Returning to the dormitory, Starlight looked at Symboli Rudolf standing outside her door, and she actually hesitated for a moment.
"How about we forget it, Luna-chan? I mean, a whole day has passed, and sweaty feet are pretty much inevitable. In case it causes you any... you know..."
"It's fine. I really am just checking, I have no other intentions," Rudolf said, shaking her head with a helpless frown.
Seeing that expression on Rudolf's face, Starlight finally nodded and let down her guard slightly.
"Then please wait until I've finished showering, okay?"
"Mm. Go ahead. I'll go back to my room and wait for you."
Rudolf didn't push her. She turned and walked into her own room.
Closing her door, Starlight grabbed a change of clothes from her wardrobe and headed into the bathroom.
After shedding her school uniform and standing before the mirror, she began undoing her hair accessories while muttering to herself.
"Sigh~ I'm overthinking again. Even though her way of doing things is a bit forceful, I shouldn't think the worst of her. It's too impolite."
As her silver-white hair cascaded down, Starlight shook her head. She looked at her reflection and fell into a brief memory.
Straightening her hair, she let out a heavy sigh and stepped into the shower.
The sound of rushing water filled the room as a light mist began to spread, and Starlight focused on washing up.
"Eh!? Really, Madam President? What is it... Don't worry, I'll definitely get it done!"
In Tokai Teio's room, she was sitting on her bed in her pajamas, having received a call from Rudolf.
Beside her was an orange-haired Uma Musume holding a game console with a chocolate stick hanging from her mouth.
"Okay, I understand. I'm going with Starlight-senpai, right?"
After a few more words, Rudolf hung up the phone.
"Did you hear that, Mayano Top Gun-chan! The President has a favor to ask of me~"
"Mm-hm~ So what is it?" Mayano didn't look up, she seemed to be in the heat of a battle, her fingers tapping the buttons on the controller at lightning speed.
"The Uma Musume from Team Spica— none of them danced on the Winning Stage after their debuts, you know that?"
"Yup~ I remember. I even bought a newspaper back then. That student named Special Week had such a cute expression, it almost rivaled mine."
Teio didn't mind Mayano's somewhat dismissive answer. She snatched up a large Rudolf plushie next to her.
"If this is a success, the President will be so happy! Hehe... plus, I get to spend time with Starlight-senpai again."
"What!? Starlight-senpai? You mean that Divine Starlight?"
"Oh no, my health is low!!"
Perhaps because she heard something that piqued her interest, Mayano's attention wavered.
This caused her stalled game match to spiral into a defeat.
After some useless struggling, she put down the console with a face of utter despair.
But she didn't stay quiet for long.
She quickly turned to Teio and said, "Then can I go with you? I want to take pictures with Starlight-senpai and sing songs together~"
"Eh? But the President only mentioned me and Starlight-senpai. She didn't say I could bring anyone else."
"But she didn't say you couldn't bring anyone else either! Please, Teio-chan~!!" Mayano hopped onto Teio's bed and hugged her, acting spoiled.
"I guess I have no choice~ fine, fine. But you can't cause trouble for Starlight-senpai! The two of us have to finish the task the President gave us."
"Don't worry, Mayano is the goodest girl! Alright! Come on, Teio-chan, tonight we fight to the bitter end—"
Seeing that the matter was settled, Mayano ran back to her bed and waved her game console grandly.
"No way. I need to get good rest tonight. I'm going to be an instructor with Starlight-senpai tomorrow."
"If she sees me looking half-asleep, she'll definitely be upset."
"Just one round, just one round, okay Teio-chan? I won't bother you anymore after one round."
Unfortunately, Tokai Teio still crumbled under Mayano's relentless spoiled offensive.
The two of them began a gaming session that would end up lasting most of the night.
Back to Starlight's side.
Currently, she was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching the person in front of her holding her fair, tender foot.
Rudolf was squeezing and rubbing it, sometimes frowning and sometimes lost in thought. She actually looked quite professional.
Perhaps because she had just finished her bath, Starlight's toes still carried a slight pink hue and a trace of moisture.
Although she didn't know what was actually going through Rudolf's mind, Starlight's face was already flushed, and her body was trembling slightly.
"Luna-chan, what's the verdict?"
"From what I can see, your feet are within the healthy range. Moreover, your joints possess a flexibility and elasticity far beyond that of an ordinary Uma Musume."
"The muscles of your sole are also very well-defined, though that was likely developed through training..."
Rudolf calmly shared the information she had gathered.
After slowly releasing her grip, she looked up at Divine Starlight and hesitated for a moment.
"You can train tomorrow, but remember that after you finish, you need to teach the Spica girls dancing and vocal techniques with Teio."
Stretching her ankle, Starlight nodded.
"Understood. With Teio there, I think it should be an easy job."
As she spoke, Starlight saw Rudolf reaching out to take a cookie from the table. She hurriedly pointed and said:
"Don't, Luna-chan~! You just touched my feet... how about you go wash your hands first?"
"...But didn't you just wash your feet? Besides, they look clean and white to me, it's not a big deal."
"That... you should still go wash your hands, otherwise I'll feel uncomfortable just watching..."
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Starlight stood up and firmly pulled Rudolf into the bathroom.
After that little interlude, the two spent some time chatting while eating snacks.
Soon, it was time to rest.
"It's getting late. I'll head back now, you should get some sleep early too."
"Mm, I know. Thanks for your concern today, Luna-chan~"
"Well... you are someone I care about, so I might do things that make you dissatisfied sometimes. I'm sorry."
"Hehe... I know, you don't need to apologize. I can feel it. This kind of impulsive 'Emperor' is a rare and cute side of you."
Starlight covered her mouth and laughed softly.
Glancing elsewhere with a blushing face, Rudolf coughed a few times.
"Alright, I'm going back to sleep, and so should you. Goodnight."
"Mm, goodnight, Luna-chan."
The following afternoon, Starlight ended her training early because she had to meet up with Teio.
Just as she was heading to the club room to change her clothes, she saw Tokai Teio and Mayano Top Gun already waiting at the door.
One of the Uma Musume was holding her school bag and looking around, while the other was looking down at her phone.
"Ah~! Starlight-senpai, you're done with training!"
Upon seeing Starlight, Tokai Teio ran over excitedly.
She pulled a bottle of energy drink she had just bought from her bag and said:
"Yup, training's over... thank you~"
Taking the drink, Starlight twisted off the cap and took a light sip. "And this is..."
"Hello, Senpai! I'm Teio's roommate and friend, Mayano Top Gun!"
Looking at the girl's cute, smiling face, Starlight couldn't resist patting her head.
"Hello~ is it okay if I call you Mayano-chan?"
"Of course, of course! Hehe... Starlight-senpai is so pretty~ can I call you onee-san?"
"Sure, Mayano-chan can call me whatever she likes."
"Hooray~ Onee-san, let's take a photo together~!"
Watching Mayano clinging to Divine Starlight's arm while the two Uma Musume took photos and chatted, Teio pouted in dissatisfaction.