...
Special Week dejectedly helped Lucian back to his room, letting him lie down on the bed and thoughtfully tucking him in.
"Seiun..."
Lucian grabbed Special Week's hand.
Judging by the softness of the hug pillow, Special Week was Lucian's favorite one.
"Not Seiun, it's Special Week!" Special Week replied resentfully but didn't push Lucian's hand away.
"Is it... Spe-chan?" Lucian still hadn't opened his eyes.
Special Week suddenly changed her tone, "No, I'm Seiun."
"Seiun, you're still such a troublemaker..." A faint smile appeared on Lucian's lips as he lifted a corner of the blanket. "It's so late, aren't you going to sleep? Come here."
"Sleep?!"
"What's wrong? Don't you love it most when Trainer holds you?"
"R-really...?" Special Week was completely lost.
Was Lucian telling the truth? Or was this just a sleepy delusion?
If it was a delusion... did that mean Trainer had feelings for Seiun...?
"Trainer, do you like Seiun... no, do you like me?" Special Week tentatively asked.
Without hesitation, Lucian replied, "Of course I do."
Special Week bit her lip and clenched her fists. "Not just as admiration, but as... romantic love?"
Lucian, with his eyes still closed, seemed not to hear Special Week's words.
Special Week had to shake him lightly and repeat the question.
"Yeah, Seiun, why ask such a strange question?" Lucian frowned and lifted the blanket again. "Come to bed already."
"W-wait—" Before Special Week could react, Lucian had already pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly without letting go. "Trainer!"
"Time to sleep, no more talking." Lucian seemed on the verge of dozing off at any moment.
Special Week tensed up, staying silent for a long while before whispering, "Then... what about Spe-chan? Does Trainer like Spe-chan too?"
"Why are you... asking so much today..." Lucian's frown deepened.
But his mind was too muddled, tangled like a mess of threads. Whatever Special Week asked, he answered without thinking further.
"I want to know. Can you tell me, Trainer? I won't get mad."
"Spe-chan..."
Special Week's horse ears perked up nervously in anticipation.
"Of course... I like her too."
"That's good." Getting the answer she wanted, Special Week let out a relieved sigh. "Trainer, can you tell me why?"
"Don't know... liking someone is just liking them."
"Then..."
"No more questions, time to sleep... after a kiss, just like you always love doing with Trainer." Lucian reached out and wrapped his arm around Special Week's neck.
"Eh?" Special Week's small mouth opened in surprise, but the next second, it was enveloped by something soft.
She pushed against Lucian's chest, trying to resist, but her strength crumbled during the kiss, making her struggle seem more like a coy protest.
Lucian didn't kiss for too long—he was simply too tired.
But just before his consciousness faded completely, his lips still lingered on Special Week's small mouth.
The latter clearly hadn't processed what had happened.
After Lucian fell asleep, Special Week felt as if the entire world had gone silent, and she melted into a puddle against his body.
Her first kiss... was just gone. If it was Trainer, she was willing.
But... not as Seiun Sky's stand-in!
The puddle solidified, turning into reinforced concrete.
With trembling lips, Special Week began demanding interest from Lucian... The sensation felt like tasting a boozy pudding.
...
"Spe-chan, why haven't you come back yet?" Silence Suzuka worriedly walked toward Lucian's room.
Inside the room, Special Week's eyes widened in panic. She quickly broke free from Lucian's embrace and readjusted the blankets.
"Spe-chan?" Silence Suzuka slid open the door and saw Special Week kneeling beside Lucian. "What took you so long?"
"Suzuka, um..." Special Week pressed her clenched fists against her knees. "Trainer held onto me just now. I didn't want to wake him."
Had it really been that long? It felt like they'd only kissed for a little while...
"Lucian-kun, really..." Silence Suzuka glanced at the sleeping Lucian. "Drank so much... His lips look a bit swollen too. Could it be an allergy?"
Special Week panicked—that was clearly from her clumsy kissing. "A-allergy?"
She forced a laugh. "Probably not... Trainer doesn't have any red spots on his chest or anything."
"That's true." Silence Suzuka nodded, though she still felt something was off.
After all, she knew Lucian's body better than anyone.
"Suzuka, Spe-chan, what's going on?" Haru Urara arrived with Rice Shower in tow, followed by Seiun Sky, Tokai Teio, and Dextrous Bailey.
"Shhh—" Special Week put a finger to her lips. "Trainer is asleep."
"O-oh." Haru Urara lowered her voice.
The group gathered around the sleeping Lucian, creating a somewhat comical scene.
"Trainer looks kinda cute when he's drunk," Haru Urara rested her chin in her hands, hearts in her eyes. "But why are his lips a little swollen?"
"Really? Are they?" Rice Shower couldn't tell.
"They do look a bit puffy," Seiun Sky also focused on Lucian's lips.
Those who understood, understood.
But those who understood didn't pay it much mind—no one had ever kissed Lucian hard enough to leave his lips swollen before.
"Hey, since Trainer's asleep, Urara has a little idea~"
Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka both shot Haru Urara a wary look.
With so many people around, surely Urara wouldn't dare do anything too intimate... right?
...Probably!
"What idea?" Tokai Teio's interest was piqued.
"Let's draw something cute on Trainer's face!"
Tokai Teio's excitement grew. "Anyone object? I know where the markers are."
Silence Suzuka: "No objections here."
Seiun Sky: "Same."
Dextrous Bailey: "Seconded."
Special Week: "Then I'll join too."
Only Rice Shower was left.
Under everyone's expectant gaze, she had no choice but to participate.
Sorry, Onii-sama... but Onii-sama always said to get along with everyone and be part of the group.
"I'll join too."
...