Standing outside the infirmary, Divine Starlight composed her expression.
She leaned indifferently against a pillar, her phone screen displaying a message sent by Air Groove.
'What is up with the President? Why does she keep hounding me...'
'Or rather, does she have some kind of special obsession with grey-haired Uma Musume?'
Shaking her head, Star felt it wasn't right to speculate about the other party so wildly.
After all, she was the President, surely she wasn't that kind of frivolous Uma Musume.
[Option 1: The President has invited me to the Student Council office as a 'guest.' I have to go...]
[Option 2: Who does she think she is? There's no way I'm going!]
"I'll go. Air Groove only told me to be on guard, she didn't say I couldn't go."
[System Detection: Option 1 confirmed. Congratulations, you have obtained: A secret short video of Symboli Rudolf ice skating with a certain grey-haired Uma Musume.]
Looking at the reward description, Divine Starlight immediately showed a look of surprise.
She looked at the universal USB drive in her hand and tucked it carefully into her bag, preparing to appreciate it thoroughly tonight.
Returning to the cafeteria, she packed the unfinished buns from Oguri Cap's table into a bag and made a trip back to the classroom.
"Starlight-san..."
After putting the buns in Oguri Cap's desk, Starlight turned to leave, only to be called out by Yaeno Muteki, who had just entered the classroom.
Seeing that the other girl seemed to have something on her mind, Divine Starlight stopped in her tracks and tilted her head.
"What's wrong, Yaeno-san?"
"Um, well, do you have any time this afternoon?"
Hearing this, Starlight rubbed her chin, thought for a moment, and smiled.
"I'll have some time after training. Is there something you need me to do?"
"Mmm... I signed up for a martial arts competition. I've been training hard lately, but I just can't seem to make a breakthrough. Starlight-chan, could you come and be my sparring partner?"
Yaeno Muteki scratched the back of her head as she spoke.
After hearing this, Star's brows furrowed deeply.
'A martial arts competition, and you want me as a sparring partner? Yaeno Muteki! I don't have any personal beef with you, do I?'
"W-why me? I'm not very proficient in martial arts, I might not be able to help you."
Star's refusal caused the expectant look on Yaeno Muteki's face to instantly freeze, and her tail, which had been wagging behind her, went limp.
She lowered her head, her voice sounding a bit dejected.
"I-is that so? Well then, okay. Sorry for wasting your time—"
Seeing her lonely figure about to leave, Star couldn't bear it and called out to her with a smile.
"Um, wait a moment, Yaeno-san."
"Is there something else, Starlight-chan...?"
"Can I ask why you chose me?"
Regaining her composure, Yaeno Muteki recalled her master's words and explained.
"Master said that inviting an Uma Musume of a similar age to train together might yield twice the results with half the effort."
"The first person who flashed through my mind at that moment w-was Starlight-chan. That's why I came to find you..."
Lifting her head, Yaeno Muteki looked at Divine Star, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"And when I told Master, he was also very supportive of me inviting you."
Nodding, Divine Starlight sighed inwardly.
"Though I don't know much about martial arts and haven't dabbled in it before... if it can help you, I'm happy to accept your invitation."
"Eh!? Really— Starlight-chan...?"
"Mhm. You're so strong, Yaeno-san, and it might have something to do with the martial arts you practice. Maybe I can improve myself through it as well."
"Then, then... I'll come find you after you finish training this afternoon."
"Sure."
"Thank you, Starlight-chan!"
Turning a bit red with excitement, Yaeno Muteki gripped Star's hand to thank her.
"It's nothing, Yaeno-san. Alright, I have to go to the Student Council office, the President is looking for me. We'll talk about the rest this afternoon, okay?"
"Of course, go ahead."
On the way to the Student Council office, Divine Starlight couldn't help but envision a scene where Yaeno Muteki knocked her flat with just two or three punches.
Swallowing hard, she thought with a bit of lingering fear in her heart:
'I hope she doesn't treat me like a punching bag.'
Knock, knock, knock...
"Enter..."
Symboli Rudolf, who was resting her head on her hand and seemingly lost in self-absorption, spoke in a cool voice.
Creak—
The door opened a crack, and Divine Starlight walked in quite familiarly, showing absolutely no sign of awkwardness or restraint.
"President! What did you need me for~?"
Slowly curling the corners of her mouth, Rudolf placed her hand on the desk, her fingers tapping rhythmically.
She fixed her gaze on the grey-haired Uma Musume before her.
"The race yesterday... what did you think of it, Starlight?"
"It was great, Suzuka-chan ran a brilliant race."
"You weren't secretly cursing me a few times while watching, were you?"
'Wait... No, how did you know...'
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Divine Star's forehead. She said nothing, only silently averting her gaze.
"How could that be? Your figure in my heart is incredibly grand, President. I barely have enough time to worship you, how could I possibly curse you?"
Nodding, Rudolf stood up. She pulled a voice recorder from her pocket and pressed play.
"Don't be fooled by her stern appearance— she's actually a big softy..."
Despite the background noise, Starlight's words could be heard quite clearly.
"How do you explain this, Divine Starlight-san...?"
"You actually eavesdropped on my conversation with Spe-chan!?"
"I did no such thing. I was simply standing nearby in plain sight and overheard it by accident."
"By accident? Then why did you record it!?"
"It was just... convenient."
Looking at the Uma Musume before her who wore a villainous, wicked smirk, Divine Starlight felt a surge of dread.
She turned around, intending to flee the Student Council office.
However, she was intercepted by the two "door guards," Air Groove and Maruzensky.
Staring in disbelief at Air Groove, who silently closed her eyes, Divine Starlight forced a strained smile.
'Onee-san? What's the meaning of this? You lured me in just to kill me...'
'Sorry, little Starlight, actually your onee-san...'
'So you were the traitor all along, Air Groove!'
Scene Change:
Like a lifeless doll, Divine Starlight was being fussed over and manipulated by the three "evil" Uma Musume.
Looking at the pink and white dress and floral top the girl was wearing, Maruzensky spoke to Rudolf beside her.
"This set is quite nice. Let's use this outfit for the next event..."
Nodding, Rudolf waved her hand.
"Mhm, that plan works. Air Groove, take a note of it. Let's change to the next set."
This continued until it was nearly time for lunch.
Divine Starlight ate the snacks in her hand with a weary expression.
"To actually make me your fitting model... how despicable..."
Patting Star's head, Maruzensky said with a smile, "It can't be helped. Starlight-chan's height is the closest to our Tracen average, and you're just so cute."
"Ahem... let's end the morning's work here. Air Groove, Maruzensky, you two can go rest."
"Sure, then Starlight-chan, come have lunch with us."
"No!"
Before Divine Starlight could agree, Symboli Rudolf stood up and immediately refused.
"She still has other things to do and needs to stay here for a moment."
Having been colleagues for many years, how could Maruzensky and Air Groove not know what "Luna" was plotting in her little heart?
After exchanging a meaningful look with her, they chose to leave anyway.
"Alright, alright... we'll have tea and chat together next time, little Starlight~"
"Er, ahaha... Okay, Maruzensky-senpai."
'Oh no... could it be that my guess from earlier was actually correct?'