...
The return bus parked in the same open area as before, the surrounding grass and trees gently waving at the horse girls just as they had upon arrival.
The horse girls dragged their luggage and boarded one after another.
After Lucian got on, he noticed that the seat next to Special Week was empty. Most likely, everyone assumed it was reserved for Silence Suzuka, so no one had taken it. But Lucian, without hesitation, sat down beside her.
"Trainer-san, this seat is reserved for Suzuka."
"Oh, so I'm not welcome? Should I leave then?"
"No, no, that's not it!"
"Then, does Spe-chan want me to stay, or would you prefer I sit somewhere else?"
Special Week fell silent, unsure how to explain herself to Lucian.
"Alright, I'll leave it for Suzuka..." Just as Lucian lifted himself from the seat, Special Week grabbed the corner of his sleeve.
"Trainer-san, since you're already seated, you can stay here."
"Understood, Miss Spe." Having achieved his goal, Lucian flashed a triumphant smile.
As the two spoke, Silence Suzuka happened to pass by, narrowing her eyes to glare at Lucian. But since the seat was already taken, she couldn't very well demand it back and had no choice but to move further toward the back.
Lucian naturally noticed Silence Suzuka's gaze but chose to ignore it. He could only afford to act bold in moments like these—but when the opportunity arose, he'd take it.
Once the last horse girl boarded, the bus began to move.
...
Tokai Teio gazed wistfully at the scenery outside the window. "Time flew by so fast... For some reason, I feel a little reluctant to leave this training camp behind."
"I feel the same," T.M. Opera O agreed. "Though it would've been even better if there were fewer bitter flavors involved."
Taiki Shuttle nodded vigorously. "Great! No more of that awful drink!"
Of course, Lucian couldn't let them off so easily and poured cold water on their relief. "There's always next training camp. And this punishment could easily be brought back to Tracen Academy—if Nishizaki-senpai and Hana-nee are willing to adopt it, I'll provide it free of charge."
Nishizaki Ryo nodded. "Well, it's not entirely out of the question..."
The members of Spica shuddered in unison. But Gold Ship, never one to hold back, immediately put Nishizaki Ryo in a headlock.
"Not allowed! If you bring that drink back, I won't help you ambush anyone ever again!"
"Ouch, ouch—let go! I haven't agreed yet!" Nishizaki Ryo patted Gold Ship's arm, his voice strained with pain, yet his face wore a faint smile.
Lucian instinctively glanced toward Dextrous Bailey's direction.
"Trainer, you mustn't agree to Trainer Lucian's suggestion!" Narita Brian said urgently.
Toujou Hana licked her lips. "I know. If you all disagree, how could I force you to drink it?"
"Fine. Then this 'privilege' will remain exclusive to my Dream team members."
Lucian announced this loudly, instantly drawing protests from all over the bus.
While everyone's attention was on him, he stealthily took Special Week's small hand in his.
Special Week flusteredly glanced at him and instinctively tried to pull away, but Lucian's grip was like stubborn glue—no matter how much she shook, it stuck right back.
With so many people around, Special Week didn't dare make any big movements. She could only rest her hand on Lucian's thigh, letting him hold it.
Thankfully, she was seated by the window. Surely no one could see...?
She tried to calm her racing heart, wondering if the narrow gaps between seats might betray them. Unable to be sure, she subtly shifted their joined hands slightly closer to herself.
...
Once the protests died down, Lucian turned to Special Week and whispered, "Spe-chan, Suzuka glared at me earlier when she passed by. Look how much I've sacrificed just to sit with you."
"Trainer-san was the one who stole Suzuka's seat..." Special Week muttered just as quietly.
"Should I go switch back now?"
"No." Special Week suddenly tightened her grip on Lucian's hand.
Lucian tickled her palm, then slowly interlaced their fingers, aiming for a proper handhold.
Special Week seemed to realize his intention and, despite her embarrassment, put up only token resistance before letting him succeed.
The noise around her seemed drowned out by the pounding of her own heart. The hand held by Lucian felt weak and numb, as if she could barely feel it.
"'No'? So you're abandoning Suzuka just like that?"
"That's not it... Trainer-san, please stop teasing me..."
Lucian refused to let up. Bullying the soft-spoken Special Week was just too satisfying—why hadn't he noticed this before?
"Spe-chan, last night, Trainer didn't just hug you—we kissed too, right?"
Though sunset was still far off, Lucian could already see the evening glow on Special Week's face.
She let out a tiny, barely audible sound. "Mhm."
"Can you kiss Trainer again now?"
The unconscious kiss from last night had left only vague impressions, nothing concrete for Lucian to recall.
But he imagined Special Week must have been—eyes tightly shut, lashes trembling, body tense. Pure conjecture, of course. He'd never guess that Special Week had actually kissed him so fiercely his lips swelled.
Like a parched traveler stumbling upon an oasis. Not a peck, not a playful brush, but an awkward, desperate suckling.
But it didn't matter—Lucian would have plenty of chances to experience it again.
"No, no..." Special Week's lips quivered, her brow furrowed.
With her gentle nature, there was no way she could do something so bold in front of so many familiar faces.
What happened last night—kissing Lucian until his lips swelled—had been entirely unexpected. If Silence Suzuka hadn't brought it up, she might never have realized.
"No? So Spe-chan never wants to kiss Trainer again?" Lucian's classic reverse psychology never failed to leave Special Week trapped between contradictions. "Not saying anything again..."
"That's not it." Special Week finally forced out two words.
"Then you do want to, right?"
"I do... but not here. Not now." This was her final compromise. If Lucian pushed any further, she might actually cry.
"Alright, as long as I know how Spe-chan feels." If possible, Lucian would've loved to pull Special Week into his arms right then, letting her sit on his lap. "Trainer loves Spe-chan the most."
"I... I love Trainer the most too."
...