After returning home, Lu Jue simply cooked a bowl of noodles for Seiun Sky.
The latter, however, ate with great relish.
Of course, it wasn't entirely because of the noodles in front of her, but also because it was her first time alone in Lu Jue's home.
But if Seiun Sky knew that Silent Suzuka had already been there several times, who knows what she would think.
"Are you eating them one by one? It's already half past nine," Lu Jue couldn't help but say, watching Seiun Sky pout and slurp the noodles one by one.
"It's too hot, Trainer, why don't you blow on it for me?" Seiun Sky swallowed the noodles in her mouth, then picked up another chopstickful. "Or do you want some too? I can blow on it for you."
The steam from the noodles slowly diffused, like a thin, somewhat cheap veil, but Lu Jue could still see the sweet, charming smile behind it.
"Uh, no need," Lu Jue felt that staying with Seiun Sky for too long would gradually turn the clear river of his thoughts murky.
However, his acceptance ability was very strong.
"Alright then ~ If Trainer doesn't need it, then I have nothing to say."
Seiun Sky took nearly half an hour to finish one bowl of noodles.
"Thank you for the meal!" Seiun Sky put her hands together, a satisfied expression on her face.
"Let's go, I'll take you back."
"It's no trouble, Trainer, your car probably isn't as fast as I can run."
Seiun Sky was telling the truth; cities had designated lanes for motor vehicles and Uma Musume, with speed limits of 40km/h for the former and 50km/h for the latter.
Lu Jue was somewhat surprised, not expecting Seiun Sky to politely decline his offer to take her back. "Alright, but be careful on the way."
"Mhm."
Lu Jue saw Seiun Sky to the downstairs. As they parted, Seiun Sky, who had taken a few steps, suddenly turned around and leaned towards Lu Jue's cheek.
Soft lips kissed Lu Jue's face like a dragonfly touching water. It was a little cool, but it made ripples gently spread in Lu Jue's heart.
By the time he reacted, the dragonfly had already flown into the night, getting further and further away.
"This fellow is really bold," Lu Jue lightly touched his cheek, smiling helplessly.
......
The next morning, after Lu Jue finished his class, he was about to leave his office when Nimble Beret suddenly walked in.
"You really know how to time it perfectly," Lu Jue said.
She didn't come early or late, but precisely when he was about to get off work.
"That's because the other teachers hadn't left yet." Nimble Beret had actually arrived much earlier, but hadn't dared to come in.
"It doesn't matter if the other teachers haven't left; I won't do anything to you." Lu Jue rubbed his forehead and sat back down. "Tell me, what is it this time?"
Nimble Beret secretly glanced at the door before speaking with some difficulty, "Teacher Lu, what you said last time... does it still count?"
"What I said last time?" Lu Jue's gaze drifted. "What did I say? I forgot."
"You!" Nimble Beret instinctively frowned in annoyance, but in front of Lu Jue, she slowly suppressed it. "You said last time that if I performed well, you would praise me."
"Then how was your performance?"
"During the Yayoi Sho, I didn't casually elbow anyone, and I didn't trip Special Week anymore."
"Aren't those things you should have done anyway?"
"Yes, but..."
The little tyrant-like Nimble Beret was as docile as a little white rabbit in front of Lu Jue.
Lu Jue had to admit, this contrast was very appealing to him.
It felt like a malevolent thought, suppressed by morality, was slowly growing within him—he knew it, but he somewhat didn't want to stop it.
"Never mind, there's one thing I really want to do," Lu Jue suddenly stood up, looking at Nimble Beret with intrigued eyes.
"Are you going to praise me?"
"First, go close the door. Of course, it's still not too late to regret it now."
Nimble Beret swallowed, her rapidly heating head froze for a few seconds, but in the end, she followed Lu Jue's instructions and closed the door.
Walking the few steps back to Lu Jue, her heart rate suddenly quickened, as if it was about to jump out of her throat.
"No regrets? It's not just verbal praise, and it might not even count as praise for you."
Nimble Beret was silent for a moment, then finally gritted her teeth and said, "Come on!"
If it wasn't praise, then it must be punishment, right? For her, it seemed... either was fine?
"Okay, turn around and face the wall."
"Face, face the..."
Nimble Beret's face flushed, her cheeks twitching slightly, but she still did as Lu Jue said.
The arrival of the unknown made her even more nervous, and her breathing gradually became heavier.
Lu Jue knew that Nimble Beret's heart must be in turmoil at this moment.
He slowly approached Nimble Beret, deliberately amplifying his footsteps, and finally slowly grabbed her... tail!
"It's cool and exceptionally smooth."
Lu Jue firmly held Nimble Beret's ponytail; he had just noticed Nimble Beret's tail swaying.
Now, even in his hand, it was still trembling, especially at the base, like a dying little worm wriggling frantically.
But he wasn't acting on a whim; he had been curious about Silent Suzuka and the others' ponytails before.
He wanted to touch them, but he didn't dare.
Now there was a ready-made opportunity, just right to satisfy his curiosity.
"Lu, Lu, Lu, Lu... Teacher Lu Jue!" Nimble Beret cried out, her hands propped against the wall suddenly bending, as if she was trying her best to endure something.
"What's wrong?"
Lu Jue asked in confusion, his hand pulling the tail not stopping. He thought that even if the tail had nerve resistance, it shouldn't be that strong, right?
But when he saw the ripples of emotion in Nimble Beret's eyes, looking infatuated and captivated, he knew his guess was wrong.
Lu Jue awkwardly let go. "Is the tail that sensitive?"
"Because it pulled the very top part of the tail." The moment Lu Jue let go, Nimble Beret felt a sense of loss.
"Sorry, I was just curious... Does it hurt a lot?"
Nimble Beret shook her head, a thought of letting Lu Jue touch her again surfacing in her mind. "It doesn't hurt, but can you go a little slower?"
"Okay... No, you're still willing to let me touch it?"
"Of, of course, if it's Teacher Lu Jue..."
Lu Jue noticed that Nimble Beret still wanted him to touch her tail, so he simply sat back down in his seat.
Being scolded was addictive, being praised was addictive, and being touched on the tail was also addictive? He couldn't let her continue like this.
"Teacher Lu, Lu Jue?"
"It seems you enjoyed it, so that should count as your reward. That's enough."
"Eh!? But, but my tail hasn't fully enjoyed it yet."
"That's not my business. If you still want more... then perform better in the future." Lu Jue felt he was getting more and more skilled in his role as a teacher.
Hmm, teaching according to aptitude, well done.
However, he was actually a little addicted too, especially Nimble Beret's expression of feigned resistance from just now, which was still vivid in his mind.
What if it were other Uma Musume? Would their reaction be the same when their tails were touched?
Lu Jue unconsciously began to fantasize again: Silent Suzuka, Special Week, Seiun Sky, Uralala...
After going through the 'Dream' team members, he felt that they all seemed to lack a certain something—not enough contrast.
Until two figures, one black and one white, appeared in his mind.
The noble and elegant Mejiro McQueen.
The soft and shy Rice Shower.
Lu Jue suddenly sobered up, shook his head, and thought, "Lu Jue, Lu Jue, have you been infected?"