Walking slowly to the front of Starlight, Still in Love looked at the silver-haired Uma Musume, the crimson in her eyes becoming even more eerie.
Her hand was still caressing Starlight's face, and her fingertips gradually applied pressure, pinching and kneading the soft flesh of Starlight's cheek.
A slight sting came from her cheek, and Starlight looked up with a confused gaze, her voice tinged with bewilderment.
"What's wrong? Still-chan, that hurts a little..."
Her movements paused slightly.
The corners of Still in Love's mouth curled up as she slowly wiped away the cream from the corner of Starlight's mouth with her finger before sitting down beside her.
She put the cream into her own mouth, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm and grievance.
"What's wrong, you ask? When you were injured, I told you so many times to let me take care of you... but you rejected me every time."
"Watching your other friends go over, carrying you up and down the stairs every day, pushing you around for walks in your little wheelchair while I could only watch from the sidelines..."
Scratching her head, Starlight didn't quite understand.
She tried to explain.
"Didn't you say your grade was having exams? I was just afraid of affecting your grades..."
Still in Love leaned in closer, almost pressing against Starlight.
She reached out and pinched the silver-haired Uma Musume's chin, forcing her to turn and meet her eyes.
"I don't care, Starlight-chan. What I want is to stay with you, so don't reject me anymore... I really might lose control of myself~"
Her body trembled, as if Still in Love were suppressing something deep inside.
"But I'm better now, I don't need anyone to take care of me..."
Blinking her eyes, Starlight looked like a complete innocent who understood nothing.
Still in Love felt a surge of frustration, she took a deep breath.
"No. I insist on taking care of you. However they took care of you when you were injured, I'm going to do it all over again."
"That's so much trouble. It's not necessary, Still-chan. Isn't this fine as it is?"
Still in Love didn't give Starlight any chance to argue.
She slowly let go, stood up, and stepped forward, sweeping the small Uma Musume, Divine Starlight, up into a bridal carry.
"Whoa—! What... what are you doing?"
"Hmm? Your leg is injured, Starlight-chan, it must be very inconvenient. I'm helping you~"
"No, no need! I can walk on my own, put me down..."
"That won't do. What if Starlight-chan gets hurt? You've finally recovered, we can't have any mishaps, right?"
This time, it was Still in Love's turn to play dumb... though in Starlight's case, it wasn't an act.
"Alright, alright! I promise, as long as you don't find it troublesome. Just put me down!"
Driven by helplessness, Starlight had no choice but to agree to the request.
Still in Love slowly placed the silver-haired Uma Musume back on the bench and sat down beside her again.
Everything seemed to have returned to normal.
With a slight blush on her face, she tentatively reached out and held Starlight's hand.
Sighing, Starlight tidied up her nearly ruined crepe and continued eating.
'Wait, something's not right... Why exactly is this happening? She used to call me "senpai" before...'
"Hehe, Starlight-chan~ Is the crepe good? I want a taste too~"
"It's okay..."
Handing it over, Starlight watched as Still in Live quietly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and took a gentle bite.
"Mmm~ It's so delicious. It's fragrant and sweet... and it tastes just like Starlight-chan..."
Hearing those words, Divine Starlight's face instantly turned bright red.
She waved her hands frantically.
"Don't say things like that! It's embarrassing!"
Ignoring the protest, Still in Love leaned her head onto Starlight's shoulder and asked.
"Where are we going later, Starlight-chan?"
"...I want to go back to the dorm. I want to lie in bed—"
"Sure~ Then let me carry you back..."
"No, no thanks! I'll walk myself... walk..."
"...Actually, you can just support me a little, hehe..."
The Osaka Hai. As Tokai Teio's comeback race, it could be described as incredibly popular.
The spectator stands were almost completely full, fans and other viewers all wanted to see if this former "undefeated genius" could still show her majestic form after recovering from her injury.
And then there was the topic they were all currently discussing with such fervor: In the upcoming Tenno Sho between Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, who was truly the strongest?
As the curtain rose on the inspection platform, a fiery red figure stepped out.
Tokai Teio wore a red vest paired with a black-and-red short skirt, the orange-red ribbons behind her symbolized her rebirth from the ashes.
Unlike her previous white-and-blue military-style dress, this outfit highlighted her resilient will.
The moment she appeared, the entire stadium erupted. A thunderous roar of cheers swept through the stands.
"Tokai Teio!"
Not far away, Ikuno Dictus stood in her green-and-white Racing suit.
Her eyes, framed by silver round glasses, were fixed intently on the waving Tokai Teio.
'In a head-to-head confrontation, the likelihood of victory is low. I have to escape to a place she can't reach.'
"Dictus! Go for it! x3"
The other three members of Team Canopus had come to the front of the stands to cheer for her.
Hearing the "brilliant" remarks from Twin Turbo and Matikane Tannhauser, Dictus helplessly closed her eyes, pushed up her glasses, and decided that it didn't matter anymore.
Further back, a Uma Musume with her forehead exposed and long brown hair watched Tokai Teio's back, a confident smile curling on her lips.
This was the Uma Musume who had pulled off the massive upset against McQueen to take first place in last year's Arima Kinen.
Today, she planned to defeat Tokai Teio here, that way, both stars of the new era would be defeated by her.
The race began. Ikuno Dictus chose a Pace Chaser strategy, moving to the very front of the pack right from the start.
Despite this, she had already lost her cool, looking back frantically at Tokai Teio, who was less than five horse-lengths behind her.
In stark contrast to Dictus's panting state, Tokai Teio had a smile on her face, looking completely at ease.
She even looked back and tossed a Red Skill at the brown-haired girl with the exposed forehead.
As the race entered the final corner, Ikuno Dictus was already showing signs of exhaustion.
She realized that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pull away from Teio.
'I don't want to lose! I'm so close—!'
"Tokai Teio is in third place! She hasn't made her move yet as they enter the turn— Wait! She's moving!"
Following the commentator's shocked exclamation, a fierce flame ignited as Teio activated her unique skill: Sky-High Teio Step.
Her speed surged instantly.
Her incredibly flexible hooves exploded with the power unique to the Teio Step.
Tokai Teio took off like a rocket, overtaking Ikuno Dictus in the blink of an eye.
Her speed continued to increase, and in a single corner, she created a gap that Dictus couldn't close no matter how hard she tried.
"Tokai Teio is still accelerating! Her form is so swift— it makes one truly look forward to the Tenno Sho!"
As Teio secured victory with an overwhelming Distance, the stadium went wild.
Standing next to Ryo Nishizaki, Mejiro McQueen watched the relaxed Tokai Teio on the track with a slight sense of unease.
At the same time, in another race, a light-pink figure was also securing a victory with absolute dominance.
Inside the academy cafeteria.
Starlight looked at the newspaper.
The headline was the Tenno Sho showdown between McQueen and Teio, below it was Mihono Bourbon's undefeated challenge for the Classic Triple Crown, and further down was the recently debuted Winning Ticket.
"It really is like a hundred flowers in bloom~ The newspaper content is just like it was back during Special Week's time..."
"Uuuh... I messed up..."
Patting the head of the dejected little Rice Shower beside her, Starlight comforted her.
"It's okay, Rice-chan. It was just one loss at the Satsuki Sho. We'll definitely win it back next time! Eat first, I'll give you my hamburger steak~"
"Mm... Next time, Rice... Rice will definitely win!"