"Alright then, I'll head off to work for now. Starlight-chan, you really should give my offer some serious thought."
With that, Dream Journey flicked Starlight's chin with her finger, then turned and departed.
Walking over to Starlight's side, Ruby smiled and handed her a tissue.
"Wipe your mouth, there's still some dirt on it..."
"Ah, okay."
Taking the tissue, Starlight wiped lightly around her mouth, but when she looked at it, there was nothing there.
Seeing this, a look of confusion crossed her face.
"Dirt? There isn't any...?"
"Is that so? Mhm... it is indeed cleaner than before, perhaps I misidentified it."
"By the way, Starlight-chan, would you like to go to a hot spring together?"
After observing her for a moment, Ruby narrowed her eyes and expertly shifted the topic.
"Sure."
Once the banquet ended, Ruby took Starlight's hand and they slowly headed downstairs.
As they stepped into the elevator and the doors gradually slid shut, the two of them were left alone in the small space.
"How did you feel about today, Starlight-chan?"
"Mhm, it was quite fun. Even though I didn't understand what they were talking about, the food was delicious, and I got to dance with you."
"That is good to hear..."
Squinting her eyes slightly, Starlight waved her hand and said, "Actually, Ruby, you can relax a little. It's exhausting to keep up such a formal front all the time."
"Although it isn't obvious, I can still sense a trace of fatigue in your eyes."
"...This is basic upbringing, it is etched into my very bones. It is not something that can be changed so easily."
"How is that possible?"
Starlight stepped closer to her side and gently pulled her into an embrace.
Ruby was momentarily stunned.
By the time she snapped back to reality, her head was already resting in the crook of Starlight's neck.
The fragrance grew more intense, yet it remained as wonderful as ever.
The hum of the descending elevator echoed faintly, the space was incredibly quiet.
"How is it? Do you feel more relaxed? I can feel you leaning on me now~"
As Starlight's smiling words reached her ears, Ruby— the ever-dignified and well-bred Young Lady— actually flushed red and became quite flustered.
Her heart rate accelerated involuntarily, and her voice became hurried.
"A-Alright, Starlight-chan, you can let go now..."
Stroking the girl's head, Starlight's eyes curved like crescent moons as she sighed.
"You aren't very convincing, you know. I'm not holding you tightly, if you wanted to, you could just stand back up."
Silence. Ruby fell silent because she didn't know what to say.
It was exactly as Starlight said— if she wanted to, she could just stand up without any resistance.
Yet, her inner instinct was making her crave this warmth.
Cautiously burying her face in the crook of Starlight's neck, she took shallow, slightly ragged breaths and narrowed her eyes to enjoy this moment.
Inside a certain hot spring establishment.
After washing up, Starlight slowly lowered herself into the warm spring water.
With a white towel draped over her head and her hair pinned up (save for a few stray silver strands), she looked on with a rosy complexion at the rose petals floating on the water's surface.
Splash.
Beside her, Ruby, having also finished rinsing off, entered the spring. Her sitting posture remained perfectly upright.
"Is this one of your family's shops, Ruby?"
"Mhm... it is one of the older ones. I came here often as a child. How do you find it, Starlight-chan?"
"I think it's wonderful. Actually, I feel like hot springs are mostly the same when you're alone, the main thing is having a friend by your side. I'm very happy."
Amidst the faint white mist, Starlight's breathtaking face appeared somewhat ethereal.
Her golden eyes were filled with gentleness and joy.
She's practically like a little sun...
'A sun...'
"Starlight-chan, what is your... opinion of Helios?"
Recalling the things Helios had said to her, Ruby couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity.
She turned toward the other girl and asked.
"Opinion? In what sense..."
"Just, the way she— well... the way she treats you, compared to how she interacts with me."
Slowly lifting her hand, Starlight cupped a rose petal and said with a narrowed-eyed smile, "It's quite nice. I think Helios is very cute, and I think it's quite happy to be liked by others... "
"Don't worry too much about it, Ruby-chan. After all, her personality is just naturally lively and active. It's normal that you aren't used to it."
'But, why is it that even though both of you are like sunlight, when yours shines on me, I don't feel even a hint of discomfort...?'
Ruby kept that thought buried in her heart without voicing it.
She slowly scooted a bit closer to Starlight.
"Let's work hard together for the Shuka Sho, Starlight-chan. I want to see you galloping across the racecourse again."
"Mhm, me too. I look forward to the sight of Ruby's victory."
After the summer training camp ended, it was just about time for autumn to set in.
With only a month or two left before the race, Starlight was steadily progressing with her training.
On a Saturday morning, Starlight, who was getting some much-needed sleep in her dorm, was awoken by a series of gentle knocks at the door.
Throwing back the duvet, she scratched her slightly messy hair.
Her fair, tender feet felt around on the floor for a moment, after slipping on her slippers, she got up and headed to the door.
Click—
As the door opened, a black-haired girl appeared. She was wearing an off-white lace shirt, a long brown skirt, and a small western-style hat.
Looking at Starlight with her bright purple eyes, Rice Shower spoke.
"Good morning, Starlight-chan."
"Rice-chan~ morning..."
"Let's go camping together, Starlight-chan. Rice is already prepared!"
"Eh? Sure! Let me change my clothes first, come in and wait~"
Nodding, Rice Shower stepped forward quickly to grab Starlight's arm and said with a smile, "Rice will help you, Starlight-chan..."
With Rice Shower's help, Starlight quickly changed into a black-and-white dress.
Holding Rice's hand, the two girls set off toward their pre-arranged camping spot.
Carrying a massive travel backpack, Rice Shower didn't seem tired at all.
As the train arrived at their destination and the two Uma Musume stepped off, a refreshing breeze instantly brushed past them.
Looking up at the sun in the sky, the warm light had already lost most of the scorching intensity of the summer heat.
"Starlight-chan, let's go."
Beside her, having adjusted her backpack, Rice Shower spoke to Starlight, who was still soaking in the autumn atmosphere.
"Mhm, coming."
Adjusting her shoulder bag, Starlight followed along with her suitcase.
By the riverbank, on a very flat stretch of grass, the two little Uma Musume, one silver, one black, began to get busy once more.
Pitching the tent, setting up the table and chairs, building a fire pit...
After a long while, Starlight slowly stood up, looking quite satisfied.
She plopped herself down onto a lounge chair.
Nearby, Rice Shower was brewing coffee.
"The weather is so nice today~"
Sitting down beside Starlight, Rice Shower heard her exclamation and said with a smile, "Mhm, Rice did her homework in advance, the weather will be like this for the next few days..."
Holding their coffee, sitting together to admire the scenery and read picture books— times like these were incredibly cozy.
Rice Shower slowly shifted her gaze from the picture book to Starlight's profile.
She couldn't help but let her lips curl into a smile.