In the early morning, a hazy light filtered into the room. The horizon was still somewhat dim.
The sound of rustling cloth caused Mejiro McQueen to frown. She rubbed her eyes and emerged from her futon.
Seeing a dark figure nearby getting dressed and tidying their bedding, McQueen asked in confusion:
"Why are you up so early?"
Turning around, Divine Starlight took out her phone and tapped the screen. The fluorescent glow illuminated her face.
"It's already late, I should be warming up by now."
With that, Starlight stood up, walked to the door, and put on her running shoes.
"You can wait for the trainer to call you. Sleep a bit longer."
Gently pushing open the wooden door, Divine Starlight stepped out.
Watching this scene, Mejiro McQueen gradually woke up fully. After a moment of consideration, her gaze sharpened.
She also got up, quickly changed her clothes, folded her quilt, put on her running shoes, and hurriedly followed.
In the early morning, the sound of rolling waves drifted over to the small stone-paved path. Divine Starlight was doing a light warm-up jog.
Da-da-da—
Footsteps approached from behind, followed by Mejiro McQueen's voice ringing in her ear.
"Do you start training at this hour?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Is it always like this?"
"Not exactly. On Saturdays, I sleep in a little."
Starlight's voice was soft and gentle, carried toward McQueen by the sea breeze.
McQueen's eyes flickered with a start as she recalled the time she went to find Starlight on a day off.
'If she's always up at this time on training days, then when I went to see her last time, didn't I disturb her rest...'
The critical words she had said about Starlight "sleeping in" echoed in her ears.
'I didn't just interrupt her only chance to rest, I even... I even said those things.'
'Wasn't I just denying all her hard work?'
Stepping forward a few paces, she came alongside Divine Starlight. Adjusting her own pace, Mejiro McQueen asked:
"Then, regarding what I said in your room the day before yesterday... why didn't you argue with me?"
"I think you were right. Thank you for the reminder, McQueen. I'll keep working hard from now on."
Lowering her head, McQueen's face turned slightly red— whether from the warm-up or something else, she wasn't sure.
Her ears drooped as she fell silent, simply following Starlight to complete the morning exercise.
"Ahh, you guys are so mean! Training secretly without calling me!"
By mid-morning, the sun had risen and it was starting to get a bit hot. Tokai Teio pointed at Starlight and McQueen, looking displeased.
"Sorry, sorry. Teio-chan was sleeping so soundly, and you looked so cute. I couldn't bear to wake you up~"
Starlight reached out with a grin and rubbed Teio's head.
"Teio-chan? Why do you call her that?"
"What's wrong? I think it's quite cute when Senpai calls me that," Tokai Teio said, looking at Mejiro McQueen with confusion.
"I think it's fine, 'Teio-chan' is a very cute nickname."
"Then what about me?"
Seeing Mejiro McQueen pointing at herself expectantly, Starlight lowered her head and thought for a moment.
"McQueen-chan?"
"...Fine, that works."
After completing two sets of strength training, Kiryuu Inami walked over slowly, flipping through a clipboard. She smiled and said to the three of them:
"You're all in great form today. Very good. There are two sets left. Keep it up!"
Watching the three of them train, Inami couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
A few months ago, she was still sitting at the same table as Ryu Nishizaki, now, she was a trainer with her own Uma Musume to lead.
'Even though Nishizaki is also leading three Uma Musume now...'
"Hey! You almost hit my head just now!"
Vodka pointed at Daiwa Scarlet and shouted, looking shaken.
Unfazed, Daiwa Scarlet took off her black blindfold, swung the bat in her hand, and shrugged.
"Your directions were wrong. The watermelon was clearly in that direction."
"You've got to be kidding. I was pointing exactly that way, and you charged straight at me!"
Having been caught, Daiwa Scarlet turned her head away and began to whistle tunelessly.
"You're finished, Daiwa Scarlet!"
"Calm down! I didn't do it on purpose!"
...
Under a parasol not far away, Ryu Nishizaki reclined on a lounge chair, a glass of iced fruit juice in his hand. Beside him, Gold Ship was busy building a sand fortress.
It was safe to say that these four weren't really there for the training camp, they were definitely there for a vacation.
Further down the beach, the Rigil team looked much more professional.
The veteran members stood in a row with the newcomers behind them, all of them enthusiastically breaking a sweat.
Tojo Hana glanced at Symboli Rudolf, who had already finished her assigned tasks, and gave her a nod.
"Since you've completed your duties, go ahead and take care of your business."
"Understood, Trainer."
Wiping the sweat from her brow, Rudolf— clad in a black swimsuit— slowly walked back toward the dormitories.
After a quick shower to wash off the salt and sweat, she dried herself off and turned to Mr. C.B., who was nearby.
"Are you coming with me?"
"Of course. It's a scorching day, non-stop training gets a bit dull, doesn't it?" With a wave of her hand, Mr. C.B. spoke with a carefree and unrestrained air, her emerald eyes full of life.
Back with Starlight, she had already changed out of her training gear.
She was now wearing a blue and white lace-trimmed swimsuit. Her figure was elegantly curved, and her skin was as white as snow, especially her silver hair, which seemed to emit a faint glow under the sunlight.
"Now that we're at the beach, it's much more comfortable to wear a swimsuit~"
Behind her stood Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio, whose figures were slightly less developed.
The two Uma Musume were genuinely stunned by Starlight's appearance.
Squish, squish.
While Starlight was enjoying the sun, she suddenly felt a small pinch of flesh at her waist.
"Oh~ Starlight-chan, you've put on quite a bit of weight recently..." Kiryuu Inami said with a mischievous grin.
Starlight's face turned bright red instantly. She slapped Inami's hand away and scrambled back a few steps.
"Trainer! I— I didn't get fat. This is just how I look, okay?!"
"Haha, alright, alright. The exhausting morning training is over, next up is the leisure and entertainment segment."
Inami pulled out a volleyball and addressed the three Uma Musume. "You'll split into two groups for a volleyball match."
"How are we supposed to split up? There are only three of us," Mejiro McQueen asked, puzzled.
"Wouldn't it be fine if I joined in as well?"
The sudden voice made everyone freeze. A drop of cold sweat appeared on Inami's face.
"Sym... Symboli Rudolf! What are you doing here?"
"President! You actually came!"
Seeing Rudolf and Mr. C.B. walking toward them, Tokai Teio ran over happily. Rudolf patted Teio's head and waved her hand dismissively.
"I came over to see how Teio is doing."
"I see, ahaha, everything is going smoothly here."
'I knew it,' Inami thought. 'The moment the Student Council President assigned Tokai Teio to my care, I knew she'd show up.'
Shifting her gaze from Teio, Rudolf narrowed her eyes as she looked at Divine Starlight. With a slight curl of her lips, she turned to Mr. C.B.
"Are you in? For the volleyball match."
"Of course. I wouldn't dream of turning down something this interesting."
Nodding, Rudolf looked at Kiryuu Inami. "In that case, Trainer Inami, since there are five of us now, how about I handle the team split?"
"Ah, haha, no problem, no problem at all. Please, after you— "
"Hmph, here comes the big official..." Starlight muttered.
"What did you say?"
Rudolf turned toward Divine Starlight and asked with feigned confusion.
"No— nothing, President. I'm just very surprised, I didn't expect you to come."
"You look quite unhappy about it~"
"No, I'm certainly very happy that the President could make it."
Rudolf nodded and couldn't help but chuckle. "Since you're so happy, how about the two of us form a team?"