...
"Why does it feel like in your impressions, I'm like an alcoholic?" Lucian smiled. "Spe-chan and them sometimes think that too."
"Because during team-building, Trainer drinks a lot."
Tokai Teio's heart was about to jump out—excitement right before success, or tension before it happens.
"So does Trainer want to see it?"
"Since you've said it like that, I'll take a look." Lucian patted Tokai Teio's shoulder, indicating her hair was combed.
He followed Tokai Teio to the floor covering the wine cellar. "Honestly, back home before, I could see rice wine cellars, but now they're rare."
Tokai Teio nodded. "I rarely see them too. Except for my own home, I almost never see any."
The wine cellar door lock wasn't that smart and didn't need a key; Lucian pulled slightly and opened the entrance.
Around the winter solstice was the best time to drink winter-brewed wine.
Lucian squatted at the entrance, already able to smell a bit of alcohol, accompanied by a damp feeling.
The light shining down only illuminated the first few steps at the entrance; the wine cellar inside was too dark, like an open abyss giant mouth.
Lucian hesitated to go down for a moment and just squatted there. "Too bad your family hasn't come back; otherwise, I'd definitely have to taste it."
Tokai Teio didn't reply, but slowly circled behind Lucian, her breathing lightened.
Pushing or kicking were both bad choices; she couldn't bear to hurt Trainer.
So a hand chop? But Tokai Teio still didn't make a move.
The main thing was the timing; the timing wasn't good, so even if her heart was stirring, she still couldn't take that step.
Moreover, she actually felt she didn't need to be so extreme, because maybe Trainer liked her too? He doesn't like her now, but maybe he will later? After all, their performances on stage were so in sync...
Trainer was this gentle to everyone, so everyone was equal... right.
Once Trainer understands her feelings, she would become special.
...
At this time, Lucian looked at the shadow behind his own shadow on the stairs piling up with another small shadow, puzzledly turned his head. "Teio, why did you suddenly stop talking?"
Tokai Teio supported her knees, bent over, and smiled at Lucian. "Nothing, seeing Trainer sniffing so seriously, I didn't want to disturb you."
Lucian closed the door, patted his hands and stood up. "I won't go down to look. Actually, just smelling is fine; there's nothing to see."
"Okay, Trainer, are you staying for dinner tonight?"
"No need to trouble. I'm going back this afternoon; I can just reach Tracen Academy, and then wait for you all at the airport."
"Alright, really not staying for dinner? We have lots of pairings at home."
"Haha, I thought you wanted me to stay and cook for you."
"Hm!?" Tokai Teio put her hands on her waist and said coquettishly: "How can Trainer think of me like that?"
"But if Trainer insists on cooking, I'm not against tasting it."
...
Lucian didn't stay too long at Tokai Teio's house.
After waiting a while, her family still hadn't returned, so Lucian said goodbye to Tokai Teio.
"Teio, don't mess up your schedule too much. You don't want to be overtaken by McQueen and them, right?"
Lucian used the goading method.
Next year's big races would have many new faces, and Lucian was also looking forward to his own team members shining.
"I said it was a nap, a nap!" Tokai Teio waved her fists. "I won't be overtaken by McQueen!"
"Okay okay, I said it wrong~" Lucian walked to the door and had Tokai Teio stop. "No need to see me off anymore; if you do, you'll end up getting in the car with me to Tracen Academy."
"That's not impossible either." Tokai Teio put her hands behind her back, stepped on a stone by the roadside, and said softly.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, Trainer, go quickly!"
"You're rushing me to leave? Then I won't go." Lucian joked. "I'll lie at your doorstep."
"Tch, if Trainer doesn't mind losing face, I don't care either."
Saying this, Tokai Teio thought in her heart: Why lie at the doorstep? Her house had many empty rooms; the wine cellar could also be made into a temporary room.
"Then tomorrow I'd probably be on the news, with the headline 'Pure Trainer lies at team member's doorstep: Is this moral decay or the distortion of Horse Girl nature?'"
Lucian successfully made Tokai Teio laugh, clutching her stomach, unable to hide the laughter.
"Alright, go back. I'm leaving first."
"Mm!"
Ultimately, the stimulation is still slight; the young lotus just reveals its sharp tip.
Tokai Teio leaned against the sunlight, silently watching Lucian's departing back. Just as he was about to get in the car, she suddenly shouted: "Trainer!"
Lucian turned his head, showing an inquiring gaze.
"Bye bye!" Tokai Teio waved her hand. "Come play again next time! I'll treat Trainer to the freshly brewed wine!"
"Okay, I'll come next time, bye bye."
Lucian might think it was just a casual farewell remark, but Tokai Teio's "next time" wouldn't be too far away.
...
When he returned to Tracen Academy, it was already around four in the afternoon.
Lucian had just put down his luggage and was about to rest when a call from his mom Lucia made him sit up again.
"Hello, Mom."
Lucia: "If you don't come back soon, don't call me Mom anymore."
Opening thunderstrike, confirmed real mom.
Lucian: "It's not over New Year yet..."
Lucia: "Are you planning to wait until tickets are sold out or flights suddenly stop to come back?"
Lucian: "Not really..."
For some reason, a picture inexplicably appeared in Lucian's mind: On the sea, he sat on a float, with a few Horse Girls pulling the float forward with ropes in front, and a few Horse Girls acting as propellers pushing from behind.
Immediately after, he involuntarily substituted the faces of Silence Suzuka and others, and laughed out loud by himself.
Lucia: "What are you giggling about? Don't tell me you went to Neon and came back stupid."
The only person who could make Lucian admit defeat verbally was this real mom.
Lucia: "When are you coming back? Have you bought the tickets? Give me a specific time."
Lucian: "Bought them, sent you the screenshot, Mom. And this time, there are a few... friends coming back with me."
Lucia: "Friends? Male or female?"
Lucian: "Horse Girls."
"Oh?" Lucia's voice tone changed upon hearing this.
Lucian: "You heard right. Waiting for them to finish New Year, that's why the tickets are so late. Trouble you to tidy up some rooms then."
"No problem, good son. Take your time, Mom's not in a hurry."
Lucian: "..."
Lucia's gossip soul suddenly ignited. "Good son, that team member of yours, Silence Suzuka, right... Will she come to the house?"
...