...
After lunch, the members of "Spica" and "Rigil" arrived one after another.
As soon as they entered, they were surprised by the decorations in the front yard.
"Lucian, it feels like your team isn't here for training camp but for a vacation," Nishizaki Ryo remarked, stroking his chin.
"Nishizaki-senpai, are you subtly mocking the even more luxurious apartment where Hua-nee lives?"
"Lucian, stop dragging me into this, alright?" Toujou Hana shot a sidelong glance at Nishizaki Ryo. "Though I do feel a bit targeted..."
"Hana, this kid is just trying to stir up trouble. Don't listen to him."
After some light-hearted banter, Lucian made a "please" gesture:
"Senpai, I doubt you want everyone standing here watching us chat, right? Please come in."
...
With guests arriving, Lucian had naturally prepared some fruits and snacks in advance. As for space, that was the least of their concerns.
After everyone settled down, Symboli Rudolf spoke up:
"Trainer Lucian, we're heading back tomorrow, but the rewards for our victory haven't been delivered yet."
Lucian certainly hadn't forgotten. "Right, have you all decided what you want?"
"I've made up my mind, but as for the others, I'm not sure yet."
The members of Symboli Rudolf's team were Silence Suzuka, Grass Wonder, Fuji Kiseki, Air Groove, Daiwa Scarlet, and Rice Shower.
Lucian cast an inquiring glance at them.
Fuji Kiseki and Air Groove didn't have any particular requests. "Trainer Lucian, can we make a request for tonight's dinner?"
Lucian smiled and countered, "How are you so sure I'm keeping you for dinner?"
Toujou Hana's gaze sharpened. "Lucian?"
"Congratulations, you guessed right. If the ingredients are available, I'll cook whatever you want." Lucian changed his tone without hesitation. "What about the rest of you?"
Symboli Rudolf continued where she left off: "Recently, I've come across some humorous jokes and anecdotes about China, but I don't quite get them. If you have time, could you explain them to me, Trainer Lucian?"
She was quite interested in such things, but perhaps due to translation issues, she needed someone familiar with the culture to break it down for her.
"No problem. You can add my contact info and ask me anytime."
"Wait a minute!" Air Groove suddenly interjected.
"Air Groove, do you have an objection?" Lucian asked knowingly.
"Not really..."
If even Symboli Rudolf didn't understand those translated jokes, wouldn't it just make things even more awkward if Lucian suddenly told them to her? This summer wouldn't feel too hot after all.
After finishing, Lucian turned his attention to Silence Suzuka and Grass Wonder. "Suzuka, is there anything you'd like?"
"Do it once." Silence Suzuka's words were startling.
"Uh... huh?" Lucian broke into a cold sweat, shifting uncomfortably. "You mean like Air Groove and the others, right? Right?"
"No." Silence Suzuka shook her head.
Seiun Sky's gaze kept darting between Lucian and Silence Suzuka. While others might be in the dark, she wasn't that naive.
These two definitely had something going on...
Had they already kissed?
With that thought, Seiun Sky suddenly understood—many things made sense now.
No wonder Silence Suzuka always seemed so confident now, no longer easily flustered like before.
Turns out they'd already gotten close at some point!
A dark little flame flickered in Seiun Sky's pupils.
Over on Lucian's side, the panic continued. "No?"
"Mhm. I don't want it this time. I'll save it for next time."
Silence Suzuka was deliberately vague—not specifying what "it" was or what "next time" meant.
She was doing it on purpose.
But the flustered Lucian didn't have time to overthink it and quickly agreed. "Alright, next time then. Next time it is."
Next was Daiwa Scarlet.
"As for me..." She scratched her cheek. "Trainer Lucian, when joining 'Dream,' don't all the members receive a special gift?"
"I object!" Nishizaki Ryo thrust out a hand like Er Kang, reiterating, "I object!"
Daiwa Scarlet was taken aback but quickly understood why Nishizaki Ryo reacted so strongly. "Trainer, let me finish. I'm not asking for Trainer Lucian's gift. I just want to know what kind of message Trainer Lucian would write for me if it were me."
She then looked expectantly at Lucian. "Trainer Lucian, is that okay? Is this reward reasonable..."
"Well... I can't write it for you right away because I don't know you well enough."
Since it was a personal message, Lucian didn't want it to be too generic or superficial.
But his knowledge of Daiwa Scarlet's races was too limited, so he'd have to get to know her better first.
"Ah, this reward is too much to ask for, isn't it..." Thinking Lucian was gently rejecting her, Daiwa Scarlet couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"It's not too much. If I don't know you well enough, then I'll just have to get to know you better. I'll pay attention to your future races." Lucian smiled.
Daiwa Scarlet looked up in pleasant surprise. "So Trainer Lucian agrees?"
"Mhm."
"Wait... then what about me? Am I just extra here?" Nishizaki Ryo cut into their conversation again.
"Nishizaki-senpai, you'll keep training Daiwa. I'm just writing a message." Lucian slowly narrowed his eyes, a sly glint appearing. "Or do you want me to take over Daiwa's training?"
"Don't talk nonsense. That's not what I meant."
"Oh~ I thought..." Lucian smirked before turning to Grass Wonder. "Grass, what about you? This sudden group trip was your doing, right?"
"How did Trainer Lucian know...?"
Surely no one in "Dream" knew she'd been promoting the hot springs, right?
"Was it that hard to guess?" Lucian wore an expression that said it was obvious.
If Grass Wonder could spread word of his cooking skills far and wide, this little bit of news was nothing.
"Sorry, Trainer Lucian. I might have a bit too much urge to share things." Grass Wonder shrank back slightly, a little embarrassed at being called out so directly.
"Alright, what reward would you like?"
"Trainer Lucian, can I occasionally come over to your place for meals? I'll bring friends along." Grass Wonder's request ultimately boiled down to one thing: food.
Actually, she'd brought this up before, but back then, she'd assumed Lucian's agreement was just politeness.
This time, however, it was different.
"Of course, no problem." To Lucian, it just meant an extra pair of chopsticks during team gatherings, so he agreed readily.
Though Grass Wonder didn't specify when she'd visit.
...