Around nine o'clock the next morning.
Starlight was still nestled in her blankets, savoring the tranquility that only a dream could bring.
Knock, knock, knock!
A violent pounding erupted at the door, successfully waking Starlight along with every small animal in the room.
The ginger cat sleeping on top of her even vaulted into the air with its fur bristling, before tumbling onto the floor.
"Meow~~!!"
"Woof! Woof!!"
By the door sat a small cardboard box tipped on its side. Inside, it was stuffed with cotton and covered with two layers of unraveled sweaters. Beside the box was a metal bowl.
This was the residence of our little "Kameda-kun." Though it was simple, he was quite happy there— at the very least, he always greeted Starlight's return with a wagging tail.
"Coming, I'm coming..."
The moment she spoke, the knocking ceased. After sliding into her slippers, Starlight walked slowly to the door.
The instant she pulled the wooden door open, a black and blue blur lunged inside.
"Yay! Good morning, Starlight-chan! Did you miss me~?"
Daitaku Helios performed a few lively dance steps, ending with a cute pose.
"Good morning, Helios. Of course I missed you."
Letting out a yawn, Starlight reached out to pat the other's head before shuffling back toward her bed.
"Eh? Did you stay up late last night? You look like you can barely keep your eyes open."
"No, I just simply want to sleep."
"Wow, you have so many cats in your room! And there's a little dog here too. So cool! Starlight-chan— hey, wait, why are you climbing back into bed!?"
After finishing her admiration of the room, Helios's gaze fell upon Starlight, who was currently trying to burrow back into her nest.
Helios immediately rushed over and grabbed her around the waist, attempting to haul her out.
"Nooo! Come out right now! We're supposed to go out and play!"
"Let me sleep for two more minutes... just two more minutes— "
The morning began with the two girls' tug-of-war on the bed.
After changing clothes and stepping out of the bathroom, Starlight looked over at Helios, who was crouching down playing with the little Shiba Inu.
"I'm ready. Let's go."
"Heck yeah! Let's move out!"
At a Bustling Plaza
The two Uma Musume, Starlight and Helios, were strolling leisurely through the streets.
"Starlight, look, look! Isn't this earring totally fire!?"
Helios leaned in close to Starlight, tapping the accessory on her horse ear. It was a small, icy-blue pearl wrapped in a delicate chain.
"Oh~ it suits you perfectly."
"Hehe, right? My aesthetic is pretty much— "
Halfway through her sentence, Starlight saw her freeze in place. She was about to ask what was wrong when Helios cut her off.
"Shh! Don't say a word, just follow me."
Helios grabbed Starlight's hand. Just as she was about to pull her in a certain direction, time around them came to a standstill.
The familiar options appeared before Starlight's eyes:
[Option 1: No way, no way! Didn't we agree to go to the dessert shop?]
[Option 2: Follow her and see what's up. Maybe there's a surprise.]
"I'll go with Option 2."
As the time-stop ended, Starlight allowed herself to be pulled along.
"Where are we going?"
They walked for a while, and just as Starlight asked the question, Helios stopped at a corner, pulling Starlight back with her.
Starlight watched as the Uma Musume crouched down, cautiously peeking her head around the corner to look into the distance. Starlight leaned against her and peeked out as well.
Taking a closer look, Starlight immediately understood what was happening.
Not far ahead, Daiichi Ruby was walking with elegant strides, a black handbag in her hand. Beside her was an Uma Musume with soft, sky-blue short hair and a gentle expression like polished jade. She was thoughtfully holding an umbrella over Ruby.
The two of them would occasionally lock eyes and share a laugh, the atmosphere between them was undeniably wonderful.
Helios's grip on the wall tightened. She whispered to Starlight behind her, "Let's follow them, Starlight-chan..."
"Eh? Wait, slow down!"
And so, the two of them began a game of cat-and-mouse, ducking and weaving through the crowds. Finally, after seeing those two figures enter a café, Helios spoke up immediately.
"Let's go! Starlight-chan, we're going in too!"
"Helios, you simp, please let go. You're about to drag me into the dirt."
"Ah, sorry, sorry! I got a bit ahead of myself," Helios apologized, quickly releasing her tight grip on Starlight's hand.
Even so, her eyes remained glued to the café ahead.
Adjusting her clothes, Starlight shook her head helplessly. "Fine, let's go inside and take a look."
Inside the Café
At a table near the window:
"Ruby, why don't you decide what we should drink?"
K.S. Miracle pushed the menu gently toward the other girl, her voice soft and tender.
"Mm, there is no need for such formality, Miracle-san. Whatever you're having is fine with me."
"Is that so? Then how about some clear flower tea? The weather is getting a bit warm, after all."
"That would be perfect."
About two or three tables away:
Daitaku Helios was peering through a gap in the partition, staring intently at Ruby's table. Sitting across from her, Starlight didn't pay much mind to the spying.
Instead, she picked up the menu and looked it over carefully, ordering a tea set and an iced coconut latte.
While waiting, she looked up at the girl in front of her, who was currently kneeling on her chair, tail swishing as she eavesdropped.
"Helios, is this really okay?"
"Hush! Don't worry about that, shh— they're about to speak."
...
"How does it taste?" K.S. Miracle asked after watching Ruby take a small sip of her tea.
"Mm~ it's smooth and refreshing. The flavor is indeed quite good."
"I've always been fond of the flower tea here. I'm relieved to hear you like it too."
"Everyone has their own tastes."
"By the way, Ruby, it's rare to see you wearing a different hair accessory today. It gives you a different aura."
Having clearly seen the earring on Ruby's ear, Helios began waving her hands frantically at Starlight.
"Did you see that, Starlight!? My Lady is wearing the earring I gave her! She does have me in her heart!"
Starlight took a sip of her latte and scooped up a spoonful of pudding, waving her hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, that's great."
However, before Helios could enjoy her joy for long, Ruby's calm voice made her freeze instantly.
"Oh, this? I was just in a hurry to see you and put it on at random. Does it not look good?"
"It looks fine. More importantly, you look good in anything you wear."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"By the way, would you like to try this new one I bought? I feel like this style matches your aura perfectly." K.S. Miracle pulled a crescent moon-shaped hair accessory from her bag.
"I would love to."
"Then, allow me to put it on for you."
Back at the other table:
Starlight looked up and was a bit bewildered to see Helios sitting completely motionless.
"Helios? Helios... what's wrong?"
Seeing no reaction, Starlight stood up, walked over to her, and gently tapped her on the shoulder. There was no verbal response— only the sound of faint, muffled sobbing.
"Are you okay? Helios..." Starlight asked with concern, her brow furrowing.
"Waaaaah..."
Daitaku Helios slowly turned her head to look at Starlight.
Pfft...
Helios's face was all scrunched up, the corners of her mouth turned down, and her eyes were drenched in tears.
The expression was honestly quite hilarious. Starlight did her best to hold it in, though, since the girl was clearly heartbroken.
'Forgive me for my unkind laughter, Helios... but you really do look a bit funny right now!'
"Wh-what happened?"
"What am I gonna do~ Starlight! My Lady... My Lady, she... waaaah!"
Ignoring everything else, Helios lunged forward and buried her face in Starlight's lap, sobbing quietly.
Seeing this, Starlight's hand, which had been hovering in the air, finally came down to rest on Helios's head. She began to stroke her hair gently.
"Helios, don't be sad... also, these are new clothes I'm wearing."
"...You jerk— !"
Though Starlight's words weren't a direct comfort, they managed to lighten the mood a bit. At the very least, Helios stopped making that expression that was somehow funnier than it was sad.