Junior High Division, Class A.
Mejiro McQueen was currently staring at the form in her hand with a face full of distress.
"Why did it turn out like this...?"
"What's wrong, McQueen-chan?"
Tokai Teio, already changed into her training gear, stood beside her and asked curiously.
"My application was rejected..."
Instead of directly answering Teio, McQueen just lowered her head and muttered to herself.
Frowning, Teio leaned in to look at the form in her hand.
Once she saw the specific details, she froze for a moment.
"Summer Training Camp Roommate Application? Target: Divine Starlight... Ah, it's Starlight-senpai!"
"I think Starlight-senpai already has a roommate."
As soon as those words were spoken, Mejiro McQueen's purple eyes widened.
She slammed the paper onto the desk and stood up abruptly. Grabbing Tokai Teio by the shoulders, she demanded with an intense tone:
"Who?!"
The Uma Musume still left in the classroom were drawn to McQueen's sudden outburst and stopped to stare.
A drop of cold sweat rolled down Tokai Teio's forehead as she waved her hands with a wry smile.
"Calm down, McQueen..."
Perhaps Teio's words had an effect, or perhaps the gazes of her classmates were too piercing, but McQueen finally snapped out of it.
Her face flushed, and she rubbed her nose awkwardly.
"Ahem, um... who is it?"
Glancing left and right, McQueen leaned in a few steps closer and whispered her question to Tokai Teio.
'Uh... though it might be mean to say... McQueen, haven't you been a bit airheaded lately?'
Teio didn't say it out loud, only complaining in her head.
She slowly pulled her phone from her pocket and opened the file Symboli Rudolf had sent her.
"Let me look."
She tapped into the file and scrolled through the spreadsheet until she found Starlight's roommate.
"Oh, it's this person: Mihono Bourbon-senpai from Senior High Class C."
McQueen leaned her head over, looking at the photo of the pinkish-brown-haired Uma Musume who gave off a distinct "cyborg" vibe.
"Hah... well then..."
"Supposedly, this was personally arranged by the Selection Committee. But our Team Spica's dorms are right next to Starlight-chan's!"
Tokai Teio remarked casually while looking at the information on her phone.
"Um... Teio—"
"What is it, McQueen-chan?"
Putting her phone away, Tokai Teio looked at the fidgeting Mejiro McQueen with confusion.
"Actually, I've decided to officially join Team Spica!"
To her surprise, Mejiro McQueen raised her eyes to meet Teio's, her expression dead serious.
"Really? That's gre—"
"THAT'S GREAT—!!! Let's go, Teio!"
"Mmph— Gold Ship, put me down!"
Gold Ship had suddenly appeared, thrown a white burlap sack over Mejiro McQueen, and hoisted her onto her shoulder.
"Ah, this... well, okay. McQueen-chan, just stay calm, this is the initiation ceremony..."
Watching McQueen's legs flailing in struggle, Teio calmly walked over to Gold Ship's side and patted McQueen on the backside to comfort her.
"You... you people... I can walk myself, put me down!"
And so, the two of them carried Mejiro McQueen all the way to the Team Spica clubroom.
The scene shifted as the door was pushed open.
Ryo Nishizaki, who was in the middle of explaining the summer training camp details to the other Uma Musume, paused.
Silence Suzuka and the others, who were taking notes, turned toward the door.
"We're back!"
Setting down the sack-clad Uma Musume, Gold Ship grinningly untied the bag.
McQueen crossed her arms, a look of slight dissatisfaction on her face.
"Ta-da! McQueen-chan has decided to join Team Spica!"
Seeing this scene, Special Week gave a wry smile, while the other Uma Musume, already accustomed to such antics, bowed to welcome her.
"Then let's all work hard together, Mejiro McQueen."
Stepping forward, Ryo Nishizaki reached out his hand with a smile. McQueen looked up, then slowly reached out to shake it.
"P-Please look after me... Ack!"
Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a strange sensation from her tail.
Turning around, McQueen was instantly incensed.
That rascal Gold Ship had actually tied a red ribbon onto McQueen's tail.
Seeing she'd been caught red-handed, Gold Ship turned to bolt, but who was McQueen?
She reached out and snatched the other's tail.
With a simple, effortless yank, Gold Ship predictably sent her eyes crashing straight into the doorknob.
She collapsed into a heap, her limbs twitching on the floor.
"Whoa... what are you guys doing?"
Starlight, just walking through the door, was greeted first by the sight of Gold Ship lying on the ground.
She spoke up in surprise.
"Ah, Starlight-senpai! Look, McQueen-chan has decided to officially join Team Spica!"
Stepping over Gold Ship, Special Week smilingly took Starlight's arm and led her into the room while explaining the situation.
"Is that so? That's wonderful... pfft, haha! McQueen, what's that on your tail?"
Noticing the ribbon on McQueen's tail, Starlight covered her mouth and let out a soft giggle.
Mejiro McQueen, who had been intent on punishing Gold Ship, froze.
She quickly hid her tail behind her back, her face turning a bashful red.
"Don't— Starlight-chan, don't look!"
Squinting her eyes, Starlight smiled and walked over slowly.
"Don't be shy~ Look at you, McQueen-chan, you really look like a delicate little gift~"
Gently taking hold of the tail, Starlight tenderly smoothed the hair for McQueen before beginning to untie the bow-shaped ribbon.
Feeling Starlight's gentle hands moving along her tail, McQueen's body first gave a slight shiver, then her eyes narrowed in comfort.
Her face began to heat up, and her voice trembled slightly.
"Um, th-thank you, Starlight-chan..."
Once the ribbon was untied, Starlight let go and gave a smiling nod.
"No worries, I'll just set this aside for now."
Seeing the farce conclude, Ryo Nishizaki asked curiously, "By the way, Starlight-chan, was there something you wanted to say?"
Sitting naturally on the sofa at the far end of the room, Starlight nodded and spoke with a smile.
"Right, it's about the summer training camp. Ryo Nishizaki, your car is too small to carry so many people..."
"So, Inami-chan asked me to tell you that she can help take three Uma Musume with her... so, should we figure out the seating arrangements?"
"Oh, I see. Good point. By the way, how did you know I just bought a new car after getting my license?"
"That night you were so happy you accidentally had one too many with Trainer Tojo Hana. When Inami-chan went to pick you guys up, I was in the passenger seat."
"I listened to you brag the whole way home..."
Starlight waved her hand, speaking with total familiarity.
"Cough, um... anyway, everyone, let's decide on the seating arrangements!"
Seeing this little silver-haired girl expose his embarrassing past, Ryo Nishizaki gave a dry cough and turned around to divert everyone's attention.
As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of both Suzuka and McQueen snapped to attention.
The two of them put on serious faces and began scanning their surroundings...
"I—"
"Oh, McQueen-chan! Didn't you and Teio-chan go with Starlight last time? And you were even assigned to the same dorm. It's time for a change this time, right?"
McQueen had barely gotten the word "I" out before Suzuka's voice, gentle yet carrying a hint of frost, interrupted her.
"Eh, that's true, McQueen-chan. Should the two of us just go with the Trainer this time?"
Teio didn't mind at all and looked toward McQueen with a suggestion.