“Uwaaah!” In a corner of the training grounds, Rice Shower bent over in agony, wiping the drool from the corners of her mouth.
Her thighs were trembling.
Tears had been forced from her eyes by the recent bout of vomiting, and she gasped for fresh air in great gulps, her ears and tail drooping listlessly.
“I threw up all my breakfast…” Rice Shower covered her bright red face, wishing she could just disappear into a crack in the ground.
It was her first day of training, and she had already done something so embarrassing!
It was utterly humiliating!
But it was also her first time ever running until she threw up.
The training volume clearly wasn’t even as much as her usual routine, so why was the stimulation so intense this time?
“Good work, Rice Shower-san.” Kaito walked over, handing Rice Shower-san a towel and a bottle of mineral water, while instructing her.
“Don’t drink too much water all at once.
Just keep your mouth moist for now, or you’ll get water intoxication.” “Okay…” Rice Shower nodded.
Kaito always told her things she didn’t know, which made her feel like her onii-san was amazing.
Cradling the mineral water bottle in her delicate hands, she took small sips just as Kaito had told her, before asking hesitantly.
“Onii-san, was Rice Shower’s performance really bad?” After all, she had literally thrown up.
But Kaito shook his head, giving her plenty of encouragement.
“You did great, Rice Shower-san.
If anything, it’s amazing that it took you three hours of training at this level before you threw up on your very first try!
You’re incredible!” “Really?” “Of course!” “I see…” Rice Shower smiled shyly.
She didn’t know if Kaito was just comforting her.
After all, what Uma Musume could be considered amazing for running until she threw up?
But hearing someone praise her always made her happy.
And Kaito was telling the truth.
Even for an Uma Musume, facing this kind of body-pushing training for the first time required an adjustment period.
In his past life, he had heard of horses that could learn in fifteen minutes what took others days to master; that was visible talent.
While Rice Shower’s talent wasn’t quite that exaggerated, she clearly had a lot of potential.
“If we keep up this pace, we’ll definitely build up the speed needed to seize the lead before the race.” “The speed to take the lead?” “That’s right.” Kaito repeated the established plan to Rice Shower-san.
“According to the plan, Rice Shower-san needs to try the Runner strategy in her next race, so we need to train in three areas.” “First, the speed to grab the lead right out of the gate.” “Second, the cruising form in the middle of the race that balances conserving stamina and maintaining speed.” “Third, the late kick at the end of the race where you release all your stamina to sprint.” “The interval training runs we’re doing right now are aimed at the first aspect.” Kaito explained in detail.
He had divided the training plan into three parts, dedicating two days a week to each corresponding training, with the remaining Sunday used for rest.
This way, it comprehensively covered everything while also giving Rice Shower-san time to rest.
After listening to this, the admiration and excitement in Rice Shower-san’s eyes grew stronger, and she tightly clasped her hands together.
“R-Rice Shower will do her best!
Let’s continue training, onii-san!” “No, it’s time to eat.” “Huh?” Kaito solemnly took out a pre-prepared bento and handed it in front of Rice Shower-san.
“It’s past twelve o’clock, so let’s eat first.” “Okay…” Rice Shower accepted the lunchbox Kaito had prepared for her in surprise, and upon opening the lid, a rich aroma of rice wafted into her nose.
Rice Shower’s eyes couldn’t help but widen.
Before her was a highly substantial teriyaki chicken leg rice bowl.
The chicken legs, stewed over low heat, were covered in a rich sauce, while the rice was a rare multigrain blend, each grain plump and fragrant.
The second tier of the bento contained a large, appetizing portion of scrambled eggs with tomatoes and stir-fried seasonal vegetables, the red and green colors paired beautifully to please the eye.
Rice Shower subconsciously swallowed, then looked at Kaito in disbelief.
“T-This was prepared for me by onii-san?” “Of course.
If you don’t mind, give it a taste.” Kaito smiled in return.
Hearing this, a look of joy appeared on Rice Shower-san’s face as she picked up her chopsticks.
“Then, Rice Shower will dig in!” She stuffed a thick, juicy piece of chicken leg into her mouth and chewed, instantly revealing a blissful expression as she covered her mouth with one hand and exclaimed.
“It’s so delicious!
Onii-san is amazing!” Seeing Rice Shower-san’s amazed and satisfied expression, Kaito felt his efforts had not been in vain.
He had made this lunch by borrowing the kitchen of the Tracen Academy cafeteria.
Although the Tracen cafeteria had the advantage of supplying unlimited three meals a day, the people in this world hadn’t realized the strong correlation between food and training impact, so the variety and combinations of dishes were extremely limited.
In other words, it was just terrible.
Could you imagine a school cafeteria that trains runners serving nothing but carrot hamburger steaks or carrot French fries every meal, or just trendy side dishes and carrot juice?
Even though carrots are very nutritious, an excessive proportion of them in a meal could hardly be called nutritionally balanced.
“Only nutritious and delicious food can build a strong body.” In either life, Kaito would never ignore the importance of food.
Therefore, he had referenced his own sports meals from his past life to make this meal, which not only contained all the necessary nutrients but, most importantly, was incredibly delicious.
“Mmm, hmm~” Watching Rice Shower-san eat with immense happiness, her legs swinging involuntarily, Kaito smiled with deep satisfaction.
And then his smile froze.
The lunchbox, which had been full just a moment ago, had been completely wiped clean in the blink of an eye.
Rice Shower reached for her chopsticks again, still craving more, only to find that there was nothing left in the lunchbox, realizing she had already finished it all.
“S-Sorry, it was so delicious that Rice Shower couldn’t help but…” Rice Shower lowered her head, her face red, not daring to look at Kaito.
She was probably afraid of being disliked for eating so much, right?
Kaito smiled and patted Rice Shower-san’s smooth hair, reassuring her.
“It’s fine.
Having a big appetite means you have a healthy body, Rice Shower-san.
It allows you to grow quickly and withstand various training and races.
It’s something to be proud of.” This was also the first time Rice Shower had heard such a thing.
In the past, because her appetite was larger than other children’s, she worried about being mocked.
So every time, she would hold back and eat less in front of others, waiting until she was alone to cook a huge bowl of rice and secretly make up for it.
Eating in front of others without having to hide it like this was her first time since coming to Tracen.
Rice Shower’s heart warmed.
“Thank you, onii-san!” “You’re welcome.” Grrrrgle…
Just as the atmosphere was becoming warm, a sudden stomach rumble interrupted the smile on Rice Shower-san’s face, and her fair cheeks turned bright red once again.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry!
It’s Rice Shower’s fault for having such a big appetite and not being full yet!
After eating such a delicious meal, my stomach shouldn’t be rumbling again…” Kaito gave an awkward smile, then took out his own portion of lunch.
“If you’re not full, why don’t you eat this too?” “But this is onii-san’s, Rice Shower can’t eat it…” “There’s still time this afternoon, and I can make more.
But Rice Shower-san needs to eat her fill, eat with satisfaction, and train with satisfaction, so we can win the next race, okay?” “Y-Yes!” …
On the training grounds, Kaito and Rice Shower-san’s lunch time continued.
In the distant academic building, inside a messy room stuffed with various instruments, containers, experimental props, and teacups, a chestnut-haired Uma Musume wearing a lab coat was holding binoculars, curiously observing the lunch scene on the training grounds.
A moment later, the room door opened.
Without any footsteps sounding, the newcomer suddenly leaned in close behind the Uma Musume and spoke.
“What are you looking at, Tachyon-san.” “Oh my, it’s Cafe-san!” Tachyon lowered her binoculars and excitedly pointed toward the training grounds to explain.
“Today I saw a rookie Trainer training an Uma Musume, but the training methods he used were ones I’ve never seen before.
Simple, efficient, it’s truly magical!” “So, I just stared at them for three hours, and before I knew it, it was lunchtime.
And it turns out that Trainer even prepared a highly scientific lunch~~~” “Speaking of science, I recently developed a new drug.
Do you want to help me test it, Cafe-san?” “No.” The yellow-eyed Uma Musume with long, straight black hair showed a slight expression of disgust and resolutely rejected Tachyon’s request.
“Come on, don’t be so heartless, Cafe-san.
Could it be that your cortisol levels are too high recently?
I happen to have a newly developed drug right here…” “Talking to you always brings up words I don’t understand.” Cafe frowned slightly and sighed.
“Instead of experimenting, you should go eat.
When was the last time you actually had a meal?” “I can’t help it.
Eating is such a waste of my time.
When I calculate the calories burned walking to the cafeteria and the proportion of unhealthy food brought by the cafeteria ladies adding extra portions on their own initiative, just thinking about it makes my body resist such an inefficient behavior.
Compared to that—” After muttering to herself, Tachyon picked up her binoculars to observe again on her own.
“What kind of methods will that Trainer show me next to motivate me even more~~~”