After briefly greeting the two Uma Musume, Rice Shower hurried off to the side to handle the ingredients.
Seeing this, Kitasan Black tilted her head and looked at Divine Starlight, asking, "Um, does this big sister not like us?"
"How could that be? Rice-chan is just a little shy, don't overthink it."
Sitting on a small stool by the campfire, Rice Shower watched from afar as Starlight played happily with the two children.
Although seeing such a brilliant smile on Starlight's face made her happy too, she preferred it when the other girl sat by her side, smiling only at her...
Rice Shower took out a carton of four eggs from her bag. She then went into the tent to retrieve all the cookware from her backpack in the corner.
The items were all very compact and convenient, designed for simple outdoor cooking.
She set a small flat frying pan over the fire, sprayed a bit of olive oil, and cracked two eggs.
Sizzle—
The aroma of frying eggs instantly drifted out. Rice Shower skillfully used a small wooden spatula to flip them, sprinkling on a bit of seasoning.
After plating them, she poured in a pre-prepared meal kit. Inside were mostly chicken chunks and beef that had been marinated before they set out.
While they were searing in the pan, she pulled out a small cutting board and peeled and diced the carrots and potatoes she had bought.
She took out a small pot, poured in some olive oil, and added the carrot and potato chunks.
After a quick stir-fry, she added the chicken and beef, poured in a suitable amount of water, and began to simmer the mixture...
Bubble, bubble...
Beside Starlight, the black-haired little Uma Musume slowly stopped moving.
She rubbed her growling little tummy and looked toward the source of the scent. A bit of traitorous drool escaped the corner of her mouth.
Coming up behind her, Starlight rubbed the girl's head with an amused smile and asked, "Want some?"
"Ah, that, haha... our family is also making dinner over there, so I won't trouble Starlight-senpai..."
Fortunately, Kitasan Black snapped out of it in time and hurriedly waved her hands in polite refusal.
"Is that so? Well then, after dinner, shall we play together again?"
"Okay, Starlight-senpai!"
Satono Diamond came to Kitasan Black's side, took her hand, and prepared to leave.
"Let me walk you back."
While Starlight was away seeing off the two little Uma Musume, Rice Shower fried a few more slices of bacon and arranged everything on plates on the folding table.
Starlight returned shortly after. She sat back in her lounge chair in a leisurely manner, stretching her body lazily.
"Rice-chan~ is dinner ready?"
"Mhm... it's just about ready, Starlight-chan."
Moving her chair to the table, Starlight looked at the dishes and praised her with a smile.
"Rice-chan, you're so amazing~ Just looking at this makes my mouth water... Itadakimasu!"
After putting her hands together for a brief prayer, Starlight picked up her chopsticks and began to taste the food.
The sight of the silver-haired Uma Musume feasting heartily was so cute that Rice Shower couldn't help but let her lips curl upward.
She also picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
"Since Rice-chan prepared tonight's dinner, how about I prepare tomorrow's breakfast? I guarantee you'll have a fragrant breakfast waiting the moment you wake up."
"...Mhm, Rice is looking forward to Starlight-chan's breakfast..."
As the crimson afterglow stained the entire sky, Starlight and Rice Shower chatted while they ate, quickly finishing their cozy dinner.
"Starlight-onee-san, Starlight-onee-san! We've finished eating—!"
Starlight, who was washing the dishes, heard the lively voice from afar and looked up.
The black-haired little Uma Musume was waving and shouting energetically, followed by the light-brown-haired Uma Musume who was also wearing a smile.
"That was fast. Did you eat properly?"
"Of course! I ate three big bowls of rice!"
Approaching them, Kitasan Black held up three fingers, her expression quite exaggerated, though it looked perfectly natural on such a cute child.
Noticing a grain of rice stuck to the corner of the other's mouth, Starlight smiled and reached out with a slightly damp finger to brush it off.
"I can tell, you didn't even wipe the rice off your face."
"Starlight-senpai, you have no idea. She was wolfing it down without any patience at all. Mama says you'll get indigestion if you eat like that!" Satono Diamond, standing to the side with her arms crossed, reported.
"Is that so? That won't do, Kitasan. If you ruin your stomach, you'll have to drink bitter medicinal soup every day~"
"Ah, hehe, I know, I know. Dia-chan wasn't much better than me, she ate really fast too!"
"I did not! I was being very careful..." Satono Diamond lowered her head, blushing slightly as she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.
After stacking the dishes together, Starlight wiped her hands dry with a towel and patted Satono Diamond on the head.
"Alright, alright, stop bickering, you two. I'm going to go train with Rice Shower-chan in a bit. Do you want to come along?"
"Really! Of course, I want to go!" Satono Diamond's eyes lit up as she spoke up immediately.
"Me too, me too!" Seeing this, Kitasan Black naturally refused to be left behind and quickly raised her hand in response.
Rice Shower, who had just stepped out of the tent after changing into her training gear, saw the scene and asked with some hesitation.
"Is letting them run with us a bit too..."
Starlight pressed a finger to her lips, gave a wink, and leaned into Rice Shower's ear.
"Well~ we'll just slow down. Let's treat today as a chance to lead our juniors..."
Rice Shower nodded.
Looking at the expectant expressions on the two little Uma Musume' faces, she felt touched by Starlight's kindness.
A rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed along the path.
Starlight and Rice Shower led the way, jogging side by side, while Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond followed closely behind with serious expressions.
Da-da-da.
The breeze blew back strands of Starlight's hair. She glanced back at the two little ones and decided to pick up the pace a bit.
Noticing this, Rice Shower didn't say anything and also increased her speed accordingly.
Under the secret acceleration of their two "wicked" seniors, the expressions on Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond's faces gradually turned into ones of struggle.
When the simple training session ended, the two little Uma Musume sat directly on the grass, gasping for air.
"Wow~ you two are amazing. You actually managed to keep up with us the whole way."
However, the only response Starlight received was a series of rapid breaths. Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond no longer had the energy to answer her.
Narrowing her eyes with a smile, Starlight stood up and walked over to Rice Shower.
"Rice-chan, please look after them for a moment. I'm going to buy some energy drinks."
Clenching her fists, Rice Shower nodded very seriously.
"D-Don't worry. Rice will complete the mission."
A long while later, when Starlight returned to the campsite, she was stunned by the sight from afar.
Rice Shower sat on a chair with her head lowered shyly.
Beside her were the two little Uma Musume, surrounding her and incessantly asking all sorts of questions.
The scene looked quite amusing.
"Ah, Starlight-chan, you're finally here... Rice can't hold out much longer..."
Seeing Starlight approach, Rice Shower's purple eyes brightened.
She stood up quickly and hid behind Starlight in a somewhat flustered manner.
Seeing this, Starlight put on a mock-serious face and lectured the two.
"What did you do to our cute Rice-chan?"
"Eh? Nothing, Starlight-senpai. We were just asking a few questions..."
"Yeah, Dia is right. We were just asking questions."
"Oh~? And what did you ask?"
The two little Uma Musume looked at each other, and then Kitasan Black spoke up.
"Starlight-onee-san, how can we become excellent Uma Musume like you?"
"Well... every Uma Musume has a different perspective. But in my opinion, you can do it as long as you love it enough."