The morning sun was very warm, especially in autumn. The cool breeze carried a hint of biting chill.
"Ah~ I feel much better now that the sun is out..." Seiun Sky remarked with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah, it was quite cold this morning, but now it feels like all the cells in my body have been activated."
"I didn't expect Starlight-chan to be at the back of the pack with me. I thought you would have charged ahead."
"Ahahaha... On weekends, I lack a bit of passion and motivation. After finishing training yesterday, I was hoping to sleep in today."
"Tell me about it. The Chairwoman is really something... this is completely reckless."
After a brief complaint, Seiun Sky looked at the Uma Musume beside her with a smile.
"But thankfully, I have a like-minded companion. It probably won't be so boring..."
As the two Uma Musume chatted and jogged along at an unhurried pace, they found the experience quite pleasant.
Soon, as noon approached, Starlight and Seiun Sky finally reached the first supply station.
Unsurprisingly, it had been completely ransacked by Oguri Cap.
Picking up two bottles of energy drinks, the two Uma Musume helplessly continued on their way.
Unscrewing the cap, Starlight took a sip of her drink, looked ahead, and quickly spoke to Seiun Sky.
"Look, isn't that someone up ahead?"
Stowing her drink in her waist pocket, Seiun Sky looked up.
"Eh, isn't that Grass-san? It looks like she's injured..."
"Is that so? Let's go check it out."
Putting away their drinks, Starlight and Seiun Sky quickened their pace to catch up.
"Grass-san, what happened?"
"Grass-chan, are you okay?"
Grass Wonder, who had been walking slowly with her head down, looked up upon hearing them.
"Starlight-senpai, Sky-chan... I just accidentally got a cramp in my leg. It's mostly fine now."
Narrowing her eyes, Grass Wonder gave a slight smile, showing a relaxed expression.
However, her furrowed brows betrayed her, and the occasional tremor in her right leg made it obvious she was still in pain.
"This won't do. How about Sky-chan and I help you stretch it out?"
"Yeah, if you keep walking back like this, it might get worse."
"Is that so? Then... thank you both."
The three of them moved to a bench by the roadside. After Seiun Sky and Starlight helped Grass Wonder sit down, Starlight knelt in front of her.
She began slowly unlacing Grass Wonder's running shoes, her movements gentle, fearing she might cause the other girl any discomfort.
"Sky-chan, help steady Grass's shoulders."
"Roger that~"
Placing Grass Wonder's right foot on her knee, Starlight began to apply steady pressure with her palm.
As the stretch tightened the calf muscle, a sharp, stinging pain shot through. Grass Wonder's face flushed red, and she couldn't help but cover her mouth as a muffled groan escaped her.
"It's okay, Grass-san. Relax, it'll be over in a moment..."
Seeing her leg begin to shake violently again, Starlight's voice was incredibly soft and soothing. She gradually increased the pressure.
After a long while, the initial pain vanished, replaced by the feeling of a proper stretch.
"Ha-huu, ha-huu... It-It doesn't hurt anymore..."
"Good. Let me help you put your shoes back on. Sky-chan, help Grass wipe off some of that sweat."
"Okay, let me find some tissues..."
Thanks to Starlight's professional massage and stretching, Grass Wonder's cramp symptoms were greatly relieved.
"Thank you both for your help. You should hurry and finish the marathon, I think I'll have to head back to campus."
At those words, Starlight and Seiun Sky exchanged a glance, seemingly engaging in some form of "encrypted chat."
"Grass, have you had breakfast?" Starlight suddenly asked.
Grass Wonder was clearly taken aback but answered anyway.
"Not yet. Why?"
Seiun Sky stepped in front of Grass Wonder and patted her on the shoulder.
"Then let's find a restaurant and have some breakfast first."
"Eh?! You aren't planning to continue the race? Please don't worry about me... You should go on ahead."
"How could we do that? Grass-san, don't you consider us your friends?"
Starlight gently took Grass Wonder's hand and spoke in a solemn tone.
"Of course I do. It's exactly because we are friends that I'm telling you not to worry about me. Keep running forward."
"Grass, you have to look at it from our perspective. When a friend is injured and needs care, how could Starlight-chan and I possibly just ignore it?"
The scene shifted. Inside a certain breakfast shop.
With half a meat bun in one hand and a bowl of porridge in the other, Starlight was happily sipping away.
Beside her, Seiun Sky was carefully savoring some fish soup while holding a toasted flatbread.
Seeing the two of them eating with such gusto, the corner of Grass Wonder's mouth twitched slightly as she sat opposite them.
"Eat up, Grass-chan. It won't taste good once it gets cold."
Starlight looked up, stuffed the other half of the bun into her mouth, and gestured toward the fried egg sandwich in Grass's hand.
"Ah— right, okay."
While the three were still enjoying their breakfast, a phone rang. Setting down her flatbread, Starlight picked up the phone and looked at the caller ID.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?!"
"Ha, I'm on the road. What's up?"
"There are already Uma Musume at the fourth supply point, and most have passed the third. How have you not even passed the second?"
Rudolf's questioning voice came through. Starlight felt it was a bit piercing, so she moved the phone a little further from her ear.
"Starlight-chan, your savory soup is here."
"Thanks, Sky-chan."
After thanking her, Starlight took the soup.
"Soup? Wait, what are you doing?"
"I'm eating breakfast, President. What's wrong?"
"...The event isn't over yet."
"Don't rush, let me have a sip of soup first."
Starlight picked up the bowl, took a leisurely sip, and then said:
"I found Grass Wonder injured on the way. I couldn't just leave her alone, right? We're good friends after all."
"Where are you?"
"Uh, a breakfast shop."
"Send me the location. Wait there. I'm coming over."
Watching Starlight act so composed—eating and drinking without a hint of panic—Seiun Sky couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.
No matter how lazy she was, she still felt a bit intimidated when facing Rudolf.
"Um, Starlight-chan, is this really okay? If the President comes, we might get a lecture."
"What's the panic? The President isn't that scary. You guys have just fallen for her 'cold and ruthless' persona."
"But, won't we be disciplined?" Grass Wonder asked from across the table.
"Aiyah, it's fine. I'll shoulder it alone. Don't worry."
"Really? Starlight-chan... then I'm relieved."
Seiun Sky immediately felt at peace and went back to enjoying her breakfast.
A short while later...
Rudolf walked into the breakfast shop with a cold expression. She scanned the room, quickly locked onto Starlight's position, and marched over.
"..."
Stopping her movements, Seiun Sky locked eyes with Rudolf for a moment. Then, she promptly shifted her position to sit over on Grass Wonder's side.
Seeing this, Rudolf raised an eyebrow slightly and sat down directly across from Starlight.
"You're here, Madam President."
"Yes, I am. You've certainly got some nerve, coming straight to a breakfast shop."
"Aiyah, I was just hungry. How can I run on an empty stomach, right?"
"Aren't there supply stations?"
"By the time Sky-chan and I reached the first station, there was nothing left."
As she spoke, Starlight pushed her bowl of fish soup toward the other.
"Want some? Madam President? I can't finish it."
"You've already drunk from it!?"
"Yes. Why? Do you dislike it...?"
With a soft huff, Rudolf silently took the bowl anyway.
"I do."
Pouting, Starlight muttered under her breath:
"You don't like it, yet you're still drinking it."