"I'm so sorry, Divine Starlight. I've gone and lost your data file."
Inami scratched her head, speaking with an apologetic expression.
"It's okay. We can just record a new one, can't we?"
"Mhm, that's true. So, for the race you're entering... what distance are you planning to run?"
"An 1,800-meter Junior Stakes. It's next month, so the schedule is quite tight," Starlight said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
Nodding, Kiryuu Inami immediately began constructing a training plan. Before long, she had filled an entire sheet.
"Let's get started then. Since time is short, we can't take the conventional approach. Besides, I'm still not entirely sure of your current capabilities. We'll spend this afternoon half on data testing and half on training— is that okay?"
"No problem. I'll follow your lead, Trainer."
Soon, under the scorching heat of the sun, a gray figure began her training on the track. First was a ten-kilometer jogging warm-up.
As she stepped onto the grass, her feet felt light, and her strides were effortless.
Off the field, Inami wasn't idling either. She began searching through the list of Uma Musumes registered for this specific Junior Stakes. As the list appeared on her phone, her pupils shrank slightly.
"Can we win? To think it's her..."
Her finger brushed over the profile picture of a certain Uma Musume, and a wave of worry washed over Kiryuu Inami.
"No, I should believe in my own Uma Musume. She will definitely win."
The photo showed a gray-haired Uma Musume with short hair, her sky-blue eyes filled with a sense of laziness.
Seiun Sky.
She was an Uma Musume who had just finished her debut race— and she had debuted with an overwhelming victory, leading the pack by six horse lengths.
Inami had been at the race track to witness it personally. That Uma Musume's control over the race's tempo was incredibly precise.
Even though Inami said she should believe in Starlight, her heart was still filled with unease and anxiety— especially after looking at Starlight's new data.
Compared to an Uma Musume like Seiun Sky, the stats were worlds apart.
In the distance, the first phase of the training session concluded. Starlight wiped the sweat from her face and walked off the track.
It was now approaching evening, many Uma Musume were out either walking or training, and the field had become crowded. However, as an "NPC" type, Starlight naturally went unnoticed.
Walking up to Inami, Starlight noticed the worry on her face and asked, "What's wrong, Trainer?"
"Oh! No, it's nothing. Is your training over?"
"Not yet. I still have two sets of interval runs left before I'm finished."
"Is that so? Good work."
"It's nothing. But you, Trainer-san... did something bad happen? Why the long face? You're so pretty, you know."
Kiryuu Inami was clearly flustered by Starlight's sudden compliment. She blushed slightly and spoke.
"I'm just worried about your next race. After all, you've finally started running again. If you lose, it might..."
Seeing this, Starlight smiled. She stepped forward slowly and cupped Inami's face with both hands.
"Inami-chan— is it okay if I call you that?"
"Um... y-yes, you can."
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course. You're my Uma Musume, if I don't trust you, who else would I trust?"
"I'm going to take the championship, so don't worry. Just help me set the training plan, and leave the rest to me... okay?"
Starlight's voice was very soft, like a beautiful string melody flowing into Inami's heart. Looking at the gray Uma Musume before her, Inami nodded unconsciously.
"Okay..."
"That's the spirit. Well then, I'll go finish my last training task. How about we go get some ice cream together afterward?"
"Mhm, okay."
By the time Kiryuu Inami fully came to her senses, Starlight was already waving and walking back toward the training field, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
Her eyes reflecting the figure of the Uma Musume, Inami spoke to herself without realizing it—
"I feel like her aura is quite captivating..."
After reflecting, Inami felt a sense of doubt resurface.
"If that's the case, my previous impression of her should have been very clear. Why was it so blurry?"
Shaking her head, Inami refocused on drafting the subsequent training plans.
"Perhaps I just don't know Starlight well enough."
The final interval runs were quickly completed.
Picking up a pre-prepared towel to wipe her sweat-soaked hair, Starlight walked side-by-side with Inami toward the exit, sighing with emotion.
"It really is hot today..."
"It is summer, after all. Speaking of which, Starlight, why don't you trim your hair? You'd actually look quite cute."
While not breathtakingly stunning, Starlight's face shape was very smooth and well-defined.
"It's fine like this. Besides, it feels like a hassle, so I'll pass."
"Oh. I see."
[Detection complete. Option 2 determined. Reward: One bottle of Restorative Recovery Liquid.]
[Restorative Recovery Liquid: Drink before sleep to ensure high-quality rest and restore your condition to peak performance the next day.]
The effect of this reward was excellent, with this, no matter how rigorous the training was today, she wouldn't feel tired or sore the next morning.
It was effectively a way to boost training efficiency.
Taking advantage of the moment Inami wasn't looking, Starlight slipped the recovery liquid into her pocket.
"To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised today," Inami said. "Before this, I was just complaining to Senior Ryu Nishizaki about how bored I was without a Uma Musume to train. I'm glad you showed up, Starlight. Otherwise, he'd never stop teasing me."
"Who is Ryu Nishizaki?"
"Oh, I almost forgot, you wouldn't know him. He's a senior trainer of mine. Though, he doesn't have any Uma Musumes under him right now either."
"I see..."
"Yeah. There is one girl registered under him— I think her name is Gold Ship— but she doesn't seem to have any interest in training."
"But things are different now. I'm really happy that you're willing to run again, Starlight."
"Ahaha, I was being a bit foolish before. Sorry about that."
"Foolish? Did you do something bad?"
"Not really, it's just... uh, never mind, I'm not telling you. It's part of my dark past!"
"A dark past! Now I want to know even more. Tell me, Starlight! Don't worry, I won't tell a soul."
Pushing up her glasses, Inami asked curiously.
"I don't wanna~!"
"Come on, I'll pay for your ice cream. Deal?"
"Still no! Bleeeh."
With that, Starlight jogged toward the ice cream stand, turning back to stick her tongue out and make a face at Inami.
Between the two of them Teasing and playing around, time flew by, and it was soon evening.
Due to the Tracen Academy regulations, Inami couldn't stay out late and had to return to the dorms.
Looking at her empty room, Starlight took a deep breath.
"Not bad. At least it's quiet, isn't it? I actually quite like it..."
With that, she took off her training gear and underwear, tossing them into the empty basin by the bathroom door. After pouring in some laundry powder, she drank the bottle of recovery liquid.
After showering, she finished washing her clothes and hung them on the drying rack on the balcony.
She picked up her phone and leaned against the headboard, but hadn't played for long before she suddenly jumped.
"I almost forgot I'm a student now. I have to do homework!"
Bitterly tossing her phone aside, she sat at her desk and began writing furiously.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sudden sound of the door interrupted her. Divine Starlight stopped her pen and looked toward the door in confusion.
'Who would come looking for an extra like me at this hour?'
"Student Starlight, are you asleep?"
The voice of Symboli Rudolf rang out, causing Starlight's curious expression to instantly slump.
Right, she had almost forgotten that the President lived in the Miho Dorms too.
"I'm awake, Madam President."
Saying this, Starlight quickly stood up to open the door for her.