...
"Trainer, can you give this little cutie back to me now?" Meisho Doto pointed at the cat cautiously.
"Here you go~ Here you go~"
As soon as Meisho Doto took it back, T.M. Opera O walked up and rubbed the cat's head. "It's so obedient~"
"Deru xiu~(〃∀〃）" Meisho Doto tilted her head, expression full of approval and bliss.
Lucian smiled, withdrew his gaze, and turned to Ines Fujin. "Little Ai, how's your experience been?"
"Ate a ton of snacks and played some fun activities." Ines Fujin said, showing off the many delicate little trinkets she'd just bought.
"So many?"
"Mm, because I want to bring some back for Hanakami and Tsukigami. They love this kind of stuff."
Lucian pictured the two little horse girls' adorable faces. "It's been a while since I last checked on them."
"Oh? Trainer still has that thought?" Ines Fujin sounded surprised, but Lucian could clearly hear the subtle sarcasm in her tone.
"Ahem... I still remember what I promised you."
"But New Year's is almost here."
"I'm not going back to Dragon Country this year."
"Oh~ Ohhh~"
Not returning to Dragon Country—that meant Lucian would fulfill his promise during the New Year period? Exactly the timing Ines Fujin had been hoping for.
Like tonight, she had no such intention. She could only spend a short time with Lucian, and they might run into other horse girls anyway—so better to just enjoy playing with Doto.
"Trainer, where were you and Tannhauser headed just now?" Ines Fujin asked again.
She'd noticed Lucian the moment he suddenly stopped to pinch Matikanetannhauser's cheeks.
"Oh, right—this." Lucian called out to her. "Tannhauser, are you still buying fireworks? The stalls will close soon."
"Buy!" Matikanetannhauser reluctantly let go of the cat, seeming to finally understand why Lucian had rubbed her cheeks so vigorously earlier.
Because she felt the same irresistible urge when petting this little cat.
Lucian nodded, then looked at Ines Fujin and Meisho Doto. "We're going to buy fireworks. Later everyone can set them off together. Want to join?"
"Sure."
"Yay~"
...
There weren't many fireworks for sale near the shrine—surrounded by forest on all sides.
So the four of them discussed and bought some, then headed to the riverside designated for fireworks.
"Just the four of us?" Matikanetannhauser felt something was missing without everyone together.
"Of course not." Lucian said. "I already called them—they're coming this way."
With the horse girls' speed, it wouldn't take long to get here. The "Dream" members gathered once again.
"I've never been to this little river~ Wonder if there are fish to catch~" Seiun Sky gazed over the calm water surface.
"Trainer~" Haru Urara ran over carrying a bag of fireworks. "I bought some sparklers too!"
"Trainer, we bought some too." Tokai Teio lifted her bag.
Mejiro McQueen was also holding a bag.
Everyone laid out their various fireworks together. Some types even Lucian didn't recognize.
"Trainer, when do we start setting off the fireworks?" Matikanetannhauser asked eagerly.
"Emmmmm..." Lucian didn't answer. Instead he stared at the fireworks, lost in thought.
"Trainer, what's wrong?" Matikanetannhauser asked, puzzled.
"We seem to have forgotten to buy a lighter. What now?"
Among so many people here, no one smoked—no way to scrape together even one lighter. Lucian had once considered it, but Silence Suzuka had firmly forbidden it.
"I'll go buy one—and grab a guitar while I'm at it." Silence Suzuka said.
"Okay." Lucian nodded, reminding her, "Take it slow on the way."
...
Silence Suzuka was fast. It wasn't long before she returned with both the lighter and the guitar.
It was still early—not too late. Everyone was gathered, the atmosphere just right. No glittering stage lights, but singing under moonlight had its own unique charm.
Ines Fujin, however, stared at the guitar in a daze. If she remembered correctly, she'd seen this guitar at Lucian's house.
Meaning... Suzuka hadn't gone back to Tracen Academy earlier—she'd gone to Trainer's house to get it?
Strange. How did she know the door password? And in the meantime, Lucian hadn't taken out his phone to send any messages.
Ines Fujin didn't think Silence Suzuka would break down Lucian's door just for a guitar.
But any further doubts vanished with each burst of brilliant fireworks, disappearing into the vast night sky.
Lucian and the horse girls instinctively looked up, following the fireworks' trails, recalling the bits and pieces of the year gone by.
"Can I make a wish on the fireworks?!" Matikanetannhauser clasped her hands in front of her.
"When your heart is sincere, of course you can." Lucian said.
Matikanetannhauser closed her eyes and softly said, "Then I hope all my efforts next year will be rewarded."
...
Seeing this, the other horse girls followed suit and began making wishes—though they kept theirs silent in their hearts.
"I absolutely have to get first place in Kokochi at least once..." Haru Urara's mind bubbled with another thought, her lips curving sweetly. "And if I could participate in the Arima Kinen even once, that'd be perfect~"
Rice Shower's expression softened incredibly. "I hope everyone here can be happy and joyful... Oh, gods, I almost forgot—my family too."
Seiun Sky smiled confidently. "Catch every fish in the water, never go home empty-handed!"
Silence Suzuka stood quietly, hands folded in front, long hair swaying gently in the breeze. "May I keep walking with Lucian-kun forever and ever and ever..."
Special Week's inner voice choked with emotion. "Mom, I wonder if you're watching little Spe-chan from heaven right now—would you be proud? Mom, this is my Trainer-san. I want to become his wife... Will you bless Spe-chan?"
Tokai Teio closed her eyes tightly, brows sharp with determination. "Become a horse girl like the Chairwoman, take the Triple Crown, surpass the Chairwoman!"
When it came to Mejiro McQueen, the tone shifted entirely. "I wish eating Trainer Lucian's desserts wouldn't make me gain weight... Or at least, not gain it so fast."
Dextrous Bailey: "Write a new chapter~"
Nice Nature: "Win the championship, become a G1 horse girl!"
Twin Turbo: "Beat King Halo, beat McQueen, beat Spe-chan... Beat them all!"
Meisho Doto: "Next year, I must make Trainer become like a big cat lord."
Ines Fujin: "Earn lots of money, sleep well, and best of all—get to the point where I can keep Trainer~"
...
More dazzling than the sky full of fireworks were the diverse thoughts and wishes blooming in these horse girls' hearts.
At the end of the story, everyone gathered around Lucian, sitting in rows on the stone steps.
Lucian tuned the guitar strings, cleared his throat. "One song—'Uchiage Hanabi', for everyone."
...