Tap-tap-tap—
On the training track, Starlight swept through the corner at extreme speed.
She looked at the finish line ahead, a hint of joy flickering in her eyes.
Behind her, the pink-and-white Uma Musume, dressed in a magnificent gown, bit hard into her heels.
Compared to Starlight's frantic struggle, this Uma Musume's expression was far too relaxed and leisurely.
"Not bad. Keep it up, Little Starlight! The tide is about to catch you~"
As she spoke, the ground began to vibrate. A massive tidal wave surged from behind.
Starlight stole a glance back, and her pace quickened yet again.
She panted heavily, her heart pounding so fiercely it felt as though it might jump out of her chest, while her ponytail whipped through the air.
In the end, the silver-haired Uma Musume did not escape.
Her Front Runner strategy was completely useless under the pursuit of this pink-and-white Uma Musume— mainly because the other girl's Unique Skill was just too broken.
A sensation of coldness touched both of her cheeks.
Starlight woke with a start, her eyes flying open to find Tokai Teio's smiling face right in front of her.
"Senpai~ You're awake!"
"Hah... huff... Teio? Where is this?"
Slowly letting go, Tokai Teio spread her hands and said with a giggle:
"Your dorm room! Did you sleep yourself into a daze, Starlight-senpai? You were sweating so much, you must have had a nightmare."
"I just dipped my hands in cold water to help wipe your face."
Sitting up, Starlight looked around the familiar surroundings.
Her breathing gradually steadied as she looked back at the brown-haired girl.
"Thank you, Teio..."
"Ehehe~ You're welcome, you're welcome! By the way, Senpai, your room is so cozy. It makes me want to stay here for a while."
Teio sat down on the edge of the bed in a leisurely manner, her tone as lively as ever.
Not paying much mind to the other girl's movements, Starlight recalled the duel with the pink-and-white Uma Musume in her dream, a trace of regret in her eyes.
'I still can't outrun her?'
"Starlight-chan? What are you thinking about? Listen to me!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry, Teio. What did you say?"
Failing to notice that Teio had quietly switched to a more intimate nickname, Divine Starlight gave an apologetic, sheepish laugh.
"I said, how about we go out together this weekend?"
"This weekend? Isn't that the day of the Kikuka Sho? I wanted to go see it. After all, it's Bourbon-chan's final battle for the Triple Crown."
Teio pouted slightly, puffing out her cheeks.
"Then I'll go with you, Starlight-chan!"
"Sure."
In the Student Council office, Symboli Rudolf sat at her desk, hands folded in front of her.
She watched Starlight and Teio sitting on the sofa nearby, drinking tea and chatting.
'Those two have been getting quite close lately... Well, that's fine. With Teio by her side, I can feel much more at ease.'
Click—
Just then, a petite orange-haired girl pushed the door open and walked in with a grin.
"Greetings! How are you, President Rudolf?"
"Chairwoman? Is something the matter...?"
Rudolf quickly stood up and approached her.
Yayoi Akikawa looked around the room. When her eyes landed on the silver-haired Uma Musume, they lit up.
She fluttered her fan and gave a few dry coughs.
"Ahem! The Academy recently acquired a farm, and I plan to hold a farming event! Secretary Hayakawa will send you the details later. And also—"
With her short legs, Yayoi Akikawa hurried over to Starlight and grabbed both of her hands.
"Starlight-chan~ Are you interested in going there to manage the fields for me?"
"Growing vegetables and things is very interesting! And you'll get to taste lots of delicious food!"
"Eh, well... I can, but does this mean I don't have to go to class?!"
"Of course! You certainly won't have to. We can even clear out a track there for you to train on. What do you think?"
"Deal!"
Divine Starlight gripped Yayoi Akikawa's hands back, her face full of righteous determination.
"Since it is the Chairwoman's request, it is my sacred duty. I guarantee the management will be top-notch!"
"I—I'll go too, Chairwoman! Prez, let me tag along!"
Yayoi Akikawa looked at the excited Tokai Teio standing next to Starlight.
After a moment of thought, she nodded in agreement.
"Fine. Since Teio is so enthusiastic, you're in! Counting the two of you, there are already three people. That should be enough!"
"Eh? Who's the other Uma Musume?"
"Silence Suzuka-san, who just returned from abroad. She went ahead to the farm a few days before you."
"Oh, I was wondering why I hadn't seen Suzuka around lately..."
The scene shifted.
As a dedicated Tracen bus drove off, Starlight and Tokai Teio stood at the gate of a farm, clutching their luggage.
"You're here, Starlight-chan, Teio~"
Suzuka, who had been waiting for quite a while, stepped forward to greet them.
"Long time no see! Suzuka!"
Lowering her head slightly, Suzuka nodded, her face tinting a soft red.
"Mm, long time no see."
"Ready? Then let's head in!"
Tokai Teio lugged her own suitcase along with Starlight's and started walking inside.
"Slow down, Teio~ I should really carry my own luggage."
"Hmph, no way! I want to carry it for you."
Starlight let out a helpless smile.
Watching the brown-haired girl's retreating back, she and Suzuka followed along.
The living quarters were a fair distance from the farm entrance.
Suzuka took the opportunity during the walk to introduce the surroundings.
"Over there are the fields that have already been tilled, they can be planted at any time. This side hasn't been tilled yet."
"The Chairwoman said the 'Farming Cup' event will officially begin at the end of this year."
"Right, Starlight-chan, the Chairwoman asked me to give this to you."
Realizing she'd forgotten something, Silence Suzuka pulled an ID card from the pocket of her skirt.
Starlight reached out to take it.
She saw her own photo printed on it, with large golden characters written across the top:
Tracen Farm Temporary General Manager — Divine Starlight
"Eh? I... I'm a farm manager now?! What exactly am I supposed to do?!"
"Manage the farm, and act as a judge and referee during the event. Those were the Chairwoman's instructions. Teio and I will serve as your assistants to help with the work."
"Oho~ Sounds pretty good... General Manager Starlight."
Tokai Teio stopped in her tracks ahead of them, a mischievous smirk on her face.
"Don't be like that, Teio. Be serious."
"Hmm... what's not serious about it, General Manager Starlight~?"
Seeing the silver-haired Uma Musume lower her head in embarrassment, Silence Suzuka giggled behind her hand.
"She's right, General Manager Starlight~"
Entering the residential area, Suzuka led Starlight to a vacant dormitory room.
"This is Starlight's room. Teio is directly across the hall, and mine is right next door... Since you just arrived today, you two should take some time to settle in."
"Alright, thank you for the trouble, Suzuka-chan."
"It's no trouble at all."
Silence Suzuka seemingly had other work to attend to and walked away.
This left Divine Starlight and Tokai Teio, who hadn't entered her room yet, alone in the hallway.
"Starlight-chan, can I share a room with you? I saw just now that it looks like there are double beds inside~"
"That... Teio, why are you so insistent on sharing a room? We're literally neighbors across the hall, aren't we?"
Starlight was a bit puzzled.
Lately, the little Uma Musume named Tokai Teio seemed to enjoy clinging to her a bit too much.
"Aiyee, Senpai, I'm afraid of the dark~ Look at my room, if I stay in there alone, I'll be scared to tears!"
Teio pushed her door open and pointed into her dim room, her face full of grievance.
Expressionless, the silver-haired Uma Musume walked in and flipped the switch.
Instantly, a warm white light illuminated every corner of the space.
To be fair, the dorms in the farm's residential area were decorated very cozily, looking almost like something out of a fairy tale.
There wasn't a hint of anything scary.
"I have to ask, Teio-chan... are you still scared now?"