In the morning, inside a shopping center in the heart of the city.
Starlight watched as the gray-haired Uma Musume before her gave a grand wave of her hand, and several bodyguards in black suits instantly materialized around them.
Mejiro McQueen clapped her hands and commanded, "You lot are responsible for carrying the bags and ensuring the safety of myself and Starlight-chan."
"Understood, Young Lady!"
The synchronized shout echoed through the entire mall.
Noticing the gazes of numerous onlookers turning their way, Starlight felt an inexplicable surge of embarrassment.
'Hmph, well? Isn't your McQueen-chan cool?'
Mejiro McQueen flipped her long hair, a smirk playing on her lips.
However, when she turned around and saw Starlight with her head bowed and eyes darting around shiftily, she asked with concern:
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell, Starlight-chan?"
"It's not that... it's just, isn't this a bit too flashy, McQueen-chan? Won't it bother the other customers?" Starlight looked up with a wry smile.
"That is a fair point. What do you think I should do then, Starlight-chan?"
"We don't need this many people, right? Just one or two is enough~"
"True. Then you and you stay, the rest of you, protect us from the shadows."
"Yes, Young Lady! x 2"
In an instant, the men in black vanished, leaving only two following closely behind Starlight and McQueen.
Suddenly, the bodyguard behind Starlight fidgeted for a moment before stepping forward and whispering.
"Um, Miss Starlight, would it be possible to get an autograph? My young daughter is a big fan of yours, and I'd like to give it to her as a gift..."
"Mr. Morita, this is working hours!" McQueen interjected.
Seeing this, Starlight quickly waved her hands and smiled at McQueen.
"It's fine, it's fine. It won't take long."
She turned and took the photo from him. After a glance, she happily signed her name on it.
The photo showed her during the curtain call of her first Graded stakes victory.
"Thank you very much, Miss Starlight."
"Hehe... it's nothing. A fan's support is the greatest reward I could ask for. Give my regards to your lovely daughter~"
"I understand. I shall ensure your safety today."
Starlight nodded and turned back, only to see Mejiro McQueen's face looking rather dark.
"Alright, let's get going~ didn't we say we were going to watch the game?" Starlight said, stepping forward to link her arm with McQueen's.
Feeling the softness and warmth against her arm, McQueen's mood instantly shifted from cloudy to sunny.
"Fine. I'll show you my sense of style and taste in fashion in a bit~"
Once they arrived at the clothing store, Starlight turned into Mejiro McQueen's personal dress-up doll.
The shopping bags in the bodyguards' hands grew more numerous by the minute.
Seeing McQueen pick up yet another adorable cat-ear hoodie, Starlight quickly tried to stop her.
"Enough, enough! McQueen-chan, if we keep buying, my wallet won't be able to take it~"
"Hmph. You dare try to spend money while out with me? Do you look down on me...?"
Frowning, Mejiro McQueen stared intently at Divine Starlight with her purple eyes.
"No way~ how could I look down on you? It's just that I'm buying so many clothes, I probably won't even wear most of them."
McQueen stuffed the clothes into Starlight's hands and reached out to pinch her cheek.
"I'm paying, so you just worry about the 'shopping' part. As for whether you'll wear them or not, I have my own arrangements..."
"Oh, uh, okay. Thanks then, McQueen-sama."
Starlight nodded blankly. Looking at the assertive McQueen, she could only obediently go along with it.
Afterward, McQueen dragged Starlight to an accessory shop, where they picked out a few pendants and bracelets.
They then found a nearby ramen shop to grab a simple lunch.
After finding a random seat and sitting down, Starlight picked up the menu and turned to McQueen.
"Which flavor do you want, McQueen-chan?"
Feeling Starlight leaning in close against her, Mejiro McQueen froze for a second.
She then looked at the menu in Starlight's hand and said:
"I think... mm, how about this one?"
Seeing that she was pointing at the "Extra-Large Meat Sauce Beef Ramen," Starlight let out a sigh of admiration.
"Wow~ This looks huge. Can the two of us finish a bowl each?"
"Then let's just share one."
"You want to eat together...?"
"Don't tell me you're disgusted by the idea of sharing a bowl with me?"
"Since when did you become so sensitive, McQueen-chan? I'd never be disgusted by you. Let's get this one then—"
After ordering, the two Uma Musume chatted about the afternoon's game while they waited.
Perhaps genuinely interested, Starlight asked questions from time to time about baseball rules and the tournament.
Watching McQueen explain things with such excitement, the corners of Starlight's mouth turned up slightly.
"Oh? Isn't this Starlight-chan and Mejiro McQueen-san... what a coincidence?"
A familiar voice rang out.
Starlight turned her head to see a team of bodyguards surrounding an Uma Musume with short, brownish-gray hair. Her cyan eyes held a hint of surprise.
"Fine Motion?! It's you..."
"Mm-hm, it's me."
Sitting down at the empty table next to Starlight, Fine Motion looked at the two Uma Musume.
"I didn't expect you two to come here for ramen as well. It seems I wasn't the only one who got the news."
"From the sounds of it, do you like ramen very much, Fine Motion?"
"I do. I love all kinds of noodle dishes. This shop just released a new item, so I rushed over to try it/"
Seeing Starlight get swept up in a conversation with Fine Motion, Mejiro McQueen immediately grew displeased.
She reached out and pinched Starlight's waist.
"Hiss! What was that for, McQueen-chan! That hurts..."
"Hmph, hmph, hmph~"
Ignoring Divine Starlight, Mejiro McQueen turned her head away and started humming to herself.
Though confused, Starlight didn't think much of it.
She rubbed the spot where she'd been pinched and continued chatting with Fine Motion.
"What! You're participating in the Oka Sho too?"
"That's right~ It looks like we'll get to race each other again, Starlight-chan! Also, Daiichi Ruby is joining this race as well."
"Oh! Those are some tough opponents. I'll have to discuss a training plan with my Trainer when I get back."
"Could I listen in on that too? Starlight-chan..."
"Of course not! I'll let you hear it after we finish the Oka Sho~ Hiss—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Starlight felt another piercing pain in her waist. S
he immediately whipped her head around toward McQueen.
Swish!
McQueen was a step faster, turning her head away as if she had done absolutely nothing.
"McQueen~ Why did you pinch me again? Stop doing that, okay? It really hurts~"
"I'm sorry. My mistake."
Her tone was flat and completely dismissive.
Seeing her like this, Starlight figured she was angry again, and her lip twitched slightly.
Starlight tried to move a bit further away from her.
The moment her backside shifted toward Fine Motion's side, McQueen's small hand crept back onto Starlight's waist.
Starlight glanced at the expressionless McQueen and tried to push the small hand away, only for it to climb right back up a second later.
'This... this...'
Unsure of what to do, Starlight had no choice but to shift back toward her.
Upon seeing this, Mejiro McQueen swayed her body slightly and slowly retracted her hand.
With a helpless smile, Starlight sat down directly on McQueen's lap and said somewhat crossly:
"Is this okay now?! Is it?! Just stop pinching me, alright—"
McQueen's mouth opened slightly in surprise.
She hadn't expected such an unexpected windfall and immediately wrapped her arms around Starlight.
"Fine..."
'Fine?! This girl is so frustrating—'
"You two really are on good terms~" Fine Motion remarked, witnessing the scene from the side.
"Indeed. Our noodles are here, I'm going to eat with Starlight-chan now, so let's stop talking."
Before Starlight could say anything, McQueen cut in.
She then pulled the large bowl of noodles toward them as if showing off, picking up her chopsticks to begin eating with Starlight.