Inside the fitting room.
Starlight was dressed in a blue swimsuit adorned with black lace. Against the fabric, her skin— white as fresh snow— looked even more supple and radiant.
After admiring herself in the mirror for a while, she swapped it for a black piece with gold lace trim.
After comparing the two, Starlight changed back into her casual clothes and stepped out, addressing the shop assistant.
"I'll take both of them, thank you."
"Certainly, I'll pack them up for you right away."
Stepping out of the shop, Starlight looked at the absent-minded Mejiro McQueen beside her and suggested, "Next is the department store, right? Let's get going~"
"I know..."
The two maintained a subtle distance as they walked along the street. Just as they were about to enter the store, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind them to the right.
"My~ Starlight-chan, McQueen-chan~ what a coincidence— "
The two turned to look. an Uma Musume with sky-blue hair, wearing a white sundress and a sun hat, was walking slowly toward them.
Her grape-colored eyes shimmered in the soft sunlight, and a smile played on her lips.
"Ardan?!"
"Ardan-nee— "
"Mm... what a coincidence. Are you both preparing for the summer training camp as well?"
"Of course, we just finished buying swimsuits."
"Oh~? Starlight-chan, could I see what style you bought?"
"No problem, I actually bought two sets."
Mejiro Ardan stepped past Mejiro McQueen and came to Starlight's side, peeking into her bag.
"Oh! I feel like they both suit you perfectly. I'd love to see you wear them, you must look very beautiful."
"Aww, it's a pity you missed the show. But when we get back and you come over to my dorm to hang out, I'll put them on for you then."
"Really? I'm looking forward to it... By the way, may I join you?"
"No problem. What do you think, Mejiro-san?"
Starlight turned to Mejiro McQueen to ask. Looking at the silver-haired Uma Musume and then at Mejiro Ardan, McQueen nodded.
"...Fine, I have no objection."
Once the three of them entered the department store, Mejiro Ardan glanced between the two girls for a moment before speaking.
"Starlight-chan, how did you and McQueen end up out together?"
"Oh, that. McQueen is my temporary teammate for the training camp."
"How nice. It's a shame I don't have a temporary teammate for my camp."
"Really? If you're lonely, Ardan, you can come find us!"
"That's a lovely suggestion."
...
Listening to the two of them chatting and laughing, McQueen felt more and more like an outsider. Her brow furrowed, and she squeezed herself directly between the two of them.
"Ardan-nee... since when did you two get so close? I haven't heard you mention this at all."
"My, we've always had a good relationship, haven't we, Starlight-chan?"
"Mm, yes. Ardan has helped me many times in class."
"Wait? You two are in the same class!"
"Of course we are..."
With that, Ardan looped around to Starlight's other side and took her arm.
"Let's hurry. After we finish shopping, how about we go have afternoon tea together?"
"...No!"
Once again, the word slipped out reflexively. Mejiro Ardan narrowed her eyes and looked at Mejiro McQueen in confusion.
"Eh? Why not? Does McQueen have other things to do? It's alright, you can join us next time. Starlight and I will just go together."
After a hesitant glance at Mejiro Ardan, Mejiro McQueen frowned and said, "Her friends are coming in a bit. She already has plans."
Hearing McQueen's words, Ardan turned to Starlight and asked, "Is that true?"
"Nah, I'm totally free! Ardan-chan~ where should we go for tea?"
Hearing Starlight's reply, Mejiro McQueen was dumbfounded.
"Didn't you say you had plans with friends?!"
"Well... I mean, you know them both. It's Helios and Palmer."
"Oh! So it's Palmer and the others. That's great— the more, the merrier."
Pressing her hands together, Mejiro Ardan tilted her head slightly, looking quite expectant.
"Right~?"
"I still have things to do. I'm leaving first."
Lowering her head, Mejiro McQueen finished her sentence and turned to walk away. Looking at her departing back, Starlight finally spoke the thought that had been weighing on her mind.
"Mejiro-san is being a bit strange today. I wonder if there's some trouble at home, or if she's feeling unwell?"
"That shouldn't be the case. Within the family, McQueen has always been quite cheerful. She likely just has errands to run, which is why she left."
Taking Starlight's hand, Mejiro Ardan pointed toward a nearby shelf with a smile.
"Look at these towels! The patterns are so cute. Starlight-chan, let's buy a few."
"Okay!"
The scene shifts outside.
Mejiro McQueen walked down the street with a gloomy expression.
'That cursed Divine Starlight. She's definitely doing this on purpose.'
'That's right, iit must be because I publicly rejected her confession back then, so she's holding a grudge.'
'Stinky Starlight...'
"Eh? Isn't this McQueen!?"
Suddenly, a lively voice interrupted McQueen's thoughts. She looked up in confusion.
She saw Tokai Teio wearing a loose white T-shirt over a black camisole. In her hand, she carried a giant cup of a mysterious yellow beverage.
In an instant, Starlight was pushed to the back of her mind as Mejiro McQueen exclaimed in surprise:
"Tokai Teio?!"
"What a coincidence! I have another cup of Honey Drink here— do you want it?"
Running over, Tokai Teio handed over the extra cup.
"Ah, thank you, Teio."
Teio waved it off casually. "Aww, don't mention it! Speaking of which, it really is a coincidence to run into you here."
Noticing the shopping bags in McQueen's hand, Teio realized, "You're here to buy supplies for the training camp too, right?"
"Yes. Are you here for that as well?"
"Nope! I just came to buy drinks and go window shopping. Oh, wait! That's right!"
"You know how I was a temporary member for Team Rigil? The Student Council President transferred me to Trainer Kiryuu Inami's side."
"Huh?"
Seeing Mejiro McQueen's completely bewildered expression, Tokai Teio asked tentatively, "Are you... assigned there too?"
"Y-yes."
"What a coincidence! I heard Starlight-senpai's Trainer is Kiryuu Inami. That means I can be with Starlight-senpai during the training camp."
"Plus, I can find a chance to race her. Just thinking about it gets me pumped! Right, McQueen?"
"Mm... yes."
"What's wrong? You seem like you're in a really bad mood?"
Shaking her head, Mejiro McQueen gave a bitter smile. "It's nothing..."
And so, after fleeing from Starlight's side like a clown, Mejiro McQueen ran into Tokai Teio, and the two Uma Musume headed toward a nearby sweets shop.
Meanwhile, inside a certain cafe.
Starlight was leaning back in her chair, leisurely sipping tea, when her phone suddenly chirped with a special notification. She picked it up to see a message from Kiryuu Inami.
Seeing Starlight's expression turn quite... "colorful."
Mejiro Ardan asked curiously, "What is it, Starlight-chan?"
"No, it's just... I've gained another teammate for the training camp. I'm very happy."
"Eh? Isn't it usually one senior student paired with one junior? Why is there another one in your group?"
"It's Tokai Teio. She was transferred over by the President."
Now it was Mejiro Ardan's inner thoughts that became "colorful."
'The President... what exactly is her goal, transferring Tokai Teio to Starlight's side?'
It was the dark grasp of Symboli Rudolf at work again.
The holidays passed quickly, and the morning of the departure for the seaside training camp arrived.
The silver-haired Uma Musume finished packing her luggage and came down to the bottom of the dormitory building.
"Starlight-senpai!"