The three of them did not linger long, after a brief inspection, they headed elsewhere to continue their rounds.
Shortly after, a mysterious girl wearing a veil slowly approached the edge of the training ground.
Her blood-red eyes were fixed intently on the two Uma Musume training on the field.
The evening breeze brushed through her chestnut hair, causing the white veil atop her head to dance along with it.
She stood with her hands behind her back, motionless as a statue.
"Starlight-chan, didn't you say you were in your race preparation period? Didn't you say you wanted to focus on training alone? Didn't you say we'd have a chance to be together?"
"Why wasn't that chance given to me? Why can other Uma Musume train with you? Why... why~?"
"Do you still hate me? I can see the resistance in your eyes, but I haven't done anything to make you angry, nor have I done anything to make you unhappy."
Biting her lip, Still in Love murmured in a soft, low voice.
"Why can't you show that kind of smile to me? Why can't you like me...?"
She slowly spread her hands, grasping at something in the empty air.
"Starlight-chan, Starlight-chan... Starlight-chan, Starlight-chan...Starlight-chan~Hehe, hahaha!"
Lowering her head to look at her empty hands, Still in Love cradled her own face and let out a chilling, eerie smile.
Under the wash of the setting sun, her eyes were vivid and her expression was sinister.
"Still-chan~!!!"
The protective bubble of her own world was shattered by this crisp shout.
Still in Love's horse ears twitched as she looked toward the source of the sound.
On the grass in the distance, Divine Starlight was leaning against the railing, waving her arm at her.
She wore a brilliant, warm smile, and her pale golden eyes radiated a captivating charm.
Like a holy light, her presence felt infectious.
With just one look, Still in Love's terrifying expression instantly vanished, replaced by a spreading crimson blush.
She began to fidget helplessly with the hem of her clothes, her eyes darting around in panic.
Finally, she reached out and gave a small, timid wave in response.
"St-Starlight-chan~"
"Mm-hmm! Still in Love, are you here to train too?"
Starlight trotted over to Still in Love. Noticing that the other girl was also wearing training gear, she asked curiously.
"Yes... yes, I am. Starlight-chan, I—can I join you?"
Nodding, Still in Love asked tentatively.
"Of course you can! Come on, come on. It just so happens we still have a lot of drills to finish. Let's do them together."
With that affirmative response, Still in Love felt her arm grabbed by a small hand.
She watched the silhouette of the girl pulling her down toward the grass.
The flush on Still in Love's face gradually faded, replaced by a sparkle in her red eyes and a happy smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Mejiro McQueen, who was standing with her hands on her hips while recovering her stamina, asked in confusion:
"Starlight, who is this?"
"Oh, this is a junior I met a while ago while heading back to the dorms at night. Her name is Still in Love. What do you think? Her name is as romantic as she is..."
"I see. It is indeed a very lovely name. Hello! My name is Mejiro McQueen."
"Hello... I'm Still in Love. It's a pleasure to meet you, McQueen-san."
Hearing the soft, gentle voice, Mejiro McQueen nodded at the chestnut-haired Uma Musume.
"If we're going to train, let's get started already! Stop pulling each other around, it's a waste of time—"
McQueen frowned and spoke sternly as her eyes fell on Starlight's hand still holding Still in Love's.
"Alright, alright~ Still-chan, you go warm up first. The two of us still need a moment to recover our strength."
"Okay, Starlight-chan~"
"Eh? Why aren't you calling me 'senpai' anymore? I wanted to hear it more."
"Starlight Sen~pai!"
The slightly mocking words came from Mejiro McQueen beside her, who reached out and rapped Starlight on the head.
"There, are you satisfied now?"
"What was that? There wasn't a hint of admiration in your voice! Also, stop hitting my head~"
With another hardworking figure now on the training ground, Divine Starlight looked at the level-three setting on her weighted wristbands, a joyful smile appearing on her face.
Finally... she could finally train normally under the third gear setting.
After returning to the dormitory, she would have to drink some restorative tonic to recover, otherwise, her body would surely fall apart by tomorrow.
Monday morning. Tracen Academy, Junior High Division, Class C.
Special Week looked at the focused expressions of her classmates around her and couldn't help but lower her head to start taking diligent notes herself.
At the cafeteria during lunch.
El Condor Pasa, Seiun Sky, and Grass Wonder all stared in astonishment at the mountain of rice piled on Special Week's plate.
"By the way, Spe-chan, you don't have a trainer yet, do you?"
"A trainer?"
Faced with El Condor Pasa's question, Special Week looked equally confused.
"Yeah. Without a trainer, you can't participate in races or formal training."
"Is that how it works!?"
"Of course. However, the selections for Team Rigil are happening this afternoon. That's the strongest team in the academy— the President and the others are all in it."
"Eh~ then, I'll go check it out."
"Yay! I'll go with you."
"Thank you, El-chan."
"No problem, no problem..."
"Ah! Spe-chan, you really can eat a lot~!"
At that moment, Haru Urara walked past carrying her food tray. Seeing Special Week's bowl, she laughed and exclaimed in admiration.
"Ahaha."
On the other side, Mejiro McQueen, who had just changed into her training gear and was heading downstairs, spotted a blue-haired figure standing not far away, lost in thought.
"Ah, you're here, McQueen-chan~"
"Ardan-senpai, is something the matter?"
Walking closer, Mejiro McQueen asked curiously.
"McQueen-chan, where are you off to?"
"To train with Starlight."
Upon hearing this, Mejiro Ardan feigned surprise.
"Oh my, how nice, being able to train together. But, McQueen-chan... is this really okay?"
"..."
Mejiro McQueen fell into silence. She knew exactly what Ardan was asking.
"As for me, Ardan-senpai, I also quite admire Starlight-san."
Biting her lip, McQueen looked down at the ground beneath her feet, her hands clenching tightly.
"I know that by rejecting her to her face back then, I lost the right to win her back. It's already good enough that she can smile and train with me now."
"That day, her words often echoed in my mind. And yesterday, the words she used to comfort me were also engraved into my heart."
"Ardan-senpai, I am... Mejiro McQueen! I will use my own efforts to let my own light bloom upon the turf."
Lifting her head, Mejiro McQueen's purple eyes shone with resolve.
"The honor of the Mejiro family will be defended and proven by me. Likewise, I will use that light to move Starlight's heart."
"So, whatever you intend to do, I won't stop you. That is all—"
With a wave of her hand, Mejiro McQueen turned and walked away decisively.
Watching her retreating back, Mejiro Ardan nodded and said with a smile:
"A fine oath and fine determination. Do your best, McQueen-chan. If we meet on the racecourse, I won't back down. And the same goes for Starlight-chan..."
On the training ground. On the hillside next to the observation stand.
Divine Starlight stood with one hand on her hip, watching the Team Rigil selection trials with great interest.
To her left and right were Rice Shower, who was looking down and fidgeting with her nails, and Yaeno Muteki, who was meditating with her arms crossed.
And half-kneeling in front of Starlight was Agnes Digital, who was frantically snapping photos.
"Starlight-chan—"
Hearing the voice, Divine Starlight turned her head slightly.
Seeing it was Mejiro McQueen, she waved and smiled.
"McQueen-chan, you've arrived?"
"Yes. I'm not late, am I?"
"Not at all. But we have to wait a bit before we can train. The field is being temporarily occupied by Team Rigil for their selection trials."
"That's good then..."
In the distance, Symboli Rudolf, standing next to Tojo Hana, looked at the group gathered around Starlight and let out a helpless laugh.
'You're supposed to be preparing for a race... how have you almost formed an entire team of your own?'