Amidst a swirling cloud of dust, the first figure to dash out was Daitaku Helios. She was wearing a blue-and-white polka-dot swimsuit, clutching something resembling a speaker system in both hands.
Right behind her was Mejiro Palmer. Wearing a simple cyan swimsuit, she held a headset and a microphone in her hands.
From behind, Air Groove and Hishi Amazon were in the middle of a frantic pursuit to corner the two.
Unfortunately, carrying heavy equipment meant the two were no match for the two Student Council officers. They were apprehended on the spot.
As the dust settled, Air Groove could be seen pinning Daitaku Helios to the ground, while nearby, Hishi Amazon had Mejiro Palmer's hands locked behind her back.
Beside them lay the related equipment, already neatly lined up on the ground.
"Air Groove, what is going on here?" Symboli Rudolf asked in confusion.
Lifting her head and seeing it was Symboli Rudolf and Mr. C.B., Air Groove quickly pulled Helios to her feet.
"President, these two wanted to hold a concert. I told them it hadn't been approved yet, and as a result, they just snatched the equipment and bolted."
With a frown, Rudolf crossed her arms over her chest and walked over slowly, exuding an air of intimidation. Seeing this, Daitaku Helios hurriedly whispered to Air Groove behind her.
"Wait, wait, I was wrong. Can you let go of my hands?~"
"You're thinking of running again, aren't you?" Hishi Amazon, standing behind, applied even more pressure.
"No, I wasn't planning to run! Take it easy!" Mejiro Palmer finally snapped.
'If she's the one who wants to run, why are you locking me down so hard?!'
Standing before the two, Rudolf's face remained grim, seemingly considering her disciplinary strategy. "Take these two mischievous troublemakers to the western lecture hall. Ms. Hayakawa happens to be conducting a seminar there."
"Whoa, whoa! President! How can you say something so cold?!"
"Have Secretary Hayakawa give the two of them special attention."
"Don't— wait, wait, I was wrong! President!! Give me a chance to make up for it, I'd rather scrub the toilets!"
Rudolf ignored the two and turned to leave. Seeing that she was about to be hauled away, Daitaku Helios struggled and caught sight of Divine Starlight not far away.
Like a drowning person grasping at the final straw that broke the camel's back— or rather, a lifeline— she desperately called out for help.
"Starlight! Starlight-chan!~ Save me! I don't want to be 'educated' by Secretary Hayakawa! We're besties, right?..."
'Oh no... what are you doing? Don't drag me into this, you two idiots!'
A guilty-looking Divine Starlight glanced toward Rudolf, hoping the President wouldn't mistake her for an accomplice because of Helios's outburst.
Meeting that gaze, Rudolf paused slightly. Her eyes shifted toward Tokai Teio. "Teio, what do you think about having a concert in the summer?"
"Eh? It sounds great! I'm actually looking forward to it. Starlight-senpai, McQueen, what do you guys think?"
Divine Starlight gave a strained laugh. "Ahaha... I think... Teio-chan is right."
"I don't mind either way," Mejiro McQueen added.
Nodding, Rudolf looked at Starlight once more, then turned back to speak. "Air Groove."
"President? Is there something else?" Stopping in her tracks, Air Groove looked at her with confusion.
"I believe their original intention was good, even if their methods were a bit misguided. I will consider the matter of the concert."
"However, there must still be a punishment. For the time being, the two of you will be responsible for cleaning the bathhouse."
Without a doubt, Rudolf assumed that Starlight wanted to help the duo but felt unable to speak up due to Rudolf's position as President, which was why she had shown such a conflicted expression.
"Thank you, President! You're the best!..."
Hearing that she didn't have to go to Tazuna Hayakawa for "re-education," Helios felt like she had truly survived a near-death experience.
"Is she always this fickle?" Starlight whispered to Mejiro McQueen.
Clearly stunned by the comment, Mejiro McQueen took a moment to process it. "I... I don't know..."
With the interlude over, the group continued toward the dining hall. After a simple meal, McQueen took Starlight for a walk in the small woods.
Walking side-by-side on the shaded path where the sunlight was filtered out, the sound of cicadas and birds chirping reached their ears from time to time.
"I've noticed you're always wearing this wristband. Does it have some kind of special meaning?"
This was something McQueen had wanted to ask for a long time, after all, the wristband was just a plain white one, yet Starlight wore it during training and in her daily life alike.
"Eh, it doesn't really have a special meaning. It's just what I use for weight training."
"Weights?"
"Yeah. Do you want to try it?"
Nodding, Mejiro McQueen watched as Divine Starlight took off the wristband and then cradled McQueen's right hand.
Starlight personally put the wristband on her.
"Now, I'm going to adjust the setting. Get ready."
"Mm, alright." Starlight slowly turned the dial, clicking it to the second setting.
In an instant, the sudden weight surging through her limbs and bones took Mejiro McQueen by surprise.
Her feet felt heavy against the ground, her brow furrowed, and she couldn't help but find it quite a struggle.
"Are you okay? If you can't handle it, I can turn it down to level one, or we can take it off."
"Do you... train under these conditions every day?"
"Yes, though I'm currently trying to push for level three. My legs start to give out before I can last very long, though."
Nodding, McQueen slowly waved her hand in refusal to turn it down.
"I... want to experience what you feel during your training. Let's keep walking."
"Alright. You have to tell me if you can't keep going. We still have training this afternoon, so don't overdo it." Struggling to lift her legs, Mejiro McQueen walked forward.
She recalled the scenes of Starlight training, her movements always appearing so effortless. Looking down at her own slightly trembling hand, McQueen wondered something...
'Exactly how much sweat and effort did she have to pour in to make this feel normal?'
"As you can see, I really am quite ordinary," Starlight said. "My aptitude, my talent, my bloodline... they're all as mediocre as can be. In a place like Tracen, I'm just a bottom-tier student."
"I want to be noticed, I fantasize about everyone turning their gaze toward me..."
"Perhaps only by doing this can I barely manage to catch up with those talented Uma Musume."
Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead. Considering her own physical condition, Mejiro McQueen eventually took off the wristband and handed it back to Starlight.
"Starlight... Starlight-chan."
"Hmm?"
"I want to compete against you fairly on the racetrack." Mejiro McQueen lifted her gaze, looking directly into Starlight's eyes.
"I'm looking forward to that day."
"If I want to borrow your wristband for training later on, would you be willing to lend it to me?"
"Of course. If it can help you too, I'd be very happy."
It was only then that Mejiro McQueen realized why she had been indifferent— or even dismissive— when people around her spoke of Starlight's virtues before.
It was simply that she had never truly observed her, she had never paid attention to this girl who, just a few months ago, had confessed her feelings to her.
The decadent aura that used to surround Starlight had vanished the moment she threw that bouquet away.
As she thought, images began to involuntarily flicker through McQueen's mind: The figures of Mejiro Ardan, Tokai Teio, Symboli Rudolf, and others...
"Um, Starlight. If another Uma Musume confesses to you or something later on... would you say yes?"
"Eh? Well, that's hard to say..."
McQueen's eyes froze. Just as she was about to speak, she was interrupted by Starlight's chuckle.
"Hehe... Didn't I say before? Until I've made a name for myself, until I've found the 'treasure' on my path of adventure..."
"I won't."
"I... I see. I understand..."
"Why? Is McQueen unhappy at the thought of me being with someone else?"
Hearing the teasing tone, Mejiro McQueen's face flushed slightly, and she snapped her head to the other side.
"Why wouldn't I be happy? That's your business. What... what does it have to do with me?!"
"Is that so... I see."
"Exactly! So don't go overthinking things!"