"I remember I was hugging a kitten, I don't know why, why it turned into Senpai."
Scratching her cheek, Seiun Sky gave a sheepish laugh.
Click.
The door opened, and Starlight stepped out wearing a simple white graphic T-shirt. On her lower half was a black pleated skirt, paired with black calf socks and blue-and-white canvas shoes.
It was a very casual, everyday look.
Tidying the stray hairs on her forehead, Starlight stepped out from behind the door and said to the group with a smile, "Sorry for the wait. We can head out now."
Watching Starlight turn around to lock the door, Grass Wonder said smilingly, "Mm, Senpai was actually very fast. We didn't wait long at all."
"Um, Starlight-senpai, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened, I just... I just went and hugged you."
Turning around, Starlight looked at the dejected Seiun Sky and reached out to gently pat her head.
"It's alright. Maybe it's because Sky-chan's embrace was so warm that I couldn't resist hugging back."
"You forgive me?"
"I wasn't even angry to begin with. Alright, let's not just stand around here, let's talk while we walk."
"Yay! Finally, we're off!"
Haru Urara happily skipped ahead with El Condor Pasa. Grass Wonder and Seiun Sky followed at a leisurely pace on either side of Starlight.
"By the way, Senpai, don't those bangs feel uncomfortable like that?"
"They're okay. Do they bother you, Grass?"
"No, no, not at all. I just thought you might want to try a cuter hairstyle."
"Eh~ Actually, I can't really control these bangs. They only ever part during races or training. Other than that, no matter how I try to trim them with a hairdryer or scissors, they always end up back like this."
Hearing this, Grass Wonder covered her mouth in surprise. "Really? That's the first I've heard of something like that."
Beside them, Seiun Sky instinctively reached out to gently lift the other's bangs, revealing a golden eye. Then she let go.
"Feels pretty normal..."
Having said that, she forcibly parted Starlight's bangs again. The moment she let go, the stubborn white fringe gathered back together, covering the eyes once more.
"It really is true."
"Told you so. That's why I just have to leave it like this," Starlight said with a helpless shrug, not minding Seiun Sky's actions.
The five of them wandered around the shopping district for a long time, buying many things along the way.
Eventually, at the claw machine, Starlight managed to snag three Uma Musume plushies holding hands, thanks to a bit of luck.
Beside her, Haru Urara looked on with wide-eyed wonder. "Starlight-senpai is so amazing! Every time I try that, they all fall off as soon as the claw goes up."
"Hmph, I'm a pro gamer after all. Claw machines are basic skills."
Just as Starlight finished speaking, El Condor Pasa pulled a jumbo-sized plushie from the prize chute.
"Everyone, look! It's an extra-large Symboli Rudolf plushie~!!"
"Eh~ No way... I spent sixty tokens and only got three."
Seiun Sky couldn't believe it. Grass Wonder hadn't participated, but even Haru Urara had caught seven or eight.
While listening to the two of them brag, Starlight noticed Seiun Sky making that face again— the kind where she acted like she didn't care on the surface, but her eyes were full of disappointment.
If you went up to ask her, she'd just say: 'No way, I'm not interested in this kind of thing, how could I be sad? You're overthinking it.'
Shaking her head, Starlight walked over and spoke to Seiun Sky.
"Sky-chan, I still have a few tokens left. Let's try together. If we win, it counts as yours, okay?"
"Eh? Is that okay? I'm actually fine, three is enough. I don't really like them that much anyway..."
Her words were cut short as Starlight placed a finger against her lips.
"It's because I want to play with you. Will you keep me company?"
"...Since it's what Senpai wants, then I suppose I can accompany you."
"Thanks! These three plushies are for you— consider them a thank-you gift."
Stuffing the dolls into the other's arms, Starlight stepped ahead to the claw machine and turned back to beckon Seiun Sky over.
To be honest, Seiun Sky was a bit dazed.
What kind of person was Starlight
She was complex, sometimes she felt as lively as a younger sister, and other times she was as caring as an older sister.
Sometimes she seemed a bit ditzy, and she even had a touch of down-to-earth worldliness about her.
But there was no denying that being around her was comfortable.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Seiun Sky walked up with a smile. The hint of imperceptible sadness had long since faded from her lazy blue eyes, replaced by a few sparks of genuine joy.
At a Buffet Restaurant
Starlight held a slice of freshly baked pizza, closing her eyes in bliss as she enjoyed it.
"So delicious~"
"Hehe, I'm glad Starlight-senpai likes it! By the way, you have so many pets in your room, it's amazing!" Beside Starlight, Haru Urara spoke while sipping on her juice.
"Right? Did you raise all of them yourself? It's incredible— there were cats all over the bed," Grass Wonder added, resting her face in her hand with similar wonder.
"Ahaha... actually, the only ones I truly adopted were that ginger cat and the little Shiba Inu by the door. I have no idea where the other cats came from."
El Condor Pasa reached out with her chopsticks to snag a large piece of grilled meat, adding casually, "It must be that Senpai has some kind of special constitution that attracts animals. Even Mambo likes to fly over to you."
"That sounds so nice~ I want a constitution like that too. Just lying on a sun-drenched lawn, surrounded by a bunch of cats..." Seiun Sky rested her head on the table, several fish skeletons sitting on a plate beside her.
"Who knows? Maybe it really is something like that, haha."
'It's probably that "Nature's Blessing" thing acting up', Starlight thought.
The time spent playing was far too short. After the group finished lunch and took a brief stroll by the creek, curfew was already approaching.
Upon returning to the dorm, Starlight stretched luxuriously.
"Today was great. Being taken out by friends is way better than moping around in the dorm."
After changing her shoes, Starlight took some fresh clothes into the bathroom. She had just undressed and was about to shower when her phone on the sink suddenly rang.
The moment she answered, the first thing she heard was Daitaku Helios's loud voice.
"Yah-hoo! Starlight-chan~ Change of plans for tomorrow!"
"Hm? What happened?"
"Ardan can't make it again~ It's back to just the two of us! I was thinking the three of us could get our nails done and then go to karaoke, ugh."
(T/N: Looking back on the past chapters, I can't find anything that says that Ardan was going with Starlight and Helios. It looks like an author mistake.)
"Is that so? That's a shame. Is something big happening at the Mejiro house lately?"
"Oh~? Starlight, why are you so interested? Don't tell me you're worried about Mejiro McQueen???"
Hearing that, Starlight said speechlessly, "Hardly. Why would I care about her..."
"Look at you, being stubborn again. You confessed to her so many times, I know exactly how lovesick you are."
Taking a deep breath, Starlight said with a forced smile, "Think whatever you want. What's the plan for tomorrow? If there's nothing, I'm just going to sleep."
"There is! Of course there is! You still have to treat me to dessert. I'll come to your dorm tomorrow morning to find you. Don't oversleep! Bye-bye!"
Slowly putting down the phone after the call ended, Starlight went back to her business.
"Luckily, Helios is an exception. With my NPC aura, no one else should know I was the one who did those things... right?"