...
The next day's training proceeded as usual.
Thanks to Lucian's guidance, Tokai Teio was noticeably more daring in her running compared to yesterday, even taking the lead for a good stretch. Though she hadn't yet started participating in any major graded races, the daily systematic training and sparring with stronger opponents had already made her much stronger than when she first began.
Lucian took note of all this.
As for the three core members—Silence Suzuka, Special Week, and Seiun Sky—they seemed to have hit a plateau and urgently needed a high-intensity race to break through.
Thus, Lucian scheduled the match against Symboli Rudolf for the afternoon of the day after the training camp ended.
A serious race after full adjustments would also boost their confidence for the Arima Kinen.
From then until the Arima Kinen, Lucian wouldn't conduct any high-intensity training. So, though they'd only race once that afternoon, it was absolutely crucial.
"Morning training ends here. Everyone did great. Rest where you are and wait for the bus."
....
The training camp felt both long and fleeting—before they knew it, five days had passed.
During these five days, Lucian's basic training regimen remained largely unchanged.
On the other hand, Nishizaki Ryo had organized specialized drills like pulling custom-made large tires, running on the beach, and even rock climbing.
Lucian was impressed—he hadn't expected specialized training to be arranged like this.
...
A minor mishap occurred on the morning of the sixth day.
The weather forecast hadn't been accurate. It was supposed to be cloudy, but halfway through the run, the sky darkened without warning.
The rumble of thunder suggested a downpour could come at any moment.
Seeing this, Lucian immediately contacted the standby bus to pick everyone up from the mountain. However, even by noon after returning to the lodgings, the rain never came, and the threatening thunder abruptly stopped.
"You get a day off tomorrow. Didn't expect you'd earn half a day today too." Lucian showed the message from Nishizaki Ryo on his phone. "Trainer Nishizaki says afternoon training continues as usual."
"Ugh, it didn't even rain!" Tokai Teio gritted her teeth.
"Teio, five carrots—you said it yourself." Special Week smugly held out her hand.
Turns out, it wasn't that Tokai Teio disliked training—she'd just lost a bet with Special Week.
Opportunities like this training camp were rare and far better than practicing blindly alone, so everyone involved cherished it.
Including Lucian. Whether it was Nishizaki's specialized training or Toujou Hana's targeted data analysis for each team member, he learned a lot.
"Trainer, what's on your mind?" The little angel Haru Urara appeared on Lucian's left.
The little devil Rice Shower appeared on Lucian's right.
"Nothing, just thinking this weather's perfect for sleeping in." Lucian shook his head and looked away.
"Trainer, are you too tired? If you're tired, go rest. Urara will wake you up when it's time, okay?"
"Sure~"
Lucian really had been pushing himself hard for this camp.
Just surveying the mountain routes alone had taken up a lot of his time.
After the day off tomorrow, he'd also need to replace all the existing signposts with new ones for the second phase of training.
"Mhm, Trainer should go sleep now~"
Haru Urara watched as Lucian headed back to his room.
She just hoped he wouldn't lock his door tonight...
With a rare day off tomorrow, she could stay up late and sneak into Lucian's arms to sleep like last time.
"Urara, why are you spacing out like Trainer?" Rice Shower waved her hand in front of Haru Urara's face, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"It's nothing~ Just thought of something happy, hehe~"
"What is it? Can you share?" Rice Shower asked. She had a feeling it was about Lucian but couldn't guess what exactly.
"Sorry Rice-chan, this is something Urara doesn't want to talk about." Haru Urara didn't want to share this with anyone, not even her best friend Rice Shower.
"Okay, that's fine." Rice Shower understood—friends didn't have to share everything.
...
Meanwhile, Dextrous Bailey and Seiun Sky were also making plans for tonight.
"Little Bailey, is something good happening today?" Seiun Sky asked.
"Why do you say that?"
Seiun Sky pointed at Dextrous Bailey's tail and exaggeratedly said, "Your tail's wagging so fast it's practically a blur."
"Huh? Really?!" Dextrous Bailey consciously stopped her swishing tail.
Who knew her tail would be even more excited than her before nightfall.
Her tail must also enjoy the Trainer's petting.
"So, what's got you so happy? Sharing doubles the joy."
"It's nothing. More importantly, why are you clutching that yukata? Going to the hot springs at noon?"
Dextrous Bailey had meant to deflect, but she'd hit the mark.
"Well..."
Seiun Sky had actually just brought the yukata in from the balcony.
If Lucian liked seeing her in it, she'd wear it for him tonight—so she'd washed it in advance.
"Hm?" Dextrous Bailey narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Seiun Sky. "Come to think of it, you didn't wear it during your bath yesterday."
"It was in the wash. I just brought it back now." Seiun Sky neatly folded the yukata and placed it beside her pillow.
Was this too bold...?
After all, the only thing holding the yukata together was the sash around the waist. A single tug, and the whole thing would come loose.
And underneath, she'd be wearing nothing at all.
But she'd already teased Lucian so much and promised to wear it for him...
Seiun Sky suddenly felt conflicted.
Eager, yet afraid.
...
Haru Urara, Seiun Sky, and Dextrous Bailey's plans remained unknown to others.
Yet, in a twist of fate, their timing happened to overlap.
Call it coincidence, but it felt like an inevitable outcome long foreshadowed.
So, Silence Suzuka was no exception.
Except she was the most relaxed about it.
No need for elaborate plans or picking a specific time. If her body longed for Lucian, she'd simply go when she felt like it.
...