Leaning into Sakura Chiyono O's embrace, Divine Starlight struggled slightly and spoke.
"How about this, Chiyono-chan? Let me go back. What if the Student Council President comes looking for me later?"
"It's fine, Starlight-chan. You are a student of our class, so you really ought to be helping out here instead."
Sakura Chiyono O reached out and pinched the other's thigh, and she couldn't help but comment.
"Oh~ it's so soft... Starlight-chan, you train so hard every day, the elasticity in these thighs is really something."
"Ahaha~ thanks for the compliment."
In a flash, Starlight was whisked away to the theme shop where her class was located.
Clatter—!
The classroom door was slid open.
Mejiro Ardan, who was busy preparing dishes, looked up, her eyes instantly freezing in surprise.
She walked over quickly, looking at Divine Starlight.
"Eh? What's going on, Starlight-chan? Why did Chiyono O carry you over here?"
After setting Divine Starlight down, Sakura Chiyono O took a breath and explained.
"I originally went over to Maruzensky-senpai's cafe to take a look, and I ended up seeing Starlight-chan helping out at the entrance. She was even wearing a maid outfit!"
"So, I acted fast and carried her back. This way, our class's foot traffic will definitely be even higher!"
"Great job, Chiyono O."
Behind them, Yaeno Muteki, who was walking in carrying a box of raw ingredients, offered her praise.
She used her foot to kick the door shut as she entered.
"Starlight-chan~ since you're here, help us attract some customers."
Straightening her skirt, Starlight pulled up her white thigh-high socks that were about to slip down.
"Alright, what do you need me to do?"
"Hehe, all you need to do is be a waitress, Starlight-chan. Just help us serve the dishes to the guests later."
"Speaking of which, why isn't Oguri Cap helping out?"
"Forget about that girl, the food we have here wouldn't even be enough for her to eat by herself."
Yaeno Muteki's mouth twitched as she spoke.
"Oh my~ an adorable little maid has come our way..."
A gentle voice reached her ears, and the next moment, Starlight was pulled into a very generous embrace.
"Super Creek, hello there."
"Hello, Starlight-chan. I didn't expect you to be wearing such a cute outfit. Are you cold?"
While asking with concern, Super Creek rubbed Starlight's small cheeks with her hands.
"Ehehe~ with an embrace as warm as Super Creek's, I naturally don't feel a bit of cold."
The two doted on each other for a while as usual before parting to get to work.
Unfortunately, Starlight hadn't been helping for even half an hour before Maruzensky came hunting her down.
"Starlight-chan~ are you there? I've come to take you back now..."
Instantly, Yaeno Muteki and the others surrounded Starlight, looking warily at Maruzensky as she entered through the door.
"Now, now... don't make it seem like you're facing a great enemy. I am technically a customer here too."
With a smile, Maruzensky unhurriedly pulled out a chair and sat down.
She reached out to pick up the menu on the table, flipping through it.
However, her eyes remained fixed on the silver-haired Uma Musume wearing the maid outfit.
"Starlight-chan~ I'm ready to order."
"Excuse me... what would you like to order?"
Starlight walked over somewhat awkwardly, smiling at Maruzensky.
"Hehe... I'd like to order one little Uma Musume wearing a maid outfit. Is that allowed?"
As she spoke, Maruzensky's hand gently brushed under Starlight's chin before pulling her directly into her lap.
As expected of the "Veteran Driver," the mature aura in her every movement truly left Divine Starlight unable to react for a moment.
"Don't do that, Maruzensky-senpai. This is a restaurant, you can only order items from the menu..."
Moving the hand that was constantly tracing her earlobe, Starlight stood back up and explained.
"Starlight-chan, the President told me to bring you back. Do you want to come with me now, or should I finish a meal here before you leave with me?"
Turning around, Maruzensky crossed her legs, her fingers idly tracing the closed menu.
Her tone carried an undeniable firmness.
"You can't!"
At that moment, Sakura Chiyono O stepped in front of Divine Starlight to block the way.
"Senpai! Starlight-chan is... she belongs to our class! You can't take her away!"
Looking at her most treasured junior, Maruzensky first shook her head with a troubled expression, then stood up.
"Chiyo-chan, I'd love for Starlight to stay with you all too, but there's no helping it. We still have to follow the President's orders..."
"How about we let Starlight join you for the Cultural Festival in half a year?"
And just like that, with a face full of despair and weariness, Starlight was taken by the hand and led out by Maruzensky.
Our quartet of classmates could only watch helplessly as the scene unfolded.
A gust of cold wind blew past, fluttering Starlight's hair. No matter how lively she usually was, she was completely wilted now.
"What's wrong, Starlight-chan? If you're cold, Senpai can carry you~ it's still very warm here in my arms."
"Maruzensky-senpai, I haven't done a single thing all afternoon. I've just been pulled back and forth by all of you, tending to the drifting winds."
After grumbling her dissatisfaction, Starlight still very honestly burrowed into Maruzensky's embrace.
Patting Starlight's head, Maruzensky said with a hint of amusement:
"There, there. Luna is just like that, don't take it to heart, Little Starlight. How about Senpai takes you for a spin later?"
"It'll be in my supercar~ Your Senpai is a real expert driver, after all."
Seeing the eager look on the other's face, Starlight couldn't help but recall a certain break time not long ago.
Chiyono O had been slumped over her desk, wailing with a soul-crushed expression:
"Yesterday afternoon, I went home with Maruzensky-senpai... her driving was so fast... I almost threw up my dinner from the night before."
As the meeting ended, Starlight squinted her eyes and declined with a smile.
"I think I'll pass, Senpai. I have to walk a little Uma Musume home tonight."
"Is that so? That really is a pity..."
After returning to the cafe, Starlight went back to playing the role of the mascot.
The work went smoothly after that, and no one else came to spirit her away.
As for the reason—
"Welcome~"
After bowing and speaking with a smile, Symboli Rudolf, standing right beside her, followed up with:
"Welcome."
That's right. After Maruzensky brought Starlight back, Rudolf went straight to the entrance to stand guard alongside her.
She looked exactly like a big golden retriever guarding its bone.
Time passed quickly.
After Starlight changed back into her school uniform, she returned the scarf to T.M. Opera O.
Taking Cheval Grand's small hand, she prepared to leave.
"What is it? Cheval-chan...?"
On the way to the Tracen Academy gates, Starlight noticed Cheval Grand staring at her phone with a distracted, soul-absent expression and asked curiously.
"My mother took my older and younger sisters on a trip... I'm the only one at home..."
"Ah~ then... is Cheval-chan okay being alone? Did she leave you money for food?"
Lifting her head, her sky-blue eyes filled with a pitiful sense of loneliness, Cheval Grand nodded.
"I have some money. Starlight-senpai, thank you for walking me..."
Stopping in her tracks, Starlight tightened her grip on the girl's hand, her tone softening.
"Cheval-chan. Come back to my dormitory with me for now. I'm not quite comfortable leaving you home all by yourself."
"B-but, Senpai has already helped me so much today, I couldn't possibly trouble you further."
"It's no trouble at all. Didn't I say so? Today, you belong to me."
"...Senpai, I—"
"Alright, let's go buy some groceries. Senpai will cook something delicious for you tonight. We can notify your mother to pick you up tomorrow morning."
Without giving the other a chance to decline, Starlight giggled and pulled Cheval Grand along at a brisk pace.
Watching that cheerful silver figure and feeling the warmth radiating from her palm, a happy smile finally touched the corners of Cheval Grand's mouth.
'Thank you, Divine Starlight-senpai. It was truly wonderful to meet you during my visit to the academy today...'