...
"Silence Suzuka, welcome back."
A faint smile appeared on Silence Suzuka's exhausted face. "No celebratory cannons this time?"
"I'm saving them for your next G1 victory." Lucian draped his sports jacket over Silence Suzuka's shoulders. "You can rest in the lounge for now."
"Mmm."
At that moment, Seiun Sky, Tokai Teio, and Dextrous Bailey arrived shortly after.
Dextrous Bailey: "Suzuka-senpai, congratulations on your victory!"
"Silence Suzuka, congrats on winning this race!" Tokai Teio cheered. "Now we get to enjoy another celebration feast~"
Silence Suzuka smiled at them. "Thank you."
"Silence Suzuka, I wish you could run in the Kikuka Sho too. I really want to race you properly again." Seiun Sky walked over as well.
She had noticed Lucian's actions earlier and felt a slight pang of jealousy...
Later, during Silence Suzuka's Winner's Ceremony performance, she planned to get her payback.
"Seiun, you sure know how to pick your battles," Lucian chuckled. He doubted Seiun Sky was unaware that Silence Suzuka had only placed ninth in the previous Japanese Derby.
If she struggled with the 2400-meter Japanese Derby, the 3000-meter Kikuka Sho would be even more challenging.
Seiun Sky shot him a sidelong glance. "Stare—"
Speaking up for her? Oh, so you're speaking up for her now, huh?
One day, she'd make sure Lucian couldn't even speak.
...
Soon after, Haru Urara, Rice Shower, and Special Week arrived as well.
"Suzuka-chan~ Urara bought lots of yummy food! Come see what you'd like!" Haru Urara pulled the popsicle out of her mouth. "Trainer, hold this for me."
"Oh, sure." Lucian numbly accepted it.
"And no sneaking bites of Urara's popsicle!"
"I wouldn't dream of it, don't worry." Lucian sighed as he watched Urara rummage through her bag in front of Silence Suzuka. "Do I get anything?"
"Gotta find something for Suzuka-chan first! Trainer can wait."
"Fine~" Lucian averted his gaze, which inadvertently landed on Rice Shower instead.
Rice Shower froze, then licked her popsicle and shyly said, "Um... Rice-chan already ate this one, so... Trainer can't have it."
Tokai Teio, ever the instigator, chimed in, "Trainer, H—"
Seiun Sky nodded. "Hentai—"
"You two..." Lucian's face darkened. "When did I say I wanted any?!"
"If you didn't say it, you were definitely thinking it," Seiun Sky added.
Meanwhile, Rice Shower only grew more flustered from their teasing.
"Suzuka, I'm so happy you won another championship!"
Just as Silence Suzuka picked out a bread roll, Special Week rushed over and hugged her tightly.
"Spe-chan, thank you. I heard you cheering for me."
"Really?! I'll always cheer for you!" Special Week hugged her even tighter.
...
That evening's Winner's Ceremony went smoothly.
Lucian couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken. After returning to the backstage lounge, Silence Suzuka had dozed off in her seat within minutes.
She'd only eaten half of the bread roll Haru Urara gave her.
Her performance during the race had been stellar, but her body was utterly drained afterward.
Lucian couldn't bring himself to wake her until it was nearly time for the ceremony.
"Lucian-kun, how long was I asleep?" Silence Suzuka woke up slightly panicked, but the moment she saw Lucian, she relaxed.
"No need to rush, there's still time."
"Where are the others?"
"They went ahead to grab seats." Lucian handed her a glass of water. "I wish you could skip the Winner's Ceremony."
"That's not an option." Silence Suzuka knew he meant well, but she stood up from the chair. "The fans have waited so long—I can't let them down."
"Alright, the trainer didn't think that much... The trainer just wanted you to rest properly."
"I know." Silence Suzuka was deeply moved, but her reserved nature made it hard to express.
A hug would've been perfect... but she didn't dare. Just like how she still hid her romance novels from Special Week.
"Sit a little longer. Let me fix your hair."
"Okay."
Silence Suzuka obediently sat while Lucian stepped behind her, carefully smoothing her hair and adjusting her hair accessories.
Noticing her distracted expression in the mirror, Lucian asked, "What's wrong? Still sleepy?"
"Trainer... meeting you feels like the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me."
Hard to say, but once spoken, her words carried unwavering conviction.
Lucian's hands paused briefly before resuming.
Softly, he replied, "I feel the same way."
"Silence Suzuka, I think I know why Spe-chan has such a strong bond with you," Lucian suddenly said.
"Why?"
"Look at your hair color—doesn't it resemble a carrot? You don't think Spe-chan sleepwalks and tries to nibble on your head, do you?"
"Lucian-kun... I think it's your head that wants nibbling." Silence Suzuka pouted. "First you wanted Rice-chan and Urara's popsicles, now this. Hentai."
"Wait—how did you all mishear me so badly?"
"What did you say? Wasn't it that?"
"No." Lucian suddenly leaned close to Silence Suzuka's ear. "I said I wanted to eat your popsicle, H—"
"You—" Silence Suzuka's pale cheeks instantly flushed pink like peach blossoms. "I-I wasn't even eating one!"
"So what? I didn't even say it either."
...
The Winner's Ceremony performance went smoothly, though the stage lights strained Lucian's eyes.
"How did you guys get seats so close to the front?" he grumbled.
They were practically right under Silence Suzuka's nose—she spotted them the moment she stepped on stage.
"My doing~" Seiun Sky smirked. "This way, you can see your precious Suzu-chan even clearer~"
Below the stage, Seiun Sky took Lucian's hand and lightly scratched his palm.
"Trainer, I have something to tell you. Bend down a bit—it's a secret." She tugged his sleeve.
"What is it?" Lucian reluctantly leaned in, turning his ear toward her.
Seiun Sky glanced at Silence Suzuka, locking eyes with her.
While maintaining eye contact with Silence Suzuka, she flashed a mischievous smile before cupping her hands around Lucian's ear, creating a private space between them.
"Next time, I'll bring a popsicle in my mouth and feed it to you. Imported flavor~"
"Stop messing around." With so many people around, Lucian couldn't do anything about her antics.
To make it worse, she kept brushing against his earlobe and blowing into his ear.
...
Silence Suzuka saw everything from the stage. Flustered, she messed up a dance step.
H-How could they be so close?!
That's way too intimate! For a second, she thought Seiun was going to kiss Lucian... Thank goodness she didn't.
Meeting Seiun Sky's challenging gaze, Silence Suzuka refused to back down. The air between them crackled with tension.
...