Rice Shower and the Trainer
Rice Shower is a horse girl. And not just any horse girl. She is one of the top-performing horse girls in recent years, with six G1 victories, including the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho, a long-distance G1 win, the Autumn Senior Triple Crown, and two consecutive Arima Kinen victories.
She is also called the strongest stayer currently running, and her merchandise sales are among the highest of all the horse girls. Her small, timid, and delicate appearance, combined with her intense running style in races, has earned her a large fan base that loves the contrast.
Even among the horse girls at Tracen Academy, some become her fans after seeing her dedication to training and her running in races.
Among the horse girls at Tracen Academy, her achievements and skills place her among the few who are on par with Symboli Rudolf. That's the reputation Rice Shower has from the public and those around her.
And this great horse girl, Rice Shower, is now...
"Whoa... You don't have to walk so fast, Rice. We have plenty of time to get there, and the flight isn't for a while. Take it easy, slowly is fine."
"Y-Yes, onii-sama!"
—She was completely flustered as her trainer caught her just as she stumbled and was about to fall.
Rice Shower had exceeded her limits in the Arima Kinen and injured herself, breaking two bones in her left foot.
Rice Shower had no regrets about it. She didn't want to lose, she wanted to win, and she wanted to dedicate her victory to the trainer she called her onii-sama. She had run with that thought in mind and had defeated her rivals, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
She felt a great sense of discomfort and a dull pain in her left foot. The pain was so intense that she broke out in a cold sweat during the race.
Nevertheless, she had won the Arima Kinen and was able to dance in the center during the winning performance. The price was at least three months of rest and being unable to race for the next six months—and her trainer's tears.
For Rice Shower, her trainer was a very important person. He had healed her heart, which was broken after the booing at her Kikuka Sho victory, and he had fixed her body, which was on the verge of breaking from her long-term solo training, making her a stronger horse girl.
He had saved her from a difficult situation, made her stronger, smiled at her, and stayed by her side. Every little thing that happened every day was precious to Rice Shower. That's why she was so shocked to see her trainer cry at her injury.
Her trainer was always careful about injuries. For him, Rice Shower's injury must have been a crushing blow. Seeing him lift her up, his forehead against hers, and tears streaming down his face at a distance where their noses almost touched, filled Rice Shower's heart with a constricting feeling.
It was a warm yet heart-freezing, heavy emotion. The sensation of his tears falling on her face made her heart tremble uncontrollably.
—She was cherished.
She understood that in a way she couldn't deny.
That's why Rice Shower made an excuse. No, she wanted to make an excuse. When her trainer said, "Let's go back home to talk about your future," what she heard was, "Let's go back home to talk about my future with you." It was something that made Rice Shower want to bury herself in a hole.
After being discharged from the hospital, she would giggle in her dorm room, roll around on her bed wrapped in the jacket her trainer gave her, jump in pain when she felt a sharp pang in her left foot, and get a look from her roommate, Zenno Rob Roy, that said, "What is this person doing?" This also took a toll on Rice Shower's mental state. Looking back, Rice Shower herself wondered what she had been doing.
Her trainer was worried about the injured Rice Shower and thought it would be best to go back home to talk to her parents about her future. Despite that, Rice Shower was embarrassed by her misguided impulse—but at the same time, she was a little disappointed.
But still. Isn't going home with her trainer a big deal? In a way, it might be unavoidable to think that.
It was different from when Rice Shower herself or her teammates, Haru Urara and King Halo, traveled and stayed overnight for a race. It was also different from living under the same roof for a long time during a summer training camp.
This was a personal trip, with no races or training involved, and her trainer was accompanying her. Rice Shower knew it was because he was worried about her injury, but that was that, and this was this.
She was traveling alone with her trainer. Although it was just a trainer accompanying his injured horse girl, Rice Shower felt like she was in such a situation.
However, Rice Shower thought to herself, "This is bad for my heart."
Rice Shower's family home was in Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido, so they had to fly there. She met up with her trainer in the morning, took a taxi he called to the airport, and...
"Here, Rice, take my hand."
"O-Okay..."
When they got in and out of the taxi, her trainer offered his hand to help her. When they walked, her trainer carried all of her luggage, and as if worried about her injured left foot, he always walked on her left side, being careful to respond immediately if anything happened.
They used elevators and escalators whenever possible, but when they had to use stairs, her trainer would offer his hand to support her. This was so he could immediately catch her if she lost her balance.
Rice Shower felt like she was about to faint for a reason other than her injury because of his devoted care. When her left foot hurt and she lost her balance, he immediately caught her, and her heart pounded like a drum as he looked at her with a worried expression.
Rice Shower thought to herself, "I'm not the one at fault. The trainer is." She was being taken care of so devotedly that it was easy to get the wrong idea.
Her trainer wore clothes he wouldn't normally wear to visit Rice Shower's family home. He wore a wrinkle-free navy jacket, a black sweater, gray pants, and black leather shoes—all in calm colors—so as not to be too formal or too casual.
He also had a coat with him but didn't plan to wear it until they arrived in Hokkaido. Her trainer, who was usually in a suit or a tracksuit, was all dressed up.
Rice Shower looked down at her everyday clothes—a one-piece coat-like dress—and frowned.
(W-What should I do... Maybe I should have worn something more mature...)
To Rice Shower, her trainer was an adult. A male adult. As she walked slowly next to him, Rice Shower regretted not thinking more about her clothes.
—Lost in her thoughts, Rice Shower accidentally put weight on her left foot, and the pain made her lose her balance.
"Whoa... Are you okay?"
Her trainer immediately caught Rice Shower. His worried face, his strong, trained arms that she could feel even through his clothes, and the size of his body that she could feel from the way she was hugging him. From all of this, Rice Shower thought to herself, "I got the wrong idea, but maybe this isn't so bad."
(Ugh... Rice is a bad girl... I've become a bad girl...)
The worried gaze was something she was happy with and found comfortable. Realizing this, Rice Shower's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Y-Yeah... I-I'm totally fine... onii-sama..."
Still, when he caught her, she instinctively—no, she unconsciously wrapped her arms around his back, and Rice Shower melted into a smile.
In contrast to Rice Shower, her trainer was troubled. And it wasn't because Rice Shower was constantly hugging him.
(She's losing her balance more often than I thought... The pain doesn't seem to be too strong, but it probably hurts unexpectedly. Maybe I should have waited for her symptoms to stabilize a bit more before having her go home?)
Rice Shower hugging him was a daily occurrence. Both Haru Urara and Rice Shower would hug him, ask for piggyback rides, or sit on his lap if he was in a chair. It was a common occurrence.
For her trainer, what bothered him more than Rice Shower hugging him was the fact that she had to hug him.
The doctor who examined Rice Shower said she would heal naturally if she avoided training and went about her daily life. Her trainer agreed with that assessment, but if she was going to stumble so often, he thought he should have rented a wheelchair.
At the same time, the trainer immediately noticed that Rice Shower's stumbles were of two types.
There were times when she genuinely lost her balance due to pain and times when she had pain but would hug him because he was there.
(Hmm... I should scold her and tell her to stop because it's dangerous, but...)
The trainer saw the expression on Rice Shower's face and gave a wry smile. He was at a loss for what to say to Rice Shower, who was hugging him with a smile, looking so relaxed and spoiled.
"Rice is a bad girl."
"Eh?! Wha-What are you talking about?! Rice doesn't know!"
When her trainer whispered that in her ear, Rice Shower's body flinched. The trainer gave a wry smile at her flustered gaze. He then placed his hand on her head and stroked it slowly as if to explain.
"It's fine to spoil yourself, but it's dangerous when we're walking. It's also a bother to the people around us, and it would be bad if I failed to support you and you got even more injured... Okay?"
"Okay... I'm sorry, onii-sama... Rice has become a bad girl."
Rice Shower's horse ears drooped, and her tail sagged. The trainer laughed at her.
"What's wrong? It's okay to be a bad girl sometimes. But can you be a good girl when we're moving?"
"—Okay!"
The other travelers who heard their exchange thought to themselves, "What's up with that couple with the age difference?"
They left for Hokkaido, and the trainer and Rice Shower arrived at New Chitose Airport. The trainer had planned to take a bus from there, but Rice Shower smiled at him.
"It's okay, onii-sama. I asked for a ride."
"You did? That's a big help, but... you should have told me earlier, you know?"
"Hehe... I'm sorry."
Rice Shower smiled to gloss over the fact that she had forgotten to tell him because she was so excited to be traveling alone with her trainer.
Carrying Rice Shower's luggage as well, the trainer, who had landed in Hokkaido, exhaled a white cloud of air as he looked at the view in front of the airport.
(As expected of Hokkaido, the snow is incredible...)
The roads had been cleared, but in the distance, a white world of snow spread out.
In the city, five centimeters of snow would be a big deal, but the snowfall in Hokkaido was on a different level. In some places, it wasn't uncommon for over five meters of snow to fall annually. It was literally a different magnitude.
The trainer was about to put on the coat he had prepared. However, he frowned when he saw Rice Shower not taking out anything.
"Rice, where's your coat?"
"I'm used to the cold, and I have a ride coming to the airport, so it's okay."
"Seriously?... You can get used to this cold?"
The trainer was surprised by Rice Shower's words, but she didn't seem cold, as she had said she was used to it. But not feeling cold and not wearing warm clothes were two different things.
The trainer put his coat on Rice Shower. Because of their height difference, it looked like a long coat on her, but it would be perfect for keeping her warm.
"Eh? O-Onii-sama, Rice is really okay."
"A girl shouldn't let her body get cold. Just wear it. It's also bad for your injury."
"Oh... Okay... Thank you, onii-sama."
When her trainer said that, Rice Shower's cheeks turned pink as she looked down at the ground. She then grabbed the coat with her right hand and held her trainer's right hand with her left.
Every little gesture and every word he said made Rice Shower feel like he was being unfair. Rice Shower herself wasn't sure what exactly was unfair. She just thought he was being unfair.
The trainer and Rice Shower then walked slowly, at a pace that wouldn't hurt Rice Shower's foot. She had taken painkillers before the flight, so there was no pain, but the fracture hadn't healed.
The trainer was also worried about her falling on the snowy road, so he walked slowly so as not to put any strain on her.
"Wow..."
When they arrived at the parking lot in front of the airport entrance, where bus stops and taxi waiting areas were lined up, the trainer let out a sound of surprise at the luxurious black car that slid in front of them.
"Huh? What is this car?" he thought. A moment later, an elderly man in a butler's uniform got out of the driver's seat and bowed to Rice Shower and her trainer.
"Oh, Jii-ya-san."
(Huh? This butler-like person, he knows Rice? And Jii-ya-san... Huh? What kind of family does Rice have?)
The trainer was confused by Rice Shower's cheerful voice. The elderly man, called Jii-ya-san,'s face softened when he saw Rice Shower, and he bowed respectfully to the trainer again.
"You must be the trainer in charge of our young lady. I've come to pick you up. Please get in."
He said that and quickly took the luggage the trainer had been carrying and put it in the trunk. The trainer was stunned but got into the car when Rice Shower urged him to.
(What was that?)
Inside the incredibly comfortable car. The trainer, who was sinking into the fluffy seat, was wide-eyed at the giant house—he could only call it a mansion—that came into view after about an hour's drive.
"Rice-san, Rice-san, are you telling me that's your family home?"
"Huh? Yeah... it is, onii-sama. By the way, why are you using polite language...?"
"Wow... Rice, you're a young lady."
The trainer's voice was filled with a mix of admiration and surprise.
"Oh... You didn't know?"
The man called Jii-ya by Rice Shower asked, surprised by the trainer's reaction. The trainer gave a wry smile in response.
"I've known her for over a year, but I never thought about her family home... I should have dressed more formally. I apologize."
The trainer held his head, thinking it was his fault for not asking about the size of her family's home in advance. He had no idea she was a real young lady. He thought he was at least dressed appropriately in a so-called "jacket and pants" style, but he looked off into the distance.
"...Hoho, I see."
The man called Jii-ya let out a strangely warm voice at the trainer's response and reaction.
Rice Shower's family home was a Western-style mansion. A tall metal fence surrounded the house, and the trainer thought it looked like something out of a movie.
There were other houses scattered around, but they were far apart, and each one was massive. The trainer thought with a serious face that this must be a wealthy neighborhood.
Snow had piled up around the house, but the path leading to the building was completely clear of snow. When the trainer asked, he learned that a road heating system was being used.
(...Oh no. The souvenir I bought at the airport was just some sweets... Well, it was the most expensive one, but...)
He had bought an assortment of chick-shaped buns and sablés, but he narrowed his eyes, wondering if it was good enough. He had bought them because Rice Shower had taken one look at them and said, "Onii-sama, these are so cute!" and was overjoyed.
He was then led into Rice Shower's family home, and the trainer decided that there was nothing he could do at this point. In this day and age, you could look up the address online and see the landscape, and since he had neglected to do that, he thought it was his own fault.
The trainer, however, had no idea it was a mansion of this size.
(I was worried about a parent who would try to take the prize money Rice won... I was so stupid... No, no, I can't let my guard down yet...)
The trainer told himself that and met Rice Shower's parents. The sophisticated mannerisms of these people, who were clearly from the upper class, made his worries disappear.
"Thank you for taking care of our daughter. I am her father."
"I have heard many things about you from my daughter on the phone. Thank you for coming all this way."
Rice Shower's parents, who were clearly older than the trainer, bowed deeply to him. When the trainer saw their姿 and Rice Shower hugging her parents, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, he realized that all of his worries had been for nothing.
The trainer greeted them and was led into the drawing room. A fancy-looking teacup, which even the trainer, who wasn't well-versed in such things, could tell was expensive, was filled with what looked like expensive tea.
(Hmm... I know it tastes good, but I can't tell the subtle flavors...)
The trainer's eyes darted around, thinking that tasting sake would be much easier.
Still, the trainer remembered the purpose of his visit and, after a brief self-introduction and small talk, brought up the main topic.
"Now then, regarding Rice's... no, your daughter's future path..."
The trainer wet his throat with tea and began to speak.
Will she continue to run even after her injury heals? If so, will she stay in the senior class or move on to the Dream Series? If she does, for how long will she continue?
What about after that? Will she go to college or get a job? If she attends a department at Tracen Academy, she can continue to run while learning new things, but what will she do?
The trainer talked about the paths Rice Shower could take in the future and waited for the reactions of Rice Shower and her parents.
The trainer was prepared to support Rice Shower no matter what path she chose.
First and foremost, her injury needed to be healed, but if Rice Shower wanted to continue her career, he would train her to be stronger than ever. If she decided to retire and go to college or get a job, he would support her.
As the trainer of Team Kitarufa, it would be a blow for their team leader, Rice Shower, to retire. But that was not a reason to tie Rice Shower to the team.
Rice Shower's mother, who was listening to the story, tilted her head in wonder.
"Do trainers at Tracen Academy go out of their way to ask such things for their horse girls these days?"
"No, that's not the case. It's hard to say what other trainers do, but I thought it was a good opportunity to come and talk since your daughter was injured and it was difficult for her to return home."
"...During the New Year's holiday?"
Rice Shower's father asked suspiciously. The trainer scratched his head, looking troubled.
"I apologize. I know it's a bit rude to visit during this time... It's embarrassing to say, but I don't get a chance to take a few days off unless it's during this time..."
After saying that, the trainer thought, "Huh?" When was the last time he had a long vacation?
(...No, I had a good rest during the summer training camp, so it's fine.)
The trainer thought so. Of course, it was not fine.
"No, we were just surprised that you would take the time for our daughter despite the holiday season... Is this also part of a trainer's job?"
Rice Shower's father made a apologetic face, but the trainer smiled in return.
"It's not part of the job, but please don't worry about it. As Rice... as Rice Shower's trainer, I thought it was something I should do. And besides, I've recently gotten into hot springs as a hobby. I'm also combining this with a trip to stay at Noboribetsu Onsen."
The trainer said he shouldn't worry about it because he was also combining it with a trip.
"My daughter told me on the phone that you've been giving her passionate guidance... I always watch her run on television, but as a parent, I don't know how to thank you..." Rice Shower's mother said, looking troubled.
Ever since she sent her beloved daughter to Tracen Academy, her daughter had won five G1s in just one year under her current trainer. And she had achieved numerous great feats along the way.
But the trainer was at a loss for words at her praise.
"I haven't done anything that great for her. Her own talent, her attitude towards training, her passion for racing... Those things made her this strong."
Rice Shower was already strong to begin with. The trainer thought he had only helped her by preventing injuries and training her to be stronger, but he also believed she wouldn't have grown this much if it weren't for the groundwork she had laid during her solo training.
And above all, the trainer said that Rice Shower's talent as a horse girl was outstanding.
"I'm still a rookie trainer in my second year, but I don't think I'll ever be able to raise a stayer who surpasses this girl... She's a truly wonderful horse girl. No... I'm sure I'll never be able to raise a stayer who surpasses her."
The trainer showered Rice Shower with praise. As a result, Rice Shower's face turned beet red, and she looked down.
Her trainer always praised her, but it was embarrassing to be praised so much in front of her parents.
"...So, you think our daughter should continue to run?"
Rice Shower's father, who had been listening to the trainer, asked with a slightly dangerous glint in his eyes. If Rice Shower was such a great horse girl, he thought it might be possible for her to achieve even greater things, and he wondered if the trainer's visit was to aim for that.
"No, that's not it. I think it's fine for her to continue her career or go to college or get a job. But that's something Rice has to decide for herself... That's why I thought she should talk it over with her parents, and that's why I'm here today."
The trainer had no other intention. The only other reason was that he was worried about Rice Shower going home alone.
Indeed, if Rice Shower continued to run, she could win even more G1s. She might even be able to stand alongside or surpass Symboli Rudolf.
However, Rice Shower's own will was what mattered most. Nothing good would come from making a horse girl who didn't want to run compete. It wouldn't have a good impact on those around her, and running without motivation or focus would likely lead to injury.
That's why the trainer prioritized Rice Shower's will above all else. He didn't care about things like her accumulating more records or prize money if she continued her career.
Rice Shower's father stared at the trainer's eyes. The trainer returned his gaze with a dignified look, as if to say there was no lie.
"In other words, you care about our daughter. You don't mind using your holiday time for our daughter, even during the holidays."
"Yes—because Rice is a very important horse girl to me."
At the trainer's response, Rice Shower reached her limit. She was so embarrassed and happy that she was about to overheat and impulsively put her head down on the drawing room table.
"I see... So trainers in the central circuit put so much thought into their work for their horse girls. I am impressed."
"No, it's what a trainer should do. And besides, Rice is injured right now, so I was worried about her going home alone..."
And so, Rice Shower missed the rest of the conversation.
One hour later.
Rice Shower, who had been watching the conversation between her trainer and her father getting more lively, tilted her head when her trainer stood up, saying it was getting late.
"Onii-sama, where are you going?"
"Where? To the hotel. I should head over and check in soon."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
The trainer and Rice Shower looked at each other. The trainer was the first to regain his composure and smiled as he took out his smartphone.
"Ah, I'm so looking forward to the hot springs and the food at the hotel I booked. Rice, you should also have a great time with your family."
"Huh, oh, okay..."
Rice Shower couldn't help but nod at her trainer, who was talking with the excitement of a child.
"Don't hesitate to call me when you need help, like when you go out. It would be a great help if you could contact me an hour or so beforehand."
"O-Okay..."
The trainer said that and bowed his head to Rice Shower's parents and the man called Jii-ya.
"I apologize for visiting at such a time. I should be going."
"Please come again."
"Let's have a drink next time. If you tell me beforehand, I'll prepare a room for you."
Rice Shower's mother and father both stood up to see him off with a smile. They couldn't force him to stay since he had already booked a hotel, and the trainer also knew better than to stay at his student's home during the New Year's holiday.
"Well then, Rice. After I leave, make sure you talk to your parents. Okay?"
"...Okay."
Rice Shower couldn't find the words to stop her trainer, who was wrapping up the conversation. She watched him leave in the car driven by the man called Jii-ya with her parents and was about to fall to her knees and lament.
"By the way, Rice... I have a lot of things I want to ask you about you and your trainer."
But Rice Shower's mother's eyes lit up as she said that, and Rice Shower realized that she had a lot more to worry about.
And so, Rice Shower went to see her trainer every day, and they spent the New Year's holiday touring Noboribetsu together.
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