(Just to clarify, similar fracture-related plots may not necessarily occur again in the future.)
...
Seiun Sky didn't sleep for long before waking up, though her eyes remained weary, dry, and aching.
Having maintained the same position for quite a while, she tightened her embrace around Lucian, nuzzling against him as she adjusted her posture.
"Going back to sleep?"
"Help me ask for leave—I'm not going to school this afternoon."
"Alright. Then... are you still angry?"
"Not anymore." Seiun Sky kept her arms wrapped around Lucian's neck, pressing close, clingy as ever.
"Then... do you still like me?"
Seiun Sky straightened slightly to glance at Lucian before settling back against his shoulder, murmuring softly, "You're the one I like most..."
Lucian smiled faintly, relieved to have finally coaxed Seiun Sky back into good spirits.
"But I still have questions for you," Seiun Sky added.
"What is it? Ask away."
"Why is Suzuka at your place? Did you two...?" She left the sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear.
"Didn't she say it herself? While unconscious, the Three Goddesses sent her a dream."
Since he'd promised Silence Suzuka, Lucian wouldn't reveal anything proactively. Letting the two of them figure it out slowly seemed rather amusing.
"Really? I just feel like Suzuka today was... how do I put it? Radiant, somehow."
"Huh? How could you even—how did you notice that?" Lucian quickly corrected himself. Could that really have such a nourishing effect?
"Just a feeling. Why are you reacting so strongly?" Seiun Sky shot him a suspicious look.
"No reason, no reason. By the way, I have something to ask you too." Lucian swiftly changed the subject. "Winter break is coming up soon. Do you have any plans after New Year's?"
"Hmm... Not sure. All I know is that you're going back to China, and we'll be apart for a long time. Just thinking about it makes me a little sad again."
"It's not like I'm never coming back. And actually, what I wanted to ask is related to that." Lucian hadn't forgotten his mother's request. "After New Year's here, would you like to visit China for a trip? Come to my place as a guest."
"Your place!?"
Seiun Sky, who had been listlessly draped over Lucian's shoulder, immediately perked up, her voice rising several pitches.
A trip to China was one thing, but going to Lucian's home... didn't that mean meeting his parents?
However, after the initial surprise, she quickly calmed down. "Trainer, you're not just inviting me alone, are you?"
"Of course, it's a group trip. None of you have been to China before, right?" Lucian replied matter-of-factly.
Before today, bringing only Seiun Sky along might have been fine, but after what happened, it wouldn't be appropriate anymore.
Might as well take everyone who wanted to go.
"More importantly, I want to know if I'm the first one you invited."
"Of course you are."
The first one today.
Lucian had previously invited Rice Shower, but she still hadn't given him an answer.
As for the others, he hadn't brought it up yet.
"That's more like it~" Seiun Sky squirmed happily, like a child who'd just gotten candy, twisting her slender waist.
That wouldn't have been an issue—except she was still sitting on Lucian's lap.
This wasn't good. Really not good for suppressing certain reactions.
"Uh, okay... I get it, but could you stop squirming?"
"Why?" Seiun Sky paused, tilting her head curiously before suddenly understanding. Her signature mischievous grin appeared. "Ohhh, I see~"
"If you see, then why are you still squirming?" Lucian instinctively swatted her bottom, leaving her cheeks flushed bright red.
"Trainer... hmph." Seiun Sky pressed her hands against Lucian's shoulders before promptly punishing his lips.
She seemed to be growing fond of the feeling of kissing Lucian breathless until he begged for mercy.
At such times, he looked like a helpless little lamb in her eyes, bleating pitifully—but the more he pleaded, the more fiercely she kissed him.
Only when Lucian's face turned crimson would she finally relent.
This time, however, Seiun Sky seemed to realize she'd gone too far. She'd accidentally stoked a fire in Lucian, and the flames appeared to be spreading to her as well.
Glancing downward, she quickly shifted to sit beside him instead.
Lucian's voice, feigning sternness, whispered by her ear, "If you mess around like this again, you'll have to take responsibility!"
Seiun Sky shrank back, pondering for a long while. There were so, so many ways to take responsibility... she wondered which one Trainer would prefer.
Maybe she should try them one by one?
The thought alone made her face burn. She peeked discreetly at Lucian.
Seemed she could rest easy—Trainer's leg injury hadn't affected that. Little Trainer had been... quite energetic earlier.
...
During the five-day break, Lucian kept himself busy.
First, he drafted tailored training plans for each team member, then began organizing a joint training camp.
As for practical exercises and mock races, those were matters for spring next year—no need to rush for now.
There was originally a Japan Cup scheduled for late November. Currently, three members of the team qualified to participate: Special Week, Silence Suzuka, and Seiun Sky.
Surprisingly, none of them joined, instead setting their sights on the year-end Arima Kinen.
Thus, the focus of this training camp was the upcoming Arima Kinen.
Of course, alongside training, Lucian also arranged plenty of recreational activities for relaxation.
This camp was a collaboration between three teams: Lucian handled basic training and leisure activities, Nishizaki Ryo oversaw intensive training, and Toujou Hana managed data recording.
The division of labor was clear.
Additionally, during these five days at home, the young fillies often came to visit him.
Aside from the "Dream" team members, Meishou Doto, Ines Fujin, Grass Wonder, and Taiki Shuttle also dropped by after hearing about his condition.
Haru Urara gifted him several potted plants, which he carefully placed in a sunny spot to nurture.
Special Week brought over multiple boxes of carrots—until Lucian finally had to ask her to stop.
Silence Suzuka and Seiun Sky, however, had a habit of sneaking over at night.
The difference was: if Silence Suzuka arrived first, she'd hide in the closet to avoid Seiun Sky.
But if Seiun Sky came first, she'd boldly state her purpose for visiting Lucian.
What puzzled Seiun Sky was that Silence Suzuka's reaction wasn't as dramatic as she'd expected—almost as if she couldn't be bothered.
This left her confused and frustrated for a long time.
As for Silence Suzuka, if Seiun Sky didn't show up that night, she'd request leave for the next day and stay overnight at Lucian's place.
From tasting the first fruits to craving more after discovering their sweetness...
By morning, she'd always carry Lucian's scent on her.
Perhaps realizing Lucian's inability to resist—or perhaps harboring unexpressed jealousy toward Seiun Sky—Silence Suzuka became remarkably assertive and dominant.
What was once theoretical knowledge had now been thoroughly put into practice.
While Seiun Sky was still imagining possibilities, Silence Suzuka had already done everything there was to do.
...