...
Seiun Sky was immediately rushed to the hospital for examination. Fortunately, there were no major issues; she had simply fainted from physical exhaustion.
Lucian took a deep breath, finally setting down the stone that had been hanging in his heart.
He stepped out of the medical room. Everyone from "Dream" looked at him with worry.
Nishizaki Ryo, Toujou Hana, Grass Wonder, and El Condor Pasa had also come, their gazes filled with questions.
"She's fine. She just needs to rest well."
After Lucian spoke, everyone visibly relaxed.
"That scared me to death~" Haru Urara patted her small chest.
Meishou Doto: "Good, good, she's okay."
Matikanetannhauser: "I knew Seiun-senpai would be alright."
"This is a hospital. Everyone, please be quiet." Nice Nature made a "shh" gesture.
Toujou Hana and Nishizaki Ryo stepped forward, exchanged a few words with Lucian, patted his shoulder, and left reassured.
Haru Urara and Rice Shower stayed behind on their own to keep Seiun Sky company. Lucian led the remaining Uma Musume outside.
"You haven't had dinner yet, right? Go ahead. I'll stay here, so don't worry." Lucian said to them. "Spe-chan, stay for a bit."
Everyone seemed to understand Lucian's intention and left time for Special Week and him.
The two left the hospital and headed to a nearby convenience store.
Special Week placed her bare hand over her chest, asking worriedly, "Trainer, is Seiun really okay?"
"We'll do another check later. The doctor said there's no need to worry." Lucian rubbed Special Week's head. "I wouldn't hide something this serious from you all."
"That's good..." Special Week sighed in relief, but she was still distracted and looked downcast.
...
While passing through a narrow alley, Lucian suddenly pulled Special Week's hand and turned into it.
"Trainer?"
"Your face is practically written with sadness and sorrow." Lucian turned around and opened his arms.
Special Week didn't mind the occasional glances from passersby. She walked into Lucian's embrace with a wronged expression.
She took the initiative to hug Lucian's waist tightly, voicing the sadness in her heart. "I lost to Seiun and El Condor Pasa..."
"Winning and losing is perfectly normal, isn't it? And third place is amazing too."
Lucian patted Special Week's back.
Of course he knew how strong she was inside, but that wasn't a reason not to comfort her—or rather, no reason was needed.
Lucian felt honored that Special Week was willing to confide her pain to him after every race.
"Really?"
"Of course. Who do you think is standing in front of me? The future number one Uma Musume in Japan."
Special Week raised her hand to cover Lucian's mouth. "That's so embarrassing. Trainer, don't say it out loud."
Lucian removed her hand. "Work hard again next year, together with Suzuka."
"Suzuka..." Thinking of Silence Suzuka, Special Week's dimmed fighting spirit was reignited by the spring breeze. She clenched her fist. "Mm, I'll keep working hard next year!"
"Why are you shouting so loud? The people passing by just now all looked over. For all they know, I might be bullying an innocent Uma Musume."
From their builds, Lucian did look like a thug trying to drag someone into an alley, but once passersby saw the horse tail, they'd probably think the situation was the exact opposite.
Special Week hurriedly glanced back, then pressed herself even closer to Lucian's chest. "Sorry, Trainer. I got too excited."
"Spe-chan is always so lively in front of others. How come you're so shy when you're with me?"
"Because… because Trainer is a special person."
"Special person?"
"Mm."
Lucian couldn't help rubbing her head again. An Uma Musume who's only shy with you—who could resist that? "Come on, you must be hungry. Let's grab something to eat, then I'll bring some back for Urara and Rice."
He wanted to lead Special Week out of the alley, but Special Week tugged at his clothes. "Trainer, we can exit from this side too. I know it well."
"Oh, is that so?"
Lucian let her pull him toward the bright exit on the other side.
Halfway through, Special Week suddenly stopped, turned around, and hugged Lucian tightly again. Now no passersby would glance their way.
She boldly wrapped her arms around Lucian's neck, looked up, and said, "Trainer, can third place get a kiss?"
"Not too long."
"Just a little."
"Alright." Special Week must have considered that Lucian needed to return soon, so after a light kiss, she left the alley satisfied.
...
That night, Seiun Sky finally woke from her coma.
Haru Urara and Rice Shower had already gone back, so only Lucian remained at the hospital.
"Are you hungry?" He placed the peeled apple slices on a plate. "I'll go cook you a bowl of noodles."
As he stood up, Seiun Sky grabbed the hem of his clothes. "Don't go. Hug~"
"Mm, hug."
The most affectionate words—let the embrace speak for them.
"Urara and Rice kept you company for a long time too. They just left. Everyone was really worried about you."
"I made everyone worry." Seiun Sky's expression dimmed.
"Isn't that normal? You're all teammates." Lucian teased, "Does the Arima Kinen champion need her Trainer to comfort her?"
"Is that not allowed?"
"It is, of course it is. But more than comfort, I want to congratulate you."
"Oh right, my winner's stage!?"
Seiun Sky instinctively tried to sit up, but Lucian pressed her back onto the bed. "Rest properly. No jumping around. No moving."
"Oh~" Seiun Sky obediently lay back down, stared at the ceiling for a while, then said, "Trainer, I think at that moment I saw you, saw myself during training, and saw everyone on the team."
"And then?"
"And then the only thought in my mind was 'win.' Suddenly I wasn't tired at all, and the more I ran, the faster I went, the easier it felt." Seiun Sky recalled, but she hadn't expected that after the race she could barely stand, even fainting outright.
"That means you accidentally brushed against a corner of the 'Zone.' Thankfully it was only a few dozen meters." Thinking back now, Lucian still felt a cold sweat. "You scared me to death."
"Trainer, I'm sorry." Seiun Sky caressed Lucian's face.
She remembered how he had cried for her; it hurt her heart.
Lucian blinked, dispelling the fresh sting in his eyes, and half-jokingly said, "This race... it actually made me a little scared."
Through Lucian's eyes, Seiun Sky read the fragility there for the second time. "Trainer, hug~"
This time it wasn't her asking for his embrace; it was her giving him one.
The two embraced again. Seiun Sky whispered in Lucian's ear, "Didn't Trainer tell me once? 'You can't demand an ocean without storms.'"
"Trainer, believe in me. Don't be afraid~"
"Mm, I believe in you. It's okay."
...