At the entrance of the Tracen cafeteria.
Seiun Sky walked slowly toward the dorms with her hands clasped behind her head. Walking beside her was Nishino Flower, who was slightly shorter, with black short hair and lavender eyes.
Behind the two was a beaming Haru Urara. With her pink hair and cherry-blossom-shaped pupils, she looked exceptionally energetic.
"Sigh... today's classes were just as boring as ever."
"I thought they were pretty interesting! Especially when the teacher did an experiment on stage!"
"Huh? Urara, your class actually has lab sessions?"
"Yeah! Doesn't your class have them, Sky-chan?"
"No... my teacher just talks the whole time. The only 'action' is turning pages. It's boring to death, and since I sit in the very front, I can't even sneak a nap."
"Haha, Sky-chan, the race is coming up soon. It's not good to be so lazy." Nishino Flower giggled, covering her mouth.
"Oh, don't worry. I've looked over the entry list carefully. There are almost no strong opponents. My Trainer even said this one's a carry game."
"That's so nice~ I wonder when I'll manage to make a successful debut."
"Soon! Urara, you work so hard, I bet you'll succeed in no time."
"You're right! But even if I fail, it's okay— I'll just start over again~!" Urara pumped her fist with enthusiasm.
Stretching her limbs and feeling the warmth of the sun, Seiun Sky let out a yawn and waved her hand.
"Anyway, I'm going to sleep first. I have training this afternoon."
"Okay, see you later, Sky-chan. Urara and I are going to the convenience store to pick up a few things."
The two parted ways with Seiun Sky and headed toward the school exit. Meanwhile, Seiun Sky, whose eyes had been half-closed, slowly opened them. Her sky-blue eyes flashed with a sharp, shrewd light.
'Basically, I'll just train as usual, or maybe I'll go check out the competition. If anyone looks troublesome, I'll just have to ask the Trainer for some extra help.'
The Trainer's Office.
Divine Starlight carefully pulled the door open and stepped inside. She felt a bit like an elementary school student who had been called to the principal's office for no reason.
Seeing Kiryuu Inami resting face-down on her desk in the corner, Starlight slowed her pace and walked over. Stray hairs from Inami's forehead rested messily on the desk, right next to the glasses she usually wore.
The "pillow" Inami was using consisted of sheet after sheet of discarded drafts— training programs filled with plans and schedules.
It was clear that she had been working tirelessly to refine Starlight's training plan, seeking to maximize the results.
Unfortunately, it seemed she hadn't settled on a final version yet.
Starlight didn't wake her. She simply stood to the side and waited silently.
Time passed, and after a while, the office door pushed open. Tojo Hana walked in with measured steps. She was momentarily stunned when she saw Starlight, but she recovered quickly.
"Are you Trainer Inami's Uma Musume?"
"Yes, I am."
"What is it? Do you have something specific you need from her?"
"No, it's just time for training, so I came to find her."
Hearing this, Hana Tojo lifted her wrist to check her watch. "Starting training now? Most Uma Musume are still in the cafeteria eating lunch."
"Well, the race is next month. I have to make the most of every second."
"That's true. But why didn't you wake her up?"
"Um, the Trainer looks pretty tired, so I wanted to wait for her to wake up on her own."
Their conversation wasn't loud, but it was enough to rouse Inami from her slumber. She let out a soft groan and slowly opened her weary eyes.
"Ah... Starlight? When did you get here?"
"Just arrived. Did you sleep well, Inami-chan? If you're still tired, you can rest a bit longer."
"No need, no need! Let's head to the training field."
Rubbing her eyes, Inami didn't hesitate to grab her jacket from the back of the chair and throw it on. She scooped up the documents from her desk and hurriedly walked out.
"Alright then."
Once the two had left the office, Tojo Hana, who had been watching them the entire time, stood up. She glanced at the mountain of discarded drafts on Inami's desk and recalled the exchange between the trainer and her Uma Musume.
Hana let out a faint sigh.
"Although helping another Uma Musume isn't exactly great for my own team... I don't believe Divine Starlight can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the girls on my roster."
"...I'll just consider it a bit of guidance for a junior."
Pushing up her glasses, Hana stood up. She grabbed her tablet and stylus and walked over to Inami's workstation. After quickly noting down some information, she headed outside to where the pair was training.
In truth, Hana wasn't looking down on Starlight, she was simply stating a fact
. Based on Starlight's various data points and natural talent, no matter how hard she worked, it was nearly impossible for her to catch up to the geniuses on her own team.
Of course, this was also a validation of her own status as a top-tier trainer— and a testament to her confidence in the strength of the Uma Musume in Team Rigil.
Standing a short distance away, Tojo Hana watched Inami and Starlight work hard, carefully recording observations on her tablet. Beside her, at some point, Ryu Nishizaki had wandered over, sucking on a lollipop.
"It's rare to see you so invested in someone else."
Tojo glanced at him briefly before returning to her work. "I just saw a hardworking junior and wanted to give some guidance. I'd hate for her to turn into a disappointment like you."
"Tsk, your tongue is as sharp as ever."
"It's not sharp, it's a statement of fact. You truly are a disappointment."
"Fine, fine, I can't win an argument against you. Same place tonight?"
"Heh, do you have any money?"
"What's that supposed to mean? I can at least afford a round of drinks, okay?"
"Fine then. Same place tonight."
After a long while, when Starlight finished her first phase of training and approached Inami, Tojo watched the girl wipe her sweat while laughing and chatting with her trainer. Suddenly, she asked:
"Do you think she'll succeed?"
"Well, it's hard to say... but every now and then, a piece of gold shines out from a pile of sand."
"Perhaps."
"Trainer-san!!!! Look! I brought two Uma Musume over— remember to treat me to BBQ!"
Suddenly, Gold Ship's voice rang out from behind them. Turning around, Ryu Nishizaki's eyes lit up the moment he saw the two Uma Musume following her.
"Hahaha! My turning point has arrived!"
One was a red-haired girl with twin tails and a... "formidable" presence in the chest area. The other was a heroic-looking girl with black hair whose "strength" in that department was a few levels lower.
One had her arms crossed, while the other had a hand on her hip. They both looked like they might be a handful.
"You better take it seriously this time, Ryu Nishizaki. Don't be like before."
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry. I have a plan in mind."
"I say, Gold Ship, are you sure this guy is reliable? He looks like a total loser," Daiwa Scarlet said, frowning in suspicion.
"Hey, relax. You guys didn't have anywhere else to go anyway, so just give it a shot."
While Nishizaki was negotiating with his two new star recruits, Tojo Hana had finished a rough draft of a training program.
"It's almost time. I'll send this to her tonight. I need to go look after my own girls first."
With that, she looked toward the other side of the field. Led by Symboli Rudolf, the members of Team Rigil were slowly approaching.