At the entrance of Tracen Academy.
A black-haired Uma Musume, dressed in the academy uniform, held a silver-haired girl in her arms.
Indeed, it was our Rice Shower and Starlight-chan.
The two Uma Musume had finished their camping trip yesterday, and this morning, Starlight happened to see Rice Shower waiting at her door when she pushed it open.
She had originally intended to go downstairs together with her, but she was overruled by Rice Shower.
"Because of Rice Shower, Starlight-chan's training time was delayed, so to help Starlight-chan recover quickly, Rice Shower will take care of her..."
The usually timid Rice Shower was incredibly firm at this moment, so Starlight had no choice but to comply with her request and be carried to Tracen.
This action was undoubtedly seen by many Uma Musume on their way to school.
Although Rice Shower rarely interacted with others on a daily basis, she was quite famous for ending others' Triple Crown dreams twice.
"Hey, look, is Starlight-chan actually being carried to school by Rice Shower?"
"Where, where? Oh! It's true, are they really that close..."
"Are they dating?"
Such voices inevitably began to spread.
Rice Shower didn't mind and was even happy to see this, and although she felt a bit shy when asked by classmates and others, she still tacitly accepted it.
However, Starlight was definitely flustered on her end.
Sitting in the classroom, she looked at the Uma Musume surrounding her and rubbed her forehead.
"Starlight-chan! Are you really dating Rice Shower-san?"
Mejiro Ardan leaned her hands on the desk, her eyes flickering with anxiety.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard from a junior that you were carried to school by her this morning, and you two even went camping by the sea before!"
Sakura Chiyono O stood to the left of Starlight.
"Starlight-chan... have you really already..."
Yaeno Muteki thought of something strange, and her expression became odd.
"Everyone, don't be so impatient. With so many questions at once, Starlight-chan won't be able to answer them..."
Fortunately, Super Creek stepped forward. She reached out to pat Starlight's head and smiled gently.
"It's okay, Starlight-chan, we can accept it. Just take your time and tell us~"
Facing the burning gazes of those around her, Starlight sighed and spoke helplessly.
"No, Rice Shower-chan and I are just good friends! We're not together like the rumors say, and... and nothing bad happened!"
As soon as these words were spoken, many Uma Musume secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Over in the Middle School Division.
After an Uma Musume handed a letter to Tokai Teio, she left through the back door with small steps.
She nervously opened the envelope, and after reading the contents, she let out a sigh of relief and walked over to the far right, where McQueen was.
"I told you Starlight-chan wouldn't get together with someone so easily! You can rest easy now!"
Taking the letter, McQueen's expression was very solemn.
"Hmm, even so... why are you so concerned, Teio? Do you like Starlight-chan too?"
"T-That's impossible. I've always looked up to Starlight as my most respected senpai!"
Squinting her eyes, McQueen slowly fanned herself with the letter.
Observing Teio's expression, she already had a rough idea in her heart.
"Alright, class is about to start. Let's talk more in the afternoon."
"Okay."
In the afternoon, inside the Tracen library.
Starlight stood in front of a bookshelf, looking for the book on space trivia she had read last time.
Before long, having located the book on the fifth row of the fourth shelf, she stood on her tiptoes and reached out to grab it.
Smack.
Another fair hand appeared, a size larger than Starlight's, appeared.
At the moment of contact, both pulled away as if struck by an electric shock.
Turning to look, she saw a white-haired Uma Musume wearing red semi-rimless glasses, looking every bit the model student.
"Ah, um, are you reading this one too?"
Adjusting her glasses, Biwa Hayahide's golden eyes looked at Starlight and she nodded.
"Yes. Recent geography classes have touched upon this kind of knowledge, so I was curious and wanted to expand on it."
"Then I'll let you have it. I'll go look for something else."
Starlight turned to leave the aisle, but seeing this, Biwa Hayahide reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"From your eyes, it seems you really wanted to read this book. I'm just curious as well, so if you don't mind, we can read it together."
Hearing this, Starlight turned to look at her and agreed without much thought.
In the hall's reading area, the two girls found a corner to sit in, and Starlight opened the book on the table.
"I've read some of it before..."
"Just go at your own pace, Starlight-chan? May I call you that...?"
"Of course, whatever you prefer~"
Since they were in the library, they spoke very softly.
Biwa Hayahide nodded and introduced herself.
"High School Division, Biwa Hayahide. Part of the BNW trio..."
"Mhm, I've heard of you. The three of you are participating in the Classic Races together~"
"That's true. Although I didn't win the Satsuki Sho, I'm determined to win the Derby this time."
Nodding, seeing her look so confident, Starlight smiled and suggested with narrowed eyes.
"How about we read first? We can talk more about other things once we're outside..."
"Ahem. My thoughts exactly..."
In the evening, McQueen returned to the Mejiro Manor in a luxury car.
Just as she was about to return to her room, she was suddenly called out to by Ardan, who was admiring flowers from a bench in the courtyard.
"McQueen-chan, you're back~"
"Yes, Ardan, good afternoon..."
Nodding, Mejiro Ardan stood up and walked slowly toward Mejiro McQueen, her tone calm.
"I have something to talk to you about. Can you come to my room for a moment?"
"No, I have strength training before dinner. Please excuse me..."
Seeing that McQueen had no intention of paying her any mind, Mejiro Ardan wasn't in a hurry and spoke slowly.
"Fine... then I'll just have to think for myself about spending a honeymoon with Starlight-chan at the Mejiro Manor..."
In an instant, McQueen's body froze.
She turned around quickly, looked at Mejiro Ardan's back, and stepped forward to grab her.
"What do you mean by that... Ardan?"
"Oh my, don't you have strength training? I won't bother you while you're alone then, since I have to think about what to do together after I bring Starlight over~"
Gently patting away her hand, Ardan smiled at McQueen and prepared to leave.
"Wait a moment, I think strength training can wait a little longer!"
Hearing this, a smile curled at the corners of Ardan's mouth, and she turned and waved.
"Then I'll have to trouble McQueen-chan to come with me~"
Nodding, Mejiro McQueen followed Ardan to her room.
As for what these two Uma Musume of the Mejiro Family discussed or planned, that remains unknown...
(T/N: Please check the Author's note at the end of the chapter.)