...
"Is Spe-chan's chubby tummy really that fun to play with?" Seiun Sky leaned in with genuine curiosity, watching the performance on Special Week's belly. "Eh~ So unfair, I don't have any tummy pudge at all~"
"I... I was just..." Special Week, at a complete loss for how to retort, wished she could burrow straight into the ground.
But right now her body was locked in Lucian's hold—it no longer belonged to her.
"Spe-chan, turn around and let the Trainer give you a kiss."
"R-right now... like this?" While Special Week was still agonizing over it, Lucian's hands that had been kneading her stomach suddenly let go.
She didn't get to feel relieved for long—because those same hands seemed intent on nesting even deeper and showed no sign of leaving.
"Spe-chan doesn't want to?" Lucian murmured almost directly against her ear, his warm breath lingering there teasingly. "That's right—during the shower earlier, Spe-chan said she hoped I wouldn't bully her today."
"Sigh, fine~"
He muttered to himself and withdrew his hands—but halfway through, Special Week caught them.
She tilted her head, lifted her chin, and proactively offered her burning lips. "Trainer-san... that's not the kind of bullying I meant... If Trainer-san wants kisses, Spe-chan will give them to you right now, okay?"
Lucian lowered his gaze and leaned in, capturing her mouth fully.
Watching the two of them locked in a deep kiss, Seiun Sky straightened up and crossed her arms. "Didn't expect the Trainer to be so sly and teasing~"
Silence Suzuka cut in: "When Lucian-kun does this to you, why don't you think it's sly?"
"Hmph, none of your business~ Are you the Busybody Bureau or something? Always sticking your nose in."
"I couldn't care less." Silence Suzuka didn't argue. Instead she got off the bed and headed toward the bedroom door.
She was lazy—having just showered, she didn't want to get sweaty all over again, and she was already fully satisfied.
"Suzuka, where are you going?" Seiun Sky asked.
"Out to buy ingredients. I'll make something nice tonight to help Lucian-kun recover."
"Oh? Then go ahead. The Trainer will be left in the care of me and Spe-chan for now~" Seiun Sky didn't mind the extra work—at worst she'd just shower again.
...
After the Takarazuka Kinen, for the rest of June, the members of "Dream" had no more race schedules.
Mejiro McQueen had pulled herself out of the defeat and immediately threw herself into high-intensity training.
This loss seemed to have made her even stronger somehow.
Lucian wasn't sure whether it was his words or Gold Ship's that had motivated her.
But he was certain Mejiro McQueen remembered at least fragments of what happened that night—otherwise she wouldn't suddenly avoid him or keep her distance whenever they were alone.
Lucian understood she needed time to process, so he never brought up that evening, keeping a certain distance just as she wished.
Tokai Teio, however, was a different story. She frequently teased Mejiro McQueen with the photos she'd taken that night, turning her face bright red and leaving her in elegant, powerless fury.
Thanks to Tokai Teio, Lucian felt Mejiro McQueen wouldn't be forgetting those events anytime soon... in fact, the memories would only grow sharper.
But he didn't stop Tokai Teio—after all, the two were rivals and close friends, even if neither had ever openly admitted it.
...
On the training field.
The horse girls had just finished half their training and were sitting on the grass to rest.
Lucian, wearing a cap and braving the blazing sun, drove over in the small cart. "I'm so jealous of you all—no need for sunscreen and your skin still stays this fair~"
"Not everyone~ Look, there's a little dark-skinned girl over there." Twin Turbo pointed toward Hishi Amazon, who was training with the "Rigil" team.
"Twin Turbo, that's Hishi Amazon-senpai! You can't be so rude!" Matikane Tannhauser corrected her. "Better call her Hishi Amazon Little Dark Senpai."
"Tangtang, you're no better—you didn't let her off either, did you?" Lucian smirked, having thought Matikane Tannhauser was the polite one.
"Trainer, when are we going to the water park? Haru Urara can't wait anymore!" Haru Urara's question immediately drew every horse girl's gaze toward Lucian.
In June, this was the event they were most looking forward to.
"When, huh?" Lucian adjusted his cap and started teasing again. "Teio, come here first and let me touch your cheek."
"Hah!?" Tokai Teio's throat bobbed as she struck a reluctant pose. "What kind of request is that?"
"Teio, just sacrifice a little~ Otherwise I won't tell you the exact time." Lucian beckoned her. "Hurry, hurry~"
Just when everyone thought Tokai Teio would refuse like usual, she patted the grass off her rear, stood up, and walked over. "No choice—for everyone's sake, I'll sacrifice myself to satisfy the Trainer's weird tastes."
Only Silence Suzuka, Seiun Sky, and Special Week saw right through it.
Teio's mouth said unwilling, but her body was completely honest. It made sense—how could the current Tokai Teio possibly refuse Lucian's intimate touches?
When her back was to the others, Tokai Teio dropped the act entirely. She openly showed an expression of pure enjoyment, allowing herself to become a quietly purring cat being petted.
Only her lips moved mechanically, spitting out words completely at odds with her face. "A few touches should be enough... Trainer, if you touch too long I'll bite you!"
"Threatening to bite again—how am I supposed to keep touching like this?" After enjoying himself, Lucian withdrew his hand and played along with her performance. "But your sincerity isn't enough yet."
He turned his gaze toward the cluster of horse girls sitting on the grass.
The moment his eyes swept over, the horse girls reacted like students about to be called on in class—expressions varying wildly.
Some looked calm and dismissive; some lowered their heads, visibly guilty and nervous; some wore indifferent faces... but others had eyes sparkling with an intense desire to be chosen.
Rice Shower's gaze was almost impossible for Lucian to ignore.
Her hands were clasped in front of her, fingertips slightly clenched.
Lucian knew—if he didn't respond to her right now, the light in those eyes would eventually sink into silent ashes.
How could an onii-chan bear to let his little sister suffer like that!
"Rice-chan~"
"Onii-sama... mm!"
Compared to Tokai Teio's hesitant dragging, Rice Shower's steps were light and swift—she reached Lucian's side in an instant.
"Onii-sama, can you tell everyone the exact time now?" Rice Shower smiled, unconsciously twirling the pleats of her skirt with her fingers.
Lucian nodded. "Alright, no more teasing. The inn is booked for June 28th. Plenty of time for everyone to prepare."
"Yay——!!!!"
Whistle— Lucian blew the whistle, dousing the horse girls' ignited enthusiasm.
"Don't get too excited yet—training isn't over. Break time's up—back to work!"
...