...
Faced with everyone's gazes, even though she had rehearsed it countless times in her mind, Dextrous Bailey still found it hard to speak up.
"Everyone... I plan to retire. At the end of this year."
All eyes carried surprise.
The ones who felt it most deeply were Silence Suzuka and the others—after all, Dextrous Bailey was, like them, one of the founding members of "Dream."
"Little Bailey, so suddenly?" Seiun Sky asked.
"Actually, it's not sudden at all." Dextrous Bailey looked toward Lucian. "As early as February or March, I already told Trainer about this idea—so it's not an impulse."
Dextrous Bailey paused, recalling those restless nights of tossing and turning. She took a deep breath. "I've really thought about it for a very, very long time. But Trainer told me that accepting reality sometimes requires more courage than struggling desperately."
"I think that's true. So I wanted to say a proper goodbye to everyone... The time I've spent with all of you has truly been so, so..." Her voice finally cracked; she covered her mouth, unable to hold it together any longer.
A hot tear slid from the corner of Dextrous Bailey's eye. Trembling, she poured all her reluctance and attachment into broken sobs.
Lucian was about to speak, but the "Dream" members had already stepped forward to comfort Dextrous Bailey.
Haru Urara took her hand; warmth spread from fingertip to fingertip. "Little Bailey, I support your decision! Even after retiring, you can still come back and visit often, right?"
Rice Shower pulled a floral-scented tissue from her pocket and handed it to Dextrous Bailey. "Little Bailey, Rice-chan wishes that after retirement, you can pursue what you're truly passionate about and find your own new world."
"Yeah, exactly~" Seiun Sky rested her head on her hands, tone casual and light. "It's just retirement—not like we're parting forever or anything. When you're tired, of course you should choose to rest properly."
"Little Bailey, don't cry. This time I won't fight you for it—how about I give you this piece of cake?" Twin Turbo still had teardrops hanging from her own eyes, yet she turned to comfort Dextrous Bailey.
It took Nice Nature stepping in with just a few words to calm her down completely.
Toujou Hana pushed up her glasses. Her cheeks were still flushed, drunk haze lingering, but her tone was utterly serious. "Little Lu is right—retirement... is one of the compulsory lessons for every Uma Musume. Just like finishing a long race: no matter the result, you eventually have to cross the finish line."
...
The Uma Musume spoke up one after another; comforting words wove together into a warm current, flowing gently into the soil of Dextrous Bailey's heart.
"Thank you, everyone—truly, thank you so much!" Dextrous Bailey bowed deeply to them all. Tears fell again, shattering into thousands of tiny flowers on the smooth tiled floor.
One called "farewell," one called "gratitude," one called "gentleness"...
The dinner gathering had reached its natural end.
Lucian picked up his glass. Looking at Dextrous Bailey, who had managed to smile again, a relieved expression crossed his face. "I won't say much more—just: happy retirement, Little Bailey."
"Happy retirement~!!"
"Cheers—!!"
Clear clinks of glass rang out one after another, as if officially opening the ceremony for Dextrous Bailey's retirement.
...
After the Uma Musume helped Lucian tidy up, they prepared to say goodbye and head back to Tracen Academy.
The drunken Toujou Hana was supported by Nishizaki Ryo and Minamizaka. As she left, she was still mumbling, "You three... barely drank any alcohol... just kept eating peanuts... so boring!"
Minamizaka and Lucian stayed silent while Nishizaki Ryo coaxed her from the side. "Hana, next time I'll drink with you again~ If you're treating, anytime works~ Hahahaha."
Haru Urara: "Trainer, we're heading back~"
Rice Shower: "Onii-sama, good night... Next time, drink a little less, okay?"
Mejiro McQueen: "Torena-san, thank you for the hospitality~"
Tokai Teio: "Trainer, next time I want to drink that honey special you made! No more developing dark drinks!"
Meisho Doto: "Trainer, I'll come see Dango again in a few days—got exams coming up. ฅ(●°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ ཅ °̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥●)ฅ*"
...
Lucian smiled and responded to each one. "Hurry back, everyone—get some rest early."
After seeing them off, Lucian closed the door and sat cross-legged on the living room floor in front of the table.
The room was wrapped in warm quiet, yet the air still seemed to hold traces of the earlier "liveliness."
Tonight was special—because not long after, one very special Uma Musume returned alone.
She came back as naturally as if she'd only stepped out for a moment and returned home.
And what made tonight truly special was that she had come back alone.
"Trainer-san." Special Week's little mouth moved slightly—clearly holding a piece of candy inside.
She saw Lucian staring intently at the glowing phone screen, seemingly unaware she'd returned. A quiet sense of being overlooked crept into her heart.
"Trainer-san." She couldn't help speaking again, voice carrying a touch of grievance and coquetry. "What are you doing?"
"Scrolling videos." Lucian's eyes stayed glued to the screen; his fingers swiped absentmindedly.
"What's so interesting about videos..." Special Week quietly scooted closer until their shoulders were almost touching.
Her large eyes, inlaid with purple gems, slowly withdrew from the screen and focused entirely on Lucian's face.
The long-awaited intimate contact, the face of the one she loved so dearly right in front of her... Special Week became utterly entranced.
"Trainer-san, what video is so fascinating?" She leaned even closer; her warm breath nearly brushed his earlobe.
A sweet, faintly cool mint scent drifted with her gentle exhales, spraying softly across Lucian's cheek.
The first to kiss Lucian's cheek wasn't Special Week's lips—but the small, upturned tip of her nose.
She lifted her slender wrist, lightly circling around his chin, greedily caressing the other side of his face, urging him to press even closer.
"Spe-chan, what are you doing?" Lucian asked, voice carrying a hint of tipsy haze as he tilted his head slightly.
But Special Week seemed even more intoxicated.
Because those eyes—always so full of vitality—were now veiled in a thin, hazy layer of water, focused so intently that it felt like nothing existed in the world except the two softly parting lips before her.
Unconsciously stroking his cheek with her hand, she lowered her gaze to his lips, slowly restraining her long, shallow breaths.
...