...
Under Lucian's care, Silence Suzuka's condition gradually improved, and her complexion recovered considerably.
Lucian finally let out a sigh of relief. "Suzuka, is there anywhere else that still feels uncomfortable?"
"I'm fine, much better now." Silence Suzuka took small sips of water.
"Suzuka, I was so worried about you earlier! Why did you run so fast? Even if we were treating it like a real race, still..."
"Spe-chan." Silence Suzuka gently interrupted Special Week's unfinished sentence. "I feel like you and Seiun Sky have improved so much. I don't want to stay stagnant either, so I cherish every mock race where I can compete with you all."
"And..." Silence Suzuka glanced in Lucian's direction. "Lucian-kun also told me to go all out and not let the scenery before me slip away."
If it weren't for Seiun Sky and Special Week, Silence Suzuka might never have been able to uncover her full potential.
Hearing Silence Suzuka's words, Tokai Teio and Rice Shower were deeply moved.
But the one who felt the most conflicted was Lucian himself.
He had once considered advising Silence Suzuka to act within her limits—would that have prevented certain inevitable events?
Yet Silence Suzuka seemed to have just given him an answer.
"Lucian-kun?" Silence Suzuka called out again when she didn't receive a response.
"Ah, what is it?" Lucian snapped out of his thoughts.
"Nothing." Since Lucian had just been her support and even fed her water, Silence Suzuka decided not to fuss over minor grievances.
"Trainer, were you not fully awake just now? Why were you spacing out?" Tokai Teio remarked. "I suggest the trainer shout 'Here!' and then go run two kilometers!"
"Urara raises both hands in agreement!"
"Rice Shower agrees too..."
"Seconded, seconded." Dextrous Bailey nodded.
"No more suggestions from now on." Lucian concealed his worries and shot Tokai Teio a teasing glance.
Seiun Sky, however, didn't say much. She had a feeling Lucian was preoccupied with something.
...
The next day, Lucian organized physical examinations for all the horse girls.
While Tokai Teio was being examined by the doctor, Lucian stepped in.
"Trainer! Why are you here? Am I the only one who hasn't recovered yet?"
"No, first listen to what the doctor has to say about your condition. Then I have something to discuss with you."
Tokai Teio tilted her head in confusion, her puzzled gaze shifting to the doctor.
The doctor gestured for her to relax before presenting her report. "Miss Teio, your ankles are much more flexible compared to others. This flexibility allows you to adjust your stride more fluidly while running, change directions quickly, and improve your speed and efficiency..."
After listing numerous advantages, the doctor paused. "However, this very flexibility also makes you more prone to fractures during intense running."
"F-f-f-fractures!?" Tokai Teio exclaimed in shock, leaping up from her chair. "No way! That can't be! It can't be! It can't be!"
"Calm down, calm down." Lucian pressed his hands on Tokai Teio's shoulders, urging her to sit back down.
"Trainer, what should I do?!"
Tokai Teio knew all too well what a fracture could mean for a horse girl. Recovery would be difficult, and even if she did recover, the long-term impact would be significant.
"I told you to calm down first." Lucian habitually placed his hand on Tokai Teio's head and ruffled her hair reassuringly. "I'm telling you this so you can be mentally prepared."
"From now on, I'll arrange regular foot care for you, and your diet will be adjusted accordingly. But you have to promise to follow my instructions obediently, okay?"
"Trainer, you're the best! Thank you!" Tokai Teio immediately wrapped her arms around Lucian in a tight hug, her panic gradually subsiding.
Lucian patted her back. "Alright, continue with the rest of your check-up. I'll go check on the others."
"Got it!"
...
After leaving, Lucian intended to find Silence Suzuka but instead ran into Seiun Sky leaning against the hallway.
"Seiun? What are you doing here?"
Seiun Sky didn't answer. Instead, she took Lucian's hand. "What were you thinking about just now while walking with your head down? You didn't even notice me standing here."
Though their intimate relationship wasn't public, Seiun Sky wasn't afraid of being seen—in fact, she almost seemed to be waiting for someone to notice.
Lucian wasn't afraid either. He squeezed her hand in return.
"Trainer, I feel like you're lost right now." Seiun Sky's other hand cupped Lucian's cheek, her eyes filled with concern.
Lucian wanted to confide in her, but he didn't know where to start.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke. "Seiun, if you knew you'd get injured in an important race someday, would you still run?"
"If it were me, I probably wouldn't participate." Seiun Sky pondered carefully. "But every race we run carries the risk of injury, doesn't it? And it's not like we can know these things in advance. So I wouldn't give up racing just because I'm afraid of getting hurt."
"Right..." Lucian murmured.
After the October Daily Cup came the November Tenno Sho (Autumn). Should he really stop Silence Suzuka from participating in the Tenno Sho?
"Even though I don't know what's troubling you, I believe you'll handle it well." Seiun Sky stood on her tiptoes, hooked her arms around Lucian's neck, and gave him a light kiss. "I'll go for my check-up now."
"Okay, thank you, Seiun."
...
Lucian's worries weren't perfectly resolved.
He still felt helpless—whether it was Tokai Teio's fracture risk, Mejiro McQueen's future leg issues, or even Rice Shower's later injuries... many of these could be prevented in advance.
He couldn't just wait for things to happen before thinking of countermeasures. That wasn't his style.
But when it came to unexpected incidents during races, the only way to avoid them seemed to be not participating at all.
And doing so wouldn't contradict the encouragement he had given Silence Suzuka.
But... what if the worldline corrected itself, making this event inevitable?
Lucian didn't dare dwell on it too deeply. Besides, the current Silence Suzuka was far stronger than in the anime—which made a potential fall even more disastrous.
....