Drip, drop... drip, drop...
Inside a private hospital ward, the air was thick with the scent of disinfectant and unidentified medicines.
The little silver-haired Uma Musume lay peacefully on the bed.
Beside her, IV fluids dripped steadily through a soft tube, flowing into the back of her hand.
At the foot of the bed, one of her legs was wrapped in bandages and suspended in the air, the other was similarly bound, though it seemed to be in slightly better condition than the former.
"Doctor... the results, how are the results?"
Inami sat on a bench in the hallway. Seeing the doctor walking toward her, she stood up anxiously to inquire.
Stopping in his tracks, the doctor pushed up his glasses and handed the report to her with a grim expression.
"The patient's condition is not optimistic... A fracture in the left leg and a severe hairline fracture in the right— it nearly snapped as well."
"Based on our assessment, the hairline fracture in her left leg likely appeared over a month ago. As an Uma Musume's trainer, did you truly not notice?"
"If she had received treatment earlier, things wouldn't have escalated to this point."
Gripping the white sheet of paper tightly, Inami nodded and spoke softly.
"You're right. I really should have noticed sooner... but every time I asked her, she would just brush it off with a smile..."
The doctor sighed, removing his glasses and clipping them into his chest pocket.
"I watched this race as well. The acceleration Starlight-san showed in the second half was truly terrifying. Even for a top-tier raceUma Musume, it's virtually impossible to drop to the back of the pack and then overtake seventeen runners in one go starting from the final corner."
"The toll on the body is undoubtedly heavy. To achieve a final kick of that caliber, her daily training must have been far beyond what an ordinary Uma Musume could endure."
Inside the ward, Inami sat by Starlight's bed. The doctor's words and instructions echoed in her mind.
Her purple eyes rested on the silver-haired Uma Musume, filled with complex emotions.
'If only I had noticed sooner... If only I had realized, maybe Starlight-chan...'
She couldn't help but imagine the scenario: A month ago, she notices the abnormality in Starlight's body and tries to persuade her to stop.
But in her mind, she only saw Starlight shaking her head in refusal.
"The race is almost here, the final leg of the Triple Tiara. How can I withdraw? Inami-chan, please believe in me, I'll be fine!"
"Once I have the Triple Tiara title, I'm sure many more Uma Musume will come to you wanting you as their trainer, right?~"
The thought was enough to make Inami freeze, her pupils trembling.
'Yes, knowing Starlight, she definitely would have refused.'
'She would have insisted on continuing... She is exactly that kind of stubborn and strong Uma Musume.'
Even in her imagination, Starlight's words felt so real.
Inami was certain that was exactly what she would have said.
Letting out a heavy breath, she slowly reached out and clasped Starlight's small hand resting on the bed.
"Starlight-chan... you have to get better. I won't go looking for other Uma Musume. From now on, I'll only have you... You are my only trainee."
After an unknown amount of time, Starlight's consciousness gradually returned.
Even after a long sleep, her body still felt exhausted and sore.
She slowly opened her eyes, her golden gaze meeting the ceiling.
"I... where am I...?"
"Starlight-chan, you're awake!"
Hearing the movement, an purple-haired Uma Musume was overjoyed.
Her large head popped into Starlight's field of vision, purple eyes blinking rapidly.
"McQueen-chan?"
"Mm-hmm... Ah, don't move, don't move! Your legs are still injured! Let me help you up."
Mejiro McQueen didn't hesitate.
She immediately leaned in, wrapping an arm around Starlight's waist and supporting her shoulder to lift her gently.
She then quickly propped a pillow against the headboard so Starlight could sit up.
Looking around, Starlight saw that there were only the two of them in the decently sized ward.
Both of her legs were wrapped in bandages, and one of them was suspended in the air.
Even though the injuries had been treated, she could still feel a faint sense of discomfort and pain radiating from them.
"Ah... I've ended up looking like this, huh?"
"Starlight-chan, don't be sad. The doctor said that if you recover well, you'll still have a chance to run in the future!"
"Mm. Thank you, McQueen-chan. I understand."
After responding with a squint-eyed smile, Starlight turned her gaze back to her legs.
'Really... thank you for your hard work.'
Click.
Just then, the door slid open. Inami walked in carrying a lunch box.
Seeing that Starlight was awake, she rushed forward.
"Starlight-chan! You're awake! How do you feel? Is there anywhere else that hurts? I'll go call the doctor right now..."
"Ah, well... Hey!"
Inami turned to leave before Starlight could even get a word in.
Finally, remembering something, Inami turned back and said:
"I brought you some chicken soup and stewed meat with radish. Eat it while it's hot."
After placing the lunch box on the bedside table, Inami left without looking back.
"My trainer is really something. She didn't even listen to me finish..."
After locking eyes with McQueen, Starlight teased with a smile.
"There, there, Starlight-chan. Trainer Inami is just worried about you. How about I feed you dinner?"
"Eh, I can do it myself, I don't want to trouble you..."
Placing a finger against Starlight's lips, Mejiro McQueen said with total seriousness:
"Patients should rest properly. I will feed you!"
Seeing how assertive the other was, Starlight naturally found it hard to refuse and had to agree.
"Alright, then I'll be in your care, McQueen-chan."
McQueen moved to the side and began opening the lunch box to serve the food, her tail wagging quite happily behind her.
'Hehe... when the others came to see Starlight-chan, she wasn't awake yet, but as soon as I arrive, she wakes up!'
'What does that mean? We are practically a match made in heaven.'
Picking up a bowl of steaming chicken soup, McQueen sat beside Starlight.
She took a spoonful, blew on it, and slowly brought it to Starlight's lips.
"Come on, Starlight-chan, say ah~"
"...Ah~"
As the warm chicken soup hit her stomach, Starlight found it exceptionally delicious—perhaps because she hadn't eaten for so long.
"Ah~ this is so good... my whole body feels warm."
"Do you like chicken soup that much, Starlight-chan?"
"Mm... it's okay, I'm mainly just really hungry."
After feeding her another spoonful, Mejiro McQueen looked up and said earnestly:
"I... tomorrow, I want to bring you lunch. Something I made myself."
"Really? Homemade by McQueen-chan? Then I'll have to give it a proper taste"
"I just hope it won't make someone with bad legs like me have to keep running to the bathroom~"
At the playful remark, Mejiro McQueen's face immediately turned beet red, and she said indignantly:
"Hmph! Just you wait. As an Uma Musume of the Mejiro family, I am naturally proficient in all things. Mere cooking is nothing to me!"
"Mm-hmm, I'll be waiting~ Ah, it's going to spill! It's going to spill!!! McQueen—"
"Sorry! Starlight-chan!"
Luckily, Mejiro McQueen was quick-handed and prevented the soup from spilling.
She gave a wry smile and apologized sheepishly.
Shaking her head helplessly, Starlight reached out and brushed her hand against McQueen's cheek.
"It's fine. Let's get back to eating..."
"Mm-hmm... Starlight-chan, say ah~"
Once Inami returned with the doctor, Starlight had to listen to the examination process followed by a long list of precautions and instructions.
Her head felt like it was going to explode.
"Where's my phone, Inami-chan?"
"It's over here. I'll get it for you."