Lucian stepped onto the stone stairs, reaching the elevation where the shrine stood.
He regretted agreeing to Special Week's request—because it was exhausting.
"Spe-chan, you can start running once you're ready. I'll time you based on your start," Lucian shouted down the mountain.
While climbing, he hadn't felt much, but now, looking back at the tiny buildings below, a tinge of fear crept into his heart.
"Got it!" Special Week responded before readying herself for the run.
"Clack, clack, clack—"
The sound of horseshoes striking against the stone steps echoed heavily.
Special Week reached Lucian at a speed that made his heart skip a beat.
"How was that, Trainer?" Special Week panted.
"Spe-chan... how many more rounds are left? Maybe we should just call it here. You can always practice on a grassy slope later."
"It'll be over soon, Trainer-san. Did you time it properly just now?"
Lucian sighed and glanced at the stopwatch. "It was great. This result is already amazing."
"Hehe~ But I can't let my guard down. Seiun-chan is really strong—I'm not confident I can beat her."
"Seiun Sky is only third in popularity. What about the top-ranked, King Halo? Have you paid any attention to her?"
Special Week was excellent in many ways, but she sometimes grew complacent. Not that it was a big issue—races would gradually temper her.
"Uh..." Special Week fidgeted with her fingers.
Lucian could tell at a glance that she had only been focused on Seiun Sky and hadn't spared a thought for the other competitors.
"By the way, have you seen Seiun recently?"
"Yep! I see her every day in class."
"Has she been acting... strange? Like, how's her condition?"
Special Week thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Nothing weird. Everything seems normal."
"Alright then." Lucian nodded. "Let's keep training. Go for it—next round!"
"Okay!"
...
Half an hour later, Special Week's training finally ended.
This little filly was quite stubborn—she absolutely refused to leave until the training was complete.
As the two walked down the mountain together, Special Week suddenly stopped.
Lucian turned back, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"My legs feel a little sore."
"Would be weird if they weren't. But that just means the training's working."
Lucian made sure not to steer the conversation toward anything like "Do you want me to carry you down?"
Fortunately, the oblivious Special Week didn't seem to be hinting at that either.
"Trainer-san..." she called again.
"Hm?"
"Why were you in such a hurry when you came earlier?"
The girl's gaze drifted elsewhere, but the distant sky was already dark and heavy, like ashes left behind after the sunset had burned away.
She didn't dare meet Lucian's eyes, fidgeting as she spoke: "Was it... because you were worried about me?"
"Yeah." Lucian didn't hesitate. "The whole point of researching those weight rings was to avoid making you climb stone stairs like these."
"You didn't explain properly when you called. I thought you were injured." He suddenly chuckled. "I even ran two red lights getting here. Hope there aren't any consequences."
"I see..." Special Week fell silent, slowly resuming her descent.
Her hands, clasped behind her back, twisted and untwisted, mirroring the rhythm of her heart at that moment.
Mom, coming here and meeting Silence Suzuka, and... Trainer-san, it really makes me so happy.
"Spe-chan, let's grab a meal before heading back."
"Eh!? At your place, Trainer-san?"
Did that mean she and Lucian would be alone under the same roof?
No, no—that kind of development was way too fast!
She hadn't even experienced holding hands yet, let alone hugging or... kissing.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm not cooking on an empty stomach." Truthfully, Lucian shared the same reservations as Special Week.
"Oh... I see."
While relieved, Special Week also felt a tiny flicker of disappointment.
"But have you been strict with your diet lately?"
"Yep! I weigh myself every day!"
"Good. You shouldn't be too heavy, but not too thin either. Just eat healthily." Lucian suddenly remembered something. "Are you free tonight? I promised before to customize another set of racing gear for you, but it got delayed. Maybe we can do it now."
"No, no, it's fine! I really love the one you gave me."
"But you didn't pick that one yourself."
"Really, it's okay." Special Week was already content. "I love the one Trainer-san gave me. There's no need to change it."
"I'm not saying we'll throw it away. Just having an extra set means you can switch between them."
After all, unique racing gear didn't affect horse girls' performance. Of course, Lucian wanted to see more outfits.
He'd have to arrange something for the rest of "Dream" later.
"Oh, we're not throwing it away?" Special Week wavered. Of course, she loved pretty racing gear—and more was always better.
"Right. Let's do as I say. Come on, let's eat first."
...
After Lucian and Special Week descended the mountain, another figure made her way down.
It wasn't exactly a coincidence—this mountain was the closest to Tracen Academy. By evening, when the crowds thinned, it became an ideal training spot.
Seiun Sky had been here for a while but hid in a corner upon spotting Lucian and Special Week.
She couldn't approach them as usual—not even pretending it was an accidental encounter.
Yet, she didn't quite understand why she was hiding in the first place.
Seiun Sky stood silently for a moment before sighing. "Ah, training, training..."
"What does it matter if I don't have a trainer guiding me? I've always trained by myself before."
"Still, I hope Spe-chan won't cry too hard when she loses to me after all that specialized training~"
"Hmph, even if she cries a lot, I won't comfort her."
"I wonder... if I win the championship, will Trainer-san praise me~?"
After muttering to herself, Seiun Sky's expression settled into quiet contemplation as she gazed into the distant veil of night.
The sky darkened, stars dotting the ink-black expanse like scattered glitter—seemingly random, yet forming a flowing river of light when viewed broadly.
Her bittersweet words were whispered to the silent forest.
This era belonged to Special Week.
But it also belonged to Seiun Sky.