...
After the two came ashore, they returned the jet ski.
Tokai Teio also let go of Lucian's waist before meeting Special Week.
"So much fun~"
"Why didn't you seem this eager to play during training camp?" Lucian shook his head with a laugh.
He had hit the nail on the head, but there was no need to overthink it.
"Spe-chan, sorry for the wait." Tokai Teio walked toward Special Week.
Special Week shook her head. "I didn't wait long."
In truth, watching Lucian with other girls made every minute and second feel excruciatingly long to her.
"Spe-chan, are you hungry?" Lucian asked.
"I am, Trainer-san. What are we eating tonight?"
"Let me think... There's a boiled fish restaurant nearby, and a yakiniku place—both are really good."
"You're not talking about those super expensive ones, right?" Special Week's concern wasn't unfounded. Since Lucian's cooking skills were so excellent, wouldn't the places he approved of also be high-end?
Lucian felt touched—Special Week was already considering his circumstances. "They're not expensive, just two really good local spots. Which one would you like?"
"Spe-chan, how about yakiniku?"
"Yakiniku?" Special Week swallowed. "Sure, it's been a while since I've had it."
"Alright, yakiniku it is."
...
Evening fell as the young man chased the wind and lingered in the sunset's glow.
Lucian drove Special Week and Tokai Teio to the yakiniku restaurant.
While waiting for the food, Lucian suddenly asked, "Have you two decided? Are we staying in tents tonight?"
Special Week nodded. "Aren't we watching the sunrise?"
Tokai Teio: "Trainer, didn't you say all the nearby hotels are fully booked?"
"They are—it's the holidays, so everyone's on vacation. But there are still spots a bit further away. What do you think...?"
"I'm worried I won't wake up in time," Special Week voiced her concern. "Besides, I've never stayed in a tent before. It could be a fun experience."
Lucian then looked at Tokai Teio, silently asking for her opinion.
"I've never stayed in a tent either, and waking up early is already exhausting. It wouldn't be good if we ended up too tired to drive back."
"You both make good points. We'd probably have to get up around 4 AM—that might be too rushed... Unless you two carry me there."
"Carry Trainer?"
Both Tokai Teio and Special Week simultaneously recalled the time they stuffed Mejiro McQueen into a sack and hauled her back to the lounge.
Tokai Teio took the fantasy a step further—what if the person in the sack was Trainer...?
Completely unaware, Lucian continued joking, "Yeah, four wheels can't compare to two racehorses like you."
"Trainer, isn't it a custom in your country for the groom to ride in a sedan chair during weddings?"
Lucian nodded. "Some places do that, but it's the bride who rides in the sedan chair."
"Eh? Not the Trainer... I mean, the groom?" Tokai Teio thought to herself—with her strength, she could easily carry both Trainer and the sedan chair home.
"Of course not. When we visit my country later, I'll show you properly."
Just as Lucian finished speaking, the server brought out a platter of meats. "You must be hungry—let's eat."
...
Lucian covered the grill with foil, sprayed on butter, and placed the meat slices—only to look up and see two hungry horse girls staring eagerly.
"Both of you have your knives and forks ready? What if I'm grilling this just for myself?"
"Then I'll steal Trainer's portion."
"Then I'll steal too..."
"Spe-chan, why are you picking up Teio's bad habits?" Lucian propped his chin on his hand, leisurely flipping the meat on the grill.
"Trainer-san, what would you like to drink? I'll get it for you."
"I'm not sure what to have..."
"B-Beer?" Special Week blurted out, remembering how Lucian acted when drunk.
Like Silence Suzuka, she privately harbored thoughts of getting him drunk.
"Why beer? Are you planning to escort me back to my room again?" The moment he said it, an intimate atmosphere unique to Special Week and Lucian began to spread.
"Because I always see you drinking with Trainer Toujou and Trainer Nishizaki..."
"But that's just low-alcohol stuff. I'm not some heavy drinker."
"Sorry, Trainer-san." Special Week sniffed the aroma of grilled meat and swallowed. "Trainer-san, can we eat now?"
"Trainer, me too, me too~"
"Alright, alright~" Lucian placed two freshly cooked slices of pork belly into Special Week and Tokai Teio's bowls.
When you care about someone, even the smallest things matter.
For instance, right now, Tokai Teio wondered why Lucian didn't give her the first slice.
But she quickly suppressed that fleeting thought.
After feeding them a few pieces, Lucian grew hungry himself.
Special Week seemed to notice and took the tongs. "Trainer-san, let me grill some for you."
"Arigatou. I get to taste Spe-chan's skills too."
"It's just grilling meat." Whenever Lucian said things like this, Special Week felt secretly delighted.
Tokai Teio held her chopsticks in her mouth, quietly observing Special Week's every move.
Another trick learned, another trick learned.
But she was a step behind Spe-chan... Still, she had her own methods.
Once she grasped Lucian's gentleness, everything else felt natural and effortless.
"Trainer, so did you book the tents?"
"There's one in the trunk—the one Haru Urara left behind. You two can share that one, and I'll rent another later."
Mid-sentence, Lucian paused and reached toward Tokai Teio's mouth—but pulled his hand back halfway. "Teio, you've got sauce on your lip. Wipe it off."
After spending so much time with Silence Suzuka and the others, Lucian sometimes acted on instinct.
But he caught himself quickly.
"Oh~ Arigatou." Tokai Teio, failing to capitalize on the moment, sighed inwardly.
She knew she might have been a little too eager.
Dinner lasted a long time. One platter of meat wasn't nearly enough for two horse girls, so Lucian ordered another.
Only after everyone was full did the three set off for their destination.
...