...
As the semester approached its end, the horse girls gradually completed their courses, freeing up much of their time.
Apart from the year-end Arima Kinen, the final written exams were equally important.
Thus, in the mornings, the lounge transformed into a study room, and Lucian would also come over to guide them on racing-related knowledge.
"What's the point of testing this? Haven't I already memorized it all for you?" Lucian complained after glancing at the exam questions.
Special Week especially agreed, "Exactly! And there's so much to study too."
"Spe-chan, your other subjects seem to also..."
Before Silence Suzuka could finish, Special Week covered her mouth, "Suzuka, I'm trying my best!"
Lucian chuckled and then shifted to serious matters. "Next Tuesday, I'll be taking Urara to Kochi for a race. The rest of you continue training as usual—no slacking off."
"Trainer, maybe I should go too?" Seiun Sky's intention wasn't to watch over Lucian but rather to keep an eye on Urara.
"No need, Seiun! The trainer accompanying me is enough. Don't you have class on Tuesday?" Urara quickly refused with a reasonable excuse.
"Skipping one class to accompany Urara isn't a big deal," Seiun Sky persisted.
"But it's the last class, right? Usually, it's just review. Seiun, you really shouldn't skip it."
"Is it just Urara and the trainer going alone?" Tokai Teio asked. Last time they went to Kochi, she hadn't joined the team yet... But even if she hadn't, the question felt oddly pointed.
"Yep! Last time, it was just the trainer and me. Didn't I bring back lots of gifts for everyone after the race?"
Urara wore an innocent smile on the surface, but internally, she was screaming: Stop asking already! I just want to go out alone with the trainer! Just the two of us!
"Alright..." Tokai Teio hesitated but ultimately didn't press further. She didn't feel as wary of Urara as she did toward Special Week.
The sharp-witted Silence Suzuka, however, sensed something amiss and immediately said, "I don't have class. Why don't I come along too?"
Urara kept smiling, though her eyes narrowed into thin slits.
Lucian's internal alarm bells rang loudly—he could see dark energy seeping out from the corners of Urara's eyes!
This was definitely not a good sign.
He quickly intervened:
"Suzuka, if you don't have class, you should stay and focus on training. The Arima Kinen is just around the corner, isn't it? I've already scheduled your afternoon training plan."
"W-well... alright." With Lucian putting it that way, Silence Suzuka found it hard to refuse.
Urara opened her eyes again, the dark energy dissipating. Crisis averted.
"Urara, I actually don't have class or a race either... Can I come with you?" Rice Shower asked timidly.
Lucian cautiously observed Urara's expression... No expression, no dark energy? So, was that a yes or a no?
"Oh? Of course you can!" Urara took Rice Shower's hand. "With you cheering for me this time, I'll definitely feel even more confident about winning."
"So if Rice-chan goes with you, does that mean the trainer doesn't have to?" Lucian teased lightly.
Urara: "?"
"Trainer, what did you just say? Could you repeat that? Urara didn't quite catch it." The dark energy didn't seep from her eyes this time—instead, it billowed out like wild hair behind her.
"I didn't say anything, didn't say anything..."
Lucian felt Urara was a little... unstable. This wouldn't do. She couldn't be like a ticking time bomb.
He needed to think of a firmer approach, something to firmly rein her in.
...
After settling Urara's matter, Lucian briefly mentioned the school's selection races.
"Our team will also be recruiting new members this time. Does anyone know any outstanding horse girls? Internal recommendations are allowed."
If he went looking himself, there was always the risk of rejection.
But with internal recommendations, the chances of success were much higher—Rice Shower had been "tricked"... no, "recruited" this way.
It was kind of funny, really. With recommendations, the other party's agreement was more likely—Lucian, as the trainer, didn't have much initiative here.
Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka remained silent.
Special Week and Dextrous Bailey thought for a moment but couldn't come up with any suitable candidates.
"There is one horse girl I know who hasn't joined a team yet," Tokai Teio spoke up. "She's my rival—Mejiro McQueen. Not sure if you remember her, Trainer."
"The young lady from the Mejiro family? I remember. During the last school festival, her grandmother brought her to the restaurant for dinner."
"Though, I'm not sure if she'd be willing to join our 'Dream' team."
True enough. With a tsundere like Mejiro McQueen, it'd take some clever maneuvering to get her on board.
"I have a plan." A lightbulb went off in Lucian's head. "Since she's your rival, why not brag about our team's recent achievements? Then mention how you broke your personal record under my training... She might just take the bait."
"Urara knows! This move is called 'A beauty cannot resist a hero's trap'! Right?!"
Rice Shower (sparkly eyes effect): "Urara, what does that mean?"
"It's when a pretty girl gets trapped by a hero—like, a hero, you know? Trap, trap... trapped?!" Urara vaguely understood the meaning, but when it came to explaining... well, it was a struggle.
Rice Shower froze. "W-wait, that can't be right! Onii-sama, wouldn't that be illegal?!"
"Urara! Stop making up meanings!" Lucian facepalmed.
"So that's how it is... No wonder the trainer was smiling so suspiciously just now~" Tokai Teio added fuel to the fire.
But if you trapped someone... the hero could have the beauty all to themselves, right?
As for whether it was illegal... well, as long as the person involved didn't report it, it'd be fine.
Or... as long as they couldn't report it.
Lucian was already wearing a thick coat, but for some reason, he suddenly felt an eerie chill run down his spine.
"Alright, you all keep studying. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."
...