In the afternoon, a light breeze brushed past, ruffling the silver-haired Uma Musume's bangs as warm sunlight bathed her face.
Her eyes were gently closed, and her steady breathing was proof that she was currently sleeping very peacefully.
She sat in a lounge chair, covered with a small pink blanket.
Nearby, Rice Shower was adding firewood to the established fire pit, the wood crackling and popping from time to time.
Her purple eyes reflected the dancing flames, as well as the silhouette of the silver-haired girl nearby.
"The way Starlight-chan sleeps is so cute. Her ears are twitching... I really want to rub them..."
The sound of the river flowing nearby startled the black-haired Uma Musume out of her daydream.
She reached out with her slightly dusty hands and patted her own cheeks, leaving smudges on her otherwise clean face.
A flush of red spread across her skin, and Rice Shower hurriedly shook her head.
She checked her watch and looked up at the position of the sun.
"It's about time to start making dinner... but Rice came in such a hurry that she forgot to bring the ingredients..."
At this thought, her brows furrowed slightly, and a look of self-reproach flickered in her eyes. Her ears drooped as she clasped her hands together.
"N-no, but Starlight-chan won't blame me. Starlight-chan is very gentle... While she's still asleep, Rice will go to the nearby shop to buy some ingredients."
Standing up, Rice Shower tidied her clothes and ran toward the exit.
She had done her research before coming, there was a convenience store nearby.
Tap, tap, tap—
As the sound of footsteps gradually faded, Rice Shower disappeared from the campsite.
However, Rice had left the sleeping Starlight all alone— the consequences of which were predictable...
Sure enough, the sound of laughter gradually approached from a distance.
"Kita, wait for me..."
"Hehe, Dia, I told you that you couldn't outrun me!"
Two little Uma Musume appeared to be having a race.
The leader was an Uma Musume with short black hair, white streaks, and red eyes. She had a very lively smile.
Behind her was an Uma Musume with light brown hair and yellow eyes.
"Hey, hey! Watch where you're going! Kita, there's someone sleeping up ahead!!"
Satono Diamond's eyes widened, and she hurriedly called out to stop her friend.
However, by the time the black-haired girl turned her head back to look forward, it was already too late to stop.
She flailed her arms in a panic, her feet desperately trying to brake, but...
Thud!
"Ouch!!"
The lounge chair was knocked to the ground.
Starlight opened her eyes in pain, looking bewildered at the black-haired Uma Musume currently in her arms.
"Th-That... I'm so sorry! Are you alright?!" the black-haired girl asked with concern, her face full of shock.
"...I'm fine. You little Uma Musume, for someone so small, how do you hit so hard~?" Starlight said with a playful tease, rubbing her aching chest.
"Hehe... I'm sorry, silver-haired onee-san."
Stroking the girl's head, Starlight said helplessly, "Just apologizing won't do, you have to get up first."
"Ah, oh! Right, right."
"Kita! You... I'm so sorry, truly sorry! It was our fault for not looking where we were going. Are you hurt?"
Looking at Satono Diamond, who was bowing and apologizing on the side, Starlight stood up and waved her hand.
"It's fine, it's fine. Just be more careful next time. It's lucky you hit me, if it were anyone else, a hit from a little one like you might have sent them to the hospital."
Kitasan Black scratched the back of her head sheepishly and laughed. "Hehe, I've always had a very sturdy build."
"Stupid Kita, that wasn't a compliment..."
"Eh, really?!"
Looking at the two little ones before her, Starlight found herself quite interested.
After setting her lounge chair back in place, she plopped back down into it.
Starlight adopted a mock-serious expression as she scrutinized the two of them.
"Alright, let's end the jokes there~ Come here, little black-haired sister. How do you plan to compensate me? This onee-san was hit quite hard by you, you know..."
"Ah, I..."
"Wait— that tone... are you Divine Starlight?!"
Before Kitasan Black could speak, Satono Diamond cried out in surprise from the side.
"That's right, it's me. Do you know me?"
"Mhm! Of course I do! I-I'm your fan..."
"Is that so? A fan, huh~"
Nodding, Satono Diamond pulled a pen and a notebook out from somewhere and stepped forward.
"Could... Could I trouble you for an autograph?"
Slowly taking the notebook and pen, Starlight didn't sign immediately.
Instead, she rested them on her crossed thighs.
"No rush for this. Let's resolve this little cutie's situation first."
Satono Diamond looked toward her best friend.
Kitasan Black was already looking quite nervous, stealing glances at the silver-haired girl before her.
"I... I... Whatever you want to do, I'll take it! It was my fault for hitting you first, after all."
Putting on a look as if she were a hero facing execution, Kitasan Black closed her eyes and prepared to meet her unknown punishment.
Starlight's lips curled into a smile.
She signed the notebook for Satono Diamond and then asked, "Are you two here for camping as well?"
"Mhm, yes we are, Starlight-onee-san," Satono Diamond replied happily as she took the autograph back with both hands.
"Then... I'll punish you by having you play with me for a while. How does that sound?"
"Eh? Play... play what?" Kitasan Black opened her eyes, asking with a look of confusion.
"How about dodgeball? Didn't you say you have a very sturdy build? You aren't allowed to cry if you get hit~"
"Okay! Starlight-onee-san, as long as you can forgive me!"
"Hahaha... I was just teasing you before. I wasn't angry at all."
"Alright, you two little ones, could you tell me your names?"
"I am Satono Diamond."
"And I'm Kitasan Black!"
Standing up, Starlight took off her coat and stretched her body before smiling.
"Alright, Diamond-chan and Kita-chan, let's begin..."
A cute little black-haired Uma Musume was currently carrying a bag of ingredients toward the campsite.
At the thought of being able to show off her cooking skills in front of Starlight and seeing her satisfied smile, she couldn't help but feel joyful.
Her tail wagged even more vibrantly behind her.
From a distance, she spotted Starlight's figure on the grass.
Rice Shower was just about to speed up and say hello when she was stunned by the sight of two other little Uma Musume.
'Strange, why are there two more Uma Musume? Where did they come from...?'
"Hey, Rice-chan~ You're finally back!"
Catching a glimpse of the black figure in her peripheral vision, Starlight turned and spoke with a smile.
Kitasan Black, who was clutching a ball, asked curiously, "Is she Starlight-onee-san's camping partner?"
"Mhm, that's right. This is Rice Shower, a middle-to-long distance Uma Musume—"
"Wow, that's so cool! I want to be an Uma Musume in the future too!!"
"Is that so? I have high hopes for you, Kita-chan..."
"Starlight-chan, who... who are they...?"
Rice Shower set down her bag and, feeling a bit socially anxious, huddled behind Starlight and grabbed her arm to ask.
"They're two very cute little Uma Musume camping nearby~"
"Hello, Onee-san! x2"
"Ah... h-hello. My name is Rice..."