...
A month passed, and the horse girls' final exams finally ended. The moment they left the exam hall, they grouped up and came straight to Lucian's house.
Lucian was still asleep, his consciousness like a sailboat drifting far across the ocean of dreams, but waves of phone vibrations sank his little boat.
Silence Suzuka and the others knew the door password, but with so many people around, she definitely wouldn't dare expose it directly.
"Coming~ Coming~"
Lucian yawned, opened the door, then lazily leaned against the frame.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he wore only a white tank top, hair messy, no trace of composure.
Seeing Lucian like this, Haru Urara laughed. "Trainer, you didn't even tidy up. So sloppy!"
"This is my house. I can do whatever I want~" Lucian stepped aside, patiently waiting for the horse girls to put on slippers and come in. "You all finished exams? No problems, right?"
"Completely OK~" Haru Urara bounced over to Lucian's side. "Trainer, want Haru Urara to comb your hair later?"
"Sure." His eyelids felt so heavy, Lucian's eyes blinked tiredly. "Where's Spe-chan? How'd it go?"
"Hope I pass. I don't want to retake." Special Week shook her head with a worried face.
"No worries. Worst case, I'll apply to be proctor and supervise Spe-chan passing, hahaha~"
"Trainer-san... That's so mean..."
Lucian watched Special Week's little face twist into a "囧" shape and finally burst out laughing.
While he laughed defenselessly, a soft little hand silently reached over and precisely covered his open mouth.
"Trainer~ Haven't you washed up yet? Your mouth stinks~" Seiun Sky's crisp voice rang in Lucian's ear, tinged with a bit of schadenfreude.
She'd finally found her chance for revenge.
Lucian removed Seiun Sky's hand. "You should praise me for opening the door before I'm even awake."
He breathed into his palm—actually fine, no smell. Seiun Sky was definitely slandering him.
With so many people here now, otherwise he'd blow breath at the smug Seiun Sky.
"Trainer, impressive." Nice Nature pinched her nose and passed Lucian without looking back.
"Now it's really stinky Trainer~" Tokai Teio teased with a smile.
Rice Shower: "Onii-sama... Personal hygiene is still important."
Lucian licked his lips. "You all just believe whatever Seiun says, huh? Fine, fine~ I'll go wash up first."
...
When Lucian came out of the bathroom, the horse girls had already filled the sofa.
"Finished exams and didn't go back to the dorm? Why all come to my place?" Lucian glanced at Matikanetannhauser. "And Tannhauser, I wanted to ask earlier—what's with the little blackboard you're holding?"
"Since Trainer asks with such sincerity." Matikanetannhauser rubbed her philtrum, instantly striking a pose. "Then I'll mercifully tell Trainer."
She wrote on the blackboard for a bit, then stepped in front of everyone and raised it. "Pre-New Year Team-Building Grand Plan—!!!"
"Trainer, hurry and ask me 'Why hold it before New Year?'"
Lucian pursed his lips—might as well spoil her. "Tannhauser, why hold it before New Year?"
"Because during New Year everyone won't be around."
"Oh~ So smart, considering something everyone knows."
Lucian's words immediately drew clear laughter from the horse girls.
Matikanetannhauser couldn't keep her face. She pouted coquettishly. "Trainer! Don't joke in serious class! Otherwise... I'll joke during training too."
With Matikanetannhauser's hardworking personality, she couldn't slack off anyway—so this was her only powerless "threat."
"Sure, go ahead and joke." Lucian smiled and winked at her. "If you don't joke, then I'll be the one joking."
Matikanetannhauser's mind raced, searching for Lucian's weakness—she hadn't been this serious even during exams. "Then... Then next time I won't help Trainer with pre-race analysis or provide pre-race materials."
"But on that note, Tannhauser, your idea to liven up the team atmosphere is still very necessary. Go on, tell us the plan." Lucian's face changed in an instant—he'd mastered the art of flexibility long ago.
"Oh... Ohhh....." Matikanetannhauser blinked blankly, lowered the blackboard. "How about everyone go to the temple fair together?"
Temple fairs, similar to fireworks festivals, had tons of food and game activities.
They were usually concentrated in July-August, so holding one at this time was quite rare.
Speaking of which, last time at the fireworks festival, Lucian only experienced the on-campus events and didn't join the off-campus ones.
And in the end, he didn't even watch the fireworks—too busy kissing Seiun Sky.
"Trainer, what do you think?" Matikanetannhauser looked at Lucian expectantly.
"Sounds good." Lucian looked at the other horse girls. "What about you all? Any thoughts? Or better ideas?"
The horse girls thought for a bit, then shook their heads—no objections.
Silence Suzuka, Special Week, and the others didn't need saying—wherever Lucian went, they'd follow.
"Alright, then it's decided!" Matikanetannhauser's excited voice rose several pitches.
...