...
Lucian immediately felt helpless. "Dear Mom, why are you asking about these things?"
Lucia: "Don't talk nonsense! Stop dawdling."
Forgot to mention, Lucian's mother was from the north.
Lucian: "She'll come, she'll come."
"Oh~" Lucia didn't know what she was thinking. "Then... that Special Week, is that her name? The cute little girl who looks a bit dumb."
"She'll come, she'll come too. I didn't expect Mom to pay attention to them."
"I'm not paying attention to them. I don't know which unreliable one ran off across countries. Mom only has you as a son." Lucia's tone softened a lot. "If only you had been this sensible back then. Luckily you suddenly wised up."
"Alright, the past is the past. Love you, Mom."
"That's more like it... Oh right, there's also that Seiun Sky kid. Mom quite likes her. Is her personality a bit carefree?"
Lucian's mind conjured up the image of the glass cannon. "Uh, she'll come too. You'll know when you meet her."
"Alright then, I won't bother you anymore. Hanging up."
"Okay."
...
New Year in Japan was still very lively, but Lucian was from Dragon Country and had no sense of belonging here.
On the last day of New Year, he spent it with Ines Fujin.
"Not in jail, sis? Working part-time during such a big holiday?"
"Earning money. Can make more during New Year." Ines Fujin placed the menu in front of Lucian. "What would this guest like to drink?"
"A cappuccino."
"Got it, please wait a moment~"
Lucian nodded. It was rare; he couldn't see any "work vibe" from Ines Fujin at all.
Soon, Ines Fujin brought over a tray.
"Guest, your cappuccino~"
"You have one too." Lucian saw there weren't many customers in the shop now and said: "Tell the boss, buy some of your time."
"Then thank you, but I don't know if the boss will agree."
Ines Fujin went to the boss's side, then returned again. "Looks like Mr. Lucian is very lucky. The boss lady showed mercy~"
She sat on the sofa opposite Lucian and drank a whole glass of water.
"Won't you have a stable job next year? Why work so hard?"
"I've already played for so many days; that's enough~"
"Little Ines, you're really optimistic."
"If I had a lot of money, I'd laze at home sleeping all day, haha. Sleeping is the happiest thing."
"How many little kids are there in your family besides you?" Lucian asked knowingly.
"I have two little sisters; they're Horse Girls too." Thinking of her two sisters, Ines Fujin's face unconsciously showed a smile.
"Do you want them to go to Tracen Academy in the future too?"
If they had strong enough talent, getting into Tracen Academy wasn't a problem.
There were many star Horse Girls, but even more who got eliminated.
"I do. Tracen is the place to realize dreams."
"When they reach the right age, and if I'm still at Tracen, you can have the two little ones come join my training."
Ines Fujin was stunned. "Really?"
The current Lucian was no longer that rookie Trainer from before.
"Really. The team always needs fresh blood."
"That's great!" After the excitement, Ines Fujin calmed down a bit. "Trainer Lucian, why are you willing to help me so much?"
"Little Ines, don't think I'm pitying you or giving you charity." Lucian hurriedly said, afraid of hurting Ines Fujin's pride.
Ines Fujin "pfft" laughed. "I was just asking casually. Why is Trainer Lucian so nervous?"
"That's good." Lucian took another sip of cappuccino. "Actually, there's no real reason. A lot of things just happen naturally, just right."
In the end, it was fate. Who knew that recruitment day would recruit Ines Fujin?
After a while, more people gradually came into the shop, and Ines Fujin had no leisure time and started busying again.
Lucian had nothing to do, so he waited until Ines Fujin got off work, and the two went to the riverbank to set off fireworks.
Sparklers plus time-lapse photography; the two cooperated with each other, writing each other's names on the screen.
"Trainer Lucian, see you next year."
"See you next year."
...
On the third day after New Year, Lucian was woken up early in the morning by Silence Suzuka's call.
"Lucian-kun, not awake yet?"
"Suzuka..." Lucian checked the time. "Isn't it still early now?"
"I know, but it's been 11 days, 7 hours, and 3 minutes since I last saw Lucian-kun."
Lucian yawned. "You know the code to my door."
"I'm carrying luggage, so I'll just go straight to the airport." Silence Suzuka said.
"Tell me, you woke me up so early; there must be something else." Lucian knew Silence Suzuka well; waking him up this early definitely had another reason.
"Mm... it's just, it's just... Do Papa and Mama have anything they particularly like? There's still lots of time; I can go buy some more." Silence Suzuka stammered.
She actually brought meeting gifts, but didn't know if Lucian's parents would like them.
This was Silence Suzuka's only worry since New Year.
Lucian chuckled lightly. "Already called Mom, huh? Suzuka wants to run ahead of everyone."
"I was originally ahead of everyone..." Silence Suzuka muttered, her tone even a bit proud. "So do they have anything they like? I just brought some specialties from my hometown."
"As long as the sentiment is there, it's fine. And moreover..." Lucian suddenly thought of his mom's temperament; she would probably prepare meeting gifts for these Horse Girls too. Otherwise, she wouldn't have asked how many people were coming that day.
"And what?"
"Nothing." Lucian decided not to tell Silence Suzuka first; let Lucia surprise them then.
"Alright then, Lucian-kun can sleep a bit more."
"You woke me up early in the morning just for this, and now I can't sleep."
"This is a very important matter..." Silence Suzuka quietly retorted.
"Okay okay okay~"
With all sleepiness gone, Lucian got up to wash up.
When the time came, he picked up his luggage and set off to the airport to meet up with the Horse Girls.
...