...
Fortunately, Mejiro McQueen was currently drained of strength; otherwise, the discussion wouldn't be about politeness or rudeness, but about guilt or innocence.
Tokai Teio glanced at Lucian, then at Mejiro McQueen, and joined the cheek-pinching war herself.
She felt like she ought to be jealous at a moment like this.
But for some reason, she didn't feel the slightest bit jealous.
Maybe it was because she liked McQueen and the Trainer too much~
"Alright, alright, stop it. This is getting ridiculous! I'll count to three— one, two, three—everyone let go together."
After Lucian finished counting, all three let go at the same time. But unexpectedly, right after letting go, Mejiro McQueen reached out again and pinched Lucian's cheeks once more.
"Hic~ Torena-san, I still want to eat dessert desu wa... The race is already over, you can't restrict me anymore."
Mejiro McQueen's tone rose slightly at the end, almost coquettish—like willow branches twirling in the spring breeze before softly drooping again.
Lucian couldn't stand it the most when horse girls acted spoiled, especially when it was the usually tsundere Mejiro McQueen. "Eat... eat then. I brought all these for you."
"Hic~ Arigatou, Torena-san." Mejiro McQueen let go, picked up a small pastry, and tossed it into her mouth. "Aaaah~ So delicious~"
Any sense of elegance or grace had long since ceased to have anything to do with this young lady.
With the dessert still not swallowed, she propped her head up and said, "We should just tie Torena-san up in the mansion... and make him into dessert."
Lucian frowned upon hearing that—why did those words sound so familiar? He glanced toward Tokai Teio, who quietly tickled his waist in response.
"McQueen, you mean you want me to go to your house and be your personal chef, right?" Lucian said.
"Something like that... hic~"
"Trainer, do you think McQueen will remember what happened tonight when she wakes up tomorrow?" Tokai Teio asked while raising her phone, making a "V" sign. "McQueen, look up!"
Mejiro McQueen's eyelashes fluttered lightly, casting fragmented shadows under the light. Hearing the call, she turned toward the screen and also made a peace sign.
But her expression looked both exhausted and vivid—like petals crumpled by wind and rain, still carrying lingering warmth and moisture.
"Yay~"
Click—
Tokai Teio satisfiedly lowered her phone, completely forgetting that she had come tonight to comfort Mejiro McQueen.
She couldn't be blamed, though—with Mejiro McQueen in her current state, she probably wouldn't listen to anything anyway.
"Trainer, so will McQueen remember what happened tonight when she wakes up tomorrow?" Tokai Teio asked again.
"Well..." Based on Lucian's own experience with getting drunk last time, she wouldn't forget everything completely; at least there would be some hazy impressions the next day. "She'll probably remember a little bit here and there."
"That's good then~" Tokai Teio grinned mischievously.
...
Lucian still had to drive later. Since the drinks contained alcohol-like substances, he decided not to drink any.
Tokai Teio chatted with Gold Ship for a while, while Mejiro McQueen lay slumped on the table, drowsy and on the verge of sleep.
"Alright, you two—let's go. I'll drop you off at Tracen Academy first, then take McQueen home."
"Sure, it's about time anyway." Gold Ship nodded, hoisting Mejiro McQueen onto her shoulder. "By the way, Trainer Lucian, the bill hasn't been paid yet."
"666—I didn't even take a sip, and you're making me pay." Lucian knew exactly what Gold Ship meant, but he still paid obediently.
"Haha, you can have the Trainer pay you back later. If Trainer Lucian extorts a bit more from her, I won't say a word." Gold Ship laughed without a care.
"Forget it—Nishizaki-senpai would never admit it~ She might even suspect I have ulterior motives~" Lucian said helplessly.
...
Lucian first drove to Tracen Academy, said goodbye to Gold Ship and Tokai Teio, then headed toward the Mejiro family estate.
"McQueen, we're home, McQueen."
In the back seat, Mejiro McQueen was lightly asleep. Hearing Lucian's call, she groggily opened her eyes. "Home? Torena-san, don't talk nonsense... When did I ever... have a home with you?"
"Sigh." Lucian let out a breath. "I mean we've arrived at your house."
He grasped Mejiro McQueen's wrist, trying to pull her out of the seat. But Mejiro McQueen resisted fiercely—her strength was astonishingly strong. Lucian couldn't budge her at all and nearly got pulled back into the back seat himself.
Lucian glanced at the quiet Mejiro family estate, wondering if he should go inside and call someone to help carry Mejiro McQueen in.
But bringing one more person probably wouldn't help much anyway.
"McQueen, what do you want?"
"Tired... don't wanna move. I wanna sleep. Torena-san, good night."
Mejiro McQueen's eyelids drooped like tender leaves bent by morning dew, but just as they were about to close, they snapped open again. That stubborn expression hid a childlike obstinacy.
"Good night my ass... How are you going to sleep in the car?" Lucian stood with hands on hips, silently staring her down.
The two locked eyes like that for a while. Finally, Lucian spoke. "I'll carry you on my back. That way you can keep sleeping without getting tired—okay?"
"No..."
"Your Highness, please exit the vehicle?"
"Mmm....."
"Your Highness, please climb onto my back."
"Mmm... mmm mmm." Finally, Mejiro McQueen moved. She shifted toward the car door, slowly climbing onto Lucian's back and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Heave-ho." Lucian supported Mejiro McQueen's thighs, easily lifting her up. "Geez, you still need to be coaxed like this."
He'd tested it—heavy as hell, but that had nothing to do with her being a young lady.
"Torena-san..." Mejiro McQueen murmured unconsciously near Lucian's ear, like sleep-talking.
"What?" Lucian replied grumpily.
"I lost the race... Will you blame me? Will you be disappointed in me? Will you... stop wanting to be my attendant after this..."
Some people stand too high—they fear falling too hard, even unable to accept a single defeat.
Mejiro McQueen wasn't that kind of person. What she feared wasn't height itself, but her pride wouldn't allow her to become a plummeting black dot in everyone's eyes.
In short, Mejiro McQueen invisibly piled a lot of pressure on herself.
"How could I?"
"If I'm your attendant, then whether you're shining at the top or falling into the dust—I've never followed your flawless perfection. What I follow is that unquenchable spark in your eyes every time you fall."
"Alright, alright~" Lucian carried Mejiro McQueen into the courtyard. "Talking to someone who gets motion sick from milk like you is pointless anyway~"
"Rest well for a bit. It's fine to fall asleep on the Trainer's shoulder too."
"Mmm... Attendant-sama, I'm a little hungry..... I still want dessert."
"Huh? Wait a sec..."
Lucian's words cut off abruptly—because Mejiro McQueen had taken his earlobe into her mouth, gently sucking on it with tender care.
...