...
This time no team member saved him a seat, so by the time Lucian reached the stands, there were no good spots left.
Helpless, he had to stand on the stairs at the very back to watch.
The NHK Mile Cup was held at Tokyo Racecourse, with a total distance of 2000 meters.
The finish time was at most a little over two minutes, so he didn't have to worry about standing too long.
"All entrants are warming up and preparing to enter the gate."
"The race is about to begin."
...
As the announcer's voice rang out, Lucian turned his gaze to his own horse girls.
At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly came from beside his ear.
"Trainer Lucian, what a coincidence~"
"Grass? Why are you here?" Lucian was a bit surprised—today's race didn't have any "Rigil" members, so why would Grass Wonder be here.
"Of course to watch the race."
"Taking time off just to watch?" Though puzzled, Lucian thought it was a reasonable excuse. "I didn't expect Grass to come in person instead of watching the replay."
"I lied to Trainer Lucian. Actually, I came to investigate data on 'Dream's new members." Grass Wonder clasped her hands behind her back, subtly closing the distance between them a little more.
"You could observe that in the replay too~"
"Trainer Lucian talks too much—your pickup skills are terrible."
Seeing she didn't want to tell the truth and was even teasing him, Lucian didn't press further. "You're late too? No seat left?"
"I had one originally, but when I saw Trainer Lucian, I came over to say hi—and then my seat got taken."
After saying that, Grass Wonder pointed in one direction. "Trainer Lucian, there's another acquaintance of yours over there."
Lucian followed her finger and indeed spotted a familiar face—Minamizaka's Trainer.
"Your junior, Trainer Lucian."
"Haha, not really. Anyone who gets into Tracen as a Trainer is already impressive." Lucian laughed modestly.
"Tracen's Trainer exams are indeed very strict, but a few years ago there were some who got fired."
"Fired?" Lucian blinked, suddenly interested in the gossip.
He looked at Grass Wonder, but she was gazing far off toward the racecourse, avoiding eye contact. "Yes, because of some very... unspeakable reasons."
"Grass-chan, you already brought it up—don't tease me now." Lucian had long sensed her black-bellied side; he could play along too. "Pretty please, tell me."
"This matter was heavily suppressed by the academy leadership. Can Trainer Lucian guarantee not to tell anyone?"
Grass Wonder suddenly turned to face him.
Her lips curved like gentle ripples, eyes like a crescent moon—her smile was still impeccably tender.
Lucian instinctively shrank his head back a little—the distance was about to cross into intimate territory.
Was Grass Wonder just too friendly? He always felt she unconsciously got closer when she spoke.
"I'm the best at keeping secrets." Lucian raised four fingers.
"Oh~ In that case, telling Trainer Lucian is fine then."
Grass Wonder had noticed his slight retreat.
Though she had squinted eyes, the advantage was that her gaze could hide behind her eyelids, observing Lucian freely—like peeking through a peephole from behind a safe door.
Since he stepped back, she deliberately refused to let him create distance.
"Trainer Lucian, you're too tall. Can you bend down a little? I don't want others to hear."
"Fine." Lucian leaned down, tilting his ear toward her.
Grass Wonder formed a little bridge with her hand. "I heard that Trainer was fired because during their tenure, they started dating a team member... and it went all the way, got discovered, and that's why they were dismissed."
Warm breath flowed into his ear; Lucian unconsciously shrugged his shoulders slightly, reducing the sudden tickle.
"Ah, the punishment is that severe?" Shocked, Lucian also doubted the story's authenticity. "Is it real?"
He'd seen Tracen Academy's rules—no explicit punishment for that.
Maybe in the teacher code? But he was dating as a Trainer—what did that have to do with being a teacher.
"Of course it's real. Trainer Lucian doesn't believe me, but surely you believe my intelligence network?"
"Hss... In the end, it's all just what Grass said—what's the difference?"
"That's not important. If Trainer Lucian doesn't believe it, just treat it as a joke... but why is Trainer Lucian so worked up?" Grass Wonder remained smiling sweetly, yet every word stabbed right at Lucian's heart.
He always felt those hidden eyes had seen through everything, but he had no proof.
"N-No worked up, just a bit surprised." Lucian straightened up, trying to look natural.
Damn it—he could very well become the next one fired. How could he not be worked up!
"Oh, I thought Trainer Lucian..." Grass Wonder paused perfectly. "had someone around him who made the same mistake."
"How could that be? Nishizaki-senpai and Minamizaka are good people." While panicking inwardly, Lucian still handed out good-person cards to both. "And it's not really a mistake, right..."
"Hm? Trainer Lucian has a different opinion?"
"If it's true love, there shouldn't be a problem."
"But if the academy has rules against it, it's still wrong and will be punished."
After countering, Grass Wonder suddenly opened her eyes.
Proof that her hidden gaze wasn't timid—without the cover of her eyelids, she still dared to meet Lucian's eyes directly.
"Trainer Lucian, I have one question for you... Do you have those kinds of feelings for Suzu-chan?"
Lucian licked his lips. "Ah? Why ask that out of nowhere?"
"Because sometimes when I'm out shopping, I occasionally see Trainer Lucian and Suzu-chan together... like on a date."
"That's just Suzu-chan's request after winning a race. She plays, I pay."
"Oh~ I see." Actually, Grass Wonder had made it up, but she happened to hit the truth.
"Grass, this hasn't spread to anyone else, right?" Lucian suddenly felt a chill—he'd done far worse with Seiun Sky on campus.
"I haven't heard anything yet."
"That's good." Lucian let out a breath of relief.
Grass Wonder withdrew her gaze, satisfied.
Toujou Coach had told her to go out and relax—indeed, this was the most pleasurable way for both body and mind.
If only she'd brought a pinhole camera—she could have captured every micro-expression change on Trainer Lucian's face.
"Grass, you..."
"Shh, Trainer Lucian, the race is starting." Grass Wonder placed a finger to her cherry lips, looking exactly like someone who had come just to watch the race.
...