"I'd like to as well, Divine-san. but as you know, after sitting in this position for so long, there are some things I can truly do just because I want to."
Twitching her lips, Divine Starlight stopped paying attention to the other party, turning around prepared to leave.
"By the way, I've already spoken with your Trainer this afternoon. The two of us will be together."
Freezing in her tracks, Divine Starlight clenched her fists, her body trembling slightly.
After a long silence, she let out a deep sigh.
"Understood, Tracen's Local Tyrant!"
After throwing those words back, our Divine Starlight left the Student Council Room.
Symboli Rudolf watched her figure depart, not panicked in the slightest.
Leaning back against the soft backrest of her chair, she marveled at the power of her own influence.
Leaving the Student Council, Starlight wandered through the corridors.
Suddenly, a figure dressed in the school uniform appeared abruptly ahead.
Unable to dodge in time, Starlight bumped headfirst right into the person's chest.
Duang~
The opponent was incredibly sturdy. Starlight ended up tumbling onto the ground.
Covering her nose, she looked up.
"Who is it...?"
On a gallant, striking face sat a confident smile. Beneath chestnut-colored hair was a pair of jujube-red eyes filled with aggressive desire.
"How careless of you, little Uma Musume. Are you alright~?"
Sirius Symboli bent down to help Divine Starlight up.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Remember to be more careful walking next time. If you crash into my arms like that again, I might not let you go."
Suddenly grabbing Divine Starlight's wrist, Sirius Symboli yanked her forward until there was less than half a foot of distance between them.
Looking down slightly at this beautiful gray-haired Uma Musume, she gave a dangerous smile.
"Wait, we're not exactly close, are we? This is a bit rude of you."
Divine Starlight quickly used her other hand to push away the approaching Sirius Symboli.
"So, the little white flower of the racetrack has such a shy side too? How interesting. I wonder what it would be like to pluck you—"
Just as Sirius Symboli was about to indulge in her mischievous streak, someone tapped her on the shoulder at an inopportune moment.
"Tch, who is it..."
Although the newcomer wore the academy uniform, the knit hat on her head and her cool expression felt completely out of place.
The girl's pinkish-purple eyes held a hint of impatience.
"Didn't we agree to play Mahjong? You never showed up, so of course I had to come looking for you."
As she spoke, Nakayama Festa unwrapped a lollipop and stuffed it into her mouth with a mature air.
Releasing Starlight's hand, Sirius waved her off and spoke.
"Well, I just ran into an interesting little Uma Musume~ Let's go—"
Seeing the two start chatting and their attention shift away from her, Divine Starlight rubbed her wrist and began to stealthily back away.
She planned to slip away just like that.
'What is up with this person? She's even more overbearing than that Rudolf fellow.'
Seeing that she was clear, Starlight turned around and started to walk away quickly.
"Wait a moment..."
But a powerful hand landed heavily on Starlight's delicate shoulder.
"Is there... anything else? Fellow student..."
Turning around with a bitter smile, Starlight inquired.
Curling the corner of her mouth, Sirius Symboli brushed back her bangs.
"It's nothing much. We're just one person short of a full table. Want to play a round with us?"
"Mahjong?"
"Mm-hm."
"Can I choose not to go? After all, I still have classes to attend."
Nodding after hearing Starlight's excuse, Sirius Symboli maintained that same smile.
Her hand did not leave Starlight's shoulder.
"You'd just be sleeping in class anyway. Might as well play with us, right?"
'While that is true, you two don't exactly look like gentle characters... you look like delinquents...'
After complaining internally, Starlight grabbed Sirius's hand with both of hers, trying to move it away.
To her surprise, as soon as that hand was lowered, Sirius Symboli spun around and threw her arm over Starlight's shoulder.
"If you don't speak, I'll take it as a 'yes.' Let's go!"
"I—I didn't say yes..."
"Alright, alright, I know you're just being shy. Don't be nervous~"
And so, just after leaving Rudolf's office, Divine Starlight was swept away again—this time by Sirius.
Click—
A classroom door swung open.
Sitting on the side facing the mahjong table was an Uma Musume even more petite than Starlight.
She wore silver rimless glasses, and her azure eyes were filled with maturity. Her handsome, flowing bangs were casually swept to the side, accented by white and lime-yellow streaks.
This Uma Musume was elegantly writing a letter with a fountain pen. Hearing the noise, she looked up, and her hand paused.
"You're finally here. I have been waiting here for twenty-three minutes."
Setting down her pen, Dream Journey slightly rolled up her left sleeve, revealing a classic wristwatch.
"Well, I had to find someone, didn't I? Come on, little Uma Musume, get in here."
Sirius gave a casual laugh and pulled Starlight into the room. Nakayama Festa, who had been leaning against the door, stood up and gave the door a light kick with her foot, shutting it firmly.
"You are... Divine Starlight?"
Offering a soft smile, Dream Journey pushed up her glasses and spoke slowly.
"Ah, hello, that's me. And you all are...?"
"Don't be nervous... I am Dream Journey. These two are Sirius Symboli and Nakayama Festa."
Her unhurried voice possessed a uniquely steady and composed quality.
"I apologize for bringing you here so forcefully. We simply wanted to relax with a game of cards. If you are unwilling, Starlight-san, you are free to leave."
Starlight looked at the gray-haired Uma Musume before her, then glanced at the other two on either side.
"It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that the aura around the three of you is so... unique. It took me by surprise."
With a slightly apologetic smile, Dream Journey stood up. After sealing her letter and placing it in her satchel, she walked over to a coffee machine.
"That is good to hear. You three take a seat first, I will prepare some drinks for our leisure."
"Hurry it up, I can't wait anymore—"
Pulling out a chair, Nakayama Festa sat back with a cool, effortless posture.
Beside her, Sirius thoughtfully pulled out a chair for Starlight and gestured with her hand.
"You come sit down too, lovely lady~"
"Th—thank you..."
'It seems they aren't delinquents after all, they just have... unique personalities.'
'That's a relief...'
Breathing a sigh of relief, Starlight looked up to scan her surroundings, only to find a few wrapped candies placed in front of her on the table.
"Ah, thank you, Sirius-san."
"Don't mention it. Like I said, it's just a normal game. Just relax."
Looking at Sirius's handsome face and confident smile, Starlight thought of her full name.
'Sirius Symboli...'
'I think she's from the same family as Rudolf.'
Sirius, who was shuffling the tiles, noticed Starlight's gaze and grinned.
"What... not eating? Do you want me to feed you personally? I wouldn't mind..."
"Of course not! I was just a bit curious."
After shuffling, Sirius leaned back against her chair and tilted her head toward Starlight.
"It seems my charm is greater than the President's, seeing as the little Uma Musume she's so fixated on is this curious about me."
"Hey, don't say misleading things like that, I'm not! I was just wondering why I haven't seen you around the academy before."
As Sirius narrowed her eyes, prepared to tease Divine Starlight a bit more, Dream Journey walked over.
She placed a cup filled with coffee by Starlight's hand and explained.
"Because she was away competing in overseas races and only recently returned. Would you like sugar?"
"I see... Ah, yes, thank you. Two cubes, please."
"No problem."
Looking at Dream Journey standing beside her, Starlight couldn't help but marvel.
'Even though this student is on the shorter side, she's surprisingly mature and steady... She's much easier to get along with than the other two.'
(T/N: Fun fact: Dream Journey is the only Uma I'm legitimately afraid of. Her design unnerves me.)
(T/N: I'm definitely gonna use all my carats to pull for her once she comes to global.)