A cold wind whistled past. Combined with the yandere-like Uma Musume standing before her, Starlight felt a chill run down her spine.
She slightly tightened her grip on Rice Shower's hand and gave a tentative smile.
"It's not that I don't want to, Still-san, but I just finished training and I'm very tired and want to rest. Let's exchange contact info first."
"We can hang out together when we have time later, how about it?"
The veil hanging from Still in Love's bangs fluttered slowly. She didn't immediately respond to Divine Starlight's proposal.
The eerie smile remained fixed on her lips as her gaze moved down from Starlight's face, landing finally on the two Uma Musume' tightly clasped hands.
After a long silence, she finally waved her hand and spoke.
"Alright then, Starlight-senpai. Here..."
She took out her phone and displayed her account information to Starlight.
Moving quickly, Divine Starlight added Still in Love as a friend without delay. She nodded and turned immediately toward the dormitory.
Beside her, Rice Shower didn't dare say a word, quickening her pace to follow Starlight's lead.
Those crimson eyes reflected the two departing figures as they grew smaller and smaller, finally vanishing into the distance...
Still in Love looked down at her phone.
"Starlight... senpai—"
————
"This race is highly anticipated—the third race of this year's Twinkle Series."
"Look! Now stepping onto the inspection track is the number one favorite: Silence Suzuka!"
A burst of cheers and applause erupted.
In the stands, a short-haired Uma Musume happened to walk up.
She wore a vest over a plain long skirt and carried a backpack. The curiosity and excitement on her face were practically overflowing.
Her purple, crystal-grape-like eyes reflected the cool figure of Silence Suzuka as she flicked her sleeve.
Our country girl, Special Week, let out a gasp of admiration, the tail behind her wagging joyfully.
"So beautiful..."
As if sensing something, Silence Suzuka looked over in Special Week's direction, her eyes momentarily sparkling. She raised her hand slightly and gave a gentle wave.
"Ah, is she... is she waving at me?"
Special Week's face flushed slightly at the sight. She shyly waved back in response.
However, what she didn't know was that in the row directly below her, Divine Starlight was cradling a bucket of popcorn.
She, too, had just waved her hand.
As for who Silence Suzuka was actually waving at... it's hard to say.
"Starlight-chan, you shouldn't eat too much popcorn, we have training this afternoon."
Beside her, Kiryuu Inami— wearing round glasses and twin tails— reached into the bucket Starlight was holding and took a few kernels.
"Mm-hmm, I know. I'll just eat half, the other half is for you, Trainer."
"Eh? I... I didn't actually want to eat it..."
Inami quickly rubbed her hands together, her eyes darting around nervously as she spoke.
"Right, right. I understand. So please, Trainer-san, help me finish this popcorn. I can't finish it all by myself~"
"Well, since Starlight-chan puts it that way, I'll take care of it."
"What about Ryo Nishizaki-senpai? Didn't he come with us?"
"Who knows where that pervert went? The race is starting, so let's watch Suzuka-chan first. A grown man like him won't get lost."
Starlight dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand.
"Fair point."
As the runners entered the gates, the indicator lights flashed.
Bang!
The moment the gates swung open, an orange figure burst out first, her body leaning low.
She moved as if flying, leaving a trail of footprints in the dirt.
Silence Suzuka took the lead immediately, choosing her most characteristic running style: The Great Escape.
"Her figure is truly radiant..."
Suddenly, a cool female voice spoke up beside her. Starlight slowly turned her head to look.
There stood a woman with side-parted white hair and black tips resting on her shoulders, leaning casually against the railing.
Her red pupils revealed an unusual glimmer of interest.
"Eh? You—You're Trainer Nase Fumino!!!"
"Mm, hello there... Trainer Kiryuu and, Divine Starlight-san."
Nase Fumino responded with a smile and a wave.
She was the Trainer of Super Creek, modeled after the legendary jockey, Yutaka Take.
"Are you also here to watch Suzuka-chan's race?"
"Of course. I've even provided guidance for her training before."
"And now?"
"Now... well~ I'm just looking around. If the need arises, perhaps I will..."
Nase Fumino didn't finish her sentence, interrupted by a commotion coming from above.
The three of them looked up together. They could vaguely see a short-haired Uma Musume with a flushed face, clutching the hem of her skirt and shouting something.
"You—you creep!!! My mom said that in big cities like this, there are lots of creeps like you trying to trick innocent Uma Musume! I made sure to learn about people like you beforehand!"
That's right— our country girl Special Week was being harassed by Ryo Nishizaki.
She delivered a back-kick that sent Ryo Nishizaki flying several meters away. Blood sprayed from his nose...
But very quickly, as if nothing had happened, he stood back up and enthusiastically approached Special Week again, gesticulating wildly.
"Hey! Ryo Nishizaki-senpai, what are you doing?!"
Once she realized who the Uma Musume was accusing, Kiryuu Inami couldn't hold back anymore and shouted.
"Ah, haha, Inami-chan and Starlight-chan, hello there."
"Hm? You're even part of a gang? See if I don't—"
Turning around to look down at them, Special Week froze on the spot.
She saw a quiet, gentle girl with twin tails and an exceptionally beautiful silver-haired Uma Musume looking at the weird middle-aged man beside them with pure disdain.
"Ah, you... you know him?"
"Ahaha... sorry, little girl, did he scare you? This man is a Trainer at Tracen Academy. Don't mind him, he really is a bit strange. If you don't feel comfortable staying near him, you can come down and watch the race with us~"
Divine Starlight gave a slight smile, clarifying Ryo Nishizaki's identity while extending an invitation.
Special Week adjusted the backpack on her shoulders. She glanced at the old weirdo with the lollipop next to her, then looked down at the cute girl below.
The choice was obvious...
Seeing the Uma Musume beside him vanish in a flash, Ryo Nishizaki said nothing and merely watched the race awkwardly.
"H-hello! Thank you for earlier."
Jogging down to the three of them, Special Week bowed in thanks.
"It's fine, it's fine. How could I sit by and watch such a cute Uma Musume be harassed by that creep?"
With a gentle smile on her lips, Starlight reached out and lightly patted Special Week's shoulder.
"By the way, who are you all...?"
"Hello, I am Divine Starlight, an Uma Musume from the Tracen Academy High School division. The one to my left is my Trainer, Kiryuu Inami."
"And the one to the right is the former Trainer of that orange-haired Uma Musume on the track: Nase Fumino."
Starlight's warm and sunny aura immediately put Special Week at ease.
"Hello, senpai! I am a new student about to enter Tracen Academy. M-my name is Special Week, and I'm from Hokkaido!"
Nodding, Starlight praised her.
"You've got a lot of spirit, Spe-chan! I'll be in your care from now on."
"Yes, senpai!"
Looking at the silver-haired Uma Musume beside her, Special Week felt a sense of salvation, as if she had finally found her people.
She was finally able to watch the race in peace.
On the track, the race was nearing its end. As Silence Suzuka was the first to cross the final bend, her already incredible speed surged once again.
She pushed off powerfully, kicking up a large chunk of turf instantly. A slipstream of wind even formed around her.
"So cool~"