...
The Uma Musume had all gone to the hot spring like dumplings being dropped into water, and Lucian finally had a rare moment of free time.
However, this free time did not last long. It was soon interrupted by a group of "uninvited guests."
"Here they come." Lucian removed the doorstop and slowly opened the wooden door. The first thing that entered his eyes was Nishizaki Ryo's big face with its full set of white teeth bared.
"Little Lu, tonight..." Nishizaki Ryo had only just begun speaking when he saw Lucian's eyelids lower and the door about to close. He didn't even finish his sentence. Almost reflexively, he thrust his hand into the door gap. "What the hell are you doing, you little shit!?"
"Nishizaki-senpai, suddenly sticking your face out in the middle of the night to scare people—you're the one doing weird shit. Don't ask me." Lucian helplessly loosened his grip and allowed the two door panels to be forcibly pried open by Nishizaki Ryo.
As his field of vision widened, Lucian finally saw the group of Uma Musume standing outside. Looking at the packages they were carrying, he instantly understood their purpose.
He had long expected this. After all, the hot springs deep in these mountains held a temptation for Uma Musume who trained day after day that was no less than... the temptation little Dango held for Meisho Doto, or the temptation he himself held for Silence Suzuka, Special Week, and the others.
"Little Lu, good evening." Toujou Hana stood to the side. She was wearing a simple and elegant set of casual clothes and gave a brief greeting.
"Good evening! Trainer Lucian!" Taiki Shuttle was also full of energy. Come to think of it, Lucian had rarely seen her active on the race track recently.
Grass Wonder looked Lucian up and down, examining his clothes. "Good evening, Trainer Lucian. Not wearing the cat ears today?"
"Good evening, everyone." Lucian first responded to the group with a smile, his gaze sweeping across every familiar face. Only then did he turn to Grass Wonder and spread his hands helplessly. "Today isn't exactly opening the shop for customers. Why would I wear those?"
Besides, those were worn for Meisho Doto to see. Grass Wonder already had her own sweetheart—did she still want to look? No way.
"Trainer Lucian, may we soak in the hot spring?" Daiwa Scarlet took a small step forward. Her two index fingers lightly tapped against each other in front of her body, her eyes full of careful request.
"Yeah, Trainer Lucian. Sorry for coming uninvited." Gold Ship cheerfully chimed in.
Between Lucian and Daiwa Scarlet there had always existed a boundary of "polite friendship." Unlike Gold Ship, who, although saying "sorry," completely used the tone of speaking to a bro.
Since they were already "bros," what else was there to say.
"Of course you can. Please come in." Lucian calmly hid his hands inside the wide sleeves of his kimono, then elegantly stepped aside. "Last year I newly installed two more bath areas. Everyone is welcome to experience them."
His own team's dozen or so Uma Musume, plus these few from outside, added up to nearly thirty in total. The original bath area definitely wouldn't have been able to hold them all.
So he had prepared for a rainy day in advance and had people build two new bath areas elsewhere. They were coming in handy right now.
The group of Uma Musume skillfully headed toward the bathhouses. Nishizaki Ryo and Lucian stayed behind until the end.
Nishizaki Ryo watched everyone's retreating backs and walked up beside Lucian. "Little Lu..."
Lucian directly interrupted. "If you're staying over, I'll be charging rent. 200,000 yen."
"Training camp might not even last a full month and you little shit want to charge us 200,000 yen?!" The moment money was involved, Nishizaki Ryo exploded.
"Let me correct you." Lucian raised his index finger and gently waved it in the air. "Not 'you all'—'you.' If it's Daiwa and the others who stay, I won't charge money."
"Heh, nice try. I came along this time precisely so I can take them back at night." Nishizaki Ryo sniffed the bath fragrance on Lucian's body. "You've already soaked in the hot spring?"
"Mm. I've already washed up."
"Then later won't I be soaking in the hot spring by myself?"
"Nishizaki-senpai can raise his voice and communicate with Hana-nee on the other side of the hot spring~"
There was an even bolder tease—something like "Maybe Hana-nee would even be willing to soak together with you"—but the words reached the tip of his tongue. Considering Nishizaki Ryo's awkward personality and his own little life, he wisely swallowed them back down.
"I'm going in first. Nishizaki-senpai, do as you please."
...
After soaking, the members of "Spica" and "Rigil" did not leave immediately. Just like last time, they gathered together to chat and play games.
Lucian, Nishizaki Ryo, and Toujou Hana of course did not stop them. Training camp was supposed to balance work and rest, after all.
"Teio, stop playing for a moment and come over first."
"Coming!" Tokai Teio answered crisply and ran over with light steps. Even with so many people present, she no longer showed any shyness.
"Trainer~" Tokai Teio called out sweetly and intimately pressed close to Lucian's side.
"Teio is so mean. She knew she was going to lose, threw down her cards and ran away." Gold Ship's complaining voice drifted over.
"Trainer is going to give me a massage~ This matter can't be delayed." After speaking, Tokai Teio pointed at Special Week, who was quietly drinking juice nearby. "Let Spe-chan take my place for a bit."
Special Week put down her cup and waved her hands a little awkwardly. "Ah…. I don't really feel like playing today."
Ever since she had lost almost an entire week's worth of carrots at the card table last time, she had learned from the pain and solemnly announced to everyone her determination to "quit gambling."
"It's fine, Spe-chan. If you lose, count it as mine." Tokai Teio waved her hand with heroic generosity. Anyway, the carrots that would be lost back were still Special Week's.
"Then... then I'll try." Special Week hesitated for a second or two before sitting down. This time there was no Seiun and no Urara at the table... it should be fine!
The declaration of quitting gambling failed.
"Teio, hurry up and sit properly~" Lucian urged.
"Got it."
Indoors, Tokai Teio hadn't been wearing slippers to begin with. She casually found a soft cushion and sat down, half-lifting the loose lower half of her bathrobe...
Gone was the sense of power from tensed muscles. In its place was a carefully sculpted softness and slenderness.
The pale lighting spread a pearlescent luster across her skin. Her toes were round and cute, the nails trimmed clean and tidy with a faint pink tint. A few of her toes curled slightly—not from shyness, but like an invitation.
Ready to be served.
Nishizaki Ryo looked at Lucian with envy.
His desire to touch Uma Musume legs wasn't because he was a pervert, but out of appreciation for the physical structure of top-class Uma Musume. Of course, inside a police station he could say whatever he wanted, because no one could testify.
"Little Lu, I want to learn this." Nishizaki Ryo sat down beside Lucian and began earnestly observing his massage technique.
"This requires..."
The wheel of fortune turned. This time it was Nishizaki Ryo's turn to interrupt Lucian. He understood this little bastard Lucian far too well—his belly was full of dirty tricks. "You're about to talk about tuition fees again."
"It's not tuition. I simply don't have the patience to teach you. Giving Uma Musume leg massages requires practicing for a very long time." This time Lucian truly wasn't joking with Nishizaki Ryo. He spoke responsibly from a professional standpoint.
"It requires an extremely deep understanding of their muscles, bones, and meridians. The control of force has to be measured just right."
"However..." Lucian's voice paused, deliberately creating suspense.
...