At the same time, on the other side...
Rustling sounds kept coming through the phone pressed to her ear. Hearing this, Mejiro McQueen's expression was not particularly pleasant.
Even though it was noisy, it was easy enough to tell that these were the kinds of sounds only made by two Uma Musume sharing the same blanket.
"Starlight-chan... what exactly is going on over there?"
"Hmm? What do you mean what's going on..."
"Why is... why is there another Uma Musume's voice?"
"Oh~ Last night Rice-chan and I were looking at pitcure books. We got a bit too invested, so we just slept together~"
Starlight's nonchalant voice came through the phone.
'Rice-chan? Who's that...'
Since Starlight had used a nickname, Mejiro McQueen didn't immediately register who she meant. It took a good moment for that petite, black-clad figure to form in her mind.
'So it's the Assassin!?'
'To think it was her. She clearly looked so timid and shy, so how did she end up getting so close to Starlight?! It defied logic...'
Mejiro McQueen fell into silence. Seeing that the other person hadn't replied for a long time, Starlight asked curiously:
"So, are we still going to the dessert shop?"
"Go by yourself."
Unexpectedly, the other girl uttered those cold words and promptly hung up the phone. This left Starlight scratching her head in confusion.
"Um, Starlight-chan, McQueen-san seems... seems to be angry. Is it because Rice disturbed you two...?"
Beside her, Rice Shower sat up, her hands clasped together as she rubbed them anxiously.
"How could that be? It's just McQueen being her usual self, saying things that don't make sense. It's not Rice-chan's fault."
"Is that so? Then... then Rice will head back. I won't take up any more of Starlight-chan's time."
After changing her clothes, Rice Shower picked up her pitcure books and walked toward the door.
"Wait."
"W-What is it?"
Just as Rice Shower was about to reach the door, Starlight called out to her.
"Judging by McQueen's tone, it looks like she isn't going. I really want to check out that dessert shop myself. Rice, do you want to go together?"
"Eh! O-Okay. I'm very happy that Starlight would invite me..."
After returning to her own room, Rice Shower went into the bathroom to freshen up.
She then picked out an off-white dress, paired it with a coat, and put on warm tights. Carrying her small bag, she went back to find Divine Starlight.
Starlight's choice was even simpler: she just threw on a cartoon hoodie.
The two Uma Musume arrived at the dormitory entrance and were about to set off.
"Starlight-chan, Rice-chan..."
From the other side, Haru Urara came running over energetically.
"Urara, hello there~"
"Good morning, Urara-chan..."
"Good morning! Are you two planning to go out and play?"
"That's right. Rice and I are going to have some breakfast, do a bit of shopping, and then visit a new dessert shop in the afternoon."
"Wow~ that sounds great! I want to come along too, is that okay?"
"Of course! I'd be happy to have Urara with us."
Seeing Starlight agree, Rice Shower also nodded quickly with a smile. "Welcome, Urara-chan."
"Yay~! I originally had plans to see a stage play with T.M. Opera O, but she caught a cold after soaking in the hot springs yesterday."
"The weather was pretty nice yesterday, not even that cold. How did she catch a cold?"
At that, Urara thought back and said, "Meisho Doto said that after Opera O finished her soak, she stood in the cold north wind wearing nothing but a bathrobe for ages, saying it felt 'wonderfully romantic'."
"Hahaha... that sounds exactly like something Opera O would do."
Hearing that description, a vivid image immediately appeared in Starlight's mind: The short, orange-haired Uma Musume in a bathrobe, hair soaking wet, striking a pose against a balcony railing.
"Starlight-chan, Urara-chan, the bus... it's here."
Rice Shower, noticing the bus arriving, quickly reached out to point it out.
"Great! Let's hurry, or we won't be able to grab seats in a bit."
The three Uma Musume moved quickly, but unfortunately, they still underestimated the popularity of the morning rush hour bus.
"Well~ standing for a while is fine too," Starlight said nonchalantly as she took in the scene.
They moved to the rear door area, stood for two stops, and then transferred to the train to continue their journey.
"Phew, it's finally a bit more spacious. It was quite a squeeze on the bus just now," Haru Urara remarked as she sat back in her seat, smoothing out her ruffled dress.
"Next time, let's just run straight to the station. I don't want to take that bus again."
"Agreed!"
Perhaps because of an energetic live wire like Urara, Rice Shower seemed a bit quiet, silently listening to the two of them talk from the side. Every now and then, she managed to chime in.
At the same time, on the other side...
Sitting up from the large bed in her luxurious bedroom, Mejiro McQueen irritably scratched her hair.
She picked up her phone, checked the time, and then couldn't help but open her chat with Starlight.
After a long silence, she began to compose a message. After several rounds of deleting and retyping, she finally sent this:
Mejiro McQueen: What are you doing right now?
Seeing that it had sent successfully, Mejiro McQueen took a deep breath and got up to wash and change.
By the time she stepped out of the bathroom, Starlight had already replied.
Starlight: Out playing with Rice and Urara. Heading to that new dessert shop this afternoon.
McQueen: Fine, I understand.
Her eyes narrowed. After a moment of thought, Mejiro McQueen hurriedly went to change her clothes.
In a pavilion within the manor grounds...
Mejiro Ardan was currently enjoying the pleasant morning air, looking very relaxed. After a while, she saw Mejiro McQueen, dressed exquisitely, rushing out in a great hurry.
The hand Ardan was using to reach for her teacup paused.
"And where is she going...? Interesting..."
Wearing an expression of someone watching a good show, Mejiro Ardan chose not to follow or ask anything.
If it were a solo date with an Uma Musume, McQueen's expression would never look so anxious.
Therefore, there could only be one answer: Little McQueen was going on the offensive again.
Sure enough, when afternoon came...
Inside the newly opened dessert shop.
Since it had just opened and hadn't been heavily advertised, it wasn't very crowded.
When Divine Starlight and her two companions walked in, they easily spotted Mejiro McQueen sitting not far away. She was currently sipping tea with an air of leisure.
"Eh? McQueen, what are you doing here...?"
Finally. After eight cups of black tea, you've finally arrived.
After that silent inner exclamation, Mejiro McQueen slowly looked up. She set down her teacup and spoke in an incredibly natural tone.
"I never said I wasn't going."
"I-Is that so? Your tone on the phone this morning sounded a bit off, so I thought..."
"Hmph. I am an Uma Musume of the Mejiro family, how could I possibly get angry over such trivial matters?"
"I see. Then let's sit here— Rice-chan, Urara-chan."
"Yay! I'm going to check out the display case over there!" After answering, Urara ran off to look at the sweets in the display.
Seeing this, McQueen's brow furrowed. She stood up and headed toward the shop's restroom.
Needless to say, she had clearly drunk too much tea.
By the time she returned from the restroom, the three of them had already ordered and were chatting and laughing together.
McQueen then very naturally walked over to Starlight's table and sat down.
Swish, swish, swish!
Three pairs of eyes converged on Mejiro McQueen.
"What is it?"
"McQueen-san, your seat... it seems to be over there..." Rice Shower said, pointing toward the back.
"Is it? You must have remembered incorrectly. I was definitely sitting here."