Noon, inside Divine Starlight's dormitory.
At this moment, Starlight was sitting on her bed, holding some chocolate she had bought on her way back.
A manga book was spread out on the bed, and those golden eyes were currently reading the masterpiece with great relish.
In fact, Starlight had already finished half of it during class that morning, but the content was so captivating that she planned to continue reading for a while after returning to the dorm.
It seemed that maintaining one position for too long was a bit tiring.
Starlight placed the chocolate on the side table, picked up the manga, and lay down on the bed.
Just then, the door opened, and a certain cyan cat slipped inside.
After glancing up, Starlight retracted her gaze and focused back on the manga in her hands.
"Yay~ Starlight-chan, are you reading this manga too?"
"Yeah, I am..."
"Which volume is this?"
"Volume 4, the first half."
With her eyes lighting up, Seiun Sky leaned over to the edge of the bed, popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth, and then took off her shoes to climb directly onto the bed.
After some shuffling, she appeared behind Starlight.
Slowly wrapping her arms around the other's slender waist, Seiun Sky rested her head against Starlight's shoulder.
While inhaling the fragrance wafting from the other girl, she watched the manga in her hands.
"What a coincidence~ I just finished Volume 4..."
"You little Uma Musume, you really make yourself at home, don't you~"
Glancing down at the hands resting on her waist, Starlight put down the manga and shot a slight look at Seiun Sky's smiling face.
"Is Starlight-chan going to kick me out?"
Pretending to be hurt, Seiun Sky rubbed her cheek against Starlight's face as she spoke.
Closing the book, Starlight turned slightly to place it on the nightstand, then adjusted her body and closed her eyes, preparing to fall asleep.
"No, no... I'm going to sleep now."
Blinking, and seeing that the small face right in front of her had already closed its eyes, Seiun Sky squinted and reached out a finger to poke her.
"Won't you read a few more pages? Starlight-chan~"
"Don't mess around... I have training this afternoon."
Pouting, Seiun Sky buried her head into Starlight's embrace and chose to fall asleep as well.
Taking a deep breath, the fresh scent unique to Starlight drifted into her nose, making Seiun Sky feel an instant sense of comfort.
Combined with the sunlight streaming through the window onto her body, it was truly wonderful.
'Warm and cozy... it feels so good~'
Before long, both Seiun Sky and Divine Starlight drifted off into dreamland.
Click—
Right then, the door was suddenly opened, and a figure slowly walked in.
With her arms crossed over her chest, Symboli Rudolf stood by the bed.
Looking at the cyan cat lying on Starlight's chest, her brow twitched uncontrollably.
In the afternoon, Seiun Sky slowly opened her eyes and immediately noticed something was wrong.
Because the soft, fragrant Starlight was no longer in her arms, only something cold and hard remained.
Snapping her eyes open to look, she found herself lying on the bare bedframe of an empty dormitory.
"Eh? Why am I here... where is my Starlight-chan?"
Rubbing her eyes, the cyan cat fell into a long state of bewilderment.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Starlight slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Symboli Rudolf's face right in front of her.
"Luna? I thought... wait! Why is it you!?"
Not reacting at first, Divine Starlight suddenly recoiled and leaned back.
Duang~
The back of her head successfully slammed into the wall.
"Are you alright?"
Seeing this, Rudolf hurriedly reached out to help rub the spot for her.
"I-I'm fine, but why is Luna-chan in my bed?"
As if the other person was talking nonsense, Rudolf frowned and said:
"This is my room? Starlight-chan, what are you talking about..."
'Eh?!'
Divine Starlight slowly sat up from the bed.
After scanning her surroundings, she confirmed that this was indeed Rudolf's room.
"Why am I in your room? Shouldn't I be in my own room sleeping with Sky-chan?"
Sitting up as well, Rudolf waved her hand and said:
"You must have been sleepwalking. I was working here just fine when you walked right in and lay down on my bed without saying a word."
Rubbing her head, Starlight's expression became quite distorted.
"Is... is that so?"
"Would I lie to you?"
"Alright... sorry for bothering you while you were working, Luna-chan." With a sheepish smile, Starlight spoke apologetically.
Shaking her head, Symboli Rudolf maintained a casual air.
"It is no matter. Even with you here, my work was already finished."
Standing up, Starlight nodded and smiled.
"That's good then~ In that case, I'll head out first. Training starts soon anyway..."
Seeing Starlight turn to leave, Rudolf instinctively reached out and grabbed her wrist.
When she snapped back to her senses, she was already meeting those puzzled eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"No, actually... you can rest this afternoon. I've already communicated with your Trainer, besides, she needs to draft a new training plan."
"I see... It's true that if I go, Inami-chan will definitely try to follow me. I told her this morning to get some proper rest, so I guess I'll reluctantly take a break too..."
Only after seeing Starlight agree to rest did Rudolf release her hand.
"Then I'm heading back to my dorm. Luna-chan, you must have important things to attend to, so I won't disturb you~"
"I... I don't. You... you aren't allowed to leave..."
Stopping in her tracks at Rudolf's words, Starlight turned around to see the other girl's somewhat bashful expression.
"Do you want me to stay and keep you company for a bit? Or is there something you want to tell me?"
"Both."
"I see. Then I'll stay~"
As if seeing right through Rudolf's heart, a smile played on the corners of Starlight's lips as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
Looking at Rudolf, who was still standing still, she teased:
"Why the long face? You look so aggrieved~ I haven't said or done anything yet. Come, sit here~"
"I am not aggrieved!"
Retorting quickly, Rudolf quite honestly moved to sit down beside Starlight.
"Haha... is there something you want to ask? I'm ready..."
After a soft laugh, Starlight adjusted her posture, her pink fists clenched in a mock-serious manner.
"Ahem... Lately, have any juniors or other Uma Musume been bothering you?"
Hearing this, Starlight looked up at the ceiling, thinking it over.
"Bothering me? No, everyone is very nice to me. I don't feel bothered at all, and no one has come to pester me..."
"According to my observations, Seiun Sky seems to be getting quite close to you. You even stayed with her a few days ago?"
"Aya~ President, how did you know!? Monitoring me is going too far..."
"I didn't. I simply happened to see it by chance."
She had originally regained her usual stern expression, prepared to interrogate this little butterfly who went around "gathering nectar" everywhere.
But when Rudolf shifted her gaze into those golden eyes, she was instantly stunned.
"Ang~ Is Luna-chan trying to ask about my relationship with her? Does your heart feel a little restless~?"
"Does it make you uncomfortable to see me getting close to other Uma Musume?"
"This... I, well..."
'Why is she being so blunt...' Rudolf thought as she lowered her head in embarrassment.
Reaching out to poke Rudolf's cheek, Starlight maintained her light and gentle tone.
"Sky-chan is very cute, and we have a great relationship. Getting close to her isn't a problem, Luna-chan."
"And, do you know? Do you know why she worked so hard during the Satsuki Sho?"
Looking at her with confusion, Rudolf asked, "Was it not to win?"
"That's only part of it. The day after the race, when I went to take care of her, she told me she just didn't want to let my smile down."
"..."
Seeing Rudolf fall silent, Starlight continued.
"I'm very happy that someone actually considers me a reason to keep running hard. Tokai Teio is also working hard to become an Uma Musume like you, isn't she?"
"...Yes, I understand. I'm sorry..."
"No need to apologize. Luna-chan hasn't done anything out of line, right?"
"..."
"Hmm? What's with that face? What does your silence mean?"