After the race, in the underground passage leading to the locker room.
Rice Shower walked along the path, her eyes completely lost and bewildered.
The clamor of the stadium could no longer be heard here; instead, the space felt incredibly vast and empty.
Rice Shower didn’t know how she had made it off the track, her mind completely blank.
Fine beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, mingling with her messy hair.
Even though the race had ended a long time ago, she still felt breathless.
It wasn’t because of the 1000-meter distance, but rather the result of her failure.
“It happened again…” the girl murmured softly, her voice echoing in the passage.
Then, the sound of intermittent sobbing filled the space.
Rice Shower wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, her body trembling uncontrollably.
“It happened again.
Rice Shower tried so hard, yet this is still the result…” the lonely girl muttered to herself, as if seeking help.
She suddenly remembered that day.
When she, who was mocked by other children as “unlucky,” received her acceptance letter to Tracen Academy, her parents, who had been worried about her future, showed relieved expressions.
So, she had made up her mind back then, coming to Tokyo all by herself, wanting to become an Uma Musume that people would look forward to.
But the days grew gloomier one by one.
No acquaintances, no friends, no dedicated Trainer.
Because of her timid personality, she could only keep running by herself every day.
Clumsily learning about running, repeatedly making mistakes using the least efficient methods, with no one to tell her if the running style she trained was even reasonable.
Afraid of failure, afraid of being unable to meet expectations, she had even fled right before a race because of it.
Even when she finally gathered the courage to participate, she could only roughly formulate tactics alone before the race, and swallow the bitterness of defeat alone afterward.
No one to comfort her, no one to guide her, no one to expect anything from her.
Even if she gave it her all, a person like her still couldn’t see any hope for success.
Thinking of her hopeful parents sitting in front of the TV and seeing her terrible performance, Rice Shower’s heart ached sharply.
Perhaps from the very beginning, an “unlucky child” like her shouldn’t have come to the central circuit.
“Someone, please tell Rice Shower what to do…” Pressure gathered like a river, bursting the dam in Rice Shower’s chest as she let out a murmured prayer.
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps suddenly came from the other side of the passage.
Rice Shower’s drooping ears immediately perked up, and she hurriedly wiped away her tears.
Then, she saw a handsome young man appear before her, looking several years older than her.
“Um, onii-san, are you…” Rice Shower gathered her courage to speak, and then heard Kaito’s gentle voice.
“The distance was too short.” “Eh?” “Rice Shower-san, I think the distance of the race you signed up for was too short.” Kaito spoke straightforwardly, but seeing the bewildered expression on Rice Shower’s face, he realized his words were a bit too abrupt.
So he took out his Trainer license and started over with a self-introduction.
“I am Mutou Kaito, a newly hired Trainer at Tracen Academy.
Rice Shower-san, may I give you some advice?” “Eh, ah, y-yes, onii…
Trainer-san!” Rice Shower hurriedly and respectfully replied, but in her panic, she bit her tongue, and her cute face instantly turned bright red.
She never expected him to be a Trainer!
Was it too rude to call him onii just now?
She wouldn’t have made this onii…
Trainer angry, would she?
Facing Rice Shower’s anxious gaze, Kaito bent down slightly to bring his line of sight level with hers, and smiled.
“It’s fine.
If Rice Shower-san likes calling me onii-san, then call me onii-san.” “Yes, okay, onii-san…” Rice Shower’s face grew even redder.
Meanwhile, Kaito cleared his throat and got down to business.
“First of all, I want to say that your loss in this race wasn’t because of a lack of talent or effort on your part, Rice Shower-san.
It’s a matter of choice.” “Not Rice Shower’s fault?” “Of course.
Your footing is very solid, and you weren’t breathing heavily in the late stages of the race.
This shows you have a very reliable physique.
As for your effort…” Kaito looked at Rice Shower’s feet, or more accurately, her shoes covered in scuffs.
These were the same shoes Rice Shower used for her daily training, and they were practically worn out, indicating that her usual practice volume was immense.
And these were even the third pair of shoes Rice Shower had gone through.
Rice Shower shyly pulled her feet back, but couldn’t help asking out of curiosity.
“Um, onii-san said it’s a matter of choice.
What do you mean by that?” “From my observation, although you are petite, Rice Shower-san, you maximize your stride length with every step.
No other Uma Musume on the track can beat you in this regard.
This allows you to cover longer distances with fewer strides, it’s just that your current speed isn’t very fast.” “Furthermore, your stamina isn’t suited for short-distance races.
Compared to other Uma Musume, your breathing recovers much faster.
Your excess stamina can’t be fully utilized in a sprint, which is why I said earlier that the distance of the race you entered was too short.” Kaito spoke eloquently.
On Earth, whether for humans or racehorses, stride mechanics can be categorized into the Stride running style, characterized by a lower frequency and larger stride suited for long distances, and the opposite Pitch running style suited for short distances.
But in this world, I’m afraid no one has specifically researched this fundamental theory.
And Rice Shower indeed showed a surprised expression.
She had never heard of the theory of stride and distance before, and it was never mentioned in the academy’s academic classes.
She never imagined there was such a relationship.
She seemed to understand something, asking somewhat excitedly.
“Does onii-san mean that I should participate in longer distance races, like mile races?” Kaito shook his head.
“Based on the stamina potential and running style you’ve shown, you should try races over 2000 meters.” “Over 2000 meters?!” Rice Shower was greatly startled.
She didn’t have much confidence in herself, which was why she chose the conservative short-distance race, afraid that she wouldn’t be able to adapt to longer distances.
Now Kaito was suggesting she challenge a track more than twice her current distance.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared…
But this was the first time someone had given her advice, and from an angle that no other Trainer had ever noticed.
Thinking of this, Rice Shower decided to trust Kaito.
She bowed deeply.
“Thank you so much, Kaito-onii-san!
I will work hard and not disappoint your expectations!” “No need to be so polite.” “Th-there’s also something else…” “What is it?” “No, it’s nothing…” Rice Shower’s lips parted slightly, but she quickly closed them again.
I want onii-san to become my Trainer…
She had wanted to say that.
But she was someone who was neither smart nor useful.
Anyone who stayed by her side would become unlucky, always hitting red lights, and if she went out without an umbrella, it would always rain…
How could someone like her drag others down with her?
Rice Shower pressed her lips tightly together, shook her head, and gave Kaito a smile as she turned to leave.
Then, she heard Kaito’s patient and gentle voice.
“Rice Shower-san, could I become your Trainer?” Rice Shower froze, raised her head, and looked at Kaito in disbelief.
Kaito explained.
“I’m a rookie Trainer, and I’m worried about not being able to recruit any Uma Musume.
If it’s alright with you, Rice Shower-san, could you become my assigned Uma Musume?” “B-but Rice Shower isn’t a great Uma Musume or anything…” “I will make you into a great Uma Musume.” “Rice Shower is very timid and gets scared easily when things happen…” “A Trainer’s responsibility is to give their Uma Musume peace of mind.” “Rice Shower is an unlucky, bad child.
Anyone who stays by her side will become unlucky…” “It just so happens that my luck is good enough to meet Rice Shower at a time like this.” Kaito patiently responded to all of Rice Shower’s self-deprecation.
With every word he spoke, Rice Shower’s eyes grew a little redder.
Finally, Kaito reached out his hand and asked once more.
“Rice Shower-san, will you let me be your Trainer?” “Okay…
Thank you, onii-san!” Rice Shower wiped her tears while holding Kaito’s hand.
Feeling the warmth and softness from her petite palm, Kaito breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Rice Shower.
“I look forward to working with you, Rice Shower.” “I look forward to working with you too, onii-san!” Rice Shower smiled back, like a blue rose that had finally bloomed.
And so, the story with Rice Shower began.