Inside a private room of a seaside restaurant.
Starlight carried McQueen to her seat and settled her down, then looked up at the dazed Inami.
"Inami-chan, we're ready for the food to be served."
"Oh, right! You guys sit and chat for a bit, I'll go talk to the server."
After the Trainer left, the three Uma Musume fell into a rather awkward atmosphere.
Fortunately, the lively Teio was the first to speak up.
"Whoa~ Today's training was incredible! Senpai, is it always this intense for you?"
Hearing this, Starlight lowered her head slightly to glance at the settings on her wristband.
"Yeah, maybe even a bit higher than this."
"So cool! I'll work hard to keep up tomorrow too. By the way, what was up with McQueen today? She seemed so preoccupied."
"No, it's nothing. You're overthinking it."
"Alright then..."
A notification rang, and Tokai Teio shifted her attention to her phone. Meanwhile, Starlight looked at the virtual screen in front of her.
[System Detection: Option 2 confirmed. Reward: Red Skill: Universal Salvation.]
[Red] Universal Salvation: During the late stage of the race, this can be cast on Uma Musume leading ahead of you. Maximum of two targets.
Skill Effect: Causes the targeted Uma Musume to fall into a brief state of confusion.
'Nice! That makes one red, one blue, and one gold skill each.'
It took Mejiro McQueen a long time to finally calm her heart. Looking up, she saw the two Uma Musume beside her: One giggling at her phone, and the other just giggling at nothing.
Shaking her head, she reached her small hand under the table and gave Starlight's thigh a sharp pinch.
A piercing pain shot through Starlight, causing her expression to instantly contort.
"Hiss~"
Tokai Teio looked up from her screen and asked in confusion, "Senpai, what's wrong?"
"No, nothing. I just... tweaked my back a bit."
As if her phone held some ultimate allure, Tokai Teio didn't think too much of it and lowered her head again.
Divine Starlight: What are you doing!
Mejiro McQueen: Who told you to carry me? I said I could walk on my own.
Divine Starlight: I just saw you were moving so slowly...
Mejiro McQueen: It was embarrassing, okay? Next time you get hurt, I'm going to carry you back.
Divine Starlight: ...Uh, fine. If I get hurt, I'll just lie on the ground and wait for you, okay?
Mejiro McQueen: Thank you.
Setting her phone down, Divine Starlight looked at Mejiro McQueen beside her in surprise.
"What did you say?"
"I said... thank you."
"Oh, you're welcome."
On the other side, Symboli Rudolf, who had just arrived at the summer training camp site, was sitting on a balcony chair.
Rudolf: Teio, have you reached your destination?
Teio: Yay! It's the President! We've arrived. Have you?
Rudolf: I'm almost there, though it might take a little longer.
Rudolf: How was your afternoon?
Teio: Super happy! Senpai took me and McQueen training with her.
Teio: The only bad part is that McQueen accidentally got hurt, though luckily it's not too serious.
Rudolf: Is that so? It does sound like a pleasant afternoon.
Rudolf: If I have the chance, I'll stop by to see you tomorrow.
Teio: What! Really? President, are you really coming?
Rudolf: Of course.
Putting her phone down, Rudolf looked out at the distant sea view, the moonlight reflected on the surface of the water.
The image of Starlight training gradually surfaced in her mind.
"Starting training the moment you arrive? Impressive."
That night, after dinner.
Walking on the way back, Teio looked at the limping Mejiro McQueen and spoke up.
"Maybe I should help support you, McQueen?"
"No need, Teio. I feel much better already."
Upon returning to the dorm room, Starlight changed into her bathrobe and said to the two of them, "I'm going to take a bath first."
"Wait for me, Senpai— "
Seeing this, Teio quickly quickened her pace, flipped open her suitcase to grab a change of clothes, and followed after her. Behind them, Mejiro McQueen's lip twitched at the sight.
"Sigh..."
With a heavy sigh, she slowly followed behind.
The training camp was located at a seaside resort leased by Tracen Academy. Consequently, the dormitories were charming wooden cabins, similar to the kind one stays in during a vacation.
Naturally, besides Starlight and her two fellow Uma Musume, many other Uma Musume were staying there as well.
Pushing open the door to the public bath, a wave of billowing white steam rushed out. After blinking a few times to adjust, Starlight and Tokai Teio slowly stepped inside.
"Yay! Starlight-senpai~"
Suddenly, a pink figure lightly brushed against Starlight's arm.
"Haru Urara, good evening~"
"Good evening! What a coincidence, Senpai, you're here too!"
"Yes. Which room are you staying in? We should hang out when we have time."
"302! I'm staying with Narita Top Road-senpai."
"Narita Top Road... Oh, right, I remember now."
She was an Uma Musume with short platinum-blonde hair— very ambitious and excellent in her studies.
She was exactly the kind of "model child" parents would always compare their own kids to.
"Where is she?"
"Top Road-senpai seems to have finished her bath already, she ran out of here earlier."
"I see. Well, Urara, do you want to join us?"
"Sure, sure! I just got in myself."
Mejiro McQueen slowly walked in at that moment, glancing at Starlight and the others standing ahead. She let out a sigh of relief and tried to quicken her pace to catch up.
However, the floor was covered in puddles, making it inevitably slippery. She lost her footing and was about to tumble again.
Suddenly, a hand reached out and steadied her.
Regaining her composure, Mejiro McQueen looked up. Those hexagram-star eyes were particularly striking amidst the mist.
"As I thought, you really do need a hand. If you fall again, you won't be able to train tomorrow. McQueen..."
Tokai Teio picked up the other girl's basin and towel, nodding in agreement.
"That's right, McQueen. Rely on your friends a bit more~"
"Friends..."
McQueen glanced at Tokai Teio, then shifted her gaze back to Divine Starlight.
"Oh, so McQueen is injured! I was wondering why you guys were moving so slowly. Do you need my help?"
Urara, already leaning back in the bath, turned her head and asked after realizing what was happening.
"No need, Teio and I have it covered."
After a simple, relaxing soak, the three Uma Musume returned to their room. While laying out the futons, they chatted idly.
"Eh? You want me to sleep in the middle?" Starlight asked, looking at the arrangement of the bedding.
"Of course! Don't worry, Senpai, McQueen and I will both protect you."
"Oh~ How gallant. Thanks, Teio." Starlight smiled, reaching out to pat Teio's head.
"Wait, the President is calling. I'm going to take this outside."
"Alright."
Clutching her phone, Tokai Teio happily ran out of the room. Now, only Divine Starlight and Mejiro McQueen remained in the dorm.
"Um, Star... Starlight?"
Starlight, who was changing into her pajamas, responded reflexively to the hesitant inquiry. "What is it?"
"Are we... friends now?"
"Eh? Was McQueen-san lying before when she said she wanted to make friends?"
"Ah? No, I wasn't lying... Is that so? So that's how it is."
"What else would it be? Even though I no longer have those kinds of thoughts, I'm still very happy to be friends with you."
Turning around, Starlight tilted her head and smiled. After speaking, she slid into her futon and put on her sleep mask, ready to drift off.
Having finished applying her medicine, Mejiro McQueen also crawled into her bedding. She stared at the ceiling lamp for a long while.
Then, her gaze sharpened as she spoke.
"Divine Starlight."
"Mmm... yes..." came a drowsy voice.
"I will defeat you on the racecourse in the future."
"I look forward to that day..."
Creeak.
The door was pushed open. Seeing that the two Uma Musume were already tucked in and ready for sleep, Tokai Teio said with some frustration:
"Are you sleeping this early? I wanted to play some games or cards or something!"