...
"Lucian-kun! Let me tell you something..." Nishizaki Ryo slumped over the table, his eyes already glazed over. One hand clutched an empty liquor bottle while the other waved vaguely in the air.
"Mmm..."
Lucian propped his head up with one hand, though it was unclear whether he was actually listening.
His head felt unbearably heavy, yet it was the only part of his body with any weight—everything else seemed to float away.
Toujou Hana was still drinking, but Symboli Rudolf quickly grabbed her wrist. "Trainer, you can't drink anymore."
The horse girls had mostly finished eating, leaving only empty plates where a feast had once been.
"No way! Look at those two—can't even outdrink a woman, hah..." Toujou Hana raised her empty bottle, miming a drinking motion while her throat bobbed.
Symboli Rudolf rubbed her temples and, with Maruzensky's help, hoisted Toujou Hana up by her arms.
Nishizaki Ryo, on the other hand, wasn't treated as gently—Gold Ship simply slung him over her shoulder like a lightweight coat.
"Well then, we'll take our trainers back now~"
After Gold Ship spoke, the members of "Spica" stood up one after another to say their goodbyes.
Daiwa Scarlet even made a point to approach Lucian. "Trainer Lucian, we're heading out first."
"Mmm." Lucian responded softly, not even lifting his eyelids—he simply had no energy left.
"Then... we'll take our leave as well." Symboli Rudolf led the members of "Rigil" away.
Taiki Shuttle also circled back to Lucian. "Trainer Lucian, if you ever want to drink again, I'll join you next time~"
Lucian only shook his head. "No..."
"Why not?"
"Don't know..."
"Seems Trainer Lucian is pretty drunk too." Taiki Shuttle found this version of Lucian oddly adorable.
...
After both teams had left, only the horse girls of "Dream" remained at the table.
Out of courtesy to their guests, they didn't ask the other teams to stay and clean up, opting to handle it themselves.
"Teio." Lucian suddenly called out to Tokai Teio, who was sitting beside him, drawing the attention of the other horse girls.
"Trainer, what is it?" Tokai Teio, who had been about to stand up, asked in confusion.
Lucian slowly raised his gaze, meeting her clear eyes.
How could she describe it? Tokai Teio felt that Lucian's hazy gaze resembled a fluttering red silk ribbon, swaying gently—utterly mesmerizing.
Not everyone acts wild when drunk; Lucian remained quiet.
That said, he still did some unusual things.
"Your bangs must get in the way while eating, right?" Lucian hooked a few strands of Tokai Teio's hair with his fingers, gently smoothing them back.
"T-Trainer..." Flustered, Tokai Teio parted her lips slightly, exhaling warm breaths, but she didn't pull away.
"Teio, you... did you drink? Why is your face so red?" Lucian's tender tone suddenly turned petulant. "That's not good. You still have races ahead—you can't drink."
At that, Tokai Teio averted her eyes from Lucian's affectionate gaze. Yet the rich, intoxicating scent of alcohol seemed to seep into her like an invisible mist, enveloping her inexperienced heart.
Strangely, she didn't dislike it. Instead, she found herself stealing a few more glances at Lucian.
The dazed boy himself seemed like a bowl of fragrant, mellow wine, tempting even someone who had never drunk before.
Tokai Teio swallowed. "Trainer, I didn't drink..."
"You didn't? Good... I knew Teio was the most well-behaved." Lucian rested his hand on Tokai Teio's head and began ruffling her hair.
He smiled, his eyes and lips curving into lovely crescents.
Tokai Teio slowly looked up at him again and, as if possessed, swallowed once more.
Drunk Trainer is so gentle... Like an affectionate little pet. It'd be nice to keep one at home.
But if that happened, Tokai Teio would undoubtedly become the even needier owner—since the power dynamic wouldn't change.
"Keeping one all to myself at home..."
A wicked thought suddenly sprouted in Tokai Teio's mind, but it also struck her like a tolling bell, snapping her out of her daze!
Seriously... I didn't even drink, yet I almost got drunk anyway.
"T-Trainer, if you keep petting me, I'll go bald!" Tokai Teio made up an excuse to escape Lucian's grasp.
Lucian didn't react much, simply withdrawing his hand and folding his arms on the table before resting his head on them—like a dopey hamster.
"Trainer, are you drunk?" Special Week stepped into Lucian's line of sight, harboring a tiny wish of her own.
Her hairstyle was a bob, so she needed to tie it up to eat properly...
Sure enough, Lucian immediately perked up upon seeing her.
"Spe-chan, why haven't you tied your hair either? Come sit here."
"Trainer, we've already finished eating."
"Says who?" Lucian casually picked up an empty plate and held it out to Special Week. "After tying your hair, you can eat more, okay? It's your favorite—carrots."
"Trainer, you're drunk."
Seiun Sky reached for the empty plate in Lucian's hand to prevent it from falling, but Lucian pulled it away.
"Seiun, I'll prepare some for you too, but this is Spe-chan's—don't take it... Don't fight just because Trainer sometimes overlooks things. I'll apologize, but you girls mustn't argue."
Seiun Sky was momentarily speechless.
She really wanted to drag this version of Lucian into a room with just the two of them and tease him mercilessly... He was just too tempting!
"Trainer..." Special Week became even more certain that Lucian was drunk.
"Spe-chan, come here already~" Lucian suddenly straightened up and urged.
"Suzuka, what should I do?"
Now that her secret wish had become reality, Special Week grew too shy to approach and turned to Silence Suzuka for help.
Before Silence Suzuka could answer, Haru Urara chimed in:
"Don't worry, Spe-chan! I'll help you!"
Like a little earthworm, she wriggled into Lucian's lap from the side and plopped down onto his... well, thighs.
...