"Even though Sky is the type to put in effort silently behind the scenes, she always acts as if she's just idling about..." Special Week stopped laughing and spoke softly.
"I-I really don't like working hard, I just occasionally give it a push..."
"I think... Starlight must have noticed that side of you too. She'll definitely come to find you of her own accord."
"Eh... Wh-Why?"
"Because that's just the kind of Uma Musume Starlight-chan is. She'll definitely come to have a talk with you."
Looking at Grass Wonder's certain expression, Seiun Sky felt a bit restless and extremely nervous.
After hearing Grass Wonder put it that way, she was terrified that Starlight really would come looking for her, but beneath that layer of fear in her heart, there was a faint, hidden glimmer of anticipation.
In the afternoon, due to the supervision of our great Student Council President, Starlight was required to follow a "one day on, one day off" training schedule during non-racing periods.
To this end, Starlight had no choice but to follow Dream Journey's lead toward the Expedition Clubroom.
"Um, there's really no need for this, Orfe-chan. I'm not going to run away."
Hearing this, Orfevre didn't care at all.
She even moved a few steps closer behind Starlight, until the two Uma Musume were barely half a fist's width apart.
"What I do is entirely based on my own whims. If you have a problem, go talk to my sister."
After hearing those words, Starlight shifted her gaze to Dream Journey ahead of her.
Before she could even speak, Dream Journey rubbed her chin and put on a bashful expression.
"Sorry, Starlight-chan. Just go along with my sister. After all, she's right in everything she does..."
'You— You... both of you!'
"Haha... well, fine then."
With a wry smile, protected by this two-on-one formation of Gold Family Uma Musume, Starlight finally arrived at the clubroom.
After sitting down on the sofa, she watched as the petite Dream Journey began to efficiently organize things.
Taking a chess set out of a suitcase and adjusting her glasses, Dream Journey spoke.
"Sister, help set up the board first. I'm going to brew some drinks for us."
"Does Orfe-chan know how to play chess too?"
With a slight nod, Orfevre spoke with total confidence. "Not as well as my sister... but that is all."
"That's cool! Though I only know the most basic rules, it looks like I'll be learning a lot from you both in a bit." Starlight laughed with anticipation.
Again, Orfevre didn't respond, only offering that same enigmatic smile.
Starlight felt something was slightly off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it yet...
Carrying three cups of coffee over, Dream Journey set them aside.
Smoothing her clothes, she slowly sat down opposite Starlight.
The afternoon sun shone on her glasses, the reflected light making it impossible to read the emotions in her eyes.
With the corners of her mouth slowly curling up, Dream Journey lowered her head slightly, staring at Starlight across from her as she made a suggestion.
"Come now, Starlight-chan~ Would you like to team up with me against my sister... or would you like my sister to teach you hand-to-hand?"
She toyed with the glossy black Queen in her hand, her blue-violet eyes fixed on the silver little Uma Musume before her.
"Hand-to-hand... what does that mean?" Looking at her with confusion, Starlight tried to ask for clarification.
However, in the next moment, she felt herself being lifted into the air. Before she could regain her senses, she had already landed in a warm embrace.
Orfevre rested her chin on Starlight's shoulder and slowly reached out to grasp Starlight's small hand, guiding her to pick up the white King on the board.
"It means exactly this, teaching you hand-to-hand... How about it? I have specially permitted you this honor."
A low, magnetic voice echoed right by her horse ears. Starlight's entire body shivered, and she gave a forced smile as she tried to decline.
"I-I think I'd still rather join forces with Dream-chan to face off against Orfe-chan!"
After struggling for a moment and seeing that the other girl seemed to have her locked in quite tightly, Starlight cast a pleading gaze toward Dream Journey, who had been waiting across from them for a long time.
With a gentle smile, Dream Journey lightly patted the seat beside her.
"In that case, Sister, you'd better watch out."
Releasing her grip, Orfevre gave her collar a slight tug and grinned.
"Come then. Even if it is my elder sister, I feel not a shred of fear."
Standing up with a hint of fluster, Starlight calmed her racing heart.
She placed her hands on her hips and spoke with a touch of dissatisfaction.
"What's with you, Orfe-chan? Pulling and grabbing me without saying a word— it's very rude."
Orfevre looked up, her eyes meeting Starlight's golden orbs, and narrowed them slightly.
After a long silence, she lowered her head slightly and spoke in a flat, neutral tone.
"...Next time, I will ask beforehand."
'Whew, thank goodness. Little Orfe isn't the obsessive, paranoid type, she's just got an eccentric personality...'
Starlight re-evaluated the silver-orange Uma Musume in front of her.
After all, boundaries are important. Some Uma Musume might dislike overly intimate gestures, while others might love them.
If you lose that sense of propriety, you'll end up being hated.
With these thoughts in mind, Starlight sat down next to Dream Journey.
She looked at the chessboard already set up on the table, rubbing her chin as she waited for the game to begin.
However, before the game could even start, Dream Journey's hand had already quietly climbed onto Starlight's waist.
Before she could react, the other girl gave a firm tug, pulling Starlight directly into her embrace.
"Starlight-chan, don't sit so far away... we're teaming up now. It wouldn't be good if our tactical discussions were overheard."
"Is that so... alright, so when do we start?"
"Now. Sister, you take the first move."
Dream Journey tightened her hold on Starlight, waving her other hand dismissively with a relaxed air.
Orfevre said nothing more. She simply took the Knight she had been toying with and began her advance.
On the other side, Dream Journey defended with equal composure.
Although it was supposed to be a team effort, Starlight had already figured out the true intentions of the Uma Musume holding her.
She wasn't particularly bothered by it, though. She picked up her coffee, added two or three sugar cubes, and began to stir it slowly with a spoon.
The two Uma Musume played at a blistering pace. Most of the time, Starlight couldn't even find an opening to contribute, she could only remain a spectator.
At best, she managed to make two or three moves during the opening phase.
By 5:30 PM, the match finally reached its conclusion when one of Dream Journey's pawns took Orfevre's King from an unexpected position.
Dream Journey successfully defeated Orfevre with a score of 4:3.
Both of them had slight beads of sweat on their foreheads, presumably, the mental exertion had been quite intense.
Seeing this, Starlight set down her long-empty cup and took out a tissue to gently wipe the sweat from Dream Journey's brow.
"Is the game over?"
This gesture took Dream Journey by surprise. The hand resting on Starlight's waist instinctively loosened as she nodded with a smile.
"Yes. It's getting late, let's call it a day..."
Crumpling the tissue into a small ball and tossing it into the trash can, Starlight gave a helpless laugh.
"Gosh, you said we were teaming up, but I barely got to move... Dream-chan~"
"Ahem, I'll be more mindful next time. I'll make sure you're more involved, Starlight-chan."
Dream Journey coughed awkwardly and waved her hand.
"Alright, I'll look forward to that then... well, it's late. Bye-bye~"
Standing up, Starlight smiled and waved to the two of them before heading toward the door.
"Do you need me to walk you back?"
"No need, it's not like this is a strange place. Even though I was mostly just watching today, I had a great time seeing such a brilliant match between you two."
"Also... being in your arms was actually quite nice, Dream-chan~ But I'd rather be like Orfe-chan—someone who can truly be your match on the board."
Patting Dream Journey's shoulder, Starlight turned and left with a smile.
Hearing Starlight's words, Dream Journey's eyes contracted.
She watched the silver figure disappear, her fingers tracing the edge of her glasses as she sank into thought.