Before Starlight could give it much thought, she felt a strange sensation around her waist in the next second.
Symboli Rudolf picked her up and placed her right onto her own lap.
"Pre-President? What... what is the meaning of this—?"
Divine Star's face turned slightly red as she asked, stuttering a bit.
"Work has been... very stressful lately. I want to relax a little, is that okay?"
A voice that sounded slightly relieved drifted into her ear.
Divine Star's two horse ears stood bolt upright. Perhaps because she was too nervous, her ears were twitching incessantly.
"Are you... using me as a stress-relief pillow?"
After a long silence, seeing that the other party really was just simply holding her, Divine Starlight tilted her head slightly and asked.
"Mhm. As a stress-relief pillow, you are indeed quite excellent."
"...You don't have to push yourself so hard. If you're tired, why not just take a few days off?"
Without answering Starlight's question, Rudolf continued to speak to herself as if venting her grievances.
"There's been more friction with the Selection Committee. They want to abolish some unnecessary activities and festivals."
"They believe Uma Musume should focus more on training and racing... Starlight-san, do you like it that way?"
"Well, for me, I'd prefer my life at the academy to be a bit more colorful."
"As do I. We love to run, but life shouldn't be only about running. Winning the cheers of the racecourse should be our motivation, not our shackles."
"I have to draft a proposal to send over later. Alright. Thank you, Starlight-san."
Releasing her grip, Rudolf flexed her wrists, preparing to dive back into her work.
Looking at her working so diligently, Divine Starlight felt a bit conflicted.
To be honest, Rudolf was actually very reliable and responsible, constantly fighting for more rights for the Uma Musume at the academy.
'Maybe I misunderstood her... maybe the President is just under too much pressure?'
"Why are you still standing there dazed? Starlight... do you intend to stay and keep me company?"
"Eh, though I'd love to stay with you, President, I have training this afternoon, so I'll be heading out first."
Lunch Break:
Arriving at the computer room, Divine Starlight couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer and decided to check out the "mysterious short video" she had obtained today.
After a few quick maneuvers, she excitedly grabbed the mouse and clicked the small triangle icon to play.
As the video started, two figures dressed in gorgeous formal wear began to dance on the blue ice.
She watched as Symboli Rudolf and Oguri Cap executed a breathtakingly beautiful synchronized jump.
Rudolf reached out to wrap her arm around Oguri Cap's waist, and their lips drew closer and closer... until they finally pulled apart under the glare of intense spotlights.
Starlight, who had been stunned throughout the entire video, couldn't help but remark after finishing it:
"S-so you two actually have that kind of relationship?"
As if she were peeking at something forbidden, Starlight acted with extreme caution.
However, reality often has a way of bringing exactly what you fear most...
Just then, the sound of a door handle turning rang out.
Divine Starlight's expression froze instantly.
Reacting quickly, she scrambled to turn off the computer monitor and hid inside a nearby cabinet.
Thump, thump, thump...
"Eh? Is no one here... Hehehe, great, I can finally do what I've wanted to do for a long time."
Because the cabinet had no gaps, Star couldn't see what was happening outside, she could only hear a constant rustling sound.
After an unknown amount of time passed:
The door was closed once again. Divine Starlight breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out from the cabinet.
After looking around and not thinking too much of it, she simply left.
Scene Change:
Lying flat on her bed, Divine Starlight recalled the event with lingering fear.
"That was terrifying. If I were caught watching that kind of confidential material, I'd probably face Rudolf's 'observation' again the next day."
"Phew... luckily that person didn't—"
Mid-sentence, Starlight suddenly realized that she hadn't taken her USB drive back.
Her pupils shrank instantly.
She performed a "catapult start," flying out of the dormitory and heading for the teaching building.
By the time she reached the computer room again, the USB drive was gone.
"...It's fine, it's fine. No one knows that USB drive is mine, and anyone looking at a video like that would know it isn't real."
"I'm sure that Uma Musume won't do anything with it."
"Relax, Divine Starlight, just relax... It's not that big of a deal. Even if I'm found out, so what?"
As she headed toward the training ground, Divine Starlight kept comforting herself in her head.
Even after training ended, she was still practicing self-consolation.
"Starlight-chan~ I'm here..."
"Ah, oh! Yaeno-san, let's go—"
"Mhm, okay."
Pushing the matter to the back of her mind, Divine Starlight focused all her attention on being a sparring partner for Yaeno Muteki.
Changing into a white training uniform, she looked at Yaeno Muteki, who was wearing a black belt opposite her. Divine Starlight asked blankly:
"What am I supposed to do?"
Coming up behind Divine Star, Yaeno Muteki carefully helped her put on her protective gear.
"It's okay, Starlight-chan. I'll teach you in a moment."
Feeling her fingers intentionally or unintentionally slide across the other girl's body, Yaeno Muteki's heart inexplicably began to race.
"Understood."
Looking at the specialized gloves on her hands, Star nodded seriously.
Once everything was ready, Yaeno Muteki stood before Star.
She looked at the grey-haired Uma Musume, a determined expression appearing between her brows.
Parting her legs slightly, she lowered her center of gravity. She clenched her fists and took her stance.
"Starlight-chan... here I come."
"Bring it on!"
Thump, thump, thump, tat-tat-tat—!
The sparring time passed in the blink of an eye, and Star had already changed back into her school uniform.
She sat on a set of steps outside in the courtyard, smiling as she watched Yaeno Muteki apply medicine to a swollen red spot on her arm.
"It's alright, Yaeno-san. You didn't do it on purpose, there's no need to blame yourself."
"B-but, it's because my technique was off, which caused you to not react in time. It's my fault..."
Squeezing the soft little hand of the girl before her, Yaeno Muteki lightened the pressure of the cotton swab even further.
"How can you spar without getting hurt? This is something I promised you, Yaeno-san, so naturally, any result is on me."
"Once I'm more familiar with everything, please treat me as a true opponent."
Lifting her eyes, Yaeno Muteki was slightly taken aback by the resolve in Star's gaze.
"Is that okay? Starlight-chan... you might get hurt even more seriously than you are now."
"No problem at all! I've actually developed an interest in martial arts now. Besides, your figure on the racecourse is just as dazzling as it was when you were trading blows with me just now."
"I'll work hard to catch up to you. So instead of blaming yourself for hurting me, I'd much rather see you victorious on the turf."
Meeting Yaeno Muteki's lingering gaze, Star gave a brilliant smile.
"Let's do our best together!"
As those final words fell, Yaeno Muteki's body trembled slightly. Her eyes grew more resolute and filled with emotion.
"Mhm, let's do our best together!"
'It was clearly just an impulsive invitation on my part, yet you're taking it so seriously, Starlight-chan... and you care about me so much.''
'Starlight-chan...'
At the bottom of the dormitory stairs, Star waved to Yaeno Muteki.
"Let's continue tomorrow after training, Yaeno-san!"
"Mhm, okay. Um... Starlight-chan!"
"What is it?"
"Goodnight!"
"Hehe, you too. Goodnight."
Back in her dorm, Divine Starlight hummed a light tune while washing up, seemingly having forgotten a certain problem.
"Th-this... what is this video!? Wow... it's actually... it's the President and Oguri Cap-senpai..."
"Ehehe, I don't know why this exists, but it seems pretty great~"
An exclamation rang out from a dim room. An Uma Musume with long, loose pink hair looked at the scene before her with an excited face.
On her desk were many photos of beautiful Uma Musume, along with various pieces of photography equipment.