"Helios... look, we're holding hands."
Raising their joined hands, Starlight gestured toward them before stepping forward to gently embrace her.
"And hugging is okay too... but kissing is still off-limits."
Daitaku Helios rested her chin on Starlight's shoulder.
Her hands trembled as she slowly wrapped her arms around the Uma Musume in her embrace.
"Starlight-chan... thank you. Even though you, you didn't accept... it's so weird, why am I so happy...?"
"Because I truly received your feelings, Helios-chan. Although I can't give you a definitive 'yes,' I won't ever hate you. Don't be afraid..."
After a while, Helios regained her usual energy and grabbed Starlight's hand.
"Let's go to karaoke! Starlight-chan—!"
"I still have classes later~"
"Aww, it's fine, it's fine! If anything happens, I've got your back!"
Watching her skip around with such cheerful energy, a smile played on the corners of Starlight's mouth.
She stopped protesting and let herself be led away.
Inside the karaoke booth, Divine Starlight held the microphone, looking somewhat helplessly at the Uma Musume beside her who was singing while draping an arm around her.
She was a bit puzzled.
'Why... did Helios's attitude feel like we were just "best bros"?'
'But this is fine too. At least I won't have to worry about Helios doing something crazy out of unrequited love.'
Seeing the song on the screen reaching the second half, she began to hum along.
As for Helios, from the moment Divine Starlight took her hand to when she voluntarily hugged her, one thing had become crystal clear:
When she chased Ruby, no matter how hard she tried, the other girl wouldn't even acknowledge her.
But when chasing Divine Starlight, even if she didn't try at all, Starlight would still play with her... and even if she failed, she received incredibly gentle comfort.
Starlight-chan is just too good...
So, subconsciously, she had shifted her strategy slightly.
As for the details, perhaps only she knew.
At the very least, she could now take "little advantages" out in the open...
Stealing a glance at Starlight, who was fully immersed in the song, the corners of Helios's mouth curled up slightly.
The arm draped around Starlight tightened ever so subtly.
She leaned her body even closer, even though the two were already pressed tight against each other.
'As expected of me! I'm a genius!'
After praising herself internally, Helios picked up a drink from the table and began to sip it slowly.
Suddenly, a loud THUD echoed from outside. The shock caused the drink to splash out of the bottle.
Naturally, it splashed right toward Starlight, who had also been startled by the noise.
Noticing something was wrong, Starlight looked down to see a small patch of her skirt soaked by the drink.
"Ah! Sorry, Starlight-chan! Let me wipe that for you!"
Hurriedly putting the cup down, Helios grabbed a tissue and reached toward the skirt.
Seeing this, Starlight waved her hand in a polite refusal.
"It's fine, it's fine! I was startled too, I'll do it myself."
In the middle of the tug-of-war over the tissue, the two of them tumbled directly onto the sofa.
It was at that exact moment that the door to the booth swung open.
The two of them looked toward the door and froze instantly.
The person standing there was none other than the Student Council, led by Symboli Rudolf.
Having been notified that students had snuck off campus, she had immediately led a team out to apprehend them.
Looking at the scene before her, Rudolf's already grim expression darkened further.
She gave a sharp wave of her hand.
"Take these two Uma Musume into custody. Escort them to the Student Council room, I will interrogate them personally."
"Yes! x2"
The two Uma Musume behind her moved swiftly, crowding in and immediately seizing Starlight and Helios.
The scene shifted.
The two Uma Musume, who had been happily singing just moments ago, now stood gloomily in front of Rudolf's desk.
"Yo~ Having fun with your little lover? My little Uma Musume~?"
Head bowed, Divine Starlight heard a familiar voice and looked up in disbelief.
She saw Sirius Symboli leaning against the office desk, idly twirling a pen in her hand.
"Why are you here?"
Rudolph, sitting in the office chair, answered the question for her.
"Because students have been sneaking out to play quite frequently lately, I have been conducting a private investigation into the matter."
Her cold gaze pierced through to Helios, who was standing beside Starlight.
With a visible shudder, Daitaku Helios silently took a step back, hiding behind Starlight's back.
"I was prepared to lead a team to close the net. It just so happened that Sirius provided me with your information and whereabouts."
"Otherwise, it wouldn't have been this quick."
After hearing Rudolf's explanation, Divine Starlight looked at Sirius with an expression like she was suffering from chronic constipation.
'What is the meaning of this?'
Sirius spread her hands and pursed her lips.
'I help you out, yet I haven't received any substantive reward, so why should I keep hiding things for you?'
Clenching her teeth, Starlight ignored her. She turned her head toward the hiding Helios.
"Didn't you say you'd 'cover' for me? What's the meaning of hiding behind my back?"
"Haha... sorry, Starlight-chan. If the opponent is Rudolf, I choose to just lie down and accept defeat."
"How dare you whisper and conspire right in front of me!"
Rudolf slammed the table and stood up, glaring at the two Uma Musume.
"Ahahaha, Madam President~ We know we were wrong. We'll write the self-reflection letters, we'll honestly serve the punishment, and we won't dare do it next time."
Starlight succinctly summed up everything Rudolf was about to say.
This move left the President momentarily speechless, unsure of how to open her mouth.
"Ahem. Since that's the case, then... Daitaku Helios!!! From this day forward, the cleaning of the restrooms—for both the Senior and Junior High divisions—is entrusted to you."
"This will last for three months."
"Yes, yes! Mission guaranteed to be completed!"
Now that her fate was sealed, Helios hurriedly stepped out from behind Starlight and stood at attention.
"Air Groove, supervise her."
"Understood, President."
Turning her gaze toward Divine Starlight, Rudolf's eyes softened slightly, and her voice dropped in volume.
"Did you go of your own volition, or did this girl Helios drag you along?"
"Um, it was me..."
"Hmm, I see. So she dragged you there."
"?????"
"In that case, Divine Starlight... you will come to the Student Council room to sweep the floors for one week."
Having finished, Rudolf straightened her clothes and sat back down, addressing Sirius and Helios.
"You, get back to class immediately. And you, Helios, don't forget to clean the restrooms after morning classes are over."
"Dismissed."
Nodding quickly, Helios turned and fled. Sirius, however, fixed her eyes on Divine Starlight.
"What about her?"
"I still have matters to discuss with her, it's none of your concern."
"What a coincidence~ I have things to say to her too."
"Then your business can wait. We'll talk when she has time."
"When will she have time?"
Rudolf raised an eyebrow at Sirius. Facing the question, she simply waved her hand.
"Why ask me? Ask her—"
Seeing Sirius look over, Divine Starlight squinted her eyes and said with a smile:
"I will never have time."
"Alright, you may leave. Air Groove, see our guest out."
In a display of perfect chemistry, Rudolf stood up and signaled Air Groove to "escort" Sirius out.
A familiar scene returned: Only Rudolf and Divine Starlight remained in the Student Council room.
Picking at her nails, Starlight appeared quite idle, while Rudolf watched her with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Well then, Starlight-san. It's only been a few days since you started behaving, and now you're already skipping class to go to karaoke."
"Ahahaha, the pressure has been a bit high lately, I just wanted to relax."
"High pressure... Is that why you also skipped class yesterday to play Mahjong?"
Double kill!