"Oh my, I'm just here to join the fun. What's the matter? Am I not welcome, Yaeno-san?"
"No, it's nothing. I'm just a bit surprised. Why aren't you at training?"
"Sigh... my leg issues have flared up again, and I need to recuperate now, so my Trainer didn't schedule any practice for me."
"A relapse? Ardan-chan, I have some recovery medicine here. If you don't mind, you can take some."
Hearing this, Starlight, who was busy in the kitchen, quickly poked her head out to speak.
"Thank you, Starlight-chan, but you should probably keep those medicines for your own emergencies. I..."
Waving her hand dismissively, Starlight said nonchalantly, "It's no problem. I have plenty of them. Ardan-chan, please, take as much as you need."
Seeing Starlight's generous little expression, Ardan covered her mouth and let out a soft giggle.
"Then I really must thank you, Starlight-chan."
The three of them sat around a medium-sized table. In the pot before them, a red tomato soup base was bubbling away, filled with hearty vegetables, mushrooms, and chunks of radish.
With the sliced meat rolls neatly arranged on the side, Starlight spoke to the two in front of her.
"Everything's ready, so let's begin~"
She put all the meat rolls into the pot. After a few tosses and a change in color, they were quickly scooped out.
Divine Starlight looked at a meat roll drenched in dipping sauce and stuffed it into her mouth without hesitation.
"Mmm~ so delicious..."
After the cozy meal, Mejiro Ardan and Yaeno Muteki watched Starlight clear the dishes, both of them beginning to run their own mental calculations.
Yaeno Muteki picked up a full trash bag nearby, intending to deal with it first, and stepped out of the room.
Meanwhile, Ardan stood up, walked to Starlight's side, and took the items from her hands.
"Starlight-chan, let me help you..."
"Sure~"
As their fingertips brushed against each other, Ardan asked casually, "By the way, doesn't Starlight-chan ever feel lonely living all by herself?"
"Well, it was okay at first, but I'm used to it now."
"Is that so... you really are strong. Yesterday's race was the same— Starlight-chan, running on the turf, you were truly dazzling."
"Hehe, I'll accept that compliment, Ardan."
Starlight blinked and waved her hand bashfully. Once everything was cleaned up, Ardan looked at Starlight beside her, her eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned in a bit closer.
"Speaking of which, why did Starlight-chan like McQueen-chan so much before? Could you tell me?"
"Ah, well—"
Hearing this question, Starlight found it difficult to answer for a moment.
"Um... McQueen-chan is quite cute, and she's very confident. It felt quite attractive, haha. I guess it was something like that."
"I feel like your answer is very vague, Starlight-chan."
"Maybe it's because I don't have those same feelings anymore."
"In other words, Starlight-chan doesn't like her anymore, is that right?"
"That... doesn't seem right either. Oh, jeez— are you here to play spokesperson for McQueen!?"
Seeing the silver-haired Uma Musume in front of her getting flustered, Mejiro Ardan smiled and patted her head.
"No, I'm just a little curious. After all, Starlight-chan, look at me."
Frowning, Divine Starlight shifted her gaze to Ardan's smiling face.
"I'm fairly good-looking too, and I give my all on the racetrack. But why haven't I received Starlight-chan's attention?"
"You... saying these things... it couldn't be..."
"Yes, exactly. It's exactly what you think it means."
Seeing that Divine Starlight had caught on, Mejiro Ardan leaned in a few steps closer, nearly pressing herself against Starlight.
"It's true, Ardan-chan is indeed very beautiful, but there is one flaw."
"A flaw?"
"Yes. Are you 'shining' for me right now?"
"Yes, I am."
"But I don't like it that way. For a beautiful Uma Musume like Ardan, I think you should shine for yourself."
Starlight took the hand that Ardan was reaching out and held it gently in her palms.
"Promise me, Ardan-chan. I want you to focus your gaze on yourself, not on me."
"The injury on your leg isn't a relapse of an old condition... it's from when you accidentally fell on the training ground last time, isn't it?"
Mejiro Ardan was still immersed in Starlight's previous words, when she heard this sentence, her eyes froze in surprise.
"Star—Starlight-chan, how did you know?"
"How could I not notice you when you were looking at me with such a burning gaze?"
With that, Starlight reached out and stroked Ardan's cheek.
"I actually felt guilty about it for quite a while."
"No, that's not it, Starlight-chan. It's not your fault, it was my own carelessness that caused the fall."
"Ardan... could you take some of that gaze you use on me and give it back to yourself?"
"Um, alright."
Lowering her head, Mejiro Ardan's assertive aura weakened.
Seeing this, Starlight let go of her cheek and took out the medicine, waving it in front of her.
"Let me help you apply the medicine this time. Consider it compensation for your injury. Don't refuse, or I'll be sad."
"Um... thank you, Starlight-chan."
Click—
The door opened. Yaeno Muteki, who had just returned from throwing out the trash, looked at the two of them and asked curiously.
"What happened between you two while I was gone?"
"Nothing much~ just chatting with Ardan about her leg injury."
"I see... oh, right! I forgot to bring the key to my dorm, and my roommate has gone back to her hometown."
"Starlight-chan, can I stay the night here?" Yaeno Muteki asked, feigning a look of distress.
"Eh~ that really is unfortunate. Well, alright. The kind-hearted Starlight has decided to take you in for the night."
Hearing her agreement, Yaeno Muteki's horse ears perked up, and her heart began to cheer.
"Wait... wait a moment, Starlight-chan."
Mejiro Ardan, standing nearby, spoke up to interrupt. Starlight tilted her head, looking at the urgent blue-haired Uma Musume beside her.
"Is there a problem?"
"My roommate also happens to be away for something. Why don't we have Yaeno-chan come over to my place instead?"
"I have an actual spare bed, which has to be better than sleeping in a sleeping bag over here at your place, right?"
Ardan stepped in front of Starlight and spoke to Yaeno Muteki with a smile.
Poking her head out from behind Ardan's shoulder, Starlight said nonchalantly:
"There's no need for a sleeping bag. Yaeno can just squeeze into bed with me."
! x2
Sparkling stars erupted in Yaeno Muteki's eyes.
"Is that really okay? Starlight-chan..."
"Of course. It's not like I'm a germaphobe or anything. Besides, Muteki-san is so cute, what's the big deal about sleeping together?"
Mejiro Ardan's brow furrowed.
"Better not, Starlight-chan. Muteki-san is an injured person after all. Squeezing in with you would definitely be bad for her recovery."
"What if you accidentally hit her wound in your sleep? It's better if she comes to my place."
After Ardan's explanation, Starlight thought it made a lot of sense and nodded.
"True, Ardan-chan is quite thoughtful. Alright then, Yaeno, you go with her."
"Starlight-chan, actually I— mph! Mmmph!"
Yaeno Muteki tried to struggle, but Mejiro Ardan immediately covered her mouth and began dragging her toward the door.
"Alright, it's getting late! Starlight-chan, I'll take the patient to rest now. Goodnight~"
"Mm-hmm, goodnight to both of you too~"
Thud!
The door slammed shut. After letting go of Yaeno Muteki, Mejiro Ardan spoke with a smile.
"Alright, let's go, Yaeno-chan."
"What is the meaning of this?"
"What? I just want Muteki-san to get a good night's rest."
An innocent voice came from Ardan's mouth, but her inner thoughts were quite different...
'Thinking of getting into Starlight-chan's bed? There is no way I'm letting you have your way—'
Seeing this, Yaeno Muteki let out a sigh and was led away by Ardan with her head hanging low.