...
Lucian hurried to the school gate and waved at the somewhat blank-faced boy in black-framed glasses standing not far away, exuding a scholarly air. "Lianzhou? Over here."
"Lucian-senpai, long time no see... If the magpie is late, the Cowherd and Weaver Girl probably won't meet." Lianzhou pushed up his glasses, face dead serious.
"There was a little accident on the way, that's why I'm late." Lucian gave an awkward laugh.
The boy before him was the peculiar young man he'd met at Tiance Junying Academy—always brimming with energy.
"Come on, let me show you around Tracen."
"Senpai, just take me to see the track."
...
The two chatted as they walked toward the track.
"Lianzhou, Old Huang was willing to let you come to Tracen?" As the principal of Central Horse Girl Academy, Huang Youren shouldn't easily let go of a talent like Lianzhou.
"Learning from the barbarians to master their techniques... Absorb the opponent's strengths to supplement our weaknesses. Precise planning, complete blueprint... right here." Lianzhou pointed to his chest.
Lucian: "Impressive."
"But in the future, if you become a certain horse girl's Trainer, you must responsibly accompany her until the end of her career."
"If Old Huang sent you to learn from me, then this is the first lesson I teach you."
Lucian recalled—Lianzhou still hadn't obtained his Trainer license yet. He'd have to go back and study for another year or two. Whether he could smoothly come to Tracen afterward was uncertain.
...
"Wow—!!! So fast!"
Before they even entered the track area, they were drawn by exclamations from the stands.
Lucian glanced over—unexpectedly, they were all his own team members.
"McQueen, Teio, Spe-chan."
Hearing Lucian's call, the horse girls turned around in unison.
"Trainer? Why are you here?"
"Torena-san, so you weren't sleeping in."
"Trainer-san~"
....
Lucian looked baffled. "Why can't I be here? Who told you I was sleeping in?"
"Because Trainer didn't show up at the gate this morning—everyone thought you overslept." Mejiro McQueen explained.
For some reason, she felt a little disappointed—no reason to give Lucian a "triple fold" today.
"Oh~ It's you, Chef big brother!" Satono Diamond recognized Lucian instantly.
Kitasan Black was also surprised. "It really is!"
"Oh, it's you two. It's been two years, right? You've grown so much." Lucian showed surprise too—he really hadn't expected the two little ones to grow this fast. They were almost up to his abdomen now.
And according to unofficial records, the size of a horse girl's ears represented the intensity of certain desires—Satono Diamond was a particularly striking example.
Thinking of this, Lucian couldn't help comparing Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond's ears seriously... and sure enough!
Special Week, Tokai Teio, and Mejiro McQueen looked puzzled. "You know each other?"
Lucian briefly explained his first meeting with the two little ones at the restaurant, then looked at the even smaller horse girl beside Special Week. "Spe-chan, who's this?"
"Ah, she's..." Special Week trailed off midway. Only now did she realize—after all this time, she still didn't know the other's name. "Um..... what's your name?"
New Universe stared intently at Lucian for a moment, then spread her arms in a rain-prayer gesture. "'Calm' handling... inhale—exhale, New Universe desu."
"You said your name is New Universe?" Lucian glanced at Lianzhou beside him. Had he fallen behind? Why did newcomers talk so strangely lately?
"Mm..." New Universe nodded expressionlessly.
Then Lucian briefly introduced Lianzhou's identity as well.
Just then, Taiki Shuttle and Hishi Amazon were training on the track. Lucian's group lined up along the railing.
Satono Diamond: "That's Taiki Shuttle-senpai, right? She runs so fast."
Kitasan Black: "I want to be like her—get on the training track right away, then head to the racecourse!"
Compared to these two's straightforward exclamations, New Universe and Lianzhou on the other side had completely different vibes—baffling and incomprehensible.
New Universe: "'Time'... 'tearing,' 'world'... 'stitching.'"
Lianzhou shook his head. "'Fast' loses reference when time becomes absolute stillness. It's not moving—it's the state between 'being' and 'not being' infinitely stretched."
New Universe looked up at Lianzhou, deep in thought.
Special Week secretly sidled up to Lucian. "Trainer-san, why can't I understand a word these two are saying? Is this taught in books? Which book?"
"It's fine, Spe-chan. Not understanding proves you're normal—because I don't understand either."
"That's good, that's good~" Special Week patted her chest in relief. "By the way, Trainer-san, about you and Ines-senpai..."
"Is Spe-chan jealous?"
"No." Special Week shook her head. Since she'd already accepted Silence Suzuka and Seiun Sky, her mindset had long been liberated. "Seiun told me... now that you have Ines-senpai, you won't spoil me the most anymore..."
"Huh? Why?" Lucian glanced around—seeing no one paying attention, he lowered his voice further.
"Because Seiun said..." Special Week ducked her head, voice growing smaller. "Ines-senpai's chest is broader than everyone's..."
"I think she's itching for a beating." Lucian gritted his teeth. "Spe-chan, you too—do you believe everything she says?"
"But... what she said seems true..."
Training on the track was almost over. Lucian didn't want to discuss anything too private with Special Week right now—things better saved for home.
"Spe-chan, don't overthink. We'll talk at home."
"Mm mm."
....
Taiki Shuttle's training ended, and everyone reluctantly withdrew their gazes.
At that moment, New Universe suddenly spoke: "Need to intake 'moisture.' Though 'North Star' cannot be seen... 'destination' still remains."
Lucian, Special Week, and the others exchanged looks—they had no idea what New Universe meant.
"The road we came by had 'guidance.' The direction of the 'North Star' is... this way." Lianzhou pushed up his glasses and turned to explain to Lucian and the rest: "She's thirsty."
"Ah? You understand her?" Lucian blinked.
"Mm. 'North Star' usually means guidance. Combined with 'intake moisture' and 'destination,' so she means... thirsty and wants a drink."
New Universe's ears twitched. She slowly raised a thumbs-up. "Mm... perfect 'solution'."
"Alright... Let's all head to the campus café. My treat."
...