At the Chrysanthemum Award, Seiun Sky's Great Escape made headlines in major newspapers, and she became a popular Uma Musume.

Special Week, who placed second, also gained immense popularity.

If nothing unexpected happened, their selection for the Arima Kinen should have been a certainty.

However, Lu Jue was very worried because he could tell that Seiun Sky was already struggling then.

He was proud that she possessed Eishin Flash's resolve, but he did not want her to suffer Eishin Flash's fate.

...

"What are your plans after the Chrysanthemum Award?"

"Are you confident you can beat Miss Seiun Sky next time?"

"Which Uma Musume are you looking forward to competing against?"

...

The throng of reporters surrounding Special Week also disrupted Lu Jue's daily training.

But there was nothing he could do, as all these reporters had received permission from the academy.

"Excuse me, we are in the middle of training right now. Everyone can take some photos or videos," Lu Jue said, shielding Special Week behind him as he dealt with the reporters. Then, he pulled Special Week and fled back to the lounge.

"Trainer, it was so scary!" Special Week looked relieved.

"After all, our Xiao Te is a celebrity Uma Musume now," Lu Jue poured Special Week a glass of water. "Quench your thirst."

"But in front of so many people, I get a little panicked."

"Then just run like you did just now. Anyway, they can't catch you," Lu Jue also poured himself some water. "Didn't I give you and Seiun the day off today? Why are you still here?"

Special Week held her water glass and mumbled, "While Seiun isn't here, I'm going to secretly excel and then amaze her."

"Rest is also very necessary. The Chrysanthemum Award must have tired your body out a lot, right?"

Although Special Week came to the training ground as usual today, Lu Jue only let her run on her own.

Lu Jue suddenly remembered the text message Seiun Sky had sent him, "And Seiun will also come to visit later. She smartly avoided the reporters."

"Trainer, you're calling me silly again."

"How could a silly Uma Musume get second place in the Chrysanthemum Award?"

Just as a smile bloomed on Special Week's face, Lu Jue continued, "You're just a little bit 'silly'."

"Trainer..."

"Lovably silly."

"Trainer, are you praising me or scolding me?"

"Stay here, don't move. I'll get you some carrots to eat."

"Carrots!?" The surprise on Special Week's face flashed away. "Trainer, please don't change the subject!"

...

Only after all the reporters left did Lu Jue take Special Week back to the training ground.

Uralala, Rice Shower, and Nimble Beret were sitting together in a circle.

"I leave you alone for a moment, and you're all sitting on the ground?"

"Trainer, where did you go?" Uralala got up from the ground, pouting. "You're accusing me wrongly! Uralala has already finished the tasks you just assigned."

"Then I was wrong to blame Uralala."

Lu Jue pinched her soft, plump cheek, finding it not enough, and extended both hands, making various funny faces.

"Mmm... The mean Trainer didn't apologize to Uralala and is playing with Uralala..."

"Can't I even pinch your cheeks anymore? Alright~" Lu Jue feigned dejection and withdrew his hands, playing hard to get.

"Eh... No, you can. Can't I let Trainer pinch me?" Uralala grabbed the Trainer's hand again and placed it on her cheek.

"Uralala is still the cutest." Under Lu Jue's mischievous hands, Uralala's face changed shape like dough. "It's not in vain that Trainer is so good to you."

"Enough, enough, no more pinching... My face is going to be ruined by Trainer," Uralala cupped her face. "If Trainer still wants to touch, let Rice Shower take a turn first."

Rice Shower, still out of the loop, was immediately sold out by Uralala. "Huh? Me?"

Rice Shower nervously wrung her small hands and slowly lowered her head.

Lu Jue felt too embarrassed to bully her, so he looked at Nimble Beret and Special Week.

Nimble Beret turned around, seemingly refusing, but in fact, speaking with her swaying tail.

Special Week, on the other hand, covered her face and retreated. "Trainer, if you pinch Uralala, you can't pinch me."

"Let's just pinch Uralala."

When Uralala saw Lu Jue's gaze return to her, she covered her face and ran far away.

Lu Jue couldn't help but smile, his attention drawn to Silent Suzuka and Tokai Teio, who were still running on the track.

...

"Silence Suzuka Senior, you're too fast..." Tokai Teio gasped for breath.

Tokai Teio could barely keep up with Silent Suzuka for a while, but it was hard to surpass her quickly.

Silent Suzuka was secretly surprised by Tokai Teio's talent and did not refuse her praise. "Emperor, you have actually grown very quickly. Perhaps you lack the experience of major competitions."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, let the person behind you develop a few more times, and you should become very strong."

"The person behind me? Develop?" Tokai Teio turned around blankly. "Trainer."

"Yo, Emperor lost again?"

"What do you mean 'again'!?" Tokai Teio sounded like her tail had been stepped on, and she said angrily, "Silence Suzuka Senior said I'm very talented!"

"Alright, alright, you're talented, you're talented, you're the strongest!" Lu Jue gave a thumbs up.

"Trainer, I feel like you're being perfunctory with me--" Tokai Teio narrowed her eyes, staring at Lu Jue.

"Alright, that's enough training for today. Hurry to the lounge."

...

Lu Jue and the two others were the last to return to the lounge.

But there was nothing much to do today, so everyone could leave after tidying up.

"Comfortable?" Lu Jue asked Seiun Sky, who was sitting in his seat. "So why are you still here now?"

"Trainer doesn't welcome me anymore?"

"No, it's just that everyone's about to leave."

"Got it~" She wasn't here to see everyone anyway.

"The person on duty, please stay. Today it's... Silence Suzuka, right?" Lu Jue asked.

"Yes." Silent Suzuka nodded.

"Good, please clean the empty space behind, and hang up the washed clothes. I'll clean the lounge."

"Okay." Silent Suzuka took the broom and left through the back door.

"Then Trainer, we'll be leaving now," Uralala and the others said goodbye to Lu Jue. After an afternoon of training, their stomachs were already rumbling with hunger.

"Mm, bye-bye."

Only Seiun Sky and Lu Jue remained in the lounge.

...