...
The shrimp dumplings were placed in the steamer, and rising steam filled the air as quiet moments slipped by unnoticed.
"Rice Shower, hold still. There's flour on your face—let me wipe it off for you."
"Okay~ Thank you."
Rice Shower didn't resist. But as Lucian leaned closer, she unconsciously held her breath.
"All done~"
Lucian carefully wiped her face for a while. Originally, there had only been a little white flour on Rice Shower's face, but now there were clearly several crisscrossing streaks.
"Onii-sama, how much longer until the shrimp dumplings are ready?" Rice Shower took a step back, changing the subject.
"Very soon. Be patient, don't rush."
"O-okay." Rice Shower stared intently at the dumplings in the pot.
"You don't have to watch them so closely, you know." Lucian chuckled, thinking that developing a cross-eyed habit wouldn't be good for racing. Taking advantage of the free moment, he struck up a conversation. "Rice Shower, how do you feel about races?"
"Races?" Rice Shower recalled her first race, where she had won the championship—the smiling faces and cheers of the audience flashed through her mind. "Winning a race and bringing joy to the fans who support me... that makes Rice Shower very happy."
"Then keep at it."
"Mm!"
"I'm honored to be your Trainer. I hope I can help you go further on your journey to pursue your dreams."
"It's a little similar," Rice Shower suddenly said, her words seemingly out of nowhere.
"Similar?"
Rice Shower nodded. "Mm. It's like what you wrote on the envelope for Urara."
"Haha, consider it me telling you in advance." Lucian suddenly remembered Urara's loss in her debut race, and a tinge of regret crept into his tone. "Or do you think I'm just spouting empty words?"
"I believe in you, Trainer... because Urara believes in you too."
Before joining "Dream," the name Rice Shower had heard most often from Urara was Lucian's. Somehow, Rice Shower found herself looking forward to what kind of unique message might be written on the envelope she would one day receive.
...
The shrimp dumplings were finally ready and plated. Rice Shower picked one up with her chopsticks, blew on it, and recklessly stuffed the whole thing into her small mouth.
"Hahhh... it's so hot!" Wincing in pain, she promptly spat the dumpling back out completely intact.
Who wants this? One-time offer (dog head).
"Why the rush?" Lucian quickly handed her a bottle of water.
"Sorry, Onii-chan... I couldn't help it."
"Here, drink some water." Lucian unscrewed the cap.
Noticing that some of the flour streaks on Rice Shower's face had smudged, Lucian's mischievous hand "accidentally" brushed against her cheek again. He could clearly tell that Rice Shower had been talking more today—that was a good sign.
Rice Shower gulped down some water. "Saved~"
"Let them cool first. No one's fighting you for them." Lucian looked at her face and couldn't help but laugh.
"Onii-sama, aren't you going to eat?"
"You go ahead."
"Okay." Rice Shower blew on another dumpling and popped it into her mouth. After a couple of chews, she slipped back into her dreamy state.
Her eyes were tightly shut, her beautiful eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. Her cheeks were flushed pink, like vibrant plum blossoms blooming defiantly in the snow, and her horse tail wagged so hard it practically reached the sky.
Not everyone is Dextrous Bailey—grabbing a horse's tail requires careful consideration... For now, it's best to admire from afar rather than act recklessly.
After a long while, Rice Shower snapped out of her blissful daze and realized she had lost her composure in front of Lucian again. Though a little embarrassed, she found herself oddly unbothered this time. Whatever, I'll just eat another one!
"Mmm—" She closed her eyes again, completely ignoring Lucian's presence.
Lucian said nothing, simply coating his hands with more white flour.
...
Before she knew it, several shrimp dumplings had disappeared into Rice Shower's stomach. When she opened her eyes again, she realized she had eaten so many—only one dumpling remained in the bowl.
I want more... No, I can't eat any more.
Onii-chan hasn't had a single one yet.
"Onii-sama, you can have the last one." Rice Shower rubbed her belly, looking somewhat apologetic.
"Thank you for your generosity."
The moment Lucian said that, Rice Shower felt even more embarrassed, her face burning.
It's not my fault—the dumplings were just too delicious!
"But my hands are still covered in flour right now." Lucian showed his flour-dusted hands—one especially so.
"You can wash them over there." Rice Shower pointed to the sink. "And using chopsticks is fine too."
Lucian's words were easy to misinterpret, and Rice Shower wondered if he was hinting for her to feed him. She wasn't opposed to the idea... but she was too shy to do it.
"Uh, take another look. My hands—completely covered in flour." Lucian even rubbed his fingers together, sending flour drifting like willow catkins in the wind.
"Then... then I'll use the other end of the chopsticks to pick it up for you."
"Rice Shower." Seeing her actually about to pick up the dumpling, Lucian realized she had misunderstood and came clean. "This hand 'accidentally' brushed your face earlier. Hehe."
Rice Shower froze, then immediately rushed to the sink. Catching her reflection in the mirror, she saw her face now resembled a little calico cat's.
"O-Onii-chan... you're so childish! Not 'hehe' at all!" She shot him an indignant glare before burying her face in the sink to wash it off.
"Rice-washing face?"
Still teasing me! Urara was right—Trainer loves messing with people!
...
After his childish antics, Lucian properly apologized. Rice Shower pretended to forgive him easily, but inside, she was already planning to report his crimes to Urara later.
After locking up the shop, Lucian and Rice Shower headed back to rest, planning to grab a late-night snack at Dextrous Bailey's place later.
"Rice Shower, you're not just pretending to forgive me now so you can tattle to Urara and the others later, are you?"
"How did you kn—... No." She nearly slipped up.
"Good. Alright, see you tonight." If not for worrying about Rice Shower being too embarrassed, Lucian would've waited until they got back to let Urara discover Rice Shower's calico-cat face.
But jokes should be kept in moderation. For instance, though Rice Shower had been flustered earlier, she didn't actually dislike Lucian for it—instead, she felt like she understood his personality a little better now.
"Mm, see you tonight."
...