With the support of medical staff, Mihono Bourbon pushed open the door and walked in.
She saw Starlight leaning against the headboard with a cute little Uma Musume beside her.
The girl was clutching Starlight's arm as they flipped through some unknown manga together.
"Bourbon-chan~ You're back!"
"Mm... Starlight-senpai, is this... your sister?"
After a moment's thought, Mihono Bourbon finally asked.
"How could that be? We don't look alike at all, and look, Cheval-chan is much cuter than me~ She's a little fan of mine."
Hearing the gentle praise of the silver-haired Uma Musume, Cheval Grand's face turned red.
She lowered her head, her eyes darting away from Mihono Bourbon.
"H-Hello..."
"Hello."
Nodding, Mihono Bourbon said nothing more.
After returning to her bed, she began tending to her own business.
When getting ready for bed at night, Starlight looked at the Uma Musume sitting beside her.
"In a bit, I'll have someone bring you a blanket. How about sleeping on that sofa over there? Or, do you want to stay in bed with me?"
Cheval Grand lowered her head, glancing at the sofa nearby and then at the spot next to Starlight.
She really seemed to want to sleep with Starlight-senpai, but since she was still injured, she definitely couldn't do that...
After a moment of hesitation, Cheval Grand looked up and smiled.
"I'm fine, Starlight-senpai, please recover well. I'll just sleep on the sofa over there. It's already enough that I can stay here with you..."
Reaching out to pinch her cheek, Starlight moved slightly and patted the spot next to her.
"Forget it, that's too much trouble. Cheval, just make do here with me~ As for the injury, it doesn't matter..."
"But—"
"Now then, do you really mind sleeping with me?"
"Ah! Th-That... No, I don't mind—"
Mihono Bourbon, watching this scene from the side, suddenly felt a bit empty inside, as if she had lost something precious.
'An opportunity was right within my reach, but I failed to grasp it...'
The night grew quiet, and the light in the ward was very dim.
'Sleeping while hugging Starlight-nee like this... Soon, I'll be able to go to Tracen, Starlight-onee-san.'
'We can live together, train together, and go to school together...'
She could see Starlight's face as she breathed steadily.
Slowly reaching out to stroke Starlight's fair cheek, Cheval Grand couldn't resist pinching it.
It felt like soft, springy jelly, a wonderful sensation.
"Ugh~ Stop it, Breaking-chan..."
The silver-haired Uma Musume seemed to be dreaming. Unconsciously, she reached out and patted Cheval Grand's back, her voice soft and sweet.
'Starlight-senpai looks cute when she's acting spoiled... but why didn't she call my name? And who is Breaking-chan?'
The blush slowly faded from her face.
Pouting, Cheval Grand reached out again and pinched Starlight's cheek.
Seeing her squirming, Cheval Grand finally let go.
'Senpai is so mean. How can she think of someone else while sleeping with me?'
'Though I... I might not be that important to Starlight-senpai...'
Thinking this, Cheval Grand trembled and withdrew her hand.
Instead of hugging Starlight again, she curled up and moved slightly further away.
Just then, an arm pulled her in.
Cheval Grand's body stiffened.
She slowly looked up to see Starlight with her eyes half-closed, a very gentle smile on her lips.
"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare... It's okay, onee-san is here~"
Pulling Cheval Grand into her embrace, Starlight reached out and gently patted her back.
Entering that warm embrace once more, Cheval Grand's blue eyes flickered as she wrapped her arms around Starlight's waist.
"Starlight-onee-san, I'll be able to enter Tracen soon... Um, I—"
"Mm-hm. I know what you want to say. That empty bed in the dorm room is reserved for you, Cheval-chan... No one's taken it~"
'Eh, she actually remembers that?!'
Seeing her surprised expression, Starlight leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"Was Cheval-chan joking back then? Onee-san here turned down requests from many Uma Musume to move in..."
"No, it's not like that. I was serious."
"That's good. It's getting late, go to sleep. Goodnight..."
Burying her head in that gentle warmth, Cheval Grand's heart pounded wildly, and she cautiously tightened her hold and closed her eyes.
"Goodnight... Starlight-onee-san."
...
...
...
The Tenno Sho, as a long-distance race, welcomed its reigning champion, Mejiro McQueen.
If she wins this race again, she will achieve three consecutive Tenno Sho titles.
The stands were packed, and everyone was discussing the race fervently, as were Ryo Nishizaki and the members of the Spica Team.
"Will McQueen be okay? There shouldn't be any problems, right? I feel like Rice Shower is really strong..."
"No, I believe in McQueen. She won't lose."
Tokai Teio said this to Special Week.
"Exactly. Based on McQueen's recent form, as long as she performs as she should, there won't be any problems."
"Mejiro McQueen will definitely win!"
Below, Satono Diamond said to Kitasan Black beside her.
"I get it, you don't need to say it again. You've been muttering about it since you woke up this morning."
The inspection ended, and all the Uma Musume entered the racecourse.
A faint black energy spread from around Rice Shower.
She stood before her gate, motionless.
Even while warming up, the other Uma Musume behind her stayed far away.
Mejiro McQueen stood before her gate, and unlike usual, she showed reluctance to enter.
Mejiro Palmer had her hands behind her head.
She was preparing for another Great Escape soon, so she didn't need to think about much else.
Sandwiched between McQueen and Rice Shower, the only one unaffected was our highly popular contestant, Matikane Tannhauser.
She squinted her eyes with the corners of her mouth turned up, looking quite happy.
Meanwhile, at the inner gate, Ikuno Dictus had a drop of cold sweat on her forehead.
She slowly glanced at Mejiro McQueen and then at Rice Shower further away.
'What's going on? The tension is so thick even before it's even started.'
"Alright! Everything is ready. All fifteen Uma Musume have entered the gates!"
In the dim space, Rice Shower's eyes were firm as she clutched the charm Starlight had given her, her breathing was calm.
Bang!
The gates opened, and the Uma Musume all began to run.
"McQueen! Go for it—"
"Take the Triple Crown! Mejiro McQueen—"
Hearing the cheers from the stands, Mejiro McQueen changed her tactics, choosing to follow directly behind Mejiro Palmer, who was preparing for a Great Escape.
"The race has begun. We can see Mejiro Palmer leading on the outside. Whether her usual running style can hold out until the end is hard to say, given the 3,200-meter distance."
"Following her is Mejiro McQueen, and then..."
Clatter, clatter.
Fierce footsteps came from the side as Rice Shower surged forward from her mid-pack position to just behind Mejiro McQueen.
"Rice Shower! It's Rice Shower following behind McQueen. After her is Matikane Tannhauser!"