...
Small shops capitalized on the minor hype from the race, so Takamachi was quite lively on the night of the event, with plenty of activities on the streets for tourists to enjoy.
However, some vendors jacked up their prices on the spot, scamming the tourists.
Lucian retracted his earlier statement—in the world of horse girls, only the horse girls themselves are kind-hearted.
Humans are too complicated.
As they walked, Lucian held the hands of the two little ones.
Urara occasionally let go to buy snacks, but she always took Lucian's hand again afterward.
Rice Shower, on the other hand, never let go, afraid that if she did, she wouldn't have the courage to hold it again.
"Trainer, can I have just a little bit of grilled skewers today?" Urara sniffed the aroma of barbecue and swallowed her saliva more than once.
"Just for today." Lucian was also tempted. "Get me a little bit too."
"Got it, Trainer!" Urara then turned to Rice Shower. "Rice-chan, do you want some? Let's go order together."
"O-Okay..."
...
The two little ones knew not to buy too much, so they just got a few skewers to satisfy their cravings. "Trainer~ You didn't say what you wanted, so I just bought a little bit randomly."
"I'm not picky. I'll eat anything."
"Okay, but before eating, let's hold hands first." Urara took Lucian's hand.
Lucian's other hand actively reached for Rice Shower's. "But if we're holding hands, how am I supposed to eat?"
"Urara will feed you! It's simple."
Urara raised her hand high, but Lucian was too tall—even then, she couldn't reach. "Ugh, why did you have to grow so tall, Trainer?"
"Alright, alright, I'll bend down a little~" Lucian half-crouched so Urara could feed him a skewer.
Beside them, Rice Shower was also enjoying her food. Having seen this kind of behavior from Urara often, she didn't find it strange anymore.
After strolling around a bit longer, the trio entered a small stir-fry restaurant and ordered a few specialty dishes.
Urara was genuinely hungry and dug in immediately, while Rice Shower ate much more gracefully.
"Urara, don't choke," Lucian reminded her.
As for table manners? Eating until full was what mattered most—he didn't fuss over such things.
"Trainer, it's not as good as your cooking."
"Swallow your food before talking."
Urara gulped down the food in her mouth, her puffed cheeks deflating. "Trainer, your cooking is still the best!"
"You finished everything in front of you before saying that?" Lucian couldn't help but laugh.
"I was just too hungry! But now I'm full." Urara patted her round belly.
Soon after, Lucian and Rice Shower also finished eating.
Just as the three were about to pay and leave, the shop owner suddenly called out to them. "Urara, right?"
"Huh? Hello." Urara greeted politely, though she didn't recognize the middle-aged woman in front of her.
"Urara-chan, I watched your race and the Winner's Stage today. You're such a wonderful horse girl."
"Eh!?" Urara was so surprised that even her little belly shrank back.
She tugged excitedly at Lucian's sleeve, her sparkling eyes seeming to say: Look, Trainer! I have a supporter too!
"Hello, hello! Uh... thank you, Auntie, for supporting me!" Urara hastily bowed.
"Can I take a photo with you?"
"Of course!"
Urara smiled and flashed a peace sign as the moment was captured in the photo.
"Thank you. I hope to see you racing again in the future."
"I'll do my best!"
...
On the way back, Urara's steps were light, and the little tune she hummed followed her through the streets and alleys.
Lucian smiled warmly. "You're really happy, huh?"
"I never thought someone would support me."
Urara thought of Special Week and Silence Suzuka, the thunderous cheers during their races. Though she was still far from that level, this was her first step forward.
"Gold will always shine. Do you know Oguri Cap? She started from Kasamatsu Racecourse and worked her way up to the central leagues. She even changed the supplementary entry system."
"You mean the Oguri Cap-senpai with the big belly?" Urara recalled. "I always see her in the cafeteria."
"Uh... let me teach you a saying today: 'Those who can, eat more.'"
"What does that mean?"
"Skilled people eat a lot." Lucian grinned mischievously.
"So Urara isn't skilled because she eats too little?"
"Maybe."
Compared to other horse girls, Urara was indeed petite—but Rice Shower and Tokai Teio, who were around her size, were incredibly strong.
"But Urara's belly is just this small. Once it's full, there's no more room." Urara patted her still-unflattened tummy.
"Really?"
"Really! If you don't believe me, Trainer can feel it."
"Urara, you're a little celebrity horse girl now. You've got to mind your image in public."
"Got it~ Then Trainer can feel it when we get back." Urara giggled.
As Rice Shower listened, waves of shock rippled through her heart.
Is this even allowed!? Isn't touching someone's belly way too intimate!?
Just holding hands had her so nervous she could barely function.
...
Back at the hotel room.
"Rice-chan, I still have something to talk to Trainer about. I'll be right back."
"Okay."
Urara left the room and knocked on Lucian's door.
Seeing it was Urara through the peephole, Lucian opened the door.
"Trainer~"
Before the door could even close, Urara had already backed Lucian against the wall.
She coiled around him like a pet snake, her "tongue" nothing more than a playful tease rather than a threat.
Tight hugs, tighter squeezes—
"Urara, the door isn't closed yet."
Urara let go of Lucian, then leaped up, bracing her limbs against the walls to pin him in place—while also kicking the door shut behind her.
A weird, crab-like pose, but at least it let her look Lucian in the eye.
"You..." Lucian tugged her skirt down.
"Trainer, kisses~ I've been wanting this since we were on the street!"
Lucian's resolve was firm—when faced with a choice, he acted decisively, never hesitating.
He reached up to support Urara, then wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her deeply.
If he couldn't avoid it, he might as well enjoy it.
Urara, however, was startled by Lucian's initiative. She was soon breathless and overwhelmed, forced to push him away.
"Trainer, wait... Urara still has to go back. But Urara will come again tonight. Trainer, leave the door unlocked, okay?"
"Do I have a choice?"
Urara didn't answer, but the answer was written in her eyes.
...