...
Hearing that there was still a surprise waiting, the horse girls all sped up their eating.
"Trainer, we're done eating. Where's the surprise?"
"Follow me."
...
Lucian led the group out of the dining area and deeper into the complex until they reached two curtains labeled "Men's Bath" and "Women's Bath."
"A hot spring!?" Tokai Teio had already guessed what the surprise was, but her face still showed disbelief. "Trainer, you're not lying to us, are you?"
"Whether I'm lying or not, why don't you go in and see for yourselves?" Lucian lifted the curtain, gesturing for everyone to enter.
After passing through the changing area, the horse girls were greeted by the sight of an open-air hot spring shrouded in white steam.
"Is Urara dreaming?" Haru Urara rubbed her eyes vigorously. "Spe-chan, let me pinch you to see if it hurts."
"Ah, okay." Special Week obediently extended her arm but quickly pulled it back after realizing what was happening. "Urara! Why don't you pinch yourself instead?"
"So, how is it? The environment is quite nice, right?" Lucian glanced around. "Later, I can even have someone bring you some fruit."
"This is amazing! I want to try it right now!" Tokai Teio couldn't wait. If not for Lucian's presence, she would have already stripped and jumped in.
"What about the rest of you? Do you also want to try it now?" Lucian looked at the others. Since there was nothing else to do in the afternoon, he wanted to give it a try too.
The horse girls nodded one after another.
"Then I'll have someone prepare towels and yukata for you."
...
The horse girls followed the maid to change, and after giving a few instructions, Lucian also went to change into a yukata.
Unlike the plush robes found in hotels, the yukata was made of thin fabric, and the men's version deliberately exposed part of the chest.
Lucian's physique was already well-proportioned and outstanding, and with the yukata accentuating his faintly visible chest muscles and his handsome face, he exuded an air of an untouchable male deity.
When he arrived at the changing area, the horse girls happened to be there as well.
Tokai Teio had originally planned to tease Lucian a bit, but upon seeing his appearance, her words caught in her throat. Her gaze lingered on his chest for a moment before shyly retreating.
Special Week stared blankly for a few extra seconds, and Rice Shower was no exception. Haru Urara's eyes were practically glued to Lucian.
Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka, however, were relatively unfazed—one was used to touching him, and the other had seen enough.
Finally, Dextrous Bailey swallowed hard.
All of Lucian's horse girls had a somewhat flirtatious side to them.
"Are you all ready?" Lucian's words snapped the horse girls out of their daze.
"Trainer, no peeking..." Tokai Teio tightened her yukata and said.
"No peeking~ no peeking~ You enjoy yours, and I'll enjoy mine~" With that, Lucian walked off toward the men's bath on his own.
...
On the women's side.
The horse girls entered the hot spring one after another like dumplings being dropped into a pot, shedding their yukata as they stepped in.
This was their first time being completely open with each other, and aside from Tokai Teio and Haru Urara, the others were a bit reserved.
"Rice-chan, come swim~ Do you need Urara to teach you?"
Haru Urara demonstrated her swimming posture in front of Rice Shower, splashing water onto her face.
Rice Shower dodged the splashes while smiling happily, gradually loosening up.
Tokai Teio stayed in the water for a while before getting out and began scrubbing her body, humming a pleasant tune.
Dextrous Bailey, Special Week, Seiun Sky, and Silence Suzuka leaned against the rocks by the hot spring in order.
Dextrous Bailey tilted her head back, thoroughly enjoying herself as the hot spring enveloped her.
Special Week's face was flushed red, and her hands remained clasped over her chest.
Seiun Sky, while looking around, discovered something new. "Spe-chan, why so shy? It's everyone's first time, after all."
She grabbed Special Week's wrist and moved her hands away.
"I'm just... a little embarrassed." Under the misty steam, Special Week lowered her head, her delicate face turning even redder, making it hard to resist the urge to take a bite.
"Don't be shy~ Your figure is amazing~" Seiun Sky couldn't help but feel a little envious as she spoke, even going so far as to reach out and touch.
Special Week's body type could be described as slightly plump—soft to the touch, like cotton.
"S-Seiun... stop teasing me."
"Don't be shy, Spe-chan~ Look at Little Bailey, she's so natural and confident."
Coincidentally, Haru Urara had found some toys somewhere, which perfectly described the scene around Seiun Sky:
Here were two white rabbits hiding underwater, their backs visible, while over there were two white swans floating on the surface.
"Suzuka, what do you think?" After teasing Special Week, Seiun Sky puffed out her chest, directing her attention to Silence Suzuka.
"I don't know." Silence Suzuka tied up her orange hair and closed her eyes, ignoring Seiun Sky.
Out of sight, out of mind... but still a little annoying, especially with Seiun Sky chattering away.
But there were some things she couldn't deny, no matter how much she wanted to.
Was there really no curvature at all when wearing clothes? Silence Suzuka thought there might be just a little.
Was it... Lucian's doing?
Silence Suzuka opened her eyes, skipping over Seiun Sky and Special Week, before finally landing on Dextrous Bailey.
What exactly was she missing...
A question arose in her heart: Does Lucian-kun also like this kind?
...
"Rice-chan, look, it floats! When I push it down, it comes back up."
"Wow... why doesn't mine float back up when I push it down?"
"Maybe it's a weight issue?"
Haru Urara played with a small rubber duck, pressing it underwater and watching it bob back up.
Rice Shower's duck might have been broken or filled with water, as it stayed submerged unless helped back up.
...
The men's and women's baths were separated only by a wall, and with the sound of running water, the soundproofing was decent.
But coincidentally, both Haru Urara and Lucian were near the wall, so Lucian easily overheard their conversation.
He had been leisurely enjoying the hot spring with a glass of wine, but upon hearing Haru Urara and Rice Shower's dialogue, he couldn't help but frown.
Wait... what are these two talking about? That's quite the bold topic...
"They must be playing with rubber ducks," Lucian muttered, watching a few small yellow ducks float past him. He took another sip of wine to reassure himself.
If it had been Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka talking, he might have let his imagination run wild.
...