Even though the other girl's appearance had been somewhat out of the blue, Starlight felt like her remedial studies were finally in good hands.
Though she had only heard rumors, this Mejiro Ramonu was incredibly popular.
She was said to be skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In short, a quiet and elegant person who was undoubtedly a master of academics.
Waiting for the dismissal bell to ring, Starlight packed her schoolbag and walked out the back door.
She caught sight of Mejiro Ramonu, who was standing quietly to the side with her eyes narrowed, seemingly lost in thought.
'So beautiful...'
Her black tresses swayed casually across her forehead, and perhaps it was because her eyes were closed, but her cool temperament combined with her black-and-white dress made her seem remarkably noble and aloof.
Sensing Starlight's arrival, Mejiro Ramonu slowly opened her eyes, the tenderness in her gaze spilling out like sunlight.
"Starlight-san, let us go... I have already asked someone to bring two portions of lunch, so you needn't worry."
"Mm, thank you, um..."
"Mejiro Ramonu. You may simply call me by my name."
She led Starlight to a secluded corner of the academy. There was a fountain here, surrounded on all sides by thickets of trees.
"Ramonu-san, what do you need me to do?"
Without any haste, Ramonu opened her briefcase and took out her brushes, paints, and other supplies one by one.
Hearing Starlight's question, she rose slowly and walked to a bench near the edge of the fountain.
Rubbing her chin, she seemed to be arranging the composition in her mind. She turned slowly to look at the silver-haired Uma Musume before her, whose golden eyes were lively and charming.
"Perhaps Starlight-san could sit down first? Just a natural pose will do."
"Alright. I'll leave it all to your arrangements, Ramonu-san."
Nodding, Starlight walked over and plopped down onto the bench.
Standing a bit further back, Mejiro Ramonu made a few casual gestures with her hands to frame the shot before nodding with satisfaction.
She moved to a spot nearby, set up her easel, and began mixing her paints.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the academy...
There was a knock on the Trainer's office door.
"Excuse me..."
Mejiro McQueen walked in holding a form. After scanning the room, she spotted Kiryuu Inami in the corner.
"Um, Trainer Kiryuu Inami."
"Gah! Y-yes? What is it?"
She seemed to have been too focused on his work and was startled by McQueen's greeting.
"S-sorry. I am the temporary Uma Musume assigned to you for this summer training camp."
Calming himself down, Inami looked at the gray-haired Uma Musume in front of her and pushed up her glasses.
"Oh, oh! I remember now. Mejiro McQueen, right? Mm... an Uma Musume from the Mejiro family, how wonderful."
Reaching out to take the form, Inami gave it a casual glance and signed it.
"Next Monday— that is, in three days— we will meet at the academy gates."
"Understood. I'll be there."
"Right. As for Saturday and Sunday... how about you go with Starlight to pick out swimsuits for the beach?"
"Ah, that... alright! I'll go find her right away."
Though she hesitated at first, she remembered the resolve she had just made. She clenched her pink fist and spoke with determination.
Seeing that she was about to leave, Inami scratched her cheek and laughed sheepishly.
"Actually, you can go this afternoon. McQueen, you should go eat lunch first."
"Alright then, I'll go eat first."
Hearing Inami's suggestion, Mejiro McQueen followed it obediently, taking out her phone to contact her private assistant.
"As expected of a child from a prestigious family? She naturally carries such a sense of confidence..."
With a sigh of admiration, Kiryuu Inami threw himself back into her work.
The afternoon sun was scorching. By now, fine beads of sweat were rolling down Starlight's forehead. However, she didn't dare make any small movements.
Looking at Mejiro Ramonu's serious eyes in the distance, it felt as though they possessed a natural form of "crowd control," making Starlight afraid to move a muscle.
On the small table beside Ramonu sat two packed lunch boxes. A faint aroma drifted through the air, and Starlight's stomach had long since shriveled with hunger.
'When is it going to end? I really want to eat...'
Time ticked away to the rhythm of Starlight's internal complaints.
Finally, as a drop of sweat fell from Mejiro Ramonu's chin, she set down her brush.
She let out a deep breath.
"...Starlight-san, you're free to move now."
"Ramonu-san, is it finished?"
Nodding, Mejiro Ramonu calmly began organizing her painting supplies. Wiping the sweat from her own face, Starlight hurried over to her side.
Looking at the depiction of herself in the painting, she couldn't help but marvel at the other girl's skill.
"Ramonu-san, you're amazing! It looks so good."
Waving her hand dismissively, Mejiro Ramonu gave a thin smile.
"It is all thanks to the perfect reference material you provided, Starlight-san. Let us eat, we shall head to the library together this afternoon."
As the words left her mouth, Mejiro Ramonu felt an icy-cool sensation on her cheek. Starlight had taken out a wet wipe and was gently dabbing the sweat from Ramonu's face.
"Thank you, Starlight..."
"It's nothing. I'll be relying on your help quite a bit in a moment, Ramonu-san."
After a simple lunch, Starlight followed Mejiro Ramonu to the library. They stayed until evening, when the sun gradually dyed the horizon red.
Mejiro Ramonu, sitting beside Starlight, finally closed the textbook in her hands.
"Alright. Your foundation is quite solid, Starlight. You should have no problem handling the exams for now."
"Really? Ramonu-san, love ya~!"
Reaching out to pat Starlight's head, Mejiro Ramonu's face was full of smiles.
"Would it be convenient to exchange contact information? Starlight... I would like to ask you to be my model again in the future."
"Of course! To be used as your painting material is more than I could ask for."
After packing her bag, Starlight bid farewell to Mejiro Ramonu at the library entrance and sprinted toward her dorm room, tugging at her school uniform.
"I'm going to take a shower and then stay in bed until noon tomorrow."
While walking along the path, Starlight took out her phone to check for any messages. The moment she turned it on, a barrage of notifications popped up.
[Mejiro McQueen requested to add you as a friend]
[Mejiro McQueen requested to add you as a friend]
[Mejiro McQueen requested to add you as a friend]
[Mejiro McQueen requested to add you as a friend]
...
[Daitaku Helios: Missed Voice Call]
[Mejiro Palmer: Missed Voice Call]
...
'Uh... what's going on?'
Divine Starlight: @Everyone, what happened?
Daitaku Helios: Yo! Look who's back from the missing persons list.
Mejiro Palmer: McQueen is looking for you, Starlight.
Mejiro Palmer: It seems like something urgent, she looked pretty anxious.
Daitaku Helios: She even went to your dorm room door.
Daitaku Helios: Seize the moment~
Divine Starlight: Stop it, Helios! I don't have those kinds of thoughts anymore.
Daitaku Helios: I totally get it~ Starlight!
Daitaku Helios: Even though I've fallen, you must step over my corpse and climb to the top!
Mejiro Palmer: [Shrugging speechlessly.jpg]
Mejiro Palmer: If she actually stepped on you, you'd be the one complaining.
Arriving at the dormitory hallway, Starlight saw the gray-haired Uma Musume from a distance, standing in front of her door with a look of deep resentment.
Tap, tap, tap...
Hearing the footsteps, Mejiro McQueen turned her head. The moment she made eye contact with Starlight, she stood with legs apart and pointed a finger at her.