely.
"Ah... so it was training horse girls." Special Week couldn't hide her embarrassment, her eyes desperately scanning the floor for a crevice to vanish into.
"What else could it have been...?"
Lucian realized these young filles seemed to know a lot more than he expected—even the "especially dense" Special Week could veer into that territory.
The same had been evident earlier with Dextrous Bailey.
Of course, there were exceptions.
"Spe-chan, Trainer, what are you talking about?" Haru Urara blinked her large, watery eyes, her face brimming with curiosity as she glanced between them.
"Nothing, nothing! Urara, don't ask!" Special Week lunged at Urara, clamping both hands over her mouth.
Lucian chuckled but didn't elaborate, simply returning to his seat. "Alright, it's your turn to sing again. We've barely heard any songs yet."
As he spoke, he picked up the cup on the table and took a full swig. "...Suzuka, what's wrong?"
He blinked at Silence Suzuka, whose hand was frozen mid-air near her chest.
"It's... nothing." Silence Suzuka withdrew her hand and sat properly.
Lucian had grabbed the wrong cup—he'd just drunk from hers.
Things had taken a turn she hadn't anticipated at all.
...Well, no point telling Lucian-kun now.
It's already swallowed—it's not like I can ask him to spit it back out.
The resignation echoing in her heart served only to mask the much deeper flicker of secret delight.
...
After singing their fill at karaoke, the group finally got ready to leave.
"Where to next? Dinner?!" Urara proposed. After singing for so long, her stomach had long been growling.
"I should head back to Tracen Academy. I won't join you." Tokai Teio, feeling like an outsider, opted not to intrude further.
"Aw, Teio-senpai! We're going to Trainer's place to eat—his cooking is amazing!" Haru Urara grabbed Tokai Teio's wrist.
"Ah..." Tokai Teio was clearly tempted.
A testament to Grass Wonder's marketing skills.
"Urara, not today. It's too sudden, and with so many people, there wouldn't be enough ingredients prepped," Lucian interjected.
"Thank you, Urara, but since Lucian-sensei said so, let's plan for next time."
"Okay..."
Lucian sighed. He couldn't stand the dejection on Haru Urara's face. "Fine. Spe-chan's victory celebration hasn't happened yet, right? We'll invite Teio-san then—it'll double as thanks for helping with training."
"Really?" Tokai Teio still seemed hesitant.
Before Lucian could answer, the already-revived Urara spoke for him. "Of course! Trainer's food is so good—I love it!"
"Yeah, just say yes!" Special Week joined in urging her.
Lucian couldn't help a fond smile. "Urara, so you just like my cooking, huh?"
"Of course not! I like you too, Trainer. Heehee~"
Urara's offhand remark unwittingly exposed the keyword.
Special Week's expression froze. Silence Suzuka and Seiun Sky, too, seemed to feel something, their gazes turning pensive.