"Putting me aside for a moment, Madam President, what exactly did you need to see me for?"
Looking at her stern face, Divine Starlight pressed her hands together in a pleading gesture, choosing to change the subject.
"Halt your training this afternoon. You're coming with me to the gymnasium for ice skating."
"Eh? That... that might not be such a good idea~"
"It will be like this every other day. It's time you relaxed from that high-tension training of yours."
"Besides, you likely won't have any races in the short term."
'That's true. Even though Rudolf is being a bit forceful, she is looking out for me after all...'
"Alright then. I'll go communicate with my trainer."
"No need. I already spoke with her yesterday... Perhaps she ought to learn a thing or two from one of her seniors."
"Even with a team under them, they still manage to be idle and loaf around."
Rudolf's words were self-evident, she was clearly talking about that guy, Ryo Nishizaki.
"The President is certainly thorough. So, I don't have to do anything and can just leave with you?"
Nodding, Rudolf checked the time and smiled.
"Perhaps we can grab some lunch, and then rest for a bit."
"Want to go together?"
"No, I still have work to handle here. I've already asked someone to bring my lunch in."
Seeing this, Starlight had no choice but to leave the Student Council room alone.
As soon as she pushed open the heavy doors, the first thing she saw was Sirius Symboli leaning against the window.
Hearing the sound, Sirius turned her gaze toward her.
However, Starlight chose to completely ignore her, turning her head and walking straight past.
"Hey, you actually dare to ignore me?"
Sirius reached out and placed a hand on Starlight's shoulder, questioning her.
"Oh my~ So there was an Uma Musume here. Sorry, I didn't see you."
Starlight turned around, feigning a look of surprise before acting as if she hadn't noticed her at all.
"You brat..."
Before she could finish, Starlight twisted her body, sidestepped her, and spoke to an Uma Musume walking toward them.
"Teio-chan~ What are you doing here?"
She had treated Sirius like thin air from the very beginning.
"Yay! Starlight-senpai~ I'm here to deliver lunch to the President."
"Is that so? Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet, not yet! Hehe, as soon as I heard I was delivering food to the President, I decided to wait and eat later."
"Then how about we go together?"
"Okay, Starlight-senpai!"
And so, Sirius watched blankly as Divine Starlight linked arms with Tokai Teio and the two Uma Musume walked away together.
Sirius had never encountered such a frustrating slight in her life. Her fists clenched involuntarily.
She frowned, her eyes fixed intently on Starlight's retreating back.
"Just you wait... Divine Starlight."
Tracen Academy Cafeteria.
After Starlight and Tokai Teio found a place to sit.
Picking up her chopsticks and looking at the steaming rice in her bowl, Starlight began to eat at a leisurely pace.
"By the way, Starlight-senpai~ I think there's a pairs figure skating competition coming up soon. Do you want to pair up with me?"
Taking a sip of miso soup, Starlight spoke with a slight note of apology.
"Sorry, Teio-chan. The President has already teamed up with me, so I can't join you."
Her blue eyes widened in shock, and Teio put down her utensils.
"What! Starlight-chan, you're actually in a team with the President? Then, then I won't participate this time. I'm going to go and cheer for you both!"
"What! Starlight-senpai— you're teaming up with the President? I... I'll join the cheering squad too!"
Agnes Digital, who had been watching them intentionally or unintentionally from nearby, heard this and leaned over excitedly.
"Ah, okay, okay, okay. Don't get so worked up. Digitan, your tray is going to spill."
With quick reflexes, Starlight helped steady the other girl's wobbling meal tray, soothing her with a gentle tone.
Blushing furiously, Agnes Digital placed her tray on the edge of the table and shyly smoothed out her messy pink bangs.
"Why don't you join us? Is it okay if you sit next to me?"
Starlight smiled and shifted over to make room.
"Of course! Th-thank you..."
Sitting down where Starlight had just been, Agnes Digital's little heart started thumping wildly.
She slapped her cheeks excitedly, trying to calm herself down.
But the fact that she could still feel the lingering warmth from where Starlight had sat was just too overwhelming for her.
Patting the other girl's head, Starlight-chan felt it was best not to speak to her for a moment, letting Agnes Digital calm down.
"Speaking of which, Teio, you don't have a trainer yet, right? How are you planning to choose?"
Hearing this, Tokai Teio, who had been focused on her food, looked up at Divine Starlight and thought it over.
"Even though I really want to join Team Rigil where the President is, I feel like that atmosphere doesn't really suit me."
"True, Teio, you seem like the lively and cute type."
"That's why I'm still so conflicted~"
"Then why don't you check out Team Spica? It might suit you..."
'Spica?'
Teio fell into deep thought.
"Well, I'll see. Isn't Spica just newly established? The only girl who has debuted there is Suzuka-senpai, and she just transferred over from Rigil."
Hearing the latter half, Starlight was somewhat surprised.
The hand she was using to pick up food paused as she asked in confusion.
"Suzuka-chan went to Spica?"
"Yeah... the situation is a bit complicated. I don't know the specifics myself."
As the words fell, for some reason, Agnes Digital— who was sitting next to Starlight— started getting "swirly eyes."
No one knew what she was thinking, but her body began to sway from side to side, looking as if she were about to faint.
Catching a glimpse from the corner of her eye that this little pink-haired girl's face was about to plunge straight into her food tray, Starlight hurriedly reached out to support her.
"Digital-chan? Digital-chan..."
After calling her twice and getting no response, Starlight didn't know what else to do, so she let Digital rest her head on her lap.
"What's wrong with Digital-san? Could she be having a carb coma?"
Across the table, Tokai Teio looked at Digital's expression and asked out of concern.
"No, that shouldn't be it. She's barely touched the food on her tray."
Starlight glanced toward a gray-haired Uma Musume at the next table.
In front of that girl sat a literal mountain of fried rice.
"Besides, if it were a carb coma, wouldn't it be more likely to happen to Oguri Cap over there?"
Following Starlight's gaze to the stuffed Oguri Cap, Teio gave a wry smile.
"That's true. Oguri Cap-senpai is as big an eater as ever."
After the meal, Starlight looked down at the still-unconscious Agnes Digital and smiled at Teio.
"I'll wait here for Digital-chan to wake up. Teio, you don't have to stay with me."
"Alright then. Starlight-chan, I'm heading out first. Bye-bye—"
"Mm, bye-bye~"
Gently stroking Agnes Digital's slightly flushed face, a faint smile played on Starlight's lips.
'After all, she is a fan who likes me, and she's so cute. I couldn't possibly just leave her here alone.'
Just like that, the Uma Musume in the cafeteria left one after another. Perhaps the only one willing to stay and wait alongside Starlight...
...was Oguri Cap.
Of course, it wasn't because she wanted to keep them company, but simply because she wasn't full yet.
After an unknown amount of time, Agnes Digital regained consciousness.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was that face framed by silver hair.
Startled, she froze, afraid to move.
She covered her mouth, trying to process why she was lying on the other girl's lap.
At that moment, Starlight also woke up from the movement beneath her.
Her golden eyes looked down.
Ordinarily, this would have made Agnes Digital nervous, but the warmth radiating from them made her relax involuntarily.
"You're awake, Digital-chan~"
"Ah, um, Star... Starlight-senpai... Why am I lying on your lap?"
"Well~ because you suddenly fainted while we were eating. I couldn't just leave you there, right?"
Starlight explained with a smile, squinting her eyes slightly. Her hand gently caressed Digital's cheek.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Starlight-senpai! I caused you trouble! I'm really sorry!"
Agnes Digital's face turned beet red as she apologized frantically.
"I accept your apology, though it's really not necessary. Um... so, Digital-chan, do you want to keep lying on my lap?"
"I think a bed would be more comfortable, don't you?"
Realizing she was still pillowed on Starlight's thighs, Agnes Digital shot up like a rocket.