...
On the night of the temple fair.
The entire street was awash in flowing lights and colors, the air thick with the mixed scents of caramelized sugar from roasted chestnuts, the smoky char of grilled skewers, and the cloying sweetness of cotton candy.
Lucian slung a crossbody bag over his shoulder and set off together with the horse girls.
The crowd was still a bit packed, but there were plenty of fun activities, so as they walked, the group gradually scattered, splitting off into pairs and small groups.
"Tannhauser, what are you looking at?" Seeing Matikanetannhauser clutching a small slip of paper with a rather frustrated expression, Lucian couldn't help but ask.
"The itinerary... but I didn't expect everyone to go off and play on their own. Now the plan's useless." Matikanetannhauser gripped the paper tightly, her faintly hopeful gaze turning toward Lucian. "Trainer, how about you..."
"No thanks."
"Whyyy? It took me so much effort to make this plan." Matikanetannhauser's horse ears instantly drooped, and she muttered softly in grievance.
"Alright, alright... seeing how pitiful you look." Lucian's heart softened by a third, and he helplessly compromised.
"What do you mean 'pitiful'?" Matikanetannhauser tilted her head, puzzled.
"Because Nice Nature went off with Twin Turbo, right? If I don't stay with you, wouldn't you be all alone?"
"But..... Suzuka-senpai and Spe-chan-senpai went together, and Seiun and Bailey too..."
Lucian froze, suddenly unable to argue. Wait... it really was like that?! He was the one being left behind too.
"Hiss..."
"So if I go play by myself, wouldn't that leave Trainer all alone? In that case, aren't I also pitying Trainer?"
"Hiss..." Lucian drew in another sharp breath. "Such logic—you planning to take the entrance exam for grad school or something!?"
Lucian even suspected some expert had possessed her. How else could Matikanetannhauser suddenly become this sharp?
"Trainer, just say whether you'll follow my plan or not? Otherwise I'm leaving." Matikanetannhauser grew even bolder.
But deep down, she really hoped Lucian would stay with her—being alone felt too lonely.
"Playing hard to get, huh..." Lucian crossed his arms, expression grave. At the same time, a belated doubt rose in his mind. "Tannhauser, why did you specifically mention Suzuka and Spe-chan, and Seiun and Bailey just now?"
He'd brought up Twin Turbo and Nice Nature because those three usually got along better with each other than with the rest.
Did Matikanetannhauser think the same? More importantly—the horse girls she named... she hit every single one spot-on!
Though Grass Wonder wasn't here, the wariness Grass Wonder inspired still lingered in Lucian's heart.
"Because those are the earliest members who joined 'Dream'~ If I kept going, I'd have to mention Urara and Rice-chan next."
"Fine." Lucian breathed a sigh of relief. "Let me see the paper—where's the first stop?"
"Oh oh, here."
Lucian unfolded it while saying, "Perfect, I didn't bring any paper. If something urgent comes up later, I'll just use this, okay?"
"No way! This is all my hard work! (╥﹏╥)"
Matikanetannhauser reached out to snatch the itinerary back, but Lucian already held it high overhead. She could only hop left and right around him, jumping futilely.
"Goldfish scooping, takoyaki, shrine visit, fireworks..." Lucian ignored the bouncing figure in his peripheral vision and quietly read off the contents.
Matikanetannhauser had planned it quite detailed—even doodled some cute cartoon sketches on it.
"Trainer, done looking? Give it back quick!"
"Here, here~" As soon as Lucian lowered it a bit, Matikanetannhauser snatched it back. "So first up is goldfish scooping?"
"Mm~ Sure, sure! I'm a goldfish-scooping pro!" Matikanetannhauser folded the paper neatly, tucked it into her pocket, and nodded happily.
"Reverse psychology? Last time in the escape room, someone also claimed to be a genius at something..."
"Don't say it, don't say it..." Matikanetannhauser shyly clenched her fists, leaning slightly forward. "That was an accident last time—this time it's really different!"
"Fine, fine. I'll be watching."
...
"Yo, you two—want to scoop some goldfish?" The stall owner saw customers approaching and immediately came over to greet them.
Compared to the other stalls, this one was noticeably quieter.
"Two people, boss." Lucian said, then casually paid.
"Trainer, I actually have money too."
"No worries. If you win, pay me back. If you lose, grant me one request." Lucian suppressed the slight upward curve of his lips, waiting for Matikanetannhauser to take the bait.
"Emmmm..." No one knew what she was thinking, but in the end she agreed. "Okay, I accept Trainer's challenge."
Lucian relaxed. Tannhauser was still the same Tannhauser—occasional moments of sharpness didn't mean anything.
The two squatted by the fish tank, each holding fifteen scooping nets.
Matikanetannhauser looked extraordinarily serious. "Match, start!"
This activity was actually pretty fun, but the nets were so flimsy that a light flick of a fish's tail could tear right through.
And Matikanetannhauser really did have some skill—within a short minute, she'd scooped two fish into her basin.
No matter win or lose, Lucian wouldn't be at a disadvantage, but he still wanted her to owe him one condition.
What to do? He couldn't exactly have a sudden epiphany. Guess he'd have to cheat a little.
As the saying goes, one chopstick breaks easily, but a bundle is hard to snap. Same principle—one net tears easily, but layer a few and it'll hold.
Lucian quietly observed Matikanetannhauser's focused expression, confirming she wasn't paying attention this way, then discreetly started cheating.
He was especially adept at these sneaky little tricks—after all, he'd done plenty of big "stealing" with Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka.
But even layered, the paper nets still weren't sturdy enough—after a few tries they were ruined beyond use.
"Hmm..." Lucian pursed his lips, desperately holding back the rising grin. Just thinking about what he was about to do next made him want to laugh.
After triple-checking that Matikanetannhauser was fully immersed in her own world, Lucian simply reached in with his hand.
Conveniently, her basin was right next to his. Under the pretense of observing, he stealthily transferred a few fish over.
A casual favor.
...