Seeing the atmosphere heading toward a powder keg of hostility, Ryo Nishizaki hurriedly called for a timeout.
"Ahem, let me handle the arrangements, alright?"
"Why should we listen to you?" Vodka questioned defiantly, hands on her hips.
"Exactly! Trainer, this is between us, don't interfere," Daiwa Scarlet added, agreeing with her rival for once.
"Fine. Daiwa Scarlet, you're going in Inami-chan's car, Vodka, you're with me. Suzuka and Special Week, you're with Inami, the rest of you, come with me."
Ignoring the protests of the two rivals, Ryo Nishizaki swiftly split them into two groups.
"Huh!?"
Mejiro McQueen's eyes widened, looking at Ryo Nishizaki in utter disbelief.
"Starlight-chan, are you okay with this?"
"I am. Mr. Ryo Nishizaki's distribution is very reasonable."
Seeing that even Starlight agreed, Mejiro McQueen's heart completely withered.
She pouted and began muttering to herself.
"I thought newcomers were supposed to get some kind of 'beginner's benefit' when joining the team..."
Suzuka and Special Week, naturally, were beaming with joy.
"Haha!! Starlight-chan, please look after us on the road~!"
Watching Special Week cling to her arm in goofy delight, Starlight gave her forehead a gentle flick.
"I'll be in your care, Special Week..."
Nearby, Tokai Teio watched McQueen's look of disbelief and shrugged somewhat helplessly.
"Come on, McQueen-chan~ It's just for the duration of the drive."
Suddenly, as Teio's words fell, McQueen's face remained clouded with a murderous aura.
She looked up at her, a faint black energy radiating from her body.
"What do you mean 'just' the duration of the drive? Teio..."
"Whoa, whoa, McQueen, calm down!"
Seeing this, Teio's small frame shuddered, and she hurriedly waved her hands at McQueen.
'What is this? Why is the surrounding pressure so heavy?'
"Actually, I don't mind not being in the same car as Starlight, but at the very least, don't put me with this person!"
Without looking back, McQueen pointed a finger behind her at Gold Ship, who was already preparing to stir up trouble.
"...Gold Ship, you should behave yourself. McQueen is the newest member of our team, after all."
Ryo Nishizaki gave a dry cough, deciding to step in and restrain this eccentric Uma Musume.
Unfortunately, he had miscalculated one thing— his status as a Trainer in Team Spica was apparently not very high.
Gold Ship didn't even turn around.
With a smirk, she pulled out a clown nose, preparing to stick it on McQueen's face.
"Sigh... You! You need to know when to stop!"
McQueen let out a helpless sigh.
She performed a graceful pivot and, with a quick foot-trip, sent the lunging Gold Ship tumbling.
The clown nose ended up hooked perfectly onto Gold Ship's own nose.
"Hiss. My nose! Ow, ow, ow..."
The pre-departure interlude faded away, and the scene shifted to the day they headed for the training camp.
In the early morning, the sun hung high in the sky.
The chorus of cicadas and birds had already begun to echo through the trees around the dormitory.
Starlight was carrying her suitcase, dressed in a simple white T-shirt and denim shorts paired with wood-colored sandals.
Before she could even leave the dormitory building, an Uma Musume pounced on her from behind.
Seiun Sky wrapped her arms around Starlight's waist, resting her head in the crook of Starlight's neck as she spoke with a slight pout.
"Starlight-chan~ Why aren't we in the same room for the camp? I wanted to go fishing with you..."
After stumbling forward a few steps to steady herself, Starlight patted her head with a chuckle.
"Hmm? If I remember correctly, isn't your room just one row behind mine?"
"Hehe... I wanted to live in the same room as you, Starlight~"
Releasing her grip, Seiun Sky squinted her eyes with a smile and waved her hand.
"So, who is your roommate?"
"Hmm, Manhattan Cafe. She seems a bit gloomy. She's the one with the long black hair..."
"Oh, her. My roommate is a bit of an airhead, too, but she seems very cute."
Saying this, Starlight pulled out her phone and showed Seiun Sky the photo of Mihono Bourbon from the training camp roster.
"Starlight-senpai! Trainer Inami's car is here! Let's head out!"
Suddenly, Special Week waved and shouted toward Starlight from outside.
"Coming! I'm heading out now. See you at the camp, Sky-chan~"
With that, Starlight put away her phone, grabbed her suitcase, and headed out.
With her hands folded over her stomach, Seiun Sky maintained her lazy smile, her squinted eyes hiding whatever thoughts were swirling in her mind.
After a somewhat tedious drive, the car slowly pulled into the parking lot outside the training camp site.
Opening the car door, Starlight stepped out.
Looking out at the boundless ocean in the distance, a cool sea breeze brushed against her cheeks, carrying a hint of saltiness.
The cries of seagulls rang out occasionally, forming a unique symphony with the sound of the nearby waves.
On the beach below, many Uma Musume who had arrived early were already dressed in bright swimsuits, enjoying various recreational activities.
"Wow! So this is the training camp site? It's so beautiful!" Special Week leaned over the railing, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"The last time I was here, it was for Team Rigil's training camp..." Silence Suzuka remarked with a touch of nostalgia as she went to the trunk to start unloading luggage.
"Starlight-chan, you guys head to the dorms first. I'm going to join the other seniors for a gathering!"
Kiryuu Inami waved to the four Uma Musume and departed in a great hurry.
"Hey! Wait! The seatbelt seems to be stuck. Why won't it open? Starlight-senpai, help me!"
Daiwa Scarlet, sitting in the passenger seat, was trying to get out, but the seatbelt had somehow jammed and wouldn't release no matter what she did.
"Coming, coming. Scarlet-chan, relax a bit first. It's too tight here..."
"I am relaxed, Starlight-senpai!"
'This...'
Starlight froze for a moment as she looked at the seatbelt across the girl's chest.
"I'll try to pull it hard first. When the gap gets wider, try to squeeze your way out..."
Daiwa Scarlet nodded, her expression turning serious, though the seatbelt occasionally catching on certain spots was indeed quite uncomfortable.
In the distance, Silence Suzuka watched this scene with a complex expression.
After glancing down at herself, her face grew even more somber.
After a good deal of struggling, Daiwa Scarlet finally managed to wiggle out.
"Finally, I can breathe! Thanks a lot, Starlight-senpai."
"No problem, no problem."
Wiping the sweat from her face, Starlight grabbed her suitcase and headed toward the lodging area with the other three Uma Musume.
"302, 302... Oh! Here it is! I've arrived. Yours should be in the row behind this one."
After speaking to the trio, Starlight took her key, turned the handle, and walked in.
Creak.
The dormitory door pushed open to reveal an Uma Musume sitting perfectly upright. She held a book in her hands, her blue eyes blinking steadily.
Seeing her roommate arrive, Mihono Bourbon rose respectfully and bowed.
"Divine Starlight-senpai, please look after me. I am Mihono Bourbon..."
"Hello, hello~ Bourbon-chan, just call me Starlight. No need to be so formal."
Mihono Bourbon nodded, her expression remaining as flat as ever.
"Understood, Starlight-senpai."