...
"I? I've never been in a relationship, so naturally I don't really know what that feeling is like."
"Is that so." Grass Wonder's tone sounded half-convinced, filled with interest as she waited to see what new words Trainer Lucian would come up with. "Then doesn't Trainer Lucian feel curious about it?"
"Of course I do. Who isn't still young?"
Lucian put his sunglasses back on.
She narrowed her eyes, and he didn't want to let Grass Wonder see his own eyes either.
"Then... has Trainer Lucian never thought about experiencing it?"
A slightly more attentive listener could tell from Grass Wonder's question exactly who wanted to experience it.
But that was also the information Grass Wonder had deliberately released.
"Grass-chan, if you're really that curious, you can go swim a couple of laps in the water."
Grass Wonder was puzzled. "What does that have to do with what I just said?"
"Right, it has nothing to do with it."
"After messing around for half a day and not experiencing anything, at least you'll be tired. Once you're tired, you won't have such strong curiosity anymore."
Grass Wonder: "..."
She was also stubborn. "Then what if I'm still very curious about these things even after getting tired?"
"Then you can buy that kind of soft jelly that's hard to bite through, suck out the filling, and hold half of it in your mouth. That way you can simulate the feeling of kissing."
"Oh~ So Trainer Lucian usually experiences it this way? And the basis for that is?"
Lucian sighed, his train of thought still clear. "First, I have no experience. Second, I saw this statement by chance while browsing the internet."
In truth, it was a metaphorical description he had read in a book.
One of Silence Suzuka's books.
Not to mention, those romance novels were surprisingly engaging.
At first, when Silence Suzuka shared them with him, he had refused outright, saying that even if Lucian had Seiun Sky in his left arm and Special Week in his right, he still wouldn't read a single book from Silence Suzuka.
Later came the true "it smells so good" effect.
"Alright~ Does Trainer Lucian think it's strange that I'm asking these kinds of questions?"
"It's actually fine. After all, Tracen Academy is essentially a girls' school, so feeling confused about these matters is normal youthful psychology." Lucian switched to teacher mode in a second and answered patiently.
"It's good that Trainer Lu... Teacher Lucian doesn't find it strange." Grass Wonder lightly tapped the toe of her foot against the folding chair, producing faint creaking sounds. "Then if I have similar questions in the future, may I still come ask Teacher Lucian?"
For now they might still be questions about hugging and kissing, but who could say what would come later.
The key point was that as long as Lucian agreed, if Grass Wonder really had doubts in this area in the future, he would have no choice but to answer seriously.
The identity of "romance teacher" was a shackle.
"Grass-chan, I heard you were injured last time and took leave, missing the final exams. Did the make-up exam go smoothly?"
"Mhm, I passed smoothly. But Spe-chan doesn't seem to have been as lucky..."
"Spe-chan, huh... sigh, I really don't know what to say about her~" The helpless smile at the corner of Lucian's mouth was especially vivid.
He shook his head, and the few strands of hair on his forehead swayed slightly. "She'll have to take the exam again later."
"Trainer Lucian, what do you think of Spe-chan? From the perspective of a young person." Grass Wonder appeared to be asking about Special Week, but in reality she was trying to understand Lucian through his words and evaluations.
"A dazed, silly, hot-blooded idiot. But perhaps it's precisely because of that purity that she can keep moving forward with a sincere heart."
Lucian recalled Special Week from two years ago when she had just arrived. "Back then she said she wanted to become Japan's number one horse girl. Everyone thought it was funny and laughed, but I believed she could do it."
Grass Wonder also had a deep impression of that scene. She clearly remembered that only Lucian had applauded Special Week's dream at the time.
"What about aspects outside of racing?"
"Outside of racing... her character is naturally impeccable. She's so kind. She even cried for a day or two when Suzuka went abroad."
Lucian had seen and remembered all these things. Perhaps what attracted him were precisely these inconspicuous little details.
"Grass-chan, tell me about yourself. How were the results of your last physical examination? With your constitution, you get injured easily."
Grass Wonder arched her back and rested her elbows on her knees.
"The physical examination report results were all pretty good," she said softly, her gaze falling on the gently rippling water at the edge of the pool. "It's just because of the injuries..."
She paused halfway through her sentence and the corner of her mouth pulled into a bitter smile. "I missed many opportunities to run alongside Spe-chan, El Condor Pasa, and the others."
When talking about these troubles, Grass Wonder actually opened her narrowed eyes. She didn't want to keep watching her rivals' figures as they strove and ran on the racetrack.
"It's fine. Regrets are common. You only need to give your all in every match where you face them." Lucian comforted her gently. "Take Spe-chan and Seiun Sky for example. The two of them are really looking forward to every race against you."
...
The sun's fierce heat seemed to have dissipated quite a bit; it was no longer as scorching as when they had first arrived.
After chatting for a while, the two of them tacitly fell silent, allowing the unvoiced emotions to settle.
But the pool grew noisy and lively as more and more tourists gathered. The sounds of playful shouting and stage music surged over like the rising tide.
The many previously empty folding chairs had all been occupied.
It was normal. After those thrilling attractions, everyone ultimately chose to come here to rest.
"Trainer, why are you here? (*๓´╰╯`๓)"
The first to arrive was Meisho Doto. She had come together with T.M. Opera O, Symboli Rudolf, and Air Groove.
Lucian turned his head. "Doto? Have you already finished all the attractions?"
"Not yet desu, but we're almost done. (๑´∀`๑)"
"Oh? There's actually a stage by the pool? I wonder if I can go up and show off my singing voice." T.M. Opera O had casually rolled the sleeves of her white shirt up to her elbows, revealing her well-defined forearms.
She was the only horse girl not wearing a swimsuit; underneath she wore only a school swimsuit, but this combination perfectly highlighted her heroic and handsome charm.
Lucian thought of that set of keywords: midsummer, cicada cries, orange-flavored soda, youth.
However, the "youth" in it could be replaced with "young girl."
"Doto, didn't you just spray soda on T.M. Opera O's face again?" Lucian suddenly asked.
"Eh!? Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ How did Trainer know!" Meisho Doto was first shocked, then she bent her legs slightly and wilted. "I already apologized."
"Hahahahahaha——" T.M. Opera O put her hands on her hips and let out her signature laughter. "It's fine~ Under the reflection of the soda, the one who looks even more alluring and enchanting is none other than myself."
Meisho Doto tilted her head, the corners of her cat-like mouth curving up, and her clasped hands also tilted like bent reeds. "As expected of you~"
...