The tsunami crashed down, swallowing the silver-haired Uma Musume.
In an instant, Starlight felt a suffocating sense of weight.
Her feet felt as if they were sinking into a quagmire, making every step an agonizing struggle.
Her face contorted with effort as sweat and rainwater mingled and ran down her cheeks.
Her vision blurred, pupils losing focus as she stared ahead at that hazy pink figure.
'Is this Unique Skill... really that powerful?'
Back in reality, in her bed.
Starlight let out a sharp gasp and sat bolt upright.
She looked around, finding herself back in the comfort of her own bedroom.
Feeling the slight stinging sensation in her legs, she pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed.
"Was it really just a dream? That Uma Musume... she was incredible. And so beautiful— ah, we started racing right away, I didn't even ask her name."
Throwing back the covers, Starlight slowly got out of bed and walked to the wardrobe to change.
'If I get the chance, I'll ask next time.'
"Starlight-chan, Starlight-chan! Did you hear? Palmer is planning to enter the Takarazuka Kinen! We're entering together! Hehe, we're going to pull off a combo move!"
"That's right, that's right! Escaping! A massive Escape, the kind that leaves the whole field in the dust!"
"Is that so? Then good luck to you both. I'll be there to watch."
Watching the two energetic girls, Starlight responded with a smile.
Returning to the classroom, Starlight noticed her seat had been rotated to the very first row. Her mood soured instantly.
"Teacher, Teacher! Why was I moved to the front row? Wasn't that supposed to wait until the next rotation?!"
Hearing this, the teacher pushed up their glasses and explained flatly.
"Ahem, well, it's like this: Many teachers have reported that you're always sleeping in class lately. So, you need to pay attention."
"Oh, by the way, Class President, why don't you sit next to Starlight-chan as her desk mate?"
"Yes! I promise to keep a close eye on Starlight-chan!"
Yaeno Muteki froze for a split second before standing up, looking as stunned as if she had just won the lottery.
Mejiro Ardan, sitting nearby, glanced at Yaeno Muteki and then at the somewhat listless Divine Starlight in the front.
"Teacher, Teacher, I can do it too!"
She quickly raised her hand to volunteer.
"My grades are just as good as the Class President's, and she has so many duties to handle. How about leaving it to me?"
"Is that so? True... Ardan-san makes a good point. In that case—"
"Wait, wait, Teacher! I... I was Starlight-chan's desk mate two rotations ago. I helped her with all her notes, so I have the most experience!"
Sakura Chiyono O raised her hand with sudden confidence.
"My, my... Starlight-san, you certainly are popular. Who do you want as your desk mate?"
"Teacher... I just want to be left alone in peace, please."
Immersed in the tragedy of being in the front row, Starlight hadn't really processed the debate.
She just gave a weary, offhand response.
"I see. In that case, the three of you should just draw straws."
After a mysterious drawing of lots, Mejiro Ardan successfully took the seat next to Starlight.
She reached out, patting the silver-haired girl's head and playfully pinching Starlight's drooping ears.
"Starlight-chan, I'll be in your care from now on."
Starlight looked up at Ardan's squinting, giggling face, nodded, and leaned toward her instinctively.
"Mmm... okay."
"Ahem, class is starting soon. Everyone get ready. Starlight-san, please pay attention from now on."
"Okay, Teacher..."
Once the homeroom teacher left, Starlight turned to Mejiro Ardan and asked curiously, "How is McQueen doing? I saw her leaving in a wheelchair back then..."
"Well... the situation is a bit difficult, but it's alright. The family's attending physician is providing daily treatment. McQueen will definitely be fine."
"That's good. Everyone really is pushing themselves to the limit."
Rubbing Starlight's head, Mejiro Ardan teased her.
"You're one to talk. Aren't you doing the exact same thing?"
"How is that the same? I call it 'striving for self-improvement.' Everyone's allowed to give it their all at least once..."
In the back, Yaeno Muteki watched with a dark expression as the two Uma Musume in front shared their sweet interaction, practically radiating pink bubbles.
The teacher had called her name first! Ardan was too wicked, swooping in to spoil things like that!
And Chiyono O— she had been Starlight's desk mate for so long, and she still tried to jump in for more!
Today could be described as an absolute ordeal. Unable to sleep, Starlight's eyelids were constantly at war with each other.
Although she appeared to be listening to the lecture, her mind had long since drifted into fantasies of epic, world-shaking battles.
When the bell finally rang for the end of the morning classes, Starlight collapsed onto her desk, unable to hold herself up any longer.
Her eyes were hollow, and a tiny, glistening thread of drool escaped the corner of her mouth.
"Senpai~ Starlight-senpai..."
Squeak, clack, squeak—
Suddenly, the ever-lively Tokai Teio, leaning on her crutches, arrived at Starlight's classroom.
Spotting the silver-haired Uma Musume slumped over her desk, she picked up her pace to reach her side.
"Ardan-senpai, what's wrong with Starlight-senpai...?"
Hearing this, Mejiro Ardan, who was packing her bag, looked at Tokai Teio and let out a soft giggle behind her hand.
"Your Starlight-senpai usually sleeps through class. Now that she's been moved to the front row and can't sleep, she's become very fragile. If you want to do anything to her, Teio-chan, now's your chance~"
After speaking, Ardan narrowed her eyes to observe Teio's reaction.
Sure enough, our little Teio's face turned bright red.
She looked at Starlight lying on the desk, her cheek pressed against the wood so that her face looked adorably squishy.
Gulp.
"Ah, Ardan-senpai, what are you talking about?!"
"Haha, just kidding, just kidding~ Did you need her for something?"
"I want to have lunch with Starlight-senpai!"
"Hmm? Lunch? Oh right, it's that time already~"
Starlight sat up slowly and let out a long groan as she stretched.
Turning her head, she saw Tokai Teio and looked a bit surprised.
"Teio! Why are you here?"
"I came to find Senpai for lunch! Let's go quickly, or else Oguri Cap-senpai will have eaten everything again."
Nodding, Starlight rubbed her eyes and stood up.
After waving goodbye to Mejiro Ardan, she hooked her arm through Teio's, and the two Uma Musume— one supporting the other— left the room together.
"Senpai, Senpai, are you doing rehabilitation training this afternoon?"
"Of course I am."
"Then can I join you? Just like when you used to lead my training, lead me again!"
Teio instinctively leaned closer to Starlight as she made her request.
"No problem! Training with Teio is always fun. Maybe the two of us will recover faster if we do it together!"
In truth, ever since Teio had seen Starlight practicing her running last time, she felt a sense of belonging and reliance in her heart.
Perhaps this feeling had been buried deep within her for a long time, but seeing Starlight's silhouette stubbornly pressing forward had finally caused that seed to sprout.
'Senpai really is different.'
'While I was still lost and didn't know what to do, she stayed focused on moving forward. Even if the chances are slim, she's persevering.'
'No wonder the Symboli Rudolf admires Starlight-senpai so much...'
Elsewhere, Mihono Bourbon was still putting in extra laps at the training grounds.
She was currently the center of everyone's attention. After all, with the Derby finished, only the Kikuka Sho remained.
Last year, Tokai Teio had been unable to participate, but this year Mihono Bourbon was confirmed to attend, and she was doing so with an undefeated record.
Furthermore, it had been a long time since a classic Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume had appeared, and everyone was desperate to see one.
Tap-tap-tap—
Tap-tap-tap—
The sound of footsteps rang out, and as expected, a second set of footsteps followed from behind.
Rice Shower followed far behind Mihono Bourbon, constantly muttering to herself: "I can catch up, I can catch up..."
She didn't want to disappoint anyone, especially Starlight-chan.
She was supposed to be the one protecting the silver-haired girl, yet she had been the one crying in Starlight's arms seeking comfort.
That simply wouldn't do!
No matter what, she could not lose this race.
Rice Shower didn't care about what others thought, she only knew that if she won, there would be applause from Starlight to cheer her on, and Starlight's smile would bloom just for her!
Her purple eyes locked onto Mihono Bourbon with such intense aggression that even the light-pink-haired Uma Musume ahead couldn't help but flinch.