Under the setting sun, Starlight and Teio lay side-by-side on the grass, watching the horizon gradually dye itself red.
The sound of the flowing river rippled through the air, accompanied by the rustle of wind through the grass and a faint, refreshing fragrance lingering at the tip of their noses.
Tokai Teio slowly turned her head.
She looked at Divine Starlight's profile, the light shimmered within the other girl's golden hexagram-shaped eyes.
Teio instinctively scooted a little closer to her.
"Senpai worked very hard today too."
"Mhm~ You too, Teio. You were great!"
"When you get back, remember to soak your feet in hot water and apply some shock-absorbing medicated patches, or you won't be able to handle it tomorrow."
"Mm, thank you for the concern, Senpai. I understand."
A smile tugged at Teio's lips.
Seeing the silver-haired Uma Musume's face all covered in dust and grime, she couldn't help but let out a giggle.
"Hehe..."
Starlight shifted her gaze, looking at Teio with confusion.
"What is it?"
"Starlight-senpai looks like a dirty little kitten right now~ So cute—"
In response, Starlight reached out and pinched the girl's cheek.
"And look at yourself, Teio-chan?"
"Aiyee! I'm fine, just a bit dirty. But Senpai did help me stabilize my form quite a lot earlier."
"Your injury isn't that heavy, you'll be back on the turf before long... I hope you keep winning, Teio. In my heart, your form has always been steady."
"Well... the Triple Crown is out of reach now, and so is being undefeated... I have nothing left now. Starting from zero feels pretty good too!"
"How can you say that? Our Teio is a Derby winner! Even I am not..."
"With Senpai's strength, you don't need the Derby to prove yourself, right?"
"...Perhaps. But the same goes for you, Teio! There are no unbeatable heroes, only unyielding warriors! I believe in you, Teio. You can do it!"
Hearing Starlight's words, Tokai Teio froze.
A touch of red from the sunset reflected in her sky-blue eyes as she gazed soulfully at the smile on the silver-haired Uma Musume's face.
"Yeah. Thank you, Senpai..."
With that, Teio narrowed her eyes and shuffled over to Starlight, nestling into her embrace.
"Ah~ I've wanted to lie in Senpai's arms for a long time. It's so comfortable~"
Starlight reached out to stroke her head, speaking helplessly.
"Teio really does have the heart of a child~"
"Hmph. Senpai, how exactly did you develop? We're clearly about the same height, so why are yours so big?"
Feeling the soft sensation against her head, Tokai Teio looked at her own chest and spoke with a hint of envy.
"Eat well, sleep well. There isn't any special method."
"By the way, Starlight-senpai... how is McQueen doing? Do you have any news...?"
The moment those words left her mouth, Divine Starlight froze.
Suddenly, the whispers from Daitaku Helios echoed in her mind.
'Could there really be something going on between Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen?! They even hugged on the track, and it was the losing Teio who initiated it...'
'Could it be?!'
'Is she testing my attitude because she minds that I liked Mejiro McQueen before?'
'No, I have to help them out. McQueen finally stopped obsessing over the past and decided to walk toward the future hand-in-hand with Teio.'
'If things fall apart because of me, I'll truly feel guilty for life.'
Thinking this, Starlight's gaze became resolute as she nodded.
"If you're worried about McQueen, you can go find her at the Mejiro Estate, Teio. I think McQueen would welcome you very much."
'Okay, I've made my stance clear. I fully support you two.'
"That's not what I meant, Senpai! Actually, I..."
"I understand. You don't need to worry about me, Teio. You must treat McQueen well~"
'What is happening! Senpai, have you misunderstood something?!'
"...Senpai, who... who did you hear that from~?"
'Look, look! Teio is already blushing.'
"Daitaku Helios told me last time, so she probably heard it from Mejiro Palmer. Don't worry, Teio, I support you!"
Slowly clenching her fists, Tokai Teio let out a long breath, her entire body going limp.
"Senpai, I need to go chat with someone for a bit. I'll be back."
"Mhm, go ahead..."
Sitting up, Tokai Teio took her crutches and headed to a secluded corner.
She opened her phone's chat list and tapped on Daitaku Helios's profile picture.
...
"Senpai~ I'm back!"
Her smile restored, Tokai Teio returned.
Starlight looked at her face, feeling that something was slightly eerie...
Just as she was about to stand up, she was stopped.
"Don't, Senpai. Let me help you~"
With those words, Tokai Teio quickly moved in front of Starlight.
She helped the silver-haired Uma Musume up and clung tightly to her arm.
"Let's go back, Senpai..."
"Okay~"
Downstairs at the dormitory, Teio watched the silver-haired Uma Musume enter the Ritto Dormitory building.
She let out a sigh.
"I was supposed to use today to get closer to Senpai... It's all that Daitaku Helios's fault for talking nonsense! Really... and McQueen likes Senpai a lot, too..."
That night, Starlight arrived at the training ground in her dream once again.
She looked around but couldn't find the pink figure.
"Eh? Where is she?"
The silver-haired Uma Musume wandered about, searching for the pink-haired girl.
Unknowingly, she arrived near the cafeteria.
When she walked inside, she saw the pink-haired Uma Musume standing at the service window.
"Eh? You— Why are you here...?"
"Yo, it's you, Little Starlight~ Didn't you know? I used to be a chef here at Tracen. Want a taste?"
As she spoke, the pink-haired Uma Musume pushed a bowl of donburi in front of Starlight.
"Ah, o-okay."
Holding it with both hands, Starlight sat down at a nearby seat.
Looking at the bowl which was perfect in color, aroma, and taste, she took a spoonful and stuffed it into her mouth.
The fragrance of the meat and the aroma of the carrots harmonized in her mouth, every grain of rice coated in savory sauce.
"So delicious..."
Starlight's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but start eating heartily.
"Hehe, I'm relieved to see you like it so much~"
Taking off her white uniform, the pink-and-white Uma Musume sat down across from Starlight.
She watched the little silver-haired Uma Musume with her cheeks puffed out, her eyes full of amusement.
"Are you an Uma Musume from Tracen too?! How come I've never seen you—"
"For the time being, let's say I am."
"I was training with Teio today, and then she shyly told me about her relationship with McQueen... Hehe~"
Hearing Starlight's description, the pink-and-white Uma Musume was momentarily speechless.
Propping her head up on her hand, she stated in a very leisurely tone:
"Is there a possibility... that your understanding of the situation is flawed, Little Starlight?"
"Ah? Where is it flawed?"
"If Teio acted like that, it's because you misunderstood her. In her heart, McQueen is just a good friend and a good rival."
"As for you... pay attention to Teio's eyes tomorrow, you'll probably be able to tell..."
"I-Is that so... Haha, it seems like all the Uma Musume I'm close with treat me the same way, so I must have misread it~"
'Treat her the same way? Not quite.'
"Alright, alright. Just leave after you finish eating. You worked hard today, too. Get some peaceful rest..."
'How can this silver-haired girl be so smart sometimes, yet so airheaded at others...?'
"Oh, okay! Um~ Can I ask your name?"
"My name?"
"Mhm."
The pink-and-white Uma Musume stood up and walked over to Starlight.
She reached out and poked Starlight's forehead.
"When you manage to outrun me, that's when you'll find out~"