"Why am I... why am I on your lap...?"
"Hmm~ That's what I'd like to ask. I just woke up and found you lying across my legs."
"This— I— that is, I didn't do it on purpose! It must be the car's fault. Yes! Definitely the car's fault."
Nodding, Divine Starlight reached out to help tidy the other's hair and said with a smile, "So, when are you going to get up? We've arrived at our destination."
Hearing this, Mejiro McQueen scrambled to her feet in a panic and looked out the car window.
"Where are the others?"
"They've already headed to the dorms. Alright, tidy yourself up and catch up quickly."
With that, Divine Starlight pulled open the car door, leaving the still-dazed Mejiro McQueen behind.
She grabbed her own luggage and prepared to depart.
"Wait! Wait for me! I don't know the way— "
"There are signs over there, just look for yourself."
Without stopping her pace, Starlight walked away with total resolve.
Watching this scene, Mejiro McQueen couldn't help but pout. Though she was dissatisfied, she didn't say anything and could only get out of the car to hurry after her.
Fortunately, the suitcases had already been carried off by Inami and Teio. Since the two gray-haired Uma Musume had nothing to carry, McQueen easily caught up to Starlight's pace.
"Hey..."
"What is it?"
"I... I want to apologize to you."
"? For what...?" Starlight tilted her head in confusion.
"I really shouldn't have rejected you in public and made you lose face. We could have communicated privately. You must still hold a grudge against me, right? I'm sorry."
Starlight's eyes froze for a moment. Looking at the apologizing McQueen, she felt a bit at a loss.
'Why was she apologizing? Wasn't this whole situation normal?'
Besides, McQueen had been dealing with her predecessor's ultimate simp behavior. It's only natural to reject her.
Then, a thought occurred to Starlight, and she finally realized the context.
'I am a "filly," and the other person is a "colt."'
"This matter wasn't your fault to begin with. There's no need to apologize, McQueen-san. Perhaps no one was at fault, or perhaps it was mine. In short, I don't hold a grudge against you in my heart."
"Then... why is there such a barrier between me and you, when there isn't one with the other Uma Musume?"
"I just don't want you to be subjected to gossip. After all, you are from a prestigious family and are meant to restore its glory."
These words were very familiar, they were the exact reasons Mejiro McQueen used every time she rejected the predecessor's confessions.
But now, hearing them from Starlight, they sounded incredibly piercing to McQueen's ears.
"I... you won't affect that. The glory of the family should be carried by my own strength and hard work, not by someone external like you. My previous words were biased."
"And... we can start as friends..."
Hearing this, Starlight quickly reached out to interrupt her.
"I no longer have that kind of mindset, McQueen-san. I also have no intention of seeking out a 'fairy tale romance' anymore."
"Right now, this is an adventure story where the protagonist is named Divine Starlight. I will fulfill my inner vision and become the best in the world. Everything else can wait..."
The determination in Starlight's eyes was just as resolute as when she had thrown the flowers last time.
And so, Mejiro McQueen stood dazed outside the dormitory door, watching the silhouette of the other girl walk inside until she disappeared.
"I... but..."
At this moment, Mejiro McQueen realized just how massive the gap was between her resolve and Starlight's.
She clenched her fists, and her gaze became determined as well.
"She's right. Everything else can wait. I should also focus on my own career."
However, there was still a great deal of unwillingness and other complex emotions lingering in her heart.
From time to time, she recalled the image of Mejiro Ardan approaching Starlight when they went to buy swimsuits last time.
McQueen could clearly perceive that in Ardan's eyes, there were other, different intentions.
There was also the stark contrast between how Starlight treated the other Uma Musume and how she treated McQueen herself.
"Divine Starlight, you are such a hateful person..."
The afternoon sun was scorching hot. In the distance, the sea shimmered with light, while nearby, the rolling waves crashed against the sandy beach.
A gentle breeze brushed past the silhouettes of three Uma Musume on the shore.
"Keep it up! McQueen, don't fall behind! Keep pace with Starlight and Teio!" Inami shouted, holding a stopwatch in one hand and a megaphone in the other.
'Senpai! What incredible footwork! Even on the sand, she's so light on her feet.'
Following behind Starlight, Tokai Teio looked at the footprints left in the sand with amazement. There was only a thin trace of the forefoot, so faint that the wind might blow them away the next second.
In contrast, her own Teio Step, which she took such pride in, felt heavy and clumsy on the sandy terrain.
Both Uma Musume were giving their all to the training.
Mejiro McQueen, however, was somehow looking quite distracted. Sweat trickled down her cheeks. Seeing the figures ahead of her gradually pulling away, she gritted her teeth and tried to charge forward.
But this wouldn't do. Lacking focus during sand training— a surface her leg type was not suited for— was an invitation for an accident.
As expected, within a few steps, Mejiro McQueen's foot slipped, and she tumbled directly onto the ground.
Thud.
The sound from behind made Starlight and Teio stop in their tracks. Turning around to see McQueen on the ground, the two hurried over to check on her.
Not far away, Inami didn't say a word, she grabbed the prepared medical kit and ran over.
"McQueen-chan, what happened? Is your leg okay?" Teio knelt down, asking with concern.
Mejiro McQueen clutched her left ankle, her eyes darting away. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me, keep training."
"She's right. Starlight, Teio, you two finish this set first, otherwise you won't keep up with the schedule. Leave things here to me."
Arriving on the scene, Inami quickly knelt and opened the medical kit to begin treating McQueen's injury.
Seeing this, the other two Uma Musume nodded and returned to their training.
"What's going on, McQueen-san? Since you chose to train, you need to stay focused. I noticed you've been distracted for a while now."
"No, it's nothing, Trainer Inami."
"Sigh... fine. Since you won't say, I won't ask. I've checked it, and fortunately, the injury isn't serious. I'll spray some medicine on it, go rest over there."
"...Yes, I understand."
As time passed, the sun slowly dipped, dyeing the entire horizon crimson. Divine Starlight and Tokai Teio walked back from the distance, drenched in sweat.
"Wow~ Senpai, how on earth do you do it? You can generate so much power using that posture!"
"Well, that's a secret tactic of mine. I can't tell you~"
"Eh~ how can you be like that!"
"Maybe you can figure it out yourself in the future."
Looking at Mejiro McQueen sitting under the parasol, Starlight froze for a moment.
[Option 1: Ignore her and let Teio help Mejiro McQueen.]
[Option 2: Pick up McQueen and carry her toward the restaurant.]
"Everyone, I've booked a restaurant. Let's have dinner there."
"Yay! Senpai, McQueen, let's go!"
Nodding, Starlight looked at Mejiro McQueen, whose ears were drooping, and stepped forward to pick her up directly.
"Wait— Wait! I can walk by myself! Don't carry me!!"
By the time she snapped out of it, Mejiro McQueen's face was already flushed crimson with embarrassment, and she began to protest frantically.
To be carried by a filly like this... this was just too much...
"Teio, let's hurry, or the food will get cold."
"Oh— Oh! Okay, Senpai!!"