...
The Kikuka Sho came to a close, and the victory banquet naturally followed.
Besides the basic gourmet food, Lucian specially prepared many small pastries for Mejiro McQueen.
"Osmanthus cake, mung bean cake, lotus crisp, tea bean cake..." Lucian introduced the exquisite pastries on the plate to Mejiro McQueen.
"So pretty." Mejiro McQueen opened her small mouth in surprise, "Were all these made by Trainer-san?"
"Didn't you say last time that the tiramisu I made wasn't great? So this time I made some new Chinese-style pastries."
"Onii-sama made them specially for McQueen." Rice Shower said.
Mejiro McQueen looked at Lucian gratefully, raised her hand, but didn't know which one to taste first, "They're too pretty, I'm a little reluctant to eat them desuwa."
"McQueen is reluctant to eat? Then let me help eat them!" Tokai Teio reached toward the pastries, but just as she was about to grab one, the entire plate was carried away by Mejiro McQueen.
"McQueen?" Tokai Teio blinked in confusion.
"Th-this is because it's Trainer-san's thoughtfulness, so it's better if I eat first..." Mejiro McQueen slowly put the plate down.
Even she felt the reason was a bit lame, but her brain heated up and she carried the whole plate.
"So that's how it is." Tokai Teio nodded innocently, "Then eat quickly."
"Um." Mejiro McQueen finally picked up a piece of mung bean cake, put it in her mouth and chewed for a moment, "Delicious, refreshingly sweet without being greasy, feels like it melts in the mouth."
Lucian smiled complacently; he believed Mejiro McQueen, having eaten so many delicacies, her evaluation was very authoritative, "Then next practical class I'll teach you all how to make this."
"Let me try too." Tokai Teio also took a piece.
Seeing this, the other horse girls also reached out one after another.
Not many pastries were prepared, so one piece each pretty much cleared them out; Lucian himself didn't even get one.
Mejiro McQueen looked at the empty plate, suddenly regretting why she had been so reserved just now.
"Trainer-san, aren't you eating?" Special Week noticed this; she only had half a piece left in her hand.
"Didn't prepare many, it'd be bad to snatch from you all."
Special Week broke the pastry in her hand, "Trainer-san, here's half for you."
Lucian took it, "Thanks."
Tokai Teio watched this scene, her chewing gradually slowing, finally swallowing the pastry in her mouth directly.
Doesn't this count as an indirect kiss...
Why doesn't the trainer care?
She also imitated Special Week, breaking off a small piece, her hand trembling slightly as she extended it, "Trainer, I still have some here too."
Looking closely, the sharp corner of the pastry seemed to still have some glistening on it.
"Oh, thanks Teio too." Lucian took it and put it in his mouth, "As expected of what I made, delicious."
Tokai Teio snapped back, "St-stinky boastful trainer!"
"Then do you say it's good or not? Is it not good?" Lucian was long used to Tokai Teio's words, just didn't know why Tokai Teio's ear tips looked so red.
"Good... but not satisfied, no honey flavor." Tokai Teio suddenly remembered, these pastries seemed to be specially prepared by the trainer for Mejiro McQueen, she was just basking in McQueen's glory.
"If Teio wants to eat, beg me~ beg me and next time I'll make it for you."
"Did McQueen also beg the trainer?"
"McQueen just won the Kikuka Sho, when you win the Kikuka Sho in the future, I can satisfy any request too."
Tokai Teio's horse ears twitched, "Anything?"
Lucian nodded, "Within my ability."
"The trainer said it himself, I'll remember it first."
Tokai Teio thought: The trainer's ability? Should be pretty good... boys the trainer's age are exactly at their most energetic time.
Lucian had no idea her thoughts had already gone crooked somewhere.
He suddenly remembered this year-end Arima Kinen, so he said to Mejiro McQueen:
"McQueen, barring accidents, you have a chance to enter this year's Arima Kinen... should we avoid it and rest, or run one more?"
"Trainer-san, can I hear your suggestion?"
Lucian could feel Mejiro McQueen's trust in him, he said without hesitation: "Of course I hope you rest more."
"Um, then I won't run."
Lucian then asked Special Week and Seiun Sky, "Spe-chan and Seiun, you'll probably run right?"
Although the two hadn't participated in many races this year, their popularity was still there, the chance of selection was very high.
Seiun Sky: "Run, if I don't run my legs will rust~"
Haru Urara: "Seiun says it like she's slacking during training!"
Meishou Doto suddenly realized: "No wonder the trainer said not to be deceived by Seiun-senpai's appearance (°ー°〃)."
"Speaking of which, this year passed so quickly, it's year-end again, any team-building activities this year?" Dextrous Bailey sighed.
Hearing this, the horse girls' gazes all gathered on Lucian.
Especially the few who missed going to the Dragon Country last year; this year everyone was familiar, naturally wouldn't hold back.
"You all pass the final exams first before thinking so much~"
Lucian said cool words, but actually his heart was also troubled.
Because once finals came, his matters also piled up, most importantly the promises to several horse girls still weren't fulfilled.
"Then recently there are no races right? Trainer~ let's go play outside together~" Haru Urara acted spoiled, "Just... pick a weekend, everyone go play outside together."
"Sure." Lucian changed tone: "But Urara, you haven't forgotten you still have one race right?"
Up to now, Haru Urara had already run 13 Kochi races, results actually not bad, 4 second places, 3 third places too.
"Of course not forgotten~"
During races she gives full effort to race, after races full effort to enjoy the trainer.
Whether before or after races, Haru Urara's attitude was very serious.
"That's good, but where to play? Any ideas?" Lucian asked again.
Weekends only add up to two days, seems wherever they go the time is a bit short, can't fully enjoy...
"I have an idea." Matikanetannhauser said while thinking: "Nearby there's a place that newly built many entertainment venues, aquarium, water world, happy valley, and devil valley."
"Wait wait..." Nice Nature interrupted: "Is this the same place? How so many themes?"
Matikanetannhauser: "It's the same place, just very close to each other."
Lucian: "If two days can cover all these themes, then actually seems nothing fun."
"No, two days probably can only play two themes." Matikanetannhauser looked very knowledgeable, "Strategy and such can be left to me, but everyone first decide which two themes to play."
Lucian: "Then no rush, everyone can discuss on phones then decide."
...