...
After taking Dextrous Bailey out for dinner, Lucian sent her back to Tracen Academy.
"Bailey-chan is really selfish, huh." Before she got out of the car, Lucian pinched her cheek and said.
"Hah?! Selfish? Where am I selfish!"
"My stomach was already starving long ago, but we still waited a really long time before going to eat." Lucian spread his hands and sighed. "Bailey-chan only thinks about herself."
"Nonsense! Clearly... Trainer felt really good too, and..." Dextrous Bailey had already put her blindfold back on; she glared at Lucian with one eye. "Who knew Trainer would last so long this time..."
"What's that supposed to mean? Trainer has been sticking to some exercises and taking care of his body, okay? Getting stronger is totally normal, right?"
Dextrous Bailey had no comeback. She left one last "So sour~" before opening the door and leaving.
After getting home, Lucian thought about it for a long time.
If Dextrous Bailey really decided to retire, the retirement ceremony naturally had to be held grandly.
Or perhaps try running for one more year—if she truly couldn't regain her form, retiring would actually be a very good choice.
...
A week passed in a flash.
Regarding the Wednesday appointment with Ines Fujin, Lucian ultimately had to bail.
Because he ran into double ghosts knocking at the door—two fists hard to beat four hands. In the end, after tireless effort, he managed to make both of them swallow the soft treatment.
For Ines Fujin's side, Lucian could only apologize and reschedule for next time.
On the other side, after the recovery training phase, Lucian began ramping up the intensity.
He focused mainly on turf, grouping them according to performance traits and aptitude tendencies.
For example, Seiun Sky, Silence Suzuka, Twin Turbo—these "front-runner" types were put in one group to compete, observe each other, learn from strengths, and make up for weaknesses.
Another example: Rice Shower, Mejiro McQueen, Tokai Teio, Special Week, and others more suited to middle-to-long distances were grouped together.
"Training starts, training starts!"
"Beep—"
That whistle seemed to completely dispel the lingering chill of late winter. The horse girls threw themselves enthusiastically into training.
While they trained, Ines Fujin handled the recording; Lucian carefully observed on the field.
He had bought a small utility cart for getting around—it made moving back and forth across the track much more convenient.
"McQueen, come here for a second." Lucian called Mejiro McQueen aside alone.
"Trainer." Mejiro McQueen wiped her sweat as she walked over.
"McQueen, your body posture deformed just now—especially in the second half."
Lucian hopped off the cart and demonstrated on the spot. "You should keep your torso upright, lean slightly forward, arms swinging naturally—avoid side-to-side swaying or shrugging your shoulders. That way you save energy and improve efficiency."
These small details could decide victory or defeat.
If all the energy wasted during a race could be reclaimed, the mid-race or late-race explosive sprint would be incredibly powerful.
"I understand, Torena-san." Mejiro McQueen nodded seriously.
"Mm. Next is the weighted anklets—you can use them for the next month. Adjust the weight based on how you feel."
Lucian had been applying weighted anklets in the early stages and had upgraded them with many new features; they were gradually becoming standard.
"In the two weeks before the race, I'll gradually reduce your training load." March 1st, Mejiro McQueen had a G2-level race: Hanshin Daishoten.
Less than two months left to prepare.
"Okay." Mejiro McQueen kept tugging at her collar, fanning herself for a bit of cool air. "Torena-san, tomorrow night... is there dessert?"
"Hm?" Lucian paused, then smiled. "McQueen wants some?"
"A little bit desuwa... I've strictly followed Torena-san's diet plan all week." Mejiro McQueen's throat moved subtly. "So..."
"If it's only a little bit, McQueen should still be able to hold back, right?" Lucian's cooking was one-of-a-kind—even with all her money, Mejiro McQueen couldn't buy it anywhere else. So it felt like he had her figured out.
"No good?"
Before, whenever she begged Torena-san like this, he would always agree... Could it be because last time at the Fantasy Valley he went too hard?
"Actually, a little once in a while is fine—but McQueen only wants 'a little bit.'" Lucian deliberately emphasized the "a little bit." "That means you can endure it if you try, right?"
Mejiro McQueen lightly bit her lip. She wasn't dumb or slow—after several times in a row, how could she not realize Lucian was deliberately teasing her?
But the dignified young lady, for the sake of dessert, still put on her shameful act. "Actually wa... I really want to eat."
"Then no problem. But why specifically tomorrow night? Why not wait for team bonding?" Lucian asked knowingly.
Actually, peeling away the young lady's tsundere layers one by one, watching her struggle and reveal her embarrassed state, was incredibly entertaining.
"Because... because..." Mejiro McQueen's shyness mixed with steadily rising anger.
Lucian answered for her. "Because when there are more people, there's less dessert for you~ Sigh, everything really is just about wanting it all for yourself."
Mejiro McQueen clenched her fists. Her embarrassed expression seemed to slide off along her slanted brows. "Anyway... we've already done it once... Torena-san."
"Hm?" Lucian stepped back half a pace, but there was nowhere to run—he was easily captured by Mejiro McQueen.
"Hiss—ow ow ow ow ow!!"
Mejiro McQueen dusted off her hands. Before leaving, she restored her surface politeness. "Excuse me, Torena-san."
...
The next evening, Mejiro McQueen arrived at Lucian's house.
Of course, she still cared about appearances and didn't dare come alone—so she brought Grass Wonder along.
"Excuse us~ Trainer Lucian." Grass Wonder greeted with narrowed eyes.
"You know you're intruding and still came?" Lucian teased.
"Oh?" Grass Wonder walked in on her own. Her tone was slow and gentle, every word filled with softness:
"Then let me try again. Trainer Lucian, please serve the dessert you prepared. Oh, and I'll have the same milk as last time."
"Only Jue Juice."
Grass Wonder had come prepared this time. She chuckled lightly. "Trainer Lucian, I'm still in cooking class this year. You wouldn't refuse a cooking evaluation in front of everyone, right? I'm very confident in my cooking—even if... it's very dark."
Lucian surrendered. "How can a mouth over thirty degrees say such ice-cold words? I think the darkness isn't in the cooking—it's in you, Little Grass!"
"Mm, darkness is a mysterious, quiet beauty. Thank you for the compliment, Trainer Lucian." Grass Wonder covered her mouth and laughed softly, accepting it completely.
In front of Lucian, some hidden trait of Grass Wonder kept getting amplified... well, perhaps it really was darkness.
"I give up. What do you two want to eat today? I'll allow a little indulgence."
Mejiro McQueen and Grass Wonder exchanged glances and unreservedly named the desserts they had been craving.
Lucian immediately went into the kitchen to prepare.
Soon, a plate of freshly baked, richly fragrant pastries was placed in front of Grass Wonder and Mejiro McQueen.
"This week was tough—especially you, Little Grass. Hana-nee's training intensity is really high. Eat plenty."
"Mm, arigatou." Grass Wonder took a bite, held it in her mouth, and slowly chewed, letting the flavor bloom.
Still that familiar sweetness.
She worked hard, but sometimes felt "Rigil" training was too exhausting—so this moment was a sweet respite after bitterness.
...
After finishing the pastries, Lucian walked the two to the door.
Mejiro McQueen: "Torena-san, we're heading out. Rest early. Good night."
"Good night." Lucian noticed Grass Wonder's gaze lingering beside him, as if waiting for him to speak.
Lucian smiled gently. "Little Grass, good night."
"Trainer Lucian, good night to you too."
...