...
The cheers from the "Dream" side drew quite a bit of attention.
Including from the members of "Spica."
Mejiro Ryan looked over curiously. "What are they cheering about? They look so happy."
"You wouldn't get it." Daiwa Scarlet put her hands on her hips and started explaining. "Trainer Lucian is always organizing all kinds of activities. Back in January this year, 'Dream' went and had a blast at that newly built amusement spot."
Vodka—rarely agreeing with Daiwa Scarlet—chimed in: "Yeah, yeah. Our team hardly ever does stuff like that~"
The remark hit Nishizaki Ryo square in the heart. "Didn't we just have a training camp last month?"
"How does that count as fun?!" Daiwa Scarlet huffed. "Can't the Trainer at least treat us to a meal?"
"My wallet's been empty lately..." Nishizaki Ryo wanted to take the team out too, but funds were tight.
Activities like this couldn't get academy funding—they had to pay out of pocket.
"Trainer, why don't we join them? I heard Trainer Lucian and you don't get along that well anyway?" Eishin Flash suggested.
"That definitely isn't..." Nishizaki Ryo instinctively felt it was a bad idea, but thinking it was Lucian, he suddenly didn't see a problem. "Ahem—who said my relationship with that little juice is good? After training ends, I'll go ask him what's going on."
Nishizaki Ryo didn't commit fully—if the cost was too high, he'd pass.
But if it was within his budget, he'd split some of the burden with Lucian.
Even though Lucian had money, Nishizaki Ryo wouldn't just take for no reason.
...
Similarly, the "Rigil" team on the other side was also hit by the cheers.
But with Toujou Hana present, they didn't dare get loud—only whispered among themselves.
How could that possibly escape Toujou Hana's notice?
"We still have a race in mid-June. Don't let your mindset get affected."
At this point El Condor Pasa was away on an international trip, so the veteran members didn't need daily routine training. Only Grass Wonder, T.M. Opera O, Taiki Shuttle, and a few others were present.
"Trainer, we know. We're just curious." Grass Wonder said—but of course she cared. She'd go gather intel later.
"Right! Trainer, we're not that eager to play!" Taiki Shuttle said so, but her starry eyes were full of unconcealed curiosity.
They'd all spent time together during the training camp.
And Lucian's arrangements for lodging, meals, hot springs, and all kinds of leisure entertainment were undeniably addictive.
How could Toujou Hana not see through her team's insincere words?
In the end she softened. "I'll ask little Lu later. If the timing works, we'll consider going together with them."
If they were going as a group, Toujou Hana would naturally ask Lucian.
One, he had experience; two, she wouldn't have to plan everything herself—killing two birds with one stone.
Both coaches thought the same way, and the moment they decided, smiles bloomed on their teams' faces.
...
That evening, after Lucian and Ines Fujin finished tidying the rest room and were about to clock out, Nishizaki Ryo and Toujou Hana showed up uninvited.
Lucian sat back down in his chair. "Uh... you two?"
Nishizaki Ryo spoke first: "Little Lu, the kind of atmosphere you've been creating lately is really bad. So the academy leadership specially sent me and Ahua to warn you."
"Huh?" Lucian had already been uneasy because of Grass Wonder's words recently. Now Nishizaki Ryo and Toujou Hana looked like they meant business—he actually believed them for a second. He put the untouched tea back on the table.
Lucian: "The academy found out...? What did leadership say? Dismissal?"
Nishizaki Ryo and Toujou Hana exchanged a glance and saw the same confusion in each other's eyes.
"Uh... it's not that serious." Nishizaki Ryo thought Lucian was joking again and forced himself to continue: "Little Lu, why don't you confess first—what exactly did you do this afternoon?"
"Afternoon?" Lucian thought hard.
After searching his memory, he was absolutely certain—he hadn't done anything intimate with his girlfriends this afternoon.
Wait... he had touched Tokai Teio's and Rice Shower's cheeks!
Did that count too!? Was the academy's intelligence network run by a dragnet? Truly omnipresent and inescapable.
But if so, why was he only being warned today? Was the academy planning to squeeze every last bit of value out of him before discarding him?
The more Lucian thought, the worse it got. His voice lost all confidence as he stammered: "Th-the afternoon one... that counts as bad influence too? It was just a few touches..."
"Little Lu, what the hell are you talking about?" Nishizaki Ryo stared at him, eyes laced with envy. "I've never even touched a horse girl's leg—how do you get to?"
"Hah!?" Lucian sensed something was off. His voice dropped like raw iron hitting the floor. "Nishizaki-senpai, what are you talking about?"
"Alright, alright—still not confessing? Do you want to eat or not?" Toujou Hana couldn't watch anymore. She shot Nishizaki Ryo an annoyed glare, then explained their real purpose to Lucian.
"Phew~ I thought it was something serious." Lucian leaned back, letting the chair roll until it hit the wall.
Just now, cold sweat had run down his back.
"Little Lu, what did you think it was?" Toujou Hana picked up the thread. Behind her glasses, her eyes gleamed like cold silver coins, sharp and piercing.
The young man from the Dragon Country instantly sat ramrod straight!
"Nothing at all!" Lucian turned to Nishizaki Ryo, now wearing the smug look of a petty victor. "Nishizaki-senpai, really—you can't just say things properly and had to play riddles with me... Bad influence, huh? If it's bad influence, then Nishizaki Ryo-senpai doesn't get to come~ I'll invite the 'Rigil' members instead~"
"Damn it! Then I can organize it myself!" Nishizaki Ryo gritted his teeth.
"Oh~ Sure you can~ The place I'm planning this time isn't even that expensive~ And it's super fun."
Nishizaki Ryo still lost. He performed a dramatic face-change for Lucian. "Little Lu, I was just kidding earlier—you wouldn't hold it against your senpai, right?"
"I would!"
"You..."
...
Ines Fujin watched the whole scene with great interest. She felt Lucian's earlier panic didn't seem faked at all.
Touching faces wasn't a big deal—how could that possibly warrant "dismissal"? But he had said it himself.
"Unless... there's something else."
...