Special Week nodded, “Understood, I guess.”

This time, Lu Jue didn’t neglect Seiun Sky again, “What about you, Xingyun Jiang?”

Seiun Sky extended her index and middle fingers, using them to represent two legs, “It’s like this, ‘tap tap tap,’ and then like this, ‘whoosh whoosh whoosh.’”

Lu Jue: ......

He didn’t know if the two of them truly understood or were just pretending.

Lu Jue felt it was still necessary to borrow Taiki Shuttle from Tojo Hana, just like in the anime.

After all, simulated races could indeed provide richer experience, such as allowing them to personally feel the heart and lung rhythm during a pitch running style, and the difference in energy consumption compared to a normal running style.

“I’ll still ask Sister Hua to borrow Tree, and have her run a simulated race with you two.” As soon as Lu Jue finished speaking, four gazes immediately shot in his direction.

“Tree?”

“Who is Tree?”

“Is there an Uma Musume with that name in Tojo Trainer’s team?”

......

Goodness, Silence Suzuka’s rapid-fire triple question directly stumped Lu Jue.

Only then did he realize he had spoken too quickly, “Uh, it’s Taiki Shuttle.”

Before he transmigrated, he used to call her that, following the comments, and over time, he got used to it. Calling her that now did sound a bit ambiguous.

“Taiki Shuttle-chan? Is Lu Jue-jun very familiar with her?” Silence Suzuka frowned, her gaze sharp, as if scrutinizing a criminal.

“She’s alright... Didn’t she and Sister Hua come to your celebration party last time? Did you forget?”

Seiun Sky also chimed in, “Just ‘alright’? Can Trainer call someone ‘Tree’ just like that?”

She suddenly felt that the nickname “Xingyun Jiang” wasn’t as pleasant anymore.

“I misspoke for a moment, please forgive me, both of you.” Lu Jue clasped his hands together, bowing repeatedly to the two inquisitors, and quickly changed the subject, “So, Xingyun and Xiao Te, what are your intentions? To race or not to race?”

“I have to say this beforehand, Tree... Taiki Shuttle is currently the undisputed ruler of short-distance races, a true G1 Uma Musume.”

Facing Lu Jue’s preemptive warning, Seiun Sky’s answer was quite firm, “Race, I want to see what kind of divine being Tree, as Trainer calls her, truly is.”

“I want to race too.” Special Week raised her hand, her gaze towards Lu Jue still faintly resentful, “I want to see how amazing the Uma Musume who attracts Trainer is.”

“Alright, then I’ll go discuss it with Sister Hua in a bit.”

......

Given their state after just finishing training, it was definitely not suitable for another race.

So, after discussing with Tojo Hana, Lu Jue scheduled the simulated race for the following afternoon.

It was unknown who leaked the news, but many idle Uma Musume came to the spectator stands that afternoon.

“Xiao Te, Xingyun, don’t be nervous, just run your best.” Lu Jue encouraged the two of them.

“Tree, I’m a bit eager to race against her.” Clearly, Seiun Sky was also a big jealous type; she hadn’t calmed down even after a night.

“I won’t lose either!”

“Alright, alright, you two, good luck.”

At this moment, Silence Suzuka, who was beside him, asked seriously, “So, Tree? Has she not arrived yet?”

Lu Jue smiled bitterly, just noticing Tojo Hana leading Taiki Shuttle and the other members of “Rigil” approaching.

Uralala suddenly blurted out, “Yay, it’s Tree! Xingyun Jiang and Xiao Te are saved!”

Lu Jue’s face instantly darkened, “Uralala, who taught you that?”

Uralala stuck out her little tongue, “Hmph, I won’t tell Trainer.”

While chatting, Tojo Hana had already walked up to Lu Jue, “Xiao Lu, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Not at all, Sister Hua, thank you for the trouble this time.”

Tojo Hana nodded, and Taiki Shuttle, who was beside her, stepped forward, “Exciting~! Thank you very much, Trainer Lu, for the challenge! So, who will be racing against me?”

“It’s Xiao Te and Xingyun.” Lu Jue slightly turned his body.

He had expected a meeting with a hint of tension, but unexpectedly, Seiun Sky and Special Week were radiating full friendliness.

Seiun Sky: “Tree-senpai, please guide me.”

Special Week: “Tree-senpai, I’m very happy to race with you, please take care of me.”

Taiki Shuttle was utterly confused, her wide, starry eyes flickering with doubt.

Tree? Is that what they’re calling her? But she and the two people in front of her didn’t seem to be that familiar yet.

The girl’s personality was also straightforward, so she directly asked, harboring the doubt in her heart, “Why do you call me Tree?”

“Trainer calls you that, so we learned to call you that too.” Seiun Sky explained.

“Trainer Lu?!” Taiki Shuttle first looked at Lu Jue in surprise, then quickly lowered her head, a faint, almost imperceptible blush appearing on her cheeks.

It was rare for the girl to show such an expression.

Her adorable nature, combined with her tall and well-endowed figure among a group of petite Uma Musume, who wouldn’t be captivated by that?

Lu Jue first gave Special Week and Seiun Sky a warning look, but they weren’t afraid at all and turned their faces away.

He thought to himself: These are the Uma Musume he chose... he had to endure.

Then, Lu Jue explained to Taiki Shuttle, “Uh... this title is quite popular in my hometown; it makes people feel closer. Please don’t be bothered by it.”

“OK, I understand.” Taiki Shuttle didn’t suspect Lu Jue’s impromptu excuse, but instead continued to ask, “Trainer Lu, if I win, can I come to your place for another meal?”

“Of course, no problem, provided you win against the two of them.”

With Taiki Shuttle’s current strength, winning against Special Week and Seiun Sky was more than enough. Moreover, it was her preferred 1600 meters.

The reason Lu Jue agreed to Taiki Shuttle’s condition was also in hopes that she wouldn’t hold back.

In the anime, he always felt that Taiki Shuttle’s races weren’t serious; it was like she was playing, but she still managed to win against Special Week.

“Come on! I will give it my all!”

......

“Amazon, you go be the finish line.”

“Huh? Why me again~”

“Don’t talk, just go!” Air Groove stood with one hand on her hip, her expression solemn, with a hint of empress-like majesty in her brows.

The dark-skinned girl grumbled, but her body was very obedient.

In her opinion, this was a race with no suspense. Besides an overwhelming victory for Taiki Shuttle, she couldn’t think of any other outcome.

......

As soon as Lu Jue stepped off the track, Silence Suzuka’s faint voice echoed in his ears.

“Lu Jue-jun, does Dragon Country really have such a custom of addressing people? Lu Jue-jun, do you hope Tree wins, or Xiao Te and Xingyun win?”

“Of course, I hope my own team members win, but accepting reality is also very important. As for the custom...” Lu Jue decided to go all out and make the lie sound convincing, “It’s also true, don’t you believe me, Lu Bao?”

“Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu......”

The incoherent Silence Suzuka lowered her head, unable to see her toes. Her two hands were tangled into knots, as messy and difficult to untangle as the thoughts suddenly intertwined in her heart.

Lu Jue only needed to make a slight move, and the fragile ice on Silence Suzuka’s face melted away completely.

“If I hear ‘Tree’ one more time now, I’ll call you ‘Lu Bao’.”

“You’re, you’re so shameless.”

“Thanks for the compliment~”

......