Under the glow of the setting sun, the turf of the training grounds was gradually painted a deep, vivid red.
Starlight stood by a bench on the sidelines, holding several bottles of energy drinks she had purchased.
"Huff... puff... Starlight-senpai! I-I finished the run!"
At that moment, Special Week trotted up to Starlight from the distance.
She collapsed directly onto her knees, beads of sweat the size of soybeans dripping onto the ground.
"Wh-Why is it so exhausting, Starlight-senpai? Don't tell me... is next week going to be this intense too?"
Smiling as she knelt down in front of Special Week, Starlight took out a tissue to help wipe the sweat from the younger girl's face.
She handed over a bottle of energy drink and said:
"That's right. Spe-chan's opponents are all very strong, so we have to be fully prepared... I'm sure Sky-chan and King Halo-san are working just as hard right now~"
Straightening up, Special Week took the drink, twisted off the cap, and began gulping it down.
Glug, glug—
"Hah! Then I can't lose either! Starlight-senpai, please feel free to ruin me!"
Starlight was just about to admire her junior's spirit, but the second half of the sentence made her jump up in shock.
"Don't... Don't say things like that! It's very easy for people to misunderstand!"
Just then, Suzuka finished her own training.
She walked slowly to Starlight's side, looking at the crouching Special Week and praising her:
"Spe-chan worked very hard today, too."
"Ehehe, Suzuka-chan~ thank you for the compliment!"
Seeing the sweat covering Suzuka's face, Starlight was about to reach into her pocket for a tissue, only to realize the one she just used for Spe-chan was her last.
She patted her pockets and then noticed the towel hanging around her own neck.
"Um, Suzuka-chan, sorry, I'm out of tissues. If you don't mind, you can borrow my towel."
Noticing that Suzuka froze after hearing the offer, Starlight realized her behavior might be a bit inappropriate.
"Never mind, never mind! I'll go over to the vending machine and buy some tissues—"
Starlight turned to leave, but Suzuka caught her by the wrist.
The other girl's hand was warm and slightly damp, a normal state after exercise.
"No need, Starlight-chan. I don't mind..."
"Really?"
"Mhm, yes."
Lifting the towel from her neck, Starlight looked into Suzuka's eyes and asked uncertainly, "Then I'll help you wipe, okay?"
"Hehe... ahem. Okay, thank you, Starlight-chan."
As the towel, saturated with Divine Starlight's scent, gently wiped her cheeks, Silence Suzuka couldn't help but narrow her eyes.
"I thought I heard a strange sound just now... Suzuka-chan, was that you?"
"Ah, n-no, it wasn't. You probably misheard, Starlight-chan."
Recalling the conversation, Starlight wasn't sure herself, maybe she really had misheard.
"Where are Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka?"
"Oh, those two finished their training and went to buy ice cream on their way out."
"Huh? Is eating ice cream in this weather really a good idea?"
"Ehehe, it's fine, Starlight-senpai! The temperature is nearly twenty degrees today."
Looking at Special Week's silly, innocent smile, Starlight couldn't help but give her a light flick on the head.
"Alright, I won't be joining you two. I have things to take care of, so I'm heading out first."
"Eh? Starlight-senpai, can't you stay with us a bit longer?"
Standing up, Special Week took Starlight's hand, her eyes sparkling.
"I'd love to, but I really have something to do this time. Next time, okay Spe-chan?"
"Okay..."
"Starlight-chan, bye-bye."
"Mhm, bye-bye~"
After saying goodbye to Spe-chan and Suzuka, Starlight packed her bag and ran toward the eastern gate of the training grounds.
As expected, Symboli Rudolf, dressed in her school uniform, was leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed.
She had her eyes closed in contemplation. It was hard to tell if she was actually thinking or just trying to look cool.
Tap, tap, tap—
Hearing footsteps approaching from the distance, Rudolf slowly opened her eyes.
Upon seeing the figure she was waiting for, she straightened her posture.
Rudolf stood with one hand on her hip and said, "You're late."
"What kind of talk is that? Weren't you supposed to wait for my training to end? Shouldn't it be based on my schedule?"
"Your training with them ended over ten minutes ago. Then, like some tender little girlfriend, you spent your time wiping sweat and handing out water. You wasted time."
"I was just looking out for my juniors~ plus Spe-chan is very cute."
"...Or is it that Luna-chan is jealous because I didn't think of you first?"
A flash of panic flickered in her eyes, and Rudolf averted her gaze.
"Hmph. I'm the one who made the appointment with you first, so you should have come to meet me first."
"Jealousy is an emotion for young fillies, I've long since moved past that."
Staring curiously at the other's face, Starlight squinted and teased, "Is that so?"
"It is."
"As expected of Tracen's Student Council President, your mindset is so mature. Unlike some people who pretend not to care on the surface, but every word they say is dripping with bitterness."
"Enough. Let's get going."
Hearing Starlight's teasing, Rudolf didn't seem to mind at all.
She took Starlight's hand and led her out toward the gates of Tracen.
"Where are we going in such a hurry?"
"The arcade district."
"Eh? Are we going to play? Or is there some event?"
"Mhm. I'm simply taking you out to have some fun."
"Aww~ If you're inviting me to play, don't be so serious. I thought it was some major crisis."
Rudolf turned her head to look at Starlight and said with a smirk, "If I hadn't been serious, you wouldn't have felt forced to come, would you?"
"True. You really are cunning, Luna-chan~"
"Is it okay if I just wear my training suit? Do I need to go change?"
"No need. I expect we'll be back quite soon."
Following behind her, Starlight looked at Rudolf's silhouette, feeling a bit puzzled.
"If we're coming back soon, why bother going to the arcade district at all?"
This doubt was resolved shortly after the two Uma Musume arrived at the arcade.
Rudolf led Starlight toward the crane games and began to wander around.
It seemed aimless, but in reality, she was deliberately making sure Starlight noticed one specific machine.
No, to be precise, she wanted her to notice the plushie positioned right in the center of that machine, which was modeled after Starlight herself.
'Sigh... Luna-chan is really something. Wouldn't it be better to just be direct and tell me? Oh well, I'll just follow her lead.'
"Eh!? President, look! That crane game over there seems to have plushies of me!!"
Divine Starlight feigned surprise, pointing her finger at the machine.
Rudolf finally let out a sigh of relief upon hearing those words, then spoke up.
"Then let's go take a look."
Approaching the machine, the two Uma Musume peered through the glass at the large Starlight plushie.
It was quite exquisite, with a vivid and adorable expression.
"Hmm... Luna-chan, how about we each try to catch the other's plushie and give them to each other? I'd really like a Luna-chan plushie too."
Rudolf nodded. She appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly she was ecstatic.
"Sure, let's do that."
Before long, Rudolf was cradling the Starlight plushie, the joy in her eyes clear for all to see.
Starlight was the same, she quite liked cute merchandise like this.
"Luna-chan, let's take a photo~ We can share it on our feed as a memento."
"If that's what you want, then let's do it."
Click—
Looking at the photo on her phone of the two of them hugging each other's plushies, Starlight smiled.
"Luna-chan, when did you notice they started selling merchandise of me?"
"Ah? Didn't you just discover it by chance while we were walking through the arcade?"
"Hehe, your acting is way too poor."
Her face flushing slightly, Rudolf let out a few dry coughs and looked away.
"Well... I happened to see it a few days ago when I passed by here while accompanying Teio to the karaoke box."