The final bell had barely finished echoing through the classroom when chairs scraped loudly against the floor, conversations bursting to life all at once as the teacher stepped out, officially marking the end of the academic day.
Instantly, a swarm of girls surged toward Lunar's desk from all directions, their footsteps quick and eager as they crowded around her in a loose circle that tightened by the second, leaving Lunar blinking in surprise as she leaned back in her seat. Questions came flying at her before she could even see what was happening.
"Lunar-san! You still haven't answered us, how did you run that fast?!" a fiery red-haired girl exclaimed from the front of her desk, her red orbs practically sparkling with excitement. Lunar vaguely recalled her name being Betsusetai.
Before Lunar could even open her mouth, another voice slipped in—softer, yet somehow just as heated. Quenya had stepped forward, her usual timid demeanor clashing sharply with the urgency in her actions as she reached out and took Lunar's hand in both of hers, holding it tightly.
"I want to know too… please," she said, her voice small but earnest with a determined gaze accompanying it. "I'll do anything."
That sentence made Lunar freeze for a split second.
Her eyes flicked over Quenya's appearance—the bold, unbuttoned gyaru style paired with that shy, cat-eyed expression—and something about the combination made that offer sound far more dangerous than it should have been. Lunar coughed lightly, trying to shake off the strange pull creeping up her spine as she gave a nervous smile. "A-ah… Quenya-san, let's not say things like that so easily…"
But the floodgates had already opened.
"Lunar-san! When do you usually train?!"
"Let's train together sometime!"
"Do you have a special routine Lunar-san?!"
"Can I have your number?! Please~"
Voices overlapped and tangled together, question after question piling on top of each other until Lunar couldn't even tell who was speaking anymore, her shoulders tensing as she looked left and right, clearly overwhelmed by the sudden attention.
And then—
THUD.
The loud, piercing sound cut through the noise like a blade.
Two small palms slammed firmly onto the desk beside Lunar, the impact loud enough to make the entire group flinch as conversations died instantly, replaced by a suffocating silence.
Sakura stood there, looking imposing in all her one hundred and fifty eight centimeter glory, her hands still pressed against the table as she slowly lifted her head.
Lunar didn't know if it was her imagination, but to her, it looked like invisible vines of thorns were curling around Sakura's presence, something sharp and dangerous radiating from her as her expression darkened ever so slightly.
"…Back off."
The low, almost growling tone in her voice sent a clear message that no one dared to misunderstand.
The crowd recoiled at the threat, several girls taking a step back without even realizing it, their earlier excitement replaced with wary glances as they avoided Sakura's gaze. Even Quenya loosened her grip on Lunar's hand, retreating slightly with a pitiful, apologetic look.
Within seconds, the once suffocating circle had opened up, leaving Lunar sitting there in the middle of it all, still unsure of what to do.
Sakura clicked her tongue loudly before sitting down again, her expression returning to something more neutral, though the edge hadn't quite disappeared as she crossed her arms and glanced at Lunar. "…You okay?"
Lunar blinked, then let out a small, slightly dazed laugh as she nodded. "Y-yeah… I think so…"
Her eyes drifted briefly to the girls who had backed away, then back up to Sakura, a soft, grateful smile forming on her lips. "…Thanks, Sakura-chan."
Sakura huffed lightly, looking away as a faint tint of pink touched her ears. "…Tch. They were being annoying."
Lunar lingered for a moment after Sakura's intervention, her gaze drifting back toward the group of girls who had just been crowding her, only to find them now standing at a noticeable distance, their earlier enthusiasm replaced with hesitation as they stole glances in her direction but didn't dare step forward again.
The change in atmosphere made her feel bad, and so, with a small apologetic smile, Lunar raised her hand and gave them a gentle wave. "Sorry…um, I'll see you all later..?" she said kindly, her tone warm despite the awkwardness that still lingered.
That seemed to break the tension just enough.
Neia was the first to respond, lifting her arm high with an easy grin as she waved back enthusiastically. "Smell ya later, Lunar~!!!"
Quenya followed more timidly, offering a small wave of her own, and soon a few others joined in as well, murmuring their goodbyes before gradually dispersing, the classroom slowly emptying out as conversations picked up again—albeit at a much safer distance from Sakura.
Lunar let out a quiet breath she had been holding since forever, only for it to be interrupted by the familiar presence of two figures approaching her desk.
Rickey leaned forward slightly, hands on her hips, a teasing grin already forming on her face. "Wow, Lunar-chan, you've really got the whole class wrapped around your finger in just two days, huh?"
Lunar immediately puffed her cheeks in protest, hands busy cleaning up the desk as she shot Rickey a pout. "Hey, don't say it like that… it makes me sound like some kind of tyrant."
Rickey gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest as if deeply offended before bowing slightly with exaggerated elegance. "My apologies, then… as you wish, princess!"
That only earned her a louder groan from Lunar, who dragged a hand down her face in defeat while Via let out an amused snort from the side, and even Sakura couldn't help the small laugh that slipped past her lips.
Rickey straightened up again, though this time her expression became a little more serious—well, relatively serious, or as serious as the lighthearted Rickey can manage to appear, considering the playful glint still lingering in her eyes.
"But, real talk, Lunar…" she began, crossing her arms as she narrowed her eyes just slightly, "I'm actually kind of upset with you right now."
That immediately set Lunar on edge.Her body stiffened, eyes widening in alarm as she leaned forward. "W-wait, what? Did I do something wrong Rickey-chan?"
Rickey let the nerves hang for just a second longer before huffing dramatically, shaking her head. "You really almost embarrassed me out there, you know that?"
"…Huh?"
"You didn't say anything about being that strong!" Rickey continued, gesturing wildly as she spoke. "I was out there earlier acting all confident like 'I won't go easy on you if we race,' and now I'm just thinking—where would I even hide my face if that actually happened?!"
She shivered visibly at the thought, wrapping her arms around herself. "Honestly, thank goodness I didn't end up racing you… no, scratch that—thank goodness there wasn't even enough time for ANYONE to race you. Imagine how many lengths you would've been ahead by… everyone might've just retired on the spot."
Lunar could only let out a small, sheepish laugh at that, scratching her cheek as she looked away slightly. "Hehe… sorry…"
Rickey sighed, though the corner of her lips twitched upward, clearly not actually upset in the first place.
Before the conversation could progress further, Via stepped in, tapping her notebook lightly against her palm as she glanced toward the door. "Alright, you two can continue this later. We should get going before the cafeteria gets crowded."
Lunar nodded quickly in agreement, pushing herself up from her seat as Sakura stood alongside her, the four of them naturally falling into step together.
With one last glance back at the now empty classroom, Lunar followed the others out, the door sliding shut behind them as they stepped into the corridor, the lingering buzz of the day slowly fading into the rhythm of the evening ahead.
The four of them made their way down the hallway together, their footsteps falling into a similar pattern as their conversation drifted from one topic to another, all light and unrestrained after the intensity of the earlier events.
Even so, Lunar couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in her surroundings.
A few glances dawdled a little longer than comfortable as they passed by other students, and quiet whispers trailed behind them like a faint echo—soft, curious, and not entirely subtle to the trained uma-musume ears. Under normal circumstances, that kind of attention would have made her shrink in on herself, in an attempt to try and disappear into the background.
But right now…her hand was being held, firmly so.
Sakura's grip was tight, as if she had no intention of letting go anytime soon—and while Lunar initially blinked in surprise at the sudden contact, she found herself not pulling away. Instead, her fingers curled slightly in return, and for reasons she couldn't quite explain, the pressure of those glances didn't feel nearly as heavy anymore.
It was strangely comforting.
By the time they reached the cafeteria, that small sense of ease was immediately challenged by the sheer chaos in front of them.
The place was absolutely packed.
Both Junior and Senior classes had apparently finished at the same time, and the result was a sea of students filling nearly every available space, voices overlapping into a loud, constant buzz that made the entire area feel alive and overwhelming all at once.
And the line…
Lunar stared at it for a moment, her eyes slowly trailing from the front all the way to the very back, where it curved slightly as more students continued to join.
"…That's… long," she murmured, a quiet sigh escaping her lips.
Beside her, Rickey let out a tired groan, rubbing the back of her neck as she leaned slightly to get a better look. "This is going to take forever…"
"Yeah…" Lunar nodded in solemn agreement, already mentally preparing herself for the wait.
But before she could take a step forward, Sakura spoke up. "I'll get your food," she said simply, entirely unbothered by the sight. "You can go find a seat first."
Lunar blinked, caught off guard by the offer. "Eh? No, it's okay, Sakura-chan, I can just—"
"Ehhh~ Sakura-san~ you'd do that for us? I'm so thankful~"
Rickey suddenly slipped in, her voice turning syrupy sweet as she clasped her hands together dramatically, batting her eyes in an exaggeratedly cute gratitude.
Sakura's expression flattened instantly. "When did I offer it to you?" she replied dryly, uncaring of Rickey's feelings. "I only offered Lunar."
Rickey visibly deflated at that. Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a quiet, defeated "Oh…" as if her soul had just left her body.
And right on cue, a hand gently landed on her shoulder from behind.
Rickey stiffened slightly before turning her head, only to be greeted by Via's bright, slightly evil smile that always appears when she is up to no good.
"Well then, Rickey-chan~" Via began smoothly, her voice light but laced with less than good intent, "since Sakura-chan has so kindly offered to get Lunar's food for her…"
Rickey's expression slowly transformed into one of dread.
"…as my most trusted and bestest friend," Via continued, her smile widening just a little that showed her pearly white bunny teeth, "won't Rickey-chan do the same for me?"
There was a brief moment of silence.
A very telling one.
Rickey opened her mouth, clearly ready to refuse—but whatever she saw in Via's expression made her words die in her throat.
Her shoulders trembled, as a single, imaginary tear seemed to fall down her cheek. "…Y-yes… Via-sama…" she croaked weakly, her spirit completely crushed under the invisible pressure.
That earned a soft giggle from Lunar, who couldn't help but laugh at the dramatic turn of events.
Via, satisfied, gave Rickey a small pat on the shoulder before turning back to Lunar, already reaching out to gently pull her along. "Alright then," she said, her tone bright and easy again, "let's go scout for some seats first, Lunar-chan~"
And just like that, Lunar found herself being guided away, leaving behind the newly formed duo of a stone cold Sakura and a spiritually defeated Rickey to face the daunting cafeteria line together.
—
Navigating through the cafeteria proved to be just as overwhelming as it had looked from the entrance, the constant movement of students weaving in and out between tables forcing Lunar and Via to slow their pace as they searched for somewhere—anywhere—to sit.
Lunar's eyes scanned from table to table, only to be met with the same result over and over again—every seat filled, every corner occupied, conversations going over each other in a lively chaos that made it impossible to focus on anything.
"…Everywhere looks occupied," Lunar murmured, her voice carrying a hint of defeat as she glanced around again, hoping she might have missed something. "I think we might have to share with someone…"
Via hummed softly beside her, clearly unbothered, though her gaze was just as focused as she assessed the situation.
As they kept on moving, Lunar spotted something.
"…Oh," she let out quietly, her eyes squinting slightly as she pointed ahead. "There's one with only two people…"
It was odd, very odd.
Considering how packed the cafeteria was, a table with that much empty space should have been occupied instantly, yet somehow it remained untouched, like people were actively avoiding it.
That alone was strange enough, but when Lunar took a better look at who was sitting there, the strangeness multiplied tenfold.
"…Wait," she whispered, blinking a couple of times to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.
Because sitting side by side at that table were two people she never would have imagined sharing the same space so peacefully.
It was class president Ryuno Amazoness…and her supposed mortal enemy, Plan Nine.
The two of them sat next to each other in a silence so thick it was practically visible to the eye, both eating their meals with stiff, mechanical movements as if they were forcing themselves to exist near each other.
There was no ongoing conversation, not a single eye contact in between, only tension. Pure, unfiltered tension.
Lunar physically cringed just from watching them, her shoulders curling inward slightly. "That's… painful to look at…"
She quickly nudged Via and pointed toward the table, silently asking her to confirm what she was seeing.
Via followed her gaze—and then paused. "…Well," she said slowly, her lips curling into something between amusement and disbelief, "that is certainly something I never thought I'd witness in my lifetime…"
Lunar hesitated, glancing between the table and Via, uncertainty clear in her expression. "Should we… be concerned?"
Via turned to her then, and the smile she gave was far too sly to be reassuring. "Yup," she replied lightly. "Concerned… and curious."
"…Via—wait—"
But it was already too late.
Before Lunar could even properly react, Via had taken her by the wrist and was already moving, weaving through the crowd as she dragged Lunar along behind her, ignoring the way Lunar stumbled slightly in surprise.
Within seconds—They had crossed the invisible boundary.
The "danger zone."
Lunar barely had time to process what was happening before she found herself standing right beside the table, the air around it noticeably thicker than anywhere else in the cafeteria.
And just like that, two pairs of eyes lifted. Ryuno Amazoness and Plan Nine both looked up at them at the same time, their gazes sharp, assessing… and very much judging of the sudden intrusion.
Lunar stood there in silence, completely frozen under the weight of their combined gaze, before she finally forced herself to move, lifting her hand in a small, awkward wave. "…H-hi…"
It came out far softer than she intended.
Right beside her, however, Via showed absolutely none of that hesitation. She stepped forward with her usual composure, offering a polite smile that carried just a hint of mischief as she spoke. "Do you two mind if we sit here?"
"Yeah, sur—"
"You may—"
They both spoke at the exact same time.
And just as quickly as the words left their mouths, Ryuno Amazoness and Plan Nine turned their heads toward each other, their eyes meeting in a sharp, reactive clash that made Lunar's heart jump, fully expecting another argument to erupt right then and there—
But it didn't.
Instead, the hostility held for a short, fragile second… before both of them exhaled at the same time, their shoulders easing just slightly as they looked away again, silently conceding.
A small nod from each of them was all the confirmation needed.
Via, satisfied, slid into the seat across from them without much indecision, and Lunar followed quickly after, sitting down a bit more carefully, afraid she might accidentally trigger something just by existing there.
The same suffocating, unnatural silence returned, thicker than before now that more people were part of it, the only sounds coming from the faint clinking of utensils and the distant noise of the cafeteria around them.
Lunar stared down at the empty table space in front of her, her hands resting awkwardly in her lap as she wondered—how are they even able to eat in this atmosphere…?
It felt less like sharing a table and more like being stuck inside some invisible pressure chamber.
Via, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
In fact—
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand as she looked between the two presidents with open curiosity. "So," she began casually, "why are you two suddenly sitting together?"
Lunar nearly choked on air.
Via…!
She turned to her in mild panic, silently begging her to reconsider that question—but it was already too late.
Ryuno Amazoness and Plan Nine paused mid-motion.
And then, In perfect sync—
"We want to set a good example for both classes."
"And as such, we will begin by demonstrating coexistence."
Same tone.
Same timing.
Same everything.
They returned to their food immediately afterward, as if that explanation settled everything.
Lunar felt a small shiver run down her spine at the response. …This barely counts as coexistence, she thought, her gaze flicking between the two of them as she resisted the urge to cringe. This feels more like they were forcibly glued together…
The silence threatened to swallow them whole once more, and this time, Lunar couldn't take it anymore.
She straightened her body up slightly to appear more confident, gathering what little courage she had as she tried to steer the conversation somewhere—anywhere—else.
"U-um… you both ran really well earlier," she said, offering a small, genuine smile. "It's just… a bit unfortunate how things ended… with the loss of focus and disqualification at the end…"
The moment the words left her mouth—
Thud.
Two sets of chopsticks were placed down at the same time, the sound sudden enough to make Lunar flinch.
Her heart skipped. "…Did I say something wrong—"
They both looked at her, and not just looked.
Stared.
With an intensity that made Lunar feel like she was about to be devoured on the spot.
Her breath caught in her throat, an apology already rising to her lips—
"Lunar-san…" Ryuno Amazoness spoke first, her voice steady but carrying something heavier beneath it. "…can you answer a question for us?"
Lunar swallowed hard, her prepared apology disappearing as quickly as it came. "U-uhm… y-yeah… what is it…?"
Plan Nine picked up where Amazoness left off, her gaze just as demanding. "…How did you run like that?"
"…Pardon?" Lunar replied, genuinely confused as she tilted her head slightly. "Uhm… I just… ran?" she answered honestly, though it came out more uncertain than she had hoped for. "I guess…?"
A finger suddenly poked into her cheek from the side. "Not like that, dummy," Via chimed in, seemingly amused as she gently squished Lunar's face. "They're asking for details."
Lunar let out a small, startled sound as she turned toward her.
"You do realize how much faster you were compared to everyone else, right?" Via continued, raising an eyebrow. "At least give them something useful—some proper tips instead of 'I just ran.'"
Lunar paused. "…Oh."
Plan Nine gave a small nod at Via's explanation, confirming that, yes, this was exactly the kind of answer they were trying to get out of Lunar. Then, without another word, she pushed her chair back and stood up, leaning forward with both hands pressed firmly against the table.
"I want to know," she said, her voice insistent, "how you ran like that—so smoothly, so fast, without stopping or slowing down even once. How do you keep accelerating like that?"
Lunar leaned back, bothered by the intrusion of space, her expression changing ever so slightly as she tried to gather her thoughts. "U-uhm… well…" she began, her voice a little unsure, "I just… follow what the ground tells me…?"
Silence followed suit before—-
"…Huh?"
All three of them reacted the same way.
Plan Nine's brows furrowed. Ryuno Amazoness tilted her head slightly. Via just stared at Lunar like she had just spoken an entirely different language.
"…What does that even mean, Lunar-chan?" Via asked flatly.
Lunar hesitated, glancing between them before trying again, her hands moving slightly, trying to physically shape her explanation into something clearer.
"Well… the ground kind of… tells me how to move," she said, growing a little more certain as she continued. "Like how much I should lean, or how wide my strides should be, or when to push harder… I just listen to it and trust it, and then—um… voilà? It kind of… works out so I don't waste any movement and can keep going without slowing down…"
She trailed off.
Because the looks she received in return were—
Not convinced.
At all.
Three identical expressions stared back at her, all silently asking the same question:
What is this girl even talking about?
Plan Nine held that look for a moment longer… before slowly standing back to her seat and throwing both her hands into the air in surrender. "…The internet was right," she muttered dryly. "Talented people are all weirdos."
"Hey!" Lunar immediately protested, her cheeks puffing slightly in offense as she pointed at her. "That's mean!"
Ryuno Amazoness let out a quiet sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose as if trying to ease a growing headache. "…Since you can't explain that properly," she said after a moment. "Then answer me this, Lunar-san… because I still don't understand."
Lunar coughed slightly at that, the earlier disapproval fading as she nodded. "U-uh… I'll try my best…?"
Amazoness's gaze lowered briefly, her hand curling slightly on the table before she spoke again.
"Principal Sato said that to reach our full potential, we must first learn to enjoy what we're doing," she began, her voice tightening just a little. "But I already do. I love racing. It's been my dream for as long as I can remember."
Her voice wavered—just barely—but enough for Lunar to hear.
"So what did he mean by that?" she continued, frustration beginning to seep through. "Does that mean I don't enjoy it enough? That I'm doing it wrong somehow? That others love it more than I do…?"
Her brows furrowed deeper, her composure cracking as something far more vulnerable surfaced beneath it. "…Or is my potential just… that low?"
Lunar's expression softened immediately, a faint, pitying look crossing her face as she watched the proud and composed class president struggle with something so deeply personal.
Even Plan Nine, who had been nothing but sharp edges to Amazoness until now, glanced at her rival with a complicated and sympathetic expression, any sense of hostility momentarily forgotten.
Lunar fell quiet after that, her gaze lowering slightly as she searched for something—anything—that could reach them properly, because the weight in Amazoness's voice hadn't just been frustration, it had been doubt… and that was something Lunar understood far too well.
She glanced toward Via, in an effort to ask for help—but Via didn't step in this time. Instead, she simply watched, her expression calmer than usual, yet her eyes carried something similar to Amazoness's earlier question… that same quiet, bitter curiosity.
So this time… it really was up to her.
Lunar inhaled softly, then spoke, her voice a little slower than usual as she carefully pieced her thoughts together. "I… don't know if this is a good answer or not," she admitted, her fingers fidgeting slightly against the table, "but… it's my answer, at least."
She lifted her gaze again, meeting theirs one by one before continuing. "To me… racing and running are… different things."
Lunar continued, her tone growing a little steadier as she found her footing. "What I enjoy… is running," she said simply. "Racing is just… an activity that lets me see how fast I am compared to everyone else."
Via frowned slightly at that, clearly not fully understanding. "I don't get it…"
So Lunar leaned forward just a little, trying to explain it in a way that made sense.
"Racing has a lot of… layers to it," she said. "You have to think about your starting position, how to move through other runners, when to conserve stamina, when to push, how to react to what everyone else is doing… there's just… a lot stacked on top of it."
She paused briefly. "But running…" Her shoulders relaxed slightly, her voice making way into something far gentler. "…you just run."
No calculation involved, no pressure given.
"You don't think about anything else," she continued, a distant smile forming on her lips. "You just move, you feel the ground, the wind, your body… and that's it. That's what's fun about it."
Silence settled over the table again, though this time it wasn't tense—it was thoughtful.
Plan Nine leaned back slightly, her brows furrowed as she processed that, before clicking her tongue lightly. "…But don't you want more than that?" she asked,not aggressive this time, but genuinely curious. "I mean, I get the thrill of just running, sure… but there's also winning, right? The applause, the glory, beating others…"
Her gaze narrowed slightly as she leaned forward again. "You said it yourself—racing lets you see how fast you are compared to others," she continued. "That means you do care about that comparison… so doesn't that mean you have the desire to beat them?"
Lunar paused at the question, then nodded with ease, her expression brightening slightly knowing the answer was something so natural to her that it didn't require any deep thought at all.
"Of course," she said. "My goal is to become the fastest uma musume ever."
That only seemed to deepen the confusion on Ryuno Amazoness' face, her brows pulling together as she leaned forward slightly, clearly trying to reconcile Lunar's words with what she had just said moments ago.
"…Then doesn't that mean everything you said before doesn't make any sense?" she pressed, her voice firm but not angry, just genuinely puzzled. "If you have that kind of goal, then how can you separate it from racing, from winning, from all of this?"
Lunar shook her head gently, a small smile forming on her lips as she brought her hands together on the table, her fingers loosely interlaced as she searched for the right way to put it into words.
"No, it still makes sense," she said with a firmer belief. "Because… becoming the fastest is my goal, yes—but in the end, it's still just that… a goal. It's something I want, something I desire, but it's not what everything revolves around for me."
She paused for just a moment, her gaze lowering slightly before lifting again, clearer this time. "It's not what sings to my soul," she continued, the words pouring out more clearly as she goes. "It's not what my joy depends on. Because what I truly love… is running."
"And as long as I keep running," Lunar went on, her voice gaining just a little more warmth, "everything I want will eventually come to me anyway."
Her fingers tapped lightly against the table, almost intentionally in rhythm with her thoughts as they began to flow more naturally.
"When I want to remember my momma… I can just run, and the memories come back on their own," she said softly, her expression easing as something fond passed through her mind. "And when I want to forget something painful… I can run, and let the wind carry it away for me."
Then, her gaze shifted—slowly, deliberately—until it landed on Via. "And when I want to prove someone wrong…" she added, her voice quiet but meaningful, "I can just run… and eventually, they'll see it for themselves."
That sentence hits differently, and Via felt it, even if she didn't show it outwardly, …I came here to prove her wrong too, she thought, the image of her mother appeared uninvited, her jaw tightening just a fraction.
Lunar then turned her attention back to the two in front of her, her expression still gentle, but now carrying a quiet conviction that hadn't been there before.
"And when someone is chasing me," she continued, her thoughts briefly flashing to that familiar presence behind her—Anonym—who gave everything in pursuit of her, her rival that drowned herself in everything just to run beside her. "then I'll just keep running… and I'll reach the finish line eventually, whether they're right behind me or not."
Her words didn't carry an arrogance that comes with empty words, but a confidence that follows the honest truth.
"And if there's something I want to chase…" she added, her gaze drifting for just a second as another image flickered through her mind—a distant figure, clad in black, leaving behind a golden trail she longed to follow—"…then I'll run toward it. Step by step, no matter how far away it is… I'll get closer, even if it's only by an inch each time."
By now, the table had gone completely silent.
Lunar inhaled softly, then let out a small breath as she finished, her voice returning to that same gentle steadiness from before. "That's why… as long as I keep running, everything I want will eventually reach me," she said. "And as long as I enjoy running, nothing can stop me from doing it… because the only thing that could stop me is if I stopped enjoying it."
She smiled faintly, almost to herself. "And that's not going to happen… because I love running."
Lunar blinked at the silence that followed her words, her confidence from just moments ago quickly dissolving as she suddenly became very aware of the three pairs of eyes that were no longer reacting at all, their expressions caught somewhere between deep thought and complete stillness.
"…B-but uh," she added quickly, a nervous little laugh slipping out as she scratched her cheek, "that's just what I think, of course, hehe… you all don't have to take it to heart…"
Via remained completely still, her gaze lowered slightly, replaying every word in her head, while Ryuno Amazoness sat upright with an unusually quiet expression, and Plan Nine… Plan Nine had her head tilted slightly downward, one hand resting against her chin like she just got handed the hardest set of a puzzle to ever exist.
Lunar glanced between them, her lips parting slightly as a flicker of worry crossed her face. "…Did I say something weird…?" she murmured under her breath.
Before the silence could stretch any further, a tray suddenly slid into her field of view, gently placed right in front of her, and Lunar immediately looked up to see Sakura taking the seat beside her with a perfectly timed entrance, like she had just stepped in to save her from drowning in her own thoughts.
At the same time, Rickey dropped into the seat next to Via with far less grace, placing another tray down with a dramatic sigh.
"Finally!" Rickey complained, stretching her arms slightly as though she had just completed some grand ordeal. "That took us almost ten minutes, you know?! The line was insane—"
She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes slowly shifted forward. "…Uwoah—! Class President?!"
Rickey's voice jumped an octave as she leaned forward, pointing between the two figures sitting across from them in disbelief. "Why is she sitting with her mortal enemy?! What kind of plot twist did we walk into?!"
Meanwhile, completely unfazed, Sakura gently placed a pair of chopsticks into Lunar's hands, her movements smooth and unbothered by anything else. "Here," she said softly.
Lunar accepted them with a thankful smile. "Ah… thank you, Sakura-chan…"
Behind them, Rickey had already grabbed Via by the shoulders and started shaking her lightly, her panic escalating rapidly. "W-wake up! Via! Don't die on me!!!" she cried dramatically. "We still haven't raced each other yet, you can't go like this! VIA-CHAN!!!"
Via's body jolted slightly from the shaking, her head snapping up as she finally returned to reality—
—and then, to Rickey's absolute horror, a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
"EH?! WHY ARE YOU CRYING?!" Rickey yelped, now shaking her even harder. "WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU WHILE I WAS GONE?!"
Sakura squinted her eyes at the chaotic scene, then slowly turned her head toward Lunar, her voice dropping into a quiet whisper. "…Uhm… what did you do, Lunar-chan?"
Lunar, equally lost, could only shrink slightly in her seat and mumble back, "I-I just answered some questions…"
Sakura stared at her for a moment longer, her expression turning faintly incredulous. What kind of questions turn people into statues like this…? she thought.
And then—
"YOSH!!!"
The sudden shout echoed loudly through the loud cafeteria.
Plan Nine shot up from her seat in one big swoop, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she raised a clenched fist high into the air, her expression completely lit up with a kind of fiery realization that suited her youthful face rather than the steely look she usually wore.
"I FINALLY GOT IT!" she declared, her voice ringing out without a single ounce of doubt. "MY EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED—THIS IS IT!!!"
Nearby tables reacted instantly, heads snapping toward the commotion as whispers spread in ripples, confusion and curiosity mixing at the sight of the usually cold and stern Junior B president acting like she had just achieved enlightenment.
Ryuno Amazoness, on the other hand, stood more calm, but there was no missing the clarity in her eyes now as she extended her hand across the table toward Lunar. "…Lunar-san," she said sincerely, carrying genuine gratitude, "thank you. Truly. What you said… I will engrave it deeply into my mind, so that I never forget it."
Lunar blinked, caught off guard, before hurriedly setting her chopsticks down and reaching out to take her hand. "U-uhm—y-yeah… you're welcome, Amazoness Kaichou…" she replied awkwardly.
Amazoness's expression softened slightly, but she shook her head. "…Just Amazoness is fine."
Lunar froze. "…E-eh…? N-no, I think Kaichou sounds more—"
"It's fine," Amazoness repeated, just a little more firmly this time, though not unkindly.
Lunar shrank a little under the pressure. "…O-okay… Amazoness…"
"Good."
As if that wasn't enough, Plan Nine immediately leaned forward, planting both hands on the table with a wide grin still on her face. "Then I'm the same," she said. "Just call me Nine."
"…Huh?!" Lunar squeaked, looking between the two of them and towards the ever so unhelpful Via, silently asking for help that would never come.
"No formalities," Nine added, nodding decisively.
Lunar opened her mouth, clearly ready to refuse—
—but under the combined, determined gazes of both class presidents, her resistance crumbled almost instantly.
"…O-okay… Nine…" she mumbled weakly.
And just like that, without realizing it, Lunar had somehow closed the distance between two of the most opposing figures in the academy… while having absolutely no idea how she did it.
Via slowly blinked herself back to reality, her usual composure returning bit by bit as she lifted a hand and casually wiped away the single tear that had escaped down her cheek, treating it like it had never been there in the first place.
Rickey, however, was not about to let that slide.
"Oi—what was that just now?" she demanded immediately, leaning in with eyes full of suspicion. "Why were you crying? What happened while I was gone?"
"…Not telling," Via replied smoothly, the faintest smug curve tugging at her lips as she rested her chin against her palm.
"Eh?! Why not, why not~!" Rickey whined, leaning her entire weight onto Via's shoulder and nudging her insistently. "That's so unfair! I want to hear what Lunar told you all too!!!"
As Rickey continued her dramatic complaining, a small, hesitant voice spoke up from beside her.
"U-um… excuse me…?"
Rickey paused mid-protest and turned around, her expression changing instantly as she recognized the group standing there. There were four girls from Junior B, trays in hand, all looking just a little unsure about approaching.
At the front stood a tall, lanky girl with soft magenta hair—Rickey blinked once, then recognition clicked. "O-oh! Luck-san—Lucky Luck, right?" she said, sitting upright slightly. "What can I do for you?"
Lucky Luck fidgeted with the edge of her tray, her fingers tapping lightly against it as she hesitated, clearly struggling to get the words out. Rickey waited, tilting her head curiously.
But before the girl could gather herself, a shorter filly from behind her leaned forward with a bright, helpful smile. "We were just wondering if it's okay for us to sit here too," she said, glancing around briefly. "There aren't many tables left that can fit all four of us…"
Rickey's eyes widened for a split second and then lit up.
"Of course you can!" she said immediately, her demeanor turning bright and welcoming as she waved them over enthusiastically. "Come, come! Plenty of space here!"
The four girls visibly relaxed at that, quickly making their way over and carefully settling into the empty spaces beside their class president, greeting her with small nods and soft voices as they adjusted themselves.
The shorter girl then turned toward the others at the table—Via, Sakura, Lunar, and Amazoness—with a polite, slightly nervous smile. "Um… we hope you don't mind us sitting here," she added, glancing between them. "We're from Junior B and—"
"No, no, it's totally fine!" Lunar swoops in almost before the girl could finish, waving her hands lightly as her face brightens in open friendliness. "Welcome! Really, it's nice to meet you all!"
She inclined her head slightly, offering a warm smile. "I'm Lunar Light," she said. "It's really nice meeting you."
The shorter girl's face lit up at that, her earlier nervousness melting away as she smiled back. "Nice to meet you too! I'm Cheval Maru," she introduced herself cheerfully.
From there, things seemed to flow naturally.
Introductions began to pass around the table, names exchanged one after another as the atmosphere, which had once been stiff and uncertain, slowly became something far more relaxed.
Lucky Luck, still a little shy, glanced toward Lunar with a small but earnest smile. "Um… your run earlier… it was really amazing," she said softly, her fingers still lightly gripping her tray. "I… really admired it."
Lunar blinked, then laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Ah—thank you… I'm glad you think so…"
Beside her, Sakura had somehow been drawn into a conversation of her own, as one of the girls from the Junior B group hesitantly leaned forward and offered her a pen, asking with careful politeness if she could get an autograph for her little sister, who apparently adored Sakura to no end.
Sakura didn't hesitate for even a second. Her expression softened into a gentle smile as she accepted the pen as she signed her name across a napkin before handing it back with a small nod that only made the girl's gratitude spill over into a flurry of repeated thanks.
Rickey, meanwhile, had fully recovered from her earlier grievances and was now chatting animatedly with the new arrivals, while Via silently ate and observed everything with a quiet, thoughtful expression—though the faint curve of her lips suggested she didn't mind this at all.
Even Amazoness and Nine, who not long ago had stood as the very embodiment of tension between the two classes, now sat at the same table without conflict, their presence no longer oppressive but simply… part of the group, as their classmates spoke freely around them without hesitation or restraint.
And just like that, something unusual began to take shape.
Students from Junior A and Junior B, who only hours ago had been locked in rivalry and friction, were now sitting together, sharing a table, exchanging conversations, laughter, and fond smiles.
The wall that had been built over the past few months between the two had finally crumbled. And in its place, filling the space between them, was something far simpler.
It was a bridge, where rivalry gave way for the feelings of friendship and love to bloom between fellow uma musumes.