"...No matter what, I'm not that directionally challenged. I found your ward the moment I got downstairs, okay?"
Symboli Rudolf walked slowly to Starlight's bedside.
Since the doctor and nurse were currently treating the wounds, Rudolf leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, looking quite cool and composed so as not to disturb them.
"Well, thank you very much, Madam President~ But could you maybe stop wearing these old-fashioned clothes that even my grandma wouldn't wear?"
Looking her up and down, Divine Starlight pursed her lips and teased.
A faint blush crept onto Rudolf's face.
She looked down at her own crisp, practical attire and spoke with a hint of bashfulness.
"Does it really... look that old?"
"If you don't believe me, ask the nurse. Don't you think she looks like an old lady from the last century in that outfit?"
"Eh? This, well... haha, Miss Emperor's outfit is indeed a bit behind the times."
Rudolf sighed and spread her hands helplessly.
"I'm usually either in my school uniform or a formal suit... I rarely have the chance to wear casual clothes like this. I can't help it."
Once the treatment was finished, the doctor and nurse took their leave, leaving the two Uma Musume alone in the room.
Starlight tried to move her legs slightly, her brow furrowing.
She gently supported the base of her thigh with both hands and lifted her foot.
"Sigh... It's still a bit difficult, huh? I guess it'll be a month or two before I can accompany you to go clothes shopping, President."
Flick.
Rudolf stepped forward and gave Starlight's head a light flick.
"Shopping? Until you've recovered, you aren't allowed to go anywhere."
"If I stay here the whole time, I'll grow mold! I really can't stay still, you know?"
Rubbing the spot where she'd been flicked, Starlight retorted with a bit of a pout.
"And now you're acting aggrieved? I warned you a thousand times before— I told you to reduce your training volume and lower the intensity— but you just grinned and didn't take it seriously..."
Rudolf's words gradually trailed off.
She looked at the silver-haired Uma Musume before her. There was a smile on the girl's lips, but her eyes held an emotion Rudolf couldn't quite decipher.
The only thing she could tell was that the light in those eyes was incredibly bright.
"I... I don't regret it anymore. Isn't it a waste to have a pair of eyes that can see the world clearly, yet keep them closed? My talent isn't high, but I have a pair of healthy legs and a heart full of passion."
"I've left my own footprints on the racetrack, and I feel that's enough. I don't regret it, I'm just... sad."
"Sad that my heart is still burning, but my legs are..."
Rudolf instantly moved to cut her off before she could finish the thought.
"Anyway, you won't be training in the afternoons from now on. Just stay with me in the Student Council."
"Ha! No way! Even like this, I'm still going to do what I want to do, okay!"
It was the expected answer.
Rudolf didn't mind, she slowly sat on the edge of the bed and carefully reached out to hold the fair, slender hand resting on the duvet.
"About that matter from before... can you give me a clear answer?"
Looking at her expression, Starlight understood perfectly.
She looked down at her hand being held by Rudolf and thought for a long time before speaking.
"Right now, I don't have those kinds of feelings for Luna-chan. I want to be good friends with you. If... later on, you can make my heart flutter, I'll say yes."
"But if I agree now, you'd be loving someone who doesn't love you back. To me, that would be very irresponsible."
"Do you understand, Luna-chan?"
Rudolf didn't show much emotion on her face, but she felt a slight pang of disappointment in her heart, followed by a sense of acceptance.
What Starlight said was right. It was precisely because she took the matter seriously that she wouldn't accept recklessly.
'Loving someone who doesn't love me... if it were really like that, I would indeed be even more miserable.'
'Starlight-chan... you really are very kind.'
"I understand. Thank you, Starlight-chan."
"Thank you too, Luna-chan... thank you for liking me."
Starlight slowly leaned her head against Rudolf's shoulder.
The sunlight outside was just right, streaming through the glass window and into the room.
Squinting her eyes slightly, Starlight and Rudolf fell into silence. Both of them seemed to be enjoying this moment of tranquility.
"Tomorrow is Teio's debut race..."
"Is that so? Hehe, she's excellent. I'm sure she'll be just like the Symboli Rudolf she admires! She'll run with her own unique colors."
"That child... yeah. I truly do admire her, but I still hope she can have her own ideas and not let everything revolve around me."
"Well, who told our Tracen President to be so dazzling~?"
Rudolf simply smiled at Starlight's teasing and said nothing.
The two of them stayed together until the afternoon.
Watching Rudolf leave, the smile on Starlight's lips didn't fade.
'I'm injured... but I don't feel lonely at all. Because every single day, friends come to visit me. Their concern is so warm.'
Slowly closing her eyes, Starlight couldn't help but look back on everything she had experienced since last year... she had truly been through a lot.
While she was reflecting on the past, the media outside had exploded because of the news of her severe post-race injury.
Everyone was waiting expectantly, hoping to hear Starlight say that it was nothing serious and that she could continue gallop across the turf.
This kind of news even trended for a time.
Looking at the mountains of inquiries sent to Tracen every day, Rudolf felt a massive headache coming on.
She eventually had to make a public statement, telling everyone to wait for news of Starlight's discharge from the hospital.
...
...
"Starlight-senpai! You have no idea how incredible I was! I overtook those three Uma Musume in front of me in a flash! I led by a full six lengths!"
The next day, Tokai Teio was like a curious toddler who had discovered a brand-new toy, gesturing wildly with various expressions as she recounted her victory in her debut race.
"How impressive~ If Teio keeps going like this, you'll definitely be able to win the Classic Triple Crown."
"Mm-hm, okay! Just watch me, Starlight-senpai, I am a genius Uma Musume after all~"
Starlight patted Teio's head, looking at her with great pride.
Pulling out a chair, Teio leaned over next to Starlight, poking the back of the other girl's hand with her finger.
"Starlight-senpai, when will you be recovered? I really want to run a race with you!"
"Well... it might be quite a long time from now. Can Teio-chan wait?"
"Of course! You're so fast on the track. Besides the President, you're the second person I want to run with the most!"
Click.
The door opened.
Mejiro McQueen flicked her elegant hair and walked in carrying a food container.
"Hmph. It was just a mere newcomer's debut race. Teio, you're far too restless."
Approaching the bedside, Mejiro McQueen unhurriedly served food for Starlight while lecturing Teio.
"Tch, who was the one that didn't even go to the Winning Live after winning because they were in such a hurry to come here to see Starlight-senpai?"
Having apparently been hit where it hurts, McQueen's face flushed red.
She turned her head to retort.
"That... that was because Starlight-chan insisted on asking me! It was only right that I responded to her—"
"McQueen really does blame everything on Starlight-senpai. It's a good thing you didn't say yes when Senpai confessed to you back then. Otherwise, she'd have quite a handful."
"Right, Starlight-senpai?"
"HUH!!!! What are you saying— W-We didn't know each other that well back then, so of course I couldn't just agree. If it were now, I would definitely say yes!"
Pouting, Tokai Teio hugged Starlight's arm and stuck her tongue out at McQueen.
"Better not. Senpai, don't agree to her~"
Though their bickering was entertaining, since the subject of the bickering was herself, Starlight still found it a bit much.
She laughed and patted Teio's head.
"Alright, alright, stop it, you two. I'm going to get angry~"
"Which reminds me, what is Starlight-senpai like when she's angry? I've never seen it before..."
"Little Teio, are you trying to provoke me on purpose?"
"No, no! It's just hard to imagine what a gentle person like Starlight-senpai looks like when she's mad~"