...
The sun was already high in the sky.
But even after sleeping for so long, Lucian still felt dizzy and parched when he woke up.
He scratched his messy hair and got up, noticing that the neatly laid-out bedding around him had already been folded.
"Did they sleep here last night too?"
"Speaking of which... how did I even get back yesterday...?"
Lucian remembered someone helping him back—"Was it Seiun?"
Because he also remembered kissing her.
Lucian got dressed and headed to the bathroom.
The moment he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror, he was startled.
His face was covered in colorful marks, and Lucian immediately knew it was the work of those prankster horse girls.
He could tolerate the drawings of flowers, birds, fish, and insects. He could even tolerate words like "idiot" scribbled on him.
But... who drew a fully filled-in heart on his forehead, complete with a pair of tiny wings next to it?!
After washing up, Lucian stormed toward the horse girls' gathering spot with a fierce aura. "Everyone, line up."
The culprits, knowing they were in the wrong, guiltily put down what they were doing and formed a line in front of him.
Lucian sighed silently, his initial anger dissipating.
"Seiun, why are you looking down?"
"Urara, why are you hiding your hands behind your back?"
"Teio, stop humming and looking out the window."
"Bailey... you can go play."
Dextrous Bailey looked confused. "Why? If Trainer wants to punish everyone, then punish me too!"
Her resolute tone made it clear—Lucian knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Alright, who participated last night?"
Silence. Lucian decided to pick an easy target.
In the past, the easy target would've been Urara, but now only Rice Shower and Special Week remained.
"Rice-chan, you tell me."
"Onii-sama... everyone was involved." At this point, Rice Shower couldn't hide anything.
"Trainer, I was the one who wrote that word." Tokai Teio weakly raised her hand, admitting it openly.
Originally, in a moment of impulsiveness, she had wanted to write her name on Lucian's face—or at least some mark only she would recognize.
But after forcing herself to calm down, she ultimately didn't do it.
"I drew a little deer." Silence Suzuka spoke up next.
She had actually wanted to tally marks, but with so many people around, it was hard to do. Maybe next time.
She didn't write on his face—Silence Suzuka quite liked Lucian's handsome features.
Rice Shower: "I drew some flowers."
Dextrous Bailey: "I drew a little turtle."
Special Week: "I... added some finishing touches to theirs."
...
Lucian listened, then nodded before finally turning to Urara.
"Urara, was it you who drew the thing on my forehead?"
The image of the little angel in his heart was now being replaced by a little devil.
"Mhm! Urara drew that!"
"Then... ahem." Lucian hesitated. "Do you know what that means?"
"It means love! Because Urara loves Trainer!" Right in front of everyone, Urara confessed so blatantly.
"Then why the wings?"
Maybe this wasn't common knowledge yet? Had he misunderstood her?
"Because after drawing the heart, the sides of your forehead looked empty, so I added little wings!" Urara swayed slightly, her skirt fluttering as she pouted cutely. "I'm sorry, Trainer~"
"Now you're sorry? Too late." Lucian crossed his arms.
"Then how can Trainer forgive us?" Urara puckered her lips like a goldfish, words bubbling out.
"Of course, by punishing you properly."
Lucian reached out and pinched Urara's cheeks, kneading them like dough, shaping her face in all sorts of ways.
So satisfying~
"Next."
The moment he said it, Dextrous Bailey stepped forward eagerly. "Me!"
Lucian had no choice but to pinch her cheeks too—but it didn't feel satisfying. It felt more like a reward for her!
"Next."
"Onii-sama... I apologize too."
This one's good. This one's satisfying.
"Stick your face out."
"Okay~"
Before Rice Shower could even finish speaking, Lucian was already kneading her cheeks, administering his "punishment."
"Alright, who's next?"
"Fine~ The sooner the punishment, the sooner it's over~" Seiun Sky took Rice Shower's place.
With Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka, Lucian couldn't bring himself to be too rough—he feared future retaliation.
But the next little tsundere was more interesting. Lucian turned to Tokai Teio.
"Teio, you're up. Come here."
Tokai Teio puffed her cheeks and reluctantly stepped forward. "I'm only doing this because it's punishment... H-Hentai Trainer..."
"Still acting tough even when apologizing, huh?"
Lucian loved this kind of unrepentant attitude. He mercilessly squeezed Tokai Teio's cheeks, longer than all the previous ones combined.
"Enough... enough already!" Teio stumbled back, reclaiming ownership of her face.
She glared at him indignantly. "Trainer, you're just taking revenge!"
"If you say so~" Lucian shrugged shamelessly, then looked at Special Week. "Your turn, Spe-chan."
"O-Oh."
Special Week walked up, but the moment her eyes met Lucian's, she flinched away as if shocked.
That brief contact alone was enough to make her ears turn red.
The events of last night were still fresh in her mind.
Especially the memory of Lucian's lips getting swollen from her kiss—waves of shame rippled through her.
But... did Trainer even remember what happened last night?
Special Week wanted to confess, but she was afraid Lucian had no recollection of it.
"Spe-chan, why are you spacing out during your punishment?" Lucian's pinches were gentle.
After careful evaluation, Special Week's cheeks were also top-tier in his book.
He had hugged her before too—her soft, plush body left a deep impression.
...Better not think about that. The more I think, the more of a creep I become.
"I-I'm sorry, Trainer..."
"Protest! I protest!" Tokai Teio waved her fists. "Why did Suzuka, Seiun, and Spe-chan get such short punishments?!"
Instead of answering directly, Lucian turned to the others. "Teio wants to extend your punishment time. What do you say?"
"Wait! That's not what I meant!" A flustered Teio regretted not writing more on his face last night.
Silence Suzuka and Special Week didn't take the bait.
But Seiun Sky jumped right into the trap. "I don't mind, but Teio's punishment should be extended too."
"Seiun, you—!"
Lucian and the other horse girls burst out laughing.
"Oh, right—Seiun, you were the one who brought me back to my room last night, right?"
...