...
The victory at the Kyoto Daishoten did not make Mejiro McQueen slack off in her training, because at the end of October, she would face her next G1—the Autumn Tenno Sho.
One day during regular training, as soon as Lucian walked into the lounge, he saw the team members gathered around Special Week.
Special Week was holding her phone in her hands, seemingly talking to someone.
Lucian quietly walked over as well, not interrupting.
Although everyone was in the lounge, at this moment there was only the sound of breathing and Special Week's voice.
"Little Eagle, are you doing well over there?" Special Week's voice carried a careful, gentle tone.
"I'm doing pretty well, Spe-chan. Did you watch the races? I won both the French Isfahan Stakes and the Prix Foy!" El Condor Pasa's signature bright and cheerful voice came through, but upon closer listening, a trace of hoarseness could be detected.
El Condor Pasa's goal was also very grand. She had said she wanted to become the world's number one horse girl, so she began her European expedition.
And now, that expedition had finally come to an end.
"That's amazing. When does Little Eagle plan to come back?"
"Probably next month. After all... the races over here have already ended." El Condor Pasa's originally clear voice suddenly dropped, rising and falling as if descending from a mountain peak all the way down to the valley floor.
Everyone had seen the news report—"'El Condor Pasa' narrowly defeated in the Arc de Triomphe by the European Horse Queen 'Broye', finishing as runner-up."
But no one brought it up at this moment. Even the usually slow-witted Special Week knew not to poke at the other party's painful spot unless she brought it up herself.
"Little Eagle..." Special Week was about to say something when a suppressed sob suddenly came from the receiver.
"Spe... do you know..." El Condor Pasa's hoarse voice was utterly broken, "I was so close... just a little bit more and I could have achieved my goal. Just a little bit more!"
"I could even hear Broye's breathing, but... I just couldn't do it!"
A sad atmosphere spread like an invisible tide from across the ocean, flooding every corner of the lounge and reaching the heart of every horse girl present.
They all sympathized with El Condor Pasa's experience.
Special Week felt it the most deeply. El Condor Pasa's intermittent sobs continued to strike her eardrums.
She wanted to say something to comfort her, but her throat tightened and the words stuck in her chest, refusing to come out.
At this moment, a warm large hand patted her shoulder.
Special Week turned her head and met Lucian's calm gaze. She asked in a small, puzzled voice, "Trainer?"
"Mhm." Lucian stretched out his hand, signaling Special Week to hand him the phone.
Special Week hesitated for a moment, then, along with a certain trust, passed the phone into Lucian's hand.
"Hello, El Condor Pasa. It's been a while."
The sobbing on the other end of the line paused slightly. El Condor Pasa quickly stopped crying and spoke in a nasal, heavy voice, "You are... Trainer Lucian? Long time no see."
"I heard Broye will come to participate in the Japan Cup. Will you come back to compete, Little Eagle?"
"I..." El Condor Pasa hesitated. This failure had dealt her too heavy a blow; she even felt powerless toward the racetrack she had always loved.
After hesitating for a while, El Condor Pasa spoke as if all her strength had been drained, "I'm so tired. I might not participate."
"I see. Then come back and rest properly for a while. Come watch Spe-chan and Broye's showdown."
"Spe-chan? Is Spe-chan going to participate in this year's Japan Cup?" El Condor Pasa asked in surprise.
Her thoughts were similar to Toujou Hana's; she thought most of the strong local horse girls would avoid the race.
"Mhm. Spe-chan didn't tell you? She decided a long time ago." Lucian's gaze turned toward Special Week.
Special Week lowered her head uncomfortably. "Little Eagle didn't ask... so I didn't say it on purpose."
"Really, Spe-chan!? I will definitely rush back before then to cheer for you!" El Condor Pasa's voice instantly brightened, speaking eagerly.
The timing was perfect. Silence Suzuka and the others also began to comfort her.
Silence Suzuka: "Little Eagle, we look forward to your return and racing together with you."
Seiun Sky spun a coin in her hand, her tone casual yet full of concern, "Eagle-chan, when you come back let's go fishing together. But this time you're not allowed to use a harpoon~"
Haru Urara: "Little Eagle, when you come back Trainer Lucian will cook for you. Don't be sad anymore!"
Twin Turbo clenched her fist with great vigor, "Senior Little Eagle doesn't need to be sad! I'll have Spe-chan get revenge for you! Defeat that European 'Horse Queen' and avenge you!"
Lucian patted Twin Turbo's head, his fingers sinking into her fluffy hair, and teased, "Why don't you do it yourself? You're ordering Spe-chan around now?"
"Don't pat my head! I'm going to stop growing taller!" Twin Turbo waved her hands like she was shooing away mosquitoes. "I want to do it too, but the Japan Cup doesn't allow it."
The atmosphere in the lounge finally stopped feeling so heavy.
...
"How... how is everyone here? Doesn't that mean you all heard me crying just now?" El Condor Pasa's voice dropped again, now carrying a rare shyness.
"Because everyone cares about you." Lucian said warmly, "So please cheer up as soon as possible. Everyone is waiting for the day you fly freely on the turf again."
"Mhm, I will!"
...
Afterward, everyone chatted with El Condor Pasa for a sentence or two, and the call ended.
Lucian let out a light breath, raised his hand to rub his temples, and joked, "Why am I the one comforting her? El Condor Pasa is clearly a member of 'Rigil'."
"Aiya, Trainer, don't worry about that for now!" Haru Urara said.
"Cough, cough, cough..." A deliberate coughing sound came. Matikane Tannhauser had somehow walked over to the blackboard and tapped it a few times. "Oh my, oh my~ Everyone look over here. Next, we will begin the battle plan against 'Broye'!"
She drew a crooked large portrait on the blackboard, surrounded by many stick-figure-like small heads, and added dense arrows pointing at the large head.
"Trainer, you speak first." Matikane Tannhauser held a ruler and pointed it at Lucian.
Lucian: "Your drawing skills need improvement. Is that supposed to be bangs? Why does it look sharper than a saw?"
"What! Don't pay too much attention to such things!" Matikane Tannhauser glanced at the blackboard. "Simple and clear is better."
"I know, I'll speak!" Haru Urara raised her hand.
Matikane Tannhauser: "Okey-dokey~ Then please speak, Urara-chan. Trainer, please sit down."
"Tannhauser wants us to use bows and arrows during the race to make things difficult for Broye!" Haru Urara looked at the drawing on the blackboard, tilted her head in thought, then exclaimed, "But wouldn't that be a foul?"
Twin Turbo nodded seriously, "Tannhauser must have some undetectable technique, right?"
"No, I don't!" Matikane Tannhauser pouted and erased all the drawings on the blackboard. "For the sake of victory, it looks like we need to hold several more meetings."
Lucian: "Isn't proper training more important?"
...