...
Dextrous Bailey's retirement ceremony was held just before the Arima Kinen. For "Dream," this retirement ceremony served as the perfect closing punctuation for the year.
Dextrous Bailey's fanbase couldn't compare to Special Week and the others, of course, but she still had supporters who had stuck with her all the way to retirement.
Lucian spared no expense to arrange everything perfectly, finally handing the stage over to Dextrous Bailey.
It was styled like a concert, with song and dance as the medium for her final farewell to the track she loved so passionately and to her supporters.
...
The two-hour performance finally came to an end, and Dextrous Bailey waved goodbye to the audience once more before returning to the backstage rest area.
Lucian had already been waiting there with all the horse girls. "Welcome back, superstar."
"Trainer, what superstar..." Dextrous Bailey said shyly, "But today was really so much fun—I actually sang for that long."
She had one question. "Trainer, why didn't you let Spe-chan and the others come up on stage to perform with me?"
"Because today you're the star. Of course it's your solo stage to enjoy all by yourself."
Lucian naturally had his own considerations.
If any of the horse girls behind him went on stage, it might draw a different audience crowd. But today the protagonist was Dextrous Bailey—and her supporters—so no one could steal the spotlight.
"Bailey, what are you planning to do next?" Special Week asked curiously. As a teammate and close sister, she naturally wanted to check in.
But from Silence Suzuka, she learned that Dextrous Bailey still didn't seem to know about Lucian and their relationship.
"Next? Since I've retired, of course I'll help out at home with some things." Dextrous Bailey recalled how Lucian had recently been in trouble due to public opinion pressure, and her heart ached.
She needed to stay alert and use her family's connections to support and protect Lucian. "But I'll still come back to the training grounds occasionally to see everyone."
Dextrous Bailey's studies weren't finished yet, so even after retiring, she hadn't left Tracen Academy.
"That's great. It's good that you have your own direction." Special Week smiled at her.
"Spe-chan, you're making me feel more and more guilty about what I did back then... You're too kind." Dextrous Bailey's eyes welled up. She stepped forward on her own and gave Special Week a warm, tight hug.
Special Week gently patted her back. "Why are you still remembering that? That matter's long over. If you didn't mention it, I'd almost forget."
"Thank you, Spe-chan." Dextrous Bailey thanked her sincerely.
If not for Special Week, she wouldn't have crossed paths with Lucian, wouldn't have joined the "Dream" team, and wouldn't have gained friendship, love, or any of those things.
"Alright, Bailey, hurry up and get ready. Everyone's stomachs are already growling." Lucian smiled, interrupting the two.
...
As the year drew to a close, Lucian's own cooking class also reached its end.
Mejiro McQueen, Nice Nature, Rice Shower, Meisho Doto, and the others' cooking skills had improved more and more, but eventually they all hit bottlenecks that halted their progress.
After Lucian finished teaching, the rest depended on their own practice and insight.
As for Oguri Cap, she was still the same as always—frequently going hungry.
Lucian asked her, "Oguri, you come to class here and still can't get full—why do you keep coming?"
"Because enjoying the food here is relaxing for me."
An unexpectedly honest answer. Only then did Lucian realize that the gourmet food here was like dessert after a meal to her.
And then there was Grass Wonder, who was walking further and further down the path of dark cuisine... But honestly, she seemed to have actually found a way forward.
It was hard to imagine that after putting a pitch-black lump in your mouth, you could actually taste "not bad" and "delicious."
In that sense, Grass Wonder had the highest talent—because her cooking had already developed personal innovation and a unique style.
"Grass, you're really one of a kind. But when you're out, don't say I taught you." Lucian saw her about to speak and quickly cut her off. "Don't ask why."
Grass Wonder pursed her lips. "Is it really not tasty?"
He couldn't let her keep going deeper into dark cuisine, but he could allow her to walk this path herself.
"The taste is okay." As a teacher, Lucian couldn't lie and deny her outright, but as a food taster, he also had to be honest. "It's just the presentation is too poor... Should I say hideous? Do they not eat it?"
Grass Wonder's brows twitched. She couldn't refute Lucian's words, her brows furrowing slightly. "Then I'll give it to Oguri-senpai later."
"You guys are treating her like a food waste bin, huh?"
Speaking of which, Lucian had to thank Oguri Cap.
If not for her, most of the ingredients in class would probably go to waste—too disgusting even for the cooks themselves to eat.
That's when Oguri Cap's big-stomach capacity really shone.
"Trainer Lucian, will there be cooking class next year?" Last year, Grass Wonder had asked the same question.
"There is every year."
"I'll come next year too. Keep learning cooking from Trainer Lucian."
"Then I'll welcome you next year too."
...
Without preparing for the Arima Kinen, the year-end felt relaxed. Lucian gave the team members an early break so they could focus on end-of-term review.
This was the first time the "Dream" members had so much ample time for studying... Of course, for a certain Special Week, it might just be "studying."
Silence Suzuka often brought Special Week to Lucian's house for study sessions, but after the second time, Lucian issued an "expulsion order."
Because he realized that with him present, Special Week couldn't focus on studying at all—not because of her, but because of him.
He couldn't resist hugging her from behind, pinching her soft arm flesh and her little tummy.
"Trainer-san, are you going home for New Year's this year?"
"A few days ago I had nothing much going on, so I went back for a bit. Dragon Country has produced quite a few outstanding trainers this year too."
"But they all call me senpai." Lucian said proudly.
After visiting Tiance Junying Academy, he even added one young guy's contact info.
That young guy... was a very special person. You could tell how unique he was just from the way he talked.
Special Week didn't care about that. She only knew Lucian would be staying here again this year. "That's great, Trainer-san... Will you come play at my house again this year?"
"Didn't we go last year? I'm afraid if I go again, certain people will get jealous."
Special Week instinctively thought Lucian meant Silence Suzuka. "Suzuka-chan can come too... Trainer-san can pick up Suzuka first."
"Why do you assume our Suzuka is always flipping the vinegar jar?" Lucian asked righteously.
"No... I didn't mean it that way." Special Week quickly waved her hands at Silence Suzuka.
"Spe-chan, don't let Lucian-kun influence you." Silence Suzuka, who had been head-down doing homework, looked up and gave Lucian a glare. "If Spe-chan doesn't pass the finals, it'll really be inseparable from Lucian-kun."
"I'm almost done with this paper. Spe-chan, how are you still on multiple-choice? Stop talking to Lucian-kun."
"Eh!? Sumimasen!!!" Special Week hurriedly grabbed her pen and buried her head again. But Lucian's hand wrapped around her waist like a vine once more.
"Don't write anymore~ Don't write anymore~ It's already this late anyway. Spe-chan, come hug Trainer more, talk more?"
On one side was Silence Suzuka's sharp gaze, on the other Lucian's gentle embrace. Special Week felt inexplicably conflicted for a moment.
But she had finally grown up. She didn't put down her pen, nor did she resist Lucian's intimacy.
However... Lucian was getting more and more excessive. He made Special Week hold onto his shoulders, forcing her to set the pen aside.
...