The class still hadn't snapped out of their shock.
At that moment, Super Creek returned from the teacher's office. Seeing the Uma Musume standing behind her seat, she walked up and smiled quite calmly.
"Ah, Starlight-chan, you're back."
"Mhm. Creek, where did you go?"
"The teacher just called me to handle something regarding the blackboard bulletin."
Their casual conversation made Yaeno Muteki, who was standing nearby, lose her composure.
"Wait, Super Creek, why are you being so calm? Can't you see the change in Starlight?!"
Hearing this, Super Creek looked at the silver-haired Uma Musume in front of her. After sizing her up, she nodded and gave an honest evaluation.
"Starlight has become even prettier. And... that's about it."
"How could you even recognize her? She looks like a completely different person compared to before, doesn't she?" an unnamed black-haired Uma Musume beside Creek remarked.
"Eh? Starlight's aura is always so gentle, and these bright eyes are very easy to recognize, aren't they?"
"Let's not talk about that for now. Why is my breakfast gone? I'm starving~"
Seeing this, Creek came over with a smile and reached out to rub Starlight's head. She pulled a sandwich out of her desk.
"Starlight-chan, I have a sandwich here. You can have it."
"Eh! Thank you, Creek~"
Her eyes lit up. She tossed the empty trash bag into the bin behind her, took the sandwich, unwrapped it, and began to eat.
"Hey! Starlight, I found the culprit who stole your breakfast."
By now, Tamamo Cross had followed the scent and locked onto Oguri Cap, who was sitting not far away with her head down, munching on a bun.
Tamamo rushed over and, without ceremony, grabbed Oguri's arm to pull her over.
Turning her head, Starlight saw the remains of her bun clutched in Oguri Cap's hand. Starlight looked up and met Oguri Cap's somewhat guilty gaze.
"Oguri Cap-san, how could you do such a thing?"
"Ah, well... haha, sorry, sorry, Starlight-san. I really didn't have enough to eat, and I couldn't help but take your breakfast."
"Forget it. Creek gave me a sandwich, so you can have that one. Just don't snatch my food next time, okay? If you want to eat, just wait for me to get back and tell me."
"Oh~ thank you for your forgiveness, Starlight-san. You're so kind."
Finishing the last bite in her hand with a look of relief, Oguri Cap spoke plainly.
"Hey! How can you just forgive her like that? Starlight, I'll set things right for you. I'll make her bring you breakfast tomorrow morning."
"Eh? That doesn't seem right."
"It's fine. I've been blacklisted by several restaurants because of her. If we don't rein this girl in, it's really going to get out of hand."
Tamamo Cross gave Oguri Cap a light poke in the waist and waved her hand dismissively.
"Alright then. Thanks, Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap."
"Mhm, let's go. Weren't we looking for Daiichi Ruby?"
Tamamo Cross led Starlight out of the classroom. Instantly, Class B erupted into a frenzy again.
"Wow~ Does Divine Starlight really look like that? She feels as beautiful as Gold City."
"Exactly! Why didn't we get to know her sooner? I really want to take a photo with her or something."
...
At the entrance of Class A downstairs.
Tamamo Cross poked her head in and shouted toward the interior.
"Is Ruby-san here? Someone is looking for you..."
Hearing this, Daiichi Ruby, who was chatting with classmates, waved slightly. She stood up and said, "Excuse me for a moment."
She walked out with slow, steady steps.
"Miss Tamamo Cross, may I ask who is looking for me?"
"It's me... hello."
Following the voice to its owner, Daiichi Ruby froze for a second upon seeing Starlight clearly, then asked in confusion.
"May I ask who you are, Miss? What business do you have with me?"
"Hello, I am Divine Starlight. Actually, this is about my friend. Um... Tamamo Cross-san, could you give us a moment?"
"No problem, you two chat."
"Thanks!"
After seeing Tamamo walk to the side, Ruby spoke.
"Please explain in detail, Miss Starlight."
"Mhm. A few days ago, I went out to have fun with my friend, Daitaku Helios. We happened to run into you and your friend at a café."
"Helios was very happy because the hair ornament you were wearing at the time was a gift she gave you."
"But you unintentionally said something that really hurt her, and it made her very sad. I was hoping that, for my sake, you could apologize to her. Would that be okay?"
After hearing Starlight speak, Daiichi Ruby recalled the words spoken at that time. She looked up at Starlight, and after a long silence, she bowed slightly in apology.
"I am deeply sorry. I was rude, and I offer my sincerest apologies for the offense caused by my words and actions."
"I will make a special appointment to apologize to her at noon."
"Mm, thank you, Ruby."
"No, it is I who should thank you, Miss Starlight, for promptly informing me of my negligence and rudeness. And Daitaku Helios is truly fortunate to have a friend like you. May we become acquainted?"
After straightening up, Daiichi Ruby took out her phone to ask.
"Of course. Miss Ruby is just as the rumors say— an elegant and beautiful lady. I am very glad to meet you."
Meanwhile, in the Middle School Division.
At the very last desk in the middle row of Class A.
Daitaku Helios, propping up her head listlessly, was aimlessly fiddling with the pen in her hand. Her seatmate was an Uma Musume with slightly curly, light brown hair.
Indeed, it was Mejiro Palmer.
Seeing her best friend in such a haggard state made her very worried. She had actually asked what happened last night, but unfortunately, Helios had kept her lips sealed tight, not uttering a single word.
This was starting to make Palmer feel anxious as well.
Seeing the teacher on the podium turn their back, she quickly tossed a crumpled paper ball toward her.
Plop—
After successfully hitting the other's head, it landed on the desk. Helios slowly opened it and glanced at the contents.
"Helios, what on earth is wrong? Don't stay like this. How about I treat you to a smoothie after school?"
Pouting her lips, Helios slowly wrote back a sentence.
"Thanks, Palmer, I'm fine. I won't bother you."
Just as she was about to throw the paper ball back, the phone in her desk drawer suddenly vibrated. She picked it up and stealthily opened it underneath the desk.
The moment the message from Ruby arrived, Helios's expression instantly surged with excitement. Even her droopy ears began to shoot up, and her tail started to wag behind her.
After hurriedly typing a reply, Helios wrote another line on the paper ball:
"Yasss! The Young Lady wants to eat with me! Palmer, the Young Lady actually asked to have lunch with me— !"
Watching her friend's expression flip like a mask— going from gloom to high spirits the second she looked at her phone— Mejiro Palmer was somewhat speechless.
After reading the paper ball thrown back to her, she immediately understood the general gist of the situation.
It was nothing more than Ruby's coldness making her mopey, and then the moment Ruby paid her any attention, she became happy again.
After all, when the two of them first met at that "Great Tree Hole" for venting emotions, Helios had been moping because of Ruby's indifference then, too.
Shaking her head, Mejiro Palmer gave a helpless smile. She tucked the paper ball away and gave Helios a thumbs-up.
"Good luck."
Because there was something to look forward to, time naturally flew by. The bell for the final period rang. Helios packed her bag and bolted out of the classroom to meet Ruby.
The scene shifts back to Starlight.
At this moment, she was carrying a packed lunch box toward the Trainer's office.
Since the venue and conditions for the next race would be different, they naturally needed to re-plan tactics and training schedules. Therefore, she and Inami had agreed to eat lunch together in the office today.
On the small path...
Birds occasionally kept her company, and several kittens followed at her heels. There were even one or two beautiful butterflies resting on her shoulders.
Not far off, she spotted an orange-haired Uma Musume walking in a very strange manner.
"Is that...? Is her leg injured?"
The other person's pace was very slow, so Starlight caught up to her without any effort.
"Tch... Can I still not train today— "
The faint words were laced with disappointment and frustration. Because of these negative emotions, the Uma Musume accidentally lost her footing and began to fall backward.
Thud—
The sensation of pain never came, instead, she found herself in a soft embrace. The Uma Musume looked up in surprise.
What met her eyes was Starlight's smiling face and those golden eyes filled with concern.
"That was dangerous, classmate. Are you alright?"