...
"However what?" Nishizaki Ryo furrowed his brows. He always felt Lucian was setting a trap right in front of his face, yet he still had to consider whether to jump or not.
"Although massaging Uma Musume is not okay, massaging humans is fine. You don't need to pursue such great force."
"Massaging humans..." Nishizaki Ryo's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Toujou Hana, who was quietly sipping tea and watching television by herself.
She was taking small sips, her eyes fixed on the television hanging on the opposite wall, which was playing an unimportant racing retrospective.
"Yes. Human massage is learned quickly." Lucian's gaze also drifted over.
Toujou Hana seemed to sense the strange atmosphere the two of them were creating. She unconsciously turned her head and happened to meet both of their gazes. "What are you two looking at?"
"Nothing, nothing." Nishizaki Ryo dry-coughed twice and hurriedly waved his hands.
The two of them tacitly lowered their heads.
"So how about it, Nishizaki-senpai? But if I teach you this, there will be tuition fees. You know, I'm a special-class masseur with two and a half years of debut experience who has mastered..."
"Stop, stop. I'll learn." Nishizaki Ryo said unhappily.
"Hehe. Then I'll give you a discount on the price." Lucian showed the smile of a shady merchant. However, he wouldn't actually collect money. At most he would scam Nishizaki Ryo out of a meal.
"Nishizaki-senpai, I can explain the theoretical knowledge to you right now. For example, the major acupuncture points of the human body..."
"Better teach me later." Nishizaki Ryo slowly stood up. "I suddenly feel a little thirsty. I want to go drink some tea."
Lucian watched Nishizaki Ryo's retreating back and complained, "...If you want to chat with Hana-nee, just say you want to chat with Hana-nee. Why say you want to drink tea."
Right at that moment, a faint, almost inaudible whimper carrying a trace of grievance floated into Lucian's ears. A tingling numbness instantly spread through him.
He raised his head and saw Tokai Teio's face flushed red. Her head was slightly lowered, long hair hanging like curtains on both sides. Her watery eyes were still filled with mist.
Her two cherry lips were tightly biting the back of her finger, as if she was using all her strength to suppress herself and prevent any clearer sounds from escaping.
"Stupid Trai… Trainer, be more careful. You just pressed too hard and it hurt..."
Her voice was as thin as a thread, mixed with a soft and timid crying tone.
Just now, with Nishizaki Ryo nearby, Tokai Teio hadn't dared to make any sounds and could only keep enduring. After all, some sounds could only be heard by Lucian alone.
That little expression made Lucian's heart and mind sway. "Teio, sorry..."
"Really... Trainer, hurry up and massage me properly." Tokai Teio quietly wiped away the small tears that had seeped from the corners of her eyes.
...
After the small interlude of the massage, Tokai Teio returned to the card table again.
"Spe-chan!? How are you this good?"
"In just the short time of a massage, you actually lost this much!"
If one didn't listen to the second half of the sentence, it would sound like Tokai Teio was praising Special Week.
"I'm so sorry!〒▽〒" Special Week had turned into black-and-white style, stiff as a plaster statue that would shatter at the slightest touch.
"Alright, alright~ It was a bit unexpected. Next, just watch how I win it back. Watch carefully and learn carefully."
"Okay. Please.〒▽〒"
...
Lucian glanced in the direction of the Uma Musume, then walked out of the room with Nishizaki Ryo and Toujou Hana and sat down in the rest area at the end of the corridor.
There, a set of simple and ancient rattan tables and chairs had been placed. Warm tea utensils were already prepared on the table.
"Zhu bo yao ming yue, dui ying cheng san lun."
Lucian speechlessly tugged at the corner of his mouth. He picked up the teapot and elegantly refilled tea for Toujou Hana and himself. "Nishizaki-senpai, if you can't speak Chinese, then don't speak it~"
"What kind of recitation is that? Awkward and unpleasant to listen to." Toujou Hana also looked at him with distaste.
Nishizaki Ryo drained the tea in his cup in one gulp. "I'm being a bit witty and you two still don't like it."
"Nishizaki-senpai's wit should start from drinking tea first." Lucian smiled and said in surprise, "How can you drink tea the same way you drink alcohol, and drink alcohol the same way you drink tea?"
"So what? I feel like it." Nishizaki Ryo poured another cup, but this time he burned his tongue and his face twisted.
Comfortable~
"Hana-nee, I have a question I want to ask you."
"Let's hear it." Toujou Hana handed a piece of paper over to Nishizaki Ryo, then faced Lucian directly.
"Do El Condor Pasa and little Grass have any race arrangements after this?"
"Those two..." Toujou Hana thought for a moment and answered, "They've set their sights on the Arima Kinen."
"Arima!?" Nishizaki Ryo choked and clutched his own neck. "Isn't that decided by fan voting? Do those two have any hope this year?"
Toujou Hana shot him a look. "Can't you pull votes... This race is special to begin with. It's a double test of popularity and strength."
This sentence actually gave Lucian a hint.
That's right. Star Uma Musume can pull votes!
Although previously very few Uma Musume engaged in vote-pulling behavior... but they could pull votes secretly!
By editing videos of the Uma Musume's highlight moments, adding passionate music, and attaching emotional narration. Then with a little control from his big hand... it would be simply perfect!
He had charged so much money not to reason with other Uma Musume. He only favored his own team's Uma Musume.
"Little Lu, why are you asking this?"
Lucian didn't answer. Instead he continued asking, "Hana-nee, El Condor Pasa and little Grass should be preparing to retire, right?"
"Mm… they haven't said it clearly, but they should have that intention."
Lucian understood. The few on his own side also hadn't said it clearly to him, but he had vaguely sensed it. It seemed he and Toujou Hana were both kept in the dark in the same way.
"Hana-nee, this is what I was thinking. Our Dream's Spe-chan, Seiun, as well as little Grass and El Condor Pasa from your side, and King Halo from Nishizaki-senpai's team—aren't they all of the same generation? Why don't we hold a grand retirement ceremony for them together?"
Lucian spoke all of his thoughts.
Nishizaki Ryo and Toujou Hana exchanged a glance and both saw agreement in each other's eyes.
Toujou Hana: "Alright. I have no objections."
Nishizaki Ryo: "Why are you calling our King Halo 'Wang Huanhuan'?"
"Aiya, that's not important." Lucian waved his hand. "Since both of you have no objections, then over these next few days we'll discuss it, and try not to let them notice the surprise preparations as much as possible."
"Alright."
"Okay."
...