...
"So mean!! Wuwuwu X﹏X" Twin Turbo hugged her remaining cake slice tightly, curling her small body into a ball in the corner. She gave everyone her back—a lonely little figure drawing circles on the floor and secretly wiping tears.
"Tantan, you go comfort her later." Lucian pointed toward Twin Turbo.
"Got it." Matikane Tannhauser's cheeks were stuffed full like a hamster's—she'd eaten who-knows-what again.
So cute. Punching her would probably make her cry for ages.
No—since it's Matikane Tannhauser, punching her would make her cry and get a nosebleed.
...
"Trainer Lucian, why don't we have these Q-version little cakes?" Taiki Shuttle's big round eyes were locked on the cake in front of Silence Suzuka.
She unconsciously licked her lips. "One bite probably wouldn't fill me up anyway—too little material. But it's really great to look at."
Another invisible arrow struck Silence Suzuka right in the chest. Under the table, her fist clenched in silent fury.
Damn Lucian-kun... since they're already Q-versions, couldn't they at least have used more material!?
"Yeah, exactly! We cheered for Spe-chan too!" El Condor Pasa—still holding a grudge over the drink—puffed out her chest and joined Taiki Shuttle in protest.
Grass Wonder was more refined. Tilting her head slightly, she said enviously, "There should still be a few empty spots on the cake's stage, right?"
"That's because..."
Lucian had just started to answer when Mejiro McQueen asked, "Torena-san, when did you start preparing this cake?"
Most of the Uma Musume hadn't eaten their slices right away—instead, they held them in front of themselves, admiring them for a long time.
From afar at the cart it hadn't been clear, but up close, the craftsmanship was truly exquisite—every tiny detail faithfully reproduced.
The attentive Mejiro McQueen had noticed: even if Lucian hadn't made it himself, these precise details—from design draft to final product—must have required his meticulous supervision.
This wasn't something done in a day or two. It demanded a huge amount of time, effort, communication, revisions, and confirmations.
Lucian hadn't expected Mejiro McQueen to pick up on it so sharply. "Because it wasn't a last-minute idea. I decided at the beginning of the year that I wanted to give you all this surprise—a cake designed like this."
He turned to Taiki Shuttle and El Condor Pasa, spreading his hands. "So even if I wanted to make ones for you, there wasn't time to prepare. These are 'limited edition,' you know."
"This is a 'Dream' exclusive benefit~ Grass, Big Tree, and Little Condor—if you want one, consider joining 'Dream.'" Haru Urara was elegantly enjoying the "Rice-chan" in front of her, cheeks puffed slightly, wearing a satisfied and innocent smile.
Meanwhile, Rice Shower stared at the Haru Urara in front of her, unsure where to even start biting.
Lucian silently gave Haru Urara's words a thumbs-up in his heart: As expected of Haru Urara—always saying what others don't dare to.
Nishizaki Ryo seemed to catch some signal. He turned to Toujou Hana with a gleeful, teasing tone. "Hana, this little juice is poaching your wall corner."
"I heard it—no need to remind me." Toujou Hana didn't look up, replying in a muffled voice before lifting her glass and downing the rest of the wine in one go.
Every time she came to Lucian's house lately, she seemed to end up drunk.
"Hana-nee, what Haru Urara said is just a joke—don't take it seriously." Lucian shot Toujou Hana a smug glance as he explained.
"Mmm~~" Grass Wonder lightly pressed the end of her chopsticks against her chin; her always-smiling eyes narrowed slightly as if recalling something, then bloomed into an innocent, harmless smile. "Trainer Lucian, last time you made a similar joke with me too. Was it really just a joke... or a hint?"
She was the type to stir up chaos wherever she went.
Lucian was about to explain when Toujou Hana suddenly slammed the table, startling him.
"Little Lu! How about I bring my whole team to join you guys!?" Toujou Hana's eyes held seven parts drunkenness and three parts threat.
"No way, no way—that wouldn't do at all. Hana-nee, don't get mad." Lucian smiled placatingly.
Toujou Hana propped her head up, gave a light humph. "At least you know what's good for you, Little Lu."
Mejiro McQueen watched the scene and sank back into thought—when drunk, a lot of things seemed permissible, and Torena-san became especially gentle.
"My queen, what are you thinking about? One more stab and the chocolate's going to burst out." Tokai Teio's voice pulled Mejiro McQueen back from the depths of her thoughts.
"What!?" Mejiro McQueen snapped back to reality, a flash of annoyance crossing her face—but the Q-version McQueen on the cake was beyond saving.
"My queen, are you eating? If not, I'll eat it." Tokai Teio reached for the plate as she spoke.
Mejiro McQueen snatched it back. "Of course I'm eating it myself. Teio, finish your own cake first."
...
The clinking of plates and utensils gradually quieted.
Lucian glanced around, saw that most had finished eating, cleared his throat, and lightly clapped his hands. "Everyone, quiet for a moment. I have one more thing to announce."
His gaze passed over the group and landed on the tiny figure still in the corner. A trace of helplessness flickered in his eyes as he signaled toward Matikane Tannhauser. "Tantan~ go comfort her quick."
"Got it." Matikane Tannhauser squatted down beside Twin Turbo. "Twin Turbo, don't be sad. Trainer has something to say—come back quick."
"But Nice Nature ate my 'little Twin Turbo'!"
"It's okay~ Look, my little cake is still perfectly intact in every way. If you're really upset, just look at mine."
Matikane Tannhauser tried her best to comfort her, but for some reason Twin Turbo's eyes overflowed with even more tears—like a riverbed in rainy season. "No need to be touched, Twin Turbo—this is what I should do~"
"Until Nice Nature gives me cake tonight, I won't say a single word to Tannhauser!" Twin Turbo stood up and returned to her seat.
"Huh?" Matikane Tannhauser blinked. That wasn't quite how she'd expected it to go—but at least she'd coaxed Twin Turbo back.
She got up too and returned to her seat.
Everyone's attention returned to Lucian, waiting for him to speak.
But Lucian's gaze went past them and settled on Dextrous Bailey. "Little Bailey, you say it yourself."
Saying goodbye wasn't something he was good at—better to let the person involved handle it.
...