"I'm truly sorry for the trouble of having you look after my daughter, Starlight-chan."
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all! Cheval-chan is very well-behaved. I like her very much..."
"Is that so? Well, that's good. Looking at you, you probably have training soon, right? Stay safe out there."
"No problem! You too on your way back— drive safely!"
Sitting in the back seat, Cheval Grand leaned against the rear window, watching Starlight's figure as she waved and smiled continuously.
She had gained a new understanding of this senior.
On the surface, she was lively and cheerful, gentle and kind to others, and in private, she could be a bit lazy and clumsy.
But...
"Senpai is so wonderful..."
Hearing her daughter's words, the mother driving the car said with a smile:
"Does Cheval want to become an Uma Musume just like that girl?"
"Mm, I do! And I'm going to enter Tracen, train with Senpai, and run together with her."
Afterward, Starlight returned to her normal, orderly life.
In the afternoon, while doing her warm-ups, Divine Starlight watched Kiryuu Inami, who was scrolling through a tablet in front of her.
She listened to her trainer describe this week's training plan and various points of caution.
Because they had secured a victory in a graded race, Inami's trainer rating had been upgraded along with Starlight's progress.
As usual, her twin-tails fluttered and danced in the cool breeze.
After adjusting her glasses, Kiryuu Inami looked at the grass turning green again and nodded.
"Next, Starlight-chan, let's start preparing to participate in the Oka Sho two months from now."
"Understood, Trainer!"
Right then, Ryo Nishizaki appeared behind Kiryuu Inami like a ghost, saying with a grin:
"Inami-chan~ Are you and Little Starlight busy lately?"
"Aaahhh!"
Kiryuu Inami was startled by the sudden voice, nearly dropping her tablet on the ground.
Turning around to see it was Ryo Nishizaki, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Senpai, isn't that a redundant question? Aside from the weekends, what day are Starlight and I not busy with training?"
"Ahaha, that's not what I meant."
Scratching the back of his head, Ryo Nishizaki grinned with a lollipop in his mouth.
"Then what did you mean? You pervert trainer!"
Standing up, Starlight shielded Kiryuu Inami with a wary expression.
"Now, now~ It's like this, Little Starlight. I'm planning to have Special Week debut soon. Her talent is quite good, I want to see if she can contend for the Classic Triple Crown."
"Mm, and so?"
"So, I'm humbly asking if Little Starlight could help lead Special Week through her training during these two weeks of preparation."
Putting his hands together in a prayer motion, Ryo Nishizaki pleaded with a sheepish laugh.
"Starlight-chan~ what do you think? If you don't want to, you can decline—"
Beside her, Kiryuu Inami also looked at Starlight and spoke up.
"Well... I have no problem with it. Of course, I'm only agreeing because it's for Spe-chan."
"Really? That's fantastic! Looking at the time, there's still half an hour before official training starts. You two are as early as ever."
"If there's nothing else, I'll finish up some of my own training first."
Ignoring Ryo Nishizaki, Starlight turned around and began running across the turf.
"Sigh. That little one is as hardworking as ever. If nothing goes wrong, the Triple Tiara will surely be hers for the taking."
Nodding, Kiryuu Inami looked at the data on her tablet and smiled.
"Perhaps. I'm already quite satisfied. Even if Starlight doesn't push herself that hard later on, I'll still be very happy."
"Is that so? You really are easily satisfied, Inami-chan~"
Looking at Ryo Nishizaki, Kiryuu Inami teased:
"I'm not as 'resourceful' as you, Senpai, taking on five Uma Musume at once. And every single one of them has such great potential."
"Heh heh, who doesn't have a little ambition? I want to have a Triple Crown winner in my team too~"
After the two chatted for a while, the time was almost up.
Seeing the Uma Musume of Team Spica walking over from a distance, Ryo Nishizaki waved his hand.
"Over here, over here—"
"I'm going over there to fly my kite, you guys keep it up~"
Gold Ship spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world while clutching her kite.
Without waiting for Ryo Nishizaki to respond, she ran off on her own to an open space nearby to play.
"...Alright, time to lay out the plan. It's about that time, so Spe-chan, we'll start with you."
"Your debut race is in two weeks— you can do it, right?"
"Yes!"
"Wait... debut race in two weeks!!!???"
After answering with great spirit, Special Week finally realized something was wrong.
She looked at Ryo Nishizaki in disbelief and confusion.
"Yep. I believe you can do it."
"No, that's impossible, right? I..."
Reaching out to pat her shoulder, Ryo Nishizaki gave her a thumbs-up, flashing a row of white teeth.
"Don't worry. Would I really let you debut so recklessly?"
"Trainer, do you mean...?"
"Exactly. I've found an Uma Musume to accompany you through your preparation. I believe that with her auxiliary training, you'll be just fine."
"What! Which senior is it?"
Daiwa Scarlet puffed out her chest and asked with her hands on her hips.
"Does it matter to you? It's not like you're the one debuting."
Vodka teased from the side, which immediately caused Daiwa Scarlet to start bickering with her.
"What's wrong with being curious? Besides, I feel like I wouldn't have any problem debuting right now either!"
Silence Suzuka stood nearby very quietly, arms folded, listening intently.
Even though she was curious, she didn't ask too many questions. Until—
"Ahem, alright, she's already here. See for yourselves."
"Over here, over here, Starlight-chan~!"
As soon as those words left his mouth, the four of them were stunned.
Even Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka stopped their quarreling.
"Why did you pick this spot? Couldn't we have done this over at Inami-chan's side?"
Starlight walked over slowly, grumbling slightly at Ryo Nishizaki.
"Oh, come on, this is Team Spica's training area."
Turning around, Ryo Nishizaki gestured toward the group to introduce her.
"That's right, it's her! Spe-chan, you'll be following her for the next two weeks. Is that okay?"
"Eh!? Starlight-senpai, are you really willing to be my training partner?"
"Heh heh~ Of course! Is Spe-chan happy?"
"Mhm! I'm super happy! Please look after me from now on, Senpai!"
"What about us? Can we practice with Starlight-senpai too?"
"Of course not."
"Of course you can, Daiwa Scarlet-san. You're very welcome~"
"Hey, Starlight, don't mess up my plans! They have other training to do."
"Fine, fine, I get it..."
"Well then, I'm taking Spe-chan with me."
As she spoke, Starlight took Special Week's small hand and spoke casually to Ryo Nishizaki.
Suddenly, Silence Suzuka stepped in to block Starlight's path.
Though her expression remained calm, her eyes were sharp, staring straight at Divine Starlight's face.
"Hmm? What is it, Suzuka-chan? Do you want to join us too?"
"...Mm. Trainer?"
Silence Suzuka nodded, then shifted her gaze toward Ryo Nishizaki.
Seeing this, Ryo Nishizaki swallowed hard.
He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and said with a smile:
"Sure, that works. Suzuka, you can go along as well."
Hearing Ryo Nishizaki's approval, a faint smile finally appeared on Silence Suzuka's face.
"Okay. Starlight-chan, please look after me."
"Mm, let's go then."
Silence Suzuka quickly hurried to Starlight's other side and took her hand.
Seeing Starlight approach while leading two Uma Musume, Kiryuu Inami stood up from her chair, picked up her tablet, and walked over.
"This is my trainer, Kiryuu Inami."
"H-hello, Trainer Inami."
"Hello, Trainer~"
Looking at the somewhat nervous Spe-chan and the composed Silence Suzuka, Kiryuu Inami waved her hand.
"Hello. Time is limited, so you two should hurry and start warming up."