...
After retrieving several signboards, Lucian and Seiun Sky made their way back.
By the time they returned to the lodging, most of the horse girls still hadn't woken up.
Silence Suzuka glared at Lucian and Seiun Sky with a displeased expression. "Where did you two go this morning?"
"We went to retrieve the signboards," Lucian explained, though he had already returned them just moments ago.
"I went to retrieve the Trainer~"
While Lucian feared Silence Suzuka, Seiun Sky certainly didn't.
Ahem, "Haven't had breakfast yet, right? Are the others still asleep? Let's head inside first." Lucian placed his hands on their shoulders and gently guided them back into the room.
"Trainer, didn't you already have breakfast this morning? And you said it was sweet~" Seiun Sky was absolutely doing this on purpose. "I tasted it too, Trainer—your breakfast."
Speaking so ambiguously—wasn't it just a kiss?
Silence Suzuka had already seen right through it and snorted disdainfully. "Was the Trainer's breakfast this morning really that sweet? I'm sure there's something even sweeter, and the Trainer knows exactly what I mean."
Seiun Sky froze.
Something even sweeter? What did that mean?
But confusion aside, she wasn't about to back down verbally. "The Trainer said it himself!"
The retort was like cotton hitting a rock—minimal damage, barely any insult.
Caught between them, Lucian was suffering. "Ladies, I misspoke earlier. I didn't mean breakfast—I meant we should start preparing for lunch."
...
Back in the room, Tokai Teio and Special Week were already awake, though they were still lying on their futons playing with their phones.
Dextrous Bailey, Haru Urara, and Rice Shower were still asleep.
Haru Urara seemed to have mistaken Rice Shower for Lucian, clinging tightly to her.
Dextrous Bailey, perhaps for the same reason, had wrapped herself around one of Rice Shower's legs.
However, since Rice Shower's chest wasn't as broad as Lucian's, Haru Urara kept readjusting her sleeping position.
"Quite the... unique sleeping posture, huh..." Lucian feigned surprise.
He couldn't let on that Dextrous Bailey and Haru Urara had been clinging to him like that all night.
"Trainer-san, you're back?"
"Spe-chan, don't tell me you haven't washed up yet?" Lucian didn't forget Tokai Teio either. "Teio, lying down while using your phone is bad for your eyes."
"I haven't..." Special Week lowered her head sheepishly.
Tokai Teio put her phone away. "Got it, got it. Trainer's as naggy as Otou-san."
After addressing those two, Lucian turned his attention to the three still asleep.
He walked over and pinched each of their cheeks lightly. "Wake up, wake up."
"If you don't get up now, the Trainer's gonna spank you~" Seiun Sky added playfully.
"Spank?" Dextrous Bailey's upper body was still asleep, but her lower half immediately arched up.
However, after realizing what she'd done, she quickly straightened up, pretending nothing had happened.
"Trainer... hug~" Haru Urara opened her eyes, only to find Lucian wasn't beside her—he was standing above her. She glanced to the side.
Why was she hugging Rice Shower...?
Rice Shower had also woken up, though she was still half-asleep, her eyes dazed and dreamy. "Onii-sama..."
Lucian suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if his back was freezing over.
Oh no...
Special Week watched the scene, thinking to herself—how could Haru Urara act like a baby, demanding hugs from the Trainer as soon as she woke up? T-this... this was too much!
Little did she know, there was something even more shocking.
"Onii-sama?" Everyone had their own focus, but Tokai Teio zeroed in on Rice Shower's address. "Why does Rice-chan call the Trainer 'Onii-sama'?"
"I'd like to ask Lucian-kun the same thing." Silence Suzuka's icy voice came from behind.
"Could it be... some kind of brother-sister roleplay?" Seiun Sky chimed in.
The two, who had just been bickering earlier, had now united against Lucian.
"N-no, that's not it!" Before Lucian could explain, Rice Shower—now fully awake—quickly stood up to defend him. "It's just that the Trainer is only a little older than me, so sometimes I accidentally call him Onii-sama... I'm sorry for causing trouble..."
"Eh? There's nothing to apologize for." Lucian patted Rice Shower's head and took the opportunity to add, "From now on, Rice-chan can call me that whenever she wants."
At this point... ahem... he, Lucian, was willing to make this small sacrifice.
Who needed the title of "Trainer" anyway?
"O-oh..."
Rice Shower was a bit dazed.
Hadn't the Trainer said she should only call him that in private? Why was it okay all the time now...?
But this was fine too—no more worries about slipping up.
"Ohhh~ Onii-sama~" Tokai Teio drew out the words playfully, then even started singing while squishing her cheeks. "Onii-sama? Onii-sama~"
Rice Shower, on the other hand, blushed in embarrassment.
"Trainer~ hug~" Haru Urara reached out toward Lucian, looking like she'd refuse to get up unless he held her.
Someone as small as Haru Urara could easily be lifted with one hand by the collar—but Lucian didn't dare do that.
He sighed. "You still want a hug after waking up?"
The cold aura behind him grew even sharper.
But compared to Silence Suzuka and Seiun Sky, Lucian was far more afraid of Haru Urara when she entered her yandere mode.
That wasn't just a chill—it felt like being locked in a dark room was a real possibility.
"Hug~"
"Fine, fine." Lucian had intended to lift Haru Urara the same way he had with Seiun Sky earlier, but instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
The sight left Tokai Teio stunned, shocked Special Week, enlightened Dextrous Bailey, and astonished Rice Shower...
Special Week: If I acted like Urara-chan... would the Trainer hug me like that too...? He could probably lift me, right? Maybe I should lose a bit more weight...
Tokai Teio: H-h-how is this fair?! The Trainer's more like an Otou-san now! Since when were Urara and the Trainer this close?!
Dextrous Bailey: Not that I need the Trainer to carry me... but I think I could carry him like this too.
Rice Shower: Eh? Urara!? Eh? Onii-sama!?
...
Unaware of their inner thoughts, Lucian lifted Haru Urara and immediately set her back down. "Go wash up. We're having lunch soon."
"Everyone from Rigil and Spica will be coming over today."
"Wasn't today supposed to be a day off? Why are they coming?" Tokai Teio asked.
"Word about the hot springs must've gotten out," Lucian replied.
...