...
After finishing their hot spring bath, the horse girls gathered in the lounge to play games or watch TV.
Lucian felt as if he had entered a garden of a hundred flowers, his nostrils filled with all kinds of pleasant, faint fragrances.
"I'm going to the kitchen to cook. Rice-chan, do you want to come with me?" Lucian noticed Rice Shower's gaze lingering between him and the tabletop game, realizing his timing wasn't ideal. "Never mind, next time. Rice-chan should enjoy playing with everyone."
"Yes, Onii-sama." Rice Shower nodded.
...
Aside from the dishes requested by Air Groove and Fuji Kiseki, Lucian left the rest of the cooking to the other chefs.
When the food was ready, Lucian pushed two tables together in the room and called everyone to gather around.
This time, Tokai Teio and Silence Suzuka sat beside Lucian.
Seiun Sky missed her chance to grab a seat because she went to wash her hands.
Haru Urara didn't mind whether she sat next to Lucian during the meal—she could just sleep in his arms later.
"To celebrate the successful conclusion of this training camp, let's all toast together!" Lucian proposed, raising his glass filled with alcohol.
"Cheers! []~(￣▽￣)~*~"
The clinking of glasses rang out crisply as the horse girls downed their drinks in one go.
Toujou Hana and Nishizaki Ryo, who were also drinking alcohol, finished theirs without hesitation, so Lucian—who had originally planned to take just a sip—had no choice but to empty his glass as well.
He didn't avoid drinking, but he didn't want to overdo it either...
"Let's eat~"
After setting down their glasses, the horse girls eagerly picked up their chopsticks to enjoy the feast.
The chefs' skills were excellent, but after tasting Lucian's cooking, the difference was still noticeable.
As a result, the two dishes ordered by Air Groove and Fuji Kiseki became the center of attention.
Noticing the many gazes fixed on their plates, the two protectively piled several extra pieces into their bowls—it wouldn't be proper to just cover their bowls outright.
"It's all Trainer's fault for not making more," Haru Urara complained, her lips glistening with grease.
"The trainer wants to enjoy himself too, and the other dishes are also delicious," Lucian said, handing her a napkin.
There were definitely chefs of his caliber out there, but he couldn't afford to hire them.
Still, it was his own fault for spoiling the palates of these young filles.
"Fine, but next time, Trainer has to make a whole table of delicious food just for Urara."
Haru Urara took the napkin Lucian offered and wiped her mouth.
...
"Air Groove, I didn't get to try any earlier. Can I have a piece from your bowl?" Symboli Rudolf stared at the chunks of meat in Air Groove's bowl, secretly swallowing her saliva.
Even the imposing student council president had to bow before the allure of good food—especially Lucian's cooking, which was addictive. Just thinking about it after not having it for a while made one's mouth water.
"President, but..." Air Groove hesitated. She hadn't taken a single bite yet.
"How about this, Air Groove? After I exchange some words with Trainer Lucian, I'll tell you a few extra jokes as compensation."
"President, how much do you want? You can have all of it. I haven't touched my rice yet—I can even swap my entire bowl with you."
Symboli Rudolf thought Air Groove was moved by her offer and felt gratified. "No need, no need. Just one piece is enough."
...
"Lucian, come here." Nishizaki Ryo, sitting across from him, reached over with the liquor bottle.
"Nishizaki-senpai, I can pour it myself. I should be the one serving you," Lucian quickly waved his hand. He still understood basic etiquette.
"Eh, it's nothing." Nishizaki Ryo deftly dodged Lucian's attempt to stop him and filled Lucian's empty glass to the brim, achieving his goal.
Lucian looked helplessly at his glass. "How am I supposed to drink this?"
"Just drink it." Nishizaki Ryo raised his own glass. "A toast to you. Let's finish this one first."
His enthusiasm left Lucian no room to refuse, and since he drank his in one go, Nishizaki Ryo even shot him a challenging look afterward.
What else could Lucian do? Drink, of course.
"Lucian, let's have one too." Toujou Hana spoke up.
"Of course, of course~" Lucian moved to grab the bottle, but Nishizaki Ryo intercepted him again, refilling his glass.
Why did it feel like the two of them were ganging up on him?
"Lucian, our train isn't until tomorrow afternoon. It's fine to drink more tonight," Nishizaki Ryo said, already pouring more. "Besides, we're all family here."
"Alright then. Hana-nee, I'll toast you. Thank you for always taking care of me."
Lucian raised his glass and downed it in one go.
After this round, he started eating to fill his stomach.
At some point during this, Nishizaki Ryo had sneakily refilled his glass again.
Silence Suzuka watched this unfold but was also curious about what Lucian would be like if he got completely drunk without passing out.
"Trainer Lucian, thank you for the training these past few days. I'd like to toast you as well."
Air Groove, realizing that Symboli Rudolf seemed to have misunderstood her earlier actions, grew even more determined to share those jokes—and thus felt increasingly irritated with Lucian.
She knew a thing or two about drinking etiquette, so she used "gratitude" as her pretext to urge him to drink.
"Thank you, Air Groove." Lucian could only drink half his glass.
Air Groove didn't say anything—after all, she was drinking a non-alcoholic beverage.
She could always toast him again later.
...
However, with Air Groove leading the way, the other horse girls also began toasting the three trainers.
Their reasons were all expressions of gratitude, delivered with such sincerity that none of the three could bring themselves to refuse.
Symboli Rudolf: "Thank you for your hard work during this training camp. It's been incredibly meaningful. I'd like to toast all three of you."
Taiki Shuttle: "Trainer Lucian, I'd like to toast you. Thank you so much!"
El Condor Pasa: "Trainer Lucian, I'll drink first!"
...
Eventually, even Lucian's own team members came to toast him.
Seeing Nishizaki Ryo and Toujou Hana drinking freely, Lucian stopped holding back. "I wish everyone good results in their upcoming races, breaking their personal records!"
Another glass emptied. Before he knew it, the two bottles of beer in front of Lucian were gone, and his face had taken on an unnatural flush.
But the meal was only halfway done, and Nishizaki Ryo, now thoroughly buzzed, poured him another drink.
Nishizaki Ryo was truly in high spirits, his voice louder as he propped himself up on the table. "Lucian, let me share some wisdom from an old-timer. Remember this... Actually, never mind what it is—just remember it!"
Lucian blinked dumbly and nodded. "Ah... yeah, I'll remember."
"Why do you two men have so much to say? Hurry up and pour the drinks!" Toujou Hana was already showing signs of drunkenness, her face flushed red as she raised her glass again.
...
Dextrous Bailey and Special Week exchanged worried glances toward Lucian.
"Have the trainers had too much to drink?"
"Don't worry," Gold Ship suddenly said. "I can carry Trainer back all by myself."
Dextrous Bailey and Special Week thought about it and realized that, indeed, any of the horse girls present could probably manage it.
Simultaneously, the same thought crossed their minds:
"If Trainer (Onii-sama) gets drunk, I can help (I'll be the one to) carry him back to his room!"
...