...
Lucian lowered his eyes and chuckled foolishly, "Alright then, I'll tie Urara's hair first."
Then he tied Urara's horse tail into a ponytail.
After finishing, he didn't forget Special Week. "Okay, it's your turn now, Spe-chan. Come here quickly."
"Trainer, why did you tie up my tail...?" Urara was both amused and exasperated for a moment but still extricated herself from Lucian's embrace.
"What tail... I was clearly tying your hair," Lucian said, his open palm completely sinking into Urara's ponytail.
"Spe-chan, this is as far as I can help you," Urara said, covering her tail as she escaped Lucian's clutches.
"Trainer-san..." Special Week felt a sourness in her heart.
If not for Urara, she would have been the one sitting in the trainer's lap just now.
Because of this, she had briefly labeled Urara as a "bad person" in her mind.
But now that the opportunity had returned, though she was shy and timid, she still stepped forward.
"Spe-chan... come here," Lucian's eyelids were like out-of-control floodgates, fluttering open and shut.
Just then, another obstacle appeared.
"Spe-chan, let me help you instead," Seiun Sky said, having just learned from the previous example, putting on a righteous front. "The trainer is drunk—there's nothing we can do about it~"
To her surprise, Special Week outright refused. "No need, Seiun. I'll have the trainer tie my hair. You're right—he's drunk, so I'll just accommodate him a little."
By the time Special Week walked past her, Seiun Sky still hadn't processed what had happened.
Was this really the soft, gentle Special Week she knew? She had assumed Special Week would silently agree, but she never expected her to refuse.
Could it be...?
The lovestruck Seiun Sky grew even more suspicious.
Even in this tiny room, could a battle for territory really be unfolding?
Hmph, the room can be divided, but the trainer absolutely cannot!
By the time it was her turn, she wouldn't let anyone cut in line!
While Seiun Sky was lost in her thoughts, Special Week had already taken her seat.
But she wasn't as bold as Urara—she didn't dare sit in Lucian's lap, only sitting in front of him. "Trainer, you can tie my hair now."
"Alright." Lucian was somewhat weak, his movements slow and sluggish. His eyes gradually lost focus as he stared.
Shortly after Special Week sat down, she felt a weight on her back—Lucian had slumped onto her.
He nuzzled against her shoulder as if using her as a pillow, his arms wrapping around her waist.
"Trainer-san!?"
Special Week trembled all over, instinctively wanting to shove Lucian off but managing to restrain herself.
The trainer was just drunk and leaning on her... it was fine...
Seiun Sky, still waiting in line, gritted her teeth. "Spe-chan, hurry up and pull the trainer away. I'll take him back to his room."
Silence Suzuka certainly wasn't having it. "I'll do it. Why don't you all clean up the table first?"
"I'll take him," Dextrous Bailey volunteered as well.
"Urara can do it too!"
If Urara were to do it, she'd probably carry him like lifting a cauldron. So she was unanimously rejected, leaving her to sulk alone while cleaning the table.
And so, the remaining contenders for Lucian's "remains" were down to three... no, four!
"Suzuka, Bailey, Seiun... I'll handle it. Since the trainer is already leaning on me, I won't wake him up," Special Week said, straightening her legs and effortlessly lifting Lucian up.
"Spe-chan..."
The other horse girls all looked at Special Week in surprise, feeling like she was acting a little different tonight.
But Special Week did have a point, and they had no reason to object.
And so, under the gazes of the other horse girls, Special Week led Lucian out of the room.
...
(Note: She's helping him walk, not carrying him on her back—that would be too weird.)
As they melted into the quiet night, Special Week could hear Lucian's breathing more and more clearly.
She consciously slowed her steps—not out of fear of waking him, but because she wanted to stay with him a little longer.
It was then that Silence Suzuka's words suddenly flashed through her mind.
Wasn't this exactly her current situation? Wanting to spend more time with the trainer...?
"Trainer-san, we're almost at your room."
"Mmm..." Lucian responded weakly.
A cold gust of wind howled past, sending a shiver through his body. Instinctively, he nestled closer to Special Week, seeking her warmth.
His nose and her cheek—the softest spear and shield in the world.
So close... too close...
The green fields in Special Week's heart were being eroded by barrenness at a visible rate.
"Trainer-san, please don't move around..."
Her shoulders trembled slightly, but in the end, she couldn't stop something even softer than his nose—his lips—from brushing against her cheek.
She wanted to dodge, but if she did, Lucian would fall to the ground.
So she didn't... It's not like anyone was watching, and the trainer was too drunk to remember anyway.
With just a few steps left, her pace seemed to slow even further.
But eventually, they arrived at Lucian's door.
"Trainer-san, we're here. You can go in and rest now."
"Mmm..." Lucian leaned entirely against Special Week's shoulder, his breath kissing her earlobe as he responded softly.
Under the faint moonlight, his dazed gaze fell upon Special Week's face, and he leaned in for another kiss.
"T-Trainer-san, I'll take you inside now!" The inexperienced Special Week had endured the entire journey, but this was too much. Her heart was like a freely falling ball, bouncing up only to be smacked back down.
She freed one hand to open the door, only to hear Lucian murmur something by her ear.
"Seiun..."
Perhaps because they both had short hair, Lucian had mistaken Special Week for Seiun Sky in his drunken haze.
Special Week's expression froze, her body stiffening as if frozen.
Her wildly pounding heart instantly calmed at Lucian's unconscious murmur.
Seiun? But... she was Special Week. She was the one who brought the trainer back.
...