Sitting inside the cozy dormitory room, Cheval Grand looked around left and right, her small hands constantly crossing and rubbing against each other.
She was clearly a bit stiff, with a trace of hard-to-detect nervousness.
While it was true that her mother and sisters had gone on a trip... they were actually coming back tonight.
Click.
The door opened, and Starlight clapped her hands together before squatting down to change her shoes.
"Cheval-chan, go play with the cats for a bit. I'm going to wash the vegetables and start cooking now."
"Um, okay, Starlight-senpai."
Watching Divine Starlight turn around to give her a warm smile, Cheval Grand steeled her resolve.
'Well, Senpai didn't give me a chance to say it, so I guess I'll just stay here with her for a little longer.'
The rustling sounds of cooking began to drift from the kitchen.
Cheval Grand slowly walked to the doorway, watching the figure tied into an apron.
It wasn't her mother, but a senior she admired very much.
Starlight placed the sliced potatoes and tomatoes into a small, boiling white clay pot.
The oil sizzled with heat, and a light fragrance wafted out.
After stir-frying for a moment with a small wooden spatula, Starlight caught a glimpse of the little Uma Musume peering curiously from the doorway.
"What is it? Are you so hungry you can't wait? I remember there are some snacks by my bed, you can have a bite to tide you over."
Without saying anything, Cheval Grand nodded shyly and turned to leave.
Though she wasn't particularly hungry, her eyes instinctively drifted toward Starlight's bed.
The duvet was spread out quite messily, and there were wrinkles all over the sheets. It was clearly the result of someone who wasn't a very quiet sleeper.
Recalling her own bedroom, the bedding was always immaculate, and the duvet was neatly folded.
"Meow~"
"Ah! Oh, it's... it's just a kitty. You scared me."
After whispering to the cat, Cheval Grand's blue eyes looked toward the pillow.
There were indeed some small bags of potato chips and bread there.
As she walked toward the bed, she murmured to herself.
"I thought Starlight-senpai's bedroom would be very tidy. But... this actually seems quite nice. And— sniff sniff—"
"There's a lovely scent lingering everywhere."
As she spoke, she sat down on Starlight's bed and reached out to feel inside the covers.
There was still a lingering bit of warmth there.
Her face flushed involuntarily, and she quickly pulled her hand away, patting her cheeks.
"Phew, I shouldn't be so forward. What if I make Senpai unhappy and she ends up hating me..."
Shaking her head, Cheval Grand stood up in a bit of a panic and returned to the nearby chair, sitting upright and formal.
She looked just like an elementary school student waiting to answer a question in class.
She stayed that way until Starlight brought a plate of tomato and potato braised beef brisket— the extra-radish version— to the table.
Faced with the mouth-watering aroma, Cheval Grand's eyes lit up.
"Heh heh~ Smells good, right? I've been practicing this dish for a long time, and now Senpai finally gets to show it off."
Filling two bowls with rice, Starlight sat down at the table and pushed one of the bowls in front of Cheval Grand.
"Here, Little Cheval is at the age where she's growing, so eat plenty~"
"Mm, thank you, Senpai."
"Senpai... do the other Uma Musume living here cook for themselves just like you do?"
"Well, I'm not sure. It seems like everyone prefers eating out or at the cafeteria."
"After all, training all day is exhausting. Most people probably don't have the energy left to cook."
Nodding, Cheval Grand took a bite of rice with her chopsticks, thinking as she ate.
'Then I want to learn how to cook too, so I can let Senpai taste a meal I made with my own hands.'
Patting the girl's head, Starlight placed a piece of beef into her bowl.
"Thank you, Senpai... By the way, do you live here all by yourself? Don't you have a roommate?"
"I don't. The President said she wanted to share a room with me before, but I turned her down."
"T-The President! You mean 'The Emperor' herself...?"
"Yeah, after all, she's busy with everything day in and day out, and even has to work on weekends. I didn't want to cause her trouble or disturb her rest."
"Is your relationship with Rudolf-senpai really that good?"
Rubbing her chin as she thought it over, Starlight then squinted her eyes and smiled.
"We're quite close, and she looks after me a lot... she's a particularly wonderful senior."
Griping her chopsticks a bit tighter, Cheval Grand looked up at Divine Starlight's soft, beautiful face and spoke up.
"If I can get into Tracen, could I... could I share a room with you, Starlight-senpai?"
The movement of her chopsticks paused. Divine Starlight looked at the girl's serious little expression and giggled behind her hand.
"Hahaha, of course! If Cheval-chan becomes my junior, I'll save that other bed just for you."
"Really? Then... then I'll work really hard!"
'Great, I finally have a chance to stay by Senpai's side...'
As if she had made a firm resolution, Cheval Grand prepared to enter a regime of hellish training just for the sake of getting into Tracen.
Of course, Divine Starlight was completely unaware of this. She was still enjoying her meal and putting more food into the little Uma Musume's bowl.
After dinner, Cheval Grand very diligently raised her small hand, wanting to help Starlight clear the table and wash the dishes.
Naturally, Starlight agreed with a smile.
Once everything was tidied up, Starlight looked at her slightly messy bedding and spoke to Cheval Grand with a hint of embarrassment.
"I... I don't really have the habit of tidying my covers during the day. But it's definitely not dirty inside, I make sure to shower every day!"
"Ahaha... If you mind, Cheval-chan, I... I can make a bed for you on the floor."
Looking at the flustered Divine Starlight in front of her, Cheval Grand couldn't help but think to herself:
'Senpai is so cute...'
She shook her head and said, "It's okay. I don't mind at all, Senpai."
"Then let's hurry and get under the covers..."
The scene shifted, and Cheval Grand was already lying beside Starlight, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling.
She felt the warm duvet wrapping around her, with her senior lying right by her side— close enough that she could touch her if she just reached out a little.
The fresh fragrance reaching her nose helped soothe the tension in her heart.
To think... just a few months ago, she could only see the senior she admired on TV, and now—
Turning her head slightly, she looked at that face so close at hand.
The other's eyes were closed, and her steady breathing indicated she was already fast asleep.
'She's actually lying right next to me.'
'It feels like a dream... if it really is a dream, please never let me wake up.'
The next day, accompanied by the chirping of birds by the window, Cheval Grand slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was Starlight's exquisite face.
Moreover, she realized her current position— she was right in the other's arms.
Thump, thump, thump...
Her heartbeat sped up uncontrollably, and Cheval Grand's face turned bright red.
'I... I'm actually in Starlight-senpai's arms, this is...'
Sensing movement in her embrace, Starlight spoke up in a daze.
"Don't be naughty, Big Orange... let me sleep a bit longer~"
'Has Senpai mistaken me for that cat...?'
Ring ring ring!
Shortly after, the preset alarm suddenly went off. Starlight snapped her eyes open and hurriedly threw back the covers.
"Morning practice today! Phew, it's a good thing I set an early alarm~"
"Eh, Cheval-chan...? Oh, right. You should call your mother now. I'll walk you to the gate when she arrives."
Sitting up as well, Cheval Grand watched Starlight's figure as she hurriedly changed clothes, feeling a sense of reluctance to leave.
She took out her phone and sent a message to her mother.
After seeing it was received, her gaze fell back on Starlight.
'Just you wait, Senpai. I will make this moment permanent...'