Leaning against the headboard, Starlight tapped on her phone. What greeted her was a screen dominated by notification bars.
The "99+" alert was exactly the same as before her race, though the words of concern and advice were slightly different, and of course, her own state was the complete opposite.
While chatting with McQueen, Starlight patiently replied to the messages of concern from her friends.
As darkness gradually fell, Mejiro McQueen said her goodbyes and prepared to leave.
With a face full of confidence, she told Starlight that she would definitely make a dish tomorrow that would blow her away.
Since Inami only had Starlight as her trainee, she wasn't as busy as other trainers. She slowly moved her chair to the side of the bed and sat down.
"Don't worry, I'll stay with you until you're discharged, Starlight-chan."
"Thank you... Trainer, thank you."
"It's nothing, it's what I should do as your trainer... but it is getting late. You should get some rest."
"Remember to ask me if you need anything."
Responding with a smile, Inami gently helped Starlight lie down, tucked her in, and then went to the sofa on the side to rest.
Starlight looked as if nothing was wrong, happily waving Inami off as she prepared to bed.
Judging by her appearance, she couldn't care less about her injuries.
And yet...
In the middle of the night, soft sobbing came from under the blankets.
Inami opened her eyes and sat up.
By the moonlight, she could faintly see the lump in the covers trembling.
Starlight's faint weeping reached her ears, it was agonizing to hear.
How could she not care?
What an Uma Musume loves most is running. Now that Starlight likely couldn't run anymore, how could she not be heartbroken?
And so, after an unknown amount of time, Starlight's voice finally transitioned into steady breathing.
Inami did not go back to sleep.
She was just as heartbroken, but other than staying by her side, what else could she do?
Gazing out the window, Inami found it impossible to settle her heart for a long time.
The next day, seeing the silver-haired Uma Musume still looking so steady and gentle, Inami felt even worse.
"What's wrong... Trainer, you look even more haggard than I do, and I'm the injured one~"
A soft, pale hand gently caressed Inami's cheek. Starlight spoke with a hint of a smile in her voice.
"Nothing, I'm just worried about your situation..."
"...To be honest, it would be a lie to say I'm not upset. But we have to look forward, right? This is reality. If we don't face it calmly, wouldn't it be even more painful?"
"Besides, if my trainer ends up looking like this because of me, my heart will ache."
"Mm... I understand, Starlight-chan..."
The sky outside the window was very clear.
Warm sunlight spilled onto the white bedsheets as Starlight leaned against the headboard, flipping through an unidentified book.
Inami had gone out to prepare breakfast, so she was alone in the room.
Outside the door, a brown-haired Uma Musume held a small gift box, her ear pressed against the door as if listening for movement inside.
Several other Uma Musume stood around her.
"Eh? Are you all here to visit Starlight-chan? Why don't you go in?"
Carrying the packed breakfast, Inami looked at the group of Uma Musume and asked curiously.
"Ahahaha... right, right. Trainer Inami."
"So, Grass, why were you leaning against the door?"
Faced with El Condor Pasa's question, Grass Wonder simply blinked, replying with a calm and casual expression.
"Who knows~"
Opening the door, the group walked in.
Seiun Sky quickly made her way to Starlight's side, kicked off her shoes, and climbed onto the bed to lean against her.
She wrapped her arms around the silver-haired girl's arm.
"You're finally awake, Starlight-chan! When I saw you like that yesterday, I was scared to death~"
Putting her book down, Starlight rubbed the other's head and comforted her.
"I'm okay now. Sorry for worrying you, Sky-chan."
"Sky-chan, you can't do that! Get down, what if you hurt Starlight-chan!"
Grass Wonder furrowed her brow and sat down on the other side.
After placing her gift box on the bedside table, she spoke up.
"It's fine, it's fine. Having Sky-chan here like this is quite nice..."
"Exactly, exactly! Hehe... I'll be careful~"
Special Week arrived shortly after.
In her hands was a bag full of fried snacks, and her cheeks puffed out in a very cute manner.
However, Silence Suzuka hadn't come. When Starlight inquired about her out of curiosity, Special Week scratched her head, looking puzzled.
"I'm not sure. Suzuka seemed a bit unwell, and her leg injury hasn't fully healed yet. So, I guess that's why she didn't come..."
"Oh, that's right! Starlight-senpai, I'm going to participate in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe! This is the key step for me to become the world's number one Uma Musume!"
Hands on her hips, El Condor Pasa spoke with immense excitement.
"Is that so? That's amazing. Good luck, El! Although I won't be able to go to the track to watch you race..."
"No worries, no worries! I'll carry Starlight-senpai's spirit with me when I go!"
The group didn't stay for long since they still had training to do.
Seiun Sky, however, didn't seem to care at all and wanted to stay behind to keep Divine Starlight company.
Unfortunately, she was hauled away by Grass Wonder and Special Week.
At noon, McQueen arrived as promised with a lunch box in hand, followed by Rice Shower, who was carrying a stack of picture books.
"Starlight-chan! Quick, try this— the Peerless Delicacy I spent the whole morning researching!"
"Starlight-chan, R-Rice brought a lot of picture books, so you won't be bored..."
Sitting by the bed, Rice Shower held up a picture book for Divine Starlight to see.
Meanwhile, McQueen held out a bowl of meat soup that actually looked quite appetizing.
After taking a slow bite, Starlight's expression turned solemn for a moment.
Then, under McQueen's expectant gaze, she spoke.
"It's delicious~ It's just... a little bit too sweet, McQueen-chan..."
"Is... is that so?"
After taking a spoonful to taste it herself, Mejiro McQueen nearly spat it out.
Her face darkened for an instant, and after struggling to swallow, she looked at the silver-haired Uma Musume.
"Honestly! Starlight-chan... it's not like I can't handle failure, why did you lie to me?!"
"Hehe... but I really do think McQueen-chan's cooking is delicious~"
"You... oh, Starlight-chan, I'll go back and practice more. Stop eating this for now... I'm sorry."
"It's okay, it's okay. Good luck, McQueen-chan. I believe in you."
As evening approached, Starlight looked at the room which had returned to silence.
She figured no more Uma Musume would be visiting, so she thought about getting some rest.
With Inami's help, she lay back down and stared at the ceiling. Before long, she fell into a deep sleep.
Click.
After an unknown amount of time, the door slowly opened, and an orange figure stepped inside.
After closing the door, she first glanced at the sleeping Inami on the sofa, then turned her gaze toward the silver-haired figure on the hospital bed.
Suzuka's expression was complex, her eyes filled with deep guilt.
Her hand, clutching a bag, tightened slowly as she walked over and sat by the bedside.
Perhaps the movement was too loud, as Starlight's eyelids fluttered open.
By the moonlight streaming through the window, she could faintly make out Suzuka's silhouette.
She asked in a confused, soft voice:
"Is that... Suzuka-chan?"
The voice was very light and gentle. But when it reached Suzuka's ears, she trembled all over as if struck by an electric shock.
"...I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
"What's wrong? Why are you saying sorry, Suzuka-chan?"
Drip—
A single tear fell slowly onto the back of Starlight's hand, answering the question in place of Suzuka's voice.