'What should I do?'
This was the most difficult situation Starlight had ever faced. It was indeed hard for her to speak up, but...
'Should I ask Breaking-chan?'
Amidst her dazed thoughts, Rice Shower looked at Starlight.
Seeing that she remained silent, she slowly clenched her hands.
"Starlight-chan..."
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Did Rice do something wrong...?"
"No, Rice, you didn't do anything wrong."
"Then why can't I get an answer from you... Starlight-chan?"
Stroking the other's head, Starlight took a deep breath.
She looked toward the stars on the horizon and slowly closed her eyes.
"I don't know how to answer. I don't know how to respond to Rice-chan. You probably don't just want a verbal promise, but my true feelings, right?"
"Yes..."
"But I really don't understand what love is. I've only done what I felt was right."
"Yet, I want Rice Shower to be happy, so I don't know what to do."
"You can accept Rice."
A low voice rang out, causing Starlight's body to stiffen.
Before she could react, the black-haired Uma Musume reached out and grabbed her shoulders.
Her purple eyes emitted a faint glow under the Starlight, appearing somewhat otherworldly.
"I'm saying, if Starlight-chan just accepts Rice... it'll be fine. As long as I'm with Starlight-chan, I can be happy."
Reaching out to brush the other's hands away, Starlight recoiled slightly.
"Don't be like this, Rice-chan. I don't have those romantic feelings for you right now. If I were to accept you, it would be very painful..."
The explicit rejection made the hand reaching for Starlight pause.
Tears fell from her eyes as Rice Shower looked at the Uma Musume before her and spoke slowly.
"How cruel... Starlight-chan, you're so cruel!"
Standing up, Rice Shower sobbed for a moment before turning decisively to run down the mountain.
'No, it can't be like this...'
Avoice suddenly echoed in Starlight's heart.
'I can't just sit here and do nothing. I have to stop her...'
Standing up, Starlight began to give chase.
In the woods, the two Uma Musume began a pursuit.
Starlight watched as the black-haired Uma Musume's back drew closer, the other's cries piercing her ears like needles.
Likewise, they constantly stung Divine Starlight's heart.
Seeing that she was about to catch up, Divine Starlight reached out, wanting to grab Rice Shower's arm, to hold her, and thinking of how to convey words of comfort and her true feelings.
But just then... she felt a sudden loss of balance and fell directly to the ground.
Thump.
The dull sound made Rice Shower freeze.
She slowly stopped, trembling as she turned to look back.
Under the night sky, that silver figure lay on the ground, barely visible.
"Starlight-chan!! Are you okay?!"
Subconsciously, Rice Shower cast aside her sorrow and ran back toward Starlight.
She quickly knelt down and helped her up.
"Starlight-chan, how is it? Is your leg hurt?"
Ignoring the question, Starlight pulled Rice Shower into a tight embrace, her voice trembling as if enduring pain.
"I'm sorry, Rice... it's my fault. I really don't know what to do..."
"You, McQueen, Suzuka, and even the President... you're all so good to me, so kind, always looking after me... but when it comes to your confessions, I really don't know how to respond."
"It's my problem. I'm too indecisive when dealing with these things... I can't make a clean break. I... I don't have much interest in romance right now. I still want to run!"
"After giving so much, I want to keep galloping on the racetrack... I want to continue being an Uma Musume!"
Facing this Silver-Haired Uma who was solely focused on her career, Rice Shower remained silent for a long time.
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and turned to speak.
"I'll take you back to the camp, Starlight-chan. Let's get that injury treated quickly..."
Picking up the Silver-Haired girl, Rice Shower walked slowly toward the camp.
Slowly reaching out to wipe a tear from the other's eye, Starlight looked at Rice Shower's face and said after a long silence.
"Rice-chan's happiness is being with Starlight... I'm in your arms right now, Rice... if you need me, I'll always be by your side."
"So please don't be sad anymore, okay?"
Rice Shower didn't speak.
She only wanted to get Starlight back as soon as possible, while feeling a surge of guilt in her heart.
Starlight was already in this state, yet she still wanted to gallop on the racetrack with such a body... and here she was, causing her to get injured over such matters.
The naive and insecure Little Uma Musume had read a picture book about sweet romance, and had fantasized about being with the girl who had rescued her from the darkness.
Now, due to the conflict just now, her impulsive emotions gradually dissipated as she felt the Uma in her arms.
She seemed to have changed her mind...
Inside the tent, looking at Starlight's slightly swollen ankle, Rice Shower applied the pre-prepared ointment to her ankle and wrapped it with gauze.
"Thank you, Rice..."
Looking up at Rice Shower, who was holding the medical kit, Starlight's voice was soft.
"No, it's nothing... I'm sorry, Starlight-chan. It was Rice's selfishness and stubbornness that caused you to get hurt... Rice was also a bit impulsive and said some extreme things."
Putting down the medical kit, Rice Shower took a deep breath and bowed slowly in apology.
"It's okay, I have my own problems too."
"Starlight-chan... Rice wants to stay by your side, forever... until our bond reaches love... or even surpasses it!"
Upon hearing this, the silver Uma Musume was instantly stunned.
Her pupils contracted as she looked at the black-haired Uma Musume.
There was no longer any evasion or shyness in her eyes, only determination and a sense of clarity.
"Rice knows she might not compare to the other Uma Musume who like Starlight-chan... but this is what Rice can do, the only thing Rice can do!"
"Starlight-chan, is that okay...?"
"...Of course, Rice-chan."
The two Uma Musume didn't end up together, nor did they start dating.
But Rice Shower had offered a purer way of being together.
Perhaps she would become the final winner this way; there was no telling.
Regardless, in Divine Starlight's heart, Rice Shower's status had surpassed that of a friend, bypassed that of a lover, and headed straight for a place much further and higher.
After treating her injury, Starlight explained her situation to Kiryuu Inami.
To see if the camping trip should be canceled if things didn't improve by tomorrow.
Turning off her phone, she looked over at Rice Shower.
The black-haired Uma Musume was duck sitting on her sleeping bag, holding a brush and grooming her tail.
Warm, white light spilled down from the top of the tent.
With some difficulty, Starlight moved closer to her and gently took the brush.
"Let me help you."
"Ah! Um... okay."